I haven’t written anything about the Russian invasion of Ukraine — hard to find the right words. But as the aggression morphs to invasion to occupation to atrocity, I’m really hoping we can do more than we are.
Don’t get me wrong. I'm hopeful for a peaceful solution in Eastern Europe and sincerely optimistic that economic and moral pressure, coupled with the strength of the Ukrainian people, will turn the tide there.
At the same time, when I hear the U.S. say it will "definitely not, ever" send air or ground troops, I get concerned that we're undermining our own position and further encouraging aggression.
I believe that kindness is the right path 99% of the time, but there are occasions when you're confronted with a true bully -- and the only language a bully understands is a jab in the nose.
I hope we'll give ourselves the flexibility we need to bring our full influence to bear. It's a terrible situation, and there are only bad and less-bad choices -- but we'll make it worse on ourselves if we take our own options off the table.