Demonstrators gather in Raleigh on March 5, 2022 to show their support for Ukraine. (Photo by Clayton Henkel)
Today marks a dark day in recent world history. As Scott Peoples — a North Carolinian and U.S. 82nd Airborne veteran — wrote in a powerful essay for NC Newsline, today is the third anniversary of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s criminal invasion of Ukraine.
What’s more, as Peoples observes, it’s hard to know what’s worse: the horrible reality of Putin’s murderous invasion itself, or that President Donald Trump continues to betray our nation’s longstanding role as a beacon of freedom by effectively endorsing it.
Last week, Trump — who’s never disguised his affection for the Russian war criminal — said quote “Russia fought for that land in Ukraine and lost a lot of soldiers doing it, so Russia should keep it.” And it’s hard to fathom that an American president would ever utter such shameful words.
The bottom line: Trump’s statement surely has true patriots like Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush and John McCain turning over in their graves. One can only hope that Republicans like North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, who rightfully denounced Trump’s stance, have finally had enough.
For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.