Ukraine and the Decline of the West
Liberalism and moral superiority have long been the hallmarks of the West and its values. Yet, with escalating tensions involving Israel, Iran, and especially Ukraine, the world seems to be teetering on the edge of a predictable crisis. Not only does the situation in Ukraine provoke tensions with Russia, but it also foreshadows potential conflicts with China. The pressing question is: Where is the course correction?
In all these conflicts, there were opportunities to avoid the current state of affairs, yet these opportunities were ignored, to allow problems to escalate. The geopolitical landscape is now more volatile than it has been for decades. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, exacerbated by the provision of missiles and F-16s to Ukraine, signals a dangerous escalation. This development not only targets Russian military and civilian sites but drags the US further into an unwinnable war.
The West continues to provoke, ignoring the possibility that Putin might not be bluffing about his red lines. This dangerous gamble stems from a triumphalist hangover from the fall of Berlin and the end of the Cold War. But can Putin and Russia be pushed indefinitely? Daily headlines often paint a narrative of Ukrainian victory, but Russia is not deceived. Eventually, Russia will be compelled to respond decisively, and that's when the West will face the consequences.
Potential Russian reactions could include targeting NATO-supplied weapons, possibly escalating to bombing F-16s based in Poland. This scenario could invoke Article 5 of the NATO treaty, leading inevitable escalation. More aircraft in Poland and Romania for attacks? How can we so thoroughly misread Russian defense capabilities, perhaps hoping for another American election to change the dynamics?
Putin's strategy has been slow and deliberate showing great strength. Just as the US refrained from bombing Russian supply ships bound for North Vietnam knowing such an action would spark a conflict beyond control, and lead to direct confrontation with the Soviet Union. This restraint is a stark contrast to the current approach towards Russia and Ukraine, where each step seems to edge closer to a full-blown war.
Simultaneously, the US and the West continue to ignore the crisis in Israel and Palestine, to further fuel the conflict in Ukraine and distract from potential conflicts in China over Taiwan. Are we capable of thinking through the realistic ground realities in Palestine or Ukraine? Without a process to end these wars and withdraw from Iraqi-like conflicts, the debt and decline of the US seems inevitable.
Further complicating the issue is the intricate web of NATO and US security arrangements, which have their roots in secretive meetings of influential groups such as the Trilateral Commission and figures like David Rockefeller. The network represents a permanent security state that exerts immense pressure on European political leaders, preventing them from exiting the "club."
The existential fear of showing disloyalty to this powerful coalition keeps them in line. Putin seems acutely aware of this dilemma and appears to be leveraging it, almost waiting for the West to collapse under its own contradictions as his country rebuilds its national pride and military strength to maintain its sovereignty.
American politicians are unaware of their self-destructive path for Ukraine distant from American consciousness or political interest. By forcing NATO allies to adopt the same stance and painting Putin as the new Stalin, they rally their forces to continue the machinery of war, with Zelensky acting as a show puppet.
A nation's decline is evident when its lost strategic direction, unable to disentangle, ala Washington, itself from conflicts and pursue a strategic direction that no longer benefits the West; rather, it threatens Russia by equipping an aggressive army on its border. And for all the liberal hawks and neocons this is not about strength or appeasing Putin, but about stupidity and low war IQ.
As was demonstrated by Washington during the Revolutionary War, a strategic retreat to resupply and live to fight another day is the only way to prevent inevitable suicide. Biden’s glazed vision is pure proof for Putin of another capitalist overreach. He knows the gods of war will guide us toward our less sustainable and secure future.
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