Victor Davis Hanson: Can Trump End Ukraine’s ‘Endless War?’

By Free Republic | Created at 2024-11-18 12:55:53 | Updated at 2024-11-24 20:22:16 6 days ago

Victor Davis Hanson: Can Trump End Ukraine’s ‘Endless War?’
American Greatness ^ | 18 Nov, 2024 | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 11/18/2024 4:32:46 AM PST by MtnClimber

There are lots of parties who want, and lots of incentives for, an end to our 21st-century Verdun.

Trump was elected in part on promises to avoid “endless wars” of the sort that cost American blood and treasure in Afghanistan and Iraq but without resulting in strategic advantage or civilized calm.

Yet as a Jacksonian, Trump also restored American deterrence through punitive strikes against ISIS and terrorist thugs like Baghdadi and Soleimani—without being bogged down in costly follow-ups. During the last four administrations, Putin stayed within his borders only during the Trump four years.

But upon entering office, Trump will likely still be faced with something far more challenging as he confronts what has become the greatest European killing field since World War II—the cauldron on the Ukrainian border that has likely already cost 1-1.5 million combined dead, wounded, and missing Ukrainian and Russian soldiers and civilians.

There is no end in sight after three years of escalating violence. But there are increasing worries that strategically logical and morally defensible—but geopolitically dangerous—Ukrainian strikes on the Russian interior will nonetheless escalate and lead to a wider war among the world’s nuclear powers.

Many on the right wish for Trump to immediately cut off all aid to Ukraine for what they feel is an unwinnable war, even if that abrupt cessation would end any leverage with which to force Putin to negotiate.

They claim the war was instigated by a globalist left, serving as a proxy conflict waged to ruin Russia at the cost of Ukrainian soldiers. They see it orchestrated by a now non-democratic Ukrainian government, lacking elections, a free press, or opposition parties, led by an ungracious and corrupt Zelensky cadre that has allied with the American left in an election year.

(Excerpt) Read more at amgreatness.com ...

TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: victordavishanson

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1 posted on 11/18/2024 4:32:46 AM PST by MtnClimber

To: MtnClimber

Well it does seem like the war was instigated by a globalist left. It also looks like it is one big money laundering operation for the left.

2 posted on 11/18/2024 4:33:59 AM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page. More photos added.)

To: texas booster

3 posted on 11/18/2024 4:34:24 AM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page. More photos added.)

To: MtnClimber

Nope. Trump is very smart and about to be the most powerful human on the planet. But this war ends like all wars do: kill all the enemy or break their will to fight. Those things are beyond Trump’s control. Now with Drill Baby Drill he can impact Russia’s revenue. But not enough to stop the war. Putin is a monster. Zelensky is not much better. Let’s pls stay out of this one?

4 posted on 11/18/2024 4:38:29 AM PST by piytar (Remember Ashli Babbitt, Rosanne Boyland, and Corey Comperatore!)

To: MtnClimber

Joe isn’t helping matters

5 posted on 11/18/2024 4:45:55 AM PST by SMARTY (In politics, stupidity is not a handicap. Napoleon Bonaparte I)

To: MtnClimber

Trump won’t do it alone. He’ll try something novel, he’ll get everyone to sit down and negotiate and end to hostilities in a manner where everyone can get something from it. Peace is in everyone’s interest and it’s better for all businesses…not just the MIC.

6 posted on 11/18/2024 4:50:33 AM PST by Frank Drebin (And don't ever let me catch you guys in America!)

To: MtnClimber

Of course he can. The way land will be divvied up won’t be to anyone’s liking, but it will be better than continued war.

7 posted on 11/18/2024 4:50:45 AM PST by RoosterRedux (Emerson paraphrased, "If you strike at the king, don't fail." The Democrats failed. )

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