Posted on 02/24/2022 9:15:23 AM PST by Kaslin
Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine under several pretexts reminds me of Adolf Hitler's rationale for invading and annexing Sudetenland in 1938 and his invasion of Czechoslovakia and Poland a year later. Then, as now, the excuse was that German-speaking people (then) and Russian-speaking people (now) wanted to be part of Germany (then) and Mother Russia (now).
In both cases the excuses for invasion, occupation and murder were just that - excuses. Some commentators say there has been nothing like Putin's invasion of Ukraine since World War II. There are dwindling numbers of people alive who lived through that period and witnessed the evil of Nazi brutality and genocide.
Ronald Reagan lived through that era. This is why he coined the phrase "evil empire" to describe the Soviet Union. It's one thing to read about evil in history books, but it is quite another to have witnessed it. One need only listen to Holocaust survivors for a powerful lesson in how deep human depravity can sink if it is not opposed.
One of the definitions of evil is "The force in nature that governs and gives rise to wickedness and sin." In our age of moral relativity where nearly everything is tolerated and justified -- except people who oppose the new societal norms -- who speaks of wickedness and sin? It's getting harder to find preachers known for sermons on the subject.
Albert Einstein, who was German and Jewish, and who lived through that dark period of mass slaughter, was right when he observed: "The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
As with a serious disease, early detection is the best path to treatment and a possible cure. Though there is no immediate "cure" for evil, free nations can control its spread.
It's worth revisiting Reagan's evil empire speech to the British House of Commons on June 8, 1982. Reagan's observations about evil were profound. While his references were to the Soviet Union and repressive regimes everywhere, his words equally apply to that regime's ideological heir, Vladimir Putin and other dictators.
Reagan said: "If history teaches anything, it teaches self-delusion in the face of unpleasant facts is folly." This was British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's folly when he declared "peace in our time" after meeting with Adolf Hitler in Munich and believing Hitler's promise not to seize more territory.
While Reagan's policy of "peace through strength" worked, he told the Commons that military power was only part of the mix: "Our military strength is a prerequisite to peace, but let it be clear we maintain this strength in the hope it will never be used, for the ultimate determinant in the struggle that's now going on in the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas, a trial of spiritual resolve, the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish, the ideals to which we are dedicated."
World War II came about in part, said Reagan, because the West allowed "dictators to underestimate us." Now we see the reverse. The Biden administration is underestimating our enemies and projecting weakness. They think they can negotiate with the likes of Putin, China's Xi and Iran's ayatollahs when the only thing these and other dictators understand is power, resolve and resistance.
Learn that lesson and the world becomes a safer place. Failure to learn it produces what we are witnessing in Ukraine and may soon see in Taiwan, not to mention in an Iran equipped with nuclear weapons and a religious rationale for using them.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine under several pretexts reminds me of Adolf Hitler’s rationale for invading and annexing Sudetenland in 1938 and his invasion of Czechoslovakia and Poland a year later. Then, as now, the excuse was that German-speaking people (then) and Russian-speaking people (now) wanted to be part of Germany (then) and Mother Russia (now).
Gratz freepers, at least a week ahead of the punditry on pointing out Putin and the Sudetenland.
The world is always a more dangerous place when a Democrat sits in the Oval Office.
If you're the praying type, please pray hard. I think I can be excused for asserting that Biden's towering ineptitude will lead to far too many unnecessary fatalities. All over the world.
The blood on Biden's hands will gush by the gallon. You proud of yourselves yet, Democrat voters?
“The world is always a more dangerous place when a Democrat sits in the Oval Office.”
That’s a fact.
We totally missed our most important opportunity to combat evil in handing rigged machines to the communists to count our votes. Too late now.
Another Hitler analogy. Ugh.
You know people, there was “history,” all over the globe, before 1933. Its hard to believe, but yes - its true.
I’ve been steeped in WWII documentaries and books as of late, and I just watched “darkest hour” last night. It certainly shapes my perspective about what is going on right now.
History repeats - but it is just in the early days. If ever there was a time to prepare for SHTF...
Rather than trying to build a relationship, the Democrats have been lying about Russia for years. In addition, we have been trying to impose “our” values of gay marriage and adoption, abortion, and energy use to the world. They are concerned about their security. They don’t trust us. Why should they? Do you trust our leaders?
