Editor, The Beacon:

I read Col. Hoelscher’s guest commentary with some concern. Sir, you ask 26 questions in the article. I will address the few that concern me. I will have only one question.

The comparison with Iraq and Afghanistan is flawed because we had boots on the ground in both places and do not in Ukraine. Further, President Biden has been clear that there will not be American military fighting in Ukraine, so the answer to one of your questions is that he is not “willing to expend the blood and lives of our young men and women in this pursuit.”

We will not exhaust our material stockpiles. As a veteran, you probably know that sending equipment to Ukraine has provided jobs to Americans who work to replace them. You note that [President] “Biden tells us that it is also in the USA’s national interest to fortify NATO. Really?” Yes, really. Having these allies is an existential benefit to each member; that’s why so many want to join.

This commentary was mostly about the congressional delay in funding for Ukraine. You opine that [President] “Biden’s actions are moving us toward a war …” That is not a fair assumption for anyone to make.

You say we cannot depend on [President] Biden’s judgment alone. He has not asked us to do that. Of course that is Congress’s job, but they delayed merely because the former president asked them to, and that is political, not national security.

Remember that the speaker of the House refused to allow it to come to the floor for debate. When he finally did, the vote was quick and bipartisan. People died while they delayed, and the fact that they finally did the right thing clearly shows that the delay need not have happened.

Finally, sir, with respect for your service, you make statements about President Biden’s thinking, such as he may think he can control what happens in Ukraine or that his objective is to bring us into armed conflict, which are things you simply cannot know.

My one question: Why assume so much negativity? Slava Ukraine!

Carol A. Rader
DeLand