Are we ready for another war?

OPINION:

Could Ukraine become another Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan for the U.S.? Should we send armed forces to fight the Russians?

Each new war has similarities to past wars — and differences. But the proven historical truth is that it is easy to get into a war, and hard to get out. The militaries of most countries seem to think that starting small is the easy way to minimize casualties, so they can pull out if need be. But once our soldiers die, it actually becomes much more difficult for peace because then we think, “They cannot have died in vain.”

We have to ask ourselves how many deaths we are willing to risk for another war. How many dead is the price of freedom? Even if we devastated Russian forces in Ukraine, what would a nuclear-powered Vladimir Putin do then?

On the other, ugly hand, peace and freedom only happen when enough people are willing to kill and die for it.

LEIGHTON LOO

Mililani, Hawaii