In Part 2 of our interview Ukraine Story continues our dialogue with Astronaut and F-16 pilot Terry Virts about the American political landscape on Ukraine and the military tools necessary for victory:

The American Political Landscape: How do we understand the American political landscape on Ukraine? Its is rather complex. Generalizations are difficult. Even so, at least three categories emerge.

The first group might be described as having real concerns about Russian aggression, but tired of the subject, somewhat supportive of Ukraine, but growing in indifference and focused on other issues. Within this group are advocates for a negotiated settlement ceding Ukrainian land to Russia as a means of establishing peace.

A second group is associated with the Tucker Carlson branch of the Right. They are ruled by anger with American institutions, advance a hyper-conspiratorial understanding of reality, are teaching that "everything" reported on Ukraine is a lie, has contempt for Ukraine, has forsaken the Reagan legacy and historic Christian principles of Just War Theory, have embraced the Soviet revivalism of Vladimir Putin, and heavily utilize Kremlin propaganda talking points in their narratives.

A third group supports President Biden's pro-Ukraine policies agenda largely without question, believing it to be committed to a Ukrainian victory, even though actual facts reveal otherwise.

A fourth group opposes the Russian invasion on ethical, legal, moral and anti-Soviet revivalist grounds, and advocates that it is in the interest of America to help Ukraine defend their national sovereignty by seeking complete victory over the Russian invaders.

The Military Tools Necessary for Victory: Despite providing support from the United States, the present presidential Administration has made aid conditional on Ukraine’s agreement to limit engagement of the enemy and have been reluctant to send specific tools necessary for a victory over Russia. How can this policiy be reversed, and what are the specific tools necessary to provide air superiority and battlefield dominance for a military victory?

Biography of Our Guest: Colonel Terry Virts is an American hero. With a decade as an American F-16 pilot and trainer, and eight months in outer space on the International Space Station (I.S.S.), he brings a unique perspective on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He is also the only American to watch Vladimir Putin bomb Ukrainians from 145 miles in outer space. He is a ferocious defender of liberty and the cause of Freedom in Ukraine. Having studied Russian in Moscow and served beside cosmonauts, he understands the Russian mentality of disregard for the innocent in the name of global conquest.

We sat down with Terry for the latest edition of the Ukraine Story Podcast. “I’d rather stop this authoritarian march in its tracks right now for a small fraction of our defense budget rather than having to fight them with American soldiers 5 -10 years down the road. It is that stark of a choice. We either win in Ukraine or we try to win in Taiwan, or Finland, or Estonia or somewhere else. That’s the message… If Ukraine wins, it will be the last battle of world war three, if they lose, it will be the first.” - Terry Virts

Listen to this episode of Ukraine Story Podcast on Spotify