The Whiplash You Feel? After Steadily Defending Putin Amid Invasion, Republicans Change Course
Republican senator adds voice to calls for "no-fly zone"
Last week, the de facto leader of the Republican Party declared Russian leader Vladimir Putin a “genius” for his invasion of Ukraine, going so far as to suggest that Americans borrow Putin's lawless violence at the nation’s southern border.
But come Monday — with Putin's war raging still across sovereign, democratic Ukraine — one of the most senior Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee is suggesting that the United States risk direct nuclear conflict with Russia and establish a “no-fly zone” in the skies over Ukraine.
If you're confused, don't be.
This is just another “believe whatever was the latest uttering from on-high” among the political right, with just a dash of political fast-stepping after most of the American people ultimately came down siding with Ukraine — and against Putin.
Even Donald Trump, himself, has been caught changing his tune.
After being perhaps Putin's biggest cheerleader in the West and talking of taking the United States out of NATO as president, Trump came out with a statement Monday taking credit for the venerable military alliance.
Not everybody was buying the political switcheroo.
“For people who love to boast about Trump’s cognitive tests, these people are having trouble remembering how much they loved Putin just a week ago,” quipped former network newsman Dan Rather.
Sen Mitt Romney of Utah, who voted to convict Trump in his Ukraine scandal-related first impeachment, also harshly criticized those who would defend Putin for invading a sovereign neighbor.
“How anybody in this country which loves freedom can side with Vladimir Putin, who is an oppressor, a dictator ... He's been an adversary of America at every chance he's had. It's unthinkable to me. It's almost treasonous,” Romney told CNN.
Dan Pereira, a left-leaning social media influencer, went even further, calling out former secretary of state Mike Pompeo and Fox News personality Tucker Carlson, as well.
“Trump, Mike Pompeo, Tucker Carlson & all Republicans who supported #Putin calling him a genius, strong, savvy, etc.. are NOT allowed to gaslight Americans! These #Traitors cant be suddenly anti Putin cuz the World is against this #Invasion which is also going poorly for #Russia!” Pereira tweeted.
The change has been felt among right-wing media, as well.
“Anyone else notice Fox News do a complete 180 and now are trying to be Anti-Putin?” asked left-leaning social media influencer Nathalie Jacoby.
To the degree that President Biden seems to be getting at least some credit for his handling of the Ukraine invasion, one senior Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee appears to be attempting to outflank the president politically by trying to at least appear, even more pro-Ukraine.
Sen Roger Wicker, of Mississippi specifically called for establishment of a no-fly zone in the skies over embattled Ukraine, echoing a call made by Ukraine's president himself.
“Clearly, in the absence of a U.N. resolution, which Russia would veto, a strong coalition of like-minded nations should step in and seriously consider this,” Wicker told a reporter.
Such a step, however, would put the United States and NATO directly on the path to direct confrontation with a nuclear-armed Russia.
“THAT’S INSANE. It will lead to a shooting war between Russia & NATO,” replied Norm Risen, a senior fellow at the Brookings think tank in Washington DC.
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