During the aftermath of World War 2, concerns over Communist leaders creating an expansionary trend of Communist led Nations throughout the European countries caught the attention of the U.S. and its post WW2 European allies. As soon as the deafening sounds of the drums of war were quelled, the Soviet Union immediately began its installation of pro-Soviet governments throughout the regions they had occupied from the Nazi.
The Marshal Plan
In an effort to provide a response to this growing concern of communist expansion across the European continent, the United States and its allies sought to implement an initiative that would help establish better relations and aide their allies in rebuilding their countries. This initiative is now known as the “Marshal Plan”, its purpose was to provide aide to friendly Nations, so that they may rebuild their infrastructures and war-stricken economies.
The U.S. and its allies grew with more concerns over the Soviet’s push towards Communism in February 1948, during the Soviet Union’s sponsored coup, which overthrew the democratic government of Czechoslovakia and forced the Nation into Communism.
Recent News: The World Begins to Protest Over Chinese Neocolonialism
North Atlantic Treaty
Shortly thereafter, and based on the interest of security, the allies of the west began communications on the North Atlantic Treaty. By April 4th of 1949, the foreign ministers of 12 Nations gathered in Washington D.C. to execute the “North Atlantic Treaty”. The new organization’s security pack was based on the concept that security was of the utmost importance and that an attack on one Nation in NATO is an attack on all, per Article 5.
Warsaw Pack
This event and the acceptance of Germany into NATO led the Soviet Union and its sponsored Nations to come up with a solution and response to what they considered provocation or aggression from the West. The formation of the “Warsaw Pack” was then established. The Warsaw Pack was a coalition of Nation that were joined under the U.S.S.R. umbrella. They included the German Democratic Republic, which was known as East Germany, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Albania, Hungary, and Romania.
While a lot has changed in NATO throughout the decades, one thing is certain, the purpose of NATO today is no longer to just keep communism at bay. NATO’s role (with the aide of US political establishment) in the world seems to have taken a more direct approach and, in some cases, innocent countries like Ukraine and their people are getting caught up in the crossfire of western diplomacy.
American Leaders Fuel Russian Aggression
If one listens to our political leaders throughout recent history, you could easily surmise that some have wanted to get to the point we’re at today. Where a rival, nuclear power nation gets dangerously close to the western power nations of NATO. A pivoting point that could define the next decade and numerous of generations thereafter.
This is not a one side vs the other side conversation in the Halls of Congress. Multiple leaders across both sides of the isle have for years, been pushing Ukraine and the west into conflict with Russia. Whether this is by design or not is something I can’t verify with a smoking gun. However, we can use recent history and hindsight to listen to what some leaders have said and to see how it fits into today’s current situation.
Lindsey Graham’s 2016 Speech to Ukrainian Soldiers
In 2016 during a brief speech to Ukrainian soldiers Lindsey Graham stated, “Your fight is our fight, 2017 will be the year of offense, all of us will go back to Washington and we will push the case against Russia. Enough of a Russian aggression, it is time for them to pay a heavier price.”
For those that don’t believe Ukraine’s fight is our fight, let this statement, one of a few you will now read, show you that this fight was always our fight. One could say, the Ukrainians were merely caught up in the middle of it. One because of its strategic geographical location and the second is attributed to American and European leaders signaling to Russia that we will come closer, and we will support a fight.
Eric Swalwell of the Democratic Party
In 2017, Eric Swalwell of the Democratic Party went on the Tucker Carlson show and stated that the U.S “should do everything we can to expand NATOs role.” Under any other circumstance, this statement would be considered irresponsible considering what the U.S. understands about Russia’s stance on NATO and western powers on its doorstep.
If you want to avoid a nuclear war, you shouldn’t give your opponents a reason to build hypersonic nuclear weapons to avoid American and western defense systems.
Anthony Blinken Announces the U.S. Will Supply Fighter Jets to Poland for Ukrainian Fighters
During “FACE the NATION” a CBS News Anchor ask State Secretary Blinken the following question. “If for instance the polish government, a NATO member wants to send fighter jets, does that get a green light from the U.S. or are you afraid that that will escalate tensions.”
Anthony Blinken stated, “No that, that gets a green light, in fact we’re talking… ahh, with our Polish friends right now about what we might be able to do to back fill their needs, if in fact they choose to provide these fighter jets to the Ukrainians, what can we do, how can we help to make sure that they get something to back fill the planes that they’re handing over to the Ukrainians.”
A Propaganda War for the Hearts and Minds
While the photos of President Volodymyr Zelensky are heroic and encouraging, not all photos presented of him, and other well notable individuals were real. However, it is believed that the video of him with some members of his top leadership inside of Kyiv, just as Russia’s invasion started, is said to be legitimate, and many other videos that followed.
These words of encouragement and the courage and humility President Zelensky shows has said to have allegedly attracted up to 16,000 new soldiers from across the world that all believe in the cause.
Another tool used by western media as propaganda to build positive momentum and support towards Ukraine’s plight was the photo of Miss Ukraine Anastassia Lenna, who posted a video which stated, “Training. The invaders will die on or land! All world see this! Wait and see what will happen,” amongst other similar post. She later corrected the viral post of herself in what looked like her with a rifle on the ready. However, she said that was not a real rifle and that she is not in the fight. She is just “a really good airsoft shooter,”. However, the propaganda war continues amongst media outlets who have yet to update or make corrections, such as this article on Business Insider.
While the Ukrainian people have a legitimate call and request for fighters and assistance, and while most of us around the world do want to provide them with ample support, myself included. We must be mindful that during wars, propaganda runs rampant. The best course of action to take, is to research the past to understand if current events where purposefully meant to come to fruition.
[…] a previous article, I highlighted some statements made by both Lindsey Graham of the Republican party during a 2016 […]