Let me say that again - Outrage!
In truth I don't know what outrages me more.
The horrific slaughter of 298 innocents by Russia or its allies. Or, the feeble response from Western governments.
Russia, throughout the 20th century displayed a gross disregard for the lives of innocents. Much is made of the sacrifices made by the Russian military and civilians, during the Second World War, however, far more people died at the hands of Stalin and his communist successors, than ever died at the hands of the German Wehrmacht. Estimates put the number in the 20 million range.
So you can perhaps understand, that from the viewpoint of an old-style Russian leader like Vladimir Putin, the downing of a civilian jet, with the loss of the 298 people on board, is a mere blip on the radar. Barely noticeable, in the 'noise' as some might say. Remember Comrade, this is all in the cause of protecting Rodina - Mother Russia.
In fairness, you can see that it is not really out of character for a Russian leader to show such disregard for human life. You might say, it's the Russian way. In keeping with communist teachings, making omelets requires the breaking of eggs! In order to protect Russia and to have friendly satellites around the mother-land, to act as buffer zones, some lives must be sacrificed for the greater good. It's the Soviet way, it's the Communist way, it's the Russian way.
What though of the reaction from the West?
Other than 1 of the 193 Dutch victims, having dual US citizenship, the USA suffered no victims. So Obama's administration can say that 'this isn't our fight' and can continue its 'pivot to Asia'. The land of the 'city on the hill' simply turns its back on its European allies and allows the Russian Bear to kill innocents with impunity. There is talk that Russia's recent belligerency is a reaction to American-led NATO placing advanced anti-missile systems in Poland. It seems that President Obama has reworked President Roosevelt's 'speak softly and carry a big stick' quote to form the Obama Doctrine ' Speak often and vacuously, carry a big stick but leave it in someone else's back yard, for them to carry the can'
The European Union?
193 Dutch citizens, 10 British, 4 each from Germany and Belgium all perished and all that is spoken of are minor sanctions. Russia will see its caviar exports plummet also sales of those Russian dolls but, in a conciliatory gesture and to show that the EU wants to avoid exacerbating the situation, Germany will continue to receive 40% of its energy needs from Russia. The South East of Britain will continue to enjoy a high-end property boom, fueled by Russian oligarch money.
We have no leaders today worthy of the title. None. Spouting empty words about 'last chances' and 'enhanced sanctions' will not worry the Russians. History shows that only strong action will bring Russia into the fold of civilised nations. Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher didn't flinch from taking resolute action against Russia. Reagan even imposed sanctions on American companies that had business with Russia. The actions of Reagan and Thatcher brought about the downfall of the Soviet regime and freed the buffer-state slaves of Eastern Europe. These victories are now in peril. Someone said that democracy is a delicate plant that can always wither inside a generation, if it is not nurtured. That is so true today, where Russia is expanding, westwards and it sees no opposition to such expansion.
What do I want?
Well, firstly I don't want war. Though, as we have seen in the past, appeasement of bullies tends to lead to an inevitable war. So current actions might be said to just be deferring rather than avoiding.
I want meaningful and penalising sanctions to be imposed. I want Russia to hurt and to understand that they cannot kill people with impunity. Be it 298 people on a passenger plane or a dissident like Alexander Litvinenko, brutally killed by the FGB, in London
Freeze Russia's overseas assets. Do it overnight and without warning. There were very strong stories/rumours that many Russian oligarchs and criminals managed to extricate much of their ill-gotten loot, out of Cyprus before the hammer dropped on bank depositors, and so they avoided the impact, having been tipped-off about the chance of this happening.
Cease all flights to and from Russia. Isolate them. Cancel all cultural links and swaps of art etc..
Cut-off diplomatic ties. Send their ambassadors home and recall ours.
Do not participate in any event where there are Russians. A United Nations discussion? Walk out. UN Security Council? Refuse to participate if there is a Russian there. Indeed, seek the removal of Russia as a permanent member and refuse to fund UN institutions until the West gets its way! It's not as if the UN likes the West, anyway. So this is a time for the rest of the World to decide if they are with the West or with Russia - the middle ground is currently fully occupied by the bodies of 298 innocents!
Cite them for crimes against humanity at the International Court. 'Them' being Putin and his cabinet and military leaders and the Ukrainian separatist leaders.
Commit, now, to not participating in the 2018 football World Cup. Let the corrupt officials at FIFA and the murderous Russian regime proceed with a tournament without the West. No 'Socceroos' from Australia, who lost 27 of its citizens to state-sponsored murder. No holders, Germany. No England or Belgium or Holland. I have already said, here http://bit.ly/TIXmPC that countries should leave the corrupt FIFA and so now there is an even higher moral reason to do so.
Germany needs to re-open its nuclear plants and all of Western Europe needs to start exploiting its energy resources to the full - drill, baby, drill, to coin a phrase - so that it can overcome its dangerous over-dependence on Russian energy sources.
So, economic war.
The alternative? Get used to seeing more funeral corteges such as was recently seen in Holland. Rows of hearses waiting to collect the bodies of the innocents. 298 this time. How many next time or the time after that?
Here is a question for you. If it takes the deaths of 298 people to go unanswered, so that Germany and British and Dutch and Belgium lights can be kept on, how many deaths does it take to switch them off?
