European sanctions

The self-evidently absurd "logic" of the EU

The Vineyard of the Saker,
8 September, 2014

The latest EU decision against Russia is amazing it it's self-evident stupidity.  The EU has adopted sanctions which will only be put into effect if the ceasefire does not hold.

First, the obvious assumption here is that should the ceasefire not hold, it would clearly by Russia's fault.  No, not the Novorussian's fault, but Russia's.

art: Josetxo Ezcurra

Second, apparently, the possibility that the Ukrainians might break the ceasefire was not even considered or, if it was, then it was dismissed.

Third, considering that the Ukies have literally been *begging* the West for anti-Russian sanctions, the EU has just given them a fantastic motive to break the ceasefire.

Fourth, the EU apparently believes that Russia is afraid of EU sanctions even though all the signs, from senior Kremlin officials to opinion polls, show that neither the Russian rulers nor the Russian people are concerned about EU sanctions.  In fact, the only people really concerned about these sanctions are Putin's main opponents: the pro-Western, pro-EU liberal westernizing elites.

Three key documents outline the "wisdom" of the Eurobureaucrats on the issue of anti-Russian sanctions:

The "Statement by the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy on further EU restrictive measures against Russia"

The "Joint letter by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, on restrictive measures against Russia"
The "Conclusions of the Special meeting of the European Council (30 August 2014)".

Reading these documents it becomes clear that the EU officials are either completely out of touch with reality or completely dishonest.  For example, they speak of the "aggression by Russian armed forces on Ukrainian soil" even though they offer no evidence whatsoever about this "invisible invasion" which, by the way, is even denied by the Junta in Kiev (in order to secure yet another IMF loan).

Herman Van Rompuy

This is all disgusting, amusing, pathetic, or alarming - depending on your perspective.  What it is most definitley not is serious.

Frankly, and I will admit that this immature on my part, but I cannot wait to have the EU adopt the next package of sanctions.  Why?  Because I already delight in the panic in Europe when Russia will slap them right back with a ban on EU carrier flights over Russia or, for example, sanctions against the automobile or aerospace industry.  Whatever the Russians come up with, the EU will know that it brought this upon itself and for absolutely no discernible reason at all.

Yet again, I can only wholeheartedly agree with Mrs Nuland's sentiments towards the EU.

The Saker