The Russian threat

Many believe that the investigation into Russian interference in our election was a distraction and a waste of taxpayers’ money. Given the effectiveness of presidential obstruction, no definite conclusions about the President’s collusion were proved, but the methods and extent of the interference were made plain, so some useful results emerged. The effort was essential. We needed to know the nature and reach of Russia’s efforts to elect Donald J. Trump.

One consensus from our intelligence community is that Russia is attempting to disrupt the peace and order of our society as much as possible. The greater our disorder, the more opportunity for Russia to expand its influence and territory. One glaring result already is that we are seriously considering abandoning NATO. Leave Europe to its own devices to oppose Russian aggression. Not our fight.

By supporting a candidate running on a thinly-disguised platform of white supremacy, Putin and company hoped that Mr. Trump’s rhetoric and actions would lead to social conflict here, conflict that would not only weaken our institutions and distract us from political and economic progress, but would damage our prestige abroad. His prayers could not have been better answered.

It is not just Russia. We are in a quasi-war with China as well. Cyberattacks from China are relentless. China has claimed and occupied the entire South China Sea and taunts our Navy and aircraft with near-misses.

Russian fighters have interfered with our aircraft in the Arctic, in the Baltic Sea, and in Syria. Our spies tell us that they offer bounties for American soldiers.

This is serious business. If we are going to survive, much less grow, in today’s world, we must pull together. One people. We must do all that we can to accomplish this.

Answering Putin’s prayers again is not the way.

Bill Gillmore

Columbus

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.