Final Word from Wednesday, September 11, 2024

ABC news tried to pin Donald Trump down on Ukraine in last night's presidential debate by asking him, "Do you want Ukraine to win this war?" Trump didn't answer the question and instead said that he wants the war to stop. When it was Kamala Harris's turn, the co-host didn't ask her the same question, perhaps knowing that the true answer would be that she as VP doesn't want Ukraine to win. The U.S. position, as ABC noted, is to defend Ukraine, its sovereignty and its democracy from Russia and Vladimir Putin, which isn't the same as winning. Harris spoke about bringing 50 countries together to support Ukraine in its righteous defense and about the weapons the Biden administration has supplied, but not once did she mention anything about winning. The debate was another reminder that the war in Ukraine has become an escalation race modeled very closely on the arms race of the Cold War. It's an escalation race being run by Russia and the U.S., and everyone in between is losing. [ Czech Republic United States Joe Biden ]