Another letter to my Congressional representatives

This morning, after reading about the U.S. rejection of Russia’s demands not to place NATO forces in Ukraine, I wrote the following letter to my U.S. Representative and Senators in Congress. Given the gravity of the current situation on eastern Europe I urge everyone to take similar action.

“U.S. policy toward Russia and Ukraine is nearly as stupid as our invasion of Iraq. Why are we insisting on placing NATO forces in Ukraine? The Russians will not invade Ukraine unless NATO moves into the country first. They have made it abundantly clear that NATO in Ukraine is crossing a red line, and they have clearly stated they will not enter Ukraine unless we cross that red line. There is no reason for us not to believe them.

We made informal agreements to prevent NATO expansion eastward in exchange for the Soviets allowing German reunification. We and NATO are the one who have reneged on that agreement. Now, we have pushed NATO onto Russia’s borders and are threatening war with Russia.

It’s time to reassert Congress’ Constitutional authority to declare war and remove the President’s authority to wage war wherever and whenever he damned well pleases. NOW, before it’s too late.”

Russia’s demands that we keep NATO out of Ukraine are totally reasonable. NATO was created to thwart the threat of Soviet invasion of Western Europe. In response, the Soviets formed the Warsaw Pact alliance in defense against possible NATO aggression toward the Soviet Union. In December, 1990 informal agreements were made between Mikhail Gorbechev and western leaders, including Ronald Reagan, that the Soviet Union would allow German reunification in exchange for a promise that NATO would not move “one inch” eastward. Shortly afterward, the Soviet Union collapsed and the Warsaw Pact was dissolved.1 Since then, NATO forces have moved eastward into Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, all of which were previously held by the Soviet Union. And now, we are attempting to move NATO into Ukraine (a former Soviet Republic) which is right on Russia’s border.

Bear in mind, Russia has never invaded western Europe.2 On the other hand, Russia has been invaded by western nations several times – twice by Britain, twice by France, once by the United States and twice by Germany.3 During the last invasion of Russia in WWII Russia’s losses amounted to between 20 and 27 million citizens and losses of property, industry and infrastructure were astronomical.4 Is it any wonder that Russians might be a bit paranoid? Would you not be a bit paranoid if your neighbors turned hostile toward you and started marching with guns along the border of your property?

Another factor to consider in our relations with Russia is the nuclear threat. While both countries are armed with thousands of nuclear weapons, each capable of destroying whole cities, only the U.S. has ever used them in war. Leaders of both the former Soviet Union and present day Russia have vowed they will never use nuclear weapons in a first strike and will use them only in retaliation to others using them. On the other hand, the U.S. refuses to make such vows and nuclear first strikes are standard fare in U.S. military plans. It is estimated that there are 100 U.S. owned nuclear weapons in NATO countries.5 Russia has none anywhere near U.S. soil. Think how the U.S. would respond to another country’s nuclear weapons near our border?6

Further consider the asymmetry of U.S. and Russian forces deployed around the world. While Russia has 21 significant military bases outside their borders in 9 countries (all but one being a former Soviet Republic), the U.S. has approximately 750 military bases in 80 countries, many of which are near Russia.

It is safe to say that the Russians are paranoid, but it also reasonable to say that their paranoia is justified. Fear often induces irrational behavior. If anything, that would be a good reason to back off, unless we deliberately want to start a war with them. I, for one, have no interest in another unwinnable war – particularly one with a nation that owns lot of nukes. (In truth, I am tired of all these wars.)

There is no point to these wars other than to fatten the profits of the arms industry. Less than one tenth of one percent of Americans benefit from these wars. The end result is death and destruction (mostly to victim nations we invade), environmental destruction, and taxes paid by average citizens being put in the coffers of corporations and their owners (transferring wealth from the poor to the rich). We are all victims, except those who profit.

If ever there was a time to bring this to a screeching halt, it is now. We must stop this insanity before it is too late. The danger of war is as great as or greater than the danger of global warming; the big difference being that destruction and annihilation will be much quicker. The military-industrial-complex combined with the neoliberal cabal overseeing our foreign policy is out of control and must be muzzled. Here’s what needs to happen:

Congress must reassert its authority to declare war. The Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF first passed in 2001 and periodically renewed) must be repealed and scrapped entirely. This authorization is no more than permission for the President to wage war (without declaring war) anywhere, anytime against anyone he claims to be a “terrorist”. Terrorism is not justification for war.

The War Powers Act of 1973 is obsolete and must be rewritten from scratch to place limits on the President’s use of the military in the present environment. The president should not be allowed to deploy the military oversees without Congressional approval. The President should not be allowed to engage our military forces in combat, except in self defense of our military personnel and the defense of our homeland, without Congressional approval.

Congress must drastically cut back the defense budget. There is no nation on earth that is a serious threat to U.S. security and no need to position military forces in 80 countries around the world. There is no justification for waging war against nations that pose no threat to the U.S., and we must curb the urge to use our military might simply because it is so superb7 and we have so much of it. The best way to do that is to eliminate the excess and pare down the military to only that needed for our defense.

These are achievable goals. H.R.256 which repeals the AUMF has passed the House of Representatives is a good first start.8 However, to pass the Senate with enough support to override a Presidential veto will take massive public pressure.

H.R.256 is necessary but not sufficient to stop our needless wars. We need to put pressure on Congress to reassert its authority over the use of our military in foreign affairs. We need to replace gunboat diplomacy with true diplomacy, and we need to do it now. The consequences of continued escalation of the conflict in Ukraine will be devastating.

Act now!


1 At that point, NATO should have been dissolved as well since the threat of Soviet/Russian aggression no longer existed.

2 The only western European country ever occupied by Russian (then Soviet) forces was east Germany. That was in retaliation for the German invasion or Russia in WWII.

3 Also bear in mind, while Russia has been invaded by western nations on multiple occasions, none ever defeated Russia.

4 Americans have never suffered losses anywhere near that and don’t understand how that can affect one’s sense of security.

5 Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.

6 How would the U.S. respond to the presence of Russian missiles stationed within striking distance of U.S. soil? Recall the U.S. response to the Soviet medium range missile installations in Cuba in 1962.

7 “What’s the point of having this superb military you are always talking about if we can’t use it?” – Madeleine Albright to Colin Powell, Sept. 29, 2001

8 This bill appears now to be stuck in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.