Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock insisted today that Ukraine will not receive any German weapons to defend itself against Russia. She explained that Germany’s role in WWII imposes a special duty to “seek other ways to secure peace.”
Of course, it’s self-evident that Germany remains haunted by this past. But this smacks of an ironic form of Stockholm Syndrome. Because Germany knows letting Russia execute a blitzkrieg in Ukraine could trigger WWIII. Yet it is refusing to join NATO in supplying the weapons necessary for Ukraine to stop Russia in its tracks. Frankly, Germany’s special duty should be to ensure the world does not repeat the mistake it made when it failed to help Poland stop Germany in 1939.
Not to mention that the foreign minister admitted Germany has no compunction about supplying lethal weapons to member states of NATO and the European Union. I mean, how self-incriminating is that? After all, this in effect is saying to Russia that Germany will let it have its way with any independent European country, so long as it keep its paws off members of those two clubs.
Perhaps Germany simply identifies more with Putin’s Russia – given how it’s aping Hitler’s Germany so much … Others dare not say that. I just did.
Panic? Zelensky says keep calm and carry on
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a strategic blunder in downplaying the threat the looming Russian invasion poses. I commented on this just days ago in “It’s Not If but When Will Russia Invade Ukraine…? But Ukrainian President Insists No Panic Here,” on February 15.
I fully appreciate the psychological imperative for Zelensky to project confidence and inspire calm. But he has too often mocked American concerns about Russian troops amassing along Ukraine’s border.
He might be a congenital comedian. But the more strategic and beneficial strategy would’ve been to use those concerns as the basis to rally Ukrainians to defend their country and national pride.
In doing so, he would have had a far more compelling and sympathetic case to make for twice the amount of arms he’s now begging America to supply. In his inimitable fashion, he could’ve used the slogan:
- Ukrainians will defend Ukraine. So don’t send us your sons. Just send us your arms!
In which case, I would’ve been in the chorus of those hurling moral indignation at President Biden if he showed any reluctance to give Zelensky all the weapons he was begging for, and more. And it would’ve sufficed to simply remind Biden that he left more weapons behind in Afghanistan for the Taliban to perpetrate terror around the world than the Ukrainians are asking for to defend themselves against Russia, and to possibly prevent an inexorable march of folly into WWIII.
In a similar vein, Putin has always enjoyed a reputation as a master military strategist. But nothing demonstrates how unwarranted that is quite like him bullying Ukraine to weaken NATO. After all, NATO has only become more united, strengthened, and emboldened than ever before – complete with Biden deploying more troops and arms to NATO countries bordering Russia.
Related commentaries:
Germany enabling Russia re Ukraine… NATO…
Legacy Note: With over 5,600 posts spanning 20 years, I am easily the most prolific blogger on the most eclectic array of topics on the web. That makes The iPINIONS Journal an unparalleled archive of informed political and cultural commentary. Visit the ARCHIVES section in the sidebar or search by topic. You won’t find a more consistent, independent voice on world affairs.