When generation X looks at history, we wonder how the world lets certain things happen. How did the world let Adolf Hitler exist? How did the world let Martin Luther King, President John F. Kennedy, and Malcolm X get assassinated? How did the world let genocide happen in Africa?
As the world witnesses the horrible invasion of Ukraine, we now understand how something like those other blemishes on humanity can happen. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created in 1949 to stop this very thing from happening.
Created by the United States and Britain to stop Russia from trying to take over Europe, the thirty country members of the organization have done little to nothing to stop this senseless invasion. The proposed sanctions against Russia will have little to no effect on the countless deaths and property destruction that is currently taking place in Ukraine.
For months, the world watched as Russia built up its military along the border of Ukraine. If NATO, which has its own military, were serious it would have sent troops to the area to respond to the threat.
To make a tough situation worse the conflict between Russia and Ukraine started over Ukraine’s desire to become a member of NATO. Russia feels like Ukraine joining NATO is a threat, so it decided to attack Ukraine in response.
One could say that this is a test to see if NATO, America, and Europe will stand up to Russia. But what if this is just the beginning of what is to become World War III. For anyone that is paying close attention to the world’s affairs, notice how quiet China is.
China is a friend to Russia, and it has its own country to invade. China is looking to annex Taiwan back under its rule. The world is currently resisting this attempt. But with the world is not responding to Russia, it gives China, a much larger military, permission to attack Taiwan. The United States could easily beat Russia if it decided to enter this conflict. But China is a different story.
What if Russia and China decided to partner to get these countries back and agreed to evaluate the world to find out how much resistance they would get if they attacked.
Based on the recent events in Ukraine, it looks like China has nothing to worry about as it evaluates the borders of Taiwan and its resilience to protect itself. The world has said repeatedly that it will not stand for such unruly behavior from world dictators. But the world at the same time does not want gas prices to increase.
So, while people complain about missing baby formula and long lines, the people of Ukraine are fleeing their homes, saying goodbye to their men, and running for the border. One can only hope that one day the world will respond to real threats in real-time.