Final Word from Thursday, February 1, 2024

Pres. Petr Pavel told Czech Radio on Mon., echoing something his adviser Petr Kolář had said on Dec. 21, that we must accept the possibility that Donald Trump will win this year's U.S. presidential elections and then enter into negotiations with Vladimir Putin about Ukraine. We must be prepared for an outcome that isn't favorable to either Ukraine or Europe, he said. That same day Defense Min. Jana Černochová signed a letter of acceptance with U.S. Amb. Bijan Sabet for 24 F-35 fighters, with delivery planned in 2031-2035. Nearly every Czech has heard about how important it is to prepare for war in the future with Russia, but few could tell you what the Fiala government is doing on a daily basis to help Ukraine win its war now. Donald Trump - who wouldn't even take office until Jan. 20, 2025 - is increasingly being presented as the scapegoat for today's political and military failures. Call it the Plan T. What's missing is a Plan B. What excuse will there be if Joe Biden wins in Nov.? [ Czech Republic ambassador foreign-policy ]