Sorting Out Blame in the Ukraine War

To the Editor:

Re “U.S. Helps Prolong Ukraine War” (Opinion guest essay, June 4):

Christopher Caldwell essentially suggests that Russia has a claim to Crimea, that the U.S. should have let the Russians seize Ukraine to reduce destruction and loss of life, and that calling Vladimir Putin a war criminal made him commit more war crimes.

This nonsensical self-flagellation ignores the prior Russian attacks on Georgia and the Donbas region of Ukraine, and the history of Mr. Putin’s desire to restore the U.S.S.R., at least geographically.

Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange for protection. Allowing the country to be ripped apart is morally corrupt and emboldens countries like Russia, and possibly China (regarding Taiwan) and others, by demonstrating that there are few real consequences to seizing territory.

David J. Melvin
Chester, N.J.

To the Editor:

Christopher Caldwell is mistaken in blaming the United States for prolonging the war by sending advanced weapons to the Ukrainian military. The real responsibility for extending this conflict lies not with the U.S. but with the Ukrainians themselves.

They have decided that it is better to suffer death and destruction than to succumb to a Russian effort to destroy their independence and freedom. In so doing, they have earned much of the world’s admiration while dealing a grievous blow to the cause of autocracies everywhere.

Rather than “sleepwalking” into a conflict with Russia, America is enabling a brave people to take a stand against aggression now, making it less likely that the U.S. would have to face a far more costly war in the future.

Steven R. David
Baltimore
The writer is a professor of international relations at Johns Hopkins University.

To the Editor:

Christopher Caldwell writes most convincingly that prolonging the war in Ukraine is a recipe for disaster. With the United States fueling the war with weapons and logistics, Ukrainians are duped into thinking they can win.

As Mr. Caldwell observes, U.S. policy has only resulted in thousands more deaths. If the Biden administration is to do the right thing, it will start by acknowledging the truths of Mr. Caldwell’s words.

Jerome Donnelly
Winter Park, Fla.

‘Heart-Wrenching Testimony,’ but a Doomed Gun Bill

To the Editor:

Re “House Passes Bill to Impose Limits on Sales of Guns” (front page, June 9):

So the House has passed a modest bill that seeks to stop ready access of weapons of war to people too young to drink, and it faces almost certain defeat in the Senate.

It is my fervent hope that the doomed Senate vote is shown on prime-time television. Americans need to see how their senators vote; senators need to be held to account. Next time there is a mass shooting, and there will be a next time, we will know exactly who was complicit.

Remember, America, we can change this. We are greater in number and influence than the N.R.A.

Christine Thoma
Basking Ridge, N.J.

To the Editor:

As I listened to the heart-wrenching testimony of the latest victims of gun violence, my thoughts turned to my energetic 21-month-old granddaughter. Not yet old enough for school, she has her whole life ahead of her, filled with birthdays, graduations, college, a career and, if she chooses, marriage and children.

I’m 68 years old, and I’ll not likely live long enough to celebrate all of these milestones. My only question is: Will she?

Robert D. Rauch
Queens

To the Editor:

Re “Man With Pistol, Crowbar and Zip Ties Is Arrested Near Kavanaugh’s Home” (news article, June 9):

The contrast is striking. A Supreme Court justice is threatened, but safe, and Mitch McConnell urges Congress to pass a bill to protect justices “before the sun sets today.”

The same day, families of gun violence tell of personal tragedies that will never fade, children’s lives lost, and yet nothing but platitudes from the Republicans.

Peter Mandelson
Barrington, R.I.

U.S. Inaction on Climate Change

To the Editor:

Re “Trump’s Policies Held Back U.S. in Climate Ranking” (news article, May 31):

You report that the United States has moved from 15th to 101st place in the climate metrics used in the Environmental Performance Index, thanks to the refusal by Donald Trump and the Republicans to take action on climate change. Out of 177 nations we rank 101st.

As a result we risk cities flooding, unprecedented heat waves, terrifying storms, widespread water shortages, the extinction of a million species of plants and animals, and severe food shortages.

What is wrong with our country, our government leadership and our people? The window to avert catastrophic climate change is quickly closing. Look around you!

Is it going to take huge amounts of human tragedy for us to act?

Lena G. French
Pasadena, Calif.

An Insult to Poll Workers

To the Editor:

Continuing Republican claims of widespread voter fraud are insults to the honest, hard-working poll workers and volunteers who know the procedures and observe the laws that ensure that ballots are valid and counted properly.

Those insults should be met with outrage, not only from those workers but also from the American public at large.

David M. Behrman
Houston