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For decades – indeed, since the World War I Peace Conference – bipartisan Congresses had always supported Ukraine. The subject of Ukraine had always found unity in Congress until just a few years ago, when a number of Members, Republican Members, started opposing assistance to Ukraine even in the face of Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine and the long-standing United States-led world security order.
To a significant degree, the Congressional opposition to Ukraine reflects a general MAGA attitude that, in turn, reflects a willingness to accept pervasive Russian propaganda.
In this context, I write today to report on a speech given last Saturday at what was billed as the “Ukraine Reconstruction Summit” at the MGM Grand Hotel in Washington Harbor. The summit was sponsored by US For Ukraine, LLC, and an independent member of Lives Amplified.
The two-day program focused on what would be needed and how to facilitate Ukraine’s reconstruction, considering the devastation visited upon Ukraine and the people of Ukraine by Russia’s devastating 11-year war.
The first speaker was Pastor Mark Burns, who, it is fair to say, is a charter member of MAGA.
Not only was Burns there at the beginning of the MAGA movement, but he is also a long-time friend of and counsel to President Trump.
Pastor Mark Burns offered a prayer to start the summit and then spoke about Ukraine.
The focus of Pastor Burns’s speech was essentially a confession.
He said that, like so many MAGA supporters of the President, he long understood and believed Ukraine had stifled the Russian Orthodox Church and was anti-Christian, fascist, and essentially evil – not a country or people the United States should support. Of course, this is the “line” bought by so many, including Tucker Carlson and other influencers on the “right.”
But then, at the invitation of a Ukrainian rabbi, Pastor Burns went to Ukraine and faced the facts and the reality that he had been wrong – Wrong - WRONG!
Typing his declaration is inadequate – Burns declared he had been wrong as only a Black southern preacher could say it, loud, clear, and with powerful emotion and emphasis.
“I was wrong!”
He saw where occupying Russian soldiers had lined up civilians, had them kneel, and shot them in the back of the head – this is not war, it is murder. He saw people who had been tortured, he learned about the Russian strategy of raping women, and the abduction of innocent children.
He saw the Russian Evil and the Ukrainian innocence.
He learned how deeply religious Ukrainians are.
He said that nothing in his understanding had been correct, and as for the Russian Orthodox Church, it was simply an arm of the Kremlin, and – citing one reality, he said that the Russian Orthodox Church’s praying for bombs to kill Ukrainians was anything but Christian.
He said he returned to the United States committed to telling everyone, including President Trump, what he saw and learned – making the case for the necessity of supporting Ukraine in this war.
I have never understood how Russia’s obviously demonic propaganda could be so widely accepted, but it was refreshing to see one who has discovered the truth for themselves be willing to admit error and be so anxious to try to break through the misunderstandings of the MAGA movement.
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Later Saturday, I spoke, and admittedly, I did not speak about Ukraine’s reconstruction. I spoke passionately – not at the level of Pastor Burns (he is in a league by himself). But I focused on what needs to be our priority – seeing that Ukraine has what it needs to defeat Russia and drive Russian troops and agents out of Ukraine’s sovereign territory.
I end the email with a cartoon that I believe makes clear the reality of Putin’s war.
ROBERT MCCONNELL
Co-Founder, U.S.-Ukraine Foundation
Director of External Affairs, Friends of Ukraine Network
Text is entirely Mr. McConnell’s and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation and/or the Friends of Ukraine Network (FOUN).