1. The whole tone of the first half of the article is that big = best. The EU must combine to face off the threat from … etc I don’t agree. What’s the point of being big if you are not best. Smaller nation states can be more prosperous and happier – that is why people in the UK voted to leave the EU. 2. Germany is not happy to sanction the Turks – I wonder if that is anything to do with the 3m Turks now living pemanently in Germany? Another Trojan Horse at work. 3. Again UnHerd have used a negaitive photo of Trump – seemingly left out in the cold. And has Macron got his hand on Merkel’s knee? I’m alright with that if she is, but what would everyone be saying if Trump had been doing it?
Apparently two Austrian ministers are currently under armed guard owing to death threats from the Turkish Grey Wolves organisation. This gives you a good idea of Turkey’s plans for Europe,
Further to your second point, aren’t there currently millions of Syrian refugees in Turkey, funded by the EU? What happens to those people when/if the EU either reduces or stops the funding. Correct me if I’m mistaken, please, thanks!
Spot on about that extraordinary photo.Macron is definitely attempting a bit of ‘hanky panky’ and Mr Trump has spotted it and is looking on with stern disapproval.
AB
Andrew Best
3 years ago
But this makes no sense For at least 4 to 40 years we have been told that the EU is fantastic, it’s nations are striving together in a unified project to became a super state where every one agrees and the world loves it. Is this not true? Are there divisions in the EU? Who would have thought that we may have been told untruths and have misrepresentations about the EU by the remoaners in this country? The EU the world’s happiest theme park!
The EU as a global player? That’s a laugh. Just last week an EU ambassador or some such was kicked out of Venezuela. Nobody wants them,
The EU won’t even be a player in Europe, which will gradually be carved up by China, Russia and Turkey. This is because Europe is bankrupt and Brussels is a ship of fools.
AS
A Spetzari
3 years ago
Aris – please please tone down your articles. They are well-researched, interesting and informative, but are plastered with hyperbole and absolutist assertions.
It might work the first time someone reads your work but after the 4th or 5th time it loses it’s effect and adds an unnecessary immature student-politics feel to the piece.
One minor example – minor actually being the best measure as it’s completely unneccesary:
Merkel struck a markedly ambivalent tone on Russia, chiding Putin for interfering in European politics, while making the case for cooperation
This has nearly always been the case with Merkel and her attitude to Russia as I am sure you well know – and is just generally how diplomacy is conducted. A simple search for “Merkel Russia 2016” brings up this as first article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/…
Guess what? Merkel criticising Russia (for hacking) but leaving road open for Nord 2 gas pipeline negotiations. So the overexcited doom-monger tone above looks a bit silly. As if Germany had markedly changed its stance and that waste and ruin lies round the corner.
There are too many examples to go through this article one by one but that is an atypical example of this needless over exaggeration.
I’ve mentioned before about the immaturity of this self proclaimed ‘war’ correspondent. His lazy tutors must hold some responsibility either that or somebody take his comics of him and tell him to find a job. Come on Unheard editors your better than this send him on his bike and give the space to grown up’s.
I really enjoy his style and how he is able to bring together disparate geopolitical currents into a coherent feeling based story. I think he captures the different personalities very well which is what diplomacy is all about.
If you question his line of reasoning just say so and explain why.
I gave one clear example above – of an over exaggeration about how Germany has suddenly changed its stance now when actually looking back to 2016 you can see the same treatment and policy.
This is not really the format to dissect the passage above, as you would need to annotate, but the whole passage is information interspersed with suggestive language and assertions that hold no water. Furthermore the language used is exceptionally hyperbolic.
Take the final passage, very typical of his style. All very grand and prophetic and evocative – but little of actual substance as what does Turkey and Russia spreading its beach towels across the Mediterranean really mean? Style and no substance and a wild assertion to boot.
It ends up looking stupid as nothing whatsoever as extreme will come to pass. But doesn’t matter, next week there’ll be an article on how America is a failed state (actual article by Aris) or the like.
His style would not pass muster at undergraduate level, and in any diplomatic/military circles would be dismissed straight off the bat for inability to present fact objectively.
