Hubris and Theatrics Mark Atlanticist West’s Detachment from Reality, by Simplicius

Europe is going to be led into a war with Russia by so-called leaders who don’t have a clue. From Simplicius at simplicius76.substack.com:

Once in a while a demonstration of such astounding arrogance comes along it has to be seen to be believed. During this week’s NATO ‘Defense Ministers Summit’ in Brussels, lumpish Secretary General Mark Rutte broke the record for the most cringe-worthy statements in a two-minute span; it was one of the clearest embodiments yet of the imperial hubris at the root of NATO and the EU’s disastrous deterioration:

[see linked article for video]

Not only does he pretend to believe that NATO is dozens of times economically more powerful than Russia, but that its military is “infinitely” superior as well—using the language of children.

Affecting some kind of tough guy, he even pretends to forget what MiG-31s are; because, of course, underestimating your opponent to the level of total dismissal of his assets is a sure sign of the military ‘strength’ Rutte so desperately seeks to personify.

The most tragicomic part of the humiliated boy-toy of “daddy” Don’s rhetoric is that, if you listen carefully, its purpose appears merely to assuage his fellow apparatchiks, who are likely getting cold feet about brushing so close with death in antagonizing Russia.

Pleadingly—in the language of abject humiliation—Rutte begs them to “please take that into account”, and “take comfort” in the feigned aggrandizement of the alliance he’s so desperately heaping on to cover for its actual historic weakness. The purpose becomes clear: it’s a plying session meant to ease his compatriots’ worries; and it would not have been necessary if it weren’t for the fact that all of them believe precisely the opposite of the gung ho, chest-thumping rhetoric Rutte is expectorating from his blowhole. Such excesses of braggadocio are only necessary precisely when one lacks confidence about what one is saying.

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