American newspapers start leaning toward more U.S. intervention to save Ukraine

Four major American newspapers are publishing columns and editorials subtly hinting—and in one instance, outright calling upon the United States and NATO to join the fight with brave Ukrainians as they struggle to save their homeland from Russian aggression. 

The newspapers’ positions are a departure from the recent American political shift toward non-intervention and a return to the days of war hawks from both political parties such as Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. Bush George W. Bush as well as Democratic Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and John F. Kennedy who believed strongly in confronting Russian aggression. 

In the U.S. capital, Washington Times writer Jeffrey Scott Shapiro published a column, titled, ‘America and NATO should join the fight to save Ukraine.’

Shapiro writes, “Will NATO match Mr. Zelensky’s bravery or cower behind the veil of neutrality like Switzerland in the Second World War, simply because after years of courting Ukraine, the alliance never offered her formal alliance membership? Does the United Nations continue to pretend Moscow has not violated its charter just because Russia could use its power to veto a security council vote to use multinational force? The free world can continue to insist it has no legal obligation to save Ukraine—but there’s no honor in hiding behind the law to avoid fighting injustice.”

In Manhattan, the New York Post published an editorial making a similar case, titled, ‘America can—and must—act to limit Putin’s slaughter in Ukraine.’

The Post Editorial Board makes the case that, “The Biden administration and the entire NATO alliance should also respond to Putin’s latest play of his nuclear card to intimidate us from supporting Ukraine… Prudence is essential when dealing with nuclear intimidation, but prudence also demands we not ignore vital American interests. Those urging caution in standing up to Kremlin aggression in Ukraine should acquaint themselves with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which explicitly states, “Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations.”’

In the world’s signature ‘paper of record, The New York Times, columnist Bret Stephens penned a piece titled, ‘Biden Must Not Allow Ukraine to Fall.’

Stephen’s argues, “The courage of the Ukrainian people — matched by the remarkable ineptitude of the Russian military in its campaign so far — has given the administration an opportunity to help Ukraine, the world and itself. It can persuade Congress to fund covert efforts to support a long-term insurgency throughout Ukraine. The thought of thousands of sniper rifles and antitank missiles in the hands of Ukrainian partisans should keep Russian commanders awake at night.”

In the Golden State, Jonah Goldberg of the Los Angeles Times points out in a headline that, ‘Putin has forced the West to change how it views its role in the world.’

Mr. Goldberg says that following the debacle in Afghanistan, Russian President Vladimir Putin saw that “the international order abhors a vacuum, and America’s shrinking role in the world — real and perceived — over at least three administrations made it reasonable for Putin to gamble that the sun was setting on that old order. But, as Hemingway said, the sun also rises.”

Three of the newspapers New York Post, New York Times and Los Angeles Times were just short of calling upon the U.S. to engage military, but the Washington Times crossed that line in the sand saying it was the moral obligation of the country to do so because of its tradition of embodying freedom and independence.

“I believe the U.S. and NATO should join the fight to save Ukraine,” Shapiro wrote. “This is a defining moment for the free world, and perception is power. If the free world does not step in now and show the world who is really in charge, the world will remain intimidated by Russia and feel resentment toward America. If we turn away now, we will never forgive ourselves… That’s not the America I want to continue living in, nor is it the America I believe in… Mr. Biden, his administration and our NATO allies could learn something from Mr. Zelensky. Perhaps we all can.”

The articles comes as the world continues to undergo what appears to be a policy shift among the general public in several major western countries as they continue to express admiration for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his people for having the courage to fight the Russian invaders.