Sometimes it is easy to work out the right thing to do and the right place to be. In the 1980’s, serving in the military as part of the NATO defense forces in west Germany made simple sense to me- the Soviet Union on our Eastern border had been the greatest threat to freedom since the cold war began in 1945. Today, the free world understands that Russia is again under the control of a dictator who has brutally invaded a neighboring country which posed no threat, while keeping all details of the war from his own subjects. The Ukrainians have made clear what they can and will do – their choice also made simple sense to them. The decision for NATO and its leaders is, of course, a trickier one. The only clarity is that the strategy must be based on strength in unity amongst the allies, whether imposing sanctions or sending military aid. That will be easier to maintain, as with any alliance, if we show a willingness to share burdens where they fall unequally amongst partners.
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