Drawing parallels between President Biden’s provision of cluster bombs to Ukraine and the Lend Lease program conceived by President Delano Roosevelt (FDR) reveals historical patterns of aiding allies during times of conflict. Lend Lease, supplying the UK, France, the Soviet Union, and other allied nations with oil, food and war materials including ships, started prior to U.S. involvement in World War II. It faced opposition from isolationists, such as the America First Committee, due to concerns about foreign entanglement and resource drain. Similarly, Biden’s decision to provide arms to Ukraine has generated ethical concerns and opposition. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles both said their countries would not support sending cluster munitions to Ukraine because they might cause civilian casualties and escalate the war, which recently passed the 500-day mark. Examining these parallels highlights recurring themes in global politics and the challenges of balancing support for allies with potential consequences.
