MEMO FOR THE USA
FROM: A Disgusted Veteran
SUBJECT: Russia Russia Russia – Trump’s Collaboration With Putin Is Killing Ukrainians and Abandoning America’s Foundational Principles of Freedom and Democracy
In 1987, I was a junior Air Force captain stationed in Germany when President Reagan came to Berlin, and in a captivating speech of liberty and freedom said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” I was proud to be an American, especially in the streets of Berlin, where there were still memories of the epic Berlin Airlift, when, shortly after WWII, the Soviet Union blockaded the city to make Allied Forces abandon Berlin. In a herculean logistics effort of men and machines, we kept Berlin supplied by air for 15 months before the Soviets backed down.
I served a total of 38 years in the Air Force, 22 years active duty, and 16 years as a civilian federal employee. In all that time, and in the years since, I always believed America was a force for good in the world. I no longer feel that way.
President Donald Trump in the past two weeks has betrayed America’s foundational principles of freedom and democracy. Trump is now actively supporting a murderous tyrannical dictator against a fledging democratic nation fighting for its very survival.
By withholding military aid and intelligence, we are now actively helping Russia kill more Ukrainian civilians and soldiers. While it will take a few weeks for the aid pause to bite, the lack of shared intelligence is already killing Ukrainians. In the 48 hours since US intelligence support was withdrawn, Russia stepped up its drone and missile attacks, killing dozens of Ukrainian civilians, including children. Without US satellite surveillance, Ukraine can no longer see Russian bombers taking off from their bases to shoot missiles. Ukraine no longer gets early warning of ground-based ballistic missile launches, or mass drone preparations and deployments. Integrated air defense is a split-second business, where the early acquiring and tracking of potential threats is crucial for coordinated and effective action. All of NATO relies on US early-warning satellite sensors, and they have been integral to Ukraine’s defense for the past three years. But with the callousness of a big-city real estate grifter, our Commander in Chief just pulled the rug out from Ukraine, and directly contributed to an increase in Ukrainian civilian deaths. The blood on Donald Trump’s hands now stains our nation, and diminishes my once-proud service.
The world order is now upside down. On the 3-year anniversary of the war, the US, along with Russia, Belarus, and North Korea, opposed a European-drafted UN resolution condemning Moscow’s actions and supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Apparently, Russia is now a friend and ally. Canada and Europe are now enemies, or at least not friends and allies as they have been since WWII.
Under the leadership of Donald Trump, there is now no morality to America’s foreign policy, only mob-boss extortion to enrich ourselves at the expense of others. This is not the country I proudly served, nor that my father and five uncles proudly served in WWII.
To you timid politicians in Washington, I urge you to stand up and fight for American values. Support Ukraine in their hour of need, and let the world know that America still leads the free world.
Thank you for your consideration.
v/r
ROBERT A. STEEN, Maj (R), USAF
Waipahu Bob 