Are Iran and KSA any different,Why not in Hong Kong, and, Where is Europe?

I can only join the millions of people around the Globe who are extremely concerned with the increasing tension in the Middle East in general and between the US and Iran in particular.

We have all witnessed the assassination of a high ranking official of the Iran military just a couple of days ago. An action that left speechless all of the World’s progressive people.

Let me be crystal clear on the following: I’ll be the last person on this planet that will defend theocratic, totalitarian and authoritarian regimes such the one of Iran. I shall however also join the millions of people who see little or no difference between Iran and several other states, such as, for example, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Shockingly, several such states do maintain a close relationship relations with the US and other western powers.

I wonder then, how can we accept double standards in such an evident and profound way? How different has been the activity of Soleimani with that of MbS? Not much, I’m afraid, and the infamous Khashoggi murder case leaves little room for doubt.

Apparently, certain people in Washington DC seem to believe that in year 2020 it is OK for the sole World’s superpower to behave more or less like the ‘World’s cop'. Then one could ask, why only in Baghdad and not also in Hong Kong? Is it not a tragedy going on there? Few million people face the brutality of a totalitarian superpower and not so many of the international players seem willing to help them. Is this perhaps because China is kinda more powerful than Iran? It sounds like a reasonable thought.

The developments are so fast and there are only few things constant. One of those constants is the almost absolute absence of Europe in all those development. Syria, Iran, Libya and Iraq are so much closer to Europe than they are to the US. The interests of Europe in the region are naturally much more significant and vital than of those of our American counterparts. So, why is it then that we keep shooting our feet? We don’t we try to put our affairs in order ourselves?

The middle east crisis could be, and eventually will be, a privileged field for European diplomacy. But, such a privilege requires taking action in order to be realized. When, then, will the time for European action come?

Well, this European action will take place at the moment when we, the Europeans, shall realize that uniting our currency alone, is just so weak. When we shall unite and align our foreign policies, making all compromises necessary. When we shall pool our military resources together under a single, federal command structure and when we shall get an Executive branch in the EU institutions — yes, an EU wide federal government that is.

At that moment the EU will be taken seriously enough by all of the stakeholders in the region and we shall be able to materially help our next door neighbors to resolve the conflicts that have create so terrible damage and suffering.

Let’s hope that the political elites of Germany, France, Italy and Spain will manage to think strategically, beyond their short term interests. Because if they don’t, all of Europe will soon become completely irrelevant in the international geopolitical game.