I have a dream
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If
you should quickly estimate since when such organizations for mutual
military assistance as NATO and the 'Warsaw Pact' did exist, you would
probably give a wrong answer. We are so accustomed to these terms that
it feels to us like eternity. But the NATO was founded just in 1949 and
the Warsaw Pact in 1955. In principle, these corporations 'rallied the troops' confronting each other in the 'Cold War'.
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During the Cold War itself (usually indicated as 1947-91), the mutually promised military support (casus foederis) did never come into being, justifying the label 'cold' for this war. Originally established in response to the threat posed by the Soviet union
and to limit expansion of Communism and Stalinism, the NATO continued
beyond the Cold War, while the Warsaw Pact was disbanded in 1991.
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The 20th century was a martial one.
Not enough with the atrocities of the 'Great War', the post-war leaders
acted unwise and ran headlong into an even greater war, culminating in
the Holocaust and the dropping of two nuclear bombs on civilian
targets. Only then, the 'winners' of this further nightmare luckily
recognized the quotation marks around their title and, at least
for some time, humbly abstained from dividing the world once more into
winners and losers.
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Unfortunately, they couldn't hold back from seeking further confrontation,
this time at least keeping the ensuing war a cold one. Did this last
one come to an end? Did it not? Now, approaching the end of the first
quarter of the 21st century, we are not so sure any more. Maybe we
simply missed the end. Maybe the 'winner' this time was no longer aware
of the quotation marks and insisted in celebrating his 'victory'. But
maybe it is still not too late.
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I
have a dream. In
a sincere effort to find the last emergency exit from the actual
military confrontation in the Ukraine, the NATO calls its members to a
secret meeting in Brussels. Behind closed doors, fervent discussions
raise all options and scenarios. Political leaders of the highest rank
fly in and fly out. At the end of the third day, an exhausted Secretary
General steps forward to the press, surrounded by the most important
representatives of the 'Western World'.
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In my dream, he states to the press that he has to make an important announcement. After 3 days of dispute
and arguments, the alliance decided, 73 years after its implementation
and more than 30 years after the end of the 'Cold War', to disband.
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| The speaker has to
summon all his strength to utter this last word. Although no break is scheduled
in his notes, he needs a short one. Silence ensues. The audience goes
through a moment of surprise. |
| Nobody dares to whisper. |
Then, the Secretary General continues,
that this consequential step was overdue since 30 years and should now
pave the way to the true ending of the 'Cold War', before it definitely
turns into a hot one.
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Just a dream.
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7/21 < MLB 4/22 > 5/22
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