History shows that appeasement won’t work | Letter to the editor

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A reply to “NATO must make compromises.” Let’s look at history.

Hitler moved to extend German power in Central Europe, annexing Austria and destroying Czechoslovakia in 1938-1939. Other territorial demands followed. Invasion of Poland on Sept. 1, 1939. Great Britain and France hoped to prevent another world war by giving into Hitler’s demands through a policy of appeasement.

In 2014 Russia illegally annexed Crimea (part of Ukraine) and Obama and NATO did nothing. Now in 2022 there is a full invasion of Ukraine which lacks the leverage to restore sovereignty over the region, but the West should not accept it since doing so would only encourage Russia to believe it can get away with annexing territory from other countries. Putin is acting like Hitler. Historical fact, Ukraine, Russia, the U.S., and the UK signed a 1994 treaty that assured Ukraine it would be safe from attack as long as it gave up its massive stockpile of nukes, which it did.

Putin threatens a nuke war if NATO intervenes. Is it a real threat, not likely as he knows that nobody wins. 

So what is the world to do? Let Putin gobble up other nations like Hitler did? 

Hitler murdered millions and Putin is bombing civilian housing, schools, hospitals, churches, power plants, and shooting civilians that are fleeing. 

It’s war crimes for sure, just like Hitler and his Nazis did.

It’s easy to say compromise when bombs and mass murder are happening in Eastern Europe. 

Tell us, what compromise should NATO and the world give Putin, I ask Douglas Milholland who is for appeasement and compromise?

Gary H. Price
PORT LUDLOW