Recently, Trump was bragging about a deal he made with Putin for Americans to buy diesel from Russia, no doubt hoping to reduce diesel prices in the US before the upcoming midterm elections. In the past many American political leaders have given Trump a pass when Trump cozied up to Putin. Not this time.

Trump and Putin have a special relationship.  It has been so close that for a while some Democrats believed Putin had Trump in his pocket.   However, recently, a number of American politicians, on a bi-partisan basis wrote a letter to Donald Trump. 6 Republicans signed the letter along with 6 Democrats. Such agreement is very rare these days.  These political leaders urged Trump to rescind the deal.

The 12 Republicans and Democrats used some strong language in condemning the deal.  They pointed out that such a deal at this time damages America’s security interests and “is a betrayal of the people of Ukraine, who continue to defend themselves from Putin’s murderous, illegal war.”  It also said, “This deal is a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our Allies; it should be rescinded.”  But it looks like nothing will deter Trump in his quest to reduce American diesel prices and to help Trump avoid his party losing the election and him having to deal with a Democrat controlled House and Senate, which could make life uncomfortable for Trump. CBC News called it, “an astonishing betrayal of Ukraine by Donald Trump.”

But the words of the political leaders were strong, even if more self-serving than completely true: “For decades, America has stood as the bastion of freedom against tyranny, and American presidents have embodied our nation’s resistance to tyrants. Putin is a tyrant.” Actually, America has often supported dictators, but perhaps never so cravenly as this.

Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s former deputy Prime Minister had some really interesting things to say about this deal. She urged Americans to pay serious attention to what was happening when she said, “This is a Rubicon moment and I hope America recognizes it and will recognize more is at stake than Ukraine. I think America’s soul is at stake.”

Personally, I fear America’s soul has long since vanished.