Remember the war over in Ukraine? That one with Russia that was a big deal back in March of 2022?
Guess what – it’s still going on!
That’s right, the conflict is Ukraine is shaping up as a good old-fashioned proxy war between the United States and Russia (and the Russians are winning the hearts and minds of some rather impressionable Americans). Though the country hasn’t committed any physical troops and likely never will, the US is of course pumping billions of dollars into the fight, doling out more than $75 billion in military, financial, and humanitarian aid.
The United States and other NATO allies have been more than willing to give Ukraine a variety of weapons systems, tanks, coastal ships, and other military equipment that have helped the country defend itself and stall Russia’s advance, but many have been unwilling to provide fighter jets with the fear of escalating the conflict beyond Ukraine’s borders. Poland, however, recently announced it would send a whopping four MiG-29 jets to Ukraine, becoming the first NATO country to do so.
All that being said, this is likely going to be a conflict that will last years, with most NATO countries unwilling to do what it takes to put an end to things quickly, America included.
Well, except for drafting Luke Skywalker into the fight.
America Is Sending Mark Hamill to Ukraine – Sort Of
The United States might not be sending fighter jets to Ukraine, but the country is countering with Mark Hamill, who will be reprising his role as Luke Skywalker. In this case, Ukrainians will be able to hear Skywalker on the “Air Alert” air-raid app, which warns residents of an impending Russian aerial strike and urges people to get to the nearest shelter.
“Don’t be careless,” Hamill’s voice advises. “Your overconfidence is your weakness.”
Associated Press
Hamill even signs off his messages with “May the Force be with you,” in addition to raising funds to buy reconnaissance drones and autographing posters to be raffled off. As an individual, Hamill is truly doing everything he can to help the Ukrainians.
Still, this feels like a microcosm of the overall conflict from the American perspective. We’ve treated it as a way to get a little social media clout, and reporting is often through the lens of strange PR wins for various parties with any type of agenda you can imagine. Not to say that’s what Hamill is about here at all – his intentions come from a genuine place – but it often appears there’s no real need for Americans to pay attention unless it serves as a way to frame a political talking point over here.
The war doesn’t feel real in America, so we pass the time of this conflict through stories like this, or bizarre stories around Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy – a former comedian and actor himself, only adding to the strange cloud of this conflict – like being denied the ability to speak at the Academy Awards. We’re treated to plenty of conspiracy theories about Vladimir Putin’s health, a staple of any American media consumption diet. Soldiers and mercenaries with good intentions, and many others who want to live out their Rambo fantasies and maybe get rich through a little grifting in the process, have gone over to Ukraine to lend their physical support.
The war in Ukraine is essentially a make-believe exercise for Americans, and anybody can mold that however they wish. I’m not advocating for it to suddenly become very real for the country by sending in troops, but it remains a curious event to watch unfold globally. I’m not sure any Ukrainians would describe their conflict as “curious” but I do wonder what’s going through their minds as they rush to cover to the voice of Luke Skywalker.
(Image credit: Dick Thomas Johnson)
