The Marines have landed.
No, not in Ukraine, but in Massachusetts. And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should be happy about it because at least two of them have his back.
They are Democratic U.S. Reps, Seth Moulton, 44, of Salem and Jake Auchincloss, 34, of Newton, both former combat tested U.S. Marine Corps officers now in Congress.
Both are also Harvard University graduates who joined the Marines shortly after graduation to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan when their country needed them. Both led troops into combat and survived to tell about it.
Moulton, elected to the U.S. House in 2012, served for seven years and left with the rank of captain.
Auchincloss, elected in 2020, served for five years and left with the rank of major.
Of the nine Massachusetts members of the U. S. House, and the state’s two senators, Moulton and Auchincloss are the only veterans, (Sen. Ed Markey served in the U.S. Army Reserve). They are also the only two with combat experience.
Moulton, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, has also visited Ukraine and met with Zelensky in Kiev.
Which means that the two bring to Congress a basic understanding of the military and what war is all about.
The Ukrainians believe that war is about freedom and defending their nation against Vladimir Putin’s criminal invasion.
And so far, with the support of the Biden administration, NATO, the Democratic Party and allies like Moulton and Auchincloss, the Ukrainians have put up a pretty good fight. In fact, they just may have Putin on the ropes.
That is why both Marines (there is no such thing as an ex-Marine) made their feelings known that it was imperative to continue to support Zelenskyy and the Ukrainians both economically and with the weapons they need for a Putin knockout.
The pair made their views known in response to the letter to President Biden, since withdrawn, from the Congressional Progressive Caucus, seeking a paring down of military aid to Ukraine and touting direct talks with Putin for a negotiated settlement of the war.
The letter was signed by 30 members of the Progressive Caucus, including Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Boston, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other members of the Squad.
The letter in part said, “Given the destruction created by this war for Ukraine and the world, as well as the risk of catastrophic escalation, we also believe it is in the interest of the United States and the world to avoid a prolonged conflict. For this reason, we urge you to pare (down) the military and economic support the United States has provided to Ukraine with a proactive diplomatic push, redoubling efforts to see a ceasefire.”
No sooner was the letter undermining the Democratic Party support for Ukraine made public, then Rep. Pramila Jayapal, facing an avalanche of criticism, withdrew the letter. She said it was inadvertently released without vetting.
That did not stop the two Massachusetts Marines from launching their attack on the withdrawn proposal, which was signed by one of their own members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation —Rep. Pressley.
Without naming Pressley, or anyone else, Captain Moulton said, “The suggestion that we make concessions on behalf of Ukraine is presumptuous, out of touch and would only embolden Putin.
“I’ve experienced the brutality of combat; no one wants to seek this war end more than I do. But by giving Putin what he wants, it makes things worse.”
Major Auchincloss said, “This letter is an olive branch to a war criminal who is losing his war. Ukraine is on the march. Congress should be standing firmly behind Joe Biden’s effective strategy, including tighter, not weaker, sanctions”
The Marines have landed, and progressives are in retreat.
Peter Lucas is a veteran Massachusetts political reporter and columnist.
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