Dear Editor:
It should come as no surprise that governments find excuses so they can stand on the sidelines whilst madmen go about ethnic cleansing and national/tribal genocide.
After all, they have done so many times before – Uganda & Idi Amin, Russia in Chechnya, the Serbia affair, Syria … how many others? All allowed in the name of not interfering with the “sovereignty” of other nations, or that nation not being part of some coalition or other. And now we add another excuse – the fear of repercussions.
Surely to God, in the 21st century we should have reached a level of humanity that supersedes these political and diplomatic niceties, and cowardice.
No, I don’t wish for conflict, I’m a child of World War II and hate the idea. But my sense of humanity, stunted as it may be, cannot excuse the governments who now stand by and watch Ukraine being systematically destroyed. Their excuses ring hollow at every level.
They point to the dangers of a “shooting war,” all the while ignoring the fact that Putin has said the already imposed sanctions are an act of war. The Ukrainian victims do not get or understand the distinction any better than I. And I doubt Putin cares about it either.
Neither will he appreciate that his troops killed by American weaponry is not on America because a non-American was firing them. What nonsense! Does anyone really believe that makes the difference between him attacking or not?
They know full well that Putin will not stop at Ukraine – that narcissistic psychopath has delusions of being the next “Tsar of all the Russias”. The only question is whether he attacks another non-NATO nation (like Finland) or is so encouraged by the fear shown recently that he goes ahead against a NATO country.
I understand that Putin’s mental instability and nuclear threats are worrying in the extreme, but there can be little doubt he is encouraged by our unwillingness to act, and he will not stop until he is militarily beaten. All the leaders know it, even if they will not voice it, so what on earth are they waiting for?
I’m aware Canada’s voice is hardly loud on the international stage, but Mr. Trudeau, can Canada for once be a major catalyst for the right thing, rather than the convenient follower of American dictates?
Jim Taylor,
Belwood