Monday, February 24, 2014

Not our problem

I had planned on blogging about Westminster wasting its time debating why holidays in school holiday periods are so high, but I figure most of you know about supply and demand even if the morons who put their name to the petition don't. What grabbed my attention though was the governments position on what happened in the Ukraine, an area that really is none of our business.
Mail.
George Osborne offered the Ukraine a blank cheque last night to turn the ravaged country around.
The Chancellor said the UK is willing to pour millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to prop up the new government.
Speaking at a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Australia, Mr Osborne said: ‘We are here ready to help just as soon as there is someone at the end of the telephone.
'We should be there with a chequebook to help the people of Ukraine rebuild their country.’
Last night it was unclear how much cash might be provided but Britain is likely to contribute to stability funds being put together by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.
Since the uprising on Saturday ousted the Russian-backed President Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine no longer has access to a £9billion handout from Moscow.
Ukraine may need a bailout since it has a dire ‘CCC’ credit rating, but British taxpayers may not take kindly to assisting a country with huge natural resources including oil, whose former president spent millions on a vulgar palace while his people suffered.
The Ukraine is simply not our problem and interfering between the EU and Russia haas turned the place into a very nasty troublespot just waiting to happen. The EU has thoroughly antagonised Russia by backing the rebels when it should have kept its nose out and the ever fragrant Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission was clearly as ever out of her depth representing the EU in negotiations.
As it is, writing a blank cheque to what is essentially a kleptocracy led by a corrupt cabal (and yes that's what the rebel leaders are) seem like just handing money over to another set of crooks as opposed to the Russian backed crooks.
There are historical reasons for the Ukraine being split on its east/west ethnic lines with memories of the Soviet Unions abysmal record still deep in peoples minds, however the counterbalanced fascistic tendencies that grew out of this when the Soviets collapsed are not exactly a welcome addition to the EU's influence.
In short we should let them sort out their own problems and not just offer them a blank cheque.
Sadly no one seems willing to listen to common sense in the political classes, after all, it's only money isn't it?

3 annotations:

Mr. Morden said...

The Political Class and the Establishment are totally unaware we even exist. Witness the floods. They live in a bubble wrapped vacuum of their own making, totally insulated and oblivious to the outside world.

To think that this was somehow an idea of George Osborne and the UK Government is, if I maybe so bold, a little generous. Orders have come from on high (EU) that Member States should be prepared to support EU Foreign Policy with taxpayers cash. This is how our new and true Supreme Government works. We are allowed to vote in empty vassals like Osborne and the like, but on no account are they allowed to speak and act on our behalf without a nod from the EU Commission.

Quango's like the EA and the FSA are another arm of EU Governance. From the Central bodies based in Brussels, Directives and policies can be handed down and a two-way communications set up, effectively bi-passing Government control and oversight. Once again, our democratically elected representatives are effectively neutered and powerless.

Yes, Ukraine is not in the UK's interests, but since when did that matter now we are part of a Supra-National Government, which dictates policy.

Dan said...

To be honest, this showdown is actually vitally important for us and for everyone else, and it is essential that we don't do anything stupid like jumping in and helping the EU.

You see, the EU is making all the right noises that a major regional power ought to make, but that nice Mr Putin isn't buying this particular story. Quite simply, Putin does not believe that the EU has the guts to stand firm when seriously challenged by a major world power. Quite honestly, although there are treaties that require the EU as a whole to defend any one member if threatened, nobody actually knows how much hitting power the EU has.

Putin seems to think that the EU couldn't fight its way out of a wet paper bag, and is quite prepared to escalate all the way to military force to find out at what point the EU will bottle out. As we do not know if or when the EU will bottle out of a serious fight then we do not know how steadfast an ally we have in the EU.

If it turns out that this force will break and run at the merest threat, then we'll have learned something useful: the treaty of mutual defence ain't worth the paper it is written on.

So, we ought to leave the EU to extricate its self from this argument it has gotten its self into by its self. We'll learn a lot from this encounter.

ageing man said...

an interesting juxtaposition of your last two posts..... regardless of the views about..... we are more deserving charity-vs-faux charity.... I remember my formative years trying to understand what the NI issue was all about. I also remember with vicarious sadness the death of colin parry's son.

If I had a choice, and I know our illustrious politicians don't give a rats arse about my choice, but if I had a choice of where to give tax payers money.... Ukraine-vs-syria-vs Survivors for peace.... erm erm erm... oh gosh this is a tough one.... give money to tryant thugs or give money to a charity run by a magnanimous man who cares ?

That's what I love about politicians old and current..... fook all...

Nothing will change....

Still it should be nice to watch the eurovision song contest when it next comes from the Ukraine.... oh how we will all whoop whoop with delight. Hopefully it will be hosted by William Hague and with a bit of luck they keep the twat...

Let's face it we all deserve a twat tax rebate sometimes.....