What Has History Taught Us? - Why don't we learn?

INTRODUCTION:

Greetings to all. This week I chose this topic because I have strong feelings about it and wanted to discuss it as it applies to the present situation. I know I stray away from talking about politics. Not out of lack of knowledge or fear of the subject matter. It is because politics change so rapidly that it's already changed by the time I discuss it and post it in a blog. I do not have the luxury of a TV news commentary host that can update their thoughts daily. However, I am disgusted enough over what is happening in Ukraine and watch the world stand by and allow these war crimes to continue. Yes. I used the word allowed because the degree of what is occurring in Ukraine could have been avoided. Therefore, the word allowed precisely fits the occasion. GENOCIDE is something the entire world is allowing to occur out of fear of Putin's threats. It is easier to back down from the threats of a bully. That is correct—the entire world, not only the United States.

WAR:

War is evil. Most do not want it. No one wins, but everyone involved loses. Add war crimes and genocide to the mix, and we have more of a disaster on our hands—one where millions will reap the consequences for many years to come.

WAR IS EVIL. WAR CRIMES AND GENOCIDE ARE CRIMINAL.

Do the math. Like it or not, two things prevent war. The first is fear. One entity fears another and backs down are just stomped on. The second is when there is a balance of power. When both sides can inflict equal damage to the other, any other equation can lead to war. The Ukraine war resulted from leadership and people who did not fear Putin, and there is no balance of power. The United States is a mighty military power. Most of the countries that are members of NATO follow her lead.

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. So, when we look at NATO as an organization of countries, which is the weakest link? Factually, NATO consists of much smaller countries with far less military power than the United States. Hence, the United States takes usually takes the lead. However, what happens when the country that all others follow doesn't have strong leadership and backs down from threats? I think we can see the answer to that question each day when we watch the news.

Ukraine has become Putin's stomping ground. AND THE WORLD ALLOWS IT.

War is tragic. In every war, there will be innocent people killed. That is one of the tragedies of war. However, when the attacks are targeted at innocent people and women and children are murdered, raped, tortured, and children being taken from their parents, we have to ask ourselves. What is the Western world waiting for to put a stop to it? Not by sending troops, because I am NOT in favor of that option. However, by sending every piece of equipment necessary for the brave and honorable people of Ukraine to properly defend themselves and wage continuous definitive attacks against the Russian forces to defeat them. The biggest joke of this is Russia threatening to take further and possible nuclear action if we supply Ukraine fighter jets or weapons of aggression. Are you kidding me?

EVERY WEAPON IS A WEAPON OF AGGRESSION AS WELL AS DEFENSE.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WORLD?

When will the NATO nations step up and send every piece of military equipment to Ukraine that they asked for and STOP being afraid of Putin's threats? Remember that phrase I used earlier; BALANCE OF POWER? Would Putin start a nuclear conflict knowing that the same destruction, and maybe worse, will fall upon his country? It could be the end of civilization as we know it. But, I do not think so. I do not believe, for one instance, his government would allow that.

I ask you all, where has the sense of humanity, fair play, and decency gone that as a world, we stand by and not take aggressive again to stop these war crimes? As a world, we should be embarrassed. NATO has an opportunity to show what it stands for and how strong it is by taking a more aggressive stance and not showing weakness or fear in the face of threats. The rest of the world is watching, and NATO will pay a heavy price for not stepping up and doing everything it could to stop this type of destruction and standing by and watching these war crimes occur. Taking this stance makes every NATO country as bad as the country committing these crimes. In some respects, maybe worse.

It is human nature to respect strength. Respect a commitment that an individual or a nation stands for. What do we stand for? Do we even know anymore? Genocide? Haven't we learned anything from our history or the history of other countries? Ukraine and its citizens are suffering some of the worst war crimes since Hitler. As a citizen of the United States, I sit and watch the news each day, waiting to see when the civilized world will wake up and say ENOUGH. NO MORE.

POLITICS:

None of us were born yesterday. However, there is a political component to everything these days. Other countries have become reliant on Russia for their energy needs and other needs. Shame on them for getting themselves in that position. Shame on us for being so dependent upon imports from China, and shame on us for losing our energy independence. The simple fact is, if the United States fails to gain back its energy and technology independence, we will face more and more of these crises. China and Taiwan will be next, and God only knows how far Putin will go. How many threats can the world at large back down from before we become their puppets as well?

It disgusts me to see and watch how much the world seems willing to tolerate all the needless killing, murdering, raping, and trafficking. When will it wake up? Yet, today you are sitting in the comfort of your home. So were the people of Ukraine a few weeks back. We have a failing administration on many levels, and I would say that regardless if it was Democrat or Republican at the helm. It is failing at the task of leading. This failure is causing people in other countries to be slaughtered, and crime and other issues get way out of hand here in the states. Not to mention the financial burden our citizens are suffering. No one needs to be a politician to see what is happening here and abroad.