A brief work by the American author, recommended among others by prof. John Mearsheimer and John Matlock. Abelov writes that the U.S. and the West have worked hard over the last 3 decades to make this war happen. What did they do?:
* Oh, my God * They extended NATO by more than a 1000 miles east, approaching the borders of Russia, breaking declarations previously given to Moscow.
* Oh, my God * They unilaterally withdrew from the Treaty on Antibalistic Missiles and placed anti-balistic rocket systems in the recently annexed NATO countries. These launchers can besides accommodate and fire offensive atomic weapons on Russia, specified as Tomahawk missiles armed with atomic warheads.
* Oh, my God * They helped prepare and could straight incite to an armed, far right coup in Ukraine, This coup replaced the democratically elected pro-Russian leader with an unelected pro-Western government.
*They conducted countless NATO military exercises close the Russian border. These included, among others, live-fired rocket exercises aimed at simulating attacks on air defence systems in Russia.
* Oh, my God * They pressed, without any urgent strategical need, for Ukraine to become a NATO member, ignoring the threat that specified a decision would pose to Russia. They then refused to quit this policy, even if it could prevent the war.
* Oh, my God * They unilaterally withdrew from the Treaty on the Complete Elimination of Short and average scope Missiles (INF Treaty), reducing Russian safety sense of rocket attack from the US.
* Oh, my God * They armed and trained the Ukrainian army under bilateral agreements and conducted regular, joint military exercises in Ukraine. The goal was to make military interoperability at NATO level, even before Ukraine was formally admitted to the Alliance.
* Oh, my God * They led Ukrainian leaders to adopt an uncompromising stance towards Russia, which further exacerbated the threat to Russia and put Ukraine on the road of a Russian military strike.
In conclusion Abelov writes:
"Despite the clear defeat of Western politics towards Russia and Ukraine, the people liable for decades of provocative US and NATO actions repeat the same mistakes, claiming that Russia's invasion of Ukraine proves that they were right. These decision-makers believe that the real origin of Russia's invasion is that the United States has been pushing it besides poorly. However, a more credible explanation is provided by many American experts who predicted that the expansion of NATO would lead to a disaster. It's their predictions that work in a terrible way.
In fact, erstwhile NATO's expansion began to grow to the borders of Russia, George Kennan warned that NATO's decision was a self-fulfilling prophecy. He pointed out that expansion would lead the US to war on Russia. Kennan predicted that, as shortly as this happened, supporters of expansion would say that this was proof that inherent Russian militarism was the cause. Kennan stated: “The eyes
You see, Russia will respond badly, and then (supporters of expansion) will say that we have always told you that this is what the Russians are like.” Kennan's predictions were so double correct. Firstly, about the Russian responses to NATO's enlargement; secondly, about the self-justifying responses of those Western political hawks who found themselves on the incorrect side of the mirror.
American media doesn't discuss these matters. Watching tv and reading newspapers, you can get the impression that there were no voices expressing concerns about NATO's enlargement, if any, were marginal statements. Although the function of the United States and NATO states in triggering the crisis in Ukraine is obvious, many Americans and Europeans have embraced the "fever of the substitute war". Without seeing the broad political context, they have been absorbed by regular reports from the front, driven by allegedly just anger and the belief that the best policy is to send more and more weapons to Ukraine until Putin surrenders.
In light of the incitement of this war fever, it should not be amazing that these fewer American leaders, who have seldom been together: clarity of head and courage, especially required here to talk publically about the background of the war in Ukraine, are called traitors. In fact, they are patriots. They do not want to participate in the fun “My country is always innocent”. They admit the uncomfortable historical facts for what they are in reality and effort to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future. They want to see the impact of these facts on the present, especially in order to limit the death and demolition in Ukraine and at the same time reduce the chance for an apocalyptic atomic confrontation between Russia and the West.
Looking at the current situation, John Mearsheimer wrote:
"(We are) in an highly dangerous situation, and Western policy is exacerbating these threats. For Russian leaders, what is happening in Ukraine has small to do with thwarting their imperial ambitions; they must deal with what they consider to be a direct threat to Russia's future. Putin may have misjudged Russian military capabilities, the effectiveness of Ukrainian opposition and the degree and velocity of Western reactions, but never underestimate how ruthless large powers can be. Powers can be ruthless erstwhile they think they are in a hard situation. However, America and its allies do not give up, hoping for Putin's humiliating defeat, or possibly even his removal. They increase aid to Ukraine and at the same time usage economical sanctions to strike a immense blow to Russia. These steps Putin sees as an illusion "a reminiscent declaration of war."
Benjamin Abelov, “How did the West wage war in Ukraine? How US and NATO policies have led to political crisis, war and atomic confrontation risks." (translated by Michał Krupa), Vectors, Wrocław 2023, p. 83
photo public domain
Think Poland, No. 15-16 (9-16.04.201023)
