Here we have the popular fairy tale, or as it is nowadays “professionally” called “narrative”, about the bloodthirsty criminal Putin, who out of the blue had the idea to invade the free, peaceful, democratic Ukraine. This is quite sufficient for particularly simple-minded consumers. But the perverse nature of the tyrant is a somewhat insufficient motive for upper body thinkers to attack.
Nor does the further explanation that the dictator wanted to conquer a neighbouring country because, like Hitler’s Germans, he craved living space make sense. This is contradicted by Russia’s population density. Also, Russia’s desire for mineral wealth and fertile farmland seems somewhat implausible to a person with an IQ above 90. If perhaps the slightly more complex hypothesis of a “proxy war” between the US and Russia, competing superpowers, does not apply after all. Let’s try to explore it.
Russia’s desire for mineral wealth and fertile farmland seems somewhat implausible to a person with an IQ above 90.
The peace-loving US, a key ally of countries in which it has military bases, uses a dual strategy to maintain power. The noted pacifist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Obama explained this ability by the need to be able to “twist the arm” of any recalcitrant country. They can bomb them for their economic prosperity, as exemplified by Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, etc. They can also overthrow an insufficiently democratic government through a skillfully orchestrated coup, usually preceded by a “color revolution.” The countries concerned will not recover for a long time from the established democracy and continued economic aid. Ukraine is a case in point. After a successful coup, it has risen to the top of the ranks of the poorest countries in Europe.
The reasons for the re-education of states and nations may be various, for example, their desire not to trade in dollars. Some nations simply hinder development. As Madelaine Albright said, it is not fair for Russia to have so many resources, but Russia is greedy and does not want to share, but intends to sell and exploit its resources itself. That is not nice. Moreover, having too many resources allows Russia to acquire weapons that prevent their fair redistribution. This is where the hand of justice must intervene.
The desire of the Ukrainian people to have their material needs met has led them to seek to join the prosperous European Union. They have not noticed that in the eastern flank of this alliance, prosperity is so great that able-bodied citizens are leaving en masse to work in the West for low wages, without any increase in prosperity in their countries.
As Madelaine Albright said, it is not fair for Russia to have so many resources, but Russia is greedy and does not want to share…
Ukraine also offers an opportunity to take advantage of the traditional relationship of Ukrainians with Russians and other rival ethnic groups, which manifested itself in the formation of SS divisions during WWII and the killing of Poles, Russians, Jews, etc. A national consciousness was being built with the logical slogan of Ukrainians to Ukrainians and an effort to eliminate foreign non-Ukrainian elements. The problem was that there were too many pro-Russian Russians and the effort to assimilate by post-Ukrainianization was not popular. But the post-Maidan Ukrainian leadership did not relent in its efforts. In doing so, it relied on foreign aid. Thus, friendly American military bases began to be designed and built, and the Ukrainian army was massively built up. Targets in Russia, with the tactical characteristics of today’s weapons, found themselves within range. The Russians feel threatened, but they have no right to do so. At the same time, pro-Russian Russians who did not want to be Ukrainised were being shelled. Surprisingly, neighboring Russia did not like this and rallied its forces across the Ukrainian border against the gathering of military forces near the rebellious pro-Russian Russians.
(finishing tomorrow)
Ivan David is a psychiatrist and MEP.
