French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angel Merkel are on their way to Moscow to try to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine.
When I read of this last night I confess that my first reaction was: "Munich." It is not Munich, it's Moscow, different names, and Putin is not Hitler, ditto, it was thought by analogy, imperfect analogy. But by definition analogies are imperfect and since the perfect is the enemy of the good according to France's Voltaire analogies are often good, useful tools for understanding the world.
I do not think it is good or useful for France and Germany to negotiate about Ukraine. The Munich analogy rears it's head there too. I don't think it's good because we must be clear to the Russians and this is not being clear. The United States is not going to Russia and it is Putin's intent to test the stickiness of NATO and the trip alone, apart from the negotiating, suggests to Putin that NATO is becoming unstuck. Another red line is turning into another yellow light, a cautionary signal on the road to the Baltic states.
The West must needs make clear where it will war with Russia. Russians only understand steel. Treaties, agreements, talk, Russians don't understand those things. The West does not believe that this is what is at stake here, it cannot conceive of war with Russia but this is what is at stake here and the West must conceive it. The West needs change its mindset from peace to war. It has the advantage of being able to choose its battlefield. Wherever that is, the West, NATO, must construct a line of steel, they must put tanks and missiles and land mines there.
I have read that NATO is unprepared for war with Russia, that the 2008 financial crisis produced cuts in military and defense spending and that NATO is unready. That is at odds with former NATO secretary-general Rasmussen's statements and is consistent with Putin's assessment that he can win a war with NATO. Munich again.
The West must prepare for war with Russia. It must be at peace about it, that is, have the calm that comes with resolution, the confidence that comes from military superiority and choice of battle venue. The West has time, as it did in the 1930's. First, it has to change its mind, from peace to war.
When I read of this last night I confess that my first reaction was: "Munich." It is not Munich, it's Moscow, different names, and Putin is not Hitler, ditto, it was thought by analogy, imperfect analogy. But by definition analogies are imperfect and since the perfect is the enemy of the good according to France's Voltaire analogies are often good, useful tools for understanding the world.
I do not think it is good or useful for France and Germany to negotiate about Ukraine. The Munich analogy rears it's head there too. I don't think it's good because we must be clear to the Russians and this is not being clear. The United States is not going to Russia and it is Putin's intent to test the stickiness of NATO and the trip alone, apart from the negotiating, suggests to Putin that NATO is becoming unstuck. Another red line is turning into another yellow light, a cautionary signal on the road to the Baltic states.
The West must needs make clear where it will war with Russia. Russians only understand steel. Treaties, agreements, talk, Russians don't understand those things. The West does not believe that this is what is at stake here, it cannot conceive of war with Russia but this is what is at stake here and the West must conceive it. The West needs change its mindset from peace to war. It has the advantage of being able to choose its battlefield. Wherever that is, the West, NATO, must construct a line of steel, they must put tanks and missiles and land mines there.
I have read that NATO is unprepared for war with Russia, that the 2008 financial crisis produced cuts in military and defense spending and that NATO is unready. That is at odds with former NATO secretary-general Rasmussen's statements and is consistent with Putin's assessment that he can win a war with NATO. Munich again.
The West must prepare for war with Russia. It must be at peace about it, that is, have the calm that comes with resolution, the confidence that comes from military superiority and choice of battle venue. The West has time, as it did in the 1930's. First, it has to change its mind, from peace to war.
