Cole remains supportive of aid to Ukraine

U.S. Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole said he still strongly supports the idea of aid to Ukraine, whatever it takes, as long as it takes.

“I’m still there,” the Oklahoma Republican said last week, adding strong feelings also are evident among the chairs of the House’s Armed Services, Intelligence and Foreign Affairs committees because any measures that degrade the Russian military are important.

But Cole also concedes the GOP has shifted on the issue. He said there are some legitimate questions, adding some stem from the fact that the Biden Administration has not laid out its case for support very well. Cole said former President Donald Trump supported lethal aid to Ukraine, which is something the current administration should have acted on more quickly.

“We should have sent lethal aid earlier,” he said, adding experts were telling congressional leaders something was going to happen in that area before it did.

But there have been miscalculations on both sides, Cole said, explaining Russian President Vladimir Putin was surprised because he did not believe the U.S. would give support to Ukraine. Russians also didn’t believe Europe would support Ukraine, or that the country would fight as long as it has. On the U.S. side, this country under-estimated the Ukrainian president and over-estimated Russia.

Cole cautioned that doesn’t mean a predictable outcome, adding Russia typically wins “by outlasting you.”

“They are good at griming it out,” he said.

Russia seriously under-estimated European allies, said Cole, a student of history and political science. Cole said Finland and Sweden overturned 80 years of tradition by supporting NATO, while Germany sent arms to a foreign country for the first time since 1944. Cole said when he talked to the German ambassador, she told him the country didn’t have a choice, adding German leaders didn’t think this type of action would happen again in Europe.

“That’s why Germany had to engage,” he said.

Cole said there are deep splits on the question of providing a new aid package to Ukraine. While Democrats are committed because of Biden, Cole said Republicans have shifted on the question, a problem caused by the way Biden pulled out of Afghanistan. And Biden should have sent lethal aid sooner, Cole said, adding that for himself, he believes the U.S. must support Ukraine. He doesn’t agree with the Trumpian policy that says the U.S. should deviate from NATO in many cases and pretty much look after itself.

“I think that is wrong and a short-sighted view,” Cole said, adding the U.S. has strong, traditional links with allies who have always been wiling to support U.S. efforts when this country tackled an international issue, a cooperation at risk as European allies begin to wonder what is going on in the U.S.

Cole also touched on the issue of funding the government: he believes action will be taken to avoid a government shutdown in March. He reiterated that defense funding is crucial, pointing out defense is one of the appropriations bill House members have passed, even if the Senate has not.

Cole said defense is the reason he doesn’t like the idea of a continuing resolution to keep the government going, because that would mean across the board cuts and defense must not sustain a loss given world events. Critical issues go beyond Ukraine and Israel, Cole said, adding activities in the western Pacific are deeply concerning, even if they haven’t drawn the attention Israel and Ukraine have. He cites comments made by an intelligence expert who told congressional members “every red light I know is blinking.”