Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) said Sunday that isolationism has always been “wrong” and “dangerous” after some public figures called for a non-interventionist strategy in the Ukraine-Russian conflict.
When asked by host Margaret Brennan on CBS’ “Face the Nation” about Ohio Senate candidate J.D. Vance, who told the podcast host he doesn’t care what happens in Ukraine, and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) ), who said the United States should not send troops to Ukraine to fight because it is “not in our security interest,” Cheney said isolationism “has always been wrong.”
“We’ve been down this road before,” Cheney said. “We have seen isolationism on both sides, which has always been wrong and has always been perilous. America cannot defend and maintain our own freedom and security if we think we will simply withdraw from the world rather than lead. “
GOP representative @Liz_Cheney calls some other Republicans’ isolationist stance on Ukraine “wrong.” pic.twitter.com/zqD2s5Soqh
— Face to face with the nation (@FaceTheNation) February 27, 2022
Vance, also author of “Hillbilly Elegy” he said during an appearance on Stephen Bannon’s show earlier this month that he didn’t care about Ukraine, arguing instead that the crisis at the US-Mexico border was more significant.
“I don’t care what happens to Ukraine one way or another,” he said. “I care very much that in my community, the leading cause of death for 18-45-year-olds right now is Mexican fentanyl, which is coming through the southern border.”
Vance since then indicated that he cares and blames the elites for the situation in Ukraine.
And Hawley told CBS News last week that the US could not afford to send more troops to Europe, and explained that the US should reduce its military presence in Europe to focus on the threat from China.
“I am against engaging them in fighting,” he said. This is not in our security interest, we can and should take other actions in Europe that will be harsh towards Russia. We must focus on our number one security priority, East Asia. This is China.”
Pointing to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of a “democratic, sovereign nation” in Ukraine, Cheney said the isolationist position was “morally wrong” and “indefensible.”
“We are watching Vladimir Putin’s brutality today as he attempts to invade a democratic, sovereign nation,” Cheney said. “And anyone who thinks that the freedom and security of the United States will be maintained if we take a step back and do not take the lead need only look at what is happening in Ukraine to recognize that those who are filling the void left by the United States , far away, there are people like Russians, like Chinese, like Iranians.”
“So the idea that the world will be safe and that America will be safe and free through an isolationist approach is wrong,” she continued. “It is also morally wrong. You know, America stands for freedom. America was founded on the founding principles of freedom. And I think it is indefensible when people abandon them or suggest that we have no point of view in this battle between Russia and Ukraine.”
