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Duty is not the right way to frame the situation. This is more about the overall goals of US foreign policy. If the US wants to maintain a favorable status quo

Duty is not the right way to frame the situation. This is more about the overall goals of US foreign policy. If the US wants to maintain a favorable status quo and its position as the dominant superpower, it must support Ukraine until Russia admits failure and withdraws its troops. The current world order is based on a simple deal. The US supports friendly countries around the world and provides them security against regional threats. Those countries in turn support US policy goals in faraway issues they wouldn't otherwise care about. On the other hand, if the US is happy to be just a regional power that doesn't care about what happens on the other side of the Atlantic and the Pacific, it has no duty to support Ukraine.

KerrAvon 3y ago
> On the other hand, if the US is happy to be just a regional power that doesn't care about what happens on the other side of the Atlantic and the Pacific, it has no duty to support Ukraine. The consequences of such a mindset need to be understood: this would be catastrophic for US business interests and economy. Not saying you're unaware, but others might be.
- weard_beard 3y ago
  Many Americans romanticize the idea of business interests and the economy failing. We are well past levels of wealth inequality that aught to cause bloodshed. The US will have its hands full with its own insurrections. A civil war would hamper power projection around the globe. Its good to see Japan released from its pacifist obligations. Now the US can get onto the business of civil war 2. End slavery again.
rich_sasha 3y ago
This, I fully agree with. My point is only, sad as it is, I don't see America's disengagement as in flagrant violation to it's pre-2022 commitments. The sad counterpart to the great institution that is NATO is that NATO countries won't go out of their way to defend non-NATO countries. NATO already is a stretch of capabilities and goodwill, and I think it's telling that the fractures that show go along cultural boundaries: the "loosest" parts of NATO right now are US and Turkey. Again, I think NATO and US would be stupid to not continue supporting Ukraine, just not because they are reneging on an alliance.
tmcdos 3y ago
The world does not need a single superpower - it needs multiple medium powers, preferably equal powers. A single superpower is like a very big market monopoly. Nobody besides the owner is happy - including the employees of the monopoly.

KerrAvon 3y ago

> On the other hand, if the US is happy to be just a regional power that doesn't care about what happens on the other side of the Atlantic and the Pacific, it has no duty to support Ukraine. The consequences of such a mindset need to be understood: this would be catastrophic for US business interests and economy. Not saying you're unaware, but others might be.

weard_beard 3y ago
Many Americans romanticize the idea of business interests and the economy failing. We are well past levels of wealth inequality that aught to cause bloodshed. The US will have its hands full with its own insurrections. A civil war would hamper power projection around the globe. Its good to see Japan released from its pacifist obligations. Now the US can get onto the business of civil war 2. End slavery again.

rich_sasha 3y ago

This, I fully agree with. My point is only, sad as it is, I don't see America's disengagement as in flagrant violation to it's pre-2022 commitments. The sad counterpart to the great institution that is NATO is that NATO countries won't go out of their way to defend non-NATO countries. NATO already is a stretch of capabilities and goodwill, and I think it's telling that the fractures that show go along cultural boundaries: the "loosest" parts of NATO right now are US and Turkey. Again, I think NATO and US would be stupid to not continue supporting Ukraine, just not because they are reneging on an alliance.

tmcdos 3y ago

The world does not need a single superpower - it needs multiple medium powers, preferably equal powers. A single superpower is like a very big market monopoly. Nobody besides the owner is happy - including the employees of the monopoly.