NATO is the problem

Dear friends

Having missed the earlier email from Mike, I reacted too late to ask for Tues eve instead of Monday.  But that doesn't matter because I'm in agreement that we support Dave Nellist in the byelection.  I do want to give my full backing to the Campaign Against Climate Change - Trade Union Group with their meeting on Mon at 6.30 pm, as here:

https://www.cacctu.org.uk/climate_jobs_meetings

and, again on the 28th Feb, same time.

Meanwhile, I'm exercised by the Ukraine/NATO emergency and would like to suggest that we talk about this matter at our next meeting, whenever that is.

In particular, I want the UK out of NATO and wonder if there is a majority view amongst ourselves, for this to go forward to LU HQ for other branches to discuss and vote on it.  My reasons are:

1. The present impasse stems from the 1990s and the breakup of the USSR, the dissolving of the Warsaw Pact and the end of the Cold War.
2. It seems that our side failed to show magnanimity, fairness, restraint or even consideration for Russia's feelings if we took advantage of the break-up of the USSR and expanded eastwards for some easy pickings and a peaceful takeover.
3. To Gorbachev and Yeltsin there were verbal assurances that the American-led West/NATO would not expand east of West Germany.  (But you can't trust anything that our American/British leaders say and, it's the same today with all over the place Boris - I can't believe anything he says - Johnson.)
4. But, of course, first East Germay joined West Germany and NATO, soon to be followed in subsequent years, with nearly all the other former east European countries that Russia considered to be their friends and allies.
5. In other words, rather than being magnanimous in 'victory', we took advantage of Russian change of heart to spread our message of freedom, democracy and the pursuit of unalloyed happiness forever.
6. Actually, Russia was the magnanimous one with perestroika and glasnost and decided to have no more part in the Cold War.
   
7. But America and the West took every advantage of this weakness and surrender, as they saw it and, encouraged the former buffer or satellite Soviet states to come over, lock stock and barrel to our side.
8. The next crucial date was Feb 2014 in Kyiv with the uprising or coup, as Noam Chomsky describes it, to replace the Russian friendly, President Yanukovych who had been quite properly and fairly elected in 2010, with an American/European man.
9. "The election was judged free and fair by international observers."  (Wikipedia)
   
10. Since then 14,000 dead in eight years.  And no end to it all when it was our undemocratic and violent actions that led to the ousting of the Russian allied President to install an American/European leader.
11. Yet, again America and its European satellite states were delighted that their side continued on the onward and upward march to promote their culture and values, freedom and democracy, domination and rule throughout more of the world.
12. Self-determination means that we must allow Ukraine to join NATO, even as the 14,000 death toll climbs ever upwards.  Self-determination only if they come up with the 'right' decision to side with America, West and NATO.
13. In fact, our military expansion east and into Ukraine proves that it is already a member of NATO without any debate or vote.
14. I am cutting down on burning both American LNG and Russian gas by using my own generated solar electricity from the roof.  This is my own statement of independence from both immature, pathetic, scrapping superpowers.

Is there any agreement that our branch of Left Unity, should press for the UK to end its membership of NATO and become non-aligned?

PLEASE CORRECT ANY ERRORS!

Tim Weller