Europe appears to be a basket case. I shall limit myself to quoting the conclusion of an article in the US-based Responsible Statecraft, an article I urge you to read in its entirety.
If you ask most members of European think tanks to define the specifically British, or French, or Danish interests in the Ukraine War, they are not merely incapable of answering, they clearly regard the very question as somehow illegitimate and disloyal to the U.S.-mandated “rules-based order.”
But the America to which these Europeans are loyal is the old U.S. foreign and security establishment — not the America of Trump, which they do not understand and deeply hate and fear (just as they do their own populist oppositions). Indeed, until a very few months ago the great majority of European politicians and experts simply refused to believe that Trump could possibly win the elections.
Many have now lost their heads entirely, and are just running around in circles. Others, like the Poles and Balts, have their heads firmly screwed on, but back to front.
As to the British government and security establishment, since the U.S. elections they have resembled their predecessor King Charles I, who according to legend went on talking for half an hour after his head had been cut off. Perhaps given time they can grow a new head of their very own. But in the meantime, for people in this embarrassing position, a period of silent inaction would seem to be the wise course to adopt.
I must admit I never imagined that heads could be screwed on backwards, but that certainly seems to be the case.
As for Norway – definitely a Democracy – its population has almost unanimously decided to trust in God, i.e. the USA, rather than in reason. With a constitution that explicitly rules out foreign bases on our territory, the government has surreptitiously allowed the USA to establish no less than 12 bases on Norwegian soil. There was no prior discussion in the press, and all the political parties in our National Assembly sleepwalked into enthusiastic acceptance.
So now, if NATO’s European members persist in escalating what has technically ceased to be a merely proxy war, Norway will be on the front line, together with the last Ukrainians, Poland, Finland and Sweden.
How could this happen? A Democratic country!
Unlike people in many if not most other countries, Norwegians still tend to trust the politicians they vote for. They don’t suspect they are being cheated every time they pay a bill. Even during Covid, there were few protests. And, not least, they absolutely adore Jens Soltenberg. (Yes, I blush as as I write this!) They are proud of him. Dictators of the world, look to Norway and learn.
So in 2022, when Russia launched its “special military operation” with (if my memory serves me) no more than 120,000 men, this was instantly labelled by all political parties and in all news outlets in Norway as an “unprovoked”, rabid attack. And the entire Norwegian population swallowed the bait, hook and all.
The rest you know. But what I consider interesting in this respect was that the press was so well prepared from the very first day to announce to its trusting readers/listeners that Putin was an unhinged, evil “Hitler” intent on conquering all of Europe. The press refrained from all examination of fact, all probing analysis, all discussion. Dissenting voices were stridently ridiculed and thus bullied into silence.
So why did all political parties and all news outlets, react in the same despotic manner? Were they paid to do so (i.e. bribed)? Were they coerced? Were they merely stupid? There is no doubt that there has been a lot of stupidity (and ignorance) involved, but stupidity is probably not the main explanation for European nations’ self-destructive and frankly repressive activities. (Not only with regard to Ukraine, but also with regard to Gaza). Why did all of Europe do the exact opposite of what they should have done in almost every respect?
To be continued.
But in the mean time, as i grieve for my country that has become a vassal of the USA, I turn to another mountainous country, Georgia. My recommendation for tonight is a beautiful Georgian song. (Note 1: The soloist died in 1985.) (Note 2: The EU and NATO are trying to turn Georgia into a second Ukraine, not that the singers knew it, back then. They already had known enough troubles.)