Appeasement Redux
There can be no concessions to authoritarian dictators.
Wednesday's Republican debate in Miami laid bare a disturbing pivot in conservatism and the trajectory of the Republican party — we are seeing the party of Lincoln return to ill-fated isolationism. It is a stance that is misguided and shirks the democratic solidarity and national security that has long underpinned American foreign policy. Two candidates remain who offer a compelling case for American leadership, and their standing in the polls is far outweighed by would-be appeasers.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie remain the only defenders of the freedom-affirming international world order, highlighting the dangers of a world without American leadership — a world led by despots. Mrs. Haley correctly asserts that supporting Ukraine is not merely a defense of a sovereign nation, unjustly invaded by its neighbor, but a bulwark against the expansionist ambitions of Vladimir Putin. Mr. Christie astutely noted that if Russia emerges victorious in Ukraine, Mr. Putin’s territorial ambitions will extend to the Baltic states and Poland — both of which are NATO members, and would drag American soldiers into conflict.
Mrs. Haley denounced Donald Trump’s “weak” and “friendly” behavior towards foreign dictators, and praised President Zelenskyy and Ukraine as “freedom lovers” and a “pro-American country.” Mrs. Haley correctly warned that these isolationists would eventually shift our attention away from not only Ukraine but Israel and Taiwan as well. Mr. Christie voiced his agreement with Mrs. Haley, adding that “dictators work together.”
Vivek Ramaswamy, speaking from the other side of the stage, was unchastened. As if Mr. Putin was whispering talking points directly into his ear, Mr. Ramaswamy went on a tirade vilifying Ukraine, denouncing the Jewish Mr. Zelenskyy as a “Nazi”, stating that Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia “haven't even been a part of Ukraine since 2014”, which conveniently is when Mr. Putin illegally invaded the regions. Mr. Ramaswamy continued, blasting Mrs. Haley as "Dick Cheney in three-inch heels," which, from my perspective, is one of the greatest compliments one could receive.
Yet it was not meant as a compliment and is an example of the vilification from the “MAGA” wing of the party against those whose knees do not bend to dictators. this rhetoric espoused by Mr. Ramaswamy and echoed by Mr. Trump is not only naïve— it is dangerous. Mr. Ramaswamy's apologies for Mr. Putin's aggression do nothing but embolden dictators, and will encourage President Xi of China to make a move against Taiwan should he somehow be elected President. Mr. Trump's "friendly" approach to foreign tyrants, while blasting our intelligence agencies, is a scathing betrayal of American leadership.
Those who oppose despots, and tyranny, and support the American-led world order find their influence in the Republican party dwindling. Worse, are figures like Ron DeSantis and Tim Scott retreating from their once resolute stances in support of Ukraine, such as Mr. DeSantis' recent portrayal of vital military aid as a misallocation of resources. Their shifts align with the sentiments of a base disconnected from reality, with a majority aligning with isolationism. Though they attempt to disguise the reallocation of support for Ukraine as a shifting priority to confront China, the facts remain that this is a false dichotomy; American strength and resolve must be demonstrated on all fronts, in all theaters, all over the world, to deter aggression.
To abandon Ukraine — or any nation resisting tyranny — is to forsake America's role as a beacon of liberty, the shining city on a hill, and the arsenal of democracy. So quickly do we forget our past, where the heavy price of appeasement was paid by the blood of millions. Eight decades ago, as war erupted in Europe, Republicans were seduced by the short-sighted allure of “America first” and clung to isolationism. Yet adherence to this policy bought us only a two-year reprieve before we were dragged into war. The result, was the deaths of over four hundred thousand brave Americans, while our inaction enabled the most heinous crime committed against humanity —the Holocaust.
The defense of Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan is more than just a sound policy; it is a moral necessity. Hesitation in the face of tyranny does not yield peace; it merely postpones our day of reckoning and magnifies suffering. In the face of authoritarians, whether they come from Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea there can be no room for isolationism within the Republican Party or the United States.