European Tribune

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Clarification:  Russia could us the energy card w/regard to the UN.

Why do we keep talking about NATO as if the UN does not exist (however incompetent it is, it does exist!) -it is beyone me.  What's with this "It's my poor little country and big bad Russia all alone in the world" complex?

You think without NATO everywhere else would cease to exist?  You think that even without NATO, any incursion by Russia would not have geo-political consequences for nations that now belong to Nato.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Fri Apr 4th, 2008 at 02:45:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Again, I'm not worried about Russia invading, I'm worried about destabilizing these countries and hamstringing the EU. Perceptions are reality. You've mentioned the missile shield - given that the thing is a useless pork fund for defense contractors why should Russia care - answer, it shouldn't, but it does and that affects things.
by MarekNYC on Fri Apr 4th, 2008 at 02:51:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]
At the very least Russia should care because it validates people's fear of Russia, which is already irrational.  And we should not base policy, or military occupation, on irrational fears.  See: Iraq.  It doesn't work?  Nothing in our military does.  See: Iraq.  Frankly, America has no idea how to conduct itself in the world and it's nuts for anyone to be turning to us for protection.  See: Iraq.  

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
by poemless on Fri Apr 4th, 2008 at 03:02:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I'm worried about destabilizing these countries and hamstringing the EU.

I do understand that.  But I think there is a failure here to move beyond the outdated belief that America is necessarily part of the solution and Russia is necessarily part of the problem and to begin to explore how Poland can take the reigns of its own welfare and ditto for the EU.  A stability which must rely on American imperialism -and that is what NATO is, like it or not, and fear of Russia is not a true stability, just like the missile defence is not a true defence.  And it's frankly unfair to America and Russia because it impedes our ability to become closer allies.  

A house isn't made stable by a guard dog, a shotgun and a fence.  It's the foundation and the structure that keep it stable.  Without that no external protection is going to mean shit.  And that should be where you start.  If Poland has problems, NATO isn't the solution, it's a stop-gap.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Fri Apr 4th, 2008 at 03:22:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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