I think that sums it up – I think we’ll agree to disagree. I prefer opinion pieces to be informative and accurate – able to stand up on their own merit and arguments. Not a creative reflection or interpretation of what the current mood is.
CC
Christopher Chantrill
3 years ago
Considering that “we” imposed not one but two Carthaginian peaces on Germany in the last century it’s not surprising that Germany just wants to hide.
Yet the Germans invented everything from modern philosophy to modern physics.
Yes, it’s hard to argue with that. Here’s a German joke told I think by Henning Wehn.
A little boy was born in Germany but as he grew up he did not speak. His parents got increasingly concerned but all the medics pronounced the boy healthy. Then one day when the boy was about 11, he opened his mouth and said “this ham is a little too warm”. His parents were amazed and delighted and asked why he had not spoken before. He replied “Well, up to now, everything has been quite satisfactory”.
Along with Zyclon B and Auschwitz! Frankly the Philosophy added little to Socrates, Platoand Aristotle, whilst the Physics owed much to those geniuses, Newton, Boyle Pascal, Hale & Co.
PK
Prashant Kotak
3 years ago
The tiny section on Huawei alludes to the gaping hole in this analysis: technology. The power struggle between the US and China is, ultimately a tech War. Pretty much all the values based stuff is an irrelevance when it comes to deciding who eventually emerges on top, the *only* thing that matters is Tech Supremacy.
And the question is why, with the stunning levels of intellectual firepower patently available across Europe, it is nevertheless now falling behind on tech, notwithstanding tech hotspots in the UK in London, Cambridge etc. A symptom of which is: no global tech giants originating from all of Europe. A disastrous consequence of which is: no one in Europe owns any of the tech the global tech giants depend on. Flipping that, *all* of European national and corporate life is *totally* dependent on US, and to a lesser extent far-eastern created tech.
And on the European naiviest focus on values rather than cold, hard power, I have seen many authors claiming recently that as a European “third force” counterweight to the US and China cold war, the EU can ‘Lead’ in the Green agenda, and in Tech Regulation, etc. ‘Leading’ in Green or Regulation is not a thing. It’s like leading in sainthood or leading on a jog to the park – meaningless nonsense. Both are aspects of the social models you implement, not a competition between powers. And the idea that the EU can influence anyone, much less the US or Chinese models of Tech Regulation is laughable, and the idea that values based agendas can help you win a Tech War is bonkers.
This is very, very simple. To win a Tech War, you need superior tech, for which you need incentivised tech ecosystems in place that will allow that tech to emerge. That’s it. That is what the European nations need to focus on. The rest of the stuff, including mediating, while also competing, while also triangulating, between the US and China, is hot air. So, park all the values based ivory tower idealistic stuff, it’s garbage. Seriously.
CA
Cave Artist
3 years ago
Well that’s about right. While Germany’s foreign policy and diplomatic incompetence is at least 100 years old, their deliberate infantilism, as displayed by its military policy is new. Don’t attack us we’re only a business. A sort of bigger Switzerland. Well the Russians and the Chinese aren’t buying it.
CS
Mark Corby
3 years ago
“An economic giant, Germany is a strategic dwarf”, a perfect description of the dilemma facing Europe today. Well done Mr Roussinos.
I was however surprised by no mention of the Emissions scandal both in car industry and marine engines. Nor anything about the recent Wirecard debacle. Their toading up to both the Chinese and Turks has been a truly revolting spectacle.
Frankly it time to admit that Europe is a “busted flush” We are facing an imminent war with China for Global supremacy, and we should all throw in our lot with the almost certain winner, the USA.
Germany, renowned for its military prowess for centuries, may have an important part to play, but also a chance to atone for previous blunders.
AR
Andrew Russell
3 years ago
“Has Germany ever pondered on what it is breeding? Are the financial interests enough to justify disregarding consequences that may damage an important number of European countries?” – Obviously not, but making lots of money preparing the destruction of Europe is definitely encouraged, and not just in Germany. It’s criminally insane. It might help if Germany didn’t have women running the defense department. China must find it easy to deal with these idiots.
Report this comment
This site is registered on wpml.org as a development site. Switch to a production site key to remove this banner.
