Another Weary Lesson
History repeating itself. That's the lesson for today, folks. Not that it surprises anyone. Merely confirms the obvious, that Russian leaders are not about to turn themselves into accommodating, friendly, co-operative partners of the global community. There will always be Russia - and the rest of the world. Genuflect, and all will be well.Ukraine has become entirely too insolent. Imagine, standing up for their equal rights as a sovereign nation. Now, that's either representative of national courage or oblivious stupidity with respect to the fall-out of standing firm and resolute against a bully. Mind, it's a bully they know well, very well indeed, and from long experience do quite understand what they're up against.
But there's something about the dignity and honour of a country so long exploited and patronized that they will no longer submit to such indignity. It's been a long time coming, for Ukraine. For a country that lost millions of its people to an avoidable famine, where its patron looked on unpityingly at the product of its decision to wrest food from a starving population.
Pride and independence resurrected, Ukraine has determined it will no longer be complicit in allowing itself to be held firmly under the Russian paw. If there is now a disagreement over pricing and the tariff for passage of energy from one country toward the other and onward to the European Union, one might reasonably anticipate that rational, responsible interaction might ensue.
Nope. Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and Macedonia, along with Romania, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic have now been embroiled - once again - in the fury of the Russian bear throwing the weight of its addled irritation into play. Their obvious sympathy with Ukraine, voiceless, yet infuriating, marks them as incidental victims in the choreographed drama of violence by any other means delivered in lieu of military action.
That its reputation as a reliable supplier of natural gas to much of Europe is in the breach, isn't particularly worrying to Russia. She has the goods and will deliver when and if she wishes on her own terms. What better time to exercise a bitter show-down than during the depths of a brutal winter? Makes everyone sit up and take frosty notice. With an enforced modicum of respect.
"The Czech EU presidency and the European Commission demand that gas supplies be immediately restored to the EU and that the two parties resume at once negotiations." The delicate act of neutrality must be seen to be balanced and of necessity give no offence.
Good luck.
Labels: Political Realities, Troublespots, World News
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, January 07, 2009
<< Home