Odious Comparisons

 

President Biden declared that the possible invasion of Ukraine by Russia would be the largest since World War II. For his part, Vladimir Putin has denounced the West’s inflammatory rhetoric. In my view, he has something of a point. And even Ukraine’s president has called for a tone-down.

I can understand why Mr. Biden went where he did. He has spent most of his life in the 20^th century, and World War II is still a significant reference point. Plus, it’s the last war we actually won – as it happened, with the Russians’ help.

To be clear, I support the steps NATO is taking to prepare for any Russian aggression, but tough action doesn’t always require tough talk, which can often lock the talker into implied action. Why bring up World War II unless you’re ready for World War III?

Comparisons have their flaws. The worst are the unbalanced ones. Those who compare vaccine mandates to an example of life in Nazi Germany just make themselves sound a little silly, or even cause offense, as when speakers throw in references to the Holocaust or Anne Frank. I have often said that if you’re involved in a modern political argument, any reference to Hitler blows it up. Nobody will listen to the point you’re trying to make after that.

Comparisons, of course, are usually intended to provide an idea of the size or severity of something, and the media use them a lot. Like comparing the number of COVID deaths in a day to the number lost in 9/11. Oher than the number, the apples are clearly far away from the oranges.

By the way, when it comes to invasions, the US has been just as aggressive as some of our adversaries, sending thousands of troops into countries to depose leaders we don’t like or prop up those we do. We don’t generally do these things to make our own country larger, but we have tried to expand our sphere of influence and impose our political values on others on the grounds of our own national security. That’s not too different from what Putin is doing.

Mr. Putin is not a nice fellow, and I’m sure many of us in the West will be thrilled when he’s replaced. In the meantime, I hope there is a way of convincing him that if he backs away from military action in Ukraine, he will not lose face – in fact, it could enhance his stature on the world stage, and we might stop comparing him to dictators present and past. We all should live so long.