The “Best and the Brightest”

Watching the events unfold in the Oval Office yesterday was indeed tragic for both the United States of America and Ukraine. I hope and pray that both sides can come to their senses, reach an agreement suitable to BOTH parties and stop further Russian aggression. Though in some eyes POTUS Trump may have mishandled the meeting I sincerely believe he wants to stop the endless bloodletting on both sides that was only prolonged by the inability of the Biden Administration to articulate and implement a strategy to resolve this tragic and costly conflict.

There is no doubt that Putin wants to restore the former USSR to its former “glory,” but having been on the deck plates during the Vietnam era I was constantly reminded by America’s “Best and Brightest” that unless we stopped the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia other countries would fall in short order.

Well, after sending over young 50,000 American men and women to their death and untold numbers of civilians to their death as well we witnessed the fall of South Vietnam. Surprisingly  the “dominos” did not fall, and Vietnam is now a major trading partner and tourist destination for the United States.

Am I advocating we placate Putin and accept the cruelty he has inflicted on the people of Ukraine – NO. But as we know history may not repeat itself, but often it certainly rhymes. Let’s just hope our “Best and Brightest” are up to the task of ending this incessant conflict as the whole world is watching American leadership continue to endure as serve as that “shinning city on the hill” for the free world.