{"id":656,"date":"2022-02-19T10:49:16","date_gmt":"2022-02-19T15:49:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wanderofwanders.com\/?p=656"},"modified":"2025-08-26T13:04:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T17:04:54","slug":"ripped-from-todays-headlines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderofwanders.com\/index.php\/2022\/02\/19\/ripped-from-todays-headlines\/","title":{"rendered":"Ripped from today’s headlines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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This photo, released by the Russian Ministry of Defense Press Service this past week, ostensibly depicts Russian troops leaving the Ukrainian border region.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I turn to current events in today\u2019s blog. I fully get this will not be everyone\u2019s cup of tea, but there\u2019s a lot happening on this side of the pond right now. Perhaps most pressing is the Russian troop buildup on the border of Ukraine. It seems pretty clear that Europe is holding its collective breath at the moment. Presidents, prime ministers and high-ranking officials have been visiting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zalensky at a fair clip in recent weeks \u2013 Emmanuel Macron of France, Olaf Scholz of Germany, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and on and on. Even Irish Prime Minister (or Taoiseach, as he\u2019s known here) Micheal Martin met with Zalensky recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the distant past of late January, Scholz was on the fence about presenting a united front with his European counterparts. This is because Germany is so dependent on Russian natural gas and about to become more invested if plans for the completed Nord Stream natural gas pipeline are approved by German regulators. (It occurs to me that Russia with its long memory may be seeing this dependence as a source of smug payback for WWII. Just saying.) But this reliance on Russian gas is a continent-wide problem and is probably the biggest source of European angst at the moment. About 40 percent of the continent\u2019s supply comes from Russia, and in the former Soviet bloc countries, that number hovers at 100 percent. Because of this, one commentator this week called that united front \u201cthin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last fall, Russia reduced its natural gas exports, setting off an energy crisis that made a significant dent in the pocketbook of rank-and-file Europeans. Here in Ireland, fuel and electricity prices have just gone through the roof. When I first came to Ireland, gas for the car was \u20ac1.40 a liter. It is now \u20ac1.77 and rising. That\u2019s about $7.60 a gallon, folks. Some of the reasons for the spike were home-grown, but some can be traced right back to Europe. If Russia cuts off its natural gas spigot, the result would be disastrous. So sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine could become problematic. I read just recently that Russia is sitting on a $630B currency reserve and can sustain a reduction in revenue in the short term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diplomacy on a tightrope, for sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 I can\u2019t underscore how much this is seeping into the consciousness of Europeans. And the Irish. Ukraine leads the news every night. For someone not accustomed to war on native soil, it\u2019s a bit disconcerting. Russia\u2019s announcement that it was withdrawing troops from the border is viewed with jaded skepticism here. NATO and US defense ministers say to the contrary, troops are increasing. Language like \u201cimminent danger\u201d and \u201cfirst war on European soil in 80 years\u201d are being bandied about. And with the long memory of Europeans, the scars are still felt. There\u2019s also a sense I pick up from over here that President Biden, stung by European criticism over withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, is perhaps engaging in over-zealous rhetoric in front of and behind the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add to this energy crisis, exacerbated by Ukraine, there has been a meteoric rise in inflation \u2013 as you are all aware wherever you live. Here in Ireland, the inflation rate is 5 percent, close to the highest rate in the past two decades. It\u2019s better than in the US, which stands at 7.5 percent as of this writing. The Irish government last week put forth a package of measures to help Irish citizens deal with this. Earlier this year, it announced it was paying \u20ac100 toward everyone\u2019s electricity bill; it has now increased that amount to \u20ac200. Low-income households will receive a fuel allowance of \u20ac125. And the government lowered fares on public transportation by 20 percent. This plan brought a hailstorm of criticism from opposition parties, who said it was far too paltry a deal. But I don\u2019t know. During COVID, every Irish citizen who qualified (both employers and employees) received a pandemic unemployment payment, with the average recipient receiving \u20ac300 a week. Spending for the PUPs has reached \u20ac9.1 billion, pretty much all of it borrowed and needing to be repaid. Now this package of inflation relief is added. I guess the government could always do more, but I am mindful of that bottom line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before I leave the world of war, I thought I would share one final observation. Back in late January, just as troops were amassing at the Ukrainian border, it was learned that for the first time in 20 years, Russians were planning to conduct military exercises 240 km off the coast of Cork in an area called the Irish \u2018exclusive economic zone.\u2019 The Irish government said the move was considered, while legal, \u2018unwelcomed.\u2019 After a flurry of Russian\/Irish diplomacy and a planned protest by fishermen, the Russians agreed to move the location. BUT they moved just outside the zone and above the underground cables connecting the US to Europe. One Irish military expert opined: \u201cThe exercises will be over the cables \u2013 that is for sure. They are sending a message to the Europeans: we know where the cables are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I tell you this because Irish defense force leaders seized the moment to voice their concerns about the country\u2019s military infrastructure, citing deficits in Ireland\u2019s defense capabilities and a need for increased military spending. By way of background, the Republic of Ireland is a neutral country and not a member of NATO, and has been that way since its founding in 1921. In a case of interesting timing, a long-awaited report on the future of defense forces was released Feb. 9 \u2013 in the middle of all this talk of war and war games. The report recommends increase in pay across the board, increase in troop numbers, increase in cyber security, increase in naval presence, and on, to the tune of increased spending of 50 percent or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This situation is of more than a passing interest to me. When I learned of Ireland\u2019s neutrality, it only served to heighten my interest in moving here. In my elder years, I strive to see both sides and there is probably a case to be made to beef up spending in key areas, like cyber security. But my personal opinion is that neutrality is a central tenet of Ireland\u2019s identity, is enshrined in its constitution, is supported by the country\u2019s people and should be maintained. Is there a sweet spot between doing nothing and becoming a military behemoth? Clearly. But what will be the cost? What budget line items go by the wayside to accommodate increased military spending? There\u2019s a bottom line to consider here, too. It\u2019s fair to say I will be watching this closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northern Ireland<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n