Ever since WWII Germany, like Japan, is reluctant to rearm properly, out of fear of being looked upon as warmongers, wir allen erinnern uns "Gitarren statt Knarren", nicht war? That's probably also the main reason Germany hasn't developed nuclear weapons yet, though they certainly have the means. Germany is the leading economy in the EU, but its militairy is lacking, ranking after UK, France and Italy. And probably less strong than Ukraine aswell. So it's kind of a political dilemma, more money for the army sure, Rheinmetall is booming, but building and developing more cruise missiles that could attack Russia, nah, still not gonna happen. Merz is putting on a good show, but he needs the coalition with SPD and with its current and probably future minister of Defense Pistorius, who as of recently stated he's still skeptical of Taurus delivery. So, who's gonna blink first, Pistorius or Merz? Either way, delivery of the Taurus to Ukraine will be a Pyrrhic victory. It probably will happen eventually, but with too many conditions and restrictions, much so as with the hampered deliverance of F16's for instance.
If Taurus were a ‘game changer’, or even a potential ‘game changer’, that is to say that if the supply of Taurus missiles would be likely to change the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine’s favour, then your argument would perhaps be a more persuasive one.
This, however, is not the case, and Russia will no doubt be able to deal with any threat from Taurus as it has to all the other ‘game changing’ weapons that the West has supplied to Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict.
The supply of these missiles will, however, likely serve to extend the duration of the conflict by a few weeks or months, thereby ensuring that more men on both sides lose their lives in a war that Ukraine has already lost.
This seems to me to be not a moral or ethical course of action for Germany to take, particularly given the lack of support for escalating the conflict in this way, rather than seeking to end it, by the German people.
Really nice of the German people to want to end the war ! How do they intend to go about it ? Sounds like Trump who deplores “this horrible war” and wants to “stop the killing” but refuses to take the obvious course of action which is to put pressure on Putin to withdraw his troops from Ukraine. The only thing that Putin respects is force and the willingness to use it. Delivering Taurus missiles to Ukraine, even if they are never used, would be a powerful signal that Germany and Europe are serious about defending themselves. The quasi- hysterical reaction to the mere prospect of Taurus deliveries by the spokeswoman of the Russian ministry of foreign affairs shows that Putin is definitely rattled.
Philip, I understand that for many people like you it’s a difficult thing to accept, but the reality is that despite Ukraine’s courageous resistance and the sacrifice of enormous numbers of its people, Russia has won this war.
All the West’s efforts to prevent this outcome have completely failed, and we should now stop reinforcing failure.
Not yet, dear friend! For “many people like me” even if Ukraine has not (yet) won, Russia, after 3 years of grinding forward and with the loss of nearly a million soldiers, has definitely lost in terms of its original war aims. After the fall of France in 1940, Charles de Gaulle spoke to the French people and said ”France may have lost a battle but it has not lost the war”. Nor has Ukraine.
When I read comments from people who claim knowledge of ‘Russia’s original war aims’, or reference Russia supposedly ‘losing a million soldiers’, it’s clear that that person has been propagandised to the point of being delusional.
I will not try to convince you that your views are wrong; events on the battlefield and the imminent collapse of the Ukrainian army will shortly demonstrate that to you more conclusively than any words of mine.
I would add that de Gaulle’s statement about ‘France losing a battle..’ and so on was similarly delusional, as well as being quite obviously complete nonsense.
So, if you don’t mind a short history lesson….in 1940 France suffered a catastrophic defeat, capitulated in the most cowardly and humiliating manner, betrayed its British allies, collaborated enthusiastically with its Nazi occupiers in the genocide of its Jewish citizens, and, after the German defeat, emerged from the war a disgraced and defeated nation, having lost its war with Germany.
Subsequently, de Gaulle managed to convince the French people - although nobody else - that the facts were otherwise, and that a victorious France had somehow heroically ‘liberated itself’.
Zelensky will probably try to spin some similar fraudulent absurdities after Ukraine’s defeat, no doubt from a very safe, comfortable and prosperous exile, but Zelenskiy is no de Gaulle: Zelensky is the gravedigger of the Ukrainian people.
Resistance against illegal occupation is a right of the occupied people – including armed struggle. The United Nations has made that clear on many occasions, like in resoution 38/17 in 1983. It is also made clear that the occupying power in the equation, in this case, Israel, has NO "right" to defence against those it occupies.
Lol. Only what Israel does matters? But when Gazans behave like murdering psychopaths, it’s all fine? October 7th was “resistance”? With this attitude, all I can say, Israel is justified in what it does. Keep yapping about international law, ignoring all the times Gazans and Arab states ignored it if it was convenient for them.
