Premier Vladimir Putin of the post-Russian state, the resurging Soviet Union, is skillfully and knowingly guiding the world into a familiar and terrifying chasm.
The horrifying similarities between the genesis of the Second World War and the modern conflict in Eastern Europe dictate action beyond the punitive measures already levied against the Kremlin.
While I traditionally avoid levying criticism against the Obama administration, there can be little doubt that our current foreign policy exhibits all of the typical indicators and personify the word “weak.” Our definitive threat of intervention in the event of chemical weapons being introduced in Syria was proven to be a bluff as a third-world dictator boldly saw through the tough façade. Further to the point, upon finding proof of chemical weapons our only response was to frantically search for an easy way out of acting.
This apparently did not go unnoticed to Premier Putin.
In international terms, “appeasement” is the policy of extensively avoiding an immediate altercation by giving in to an aggressor’s demands in hope of avoiding conflict. This is essentially a competitive policy to see which country can bury their head deeper in the sand. This was the allied position against Adolf Hitler in a scenario that was horrifyingly similar to our current predicament.
Following Germany’s humiliating showing in the 1936 Olympics, Adolf Hitler decided to branch out and “protect ethnic Germans.” Hitler claimed a common cultural identity with Austria and chose to annex the sovereign state. Punitive sanctions were levied against the increasingly popular Hitler. These punitive actions and increased support only encouraged Hitler to continue.
Leaders of the day were busying with a competitive match of burying their head in the sand and did not even react when Hitler invaded the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. World leader’s only reaction was to strike a deal with Adolf Hitler and trust that he was, deep down, a good person at heart.
Putin was a leading henchman in the KGB and I refuse to give him any title other than the USSR term “Premier.” He recognized the world’s weakness in Syria and felt comfortable “protecting ethnic Russians” around the world.
The resurging Soviet Union’s invasion of the Crimea is only aptly described as an abomination. Making this worse, Premier Putin has amassed 40,000 soldiers on the boarder of Eastern Ukraine. Putin has almost assuredly sent guerillas in to the Ukraine to incite the current— and shockingly unexpected— uprising while he bides his time before he can again “protect ethnic Russians.”
I can’t decide whether Hitler would be proud or angry that Premier Putin has stolen his plan in its most literal and recognizable form.
I have heard countless suggestions that the Ukraine is simply not worth risking increased tensions— Neville Chamberlin, the world champion of burying one’s own head in the sand, says hello.
The Ukraine is a sovereign state and a member of the United Nations. All nations in the UN have an obligation to recognize the Ukraine as an ally and protect them as such. Despite this, I would agree that the minimal risk of open war is not worth intervention; however, history, Hitler and Putin have all proved that appeasement of a tyrant will only lead to an infinitely worse conflict.
The current appeasement policy of economic sanctions will not save Eastern Europe. We must match strength with strength before Premier Putin sends those 40,000 trained killers into Kiev and “politely” asks for another referendum at the barrel of a gun.
Take your heads out of the sand, stop this appeasement and see the situation in Eastern Europe for what it is.
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