Letter: USA is in a high-stakes struggle

Published 1:51 pm Monday, April 25, 2022

As World War II engulfed Western Europe in early 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt had to strengthen the USA’s future allies, without directly entering a war for which weary Americans were not yet ready. Sound familiar?

Roosevelt rose to the occasion with the Lend-Lease act and other measures. (See www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/lend-lease-act).

Along with others in the Russian government, Putin has made it clear that he doesn’t intend to stop with Ukraine. Russia continues to raise the stakes of the current invasion.

Much of the work of defending democracy — in Ukraine, Taiwan, and everywhere — must be done in secret. Even the public work requires teamwork. President Biden and the USA are in a life-and-death struggle with the adversaries of democracy, freedom, and peace.

Our country remains in history’s wide and powerful stream — with opportunities to defend democracy or to leave it defenseless. What will our leaders choose now? What will our people choose?

DAVE CUNDIFF

Ilwaco