Frontline

Everyone should watch the Frontline show “Putin’s Road to War.” It was a timely video primer of Putin’s two decades in power. It was also a reminder of how the West has enabled Putin at every turn. To be honest, I think I was more livid at what past American and European leaders failed to do in response to every Putin action. I forgot some of the things Frontline detailed. Still, it was overwhelmingly obvious that the Putin character we see today and the actions he has taken in Ukraine were all wholly expected. Putin laid out his grievances before the entire world for all to hear and see nearly from the beginning of his presidency, namely, he lamented the fall of the U.S.S.R. and the rise of America and democracy. In response, the West ignored him and allowed him to threaten, bomb, poison, assassinate, and wage war without consequence long before he invaded Ukraine. No wonder Putin felt like Ukraine would be just one more consequence-free endeavor because the world singled to him for nearly two decades that it would be, just like every other time. Putin himself certainly paved the road to war, but the West installed and controlled the traffic lights, which have constantly been flashing green! I was reminded all over again of why I fear the West, in the final analysis, may not be up to the task to rid the world of Putin. The West fears him and more grievously the West fears standing up for democracy. I’m sorry to have to remind people, but democracy does not come without struggle. In fact, sometimes democracies need to go on the offensive — first.