Can Germany take its rightful place in the West? Or does it still not understand what that place is?
Sigh:
Germany has relinquished any aspirations of a leadership role in Europe. Its inadequate response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine has exposed Berlin more as an obstacle to European security rather than as a defender. German policy is also hypocritical by preaching anti-corruption to Balkan states seeking to join the European Union while enabling massive Russian penetration of its economy and political system. ...
After months of pressure from its own public and NATO partners, Berlin finally began to supply Kyiv with desperately needed air-defense systems, multiple rocket launchers, and self-propelled howitzers.
Yet Berlin has also been hesitant in imposing tough economic sanctions against Moscow. Again, it fears the impact on its own economy rather than taking the strategic high ground. Germany is also dragging its feet on providing economic support for Ukraine.
I hoped Germany had decided to join the West:
Putin's invasion of Ukraine was the clue bat Germany needed
Germany's 2014 pledge to NATO and even Trump's public hectoring failed to get Germany to rearm from the Holiday from History after NATO won the Cold War.
Putin's invasion of Ukraine--built on his supposed fear of invasion from the West--has convinced Germany to rearm seriously. Strategery. Will none of Putin's advisors tell him he is effing up royally?
The only bright spot for Russia is that Germany had sunk so low that the climb back up will be long. NATO must pray it is not too late.
Germany seems to be having second thoughts about being a defender of European security. The shock of the immediate crisis has passed. And now bad habits of fantasy world pacifism stir again.
Even after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, war crimes, and nuclear threats, Germany still needs a good whack with the Clue Bat:
I keep reading that the Germans hate their militaristic past so much that they don't want to fight.
Let's try applying the clue bat to Germany's collective skull on this issue.
Conquering and setting up death camps under the shield of a powerful military? That's bad. By all means, don't do that.
Having a military capable of fighting death cult enemies or stopping the Russians from moving west? Well, that's a good thing. Try doing that.
Amazingly (back to the article):
The one party that has learned practical lessons from Germany’s own imperial history is the Greens, who contend that a genocidal regime has to be stopped by military force as early as possible.
It would be nice if the Germans could display a little bit of that nuance I'm assured Europeans naturally have. Could Germany find a nice median between trying to brutally conquer Europe and self-destructive supine pacifism?
NOTE: War updates continue here.
