Right to Exist, Cont.

People will tie themselves in knots telling you that the Ukrainians provoked Putin. You know how they provoked him? By existing. The same is true of Israel. People will tie themselves in knots telling you that Israel has provoked its enemies. Yeah — by existing.

The key question about the Ukrainians is: Do they have a right to exist? To exist as a free, independent nation? Do the Israelis have a right to exist? Does Taiwan?

Like many others, I have written about these issues — and the general issue of Israel–Ukraine–Taiwan — for many years. Everything seems to be coming to a head now.

• Here is the opening paragraph of a George F. Will column:

Explaining his support for U.S. aid to Israel but not Ukraine, Sen. J.D. Vance, the shape-shifting Ohio Republican, wrote: “Israel has an achievable objective. Ukraine does not.” Actually, their objectives are identical — national survival while living in proximity to enemies whose objective is national annihilation.

Exactly.

• You may have noted a phenomenon. There are people who are appalled at the evils visited upon the Israelis by Hamas — but indifferent to the evils visited upon Ukrainians by Putin’s forces. I suppose the reverse is true in some cases as well.

But if you prick, or maim, people anywhere — they bleed.

• Physicians are some of the noblest people on earth. So are the foreigners who go to Ukraine to help a people under eliminationist assault. Meet a couple of Americans:

• What is it like to come of age in Ukraine right now? Hard to imagine. This report from the New York Times makes it easier: “Coming of Age in Ukraine.” Engrossing.

• The Kremlin’s allies are the usual: China, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela — and don’t forget Cuba. Maria Werlau and her Cuba Archive have given us this report: “Cuba’s compulsory military service, a lucrative business now providing cannon fodder for Russia.”

• From Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, something else of interest: “Back In Ukrainian Hands, A Southern Region Struggles To Rebuild As Winter Approaches.”

• A Ukrainian lady writes me in considerable, and understandable, frustration: “Your politicians and talking heads keep saying that the U.S. is sending ‘blank checks’ to us. Why do they say that?” Other than that they are revolting demagogues, I have no idea.

• Here is Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate:

• McConnell is unlikely to be featured on Russian TV, at least in a positive way:

• An interesting comment — and something for historians to rub their eyes at:

In December 2019, I had a fascinating talk with Vitaly Portnikov, one of the leading journalists in Ukraine. We spoke of national identity, antisemitism, and other things. For my write-up, go here.

The more you know about Ukraine, the more you understand why Vladimir Putin is scared of such an example, such a thing, on his border. It would give Russians themselves ideas. Just as the example of Taiwan gives some Chinese on the mainland ideas.