Benedict Arnold’s plan to undermine his country’s fight for independence against the British was to weaken its defenses at West Point, N.Y., a major port.
Arnold’s deceit was discovered when his British intelligence contact was captured.
Historians say two things accounted for Arnold’s betrayal: an insatiable ego and debt.
Not satisfied with Gen. George Washington’s methodical promotions, Arnold turned traitor at the promise of a handsome reward if he led Washington’s troops into his trap.
When Washington was given proof of Arnold’s treason, he said, “Arnold has betrayed me. Whom can we trust now?”
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, all of Western Europe and now Canada can relate.
In the last several weeks, the Trump administration has upended 80 years of diplomacy between the U.S. and Europe. Longtime friends are now suspects.
Trump is now saying he finds it “more difficult to deal” with Ukraine while our former arch-enemy, Russia, is “doing very well” in negotiating an end to the Ukraine-Russia war.
Trump is not “negotiating.” Rather, he is cutting Ukraine off at the knees.
That’s because it’s easier.
Trump likes to make deals over the tedious work of reaching a compromise. He’s betting that because Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is willing to sacrifice as many lives as it takes to overrun Ukraine, he’ll eventually succeed.
Those ruthless morals put Putin in Trump’s “W” column. Any negotiations are more for show.
Already, Trump has offered Putin everything he wants, first by ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine and second by suspending U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing that Ukraine relies on to fend off Russian attacks.
Almost immediately after the U.S. pulled that aid, Russia launched massive air strikes on Ukraine.
At the same time, Trump has pressed Zelenskyy to share Ukraine’s mineral wealth with the U.S. without formal security guarantees in return.
On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Ukraine will have to cede territory to Russia if it wants a seat at the table to determine its own fate. The gall.
The Secretary did not say what it would demand of Russia.
