Richard Engel is NBC News’ chief foreign correspondent, and he managed to trend on Twitter Monday after offering up a “risk-calculation/moral dilemma” — the United States could easily blow up a Russian military convoy headed toward Kyiv, but that would bring the U.S. directly into the conflict. Will the West watch in silence as that convoy rolls into Ukraine?
Perhaps the biggest risk-calculation/moral dilemma of the war so far. A massive Russian convoy is abt 30 miles from Kyiv. The US/NATO could likely destroy it. But that would be direct involvement against Russia and risk, everything. Does the West watch in silence as it rolls?
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) February 28, 2022
We actually sort of agree with Tommy Vietor:
The way you tweet about whether the US and NATO should engage in a full-on war against a nuclear-armed super power is shockingly glib. It's not as simple as "watch in silence as it rolls" or not. The stakes are risking nuclear annihilation.
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) February 28, 2022
you know the answer to this. you know the reasons for the answer to this. you know that a direct US/NATO response isn’t even being considered. i guess what i’m saying is your tweet is dumb
— andy™ (@andylevy) February 28, 2022
— Participation Trophy Husband (@punishedarchit1) February 28, 2022
https://twitter.com/tobitac/status/1498390385713979400
I feel like I've said this a lot in the last couple of days, but there's a good reason NATO and Russian armed forces haven't intentionally shot at each other in the last 70 years, give or take.
— Philip Lovelace (@Ippus21) February 28, 2022
Recommended
Do it Richard. Let’s see how that turns out
— Bassem (@BBassem7) February 28, 2022
Mr. President, I'm not saying we wouldn't get our hair mussed! But no more than 10 to 20 million killed, uh, depending on the breaks.
— ryan cooper (@ryanlcooper) February 28, 2022
I like how you spelled "not commit an act of war against a major nuclear power" as "watch in silence".
— Seth Masket (@smotus) February 28, 2022
same for the talk about a no-fly zone, as if such a move wouldn't require NATO or other western forces to shoot down RU aircraft
— Lawrence (@lawrence_tuchik) February 28, 2022
“We own the skies,” Rep. Adam Kinzinger said in calling for a no-fly zone to be established over Ukraine, which would involve U.S. fighter jets shooting down Russian planes.
The west is obviously coordinating with Ukrainian military on intel. Everyone knows about this convoy and Ukraine has shown they can strike Russian convoys. They will hit it
— Rufus (@nintendobenzo) February 28, 2022
are you going to enlist or
— Sana Saeed (@SanaSaeed) February 28, 2022
I'm not interested in getting nuked man, I've got stuff to do this week and that would get in the way.
— Senior KPI Chaser (@ryxcommar) February 28, 2022
https://twitter.com/ebruenig/status/1498389630542135302
This is an irresponsible binary. Just because there aren't NATO airplanes screaming overhead doesn't mean the West is watching "silent."
— Elaine A 🌻🌻🌻 (@OuttaMyLaine) February 28, 2022
yes. this isn’t a question. nato allies have been very clear they will not directly intervene
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) February 28, 2022
I, too, reduce things to trite binaries as if life is a board game or something.
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) February 28, 2022
Honestly. Engel knows better.
— Jaime Caldwell (@jaimecaldwell) February 28, 2022
That sort of a false dichotomy suggests that you aren't familiar with the situation or with foreign affairs in general. Perhaps you should check in with NBC's Chief Foreign Corresp—oh no.
— Max Kennerly (@MaxKennerly) February 28, 2022
— a single teardrop (@boneyardofnames) February 28, 2022
Is nuclear winter your kink or something man
— ℮oin Higgins (@EoinHiggins_) February 28, 2022
There's no war that American TV personalities don't think we should potentially involve ourselves in.
— Jay Pinho (@jaypinho) February 28, 2022
This must rank among the most irresponsible posts I've ever seen from a top journalist.
— Corey Pein 😃🤑😐😩💀 (@coreypein) February 28, 2022
When you say "destroy it" you mean earth, right?
— Travis Helwig (@travishelwig) February 28, 2022
There’s a third option – We supply Ukrainians with the weapons to destroy that convoy and avoid nuclear war in the process!
— Aaron Astor (@AstorAaron) February 28, 2022
There you go!
Related:
'We own the skies': Adam Kinzinger calls for a U.S. led no-fly zone over Ukraine https://t.co/eLh1W4hth2
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) February 26, 2022
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