They are also our dead

They are also our dead

The war in Ukraine has been going on for two years now and we hardly talk about it anymore. A lot still needs to be said. Above all, however, it remains to be seen that many who initially assumed quite clearly that they could win this war were wrong. Today we have to tell them that it is their dead who die there too.

By Serdar Somuncu
It has become strangely quiet among those who were so convinced that Putin had to be brought to his knees by supplying more and more weapons. No more columns and no more vilification. Only iron silence without knowledge. It would be a good time to change course and finally give pacifism a chance. Negotiations are still the better solution. But we seem to be a long way from that. Because the intellectual upper class in Germany has fallen in love with the idea of waging war against Russia. Unconditional loyalty to Ukraine is nothing more than a worthless and dishonest oath of allegiance that has more to do with one's own vanity than with solidarity towards a mistreated people. Compassion for the underdog was part of a pop culture. Their code words, such as those from the "brutal war of aggression" to the "abducted children" and "raped women", the "massacres" and the failed negotiations, have been lost in the cacophony of media coverage. They seem worthless since it is clear that a war is not decided by persistently repeated formulations, but either by military superiority or by diplomacy. Both failed.
The belief that the Western powers would make good on their full-blown promises to Ukraine was a fallacy. From the invitation to the European Union to the admission to NATO, everything was nothing more than a hypocritical maneuver by the West, whose real intention was to expand its own markets and spheres of influence.

The West has never been interested in defending Ukraine, but from the beginning it has only been about demonstrating power against Russia. This could have been seen and perhaps a lot of damage would have been prevented. But now we are faced with a pile of broken glass. Not only are there many things wrong domestically, but our government also continues to act in a haphazard and haphazard manner in foreign policy. It would rather continue to maintain its narrative of heroic struggle for our values than finally come to its senses and make realistic proposals for overcoming the conflict. And these can only mean peace negotiations. What's more: the longer she holds on to her absurd attitude, the more she gets lost in flimsy justifications and cynical slogans for perseverance. The time for a return to reason is running out.

Because people trust the empty promises of populists more and more than they believe the excuses of those in power. Increased energy prices, raging inflation, immigration and social emergency. This is the palpable reality behind this senseless war. And above all, it harms its own people. The fact that this dilemma not only leads to a one-way street, but also drives a wedge between the sensible parts of society, can be clearly and clearly felt in the way discussions are conducted, but also in the way in which sovereignty over certain topics is becoming more and more common ends up with the radicals. The shipwreck that this government has suffered in its unconditional loyalty to Ukraine will mean that it will become even more difficult in the coming years to find a consensus about Germany's position in future conflicts. Does it remain part of a largely directionless and leaderless European community and is it torn between the guidelines and decisions from Brussels and Washington or does it even play a special role? Both would be a difficult balancing act for Germany, without resuming at least neutral relations with Russia.

02/27/24
©Serdar Somuncu
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*Serdar Somuncu is an actor and director
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