Sept 14, 2024
‘Serious consequences!’
Putin yet again waves his nuclear sabres at the world and hopes they will shake in their boots. Putin, whose rich powerful nation couldn’t win in Afghanistan when it was the Soviet Union and can’t defeat Ukraine.
The west is supposed to shake in its boots at the very word ‘nuclear’ and submit to tyranny, to fall back into the the historical traps set by Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and others. ‘Do what I want or suffer the consequences’. The poeple did nothing, their voices were silenced and tens of millions perished. Some from war, more from disease and starvation and a great number from ethnic cleansing. The results of doing nothing can be worse than the results of resistance.
Putin’s strategy is not to engage in open warfare with the west, he knows that he would be smashed into oblivion, he really isn’t that stupid. He knows the west has nuclear weapons too and there is a very good chance that those weapons have been tested and maintained. They probably work. The same cannot be comfortably stated about his own weapons.
Ah, but can we be sure? Therein lies Putin’s strategy.
He wants public opinion in free nations to prevent a strong foreign policy against Russia. Our media are far too willing to assist him in promoting fear as does his most popular foreign spokesman, DJT who loves to warn of WW3. It’s a clever strategy, often used by bullies who have very little left to fight with.
For two years we have heard of ‘unforseen consequences, serious consequences’ and ‘Consequences like the world has never seen before!’ ‘Allowing Ukraine to fire long range missiles into Russia will be an act of war by NATO’.
No it won’t! Those words are drivel, designed to arouse fear intended to change public opinion. Our disappointing or greedy media outlets spread those idle threats and profit from it.
Russia will not go to war with NATO, Russia will not surrender to Ukraine, Russia will only engage in peace or ceasefire talks to gain an advantage, or when they have no other options left. They are running out of options. Their war economy is bankrupting their nation. Their income has been massively reduced, inflation is soaring, their national wealth fund will be empty within a year, the ruble is worthless abroad. Even India and China will not accept it.
Nuclear engagement is not an option for Putin. Withdrawal from Ukraine including Crimea is. Of course losing the war means Russia losing Putin. The longer he fights the weaker he looks.
We must not be convinced by Putin’s rhetoric. ‘We have nothing to fear except fear itself.’ (F D Roosevelt).
For the west a strong stance at every level and continued support for Ukraine is the route to a long lasting peace in Ukraine and Europe.
To repeat my earlier comment:
All liars tie themselves in knots and putler is no exception.
His latest “red lines” bullshit about Ukraine’s possible deployment of British Storm Shadows inside the cauldron of devilry is a spectacular own goal. He is clearly and unequivocally admitting that Crimea is Ukraine, because Storms have already hit military targets multiple times inside Crimea.
As usual, Mr. Horsfall is so right in so many ways. Why can’t we have a Horsfall, or Hodges, or other strong, smart, and courageous people in high places instead of those we have now?
“The results of doing nothing can be worse than the results of resistance.”
Alas, our inglorious leaders have not learned anything from history or from this war. Are they so stupid, or is there a strategy behind being weak, cowardly, and worthless?