President continues fumbling with foreign policy

Ukraine is collapsing. The only point in question right now is the rate at which it is disintegrating. I recently returned from a trip to Ukraine and saw firsthand how dire their situation is. Like a butcher, Russia is severing Ukraine from its vital coal, weapons and steel resources located in the east along the Russian border. At what point will we face this tyrant down and end this international aggression? Let me be clear. I am not advocating for war with Russia; I am advocating for the preservation of peace through stronger leadership. I represent nearly 50,000 men and women in uniform and their families; I do not take military action lightly. Nevertheless, I see a disaster unfolding before our eyes. Only leadership on a grand scale will keep democracy alive in Ukraine.  

Russian President Vladimir Putin knows that time is on his side. His aim is to gradually reclaim Ukraine as an integral part of Russia. Russia continues to mass military power along the Ukrainian border while it covertly manipulates a rebel insurgency inside Ukraine. President Petro Poroshenko needs our help right now. To date, thousands have died in eastern Ukraine. Perhaps even more tragic is the economic aggression, not as easily seen, which punishes every man, woman and child across the country. Critical shortages of basic necessities plague the country. Make no mistake about it; Russia will not stop until Ukraine submits to
Putin’s selfish conditions.       

{mosads}Time and again, we see this administration fail miserably to appropriately confront and contain aggression. We need to step up to the plate and lead. Ukraine is pleading for our assistance. As a budding democracy, Ukraine consistently reaches out to the European Union, NATO and the United States while it gasps for air under the boot of a tyrannical bully. How many times must our president capitulate and choose appeasement when dealing with thugs? Where is the leadership and backbone America displayed when we threw Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait in just a matter of days?

The Ukrainian people are fiercely patriotic and will fight to the very end for their freedom and independence. But, they cannot do it alone. Ukraine lacks the resources they need to defend themselves right now. While I do not believe we should insert U.S. soldiers into combat, I do believe the time has come to assist our friends to a much greater extent. 

President Obama has countless options available to him that would drastically improve the situation on the ground in Ukraine. It’s clear however, that he does not have the backbone or the desire to uphold the longstanding American tradition of protecting those who cannot protect themselves. Right now Obama can and should supply training for the Ukrainian army and weapons that can be used to halt aggression. He must rally our allies within
NATO and the United Nations against this aggression and make it clear that this expansionist behavior against an independent nation will not be tolerated. 

So I ask the president, are we going to stand by and let a tyrant seize a sovereign and democratic state, or will we stand with our friend and assist him in his final hour?

Carter has represented Texas’s 31st Congressional District since 2003. He sits on the Appropriations Committee.