Observers of the Russia Ukraine war and its devastating consequences that obviously have nothing to do with military objectives, will not fail to see the unannounced purpose of the war: the American desire to wear out Russia economically and militarily. The idea is to prevent Russia from becoming a superpower in a multipolar world order that would end the current unipolar order dominated by the US.
It is heartbreaking to see this war in which the US pushes Ukraine to fight by proxy take a new turn where destruction weapons are used for no plausible military purpose, as when Ukraine bombed the bridge linking Russia and Crimea. The incident brought on hysterical retaliation by Russia which then targeted Ukraine’s buildings, facilities and infrastructure causing appalling ruin and terror.
We do not know what Ukrainians have to say of the massive destruction wreaking their country, whether out of their support for their government or out of fear of denouncing the official decisions that brought on them such horrors. But we know for sure is that on the other side of Europe, in Brussels, the headquarters of the European Parliament, voices are rising in strong denunciation of the blind subservience of the EU to US policy and the ensuing catastrophic ramifications that threaten to needlessly drag EU countries into a dire situation.
In this context, I present here two speeches made in the European Parliament; they expose the rising voices of opposition to the EU’s alignment with US policy, and warn of the dire consequences this might lead to.
Irish politician Clare Daly who is a member of the European Parliament for Ireland made a speech in the EU Parliament’s plenary session on 5 October 2022. She said that the war in Ukraine is quickly escalating into a wider horror. “From what I can see, practically nobody in this Chamber is doing anything to prevent it,” she said. “In fact most people seem to get off on the fact that it’s escalating. And at this precise moment, of course, as usual, the voices challenging the rush to war are attacked and silenced, smeared as traitors, cronies, Putin puppets, Kremlin stooges, Russian agents,” she described the situation as “pathetic”, especially that it is led by ruling parties in European countries. MEP Daly said: “This House should be ashamed of this debate. Words are being twisted, meanings subverted, and the truth turned on its head. Opposing the horrible madness of war is not anti-European, it’s not anti-Ukrainian, it’s not pro-Russian: it’s common sense. The working class of Europe have nothing to gain from this war and everything to lose. And I find it laughable that those calling for arms to Ukraine never call for arms for the people of Palestine, or for the people of Yemen. Unlike you, I oppose all war. I want it stopped. I make no apology for that. And I am not going to be scapegoated and labelled for it either.”
Earlier, on 14 September 2022, French politician and MEP from France Jordan Bardella addressed the plenary session wondering where we have reached now. “Here are the peoples of Europe up against the wall. If the state of energy emergency must be declared today, it is first and foremost due to your successive mistakes that we are paying for today. You perfectly demonstrate the French proverb ‘hell is paved with good intentions’.” Addressing his fellow MEPs Mr Bardella said: “You wanted to get out of our dependence on fossil fuels, you put us in the hands of Russia, the US, China and the oil monarchies of the Gulf. You claimed to decarbonise our economy, and here we are reopening coal-fired power plants because of an absurd and irrational war waged against nuclear, under pressure from the Greens. You wanted to ruin the Russian economy, so you offered it an unexpected financial opportunity by multiplying its hydrocarbon revenues. You claimed to defend the ecosystem, so you import American shale gas with the help of LNG tankers. You set yourselves as guardians of the values of Europe, yet today you kneel before Azerbaijan, which is bombarding the brave people of Armenia, because you are begging for its hydrocarbons. You praised the merits of social Europe, but there you are preparing the rationing of millions of French and European families who have never feared the coming winter so much. By your inconsistencies, by your senseless reversals, by your renunciations of sovereignty, you are plunging our peoples and their companies into distress by subjecting them to emergencies that we thought were from a time past.” Addressing Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Bardella said: “Everywhere, the peoples of Europe are angry. It is not far off that they will ask you with the severity of a judge before the culprit: what have you done with the European dream?”
These are serious indications of the waves of anger and opposition sweeping the peoples of Europe. They expose that Europeans are not necessarily blessing the alignment of their governments with US policies. It makes one wonder what the days hold in store for us.
Watani International
21 October 2022