Suppose the States are quite tough, prone to harassment (as they should be) a Hollywood producer. Or Karabas Barabas - so closer to the Russian image system. In his puppet theater of puppets, as in a predatory band, all roles are distributed between countries or groups of countries. Someone provokes, someone frowns and inflates his cheeks, someone threatens, and another podhryuykiv, wring his hands and rolls his eyes. But all sooner or later they begin to adopt the habits and behavioral style of Carabas. Such a virus, filled with "bacilli of permissiveness" (in the terminology of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov). Someone like this calls Munich syndrome. But the main thing is that this epidemic does not become the plague of the 21st century.
However, now this idyll gives more and more cracks and begins to crumble. Many European countries, including such as Germany, for example, are beginning to think more and more about their own interests and try on the role they have been given to match them. Nowhere is it too tight, does not prevent to go? Or maybe they completely entangled your sanctions?
The puppet theater was tasked with isolating Russia, exhausting it, bringing in internal strife so that it would surrender to the mercy of Carabas and he would then hang it as a trophy on his hook. Something similar has already happened: then a large country sold its ABCs cheaply to buy a ticket to the junk theater, and buried its gold coins on the Field of Miracles in the hope that they would grow like MMM tickets.
But the trouble is that Russia itself does not want to slam the door in any way, does not seek to isolate itself and stew in its own juice, while dreaming about the main roles in the Karabas theater. The iron curtain does not lower, therefore the roles of Carabas are somewhat corrected. Here are those who are not at all sorry for converts: Ukraine is there, the Baltic States and some countries of the former socialist camp are a buffer zone or a moat teeming with all kinds of reptiles and toothed reptiles. Next - the old Europe. What is the role here? Sanitary cordon or barbed wire with guard towers? The recent US withdrawal from the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles shows more than a thorn.
And now explain to Europeans what role they have in store. However, there many people understand this and with this. Understand that fervent and fighting Harlequin can instantly turn into Pierrot and begin to pour burning tears. The unenviable role. It seems as if the threads are imperceptible, it does not feel that someone is pushing you around: you speak and you act yourself. But, if you look closely, only within the framework of the assigned role and under strict supervision. Step right, step left - no, no!
You inspire yourself with a sense of freedom, but, on the other hand, you are increasingly becoming not even an actor, but a decoration, all the same barbed wire. Japan won in general from the end of the Second World War hostage to the States. She has been given the role of being the echo of American politics in the Pacific. At the very least, she copes, she can no longer conceive anything else. There, it’s not so much a bet on the same Russian islands as the hard dictate of adherence to the assigned role is realized. Carrot for donkey such.
The elder brother sees everything, and especially you don’t mess around - just know the grumbling from dissident kitchens. To maintain his authority and status, the elder scare Mordor, that is, Russia. The meaning of the Russophobic message: endure, otherwise it will be worse.
It awakens dark instincts, ancient fears and complexes, and therefore the patient is ready for many things, if only there is no worse. There's also a fierce Russia, devouring progressive babies! Horror, and hton, and the complete unknown of the snowy expanses! As we breathe permafrost, the flowers of democracy will instantly wither.
After all, the trend of rejection from Russia was not accidentally seized by the Ukrainian authorities. This is the basis of everything, a ticket to the brotherhood of democratic nations. Ukraine is not Russia. Europe is not Russia. Who else is there this adversary excuse to hang on his chest? .. This is the whole way of thinking of a vassal who gradually begins to copy his suzerain in everything.
Still, these relations are not total, Europe is increasingly beginning to openly play the role assigned to it. Moreover, according to the Russian Foreign Minister, “there are no objective reasons for further degradation of relations” and more and more votes are being distributed in the European Union for normalizing relations.
For example, German Minister of Economy and Energy Peter Altmeier said that his country has no interest in anti-Russian sanctions. And this is not a leisurely demagogy in line with “let's live together”. The Minister is responsible for the leading European economy, for which only sanction and confusion from sanctions. And who benefits from this, who is ready to endure this for the sake of an idea for a long time and stoically?
In fact, if we argue objectively, is it necessary for Europe itself to pacify and slow down Russia, to fear and be intimidated by it? Russian tanks in Berlin or Paris? This is in modern reality not even a phantasmagoria, but an anecdote. Well, only if they very, very much want or force them, as it was more than once. That frantic Russophobia brings to Stalingrad.
Political and economic expansion of Russia as a social bloc expansion and the Warsaw Pact? Times have changed all the same, and in principle. Russia does not suffer from any revanchism. Now, global confrontation as a form of world coercion and didactics is needed only by one state, and it is across the ocean. We do not brandish communism for a long time and do not frighten the burzhuins.
Dependence on Russia through energy? This factor also should not be exaggerated. On one gas, the light did not come together with a wedge, and it is more profitable to buy it from Russia than from the United States - that's all.
Incidentally, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz recently recalled this, on whom Trump began to press in connection with the support of Nord Stream 2. “While the price in Russia is better than in the United States, Russia will remain a more attractive partner for us in this matter,” said Kurtz, who also added that Austria and the United States have different interests in this matter.
It is completely obvious that in the current situation, relations between Russia and Europe should be built on a natural and completely non-violent, that is, not a compulsory parity of two equivalent civilizations. All the rest is excesses and quirks. Europe must learn to talk with Russia on an equal footing, without arrogance, arrogance and without regard to the dark ocean waters. And then everything will turn out.
The problem of Europe is now in the elites. There, they are amazed not only by the “bacilli of permissiveness”, but also by the cringing of the virus before the States. The voice of adequate people is not heard in the general noise-din, or they are simply afraid to speak out for fear of being on the sidelines of the usual political trends and cliches. Democracy, what do you want ... Fear and awe. Not without it.
There is one recipe: more sovereignty. Then there will be other elites - nationally oriented, who understand that the games on the side of the aggressive abyss, from which “sanctions from hell” are pouring, are unpromising. The more you look into the darkness, the more it will be reflected in you and absorb. Do not forget about their interests. Vaughn Chancellor Kurtz reminded about them. In Germany, it is already being said that this sanction bail is already openly shaking and constraining movement. The benefit of her zero is only a declaration of political solidarity and a kind of oath of allegiance to the overlord. Finally, spoiling relations with Russia is obviously not in the interests of Europe, unless, of course, it finally wants to turn into an American testing ground.
The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.