Joint Chiefs Chair General Mark Milley has a grim assessment of the war in Ukraine: “I do think this is a very protracted conflict and I think it’s at least measured in years. I don’t know, about a decade, but at least years for sure.”
Years. Can you imagine this going on for that long? From afar, that seems unbelievable. What about living in the middle of it?
The evidence mounts that Russia has committed war crimes. What has happened in Bucha could well qualify as genocide. President Volodymyr Zelensky certainly thinks so.
Speaking to the U.N. Security Council, Zelensky called for a tribunal to investigate war crimes. “Anyone who has given criminal orders and carried out them by killing our people will be brought before the tribunal. It should be similar to the Nuremberg Tribunals.”
Zelensky is referring to the trials held after World War Two against Nazi Germany.
The problem with war crimes and genocide is trying to prove them. MSNBC talked to a former war crimes prosecutor and genocide expert, Gregory Gordon: “ It is extremely difficult to make these cases. You have to have solid witness testimony. You have to have good documentation. And those are things that I hope the investigators who are being sent to Ukraine now are taking care of.”
That’s why the survivors of Bucha have been told to leave things alone as much as they can until investigators arrive.
Even if Vladimir Putin is put on trial for war crimes or genocide, it’s a long way off. Right now, Ukraine needs help. Lots of it.
The White House has announced more sanctions against Russia. These would crack down on investments there as well as financial institutions.
Press Secretary Jen Psaki: “What we are doing and what we are already seeing effectively happen is the financial system in Russia is near the brink of collapse.”
The White House has also said another transfer of arms to Ukraine. $100 million dollars worth. That’s part of the $13 billion dollar aid package already approved by Congress.
I think it’s going to take more than that. Lots more if the Pentagon is right. Years of war. Unimaginable.