Volume Issue 7
A review of history may shed some light on the situation.
In World War II, European sovereigns that formed the basis of axis power were Germany and Italy. There is little to distinguish Nazism from fascism. There are, in fact, common characteristics that define them both. They are authoritarian. They are racist. And they deny man’s authority over government and family.
In 1938, Hitler and Mussolini were attempting to justify imposed sacrifice upon their respective citizens. The purpose of this structured pain on society was to establish separation and dominance over other European states. Neither Italy or Germany was in a position to peacefully compete economically with other nations in the world. A new world order was required. This greater strategy of restructuring the economy and setting a reset of totalitarianism was disguised under a cloak of nationalism. Hitler targeted Jews as not only a societal concern but as a threat to national security. Mussolini had done the same in reference to Slavs as early as 1919.
War was not a consequence, but an objective. The restructuring of the reset required not only fear of the population for survival, but individual desperation over the loss of cultural identity.
Japan joined the axis independently of geopolitical objective. Japan’s strategy was to dominate geographically a sphere of influence comprised of 500 miles encircling Tokyo. As war loomed, Japan’s tactic of crippling the U.S. Navy by its insidious sneak attack on Pearl Harbor fit perfectly into Hitler’s plans of controlling the North Atlantic. Japan could have southeast Asia. It was never Germany’s intention to occupy the Philippines. Germany did supply some protection with submarines on the edges of the Japanese war zone periphery. Therefore, two distinct theaters of military operations ensued by and through one collective axis.
Japan fit the mold of common characteristics of the axis’ members. They were authoritarian in that their allegiance was to an emperor. They were racist in their dealings with the Chinese. And they denied man’s authority over government and family.
There was one defining result determined by the characteristics of the axis’ powers. They deified their leaders.
In calculating the risk of invading Ukraine, Putin assuredly anticipated sanctions. It is now consensus that sanctions as proposed may not present a deterrent to his actions. The answer to the question, why is he making this move now, has not been thoroughly ventilated. On the surface, initial examination renders the simple answer that he is an isolated egotist trying to hold on to power in a failing economy. Some talking heads have opined that he has made the decision that now is the time to act while President Biden is in office.
What if the true inducement is the initial step of a grander scenario? It is true that the Russian economy is in jeopardy of collapse. It can be saved through austere measures requiring sacrifice by the public. However, Putin knows that Russia can never compete with the United States economically. Perhaps the unnecessary sacrifice coming to the Russian people through sanctions will be cloaked in nationalism and the restructuring of a great world reset. To survive such a strategy, a nation needs partners.
Putin’s only collaboration has been with President Xi Jinping of China. China’s economy is also at the tipping point of collapse. Xi too knows that China cannot compete with the United States economically. They met in person during the Olympics. There has been no disclosure about the content or substance of their discussions. One possible conclusion could be that it was a confirmation of a pact for China to support Russia while under U.S. sanctions. China would provide cash in the form of a tradable currency and, in exchange, Russia would provide oil to China. China and Russia have attempted over the past ten years to establish a petrodollar. This currency would be underwritten by oil and traded in yuans in direct competition with US dollars. They may, in fact, be inviting Western sanctions as a prelude to implementing a currency and a banking system by force on their own people. They can argue internally that this is the only option they have because of the threat of Western policy against their national security.
Putin may be less emotional and more calculating than the world is giving him credit. Apparently, he has fortified his economy internally in the short-term. For U.S. sanctions to work, every major country in the world must be held accountable to enforce the sanctions, or that noncompliant country itself will come under the sanctions. For sanctions to work long-term, China would have to honor them. They will not do so. Putin may be betting on the fact that the U.S. will not sanction China for noncompliance. If a pact is in place, two components of an axis power structure will have been initiated.
Iran also has the characteristics of an axis power: authoritarianism, racism, and denial of man’s sovereignty over government and family.
China, Russia, and Iran also are falling into the trap of the normal end result of authoritarianism. They are allowing elements of deification of their leaders, two presidents and an Ayatollah.
The world finds itself at another precipice of great conflict. What is at stake is not the incremental debate of segmented political philosophy. What is at stake is the determining factors for the foundation of the world’s next great reset culminating on the eve of post-Covid restructuring.
Free will is the essence of human spirit. Free choice is the foundation of liberty. Democracy is the ordained government structure that connects mankind’s free will to God’s purpose of creation.
Democracy was not born at the beginning of history of mankind. Its inkling fires began in the embers of Greek city-states. It grew in heat and intensity in the republic of the Roman Empire. It became a full burning flame with the introduction of Christianity a little over 2,000 years ago.
Through the immense contribution of English philosophers on the rights of mankind, a king held accountable to liberty appeared. The Declaration of Independence of the United States brought creation full circle. All rights come from God and are inalienable. Government exists to facilitate freedom and mankind’s destiny pursuant to God’s purpose. The common thread that weaves continuity between mankind and government from the beginning of time, through ancient Israel, Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Holy Roman Empire, Europe, and the United States, is the recognition of free will which separates mankind from the lower species, and connects individuals to their inalienable rights.
Authoritarian governments, in order to maintain control over the people, must deny an individual’s free will to make choices on their own destiny or morality. To accomplish this, God must be eliminated from society or a leader substituted in His place. This is why deification follows ultimate authoritarianism.
The flashpoint in Ukraine is much more than the forced annexation of territory. Not dissimilar from Hitler’s invasion of the Sudetenland, Putin argues that he is simply doing this for the protection of the indigenous population. Not dissimilar to Hitler, Putin rendered a rambling speech two days ago claiming Russia’s rights to the territories historically. He even criticized Vladimir Lenin for allowing Ukraine to operate autonomously inside the Soviet Union. This would have been considered blasphemy in the Soviet era. He has now set himself up as the “ultimate” leader of Russia as President Xi has over Mao in China.
Totalitarianism limits free will under the false premise that it is necessary to maintain order. Free enterprise depends upon free will to maintain order. Certain Christian eschatologists believe that the Book of Revelation describes an end time where armies from the north and armies from the east will attack Israel. Whether this is a physical or a spiritual attack, Evil wins if free will is eliminated. Certain secular economists believe that these are the times wherein totalitarianism will either dominate the world and eliminate free enterprise by force, or implode under its own inordinate weight.
Whichever world view one embraces, protection of the agency of free will is paramount to the stability of economic order. Without free will, mankind becomes a slave to the state. Slavery, no matter what the form, is an abomination to the purpose of mankind in creation.
President George W. Bush coined the phrase “the axis of evil.” It referenced nations and their allies supporting terrorism. This was a portmanteau reflecting President Ronald Reagan’s term for the Soviet Union, calling them the “evil empire.” Evil continues to exist in alliance of nations whose mission is to oppress people for the benefit of the state.
The President of the United States has imposed sanctions on Russia. As Americans, we must support the President to take whatever action is necessary to defend freedom in the world. In that support, we must bear whatever sacrifice is necessary, to whatever measure, for however long it takes.
If an axis of remnant evil emerges, may we unify as a nation, standing in our own gates, denying totalitarianism from ever entering our God-given fortress of freedom.
My name is Marc Nuttle and this is what I believe.
What do you believe?