ANALYSIS – While telegenic, articulate and generally well informed, conservative South Florida GOP congresswoman, and my former Univision Radio show co-host, Maria Elvira Salazar, flubbed a question about the U.S. imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
The flub highlights the need for our policy makers to be better informed during this crisis, and the danger on all sides of hyping our way into a broader war with Russia.
When asked on video if she supported a no-fly zone in Ukraine, the former journalist, and TV and radio personality, on whose TV news shows I also appeared frequently, replied:
“I support everything that has to do with punishing Vladimir Putin and helping the Ukrainians,” prompting the reporter to ask: “Wouldn’t that mean direct conventional warfare with Russia?”
Florida @RepMariaSalazar says she supports a No Fly Zone in Ukraine even though she doesn’t “know what it would mean” before adding “freedom is not free”
When asked if the US should shoot down Russian planes she says “of course!”https://t.co/nyYd5YPNYa https://t.co/CDY3afvvML pic.twitter.com/J9LCmopuJI
— Anya Parampil (@anyaparampil) March 9, 2022
“I don’t know what it will mean, but you know, freedom is not free,” the congresswoman responded.
“You don’t know what a no-fly zone will mean? You do have to shoot down Russian planes,” the reporter continued.
“Of course!” Salazar responded.
“So, conventional war with Russia?” the reporter pressed again.
At this point Salazar simply said, “thank you” and walked away.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for NATO to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, but since this would require U.S. and NATO planes to enforce it, likely bringing them into direct conflict with Russian combat jets, Biden and NATO have rejected the call.
And while I am sympathetic to Zelensky’s request, this is one of the few times I may agree with Team Biden.
The time to put boots on the ground, or planes in the air, in Ukraine was before the invasion began, to deter Putin, not now. Sadly, President Biden foolishly and very publicly took that option off the table well before Putin invaded.
I write about this not to bash Salazar, who I have known for well over decade, and like and respect, or to lessen the U.S. and NATO response to Vlad the Invader Putin, who must be forcefully rebuffed, but to highlight the need for calm and clarity during an emotional and dangerous time.
Despite its weaknesses Russia still maintains the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, and Russian military doctrine emphasizes ‘escalation to de-escalate,’ which means they can, and might, use tactical nuclear weapons first.
And as ADN reported earlier, the U.S. doesn’t have the tactical nuclear weapons Russia has, making deterrence in this scenario a tough sell.
While war with Russia may come, I prefer to do it with our eyes wide open, rather than sleep walking us into Armageddon.
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AmericanActionNews.com
Come on….We had to listen to Cackling Harris in Poland, LAUGHING….The polish leader thought SHE WAS A BABBLING IDIOT……She has to laugh before she answers anything??? Willie Brown said the only place for Harris was on her knees or her back…Just ask Willie Brown
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America deserves truth. The globalist media refuses to give it to us
This is why I don’t trust any Republican right now.
… and why I trust DemocRATs less.
And why you are an absolute idiot
But you trust Democrats, the news media and the idiots in charge, right?
Maybe a bit of a scatter brain, I think.
That Congress woman proves that there should be a thorough exam before anyone can be placed on a ballot for the Congress or Senate of the United States. I believe this women is not the only one who should have never been an elected official.
There could be all sorts of’excuses’ for her flub but the bottom line, I suspect, is the constant flows of contradictory information/misinformation/disinformation sloshing around in DC.
Rep. Salazar, whom I admire, didn’t do well with that answer but I suspect that most members of Congress who are not in on the DemoComs’ trick plays might be a bit confused about what to do viv s vis the Ukraine mess.
Agreed. Salazar needs to go back to school.
I agree with the Congress woman completely. I believe the world will never see a stable peace until Putin is dead. And the U.S should do all it can to esculate that timeline
As long as the Democrats are in charge, the world is unstable. They are a disaster to world stability.
LISTEN UP…The DAY is COMING when ALOT of COUNTRIES will be FORCED to SHOOT DOWN RUSSIAN and CHINESE PLANES. THEY are BULLIES. WAKE UP!!!! From SamuraiQueen. 😄😄😄😇😇😇
Joe could AT LEAST let the Poles send some Migs to Ukraine. But he STILL wants Putin to help him seal a deal with the butchers in Iran.
why to the Polish nation need PERMISSION from the USA to send THEIR Russian-designed planes anywhere?
Reading these comments, isn’t this exactly what our enemies want? This is a time for this country and the entire world to pull together and show support for the Ukrainian people!
we need to stop this fighting in our country to show the world that we are better!
As soon as you refuse to build up and support a nation under threat of aggression, you pretty much assure the invasion and success of aggressors. America should be ashamed of her position here, but that’s the kind of “leadership” we have. We allowed their aggressive takeover of our government, what makes anyone think that they will not go along with other aggressors?
Teddy Roosevelt: Speak softly and carry a BIG STICK. Biden: Blast through a bullhorn and carry a marshmallow…and BTW, use the enemy to fill your own pockets.
Salazar votes for things and bills that obstruct the american creed of freedom and liberty guaranteed in the constitution. She seems to not follow her voting habits to their logical conclusions, hindering the protections in the constitution and providing more peril for America globally. she is instrumental in voting that cut our ability to buy oil from any source desired on the global market. Russia can now sell to any and all other sources at a lower price and continue their war of terrorism and deceit. Completely paid for. We on the other hand must pay through the nose, just who suffers here? Americans at the pump..
Plus, this action will probably produce the worst recession in 60 years on the American economy, no money left for discretional spending or retirement, slowing down all markets after we pay for inflation of prices and increased taxes, and interest rates..why aid Bidens flubbs?
Biden and the Democrats are much like Chamberlain, who negotiated a “peace agreement” with Hitler to prevent WWII. Chamberlain was incompetent, just as Biden is incompetent. Only Biden is not only incompetent, he has no idea what to do or say.
Just like 16-28 October 1962: Sooner, not later, the USA has to call the bluff of Russia/China/Iran/N Korea on nuclear blackmail. The US has nuclear weapons, too! Then go in and do what’s necessary!! JFK had to call Nakita Kruschev’s bluff and DEMAND the USSR remove the missiles from Cuba!
Well, calm and collected heads are required at this time but aid must come from the world not just the USA! Biden and gang screwed up big time for not supplying the Ukranian people with the weapons before the invasion started!!@