MH17: 'Mousey' Merkel Disappoints the Netherlands (de Volkskrant, The Netherlands)
"Politically speaking, allied support for the Netherlands
has so far amounted to precious little. Barack Obama's America is still
wrestling with its attitude toward Vladimir Putin's Russia. Once a reset of the
relationship was proclaimed, but a subsequent reset must be carried out, and
the White House doesn't seem to know what kind or how. ... But the biggest
disappointment are the mousey-grey efforts of Angela Merkel.Let's talk about responsibly: there are times
that call for clarity and leadership. Perhaps she couldn't or wouldn't defy
those at the top of German politics and finance who lobby on behalf of
Russia."
There are times
that call for clarity and leadership. The tragedy of MH17 is just such moment,
writes Paul Brill.
Finland
today is considered a country where things are going quite well, but not so
long ago it was the model for a familiar nightmare in the West: Finlandization. The term
meant that as a country, you didn't need to be physically occupied by an
expansionist superpower, in this case the Soviet Union, yet to an unpleasant
degree, you still had to dance to its tune.
After
World War II when it lost ten percent of its territory to the Soviet Union,
Finland was permitted to keep its own political system, but through a
friendship treaty with Moscow it was obliged to stay within strict foreign
policy guidelines. Helsinki had to pass on Marshall Plan funding,
and also in their own country, Finns weren't allowed certain things. Books critical
of the Soviet Union and communism disappeared from libraries. The Finnish Board
of Film considered it prudent not to allow films like The Manchurian
Candidate and One
Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich into
circulation.
Self-Censorship
It
was a form of self-censorship motivated by the idea that if push came to shove,
no strong ally would come to Finland's aid, whereas Finns could comfort
themselves in the knowledge that they could build a freer and more resilient
society than their powerful neighbor.
Jump
to the year 2014, and Finland is a valued member of the European Union - but not
NATO, which still faces great Russian objections, and we have put the concept
of Finlandization on the Cold War souvenir shelf. Yet I couldn't help but think
about it when the Flight MH17 disaster suddenly put the Netherlands into aglobal position in which the east wind blew
around our ears much more viciously than we're accustomed to in our cozy spot
at the center of the E.U. and Atlantic community.
Salve for the
tortured soul
Of
course, comparisons with the former Finland go only so far. We were allowed to
sit in a warm bath filled with allied compassion, there has been widespread
dismay at the ruthless actions of the east Ukraine rebels, words of
admonishment were directed at the Kremlin, and the world is more than willing to accept a call from Prime Minister Rudd. "God bless the Dutch people for the grace with
which they are doing this," said news anchor Anderson Cooper during a CNN
report on the arrival of the first human remains from Charkov
[video, right]. Salve for the tortured soul
But
politically speaking, allied support has so far amounted to precious little.
Barack Obama's America is still wrestling with its attitude toward Vladimir Putin's
Russia. Once a reset of the relationship was proclaimed, but a subsequent reset
must be carried out, and the White House doesn't seem to know what kind or how.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
Europe
holds a lot of meetings, perceives a dangerous revanchism in Moscow that
threatens the entire European organization, but for the time being shies away
from sanctions that may cause pain at home. France thinks mainly about naval
vessels Moscow has ordered, and is keeping as quiet as possible. Italy, which
since July 1 has held the rotating E.U. presidency, will continue on the path
of Silvio Berlusconi, who got on quite well with Putin. David Cameron utters
strong words, but he's only on the sidelines of the European scene, and we have
to wait and see whether the City of London reigns him in [because of concern
over extensive London real estate holdings by Russia's elite].
The
biggest disappointment are the mousey-grey efforts of Angela Merkel. Of course,
she has underlined Putin's responsibility and has repeatedly called him, which
in the end likely contributed to getting the remains of the victims transferred
to the Netherlands. But let's talk about responsibly: there are times that call
for clarity and leadership. The tragedy of MH17 is one such moment. There may
still be some doubts about the precise circumstances, but not about the
Kremlin's active policy of destabilization. The rebel army in east Ukraine is
largely a creation of Russia.
As
primus inter pares
[first among equals] in the E.U., Germany adds particular weight to the scale,
and because of its close economic ties with Russia, it is the voice
par-excellence for taking the lead on European sanctions. For Merkel, however,
one big about-face on nuclear energy is apparently enough. Or perhaps the
Chancellor, who has been remarkably unsteady since the recent job rotation in
Brussels [the election of European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker], has run out of steam, and couldn't or
wouldn't defy those at the top of German politics and finance who lobby on
behalf of Russia.
