There is no magical third choice, unless you are willing to surrender to whatever Russia demands.
This article was inspired by a Tweet from Daniel Bordman – a correspondent for the National Telegraph – who correctly pointed out that, contrary to what the far-left and far-right say, the real risk of WW3 comes from Ukraine’s possible defeat, rather than aiding Ukraine:
Bordman is correct.
Consider that Iran (through the production of drones that Russia is using to kill Ukrainians), China (through weapon transfers and economic aid to keep Russia in the war), and North Korea (through the deployment of troops into Ukraine to fight alongside Russia), are all trying to ensure Ukraine is defeated.
They know the power that a Ukrainian victory would give to the free world, and the way it would inspire those who believe in democracy and human freedom, and they are determined to ensure it doesn’t happen.
They also know that if Russia wins in Ukraine, it will become more powerful. A victorious Russia would force millions of Ukrainians into the Russian military, would slaughter tens of thousands – if not hundreds of thousands – of Ukrainian resisters, would seize Ukraine’s military industry, and would then be poised to launch further invasions of NATO countries in Europe like Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Remember, Canada has troops in Latvia, and a Russian invasion of a NATO country would draw Canada into a large-scale conflict. Further, a more powerful Russia would be able to expand its military presence in the Arctic, putting Canada directly at risk.
What this means is that if we don’t spend money now to support Ukraine, we will spend more later to defend against a much more powerful Russia. And in that case, we wouldn’t just be spending money, we would be spending lives.
That is the choice.
And that choice is deliberately ignored by far-left and far-right ‘influencers,’ because they know their pro-Russia narratives would fall apart if people thought about it.
You will see this when they contrast aid to Ukraine with some domestic political issue they think should have been prioritized instead, without noting how many domestic issues would go unaddressed if Canada ends up in a war with a Russia that is larger and more powerful in the event of Ukraine’s defeat.
Thus, unless someone wants to completely surrender to Russia and let it rampage across Europe and the Arctic (which would lead to the deaths of many Canadians), the only realistic option is for Canada and our allies to spend money now to ensure Ukraine survives and Russia is stopped.
Spencer Fernando
Image – YouTube
If this piece left you clearer than it found you, that's the point. I write for readers who want to think past the week, to see the longer pattern beneath the daily story, and to come away steadier rather than more agitated.
That longer view gets built somewhere. On Patreon, essay by essay, I'm constructing The Long Work, a body of analysis meant to outlast the news cycle that prompted it. The readers there make it possible. No subsidies, no strings. The work answers to them.
$8/month to read it as it's built, and to have a hand in building it.