A long article and much to comment on …
1. The whole tone of the first half of the article is that big = best. The EU must combine to face off the threat from … etc I don’t agree. What’s the point of being big if you are not best. Smaller nation states can be more prosperous and happier – that is why people in the UK voted to leave the EU.
2. Germany is not happy to sanction the Turks – I wonder if that is anything to do with the 3m Turks now living pemanently in Germany? Another Trojan Horse at work.
3. Again UnHerd have used a negaitive photo of Trump – seemingly left out in the cold. And has Macron got his hand on Merkel’s knee? I’m alright with that if she is, but what would everyone be saying if Trump had been doing it?
Apparently two Austrian ministers are currently under armed guard owing to death threats from the Turkish Grey Wolves organisation. This gives you a good idea of Turkey’s plans for Europe,
Further to your second point, aren’t there currently millions of Syrian refugees in Turkey, funded by the EU? What happens to those people when/if the EU either reduces or stops the funding. Correct me if I’m mistaken, please, thanks!
You are not mistaken and we can only hope they go back to Syria and rebuild the country and culture.
Zero chance of that! As soon as they can afford a pair of water wings they will be heading for the English Channel!
Spot on about that extraordinary photo.Macron is definitely attempting a bit of ‘hanky panky’ and Mr Trump has spotted it and is looking on with stern disapproval.
But this makes no sense
For at least 4 to 40 years we have been told that the EU is fantastic, it’s nations are striving together in a unified project to became a super state where every one agrees and the world loves it.
Is this not true?
Are there divisions in the EU?
Who would have thought that we may have been told untruths and have misrepresentations about the EU by the remoaners in this country?
The EU the world’s happiest theme park!
Good post.
Too obvious a ‘wind up’, but a good try!
The EU as a global player? That’s a laugh. Just last week an EU ambassador or some such was kicked out of Venezuela. Nobody wants them,
The EU won’t even be a player in Europe, which will gradually be carved up by China, Russia and Turkey. This is because Europe is bankrupt and Brussels is a ship of fools.
Aris – please please tone down your articles. They are well-researched, interesting and informative, but are plastered with hyperbole and absolutist assertions.
It might work the first time someone reads your work but after the 4th or 5th time it loses it’s effect and adds an unnecessary immature student-politics feel to the piece.
One minor example – minor actually being the best measure as it’s completely unneccesary:
This has nearly always been the case with Merkel and her attitude to Russia as I am sure you well know – and is just generally how diplomacy is conducted. A simple search for “Merkel Russia 2016” brings up this as first article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/…
Guess what? Merkel criticising Russia (for hacking) but leaving road open for Nord 2 gas pipeline negotiations. So the overexcited doom-monger tone above looks a bit silly. As if Germany had markedly changed its stance and that waste and ruin lies round the corner.
There are too many examples to go through this article one by one but that is an atypical example of this needless over exaggeration.
I agree. The writer is out to startle, to make an extreme case. I take all his articles with a large pinch of salt.
I think Aris has been told to spice things up to feed the pond life with click-bait. Forgive.
I suspect Aris is biased.
I’ve mentioned before about the immaturity of this self proclaimed ‘war’ correspondent. His lazy tutors must hold some responsibility either that or somebody take his comics of him and tell him to find a job. Come on Unheard editors your better than this send him on his bike and give the space to grown up’s.
I really enjoy his style and how he is able to bring together disparate geopolitical currents into a coherent feeling based story. I think he captures the different personalities very well which is what diplomacy is all about.
If you question his line of reasoning just say so and explain why.
I gave one clear example above – of an over exaggeration about how Germany has suddenly changed its stance now when actually looking back to 2016 you can see the same treatment and policy.
This is not really the format to dissect the passage above, as you would need to annotate, but the whole passage is information interspersed with suggestive language and assertions that hold no water. Furthermore the language used is exceptionally hyperbolic.
Take the final passage, very typical of his style. All very grand and prophetic and evocative – but little of actual substance as what does Turkey and Russia spreading its beach towels across the Mediterranean really mean? Style and no substance and a wild assertion to boot.
It ends up looking stupid as nothing whatsoever as extreme will come to pass. But doesn’t matter, next week there’ll be an article on how America is a failed state (actual article by Aris) or the like.
