Forgetting History...a Presidential Pastime

On September 17, 1939, the Soviet Union invaded the Kresy, or borderlands, of Poland in what would basically be the extermination of that small nation for decades to come. In the following years the cities of Poland would be systematically destroyed and millions of her citizens would be murdered in a genocidal frenzy to be rid of all things Polish.

Fifty years later, the United States and its CIA would help build the underground freedom movement, known as Solidarity, which would eventually help bring about the fall of the Soviet empire, and with that collapse, the resurrection of Poland as an independent nation.

On the 70 year anniversary of the invasion, while Poles were holding candlelight vigils to remember the dead, and television specials reminded the people of the horrors they had suffered, our President caved in to Russian demands that the US not aid Poland in her future defense.

Some commentators have stated the date, September 17, was chosen in order to insult the Polish people and those who support them...to throw in their faces that their old masters were once again moving toward control of their region and their futures, and that we in the US would turn a blind eye and allow it to happen.

I truly believe that theory to be overly cynical and wrong-headed...though the end result will be as described if we don't change course. No...the date was chosen despite its historical and highly emotional signifigance to the Poles. I truly believe that our President, as well as every person on his staff, his czars, his advisors, and his family, friends, and acquaintances...have again proven their extremely shallow knowledge of history.

Over and over again, they have exercised "new ideas" which have been tried repeatedly in the past and have always failed. They have demonstrated an ignorance of that past, and how it affects the now and the future, that would be embarassing to most 5th graders. In fact, they have shown an outright disdain for the lessons of history...instead putting their faith in theories and platitudes which have been espoused for centuries...and have always resulted in disaster. By ignoring history, they can ignore reality...and pretend that this time...this time...the theories and platitudes will actually work...really they will...

Those who do not understand history will become victims of it! No truer words were ever spoken, and in a few years those of us with open and inquisitive minds will watch this prophecy come true for the naive and shallow folks in the current administration. Unfortunately, they will make many of us victims as well. We already suffer from their inability to understand basic economics, ignoring history there as well while embracing simiplistic slogans and childlike theorems.

Those who understand history, particularly the history of negotiation with Russian leadership, winced painfully as this deal was made. We knew full well that within hours the Russians would be demanding more concessions...and that is exactly what happened. It's what has always happened...why didn't the President's advisors know it would happen again?

Again...naivety and ignorance. I, myself, have negotiated business deals with Russian businessmen. The process always begins with their making unreasonable demands. The wise negotiator makes unreasonable demands in return to block them. It can go back and forth for some time...perhaps years...before they begin to scale back their demands.

The secret to success...remembering that we have far more of what they want than they have of what we want. I strongly believe Obama and his people don't understand this.

Once the initial wall is breached, and they give in to something (you never concede first) they will always follow with the original absurd demands. This can, again, go on for some time. You eventually respond with some small concession...then hold your ground until they concede something larger. Then the process begins again...absurd demands followed once more by your refusal to discuss those issues while insisting they give in on some other small issue.

And thus it goes...if you are wise enough to study history and understand the process. If not...you get railroaded. And the Russians are experts at this. One might note they have responded, not only with new and more outrageous demands, but have wisely "created" concessions which make their opponent believe they won something in return.

In this case, the Russians announced they would no longer consider putting nuclear missile batteries on the Polish border. They hadn't done it...they don't have the funds to do it...and it would be foolish as every missile in the Russian inventory can easily reach Poland now!  Duhhhhh.......but just watch...the administration and the media will take the bait and announce they have received this "major concession" from the Russians, thereby averting a horrible conflict.

Who won't believe this blatant nonsense? The Polish people...that's who. They are perfectly aware that Russian tanks are quite capable of crushing Poland again...the Russians would never have used nuclear weapons in the first place. But the hysterical sycophants in America will praise the administration for averting nuclear disaster. Watch and observe...this will be a good measure of who the truly stupid are in our society.

Unfortunately, US foreign policy is now like a textbook on what hasn't worked in the past and never will. The British survived Chamerlain...hopefully we, and the Polish, Georgian, Ukranian, and other eastern European peoples who had hoped to be our allies, will survive this challenge as well.

The Professor