Europe’s recent lurch to the right in balloting for the European Parliament
concerns me as an American, because so much evil has come out of Europe’s Right. To be precise, Nazis and other fascists.
And yet I know the lurch to the right comes as a response to the drift to the left, under the aegis of the European Union. And the European Left can be every bit as bad as the Right. To be precise, Communists.
Both extremes are antithetical to freedom.
I define the force that moved the political needle as the 3 I’s — Immigration, Inflation, Insecurity (which means fear of crime).
Sound familiar? Just like here in the U.S. of A.
(I am not predicting that a similar rightward drift here will result in a Donald J, Trump victory in November, although it might.)
Rightward ho went France, Germany, Holland, Spain and Italy, part of a rightward slide elsewhere in the world, driven by the 3 I’s and also by heavy-handed environmental policies that have a negative impact on farmers. (A few days earlier, the world’s largest democracy, India, narrowly re-elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an autocratic, populist leader, to an historic third term.)
While right-wing parties have always existed, they pretty much were relegated to the fringes in Europe since the end of World War II. In recent years they have been less stigmatized and have feasted on grievances of the working class.
It’s not like the European Union will pull apart. There are too many benefits to the federation. Rather than leave, as Britain did, the disgruntled Euroskeptics are choosing to fight from within, and rewrite the policies.
One change that I won’t like is reducing or cutting off aid to embattled Ukraine.
As we see with American Republicans, the Right emits an isolationist odor, forgetting that the globe is interconnected as a spider’s web. Things that happen in faraway lands reverberate here.
American isolationists might delude themselves into thinking our oceans protect us despite terror attacks that are evidence to the contrary, but what about Europe’s Right?
Some of them are thisfar from a Russian attack, either physical or cyber or political. Under Vladimir Putin, the Russian bear is on the prowl.
Appeasement stokes his hunger, as it did Hitler. Allowing him to gobble up other countries merely delays the day when he feasts on you.
The proof is obvious. The world stood by with its hands in its pockets as Russia grabbed 20% of Georgia in 2008, stole Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, before invading Ukraine itself in 2022, which finally drew a response from the West.
Outnumbered and outgunned, Ukraine — which wants to join the European Union and NATO — has put up a heroic defense, which reminds me of the Greeks at Thermopylae, and the Texans at the Alamo.
Each of those celebrated battles, alas, was a military defeat.
If Ukraine falls, despite the enormous cost inflicted on the Russians — an estimated 500,000 casualties — there is little reason to doubt that Putin will stop. He has stated his desire to reincarnate the Russian empire.
The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania could be next. If Putin crossed their borders, that would ignite World War III because they are NATO members and NATO’s Article 5 states that an attack on one is an attack on all and must be met with all actions necessary.
Meanwhile, Putin repeatedly has threatened to use tactical nuclear weapons if Russia is threatened.
The threats may have slowed President Joe Biden’s delivery of arms to Ukraine. His typical process is to receive a request for advanced arms from Ukraine, he rejects the request because we know their needs better than they do, and he then reverses himself six months later, after the delay has harmed Ukraine. This is stupid. Putin knows if he employs nukes he’ll get a taste of the same. Thursday Biden did it again when he said Ukraine would be allowed to use U.S. weapons against military targets in Russia, but only when they are close to the border.
Meanwhile, Putin lobs missiles at the Ukrainian capital with no fear of retaliation.
Putin knows the only threat to Russia is the response to its own aggressions. In its 75 years, NATO has never been an aggressor. Putin knows this, even as he fans false fears that NATO is encircling Russia in order to harm it.
Encircle, yes.
Harm, no.
Putin may want to be the greatest czar since Peter the Great, but he’s not suicidal. He bluffs. He knows he is no match for the West. His ambitions eventually will be thwarted by the West.
The question is, when?
For the Right, the answer is, not now.
That is a recipe for paying a steeper price later.
