Let's kidnap Europe!

Let's kidnap Europe!
Editor's Column


Date of publication: October 4, 2001

The current American problems, as is known, open up some prospects for Russia. And the main one of these prospects is Russia's entry into the “European house”. I will not give economic and political arguments for this statement here, if only because all these arguments are far from indisputable. But there is one more compelling argument - psychological .

The upcoming war in Afghanistan forces Europeans and Americans to look at Russia with the same eyes with which a first-year private looks at a veteran who has arrived from a “hot spot.” And if an American’s view is “clouded” by the consciousness of the greatness of his own country, then nothing prevents a European from falling into fanaticism. Putin’s speeches about Russia’s readiness to get closer (in the face of the terrorist threat) with Europe, and in particular with NATO, find a warm response in this context: please, Mr. Dembel, come to our chifirek and tell us about the intricacies of the war in the Afghan mountains.

Russia suddenly began to look strong again... and reliable . America also seems to Europeans to be strong, but at the same time not so much reliable as dangerous, even contagious: American terrorist attacks are echoed by the failed explosions in Paris , Europeans look with suspicion at their own Muslims, each of whom may turn out to be an agent of the omnipresent and elusive bin Laden. Even worse: America demands that Europe participate in the upcoming war. NATO is ready to rebel: “Show us evidence of bin Laden’s guilt!..” It is clear that evidence immediately appeared - but this only aggravates the uncomfortable feeling: America presses, America demands and, the worst thing, America can insist on its own.

What is America for a European? A large country lying across the sea, but quite accessible: there are no language, transport or cultural barriers between it and Europe. Until recently (until it shared its problems with Europe), America was perceived as a support, a pasture .

What is Russia for a European? A large country, lying behind a scattering of Eastern European trifles, but quite accessible: there are practically no language, transport, or cultural barriers between it and Europe. But, unlike America, Russia does not put pressure on Europe - simply because it cannot . Russia is also a pasture, not so abundant, but (from today’s point of view) safe. From here you can pump raw materials, here you can dump industrial surplus goods, and in case of danger, the Russian demobilization service is ready to support the European first-year.

It turns out (I repeat - from a psychological, and only from a psychological, point of view), Russia has a chance to replace Europe with America!

Kirill Yakimets