Clear Thinking is Essential

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Patrick posted this video on Telegram:

Myths BUSTED! Brave German Journalist EXPOSES Ukraine/NATO War Lies (video 53 minutes 46 seconds)
Dr. Gabrielle Krone-Schmalz, a German intellectual and former journalist, recently gave a highly informative talk at the “37. Pleisweiler Gespräch”. Dr. Krone-Schmalz used to work as a Moscow-correspondent for Germany’s largest public broadcaster, ARD, and was also a Professor for Media Science and has emerged as one of the fiercest critics of Germany’s foolish policies vis-a-vis Russia. She is one of the people who can and does publicly lecture on the true origins of the ongoing war-fare in Europe, and she is proof that, yes, some Europeans really do know what is going on and how reckless the current political and media elite are.

Gabrielle lays out some of the case as to why, for Europe (and Germany in particular), demonising Vladimir Putin and Russia while prolonging the war in Ukraine serves neither our, nor Ukraine’s, interests. While it may suit the US to ensure that the antagonism between Russia and Europe continues, it is potentially suicidal for us within striking distance of the “Heartland”.

The Heartland Theory, formulated by British geographer Sir Halford Mackinder in 1904, is a geopolitical concept that emphasizes the strategic importance of a central region in Eurasia, known as the “Heartland.” Mackinder’s theory was a major influence in early 20th-century geopolitics and helped shape strategic thinking during both World Wars and the Cold War.

Key Elements of the Heartland Theory:

  1. The Heartland: This central region, stretching from Eastern Europe through Russia and into Central Asia, is seen as pivotal in global power dynamics. Mackinder argued that whoever controls the Heartland could dominate the world.
  2. The World-Island: Mackinder divided the world into several major regions, with the “World-Island” comprising Europe, Asia, and Africa. He believed that the Heartland was the key to controlling the World-Island.
  3. Geopolitical Maxim: Mackinder’s famous geopolitical dictum was:
  • “Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland;
  • Who rules the Heartland commands the World-Island;
  • Who rules the World-Island commands the World.”

Significance:

  • Defensive Strength: Mackinder argued that the Heartland was largely landlocked, making it difficult for naval powers (like the British Empire at the time) to penetrate and control.
  • Railways: The development of railways and land transport was crucial in Mackinder’s theory. While seafaring nations had long held the upper hand, railways could provide the Heartland powers with the logistical capability to project power across Eurasia.
  • Geopolitical Implications: Mackinder’s theory influenced strategic thinking, especially regarding the containment of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The Heartland became central to debates on how to balance power between the major world powers.

Historical Impact:

  • During the 20th century, especially in the context of World War I and II, Mackinder’s ideas gained traction as powers vied for control of Europe and Eurasia.
  • The theory was instrumental in shaping U.S. Cold War policy, as Western strategists focused on containing the Soviet Union, which occupied much of the Heartland.

While some of Mackinder’s ideas may be seen as outdated in a world of air power, nuclear weapons, and globalized trade, his theory remains foundational to the field of geopolitics.

ChatGPT

I started this article by saying Gabrielle lays out some of the case. What she ignores is that the Russian military operation that started in 2022 is not where this conflict began. It started long before, with the US led $5Bn investment to destabilise Ukraine and the false flag shootings in Maidan square, leading to the NATO/Azov brigade coup to remove the elected government in 2014.

The intervening years were characterised by growing demonisation of, and attacks on, the mainly Russian speaking east of the country. That is why Russia acted, not only to defend itself but to protect the millions of Russian speaking Ukranians who’d become pariahs in their own country.

Ukraine’s population before the 2022 Russian invasion was estimated at around 41 million.If we take the 30% figure from the KIIS survey, that would mean around 12.3 million Ukrainians spoke Russian as their primary language.

ChatGPT

Power politics aren’t anything to do with human sustainability and invariably result in death and destruction. They, like most everything else, are fuelled and driven by money. That is why a different means of organising ourselves is long overdue… and now we have that means,

  • Update – since posting this article, this interview appeared in which Jacques Baud provides a comprehensive breakdown of the history and complexities of the Ukraine/Russia conflict.

JACQUES BAUD: NATO THREATENED RUSSIA DECADES BEFORE 2022 (video 1 hour 56 minutes 31 seconds)
This is a must-listen interview for those who think Russia “invaded Ukraine without reason”, and those who believe the West’s propaganda about Russia “failing” in its objectives, and many other lies put out by Washington and parroted by Western corporate media.
Former Swiss intelligence, Jacques Baud, on the Ukraine-NATO history that forced Russia to start its Special Military Operation in February 2022.