Thread by @andrewmichta

🧵Yesterday’s Russian drone attack against #Poland (attack, not “intrusion”) put a spotlight on how ineffective and increasingly irrelevant the legacy institutional framing that undergirds @NATO and Europe’s security has become. With each passing hour the cognitive gap grows. 1/9

I watched the statements by @NATO SecGen and #EU’s von der Leyen with an eerie feeling that their resounding rhetoric condemning Russia’s aggression (yet again) bore yet again no connection to the reality of what will--or rather will not—happen going forward. Shadow boxing. 2/9

Being fat is not the same as being strong. Over past 30yrs the West has lost most of its strength to act in its own defense. Amidst never-ending debates, think tank panels on the “rules based int’l order” and solemn assertions about defending democracy, our elites look weak. 3/9

Rome didn’t collapse because it had a higher standard of living than the barbarians. It collapsed because the borders were open, the barbarians had hatchets and enjoyed using them, while Romans debated. We’re losing because we no longer are willing to accept risk and fight. 4/9

We tell ourselves that we have the best military, the best technology, etc. etc. etc. Look around you. America just learned that in Charlotte NC a thug murdered a young girl stabbing her to death. No reason. Most importantly, nobody on that train lifted a finger to stop it. 5/9

And Poland, a @NATO country was just attacked by RUS with some 20 drones entering its airspace. No reaction other than invoking Article 4 of the Washington Treaty to “consult with allies.” Again, nobody is lifting a finger while we congratulate ourselves we didn’t “escalate.” 6/9

I bring up these two seemingly unrelated events to make this point: Cowardice and appeasement go hand in hand. We’ve disarmed our culture through decades of educational brainwashing to a point where we can no longer stand up for what’s right. We’ve become food for predators. 7/9

I know of no case in history when deterrence was restored without taking risks and fighting. I wonder what Putin or Xi think as they look at our effete politicians in their tailored suits. How did we end up with the managers we have today masquerading as the West’s leaders. 8/9

“Western leaders must communicate to their people that if we want to preserve our prosperity going forward, we will have to fight for it.” I wrote this a year ago—stand by every word. And the last few days made me even more pessimistic than before. 9/End politico.eu/article/intern…