In his column today about Biden, Ross Douthat has a throwaway line: "this week, the nation that we’ve been arming for a defensive war decided to invade Russia". Given his past stance on funding Ukraine (he's skeptical), I don't think I'm reading in too much to think he's saying that it's inconsistent or an abuse of our support for Ukraine to go on the offensive if it's fighting a defensive war. But that's such a nonsensical standard! When you're attacked, you're in a defensive war; anything you do to win the war is defense. I have no idea if invading Kursk is a good strategy, but it's just as "defensive" as anything else if the goal is to bring Putin to terms.
Imagine applying this standard to other wars:
I thought we were sending materials to Britain for defense; now they're bombing the Italian fleet in Taranto? What's with the aggression?
Or:
Sure, the US was attacked at Pearl Harbor, but now with the Doolittle Raid they've apparently decided they're too good to fight on defense!
Or:
NATO bombing Bosnian Serb targets, huh? So much for a "defensive war"!
Actually, he probably did actually come out with that one at some point…
Posted by tomemosZH
1 Comment
Douthat has never in his entire sadsack life said anything worthwhile or in good faith.
After being a subscriber to the NYT for many years, I cut my subscription because I refuse to have a single penny of mine however indirectly going to a waste of oxygen like Douthat.
Fuck Douthat. Fuck the NYT. Fuck conservative Putin simps.