Biden and NATO should have stopped this war before it began. Biden showed weakness and stupidity with Afghanistan and Putin took advantage.Trump showed strength and peace was breaking out all over the world. The proof is out there we all lived it. North Korea stopped firing their missiles . China wasn’t flying their jets over Taiwan Iran was weakened with sanctions. We have to get rid of Biden and the democrats . Look how the country and the world has changed since Biden took office. And don’t give me that bullshit that Trump is in Putin pocket. Putin did all his dirty work when Biden and Obama were in office. I’m
Trump de Pussy showing strength? Surely you jest! This Orange A-hole feigns strength. He doesn’t actually know the true meaning of the word. “Hey, Vlad, how’s it hangin’, dude? Who’s it going to be this month?” If the Orange Idiot actually had a pair, he would have shown his strength in calling Putin and other dictators onto the floor and using his “strength” to attempt tamp down their movements. Instead, his response was, “How can I help ya?” Biden may not be the answer, but tRUMP is even less so.
Another post by an uninformed idiot.
Yeah, YOUR post. As usual. You are an embarrassment.
Lol. Everyone knows who the embarrassment is. Your TDS won’t let you deal with facts.
Speak for yourself. Trump negotiated the withdrawal from Afghanistan by negotiating directly with the Taliban, released 5000 Taliban fighters from prison, and drew down the existing U.S. forces to a minimal number. Creating the situation that occurred during the final stage.
Trump handed a major propaganda victory to North Korea by attempting to negotiate one on one with North Korea. Which included two international conferences and crossing the 38th parallel to shake hands with Kim Jon Un in order to get North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. Just like in Afghanistan he excluded the two countries most at risk from North Korea Japan and South Korea.
Putin manipulated Trump to the point where Trump stated that he trusted Putin more than he did American intelligence agencies.
“As usual everything you said is twisted bullshit . Biden was completely responsible for the Afghanistan fiasco.” A fiasco created by Trump when he made a deal with the Taliban to release 5000 Taliban fighters from prison and draw down troops faster than he should have. How is Biden responsible for this?
Speak for yourself. Trump negotiated the withdrawal from Afghanistan by negotiating directly with the Taliban, released 5000 Taliban fighters from prison, and drew down the existing U.S. forces to a minimal number. Creating the situation that occurred during the final stage.
Trump handed a major propaganda victory to North Korea by attempting to negotiate one on one with North Korea. Which included two international conferences and crossing the 38th parallel to shake hands with Kim Jon Un in order to get North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. Just like in Afghanistan he excluded the two countries most at risk from North Korea Japan and South Korea.
Putin manipulated Trump to the point where Trump stated that he trusted Putin more than he did American intelligence agencies.
So once again when you have no actual facts claim its TDS.
As usual everything you said is twisted bullshit . Biden was completely responsible for the Afghanistan fiasco. Putin did nothing when Trump was president but did what he wanted when Obama and Biden were in office.
And our intelligence agencies are responsible for the Russian hoax and told the American people that Hunter Bidens laptop was Russian disinformation. And we’re supposed to trust them. They have interfered with our elections.
How is Biden responsible for the Afghanistan withdrawal when it was Trump who negotiated it?
Trumpo’s idea of ending war ‘tomorrow’ is surrender. He’s a ‘cheese eating surrender monkey’. Trump negotiated the Afghan withdrawal with the Taliban, not Biden (& the Afghan govt was left out). Trump actually strengthened Iran. Biden enlarged NATO and most of NATO is spending at least 2% of GDP. Biden also helped to the start AUKUS coalition (Australia, UK, and US. New Zealand now wants in, too). Biden negotiated the sale of US nuclear attack subs to Australia. Biden did far more for veteran’s than trumpicans ever did. Last year, house Trumpicans tried to cut $20 billion out of the VA budget. When Trump says ‘ suckers & losers’ he’s referring to brain dead acolyte like you.
If Trump is able to steal this election, there will be war. He’ll surrender Eastern Europe to Putin, Taiwan to China and S. Korea (which Trump dislikes) to the kind and considerate humanist Kim Jong Un. Trump would let Netanyahu ‘do whatever the hell he wants’ by taking back the Gaza Strip & annexing the West Bank, which would start a major mideast war and if (when) Iran gets involved, probably nuclear war.
