Putin in Control Word on the Week 26th February 2022.
This week has shown how well Putin has prepared for War. Sorry ‘Peace Keeping’ is his preferred way of viewing it. His adventures in Ukraine would appear to be running on schedule as he endeavours to put back the clock.
The restoration of lands formerly Russian would seem to be a worthy task for a Dictator. His predecessors seceding them to their own people must have rankled. But land is fixed it that it cannot get away. Boundaries are fluid in the hands of armies.
Sir Frederick Catherwood in his book ‘A Better Way’ relates the story of an old war veteran he met while travelling in a rail sleeper across Germany. The veteran had been mobilised in 1914 to fight for the Austrian Empire against the Russians. He was captured then put in the Czech National Brigade to fight for the Russians against the Austrians.
When, after the revolution, when the Czech Brigade finally got home he found that the Versailles ethnic division had made him a Pole and he was called up to fight for the Poles against the Russians. In 1939 he was again called up into the Polish army to fight the Germans. His home town was then annexed, on ethnic grounds, by the puppet State of Slovakia and he was called up to fight the Russians.
He was once more captured and forced again into a Czech national brigade to fight the Germans. He rode home with the Czech brigade and has lived in peace ever since!
Perhaps the amazing thing is that Europe has been reasonably peaceful for the past 75 years. That is until the advent of Putin!
So what will be Putin’s downfall? In more normal countries the youth, use their smart phones to organise protests which result in leadership immerging. This week’s protest in Russia has been nipped in the bud. Smartphones removed and 1,500 opponents of the conflict rounded up to await trial on ‘Public Order’ offences. Control over the population in the past has required would be leaders to be locked up or treated to a dose of State poison.
The real victims of conflict are always the innocent who get caught up in the war. At present the Ukraine border provides some sort of security. It’s not much but it is better than anything NATO has to offer. Refugees are being offered shelter in neighbouring countries. Churches are assisting.
Refugees tonight might feel some empathy with those who were exiled to Babylon in Isaiah’s day. In Chapter 43 verses 1 – 4 the Prophet passed on what the lord said: – “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. Since you are precious and honoured in my sight, and because I love you.