Yesterday, the former president of the United States made another asinine remark about not protecting NATO countries from Russia. It does not take much of a historical background to understand how crazy his remarks in Harrisburg were. Writing from my desk chair in a future NATO country, it seems time to point out why Europe feels such angst faced with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and worries that if Russia wins, Putin will feel emboldened, no matter what lies he told Tucker Carlson. Europeans remember hearing stories from grandparents about the behavior of Russian soldiers during World War II. In particular, the raping of women and the random burning of houses. “They raped everywhere,” my historian husband Sven told me after reading Anthony Beaver’s 2002 book Berlin last week. “In Berlin, 100,000 women were raped, and 10,000 committed suicide. In the rest of Germany, 1.4 million women were raped. There were many incidents of gang rape too.” (Similar to what happened in Bucha, Ukraine.) In the past, Europeans could rely on the USA, like a big brother. They knew that Americans would always help if necessary. In the 1990s, at the end of the Cold War, a lot of Europeans thought a hot war between Russia and Europe could never happen. It felt like an impossibility. So, they cut down on military spending in a radical way. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine came as a shock. The leaders of European countries realized it was necessary to build up their armed forces to defend themselves. Many countries didn’t pay enough in dues to NATO, ie. 2% of the GDP. They got a free ride thanks to the USA’s being willing to pay more. This is what the former president complains about. But someone should remind him that the USA is also dependent on NATO. NATO countries assisted us after 9/11. (Article 5, an attack on one NATO country … etc.) Now, European leaders have understood they cannot count on the United States if/when a rogue president comes to power. Last spring, Sweden noticed Russian trawlers, hovering above underwater communication lines. Word was that, should Sweden join NATO, those lines might end up broken …
3 thoughts on “View from Strömstad, Sweden”
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Dear Sandy, Thank you for reminding your fellow americans about the role the Russians have played in history. Born and raised in norther Sweden, by a mother from Finland whos older brothers fought in the 2nd World war, I have no illusions om what Putin and his ”gang” are capable of… we have to resist and stand together.
Yes, Eva. Thanks for speaking up. We will be interested to hear your older brothers’ experience in the war, what they shared with you.
I was appalled by the former president’s comments. They demonstrate a complete lack of understanding of the vital role NATO plays and the threat to world order presented by Putin. By consistently aligning himself with autocratic despots, the former president has shown us exactly what his return to leadership will bring to the US and the world. He presents a grave threat to all of us, but especially to those directly in his path such as Finland and Sweden.