Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, in a 1948 speech to the British House of Commons said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” He was referring to the 1939 invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany. Back then, Adolf Hitler was the dictator of note; now Vladimir Putin is the dictator.
This happened less than 100 years ago. It was before the birth of most Americans. Back then, Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister before Churchill, negotiated to appease Adolf Hitler.
Now we have the de facto leader of most U.S. House Republicans, Donald Trump, arguing that we should abandon Ukraine and NATO by not supporting Ukraine with ammunition and weapons. He says Putin will win, so why spend the money? He would permit Russia to conquer Ukraine — and from there, to invade Poland and other European countries.
In a few short years, the U.S. armed forces could be drafting our young men to go fight in Europe. In a few short years, we could wake up to find that our Alaska military bases, our airports or our oil pipeline had been destroyed in a missile attack. We would find that our way of life has been changed. Our American freedoms, our savings, our houses, our jobs, and our pensions will be taken from us.
I urge all Alaska residents to review the history of World War II. I implore the U.S. Senate and U.S. House to not repeat the errors of the past.
— Jack Bohnert
Wasilla
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