I could not disagree with you more - and good guy versus bad guys has absolutely nothing to do with it. From a national interest perspective, we have every reason to support Ukraine and would be fools to allow Putin to re-assimilate Ukraine into the Russian empire. He would add 25-30% to his population - a group of people who are well educated and extremely innovative. He further would add both the European bread basket and a vast region of natural resources to that resurgent realm. Indeed, he would largely have recreated the Soviet post-war resource and population base. In no reading of national interests is such an outcome remotely in ours or Western Europe's strategic interests.
But it is worse. Prior to the invasion, Xi and China clearly saw the reemergence of a powerful successful militaristic Russian state astride the Eurasian Continent as a threat which inevitably would divide American focus from the Pacific and become a perpetual drain on US resources for decades to come further enabling Chinese strategic goals. And by drain, I do not mean the round-off pittance we have given Ukraine to date, but the sort of staggering investments we made in defense during the Cold War (5% of GDP then vice 3% now). To me it is almost incomprehensible how anyone with any understanding of history or real world experience can't clearly see that threat.
The Nazi business is a red herring promulgated by Russian propaganda, and eagerly embraced by those opposed to our support of Ukraine. Yes, during WWII, many Ukrainians initially welcomed the Germans as liberators rather than continue to live under what was essentially Russian Imperial occupation. Ukrainian units were formed that fought under German leadership. The Azov brigade proudly traces its heritage to those units. That is a very far thing from being Nazis and no legitimate Western commentator believes there are any real fascists in Ukraine.
Whatever the republican party does to obstruct aid to Ukraine furthers Russian strategic goals. That is a fact. There is no military action Putin's forces could have taken last year that would have done more damage to Ukraine than delaying American aid by six-months. Putin should award the Freedom Caucus Hero of the Motherland medals in Red Square.
There are no white knights in this fight. There is only the cold assessment of American national interests. It is truly dumbfounding to me that isn't obvious to even the most petulant Trump foreign policy apologist.
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