His style would not pass muster at undergraduate level, and in any diplomatic/military circles would be dismissed straight off the bat for inability to present fact objectively.
I think that sums it up – I think we’ll agree to disagree. I prefer opinion pieces to be informative and accurate – able to stand up on their own merit and arguments. Not a creative reflection or interpretation of what the current mood is.
Considering that “we” imposed not one but two Carthaginian peaces on Germany in the last century it’s not surprising that Germany just wants to hide.
Yet the Germans invented everything from modern philosophy to modern physics.
Yes, it’s hard to argue with that. Here’s a German joke told I think by Henning Wehn.
A little boy was born in Germany but as he grew up he did not speak. His parents got increasingly concerned but all the medics pronounced the boy healthy. Then one day when the boy was about 11, he opened his mouth and said “this ham is a little too warm”. His parents were amazed and delighted and asked why he had not spoken before. He replied “Well, up to now, everything has been quite satisfactory”.
There is also, “One German, a splendid chap, two Germans a Bund, three Germans a War”.
Along with Zyclon B and Auschwitz! Frankly the Philosophy added little to Socrates, Platoand Aristotle, whilst the Physics owed much to those geniuses, Newton, Boyle Pascal, Hale & Co.
The tiny section on Huawei alludes to the gaping hole in this analysis: technology. The power struggle between the US and China is, ultimately a tech War. Pretty much all the values based stuff is an irrelevance when it comes to deciding who eventually emerges on top, the *only* thing that matters is Tech Supremacy.
And the question is why, with the stunning levels of intellectual firepower patently available across Europe, it is nevertheless now falling behind on tech, notwithstanding tech hotspots in the UK in London, Cambridge etc. A symptom of which is: no global tech giants originating from all of Europe. A disastrous consequence of which is: no one in Europe owns any of the tech the global tech giants depend on. Flipping that, *all* of European national and corporate life is *totally* dependent on US, and to a lesser extent far-eastern created tech.
And on the European naiviest focus on values rather than cold, hard power, I have seen many authors claiming recently that as a European “third force” counterweight to the US and China cold war, the EU can ‘Lead’ in the Green agenda, and in Tech Regulation, etc. ‘Leading’ in Green or Regulation is not a thing. It’s like leading in sainthood or leading on a jog to the park – meaningless nonsense. Both are aspects of the social models you implement, not a competition between powers. And the idea that the EU can influence anyone, much less the US or Chinese models of Tech Regulation is laughable, and the idea that values based agendas can help you win a Tech War is bonkers.
This is very, very simple. To win a Tech War, you need superior tech, for which you need incentivised tech ecosystems in place that will allow that tech to emerge. That’s it. That is what the European nations need to focus on. The rest of the stuff, including mediating, while also competing, while also triangulating, between the US and China, is hot air. So, park all the values based ivory tower idealistic stuff, it’s garbage. Seriously.
Well that’s about right. While Germany’s foreign policy and diplomatic incompetence is at least 100 years old, their deliberate infantilism, as displayed by its military policy is new. Don’t attack us we’re only a business. A sort of bigger Switzerland. Well the Russians and the Chinese aren’t buying it.
“An economic giant, Germany is a strategic dwarf”, a perfect description of the dilemma facing Europe today. Well done Mr Roussinos.
I was however surprised by no mention of the
Emissions scandal both in car industry and marine engines. Nor anything about the recent Wirecard debacle. Their toading up to both the Chinese and Turks has been a truly revolting spectacle.
Frankly it time to admit that Europe is a “busted flush” We are facing an imminent war with China for Global supremacy, and we should all throw in our lot with the almost certain winner, the USA.
Germany, renowned for its military prowess for centuries, may have an important part to play, but also a chance to atone for previous blunders.
“Has Germany ever pondered on what it is breeding? Are the financial interests enough to justify disregarding consequences that may damage an important number of European countries?” – Obviously not, but making lots of money preparing the destruction of Europe is definitely encouraged, and not just in Germany. It’s criminally insane.
It might help if Germany didn’t have women running the defense department. China must find it easy to deal with these idiots.