San Antonio Express-News

GOP, protect national security by helping Ukraine

- By Cindy Offutt Cindy Offutt is a U.S. Air Force veteran who lives in Fair Oaks Ranch.

I implore Rep. Tony Gonzales to support sending urgently needed weapons and ammunition to Ukraine.

My husband and I are both retired from the U.S. Air Force. We can’t comprehend how he and his Republican colleagues in the House can continue to ignore the extremely urgent needs of Ukrainians in the defense of their country.

Gonzales retired from the U.S. Navy, so I can’t understand how he could not support sending further assistance to the incredibly resolute and brave Ukrainian resistance.

I’m heartsick at the recent loss of the Ukranian city Avdiivka, due in large part to Republican obstinance and the party’s incomprehe­nsible and unforgivab­le failure to stand firm with an ally.

Ukraine is fighting at the vanguard of the West’s escalating conflict against authoritar­ianism and autocracy, and against tyrants who are willing to ignore a country’s territoria­l integrity and sovereignt­y in their quest for land and power.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is a clear and present danger to the West. He must be stopped in Ukraine and deterred from advancing any farther into Europe or Asia.

My assumption as to why Gonzales and his fellow Republican leaders in Congress are objecting to further aid to Ukraine is that, in lockstep fashion, they oppose any and all efforts from the Biden administra­tion. They do this knowingly, without regard for the effects on the national security of our country or that of our allies.

They need to consider the humanitari­an reasons for supporting Ukraine. Putin’s invasion has been unbelievab­ly brutal. He has ordered indiscrimi­nate attacks against civilians, encouraged (and perhaps ordered) Russian troops to commit all manner of violent crimes against the Ukrainian people, and kidnapped Ukrainian children and had them brought to Russia.

“The battle is not only for life, freedom and security of Ukrainians or any other nation which Russia attempts to conquer,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. “This struggle will define in what world our children and grandchild­ren will live.”

I implore Gonzales to vote for the supplement­al bill to extend much-needed military assistance to the people of Ukraine.

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