Trump is totally unfit for office. Jennifer Rubin writes “At the most basic level Biden can discern friend from foe, reveres the military, understands the value of alliances, generally hires capable advisors, puts together complex legislative deals and exhibits inexhaustable empathy for others’ suffering”. “The job of being President is executive management. Trump’s closest colleagues tell us he is willfully ignorant, cannot grasp basic concepts, cannot absorb written material. As for his hiring decisions, by his own admission he has hired a slew of dumb or incompetent people. He gloss on to ridiculous quack theories and he channels the ideas and rhetoric of America’s enemies and historical villains. Trump cannot keep national secres-or understand they are not “his”. He is incapable of understanding the values and ethos of military service. Because he is so susceptible to flattery and so thin-skinned, he CANNOT tell friend from foe.”
And as staunch conservative Republican & Trumpo’s former national security advisorJohn Bolton said “Trump really only cares about retribution for himself and it will consume much of a second term”.
Both President’s Xi & Putin see Trump as an easy mark. It’s relatively easy to “con the don”.
“…, isolationism will make individuals less secure rather than more secure. If you live in a country that espouses freedom, and think you can isolate yourself from a violent extremist group of murderers and let other people handle it, you’re more likely to get attacked. In other words, your individual security will be diminished.”
-President G.W. Bush.
Advice to heed…
Excellent callback
Peace thru strength. Europe has neglected their NATO responsibilities by not contributing to their defense. Trump would have stopped this war before it started. Biden and the Europeans are allowing Russia to destroy Ukraine.
Trump would have allowed Putin to take control of Ukraine. During his tenure in office he openly embraced dictators and CPAC had Viktor Orban as a key note speaker.
His only interest is withdrawing American military support from NATO, South Korea, and Afghanistan.
There you go again making things up. His only interest was having the Europeans pay their fare share.
Huh. Imagine that. A Republican. Or in today’s lingo, a “RINO” who would have been pushed out of the party by the Trump wing of morons.
Freeze DiNiro needs to be treated for his severe case of Trump derangement syndrome. Let’s pray for him.
The only one suffering from TDS is you. You can’t see the forest for the trees.
Lol. You couldn’t tell the truth if your life depended on it.
“We in America have learned bitter lessons from two World Wars: It is better to be here ready to protect the peace, than to take blind shelter across the sea, rushing to respond only after freedom is lost. We’ve learned that isolationism never was and never will be an acceptable response to tyrannical governments with an expansionist intent.”
–Ronald Reagan
Reagan couldn’t even win the Republican nomination today. Trump would call him a liberal. Today’s Repubs sold their souls to Trump. Once again, Trumpicans put party over country (Even Mitch McConnell and Lindsay Graham). The Repubs are the party of the lunatic fringe. Trump is more evil than Bernie Sanders.
“[T]his Nation and all nations defending freedom, everywhere in the world, are one in their common need and their common cause–and none can sanely seek security alone.”
–Dwight D. Eisenhower
“But let me say to you that if the Republican party in the year of 1941 makes a blind opposition to this bill and allows itself to be presented to the American people as the isolationist party, it will never again gain control of the American government.
* * *
Republicans of 1941, you who gave to me the rarest privilege that could come to any man, the privilege of leading the greatest cause of this century in a great crusade—I call upon you now to rise to the opportunity of preserving the blessed principles of freedom and the preserving of the Republican party so that it may be an effective instrumentality in the solution of both our domestic and our international problems. If during this critical period we play a wise and proper part America in the near future will call us the truly gallant and brave defenders of America into power. Let us not fail.”
Wendell Willkie, January 8, 1941 (Ran unsuccessfully against FDR in 1940, exhorting his fellow Republicans to support lend-lease)
1930’s all over again. Thanks to the rightist views of “peace breaking out”. WWIII is coming–give it a decade or two. I’ll likely be gone by then.
There were know wars under Trump. Keep voting for weak stupid presidents and you will see WWIII before your gone.
There were no wars under Trump? What do you think was happening in Afghanistan while he was in office, it wasn’t a bake sale.
