I'm contacting you to urge stronger action in response to Russian intervention in Ukraine.

I am aware of both the history of the area, persistent negative Russian intervention in the region, and the consequences to local people of that intervention. I am also a student of history and understand Russia's concern regarding safety and security, their perspective on NATO as a threat, and the reality that many ethnically or culturally Russian individuals live in the Ukraine. None of this justifies an invasion of sovereign territory and the consequences of a world not respecting that territory (a point made by the Kenyan UN ambassador) which stretches far beyond Eastern Europe.

I specifically request that you support the US government's legislative and executive branch to TAKE STRONGER ACTION. Current action includes sanctions focused on the rich and elite in Russia, and companies controlled by them... but I'm afraid that the US is entirely missing the issues here. While Vladimir Putin is implementing the strategy it is THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE THEMSELVES who are supporting and promoting him to do so.

REQUEST 1: Sanctions should be complete and thorough to affect the entire country - not just a few rich people. Russians themselves should feel the effects of their support of empire-focused oligarchs like Putin. Russians themselves need to be reminded that territorial empire building in 2022 is not an option, and to refocus their desire for a successful and respected Russia through other legal channels.

In addition, while Ukrainians are strong and independent people, and while they are not technically part of NATO, we should be supporting their success in defending their borders and, if needed, fighting a guerilla war.

REQUEST 2: Actively and publicly supply Ukraine with REAL AND SIGNIFICANT military aid and any other type of aid possible including if needed strategic military support. American troops on the ground aren't necessarily a good idea, but everything short of that is.

Finally, do not let the broader issue die. Vladimir Putin is thinking strategically in a 40 year timeframe, we can manage a 4 year timeframe, and the UN can't think past next Tuesday.

REQUEST 3: Work in a bipartisan and internationally led manner to create LONG TERM STRATEGIC POLICIES which are effective enough and FLEXIBLE ENOUGH to handle someone attempting to re-write global politics with a 40 year strategic timeframe. That means this invasion can't be a blip on the map (as Crimea mistakenly was)... this can't be an invasion that's allowed to proceed and results in a lull in US-Russia relations which then resets in 3 years... because in a 40 year strategic view that lull is entirely worth permanently acquiring territory and resources and strategic advantage. We can't fight or even see 40 year strategic perspective with a 4 year vision - we must do better, and we must do it with strong global partnerships.

Finally, this isn't a request but a statement. Don't bullshit Americans. Don't tell us a response is strong (as Klobuchar did on NPR yesterday 2/24) when it's not. Don't tell us we're doing all we can when we're not. Don't sound an alarm and use the minute-by-minute media cycle to let that alarm die as quickly as you raised it. This is real, and while comparisons to Neville Chamberlain and appeasement may be going to far... there remain lessons to be learned from that experience that should be applied here.

Thank you for reading this. Thank you for paying attention. Thank you for caring to listen. Please take action, and please tell me that action you've taken, and don't bullshit me.