I was going to take a break this morning, but as always, needs must. It’s because our ‘fearless leaders’ of the Western nations are still at it, banging their war drums, aided and abetted by the western MSM. If I were unkind I’d suggest that our ‘leaders’, certainly the current PM, are addicted to the adrenaline spike produced by making the world look like a most dangerous place where only they can prevent dire danger to us fearful peasants. 

If you’ve perused the weekend MSM then you’ll recall that we were bombarded with dire warnings about Russia going to start invading Ukraine day after tomorrow, on Wednesday. Some reporters pointed out that this ‘warning’ initiative by the secret services, reported everywhere,  was unprecedented but there were also reports from correspondents in Moscow describing that life there was normal, that there was no Russian war propaganda, unlike at the time when Russia did take back the Crimea. One would expect that the various secret service experts would know this!

This morning  we’re given acres of pixels about how those ‘leaders’ are straining every sinew, how they are desperately making last-ditch attempts to persuade Putin from going to war. Johnson ‘plans a whistle-stop tour’ to European leaders because the next 48 hours are crucial (link). Well, they’ve been stationed there for months, so why this initiative now and not last year? Your guess is a good as mine …

At the weekend the US Security adviser told the world exactly how they believe Russia could invade, even warning of a false flag ‘event’, all kicking off on Wednesday, in two day’s time. It was all couched in vague language, using the words ‘could’ and ‘might’. If Russia were to invade in two day’s time there ought to be activities now, noticed by western intelligence services, correct? They surely would tell the world, wouldn’t they! 

Apparently, there are still some sceptical correspondents around. Thus The Times saw fit to smuggle this little paragraph into their report on how our leaders are desperate to prevent war by flying around EU capitals:

“Sullivan defended the Biden administration’s warnings of a fake attack staged by Russia as soon as this week as an excuse for war, without providing evidence. “I do think the world should be prepared for Russia staging a pretext and then launching a potential military action,” he said. “We are in the window and an invasion could begin — a major military action could begin by Russia in Ukraine any day now.” (link, paywalled)

Mr Sullivan may very well think so – I couldn’t possibly comment! – but to me this smacks of a face-saving attempt to explain away, by doubling down, those scare reports he and his minion have pushed in the western MSM. Johnson meanwhile seems to grasp at this ‘imminent war’ scenario like a drowning man, trying to divert attention for ‘Partygate’. The DT helpfully informs us that Downing Street said they ‘believe Moscow could invade Ukraine any day’, singing from yon US intelligence hymn sheet provided at the weekend. And now, at the alleged last minute,

“Boris Johnson has urged Vladimir Putin to “step back from the brink” as he insisted there was still a “window of opportunity” to avoid war in Ukraine. The Prime Minister will speak to world leaders from Monday and travel to countries in Europe later this week, as he seeks to unite Western allies against the threat of Russian invasion.” (paywalled link)

These troops have been stationed there for months. Did the US intelligence services not expect ‘imminent’ invasions then? Why not? Was Johnson , were our intelligence services unaware? Why? What has he, what have they been doing in the meantime? Dealing with Carrie and Partygate? What leadership!

No, don’t ask what Johnson and the rest hope to achieve by this travelling, formerly known as ‘shuttle diplomacy’. Surely Jonson isn’t asking his counterparts to provide troops to defend Ukraine!  To crown this all there’s this statement by yet another Ukrainian ambassador:

“Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK said the country could consider dropping its ambition to join Nato to avoid war. Vadym Prystaiko told BBC Radio 5 that the country, which he said was being threatened and blackmailed, would consider “serious concessions” including removing the goal of joining the Nato alliance from the Ukrainian constitution.” (paywalled link)

Well I never! Is that the same Ukraine demanding letters from Putin to ‘explain’ why his troops are where they are (link)? Is that the same Ukraine sending out photos of grannies being trained in ‘civilian defence’, finger on the trigger of some rifle? 

As our dear leaders are whizzing around Europe’s capitals, increasing the dreaded CO2 footprints; as the German Chancellor is visiting Kiev where he’s going to offer money to Ukraine, accompanied by howls of ‘betrayal’ from the Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin, those of us who weren’t born yesterday remember that all this is an ancient political ploy called ‘brinkmanship’ which has been used since the beginning of the Cold War:

“The term is chiefly associated with US Secretary of State John Foster Dulles from 1953 to 1956, during the Eisenhower administration. Dulles sought to deter aggression by the Soviet Union by warning that the cost might be massive retaliation against Soviet targets.” (link)

Replace ‘Soviet’ with ‘Russia’ and it’s ‘plus ça change plus c’est la même chose’,  The current spooks in the US intelligence services seem to have dusted down some of their ancient history.

I prefer quoting Ecclesiastes who said millennia ago that ‘there’s nothing new under the sun’, which also applies to the attempts of all the powers, ancient and modern, to keep us plebs in a constant state of abject fear.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email