The Dec. 8 letter [“Some things are worth fighting for”] took issue with the Dec. 1 guest column by John Berkowitz about the Ukraine War [“Negotiate with Russia or risk World War III”]. The letter writer said Russia kidnapped over 20,000 Ukrainian children at the beginning of the war, and for such a crime Ukraine deserves our continued support to defeat Russia.
But we all know that propaganda is real, governments lie, and in war the first casualty is truth. Remember Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction? Or Israel’s allegation of mass rape by Hamas on Oct. 7, which has since been refuted even by Israeli media? In this case, I’ve read over 10 articles by credible independent journalists and others who have debunked this kidnapping allegation.
Russia did take many children out of eastern Ukraine in 2022. But most of these children’s families consented to their being evacuated to safety, not abducted. Millions of these Ukrainians, for the previous eight years, had been resisting their own government’s brutal and repressive policies toward anyone who spoke and sided with Russia. That brutality by the Kiev forces included many war crimes, such as shelling that killed thousands of innocent civilians and children.
I encourage readers to look for yourself as I have. For example, Max Blumenthal of The Gray Zone. It’s led me to seriously question the allegation of mass kidnapping of children. And I agree with John Berkowitz that this war must end before Ukraine loses even more soldiers and territory. That’s not capitulation: it’s recognizing the painful reality of a hard-fought war lost, and saving precious lives and land needed for post-war reconstruction.
Kirsten Taranto
Northampton