Anne ApplebaumJan 21, 2023
Scholz's refusal to agree even to allow others to send Leopard tanks now makes so little sense that it must be a reflection of some personal quirk: "I'm the mayor of Hamburg, and you cannot tell me what to do." Especially given that Germany has sent so much other lethal equipment.
Show threadProScience 🇪🇺

@anneapplebaum

As a German, I'm convinced that the power of the self-proclaimed pacifists in his party (i.e. Mützenich, Stegner) is heavily underestimated and -investigated.

These people are in essence unwavering in their propaganda narrative of "poor Russia good, rotten West/US/NATO bad".

They were steadfast in telling this lie despite Russian war crimes in Georgia + Syria, Russia's open meddling in US elections, Brexit referendum and Putin's goals to destroy the EU and rebuild the UdSSR.

Jan 21, 2023 at 6:36pmWeb
Show threadLN Jan 21, 2023

@proscience I think the allegations against absolutist pacifists for being Putin stooges is often a little too simplistic. There are genuine libs who value pacifism above all else to the point of essentially demanding self-sacrifice and surrender to bullies.

There are of course also plenty of (sadly, often "leftist") "anti-imperialists" who completely ignore that Russia is engaging in plenty imperialism itself, including the invasion of Ukraine, rather than being the victim of US imperialism.

@anneapplebaum

Show threadProScience 🇪🇺Jan 22, 2023

@alan @anneapplebaum

To your 1st paragraph: Absolute pacifists do exist but the ones who vocally /claim/ to be in the debate around Russia's genocide against Ukraine are not.

100% on your 2nd paragraph but people like them who haven't cared one bit that Russia systematically oppresses and murders opposition, exploits their own citizens, fosters corruption and, as you wrote, is a prime example of imperialism for hundreds of years until this very day disqualifies them as decent people.