But How Can We Win If Our Allies Aren't All In?

It seems a farce to keep pretending this is about freeing Ukraine and helping protect the people there.  In reality, it seems to be a massive power play to depose Putin and seize the rich lithium resources from his next-door neighbor for Western-business interests who will be needing massive battery power as the world transitions away from fossil fuels.

 ByJoe Barnes, BRUSSELS CORRESPONDENT ; Justin Huggler and Dominic Penna

22 April 2022 • 9:30pm

France and Germany armed Russia with €273 million (£230 million) of military hardware now likely being used in Ukraine, an EU analysis shared with The Telegraph has revealed.  They sent equipment, which included bombs, rockets, missiles and guns, to Moscow despite an EU-wide embargo on arms shipments to Russia, introduced in the wake of its 2014 annexation of Crimea. 

The European Commission was this month forced to close a loophole in its blockade after it was found that at least 10 member states exported almost €350 million (£294 million) in hardware to Vladimir Putin’s regime. Some 78 per cent of that total was supplied by German and French firms.

Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, has faced fierce criticism this week for his reluctance to provide heavy weapons to Ukraine.  Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to negotiate with Putin have seen the French president accused of appeasement.Both Paris and Berlin have resisted an EU ban on buying gas from Russia, with the bloc currently paying Moscow €1 billion (£840 million) per day for energy supplies.

 Businessmen never seem to want to pay market value, or negotiate in good faith, if they can create wars, seize lands, and take it all for... free. (nevermind the dead bodies piling up who cost...nothing.)  But times are changing...

Americans have repented for what we did to our native populations when we coveted their lands.  Maybe it's not too late for us to do right by the rest of the world too?  Not just in words, but in our actions?

Don't we owe the dead some moral global leadership, Joe?  Aren't you our commander-in-chief still, with the power of the bully pulpit?  Be a bully to our allies, already.  We'd support that out here.  Or elect somebody who can whip an honest coalition into shape.  Define our goals, use our military powers sparingly, get in/get out...

Here at home, as times tighten financially for so many workers and those on fixed incomes, we're going to have to start prioritizing those tax dollars. Many Americans -- established citizens and newcomers alike -- are going to support America First, especially if our alleged allies are undercutting our own costly efforts, behind our backs...

American's vote against war, check the recent record. (Obama, Trump, "moderate" Joe.)  I don't expect the 2024 presidential race will break this pattern.  We need to break out of the War First mentality, because it will never sell as simply a "mowing the lawn" every few years exercise here at home.  

Our culture, and respect for living things in the middle of the country, will prevent that mindset from taking hold.  (And wait until the new ones coming up, and coming into their powers, calculate the costs of neverending wars on the planet!) 

I hope America's hawks are getting this out of their system soon, because in time, I suspect America will know peace abroad -- for us and for our salvation -- as we battle all the urban warfare and "muscle is might" conflicts here at home.