We all know that the Trump Administration is enthusiastic about redefining and renaming things. “Gulf of America”. “Lake America”. Canada as the ’51st state’. Civil rights means protecting white people from discrimination. Creative folks. These ridiculous barbs and spats are embarrassments, unstatesmanlike, and lowly. They demean the status of a once respected and respectable nation. But one event from this week is more singularly triggering of the decline in America as a defining beacon of freedom and democracy in the world.
Russia agreed to release Steve Hubbard, a 74 year old retired teacher from Michigan imprisoned in Russia on charges of being a mercenary in Ukraine. This was after he was physically and sexually assaulted while imprisoned for four years. The President claimed that he got Hubbard released in exchange for nothing, although the multi-billion sanctions exemption that the President gifted to Russia last week may have played a role. All of this is the normal chess game between the US and Russia, where humans are mere pawns.
But special envoy Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s diplomatic trustee (and business partner in World Liberty Financial), whose failures to end wars in Gaza, Ukraine, and Iran only get him promoted to ‘negotiate’ more capitulating agreements, reached a new low by calling President Vladimir Putin a humanitarian who he “salutes” and “commends”. Yes, diplomats need to show respect for the parties they have direct negotiations with. They thank them for taking the talks seriously, and for taking the time they are taking, and for making progress (even when no progress is made). But publicly saluting a despot is beyond the pale.
A humanitarian is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as a person who works to improve human welfare, reduce suffering, and protect human dignity. Over 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted by Russian forces in its war with that country. Over 17,000 civilians have been killed by Russia, with over 55,000 injuries from their missiles and rockets – that’s more than twice the number of combatant casualties that the US suffered during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Putin’s forces have been found to have committed sexual violence in its terror campaign against Ukraine – nearly 900 documented cases. Russia has been financing Iran for years, purchasing their oil and sometimes blending it with their own to avoid sanctions. Putin has been filling its armed forces with convicts to use as fodder in their never-ending war on Ukraine, to minimize the political backlash from the public and likely lower their costs. Over 1 million Russian casualties in Ukraine, with over 400,000 deaths.
That does not describe a humanitarian. That describes a power-hungry, sadistic despot. I doubt that the released hostage (because that’s what Steve Hubbard was), who was physically and sexually assaulted, would agree with Witcoff’s label for Putin. No American representative should.
And the national disgrace continues…
