‘As long as we can’

You don’t have to be a grammarian or linguist to understand the difference between “as long as we can” and “as long as it takes.”

The latter means that your participation, in this case America’s support for Ukraine, will last as long as it takes to reach a beneficial conclusion for Ukraine, that is victory and russia’s defeat. The former means that America’s support for Ukraine will last as long as the circumstances allow America’s support.

One means that nothing will scare America from its salubrious dedication to Ukraine while the other one means that if the heat gets too hot then America will abandon Ukraine.

The latter commitment was repeated by President Biden whenever the topic of supporting Ukraine came up and the former one emerged yesterday after President Zelenskyy met with the President at the White House and lawmakers on The Hill, including the Republican naysayers.

President Zelenskyy departed the nation’s capital with a bag filled with unfulfilled hopes and expectations, after he brilliantly presented the case that helping Ukraine defeat russian invaders is equivalent with defending NATO, the free world, and the United States of America from russian aggression.

Reportedly, President Biden was livid with the Republicans’ stubbornness. Apparently, he was even driven to say he would consider their demand for additional funding for a wall between the US and Mexico as well as a review of the country’s immigration policy. So why did the White House publicly leave the door open to the possibility of relinquishing support for Ukraine? I daresay Ukrainians do not deserve such a dramatic fall from grace.

But so far, senators of the Grand Old Party – that is quickly losing its grandness – are holding fast while the 600-plus day war against Ukraine is still raging. America’s allies, new and old ones, especially the former captive nations of russian subjugation, have earnestly encouraged America, notably the obstinate Republicans, not to surrender to russian’s terrorism and pressure, and continue supporting Ukraine. Still no go.

The Republican schoolyard quarrel with Democrats continues while Ukrainian soldiers, civilians and children are shedding their blood for their country as the nation strives to stay out of moscow’s captivity. And putin is preparing to celebrate a Happy New Year, grateful for the GOP’s holiday gift.

Where are Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, John McCain, ‘Scoop’ Jackson, Pat Moynihan, and Ed Koch when you need them?