Not
all terrorism. The coalition mission
against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, led by the United States and comprising over
ten states lies in stark contrast to the West’s zero military action against
Russia whose terrorists wage war against Ukraine’s sovereignty so highly prized
by the West. Canada and other friends
have yet to assist militarily against President Putin, the world’s most
powerful and dangerous terrorist.
In
Ukraine, there are no Western fighter jets, no Aurora intelligence platforms, no
coalition of the willing aiming to disrupt, degrade and destroy the aggressor. For over six months it’s freedom fighters
have battled the aggressor. Meanwhile,
Western democracies remain on the sidelines full of “admiration for its bravery”,
as participants at the recent Ottawa NATO Conference opined rather than offer more
its clout.
Most
useless are repetitive confirmations like that of General Philip Breedlove, NATO’s
top commander in Europe, that “there is no question anymore about Russia’s
direct military involvement in Ukraine”.
Under
the circumstances is words only fuel the sneering from President Vladimir Putin and
company. Their latest salvo: we’ve
stopped paying attention to the Commander-in-Chief of NATO.
Why
should they? None of the atrocities
committed in Ukraine have persuaded NATO, the United States, or other members
that Putin is already at war with Europe—what else is Ukraine? And advancing further afield with flyovers, a
marine vessel chase and a training base in Serbia.
More. A new Russian naval base is planned some 400
miles off Alaska and discussions with Canada on the Arctic are sharpening. According to Reuters ttp://a.msn.com/01/en-us/BBevI2x,
Putin’s buddies are capitalizing on US defence contracts with million dollar
markups on military rocket engines.
Putin has broken all relevant agreements regarding Ukraine and disregards international
institution. He’s insulted every
democratic leader with his lies. Their retaliation is mild. So why would he stop?
Putin cut a handsome deal with China in energy, high technology,
aerospace and finance sectors. The seriousness
of the rapprochement between the giant dictatorships was in evidence when Japan’s
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’ friendly greeting in Beijing was met with a cobra-like
expression from China’s Chairman Xi Jinxing. Did it mean that Russia’s move on Crimea
from Ukraine can be echoed by China in the Senkaku islands?
Putin poses a great global danger yet his terror has not been met with the same
resolve accorded the rag-tag ISIS. Who
is the greater threat becomes more evident by linking the globe’s key hot
spots.
Here
are some facts.
Russia
backs President Bashar Assad’s bloody regime. Russia
has had a long history in Iran’s nuclear sector and now is to build several additional
installations there. Reports claim
Russia’s planes have carried weapons to ISIS and assisted in reselling the energy
it steals.
Russia
is not a credible partner yet Western powers keep hoping. Their failure to take the offensive is not a
strategy for peace. It is capitulation
to a terrorist state with state resources at its disposal, a dictator’s command
over national policy, media, and, not to be missed, its huge nuclear arsenal.
Putin is a criminal. His end is personal
enrichment and that of his tight criminal circle. He makes enormous sums of
money—over $40 billion dollars at last public report. A recent article in Windows on Eurasia by
knowledgeable Paul Goble, http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/window-on-eurasia-putin-prepared-to.html?m=1—points out that Putin is prepared to do whatever it takes to
protect himself and his ill-begotten wealth, even a nuclear war. Yet the West is more willing to deal with
ISIS guerillas rather than with Putin’s terror.
Oksana Bashuk Hepburn,
former president of Ukraine*Canada Relations Inc., is an opinion writer.
