IT IS TIME FOR EUROPE TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE.
To this point, NATO has been all about the United States and as recent history shows its power is in decline.
The Other NATO Countries have gone along for far too long with with a free ride our own Country Canada included.
I say that because as we all well know - the World is becoming more and more dangerous and the old ways of doing business...that is to say Democracies ability to protect the world is in desperate need of fixing.
China, Russia, and Iran have made it known that they are out to cause trouble and they have a number of other lackey countries at their beck and call... their names we are also quite conversant with.
So let's deal with Russia and Iran first:
Russia has taken over parts of the Ukraine and is threatening an all out invasion as I write this Blog. It has also just sent troops into neighbouring Kazakhstan to put down a resurrection by its common folk who are tired of their existing dictator and autocratic government. This Dictator has recently ordered that these folks to be shot on sight.
In the face of Putin's threats against Ukraine, the United States threatens 'sanctions' ...you can just imagine Putin quaking in his boots. Not. And Germany - the Green Leader of Europe, has no gas to heat their homes or run their industries and as such is totally reliant upon Russia for supply. In other words - Putin is being given a free ride.
This despite the fact that NATO consists of 30 nations...12 of which came from the former USSR. The Ukraine should be part of it but NATO dragged its feet too long and with 100,000 Russian Troops on Ukraine's doorstep... now is not the time to grant it membership. Rather, NATO should flood Ukraine with troops until this standoff... stands-down. Will they do that ...unlikely. So the chances of Russia following through on its threat are all the greater.
And let's look at some other numbers ...the population of Russia is 146 Million - the population of Europe is over 5 x as large at 750 million. Russia's GDP is a mere 1,483 Billion in US Dollars while Europe has a staggering GDP of 21,500 Billion (USD). You have a mouse going up against an Elephant. And yet the mouse seems to be winning. This must stop if Europe and the Middle East are to be safe.
Before going on about China - a brief word about Iran. Another Dictatorship with a stated goal to blow Israel off the face of the Earth. And they mean it. For years Iran has motored on with its Nuclear Program - in secret, and by now must be at its end goal. It needs to be totally dismantled / abolished. Do you think Joe Biden and the other Progressives will do the job? Not likely ...it will be left to Israel but they need to have a united and powerful Europe covering its back. Again Doubtful but sorely needed.
So NATO needs to step up to rogue states like Russia, Iran and other bad actors in the Middle East. It can no longer depend on the United States to do its bidding. Will it - I honestly do not know - I think given time it will be inevitable but I am not sure that time is on their side.
Now China.
The other even more evil presence is Communist China. It has used a corrupted form of Capitalism to vault itself into the 21 st Century with a booming economy and flourishing military. Europe is more or less out of the line of fire but not the United States, not Japan, nor India, nor South Korea...nor the many other countries trying to survive in South East Asia. Here is where even a weaker United States continues to have an important role to keep the peace and keep China under control. Will it do so...I believe even Biden and company realize the danger that exists if they do not actively involve themselves in the affairs of this region which is ever growing in importance. Economists predict the Asia region will surprise the West in GDP within many of our lifetimes.
But here again the United States cannot do it alone. The one thing China loves even more than its military might is money. They only recently acquired it and would be loath to lose it. Countries of the World must stop trading with the Devil - not even to buy tooth paste from it. What is a million souls lost to China in war compared to Trillions lost in trade. That is the final answer and again I am skeptical that it will come about ...but that is the only thing that will work unless the ordinary Chinese rise up and replace their government with true democracy which too is more of a dream than a reality.
As I See It...
'K.D. Galagher'
