OPINION:
As we honor our veterans today, we should also remember the lives lost on Nov. 11, 1918, the day the armistice ending World War I went into effect. American, British and French military commanders were unsure if the rumored armistice, scheduled for 11 a.m., was a German feint to outwit the Allies.
Instead of waiting until they were certain the Germans were surrendering, the commanders ordered offensive actions on Nov. 11 that resulted in 11,000 soldiers killed, wounded or missing in action. As a point of reference, that’s more than the number of casualties sustained on D-Day.
Whether Russia’s withdrawal of its troops from Kherson is a feint designed to lull Ukrainian forces into a trap remains to be seen. In the meantime, Volodymyr Zelenskyy should keep in mind the Russian proverb: Trust, but verify.
PAUL L. NEWMAN
Merion Station, Pennsylvania
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