There was a great book written in 2012 by Christopher Clark (noted German history professor, and if you ever get a chance to hear his conversations....it's worth every moment). Title of this book: 'The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914'.
The premise of the 741-page book (that's my sole negative on it....just a heck of a read)....is that virtually no one around Europe had a background on history and could see the dynamics of the prior decade, the leadership pattern, and the path that Germany would take.
I noticed in WELT this morning....an opinion piece was written on the Russia-Ukraine situation, and how it strongly resembled the Clark book....that the world is 'sleepwalking' into a serious and bloody mess. Frank Lubberding wrote the piece and if you can pick up a WELT or find a digital version somewhere....it's worth a read.
Most Russians probably will tell you that they have no interest in this whole....unable to effect change or to dismiss Putin, so the affair has to play out. Most Germans are pro-Ukraine, and I'd say a quarter of the population is seriously afraid of nuclear war erupting. At this point, you don't really suggest a win-lose ending......or that the conflict ends in 2022, or that the sanctions are doing much to Russia (if you had serious money or international travel in your heart, you hold back your criticism/commentary).
While WW I did end in November 1918.....that was not necessarily the 'END' of the mess for Germany. Until the NY banks stepped in and did a deal to provide reparations money for Germany to pay France, the UK or US.....did the war officially close off, and recovery start. That wasn't until 1924/1925. When 1929 arrived....the mess returned in the form of bank woes, and the arrival of the Nazi Party.
So I don't see Russia's path being that different.....we might be on the edge of Putin gone, and five years of even worse 'games' by the next pretender-Putin (or two).
No comments:
Post a Comment