Debate: Progressive Congressional Democrats, Mostly Women Say, “End Ukraine War!”

Letter Reveals That US Support of Ukraine War Is Not Monolithic

By Mohammad Ali Salih — Washington

Pramila Jayapal Chair

Cori Bush

Sara Jacobs

Barbara Lee

Nydia M. Velázquez

Rashida Tlaib

Marie Newman

Chellie Pingree

Last week, it was reported that 30 progressive Democrats in Congress, mostly women, sent a letter to President Joe Biden asking him to change his policy towards Ukraine. The letter said to seek a diplomatic solution with Russia instead of sending billions of dollars and heaps of weapons to Ukraine to face the Russian invasion. (Excerpts from the letter are below)

Never mind that those who signed the letter withdrew it on the day it became public, it has become clear that the progressive Democrats and other liberals in the Democratic party have been gradually doubting, then opposing Biden’s aggressive policy in Ukraine.

At first, it was thought that this change of heart happened last week with the publication of the news about sending the letter, but those who signed the letter said it had been written four months ago, and was sent to Biden soon after that. This means that the change of heart happened a few months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine last February.

Because the Republicans have been divided over the extent of the US support of Ukraine, and because the Republican Party has been, since the days of the Cold War, tougher towards Russia and communism than the Democratic Party, the news that the Democrats had started opposing the US’ strong support of Ukraine came as a surprise to many.

Since the Cold War years, the liberals have been generally moderate towards communism and Russia as compared to the conservatives. That was why the historic steps toward rapprochement by the US with the communist bloc were mostly initiated by the Republicans. A major example was the opening to China — it was none other than a Republican president, Richard Nixon, who sent his chief advisor, Henry Kissinger, to China to start the rapprochement.

God forbid if it was a Democratic president, like Jimmy Carter, who had opened the road to China. True, it was Carter who established the first diplomatic relations with China, but it was obvious that he did that after the initial steps of Nixon.

Enter the Vietnam War (1963–1973)

The US military intervention in Vietnam was started and continued for many years by Democratic presidents. John Kennedy sent the first group of military advisors to defend the government of South Vietnam against the communist Viet Cong fighters who were supported by communist North Vietnam.

Republicans cheered as President Lyndon Johnson, following the steps of Kennedy, expanded US military intervention. There was further expansion when Republican Nixon became president in 1973. However, it was Nixon who started the negotiations with the Viet Cong.

Curiously enough, liberal, not conservative, Americans demonstrated in the streets and on campuses against the US military intervention in Vietnam. That dichotomy inside the Democratic Party was a major reason for Johnson’s decision in 1968 to quit politics and not to run for a second term — against Nixon.

Fast forward for about 50 years, from the Vietnam War to the Ukraine War.

Again, as the letter by the Democrats in the Congress showed, the young Democrats started the movement against this war, with two distinct differences:

First, this time the movement came from the top, from members of Congress, not from campuses and street demonstrations.

Second, the movement was led by the progressives, i.e., the more leftist liberals.

Why?

Liberals have always been suspicious of, if not opposed to, US military adventures overseas, even in the name of stopping the spread of communism. They opposed, even ridiculed, the Domino Theory of South East Asia: if communism were not stopped in Vietnam, it would spread to other neighboring countries, one country after the other.

That liberal opposition to the US military intervention in Vietnam increased when it became clear that the generals in the Pentagon failed to win but continued fighting, killing thousands of American soldiers and hundreds of thousands of the native Vietnamese.

In the case of Ukraine, obviously, the Pentagon generals did not send American soldiers to Ukraine, but weapons that were worth billions of dollars. Because Ukraine has not been able to expel the Russian invaders, and does not seem to be able to, the war seems to be endless — so is the Pentagon’s help.

Whether the progressive representative withdrew their letter to Biden or not is beside the point here — they have started a movement.

Granted that young liberals, and particularly in campuses, have not been engaged in politics recently, a movement against a faraway war has started.

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Excerpts from the progressive Congressional members’ letter to President Biden:

“We write with appreciation for your commitment to Ukraine’s legitimate struggle against Russia’s war of aggression. Your support for the self-defense of an independent, sovereign, and democratic state has been supported by Congress, including through various appropriations of military, economic and humanitarian aid in furtherance of this cause …”

“Crucially, you achieved this while also maintaining that it is imperative to avoid direct military conflict with Russia, which would lead to ‘World War III, something we must strive to prevent’ (Biden’s words) …”

“The risk of nuclear weapons being used has been estimated to be higher now than at any time since the height of the Cold War. Given the catastrophic possibilities of nuclear escalation and miscalculation, which will only increase the longer this war continues …”

“Given the destruction created by this war for Ukraine and the world, as well as the risk of catastrophic escalation, we also believe it is in the interests of Ukraine, the United States, and the world to avoid a prolonged conflict …”

“For this reason, we urge you to pair the military and economic support the United States has provided to Ukraine with a proactive diplomatic push, redoubling efforts to seek a realistic framework for a ceasefire. This is consistent with your recognition that “there’s going to have to be a negotiated settlement here’, and your concern that Vladimir Putin ‘doesn’t have a way out right now, and I’m trying to figure out what we do about that’ (Biden’s words)…”

“As legislators responsible for the expenditure of tens of billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars in military assistance in the conflict, we believe such involvement in this war also creates a responsibility for the United States to seriously explore all possible avenues, including direct engagement with Russia …”