Opinion | At Stake in the Ukraine-Russia War

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To the Editor:

Re “The Biden Administration Is Escalating the Struggle in Ukraine,” by Christopher Caldwell (Opinion visitor essay, Feb. 9):

As Vladimir Putin continues to escalate his struggle towards the civilian inhabitants of Ukraine with indiscriminate bombing of residence homes, hospitals, faculties and very important infrastructure, Mr. Caldwell makes an attempt to mount an argument that it’s the Biden administration that’s wrongly escalating the battle.

He writes that “Russians say it is a struggle by which Russia is preventing for its survival and towards america in an unfair international order by which america enjoys unearned privileges.”

Mr. Caldwell’s thesis appears to be that if we go away Ukraine in a comparatively weakened army place, peace will come by way of negotiations. We discovered nearly a century in the past how that type of appeasement technique is a recipe for catastrophe.

It’s Mr. Putin who’s now preventing for his personal survival, not the survival of Russia. And there’s no cause to imagine that he can or will decide on phrases that don’t contain the acquisition of considerable Ukrainian territory.

Is that an consequence that serves the pursuits of america, Europe or the remainder of the free world? I don’t suppose so.

Mark A. Jacoby
Palm Seaside, Fla.

To the Editor:

Christopher Caldwell’s essay criticizing the Biden administration for its army help of Ukraine and calling for negotiations seems to equate the invader and the invaded.

To seek advice from historical past as justification for bare aggression covers Vladimir Putin’s need to reconstitute Russian and Soviet empires. It’s dictatorship versus democracy.

By serving to Ukraine, NATO and the Biden administration are defending greater than Ukraine. They’re defending free nations previously underneath Russian domination and past.

To barter now would give Mr. Putin time to resume Russia’s army as a way to assault Ukraine with better drive.

Peace, which all of us need, will come when aggression is repelled.

Aaron Krauss
Margate, N.J.

To the Editor:

Christopher Caldwell’s considerations about additional escalation in Ukraine are fully legit and on level. The U.S. is funneling more and more highly effective weaponry to the Ukrainian Military and reveals no signal of stopping till Kyiv achieves its struggle aims. American weapons, to place it bluntly, are killing Russian troopers.

But it surely’s essential to notice that the Biden administration has to date been profitable in treading the road between helping Ukraine’s struggle effort and avoiding the type of escalation that would draw NATO and Russia right into a direct confrontation. The Russian Military has its arms full coping with a vigilant, extremely motivated Ukrainian army and is in no place to broaden the struggle by preventing 30 NATO members concurrently.

But as worn out because the Russian Military is, the U.S. and its allies in Europe mustn’t underestimate Vladimir Putin’s dedication to succeeding within the struggle — or a minimum of producing one thing that may be bought as a win again residence. Because of this rumors of some U.S. officers supporting a Ukrainian army offensive into Crimea are wholly irresponsible.

In contrast to different areas of Ukraine’s east and south, Russia has successfully managed the strategic peninsula for almost a decade. Simply as essential, Crimea is integrally tied to Mr. Putin’s personal legacy as a pacesetter. Shedding it’s merely not an possibility for him — and no person ought to dismiss his willingness to take extraordinary measures, together with presumably dabbling with nuclear weapons, to maintain it.

As troublesome as it’s for some to confess, the pursuits of the U.S. and Ukraine aren’t completely aligned. A battle over Crimea may deliver these variations to the forefront.

Daniel R. DePetris
New Rochelle, N.Y.
The author is a fellow at Protection Priorities, a overseas coverage suppose tank primarily based in Washington.

To the Editor:

Re “New York Drops Masking Rule for Hospitals” (information article, Feb. 12):

I’m appalled by the audacity of Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York State’s performing well being commissioner, Dr. James McDonald, in eradicating the masks mandate in well being settings within the state.

It will put medically fragile individuals and seniors at better threat of Covid and its extra dire penalties. The federal government has a duty to guard all of its residents.

Dr. McDonald admits that “the pandemic will not be over.” Why then are choices being made as if it’s?

The choice to go away masking guidelines as much as every well being facility is dangerous and unwell suggested; it have to be reversed.

How a lot of an inconvenience is it to put on a masks for one hour for a health care provider’s appointment, realizing that you can be saving somebody’s life?

Vitalah Gayle Simon
Armonk, N.Y.

Mr. Kristof highlights the true prices of large-scale pig manufacturing, whereas Ms. Tufekci discusses the hazard of H5N1 mutation by way of industrial poultry manufacturing.

As somebody who has labored since 2006 on avian influenza and rising pandemic threats in Africa and Southeast Asia, I used to be struck by the connection between these items. As we assess the dangers of future pandemics, it’s helpful to take a step again to look at the underlying parts of the risk.

The demand for animal protein and its manufacturing is a serious supply of threat for future influenza and coronavirus outbreaks. Since pigs and poultry are confirmed conduits for spillover to people, viral surveillance at these manufacturing services have to be a nationwide and worldwide precedence.

Jerry Martin
Gaithersburg, Md.
The author is former director of USAID’s Preparedness and Response Venture.

To the Editor:

Re “There Already Is a Higher Search Engine Than Google, and It’s Not ChatGPT,” by Farhad Manjoo (column, Feb. 4):

I’m an 80-year-old lady residing alone. I flip to YouTube first at any time when one thing goes amiss in my residence — principally within the space of know-how and generally even with recalcitrant home equipment. I do know sufficient to show off the facility sources to my home equipment earlier than I let YouTube assist me do its magic.

Other than the sensation of satisfaction I get from fixing an annoying downside, YouTube relieves me of the burden of calling my sons for assist. Though they at all times are keen to return to my help, I understand how exasperating an aged, needy mom might be.

And apart from, my sons are quick approaching the age the place they too should flip to their super-savvy children for assist.

Nancy Wergeles
Marina del Rey, Calif.

To the Editor:

Whereas I completely agree that watching YouTube movies could be very useful to discover ways to do a pirouette or repair the kitchen drainpipe, I take difficulty with it as a go-to analysis instrument.

There are already approach too many children (and possibly adults) who’ve neither the flexibility or stamina to learn by way of a prolonged article so that you can recommend that they additional cut back their talent degree by having them study from movies as an alternative of phrases.

This former English trainer encourages studying.

Mindi Lo Cicero
Yonkers, N.Y.