In truth I don't know what outrages me more.
The horrific slaughter of 298 innocents by Russia or its allies. Or, the feeble response from Western governments.
Russia, throughout the 20th century displayed a gross disregard for the lives of innocents. Much is made of the sacrifices made by the Russian military and civilians, during the Second World War, however, far more people died at the hands of Stalin and his communist successors, than ever died at the hands of the German Wehrmacht. Estimates put the number in the 20 million range.
So you can perhaps understand, that from the viewpoint of an old-style Russian leader like Vladimir Putin, the downing of a civilian jet, with the loss of the 298 people on board, is a mere blip on the radar. Barely noticeable, in the 'noise' as some might say. Remember Comrade, this is all in the cause of protecting Rodina - Mother Russia.
In fairness, you can see that it is not really out of character for a Russian leader to show such disregard for human life. You might say, it's the Russian way. In keeping with communist teachings, making omelets requires the breaking of eggs! In order to protect Russia and to have friendly satellites around the mother-land, to act as buffer zones, some lives must be sacrificed for the greater good. It's the Soviet way, it's the Communist way, it's the Russian way.
What though of the reaction from the West?
Other than 1 of the 193 Dutch victims, having dual US citizenship, the USA suffered no victims. So Obama's administration can say that 'this isn't our fight' and can continue its 'pivot to Asia'. The land of the 'city on the hill' simply turns its back on its European allies and allows the Russian Bear to kill innocents with impunity. There is talk that Russia's recent belligerency is a reaction to American-led NATO placing advanced anti-missile systems in Poland. It seems that President Obama has reworked President Roosevelt's 'speak softly and carry a big stick' quote to form the Obama Doctrine ' Speak often and vacuously, carry a big stick but leave it in someone else's back yard, for them to carry the can'
The European Union?
193 Dutch citizens, 10 British, 4 each from Germany and Belgium all perished and all that is spoken of are minor sanctions. Russia will see its caviar exports plummet also sales of those Russian dolls but, in a conciliatory gesture and to show that the EU wants to avoid exacerbating the situation, Germany will continue to receive 40% of its energy needs from Russia. The South East of Britain will continue to enjoy a high-end property boom, fueled by Russian oligarch money.
We have no leaders today worthy of the title. None. Spouting empty words about 'last chances' and 'enhanced sanctions' will not worry the Russians. History shows that only strong action will bring Russia into the fold of civilised nations. Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher didn't flinch from taking resolute action against Russia. Reagan even imposed sanctions on American companies that had business with Russia. The actions of Reagan and Thatcher brought about the downfall of the Soviet regime and freed the buffer-state slaves of Eastern Europe. These victories are now in peril. Someone said that democracy is a delicate plant that can always wither inside a generation, if it is not nurtured. That is so true today, where Russia is expanding, westwards and it sees no opposition to such expansion.
What do I want?
Well, firstly I don't want war. Though, as we have seen in the past, appeasement of bullies tends to lead to an inevitable war. So current actions might be said to just be deferring rather than avoiding.
I want meaningful and penalising sanctions to be imposed. I want Russia to hurt and to understand that they cannot kill people with impunity. Be it 298 people on a passenger plane or a dissident like Alexander Litvinenko, brutally killed by the FGB, in London
Freeze Russia's overseas assets. Do it overnight and without warning. There were very strong stories/rumours that many Russian oligarchs and criminals managed to extricate much of their ill-gotten loot, out of Cyprus before the hammer dropped on bank depositors, and so they avoided the impact, having been tipped-off about the chance of this happening.
Cease all flights to and from Russia. Isolate them. Cancel all cultural links and swaps of art etc..
Cut-off diplomatic ties. Send their ambassadors home and recall ours.
Do not participate in any event where there are Russians. A United Nations discussion? Walk out. UN Security Council? Refuse to participate if there is a Russian there. Indeed, seek the removal of Russia as a permanent member and refuse to fund UN institutions until the West gets its way! It's not as if the UN likes the West, anyway. So this is a time for the rest of the World to decide if they are with the West or with Russia - the middle ground is currently fully occupied by the bodies of 298 innocents!
Cite them for crimes against humanity at the International Court. 'Them' being Putin and his cabinet and military leaders and the Ukrainian separatist leaders.
Commit, now, to not participating in the 2018 football World Cup. Let the corrupt officials at FIFA and the murderous Russian regime proceed with a tournament without the West. No 'Socceroos' from Australia, who lost 27 of its citizens to state-sponsored murder. No holders, Germany. No England or Belgium or Holland. I have already said, here http://bit.ly/TIXmPC that countries should leave the corrupt FIFA and so now there is an even higher moral reason to do so.
Germany needs to re-open its nuclear plants and all of Western Europe needs to start exploiting its energy resources to the full - drill, baby, drill, to coin a phrase - so that it can overcome its dangerous over-dependence on Russian energy sources.
So, economic war.
The alternative? Get used to seeing more funeral corteges such as was recently seen in Holland. Rows of hearses waiting to collect the bodies of the innocents. 298 this time. How many next time or the time after that?
Here is a question for you. If it takes the deaths of 298 people to go unanswered, so that Germany and British and Dutch and Belgium lights can be kept on, how many deaths does it take to switch them off?
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