• by Dave Morgan , Featured Contributor, March 14, 2024

We are living in important times.

You only need to turn on the news to know that much is happening right now that will determine the future of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and the shape of the world that our children and grandchildren will live in over the next decades.

No one can be America-first and not recognize that the interests of Ukraine and Israel are very aligned with those of the U.S., both now and over the long term, democratically, economically and militarily. Our arms are linked with Ukraine and Israel as allies today in ways that many of the historical allies of America can’t or won’t be part of anymore.

Ukraine and Israel are fighting our wars. They are democratic nations with peoples that enjoy extraordinary freedom and liberty and rule of law, something that threatens many of their neighbors who want to eradicate them and the lifestyle and freedom their people enjoy. To be clear, Russia, Iran and North Korea want Ukraine and Israel eradicated. Full stop.

They need our help. Great allies aren’t always perfectly aligned on all issues. Leaders change. Governments change. Public opinions shift. But alliances between strong peoples, nations and fundamental beliefs survive, as long as we are there for each other.

That is why treaties are signed and ratified. That is why we come to the aid of each other in times of need. That is why shared defense organizations like NATO are born, nourished and depended on.

Of course, the United States faces security challenges on multiple fronts: our own borders, the Pacific Rim with Chinese encroachments on shipping channels. We have a set of allies in western Europe with little growth, limited armed forces, and little appetite to directly confront their largest energy supplier, Russia.

This is the time for partnership and alliance with America to matter. We need to be there for our allies, through thick and thin, supplying military and humanitarian aid -- and clear public support for their positions as independent, democratic nations with freely elected leaders.

If we are not there for our partners today, we certainly won’t have partners who are there for us over the next decades as we increasingly need them.