A key item of last night's TVNews put this whole horrible Ukrainian atrocity in perspective.
It was the first time that the main protagonists have been shown in their true colours - one, the brave Ukrainians desperately calling for meaningful help from those supposed allies who have the capacity to give it in all its forms; the fair weather friends (Biden and his NATO mates) who could change the course of this war in an instant but steadfastly refuse to do so; and of course the aggressor Putin who has calculated that his plans for victory, based on his powerful opponents unwillingness to engage, will prove to be correct.
It is a sad commentary showing just how accurate Trump’s assessment of The Modern NATO really was. He is quoted some years ago saying that, in its current form, it was “obsolete”.
At the time of making that statement, he had just
finished giving the NATO heads a towelling up for their craven lip service to
their responsibilities as members of what was once a significant deterrent
against everything the Soviets could throw at them - including nuclear weapons.
Trump admonished the leadership for failing to meet their
basic obligations to the defence of Europe against a foreign threat. He bluntly
told them that the days when The US could be expected to accept these
freeloaders was over and they had to pay their fair share.
This direct approach was met with the expected grumbling
and a reluctant acceptance that this US President did what he said he would do.
The alliance returned to being fully funded.
However, this current war has proved that the real
commitment of member states to the defence of Europe remains somewhat
conditional - the only difference to the Pre Trump era being that the Americans
are proving to be just as unreliable as all the rest.
It is clear that they have no stomach for a fight
especially if it might involve an opportunity to stare down this madman when
they think he is at his most vulnerable.
They talk tough about inflicting pain on the aggressor
trough sanctions as if it were something that might bring him to his senses.
Sooner or later the West will have to realise that the
only way the bloodshed will stop is if they are prepared to seriously negotiate
about the things that Putin is concerned about. They had the chance to do that
and we are witnessing a horror story as a result of their refusal to entertain
the idea.
So, if their plan is to stick it out hoping the Russians
will finally get bored and simply go away, they can expect to see more of the
same until the whole of Ukraine is annexed.
President Zelenskyy himself said it all last night while
going through his shopping list of requests for meaningful assistance that had
been turned down by those who are his last hope - a request for the imposition
of a no fly zone; the request to allow Poland to provide its squadrons of
fighter jets that the Ukrainians can fly; both things he needs more than
anything. It is clear that the javelins and other ground missile defence
systems are effective but they are simply not enough on their own.
He finished by saying that in a real sense, the NATO
allies have done “nothing” - preferring instead to look on from the sidelines while
the innocents die in their thousands.
It could have and should have been so much different.
Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.
1 comment:
Come on Clive. The Ardern cult have sent $2 million(@44 million population =4.5 cents each)that should fix everything.
Sorry. Plus given a disgustingly hypocritical speech at the corrupt satanic UN.
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