NATO'S STAND AGAINST RUSSIA ON UKRAINE: IS GERMANY DOWN WITH THE STRUGGLE?

ICHEOKU says there is something about Germany which suggests that the country is still smarting from its defeat during the world war. Strangely, it still nurses an internalized animosity against America and other western countries which formed the alliance that denied it, its attempt to subdue Europe under Berlin authority. Germany often acts like a dog in the manger each time NATO wants a united voice and/or a concerted action, requiring the organization to speak with one voice and act as an army of one. It is equally obvious that a special relationship and bond exists between Germany and Russia, which makes it difficult for Germany to be resolute on matters against Russia, especially when a resolution would impact Russia negatively. 

Germany subverted sanctions against Russia, signed multi billion dollars undersea pipeline gas projects, which helped provide Russia with much needed foreign exchange revenue and   heavily cushioned its economy from the impact of a heavily dwindled oil revenue. According to former President Donald John Trump, where is the logic in providing billions of dollars in revenue to a country, which Germany under NATO, is being protected from? Germany also strongly opposes imposing additional sanctions against Moscow, and each time Russia or President Vladimir Putin were to be so deterred, Germany always stood in the way, saying that such will not be productive. 

Now the West is once again facing another crisis with Russia and Germany has once again risen to their obstructionism of NATO, as the unofficial defenders of Moscow; or better still, the Russian mole inside NATO. Germany is frantically trying to prevent a NATO's confrontation with Russia over Ukraine. Germany said that they are in lockstep with NATO's stand against Russia's planned invasion of Ukraine, yet they are against arming Ukraine and sending much needed defensive lethal weapons to Ukraine. 

Their laughable excuse is that German's law prevents the sending of deadly weapons overseas. This is the same country which exports arms, sells weapons and ammunition to foreign countries; and which also took part as a member of the coalition of the willing nations during the war in Afghanistan against the Taliban. They have also sold such weapons to many countries in Europe including Estonia, Sweden, Latvia, but now pressuring these countries not to transfer such weapons to Ukraine. So, how exactly does Germany want or expect NATO to meet its stand against Russia over Ukraine without getting these defensive weapons to Kiev. 

If the Jesus moment of the now disgraced former German Navy Chief, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach did not come to India, nobody would have known that the pro Russia and anti NATO sentiments in Germany run so deep as to penetrate its military. His message is that Crimea is lost forever and Putin deserves some respect, regardless of the forced annexation of Crimea, which was the reason sanctions were imposed on Russia. The German military chief also failed to understand that respect is earned and not conferred; and that if President Vladimir Putin wants to be respected, he should learn to conform his actions within the law. 

The German navy chief was equally indifferent to Putin's lack of regard to international law, which requires respect to other countries' borders; and every country's right to conduct foreign relations as they see fit and as would be beneficial to their overall diplomatic and economic aspirations. The German wants Putin to be respected despite Putin's penchant for violating international laws and doing things and saying things which are beneath a leader, odious and undeserving of respect. The German was not concerned about the illegality involved in seizing another country's territory, rather he approvingly signed it off as a gone forever deed, incapable of ever being undone. It goes to show where his heart lies and he is not the only German who shares such a pro Russian sentiment. 

Some German politicians and government officials are harping on the need to resolve the current Ukraine border impasse with Russia peacefully, but they are not saying how to achieve such a peaceful resolution, especially under the prevailing circumstances. It is a sign that the bond of NATO is not as strongly in place as should be expected; and it needs to be strongly welded together before going forward with confronting Russia. It is regrettable that Germany is proving itself to be such a clog in the wheel of NATO which further buttresses the question, whether NATO has outlived its usefulness. Unfortunately too, nobody knows how firmly committed France and Turkey are towards the current NATO objective. 

Therefore America must tread with caution and ensure that Europe will not leave it hanging in the wind to dry, before committing to a NATO war with Russia. There must be an iron-clad commitment by all NATO countries to proportionally, evenly contribute manpower, military and financial resources before plunging into Ukraine. America must not bear the burden of fighting Russia alone and must never allow Europe to drag it into a war which Europe is not prepared nor will be ready to fight themselves. Ukraine and Russia are both European countries, and any war between them is primarily a European problem. America will help them, but must America not carry the entire load of securing Europe or any country therein alone.