Dear Editor,
The latest salvos hurled towards the West in the present conflict in Europe is Vladimir Putin’s rhetoric that “the third world war would be nuclear” and that sanctions constitute a declaration of war. And, yet again, the West, including NATO and the USA, seem to cringe at his threats, concerned that involvement by any country, besides Ukraine, would play right into Putin’s hand, and that he would use that hand to unleash nuclear Armageddon across the globe. Is this how the world should react whenever a tyrant, famous for suppressing and eliminating his opponents by sham elections, poisoning, cold-blooded murder, and lengthy jail terms based on fake charges, ventures out to unleash terror against a nation of forty-four million people, simply because he perceives that his security is threatened, because too many countries in the former USSR are slowly, but surely, moving into the fold of NATO?
Is Putin really concerned about the security of Russia by expansion of NATO, or is there a bigger picture behind his wanton disregard of world opinion and lack of concern for the carnage and human suffering he is inflicting? Would he be oblivious to what would happen to the untold billions he and his cronies have laundered and stashed away in secret bank accounts around the globe? Would his politics and ideology lead him to a point of no return, eclipsing his concerns for his vast personal wealth? Likely not, unless he is indeed mentally deranged, in which case anything can tick him off. Going to war is one way to drum up patriotism and deflect attention from one’s transgressions at home.
It may not be a stretch to say that the West is overreacting by concerns that Putin would indeed unleash world-wide nuclear terror if he perceives meddling in this, his latest military foray into a sovereign nation. They should, instead, call his bluff by aiding Ukraine, not just by sending arms but also taking more drastic actions, including creating a no-fly zone over Ukraine. The people of Ukraine have thus far shown tremendous mettle and resilience by stymieing Putin’s drive for a quick overrun of their country. His forty-mile caravan outside Kyiv has been stalled, seemingly both because of resistance by Ukrainians and logistical problems such as supplies and fuel shortage. (There have even been reports of deserters within the Russian ranks in that caravan). But unless more aggressive action is taken soon by the West, the carnage is likely to get worse and the Russian flag could soon be hoisted in Kyiv.
Must our world be one in which a rogue dictator can, based on his own whims and fancies, plus military superiority, unleash terror against a smaller nation, claiming his security is threatened? Anyone or any country having peaceful neighbours should feel safe rather than threatened. Mere politics, ideological concerns, and unfounded suspicions do not constitute justification to invade and pillage another country. Diplomacy should always prevail. If, as can be expected, Putin overruns and annexes Ukraine, it is likely that the world will, over time, come to recognize (at least informally) the new status quo and then continue with business as usual until he ventures out on to another, similar nation-grab, likely involving one more of the former states of the USSR. And then, what would the world do? Cower once again at his threats of a nuclear confrontation and allow a vicious cycle to go unchecked?
The time is now for grabbing the bull by the horns. Ukraine is in dire need of help, and mere expressions of outrage and meaningless resolutions at the United Nations and elsewhere lack potency. Too many people are being targeted and slaughtered on an hourly basis across a peaceful nation. Now Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, located in Ukraine, has been hit, and the bombing is intensifying. To allow this to go on unchecked would set a dangerous precedent for us all. Vladmir Putin is proving he’s an existential threat to world peace and no effort must be spared to stop him. The United States must lead the way and, with NATO, begin that process by responding more aggressively to stanch this unprovoked attack on an independent, sovereign nation.
Sincerely,
Abel Peters