Yes. Ukraine is different. The people of Ukraine have embraced Democracy and are fighting hard for it. Which the people of Afghanistan and Iraq have never done. So, yes, Ukraine is different.
If the Russians succeed in Ukraine, it will feed their ambitions. The next great dictator will want his great conquest. Of the Baltic States. And maybe Poland.
The greatest accomplishment of the Greatest Generation was the establishing of Democracy in Western and Central Europe. Which has since spread.
Should we nullify this great accomplishment?
Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in the entire world which is why it was never allowed in NATO. It is run by oligarchs. Ironically modeled on the Russian system of corruption. Which is why Hunter Biden did business there. In a true democracy, the wishes the citizens who live there would be given consideration. Many of those in the disputed regions of Ukraine prefer Russian rule and have been fighting for such for years before the current conflict. Many don't care one way or the other. They likely prefer Russian rule to the destruction of their homes and deaths of their families in a war.
You have been sold a comic book version of the situation by those who tried to connect this conflict somehow with the fake "threat to democracy" narrative deriving from the anti-Trump conspiracy narrative. The leftist radicals who typically oppose such pointless foreign conflicts ate this narrative up for that reason. It's not support for Ukrainian democracy that is behind leftist support for Ukraine, but the anti-Trump hysteria that "authoritarians" are out to destroy democracy. Cue spooky music. The political narrative driving US involvement here has no more credibility than the lies told to justify Vietnam (communist expansion), Afghanistan (nation building), and Iraq (weapons of mass destruction). The people of these countries "didn't fight hard enough"? LOL. The results will be similar. Years of escalating war that maximizes destruction to Ukraine and leaves the country in complete ruin with tens of thousands killed. But only after the US has paid out trillions to military contractors who kick back contributions to the politicians. And then on to the next war. Do you ever wonder why the US ends up funding these foreign wars? How much money does Iceland or Mexico send? Do they not support "democracy"? The US will be there for years long after every other country has concluded it is pointless.
