1. United States
2. La.
3. Letter

I’m watching people in Tbilisi and elsewhere in Georgia protest a threatened turn away from the west. I’m watching President Biden try to ensure the Ukrainian people can keep their country whole. I’m thinking about our allies in NATO, who must be watching this in horror, considering the dismissive and thuggish and completely irresponsible way Trump them and NATO in his first term. Will we stand by and watch, as he suggested, Putin do whatever he pleases in Europe? This will be America’s legacy? Not the Marshall Plan? Not exporting democracy? Not being part of the balance of power that has prevented another World War for for 80 years? Who will ever trust us, share intelligence with us, who will cooperate with us, help us when we’re under attack in the future? What kind of relationships are built through extortion and threats? Half of this country voted for a high functioning government. We continue to demand it. The balance of global power is at stake. Do something.