By Benjamin Giltner
A debate has emerged about whether the U.S. should implement a “no-fly zone” over the skies of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky requested that the U.S. create this no-fly zone over Ukraine when he addressed the U.S. Congress. As many already recognize, the U.S. implementing such a no-fly zone has the potential to bring unfathomable consequences.
While this debate is extremely important, another development needs further examination: entangling allies—especially exemplified in Poland’s offer to send fighter jets to Ukraine. At essence, Poland sought to send an expected offer of MiG-209 fighter jets to Germany so that the U.S. could send them into Ukraine. In an act of wisdom, U.S. officials dismissed this offer, citing that it did not want to have NATO directly involved in the war.
Still, what is to prevent Poland, or another NATO member, from making a bolder decision in the war in Ukraine? What if the U.S. becomes unintentionally entrapped in this war? After all, Carl von Clausewitz asserted in his infamous book, On War, that war is based on chance and uncertainty. We do not want to be caught on the wrong side of chance in this war in Ukraine.
This piece was originally published in Orange County Register on April 6, 2022. Read more HERE.