If you believe that all the violence and destruction in Gaza is the fault of Hamas, then by your own logic you must also accept that the coming wave of violent extremism and antisemitism which is going to ensue from the incineration of Gaza will exclusively be the fault of Israel 🤷♂️ Your logic, not mine..reap the whirlwind.
Yes, what Israel does matters because Israel is the Occupying Power in the relationship and thus holds all the responsibility for the welfare of those it occupies. Are you new to the human race? Did you ever attend a school in your life? How have you achieved adulthood yet still be so abysmally ignorant of the rule of law? I suspect you're religious, you have all the hallmarks of that brand of mental illness, or perhaps just a sociopath 🤔 Either way, seek therapy 🤣
It's the law 🤷♂️ The powers that be apparently decided that the oppressed people have a right to defence. Don't like it? Tough shit, I guess..Israelis have been bitching about it for decades but the law stands and it means that the Palestinans can no more be condemned for resistance than the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto.
Gaza is considered "occupied" under international law because the Gazans do not control their ports, airspace, borders, or anything else that defines a free state. Again, don't like it? Well, you can try to change the law, but until then Israel is an apartheid regime, and rightfully censured just as South Africa was.
Gazans are an occupied people under international law, and have a right to resistance. By your inane logic the Jewish 'terrorists' of the Warsaw Ghetto deserved to die because they struck back at the innocent Nazis. Reconsider your words?
Ever since WWII Germany, like Japan, is reluctant to rearm properly, out of fear of being looked upon as warmongers, wir allen erinnern uns "Gitarren statt Knarren", nicht war? That's probably also the main reason Germany hasn't developed nuclear weapons yet, though they certainly have the means. Germany is the leading economy in the EU, but its militairy is lacking, ranking after UK, France and Italy. And probably less strong than Ukraine aswell. So it's kind of a political dilemma, more money for the army sure, Rheinmetall is booming, but building and developing more cruise missiles that could attack Russia, nah, still not gonna happen. Merz is putting on a good show, but he needs the coalition with SPD and with its current and probably future minister of Defense Pistorius, who as of recently stated he's still skeptical of Taurus delivery. So, who's gonna blink first, Pistorius or Merz? Either way, delivery of the Taurus to Ukraine will be a Pyrrhic victory. It probably will happen eventually, but with too many conditions and restrictions, much so as with the hampered deliverance of F16's for instance.
Thank you for sharing this interesting article.
A couple of observations:
If Taurus were a ‘game changer’, or even a potential ‘game changer’, that is to say that if the supply of Taurus missiles would be likely to change the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine’s favour, then your argument would perhaps be a more persuasive one.
This, however, is not the case, and Russia will no doubt be able to deal with any threat from Taurus as it has to all the other ‘game changing’ weapons that the West has supplied to Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict.
The supply of these missiles will, however, likely serve to extend the duration of the conflict by a few weeks or months, thereby ensuring that more men on both sides lose their lives in a war that Ukraine has already lost.
This seems to me to be not a moral or ethical course of action for Germany to take, particularly given the lack of support for escalating the conflict in this way, rather than seeking to end it, by the German people.
Really nice of the German people to want to end the war ! How do they intend to go about it ? Sounds like Trump who deplores “this horrible war” and wants to “stop the killing” but refuses to take the obvious course of action which is to put pressure on Putin to withdraw his troops from Ukraine. The only thing that Putin respects is force and the willingness to use it. Delivering Taurus missiles to Ukraine, even if they are never used, would be a powerful signal that Germany and Europe are serious about defending themselves. The quasi- hysterical reaction to the mere prospect of Taurus deliveries by the spokeswoman of the Russian ministry of foreign affairs shows that Putin is definitely rattled.
Philip, I understand that for many people like you it’s a difficult thing to accept, but the reality is that despite Ukraine’s courageous resistance and the sacrifice of enormous numbers of its people, Russia has won this war.
All the West’s efforts to prevent this outcome have completely failed, and we should now stop reinforcing failure.
Not yet, dear friend! For “many people like me” even if Ukraine has not (yet) won, Russia, after 3 years of grinding forward and with the loss of nearly a million soldiers, has definitely lost in terms of its original war aims. After the fall of France in 1940, Charles de Gaulle spoke to the French people and said ”France may have lost a battle but it has not lost the war”. Nor has Ukraine.
Dear Philip,
When I read comments from people who claim knowledge of ‘Russia’s original war aims’, or reference Russia supposedly ‘losing a million soldiers’, it’s clear that that person has been propagandised to the point of being delusional.
I will not try to convince you that your views are wrong; events on the battlefield and the imminent collapse of the Ukrainian army will shortly demonstrate that to you more conclusively than any words of mine.
