Zelensky Invokes Memories of 9/11, Pearl Harbor in Emotional Plea to Congress – In an emotional plea for more assistance from the US in Ukraine’s war with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the US Congress directly, via a video uplink where he told American lawmakers, “we need you right now”.
Zelensky scored high marks with Americans as he invoked the US’ memories of the awful events of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor in an attempt to drive his point home.
“Friends, Americans, in your great history, you have pages that would allow you to understand Ukrainians, understand us now when we need you right now,” he said via a translator, although his final comments were in English.
Zelensky appeared in his now trademark green Army t-shirt and received a standing ovation from Congress after being introduced by the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. The Speaker led members in chanting, “Slava Ukraini” or “Glory to heroes” in Ukrainian.
Zelensky’s message was that he was pleading for the United States and our NATO allies to impose a no-fly zone inside of Ukraine, which President Biden rejected for fear of escalating the conflict into World War III, supply the Ukrainian armed forces with more of the sophisticated air defense systems as well as more combat aircraft, and finally to impose further sanctions on Russia.
Zelensky Tailors His Message to His Audience
The Ukrainian president knows how to play to the crowd, when he spoke to the British, he invoked memories of Winston Churchill and Shakespeare asking if Ukraine was “to be or not to be?”
He evoked emotional responses from Congress with his message to the United States speaking of the Americans on Mount Rushmore and stating that Ukraine is facing “the worst war since World War II,” trying to appeal to Western unity against the Russian invasion.
Appealing directly to Americans, Zelensky spoke to “Remember Pearl Harbor,” “when your sky was black from the planes attacking you”.
And then the events of 9/11, where he stated: “Remember September the 11th, a terrible day in 2001 when evil tried to turn your cities, independent territories on battlefields, when innocent people were attacked from air, yes, just like no one else expected it, you could not stop it,” he said. “Our country experiences the same thing every day, right now at this moment, every night for three weeks now various Ukrainian cities — Mariupol and Kharkiv — Russia has turned the Ukrainian skies into a source of death for thousands of people.”
He even invoked the “I Have A Dream” speech from Dr. Martin Luther King. “‘I have a dream.’ These words are known to each of you. Today, I can say. I have a need. I need to protect our sky,” he said.
He also reminded US lawmakers that the war against Ukraine didn’t begin on Feb. 24, but in 2014, when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea.
But his masterful knowledge of video was a compelling factor on Weds. morning. He showed a video that was both graphic and heartwrenching showing normal life in Ukraine and then the indiscriminate bombing by Russia which showed many civilians and children, killed and maimed in the bombing. There were reports that some members of Congress were in tears watching the film.
Having a background in the entertainment industry before branching out into politics, Zelensky knows the power of video in getting the message across to his audience. Of course, the Russians claim that all of the video evidence is fake. But he’s spoken to his countrymen every day while using video and has become the focal point for all of the Ukrainian resistance.
He then ended the message by speaking directly to Congress by speaking in English. Zelensky thanked the United States for all of the support that they’ve given to the Ukrainians in their struggle to remain free to choose their own path. But he also urged President Biden to act further, stating that “being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace.”
President Biden is expected to approve an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine later on Weds. when he speaks to the nation.
Steve Balestrieri is a 1945 National Security Columnist. He has served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer before injuries forced his early separation. In addition to writing for 19fortyfive.com, he has covered the NFL for PatsFans.com for more than 10 years and his work was regularly featured in the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle and Grafton News newspapers in Massachusetts.
