General Discussion

Ambassador Burns’ remarkable understanding of the regional complexities are reflected further:

“Ukraine and Georgia’s NATO aspirations not only touch a raw nerve in Russia, they engender serious concerns about the consequences for stability in the region. Not only does Russia perceive encirclement, and efforts to undermine Russia’s influence in the region, but it also fears unpredictable and uncontrolled consequences which would seriously affect Russian security interests.

“Experts tell us that Russia is particularly worried that the strong divisions in Ukraine over NATO membership, with much of the ethnic-Russian community against membership, could lead to a major split, involving violence or at worst, civil war. In that eventuality, Russia would have to decide whether to intervene; a decision Russia does not want to have to face.”

What a pity that William Burns, Deputy to John Kerry and with the ear of President Obama, arguably the most unworthy Nobel Peace Prize winner since Henry Kissinger, has fallen silent on his detailed predictions.

As I write and Russia commemorates the twenty six million souls who died fighting on the side of the Allies in World War 11, the Cold War is back. The US, UK, EU, and NATO just could not countenance “giving peace a chance.” Beyond shame on them all.