When it comes to a prospective war with China in defense of Taiwan, the domestic political legacy of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq is clear. To persuade Americans to support that war, one that would likely cost thousands of U.S. military lives at the low end and more than, perhaps significantly more than, 10,000 lives at the high end, you must be persuasive on two points.

First, that winning that war is of critical interest to the public. Second, that Taiwan deserves that support. The first point should be obvious: The costs of war must be perceived as an acceptable cost for the benefit of victory. The second point is underlined by the continuing salience former President Donald Trump finds when he suggests that too many U.S. allies neglect their own defensive obligations. On the flip side, Ukraine’s courageous aggression in the face of Russian imperialism underlines why it deserves American support even amid European skimping on that support — don’t listen to those who claim Europe is doing its fair share for Ukraine.