We have 2 Wars going on as we speak. Israel and the Ukrain, I feel the need to end the was against Hamas is greater than the need to keep a steady war going with Putin. As much as we arm the Ukrain is as much as Putin fires back. It almost seems to be and endless war. The fact that warships are now 90 miles harbored in Cuba doesn’t make me warm and fuzzy either. We need to end the war in the middle east, it’s apparant that Hamas will never negotiate and stick to the script without firing missiles and laughing. On the onther hand diplomatic negoitations with Putin may work. also a carrier and a few Destroyers wouldn’t hurt around Cuba. Do I think a war would break out with the US and Russia? No . Getting Russia to stop the war with the Ukrain is a very real possibility, if somebody stepped in.
Not to nitpick. But there is no “the Ukraine.” Like Israel, France, Poland etc. it is a sovereign country not a territory of any other country. And it is spelled Ukraine. And “we” don’t need to end the Middle East war. The Israelis and Palestinians need to do that.
Yes, Wanda, you got it right again. Thank you.
Thanks freeze. I’ve not been on this blog much because I refuse to debate with MAGAT Dan. Delusional cultists are so pathetic and actually enervate my empathy gene. So sad.
These are not American wars as we have no boots on the ground. Prior to 1942 America supplied England and Russia with equipment and supplies under the Lend Lease program. This is no different.
Can’t trust KGB thug Putin, ever. He lies even more than Trump. If anybody has ever read up on Vlad the Ukrainian impaler, he hates America, liberal democracy, human rights, freedom and liberty. Much like the old USSR his goal is to weaken and eventually destroy America. Putin HATES America. It’s as simple as that, all you Trump traitors.
Nitpick noted,no glasses.no coffee. I also disagree.
With what? Ukraine???
That’s about it, not much that you, me, and Mr. Freeze agree on. You know what they say about opinions, O everybody’s got one 🙂
But freeze and mine are not informed by fox propaganda.
Excellent piece. Very scary.
I’m more afraid of the US debt than I am of Putin. The US debt can (will, actually) destroy the US, and not a shot will be fired nor a missile launched.
I am more afraid of Trump, than I am with Putin. He has stated that he will be a dictator from day one, he will shutdown any protests against him if he wins, he has stated that American Jews are disloyal if they vote Republican, that he will use the FBI and DOJ to punish his enemies even if they haven’t broken the law, and federal employees will be replaced with loyalists who will do his bidding.
This will destroy the Constitution that America is founded on, democracy, and America itself, and not a shot will be fired nor a missile launched.
He would also nominate totally unqualified incompetent ass-lickers like ‘Judge’ Aileen Cannon to the federal bench.
Hyperbole.
Trump stated the following
I will be a dictator on day one – https://apnews.com/article/trump-hannity-dictator-authoritarian-presidential-election-f27e7e9d7c13fabbe3ae7dd7f1235c72
Jews are disloyal if they don’t vote Republican – https://apnews.com/article/1bc3065eb2e4414289ef0ac1ac4ebaf7
Trump will use the DOJ and FBI to punish his enemies – https://www.reuters.com/world/us/donald-trump-wants-control-justice-department-fbi-his-allies-have-plan-2024-05-17/
Federal employees will be replaced with loyalists who will Trump’s bidding . https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2022/07/trump-reelected-aides-plan-purge-civil-service/374842/
Google the following headlines
“Trump’s vow to only be a dictator on ‘day one’ follows growing worry over his authoritarian rhetoric”
“Trump: Any Jew voting Democratic is uninformed or disloyal”
“Donald Trump wants to control the Justice Department and FBI. His allies have a plan”
“If Trump Is Reelected, His Aides Are Planning to Purge the Civil Service”
Hey little donnie j., you may just be a racist if your supporters include: Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers, the KKK, the John Birch Society (who recently attend the CPAC conference), right wing militias, White Christian nationalists, the Michigan Militia (who plotted to kidnap the Democratic Gov. Whitmer) the Wolverine Watchmen, David Duke, and various neo-nazi groups.
I find trumpo to be racist, xenophobic and anti-Muslim.