In recent days, the newspapers are full of articles about why the Russian leadership is proceeding as it is, but there is hardly any text that deals with the decision-making process on the Western side. Because, let us make no mistake, the war to the east of us is first and foremost a war between Russia and the West. Ukrainians play no role in it other than as cannon fodder and camera fodder.
Ukrainians play no role in it other than as cannon fodder and camera fodder.
We see support for the Ukrainian defence effort and we see sanctions being imposed. However, none of the statesmen have said what the objective actually is. An immediate ceasefire? A return to the status quo ante? The removal of persons of Russian nationality from Ukrainian territory? The occupation of the Russian Federation? The venting of emotions? Formulations such as “we cannot stand idly by” refer more to the latter, but who knows.
Hence the unpredictability that complicates the situation and means more lives lost. How could they on the Russian side decide to stop the war (even if they wanted to) when they don’t know what would follow?
For us, however, the decisive factor is not how the Russian leadership feels, but what the consequences will be for the people of European countries. It does not have to be just economic. We are playing against a power equipped with hundreds of nuclear missiles.
It does not have to be just economic. We are playing against a power equipped with hundreds of nuclear missiles.
I am afraid that this confirms once again what we have known about the Western elites for some time.
First and foremost, that there is a complete lack of personality. On the Russian side, Vladimir Putin is acting. Whether he is the worst criminal or a less terrible criminal or no criminal at all, no one can deny that he bears clear responsibility, pursues some objectives and has the ability to enforce most of his decisions.
But there is no counterpart on the other side of the chessboard. A senile Biden who has trouble distinguishing Ukraine from Iran? A German prime minister whose name I can’t remember right now? An actor who gives heartfelt speeches as the Ukrainian president but doesn’t seem to have any influence?
No Kennedy, no Reagan, no Trump. There is no one who can pick up the phone and say, “Vladimir Vladimirovich, you have to stop this immediately. If you have a problem with our new missiles, we can talk about it. But stop it now. People are dying over there!”
But there is no counterpart on the other side of the chessboard. A senile Biden who has trouble distinguishing Ukraine from Iran?
But decisions are made in a completely different way than at strategic meetings. Small groups that have no responsibility, no substantive knowledge of the issues, but can make waves, play a key role. A shout goes up, an impressive symbol appears on a social network, and it sweeps the crowd. The crowd gains momentum, headlines generate more headlines… and the politician dare not resist.
So decisions are taken such as “there is no upper limit to the number of migrants.” And so the Green Deal was created, which is destroying nature, the economy and agriculture. That is how decisions are made in gender matters, and everywhere else. In the end, we find vestiges of rationality basically only where someone is advancing financial interests – and most of the time it is not a rationality that benefits the whole.
Yes, it is possible that Russia will end up even more damaged than Europe and America. But was that the goal?
No one is responsible.
The result is also completely irrational power politics. Yes, it is possible that Russia will end up even more damaged than Europe and America. But was that the goal? Isn’t China the West’s main geopolitical rival? Shouldn’t it be about the security and welfare of the people of the West. And was it all worth the wasted lives of Russian and Ukrainian boys?
