What Reaction Would You Prefer?

Michael has a typically thoughtful response to one of my recent pieces, to which John Puri tagged on with some equally compelling observations. I do, however, take issue with how he reframes one of my assumptions about my fellow Americans.

I had presumed that Americans would observe from afar as Russia rains rockets and drones down on Ukraine’s population centers — the largest and most savage volleys of the war so far over the last several weeks — and look on it all with distaste. “They’ll catch glimpses now and then of the horrors their leaders tacitly sanction, and they’ll resent seeing America once again abandon its friends for fear of its enemies,” I wrote. For some reason, Michael seemed to take offense at the suggestion that Americans are altruists.

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.

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Michael has a typically thoughtful response to one of my recent pieces, to which John Puri tagged on with some equally compelling observations. I do, however, take issue with how he reframes one of my assumptions about my fellow Americans.

I had presumed that Americans would observe from afar as Russia rains rockets and drones down on Ukraine’s population centers — the largest and most savage volleys of the war so far over the last several weeks — and look on it all with distaste. “They’ll catch glimpses now and then of the horrors their leaders tacitly sanction, and they’ll resent seeing America once again abandon its friends for fear of its enemies,” I wrote. For some reason, Michael seemed to take offense at the suggestion that Americans are altruists.

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.