News from the category of those that in theory should amaze, but in practice do not cause the slightest surprise. The US Congress has forgotten how to count and has finally ceased to be friends with logic. It happens, you know, like this in the lower grades of the school: the kids confuse minus and plus. But now a similar "childhood disease" struck a group of members of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America. Sounds like a rehash of the famous movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?

Alas, everything happens not in the realm of science fiction, but in reality. According to media reports, one of the richest American parliamentarians, a leading Republican in the Committee of the lower house of Congress on international affairs, Michael McCall, together with his colleagues, intends to initiate a bill aimed at "helping Ukraine and punishing Russia." I anticipate your disappointment. Like, I found a sensation! Similar bills are now being introduced in Washington in batches! But don't be quick to judge. There is one juicy detail in Michael McCall's bill: Ukraine is proposed to be declared a "NATO-plus" country.

What does the term "NATO-plus" mean in terms of elementary logic? The answer is obvious - the status of a full member of the North Atlantic Alliance, plus some additional privileges. Where is the room for further interpretation? It turns out that such a space exists. Do not look for logic here, but according to Michael McCall's bill, Ukraine will be able to obtain NATO-plus status without such long and unnecessary formalities (not a quote from the congressman's words) as full membership in the North Atlantic alliance.

I am sure that such an idea will find its imitators. I foresee, for example, the emergence of the status of a “plus wife” (a mistress who passionately wants to get married, but receives only promises from her boyfriend in the style of “next year, definitely, and if not next year, then ten years later with a guarantee”). The status of “academician-plus” is also possible (an ignoramus who did not study at any university, but read a couple of articles on Wikipedia and, thanks to such an extensive “scientific base”, revealed all the secrets of the Universe). And, finally, the idea that I am especially proud of: the status of “world champion plus” (a frail person who went to the gym for the first time in his life, immediately dropped the barbell on his leg there, realized that he had already achieved everything in the world of big sport, desired, and proudly ended his sports career).

Does Congressman Michael McCall's bill still seem counterintuitive to you? After reviewing the biography of this venerable parliamentarian, I discovered the reason why he is convinced of the opposite. Michael McCall's luxurious mansion is located in one of the wealthiest suburbs of Austin, Texas. Texas is known to be a drought-prone area. Water here is sometimes worth its weight in gold. In some cities, including Austin, restrictions are periodically introduced: depending on their address, local residents can only water their lawns on strictly certain days of the week or at strictly certain times of the day. So. According to local Texas media, Michael McCall regularly ranks in the top 10 largest water consumers in Austin, and in 2017 even took the "honorable" first place in this top ten.

Have you already guessed where I'm going?

To the fact that our congressman loves pouring water very much - both in his household and in his legislative activities.

Now jokes aside.

It does not matter that from the outside it all looks very comical.

The important thing is that the Ukrainian political elite is resigned to all this - but what is there resignedly, with wild enthusiasm!

- hawala.

I apologize for using this slang and vulgar term.

But in this case, it is very difficult to do without it.

Its more literary-sounding synonyms do not reflect the full drama of what is happening.

What America is doing in Ukraine is not much different from selling beads and glass to "grateful natives." However, the Kiev political elite does not see this point blank. Of course, the Kiev "servants of the people" (only in quotation marks) will see through the cunning of Congressman Michael McCall. They know how to count in the Ukrainian capital (probably, the high-quality Soviet education affects). And the void that is hidden behind the term “country with NATO-plus status” will also be instantly discovered there (inventing high-profile names behind which only emptiness is hidden is generally a specialization of many Ukrainian politicians, including President Volodymyr Zelensky). However, Kiev does not see the main thing: not only the status of the country - “NATO-plus”, but also the very goal of becoming a member of NATO is a snag.

The pursuit of membership in any military bloc makes sense only if it will increase the level of security of the state.

In the case of Ukraine and NATO, everything is exactly the opposite.

The more Kiev is pushed towards the North Atlantic Alliance, the lower the level of security of the Ukrainian state becomes.

In short, not only the American Congress has forgotten how to count and be friends with logic.

In Ukrainian political circles, this is even worse.

The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editors.