The art of vassalisation: How Russia’s war on Ukraine has transformed transatlantic relations
ecfr.eu
Europeans’ response to Russia’s war on Ukraine confirms their profound dependence on the US – an unwise position given the security challenge in Europe and coming geopolitical competition with China.

The report is absolutely scathing. Some choice quotes:

But when the next crisis came, both the US and the governments of Europe fell back on old models of alliance leadership. Europe, as EU high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell loudly lamented prior to Russia’s invasion, is not really at the table when it comes to dealing with the Russia-Ukraine crisis. It has instead embarked on a process of vassalisation.

But “alone” had a very specific meaning for Scholz. He was unwilling to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine unless the US also sent its own main battle tank, the M1 Abrams. It was not enough that other partners would send tanks or that the US might send other weapons. Like a scared child in a room full of strangers, Germany felt alone if Uncle Sam was not holding its hand.

Europeans’ lack of agency in the Russia-Ukraine crisis stems from this growing power imbalance in the Western alliance. Under the Biden administration, the US has become ever more willing to exercise this growing influence.

      • Bernie Ecclestoned@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        213·
        1 year ago

        Debunked?

        Doubt

        Operation Fox Hunt (Chinese: 猎狐专项行动; pinyin: Liè hú zhuānxiàng xíngdòng) is a Chinese covert global operation whose purported aim is anti-corruption under Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping’s administration. As of 2017, it has led to the arrest of over 40 of its 100 most wanted globally.[1][2][3] The program has been accused of targeting Chinese dissidents living abroad to stop their activism under the guise of returning corrupt Chinese nationals to China to face criminal charges.

        https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Fox_Hunt

        And how is Assange being tortured? He’s being detained pending extradition and having his day in court. Unlike those under authoritarian regimes…you don’t get irony do you?

        https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/09/uk/julian-assange-extradition-appeal-intl-gbr/index.html

            • Łumało [he/him]@lemmygrad.mlEnglish
              101·
              1 year ago

              Oh no! I’ve been called out, now my argument lays in ruin due to this unfortunate circumstance!

              Oh heveans! What will I do now?

              • barsoap@lemm.eeEnglish
                112·
                1 year ago

                I’d say read up on complexity theory, cybernetics, and Bookchin, but really that’s up to you.

                • Łumało [he/him]@lemmygrad.mlEnglish
                  71·
                  1 year ago

                  I know of Bookchin and plan to read his books, however with the existence of imperialism a system of libertarian municipalism would be just a repeat of the Pairs commune.

                  When it comes to cybernetics, well project Cybersyn was something amazing to say the least and in no doubt a modernized system is ought to spring up in the future.

                  • barsoap@lemm.eeEnglish
                    110·
                    1 year ago

                    Imperialism is getting opposed by pretty many liberal democracies, figures it’s not that popular if you’re not an empire. Best example right now is Ukraine. You should talk to Lithuanians or Estonians sometime. If you can carve yourself out a municipality somewhere that’s the democratic political background for a co-op or something the larger state is unlikely to bother you, and if they do, you can make a hell of a stink in the press. Just keep everything above board, cross your 't’s and dot your 'i’s and don’t be a cult. At least in Europe, that is, wouldn’t be too sure about the US. But Canada should work. US might work if you pretend to be fundie Christians, which just might be worth the trade-off.

                    Cybersyn was hubris. That’s why I also mentioned complexity theory: Really, understanding what’s possible in that area is pretty much impossible without working knowledge in theoretical computer science, physics itself is beholden to complexity theory you can’t find a name in a telephone book in less than O(log n) time. It’s also why chaos (as in chaos theory) is infeasible to analyse, another thing to read into. The reason I mentioned cybernetics is not because of Cybersyn, but because it ties everything together and provides a general, and utterly (as in mathematically) solid theory of systems as such. That also includes individuals and society, there’s literally nothing it doesn’t apply to. Further things to look up include the biopsychosocial model, as well as practopoiesis.

        • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆OPEnglish
          41·
          1 year ago

          Calling whataboutism is a logical fallacy that’s used to justify having a double standard for your own behavior and that of your adversaries. When somebody claims that China is not democratic because it does X and their own country, which they believe to be democratic, is doing X then the claim is not sound.