The hitler/nazi thing was unique and special - on several planes. That is why it is important to compare current events to the rise and fall of Nazi Germany. We learn from what it did in war, what it did to gain power, and what it did to win battles, both on the battlefield and diplomatically.
But, but, but... white privilege, climate change, inclusivity, multiculturalism.... those are what REALLY matter! /s
Stopping Hitler - the crutch of ‘historians’.
Here’s an example - the Cuban missile ‘crisis’ was the result of America putting nuclear missiles in Turkey. We provoked that response.
Pushing to have NATO countries and reinforced western-allied countries on the historic borders of Russia has been a multi-decade effort - to what purpose? Looks a LOT like trying to prove Russian paranoia as being the correct response.
People need to wake up - America doesn’t look much like the beacon of hope to the world acting like this. Reagan would be weeping at this level of idiocy.
You’ve got a good point there. I certainly don’t trust our government, no other nation has a reason to either.
That being said, I don’t trust the Repukes much more than the Dims.
Not our fight
Not one US life.
Not your kids, not mine.
Let Brandon’s kid handle it.
He’s gotten paid already.
Neocons forever !
Isn't it about time for us to roll out the red carpet for the King/prince of Saudi Arabia that ordered a US resident working for the MSM be hacked apart alive in a fellow NATO nation, Turkey? Seeing how China (ruled by communists that oppress religion, ignore human rights, and you have no democracy) doesn't see to bother us much since that is where the US has set up shop as their source for endless cheap slaves, or how we do trade with Vietnam, have a friend in Jordan... When it comes to morals and ethics, we seem to have a large degree of "flexibility."
Crisis in Ukraine = EU and US economic interests.
It's truly funny how short our memory is.
This is a conflict because the Ukraine is already tied into Western political interests and the financial system. The Ukraine is a diamond in the rough, a nation of 41 million where 30% of the economy is industrial and the per capita income is 40% higher than Mexico. It's a nation that was the breadbasket of the former Soviet Union, has operational nuclear power plants... This is a conflict over who gets the Ukraine, the West or the Russians, and the Russians were the ones that allowed unrestricted trade and the free movement of money, people, communications... It's the West that wants to take a former Soviet republic, which we see as economically significant and bring them under our umbrella. The Russians simply will not allow this, there will be no EU or NATO membership for Ukraine, no matter what, and all our Western one-sided media and political narrative will not help. They will not allow this, period. What will happen is that 41 million Ukrainians will end up in a nation that is f-up if we don't back off.
No one really wants Ukraine to get f-up, but in a worst case scenario, if the Russians create enough instability no one will want that place, no differently than the EU and NATO wouldn't want some other basket case as part of their club. It's an exclusive club with mutual benefits. It is after all, about economic interests. The Russians will conduct military operations and seize territories that are ethnic Russian. They have no interest in taking and holding those areas that identify as Ukrainian. However, they will eventually ensure that these places are so damaged, so unstable, that neither the EU or NATO would want them. Who will be the losers? Ukrainians.
Says the guy who just eulogized far leftist and drunk Bob Beckel.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45812399
Funny how quick stories like this just disappear or get forgotten.
One thing is for sure, when America speaks of “democracy, rule of law, transparency, or human rights,” there is ALWAYS a financial interest at stake.
You can brutally murder people, oppress religion, have political prisoners, be a king or a single party communist regime, you can ignore every civil right regarding race, gays, women we in the West pretend are so important, you can have child labor, unsafe working conditions, or horrible environmental standards, all ideas we in the West claim matter, but if we can make money off you, you’re OK.
But I do not know why I am wasting my time writing any of this. Because in the end, the Russians will get their way. Unless we are willing to put boots on the ground (the big Army - in the Ukraine, not just some advisors) and risk a major conflict, they will ultimately up the ante and we will not keep up. This is simply put merely a question of what condition Ukraine will be in when it’s over. If we don’t back off, Ukraine will end up a basket case. Before the Russians let us have this, they will smash this store up, and we won’t want to play repair and fix it. The outcome is certain, Ukraine will not be an EU and NATO member.
Its going to be a vassal state of Russia.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.