Clive Bibby: Appeasement always ends in tears

Students of history will learn the first principle when dealing with tyrants is that appeasement is never the right option - no matter what the circumstances, particularly if the aggressor is looking for signs of weakness in his or her opponent. 

Consequently, it is more than a little bit alarming to witness the leaders of the Free World, particularly the current US administration talking tough in response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine while at the same time trying to avoid getting involved in the defence of a sovereign nation that is being crushed as they look on from the sidelines. 

Unfortunately, even a late decision to do what they promised Ukraine they would do may now be too little too late. It is clear that Putin has already decided that NATO is not going to commit any ground or even airforces that would make a difference to the end result of this war. 

Lesson number two should be the acceptance of reality when dealing with these maniacs who unsurprisingly always act according to a formula they know that works.

They make calculated decisions based on the perceived strength of those who oppose their plans for expansion.

The only thing they respect is a meaningful show of force that is backed by more than idle threats.

In that context, it is no surprise that the US President who kept the dictatorships of China, North Korea, Iran and Russia within their territorial boundaries during the entire 4 yrs of his presidency was Donald Trump.

He achieved that notable milestone while being mercilessly attacked as a threat to democracy by most of those who are now failing to show spine in the face of Putin's aggression. 

It could have and should have been so different. Unfortunately, even a first year History student could have seen this coming. All you need to do is read the record of the Obama years. 

Putin showed then what he would do in the face of appeasement by contemptuously brushing aside Obama's pathetic attempts to do a deal that wouldn't interfere with his re-election. He didn't have to wait long for the consequences of that miscalculation to come back to haunt him. 

Putin simply waited until the time was right and then proceeded to annex Crimea, with not so much as a "tut,tut" from the man who had the power to prevent it. 

Emboldened by his success with that move, Vlad waited until Obama's deputy became President then repeated the process with similar takeovers of the two Eastern States on the Ukrainian/ Russian border.  The rest they say was inevitable. 

We now watch as the brave Ukranians try to defend their nation against overwhelming odds, no doubt regretting they had agreed to giving up the one thing that would have kept Putin on his side of the fence - their arsenal of nuclear weapons in exchange for a commitment to include Ukraine under NATO's defense umbrella.

It has been a shameful betrayal of what the West used to promote as being the "moral high ground."

So much for enemies when you have this lot as so called friends. 

I am ashamed. 

So should all those pathetic leaders within the NATO pact. 

China must be licking its lips in anticipation of the same sort of opposition when it's their turn.

Hope I'm wrong. 

Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.