Israel and Ukraine
why the same kind of attack, using the same weapons, evokes different responses
On April 13, the Islamic Republic of Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel. Also on April 13, as well as on April 12, 14, and 15, the Russian Federation launched missiles and drones at Ukraine—including some designed in Iran.
Few of the weapons launched by Iran hit their mark. Instead, American and European airplanes, alongside Israeli and even Jordanian airplanes, knocked the drones and missiles out of the sky.
By contrast, some of the attacks launched by Russia did destroy their targets. Ukraine, acting alone, and—thanks to the Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives—running short on defensive ammunition, was unable to knock all of the drones and missiles out of the sky…
Thank you Anne Applebaum for pointing this out. Ukraine is a plural democratic nation. More than one political party, more than 1 language. Equality and access to voting exists. Ukraine is not a mono theocratic ethno state. It’s not a perfect democracy, but they are trying and deserve our best defensive weapon systems and NATO support.
There is no reason that NATO should not have planes and even ground crews in Ukraine to shoot down incoming missiles and drones, I’m ok with them not engaging with manned planes or entering Russian airspace but no reason at all they shouldn’t be there providing purely defensive assistance
Then if Putin wants to escalate my shooting down a NATO plane all the better if it gets is to loosen our rules of engagement to allow them to engage with enemy aircraft to ‘defend themselves’
Just do it already