The Ukraine speech Biden should give now

President Joe Biden should deliver an Oval Office address. Here is a suggestion:

My fellow Americans, our country has been through several tough years. The pandemic was a severe blow. But even more serious than the disease was the fraying of our national spirit. We’ve been so polarized that we’ve forgotten our core identity as a country – that we stand for democracy and freedom.

In the past few years, some Americans

have lost faith in those things. So this is a moment to refocus. When Russian tanks rolled into Ukrainian territory on the night of Feb. 24, the savage attack on a peaceful neighbor reminded the world of what autocracy looks like.

This is what can happen when a strongman exerts his will unrestrained by free elections, the rule of law, public opinion, a free press or a loyal opposition. This horror is the face of autocracy.

But here’s another thing we’ve been reminded of – the war on truth. Through relentless lies and propaganda, Vladimir Putin has been able to persuade millions of Russians of an alternate reality. His state media have said that the war is defensive. They’ve claimed that Ukraine was preparing to commit genocide against Russians, that only military targets are being struck. All lies. Vicious, cynical lies.

Most people are peaceable and fair. They won’t support wars of aggression. The only way to get assent for evil acts is to propagandize people and convince them that up is down and black is white.

On the subject of righteousness, let’s not forget the brave Russians who have seen through Putin’s alternate reality and are risking everything to protest the atrocity that is being perpetrated in their name.

Putin believed that the world’s democracies were weak and decadent. He could not have been more wrong. He misjudged the Ukrainians. He misjudged NATO. And he misjudged the United States.

Putin thought NATO was on its deathbed. Today, he is staring at an alliance that is rearming, reuniting and reconfirming its determination to defend freedom.

But here’s what Putin has reminded us of – strength alone is not a virtue. Only strength used for good is admirable. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is what true toughness looks like: strength in the service of good.

We Americans have made some mistakes, but all in all, we use our power to enhance freedom and human dignity. We use our power to keep the peace. We use our power to uphold the truth. And we will remain a beacon of liberty and democracy for the world.