I would add that de Gaulle’s statement about ‘France losing a battle..’ and so on was similarly delusional, as well as being quite obviously complete nonsense.
So, if you don’t mind a short history lesson….in 1940 France suffered a catastrophic defeat, capitulated in the most cowardly and humiliating manner, betrayed its British allies, collaborated enthusiastically with its Nazi occupiers in the genocide of its Jewish citizens, and, after the German defeat, emerged from the war a disgraced and defeated nation, having lost its war with Germany.
Subsequently, de Gaulle managed to convince the French people - although nobody else - that the facts were otherwise, and that a victorious France had somehow heroically ‘liberated itself’.
Zelensky will probably try to spin some similar fraudulent absurdities after Ukraine’s defeat, no doubt from a very safe, comfortable and prosperous exile, but Zelenskiy is no de Gaulle: Zelensky is the gravedigger of the Ukrainian people.
Lol, you really are delusional. France lost because France capitulated. Ukraine hasn't, and until russian tanks roll in Kyiv, the war is not lost.
Well, tanks or donkeys. I'm not sure Russia has a lot of tanks left.
Omfg, on top of your delusions about international law you ALSO think Ukraine can win on the battlefield? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Good luck with that! 😁
After its 1942 defeat at Midway Japan had lost the war.
After its 1943 defeat at Stalingrad Germany had lost the war.
After the 2023 defeat of its summer offensive Ukraine has lost the war.
The date of Ukraine’s surrender is irrelevant.
War is ongoing. Ukraine decides when they want to capitulate, not you or Trump.
ATACAMs hit rate? 5 per cent
Thank you for the article. I truly hope this is the last time you need to revisit this issue.
https://substack.com/@changemymind500/note/c-111636563?r=1pungh
Germany has only 600?! That would suffice for what, less than a month of intense war?
If only Germany cared about Gazans as much as neo-nazi Ukrainians 🤷♂️
Gazans should have not started a war, if they wanted peace. Simple as that.
Resistance against illegal occupation is a right of the occupied people – including armed struggle. The United Nations has made that clear on many occasions, like in resoution 38/17 in 1983. It is also made clear that the occupying power in the equation, in this case, Israel, has NO "right" to defence against those it occupies.
ROFL. Are you for real? "I'm allowed to hit you, but you're not allowed to hit back"? Come one, for a troll, you're a pretty lousy one.
What did Israel actually occupy, on October 6th?
Your vapid hasbara doesn't change any minds when Israel is busy murdering ambulance crews and hiding thr evidence in mass graves 🙄
Lol. Only what Israel does matters? But when Gazans behave like murdering psychopaths, it’s all fine? October 7th was “resistance”? With this attitude, all I can say, Israel is justified in what it does. Keep yapping about international law, ignoring all the times Gazans and Arab states ignored it if it was convenient for them.
My god, you Gazans supporters are blind.
So you're a nazi 🤷♂️ That's your problem, history will be the judge.
If you believe that all the violence and destruction in Gaza is the fault of Hamas, then by your own logic you must also accept that the coming wave of violent extremism and antisemitism which is going to ensue from the incineration of Gaza will exclusively be the fault of Israel 🤷♂️ Your logic, not mine..reap the whirlwind.
Yes, what Israel does matters because Israel is the Occupying Power in the relationship and thus holds all the responsibility for the welfare of those it occupies. Are you new to the human race? Did you ever attend a school in your life? How have you achieved adulthood yet still be so abysmally ignorant of the rule of law? I suspect you're religious, you have all the hallmarks of that brand of mental illness, or perhaps just a sociopath 🤔 Either way, seek therapy 🤣
Oh, by the way, Israel also occupies great swathes of Syrian territory, as well as land in the West Bank that was granted to Palestine.
It's the law 🤷♂️ The powers that be apparently decided that the oppressed people have a right to defence. Don't like it? Tough shit, I guess..Israelis have been bitching about it for decades but the law stands and it means that the Palestinans can no more be condemned for resistance than the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto.
Gaza is considered "occupied" under international law because the Gazans do not control their ports, airspace, borders, or anything else that defines a free state. Again, don't like it? Well, you can try to change the law, but until then Israel is an apartheid regime, and rightfully censured just as South Africa was.
Gazans are an occupied people under international law, and have a right to resistance. By your inane logic the Jewish 'terrorists' of the Warsaw Ghetto deserved to die because they struck back at the innocent Nazis. Reconsider your words?
Gazans were not occupied before October 7. Your entire premise is wrong. Don't start wars and then complain about losing them.
By international law, it is 🤷♂️ Sorry chump, but wishing it weren't so doesn't change anything at The Hague.