The Biden administration’s latest sanctions and criminal charges against Russia for election interference are déjà vu all over again. Since 2016, the US has been slapping Russia with sanctions like a drunk at a piñata party — wildly swinging, hoping to hit something.
Yet, the Russians are still at it, manipulating US public opinion to prop up Trump and undermine Harris. Clearly, these sanctions are as effective as a screen door on a submarine.
Repeated sanctions: A failed strategy
Even so, Attorney General Merrick Garland made quite a show yesterday by announcing new indictments against two RT employees for money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act. But he only added more names to a list of Russians the US will never bring to justice. Russia treats these indictments like confetti — empty gestures that fall away as soon as they’re tossed.
The need for a stronger response: Arm Ukraine
Instead of playing whack-a-mole with Russian operatives, Biden should shift his focus. Arm Ukraine to the teeth. Give them the firepower to return every Russian missile with one of their own.
Biden maintains that Ukraine is fighting a proxy war for democracy. But no democracy would accept rules of war that allow an enemy to bomb it while prohibiting it from retaliating in kind. Biden should call Putin’s bluff by lifting all restrictions on the use of US weapons and flooding Ukraine with defensive systems like Patriot Missile batteries.
This isn’t just a moral imperative; it’s a strategic one. Moreover, this strategy would not only wipe that genocidal smirk off Putin’s face but also get him to stop interfering in US elections.
If Biden truly believes Ukraine’s fight is on behalf of all democracies, it’s time to back words with actions. Blanketing Ukraine with defensive missiles would protect it from unrelenting bombardment. It would also frustrate Putin by showing that Russia’s missile strikes are as ineffective against Ukraine as US sanctions are against Russia.
Strategic and economic benefits of supporting Ukraine
There are side benefits, too. The US would put China on notice that it can neutralize any missile attack. It would also provide a business windfall for arms manufacturers as the Pentagon orders replacement stockpiles for all weapons sent to Ukraine.
Ukraine and democracies win; Russia and autocracies lose.
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