* My knowledge of Cold War history is by no means perfect, but I recall no instance of a NATO aircraft or surface-to-air missile shooting down a Soviet aircraft and acknowledging explicitly that’s what happened. Yes, I know that Russian and American pilots occasionally fought in Korea, but both sides were careful to keep it under wraps to avoid escalation. And U.S. reconnaisance planes overflew Russia and probed their air defenses, but it was generally unacknowledged. I suspect that the Soviets did something similar but it too was kept unofficial. Here, we have NATO and Russian aircraft operating in the same airspace with the possibility of shooting at each other. It isn’t hard to see how things could escalate quickly, particularly with hotheads like McCain in policy-making roles and advocating “no-fly zones.” And over Syria??? What are the strategic interests of the United States in Syria?
Add to that, the fact that NATO has expanded into both eastern Europe (a move George Kennan called a “strategic blunder of epic proportions”) and the Baltic (absolutely indefensible) and some American policy makers want it to expand into Ukraine–right on Russia’s doorstep. How did the U.S. react to Russian missiles in Cuba? The Cold War damn near got hot!
It pains me as an American to say this, but, on the whole, Putin and Russia have been very restrained in their reaction to what can only be considered American provocations. Cooler heads need to take control in the West.
The notion that Putin is somehow driving the flow of rapefugees into western Europe is either delusional or another accusation put forth to justify additional provocative action on the part of the U.S. and the West. This will not end well.
This just gets stranger and stranger. Six months ago or so, migrants were the answer to Germany’s declining demographics and Angela Merkel suspended ordinary refugee procedures to permit these economic assets to get to Germany quicker. Now the entire affair is a dastardly plot by the evil Vladimir Putin to undermine the European Union by sending more of these economic assets their way, including people from Mali and Ethiopia and Somalia because the Russian Air Force is bombing Bamako and Addis Ababa and, oh, wait a minute, I guess it isn’t.
Those whom the gods would destroy, they first make go mad!
* I suspect Trump is the least likely of all candidates on either the GOP or Dem side, to get the US and the rest of NATO embroiled in any kind of war with Russia or indeed China.
* A few months ago, the European MSM were singing Merkel’s praise, calling her a ‘visionary stateswoman’ for scrapping the Dublin Treaty and opening the floodgates to all those refugees from Turkey. But after the ‘rapefugee’ scandal, once her decision was revealed to be incredibly unpopular, they are having to change the narrative and go into blame-Russia mode. Very predictable.
* Interesting how Eastern Europe has to choose between the West, offering prosperity, the rule of law and hordes of immigrants. And Russia, offering gangster crime, a traditional way of life and secure borders.
* US policy is to bomb Syria. Exactly whom it is to bomb, and why, are secondary considerations, as long as it gets to bomb Syria. Bombs away!
* My view is simple on this matter. The Western European politicians argued more or less free immigration before the European Union was formed. The definition who can apply for refugee status has constantly expanded. Many Western European countries have gone so far that they define refugees as someone who is “fleeing” from poverty or a prison sentence. In the same time all Western European member states refuse to enforce their own laws.
To keep the flow of migrants/asylum seekers the Western European politicians they have made it possible for asylum-seekers to go to court if their application is denied. Illegal immigrants are encouraged to stay with the help of government providing them welfare. The Schengen agreement has made it possible for migrants/refugees to travel freely within the union. Immigrants tend to seek asylum in different countries. If they are rejected by one country they seek asylum in another. Scandinavia, Netherlands and Germany have gone so far that they give asylum to people who already have a permanent residency in other countries.
Naturally, different migrant seek asylum in different countries depending on language, culture and financial opportunities. After the 2007-2009 financial crisis migrants living in legally in Southern Europe and France suddenly became “refugees” again and simply applied for asylum in Northern Europe. It is not Russia which causes the massive influx of migrants. Most of these migrants are not Syrians or Iraqis. What the “refugees” have in common is that they come from third world countries and want to make a better life for themselves and their families. It is the European Union who allows them to come.
The European Union could easily enforce border controls just like Australia but there is no will to do so in Brussels, Paris, London, Stockholm, Berlin, Vienna or Amsterdam. Eastern Europe has a different opinion on the matter. Their elites and their people were behind the iron curtain and never adopted notion of multiculturalism and open borders. Naturally, the conflict between Eastern Europe and Western Europe is steadily increasing.
Eastern Europe joined the European Union because they wanted to improve their economies. They didn’t join the European Union to be a part of a deeply ideological internationalist project. I do not see how Russia and Turkey can be blamed for the influx of migrants when the borders have been open since the 1960s. The only difference is that there are more asylum-seekers now than before. Consequently, it does not hit all of Europe but rather countries who have an open door policy such as Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Austria and the Scandinavian nations. George Soros just continues his constantly Russia bashing. It is really nothing more. When the winter is over the massive immigration will continue.
It would be my guess that the elites of the Western world will alter their politics. The Davos liberals are very worried about the West turning into National-Conservatism and Nationalism and reject international liberalism. Merkel and CDU are under heavy pressure from the general population. Alternative for Germany (AfD) is running around 12 points in the polls and CDU is down from 40+ points to around 30 points. Although Merkel and CDU can continue to run the country after the 2017 federal election they will deal AfD.
The experience from Denmark, Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Norway and the rest of Europe is that the European establishment is horrible when it comes to defending their own positions in debates when challenged by National-Conservatives, Nationalists, Libertarians, Paleo-Conservatives and others on the right. If Donald Trump wins the presidential election then things can change rapidly all over the West.
* So, this Saudi, Turk, CIA, Arab Spring, and Israel operation to overthrow Assad for the past 5 years had nothing to with the refugee problem. It was Putin, who stepped in 17 weeks ago to stop a secular country from being overrun by Islamists. Okay, I think I get it. [making Trump condescending expression].
