Så er den olympiske fakkel slukket. Mon ikke Rusland snyder resten af verden, sådan som de gjorde under legene, og åbner ild trods Vestens bøn om diplomati?Så er den olympiske fakkel slukket. Mon ikke Rusland snyder resten af verden, sådan som de gjorde under legene, og åbner ild trods Vestens bøn om diplomati?
Cheat and break the rules to win: Russia’s unacceptable behavior at the Olympic games, and in Ukraine
The Olympic torch has been extinguished. I wonder if Russia plans to deceive the rest of the world, as they did during the Games, and open fire despite the West’s plea for diplomacy?
The Olympic Games in China have been marked by scandals. In particular, the story of the 15-year-old Russian figure skater who tested positive for doping has attracted attention. Despite warnings from the Olympic officials, Russia coldly and cynically repeatedly breaks the rules of accepted behavior without regard to human cost.
Because of doping at the previous Olympic Games, Russia was not allowed to compete as a country at this year’s Olympic Games. Instead, the country’s athletes competed under the name The Russian Olympic Committee. What a charade! They should not have been allowed to compete at all!
Contrary to the intention – namely that Russia would have learned its lesson and competed with clean athletes without illegal drugs in their blood – they have once again been caught red handed.
For weeks, NATO, the EU, and the US have tried through diplomacy to appeal to Russia not to invade Ukraine. To show the world their dominance of the agenda, Russia has used various gimmicks, such as an ultra-long table and, and controlled the discourse when meeting with various diplomats.
“I wonder if Putin would dare to act the way he does if the United States had a stronger leader and NATO and the EU, primarily Germany with its foot on the gas brake, sent a stronger signal? A signal that a country’s sovereignty is inviolable – and that the consequences of violating this would be met with other measures than economic sanctions.
Time and again, leading politicians have pleaded and asked to be in audience with Putin. Reports have been prepared, press conferences have been held. Russia has made one demand after another. Demands that have been treated as if they had any right to be taken seriously; demands that have given Putin time to place his forces strategically while at the same time sending bot messages and paralyzing the digital infrastructure in Ukraine.
The way the West interacts with Putin is fundamentally unacceptable – because Putin is doing exactly the same as the Russian team did around the poor 15-year-old Olympic figure skater –using the system to the extreme to gain time and get his agenda through.
Of course, war should be avoided if possible. But Russia has made the West accommodate his whims and fancies in a way that clearly shows that there is no fear or respect when it comes to the consequences of a potential invasion.
Putin says he is not planning to invade Ukraine and that he has withdrawn his forces – but when it comes to Putin, one must close one’s ears to his propaganda and look at what he is actually doing. I wonder if he at any time actually was open to a diplomatic solution?
I wonder if Putin would dare to act the way he does if the United States had a stronger leader and NATO and the EU, primarily Germany with its foot on the gas brake, sent a stronger signal? A signal that a country’s sovereignty is inviolable – and that the consequences of violating this will be met with other measures than sanctions.
The Olympic torch in China has been extinguished. Once again, Russia left its mark on the “games” – and won medals that for them count more than fair play. I fear that a fire will soon spread in Ukraine, while Putin is deceiving the world: cheating, and breaking the rules to get what he wants.
Danish-American Eyes on Society 