Support Ukraine

Re “Would Ronald Reagan abandon Ukraine to Russia?” (Other Views, Jan. 7): Andrew Stigler, a U.S. Naval War College professor, addressed that question and wrote a compelling statement of facts that in my opinion answered the question with a “no.”

According to Stigler, when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979, the U.S. under President Jimmy Carter offered “limited aid” to the Afghan resistance. When President Ronald Reagan succeeded Carter, Reagan dramatically expanded funding and other support for the Afghan freedom fighters during most of the nine-year effort to expel the Soviet invaders.

Stigler noted that nonetheless by 1986, a book on the first five years of the invasion argued that the Soviets could not be forced to withdraw. That was apparently the conventional wisdom. Yet Stigler noted that Reagan rejected the conventional wisdom, stating: “As the resistance continues the fight, we and other responsible governments will stand by it. The support that the United States has been providing the resistance will be strengthened, rather than diminished, so that it can continue to fight effectively for freedom. The just struggle against foreign tyranny can count upon worldwide support, both political and material.”

Reagan’s hard work paid off. The Soviets withdrew in 1989, contributing to the Cold War’s end and the Soviet Union’s breakup.

Current stakes are higher. If we and

NATO fail to support Ukraine, a nation of 40 million, we will face wars by Russia and others to invade and absorb their neighbors. All we have done since 1945 will be for naught.