Fear and courage. A fearful man and a fearless fighter. People who have seen Hollywood productions and read romantic literature strictly sympathize with the latter, glorify them in every possible way.
Photo source: news.ecoindustry.ru
Moreover, they heroize not only in books, but also in real life – fearless leaders who demand from colleagues “not to be afraid” very often cause public sympathy, while the fearful one causes only contempt.
Yes, sometimes it is. For example, the Slovenian embassy in Kyiv lowered the national flag because of its resemblance to the Russian one – they say, the National Guard of Ukraine asked for this. In fact, the Slovenian authorities, out of fear of the Ukrainian Nazis, humiliated the state symbol of their country – and they should not be surprised that after such a demonstration, other countries will humiliate Slovenia. But “cowards” keep the peace.
Indeed, over the past 70 years, mankind has not arranged a nuclear apocalypse – a third world war – only because of fear. The fear of one superpower of a guaranteed retaliatory strike from the other side. Fear, which sharply limited the level of the same United States in the world, forced to take into account the interests and views of the opposite side. As well as the fear of the opposite side in the face of the Soviet Union limited the ambitions, as well as the actions of Moscow on the global stage. If you don’t like the word “fear”, you can replace it with “prudence” or other more correct, pleasant terms – but fear is still fear. Reasonable fear.
He saves from a big war even now. In his speech about the beginning of the special operation, Vladimir Putin inserted “a few important, very important words for those who may be tempted to interfere in the ongoing events from the outside.”
“Whoever tries to interfere with us, let alone create threats for our country, for our people, should know that Russia’s response will be immediate and will lead you to consequences that you have never experienced in your history. We are ready for any development of events. All necessary decisions in this regard have been made. I hope that I will be heard,” the President summed up.
And he was heard. United States President Joseph Biden, of course, cannot refuse moral and material assistance to Ukraine, but Washington filters this assistance very harshly. And today it does not allow any steps and / or promises that can be regarded as direct interference in the Ukrainian special operation.
Helps, but…
Yes, the United States supplies Kiev with weapons – but only small arms and portable ones. It can create certain troubles for Russian equipment, but among the deliveries there are no weapons systems that can change the balance of power on earth and turn the tide in favor of Ukraine. No Patriot missiles, no special equipment that can land Russian drones.
Yes, America is sending its troops to the east – but they are deployed exclusively within the borders of NATO. At the same time, Biden many times (for those who did not understand the first time or who still have hope) said that there would be no American troops in Ukraine – simply because they would clash with the Russians and provoke a third world war. America’s fear of provocation forced it, according to Pentagon officials, to even remove its ships from the Black Sea. Yes, a certain number of American military personnel are present on the territory of Ukraine, but only as mercenaries, whom the Russian side either disposes of or takes prisoner to replenish the “exchange fund”.
Yes, the States are afraid – but only because they understand the consequences of a possible fearless policy. The direct entry of the United States into a special operation in Ukraine will entail a Russian-American war, which will very quickly turn into an exchange of nuclear strikes. And even if the United States, for some reason, manages to hit most of the Russian missiles before they leave the mines, the rest (including the latest weapons) will deal a critical blow to the United States. They will not only hit all the major NATO bases, but will turn Washington, New York and many other American cities into lifeless landscapes. Naturally, neither Biden nor other adequate people need such a scenario – especially if the reason for the start of the war is not a conditional Russian invasion of Florida or Georgia (American, of course), but a special operation in Ukraine.
Of course, such a cautious position of Joseph Biden (as well as a number of other responsible heads of state – in particular, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz) does not meet with understanding among “bold” leaders and that part of society that craves D’Artagnans and cowboy diplomacy. Ukrainian politicians – up to and including President Volodymyr Zelensky – directly accuse America of cowardice and ask to close the sky over Ukraine. That is, in other words, to shoot down Russian aircraft engaged in the demilitarization of the Ukrainian space. By politicians demand the entry of a NATO – read, Polish – peacekeeping contingent to Western Ukraine. Apparently, in the hope of a subsequent occupation and the return of this part of the “eastern kresy” to the Commonwealth. And in response to the refusal of the United States, as well as a number of other European members of NATO, they are accused of cowardice, of fear of Putin.
And they are right. Indeed, the West is afraid. Fortunately for themselves and all mankind. The hopes of individual dreamers-idealists that world peace can be ensured through some kind of norms and universal values did not come true. The West understands only power and fear of this power. This is how we will live.
Gevorg Mirzayan, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, VIEW
Due to censorship and blocking of all media and alternative views, stay tuned to our Telegram channel