This senseless subway incident roars back at me whenever — like an idle bystander — I observe on TV the horror in Ukraine. As the outrageous war images multiply, I feel as conflicted as the shocked passengers on the subway platform — mindful of the right thing to do yet minding my own business, because, quite frankly, that is of greater immediate concern.
But the most difficult question for any onlooker, no matter how concerned, is what level of intervention is appropriate, and what are the consequences of that intervention.
In the case of a subway mugging, it's usually pretty easy to answer that question, the only problem is that it's often over before most people can overcome their deer-in-the-headlights moment, which causes almost everyone to pause while they digest what's going on.
In the case of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it's not quite so easy. Certain levels of intervention seem pretty easy - send them javelin and stinger missiles and arms and ammunition - others not so easy, and still others prohibitively impossible - U.S. aircraft enforcing a no-fly zone over Ukraine territory, particularly in the East.
