NATO's Rhetoric and the Shadows of the Great War: Disturbing Parallels of Power and Pride

“Lie there, in your sepulchre, you intellectual scourge!”

“They are regular bootlickers,” thought Desnoyers. “They believe that their hour of triumph has come, and do not think it necessary to pretend any longer.” . . .

- Vicente Blasco Ibanez, ‘the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse’

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with European Parliament members on Thursday to speak about the conflict in Ukraine. His comments were shockingly reminiscent to those made in Vicente Blasco Ibanez’s bestseller of 1919, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. As Germany was in the years building up to WW1, the West is mad with pride. Likewise viewing itself as the global benchmark, the Atlantic empire, viewing its own society as the height of human accomplishment, sees its own bloody savagery as a mark of distinction, justified by reason, morality, and science.

As if a science focused solely on destruction qualifies as such. As if morality focused on subjugation qualifies as such. As if reason focused on exculpating murder en masse qualifies as such. These people know no reason, no morality, no science in any true sense of the word. They know only arrogance and smut, only bloodshed and bureaucracy. And if they are not stopped, if they are not completely ejected from their thrones, most assuredly every corner of the world will once again know the infernal face of war.

Stoltenberg’s comments on the origins of the Ukrainian conflict reflect a sentiment visible in historical empires of the past: a belief that their time has come and that they can at last drop any facade of humility or diplomacy.

Just as Germany once saw itself as the forefront of civilization and the gold standard of governance, the West, its indisputable descendant, views itself in the same light. Consider the following passage from "The Four Horsemen": “The preliminary victory,” he suddenly exclaimed, “we gained some time ago. Our enemies, therefore, hate us, and yet they imitate us. All that bears the stamp of Germany is in demand throughout the world... And yet they will not admit our superiority!” Swap "Germany" with "democracy" and you will immediately recognize the situation in which we have now found ourselves. If you are disgusted, good. You ought to be.

Distracted populations that have long ago lost all fear of God are reluctant to believe that our leaders are so hungry for war. Their pride moves them to hold their imperialist ancestors in the best of light. They are blind to the true nature of Western elite psychology. For these leaders, conflict is not calamity but an instrument for progress. It is the pinnacle of technological and scientific development. It is the driving force of ‘democracy’ that liberates men from chaos. These people are pathological, and they are in charge.

The arms industry's role in this cannot be understated. They stand to gain immensely from heightened tensions and increased defense spending. And their influence on policy cannot be disregarded. Investments indicate the direction in which an alliance or nation anticipates its future challenges. Stoltenberg's demand that every NATO member state increasing defense spending by 8%, the largest increase in decades, gives us a glimpse of what is to come. Either uninterested in or unable to conceal these bloody ambitions, Stoltenberg angrily raved with half-psychotic jerky movements about the necessity NATO states have to sign defense contracts. Stoltenberg's demeanor is the tip of the iceberg, a visible manifestation of a much deeper sentiment simmering within the alliance. When major powers display such desperation, it’s time to ring the bells.

Historically, empires and powerful nations have often responded with desperation when their dominance is challenged, either by internal dynamics or external forces. This desperation manifests in various forms - from tightening control over their territories, ramping up propaganda efforts, and more tangibly, increasing military spending and production. In this context, the arms industry becomes a crucial player. Financial interests align with the goals of maintaining dominance and effacing opposition. Amplified by industry, the sand in the hourglass falls faster and faster.

It’s often overlooked how deeply American culture and institutions were influenced by Germanic traditions. The "Protestant work ethic," drawing roots from German immigrants pre-dating the World Wars, is a key feature in American culture, hailing order, the force of will, and discipline above all else. Empires throughout history have projected their power through philosophy, governance models, and scientific methodologies onto others. Though nations resisted Germany in the world wars, they couldn't help but adopt and admire its academic and intellectual methods. Today, the West's academic models, research methodologies, and ideologies are influential globally, including in nations that might politically be at odds with NATO.

Just as Ibanez highlighted the influence of German methods in universities, the global spread of Western academia can be seen as a form of intellectual colonization, with nations adopting or adapting Western educational models even if they politically resist Western geopolitical advances. In asking for an existential commitment against Russia, Stoltenberg isn't just seeking military preparedness. It's about preserving and promoting a way of life, a system of values, and an intellectual heritage that finds its roots in Western universities and academic institutions. This intellectual dominance, combined with military might, forms the dual pillars of NATO's power projection.

The rhetoric depicted by Ibanez mirrors the dissonance in that of leaders today between the reality and false narratives. In response to Stoltenberg’s address, Clair Daily of Ireland cut through the diplomatic doublespeak. “Is it not the case that your rhetoric and reality are going in opposite directions and the world is beginning to notice because you said that Ukraine is gradually gaining ground. That's not true. . . Ukraine has lost territory." Her words echo the sentiments of the silenced voices of those who are disillusioned by the official narratives that stand in stark contrast to observable realities.

I should also add some context to her comments. Stoltenberg’s remarks about the territory gained by Ukraine, as well as the breach of Russian defensive lines, is a masterclass in obfuscation. Ukraine’s minor territorial gains pale in comparison to their overall losses. As for the defensive lines, Russia's military strategy relies on multiple layers of defensive lines. Ukraine's "breakthrough" was merely a breach of the outermost layer, hardly a monumental victory.

With the comparison of Vicente Blasco Ibanez's 'The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,' penned in 1916 amidst the turmoil of the First World War, I seek to vividly illuminate for the American public the gravity of our potential fate. A society, especially one distanced from its ethical roots, may find itself woefully unprepared for the realities of war. Consider the haunting tales shared by veterans of the Great War. Do you even know them? Do you not at all feel ashamed that you don’t? And to those of you entrusting blind faith in America's "best military in the world," ask yourselves: who sold you this narrative? Are you, in your comfort, constitutionally incapable of comprehending the devastating ramifications of global conflict?

The rhetoric of the NATO, the United States, and the European Union is fit only for war. It offers no value other than the means for destruction and the illiteracy of the Western public is a damning indictment. And even more disgusting than the schizophrenic words of our leaders will be the agonized cries of American citizens, asking "Why?" when the next Great War soaks the ground with their blood.

Open a goddamn book — we ought not fly too close to the sun.

-The Shultz Report by M. Shultz