The whole piece is well worth reading, but I'll just quote a couple of paragraphs which get to the heart of it.
Talk of war is political performance art
The British establishment does not see war as a realistic prospect
Now, as we try to make sense of Britain’s Sensible Faction solemnly preparing to lead us to war with Russia, it is our turn to choose between dissecting the absurdity, or just ignoring them. Alas, the Sensibles are not a dissident group; they are in fact in charge of pretty much everything, including for the time being, Britain’s foreign policy and armed forces. Which to some extent obliges us to at least pretend to take the things they say seriously.
Fortunately for me, Maurice Cousins has already done that, setting out in these pages the practical realities of why the concept of Western European countries going to war with Russia is a straightforward and unquestionable absurdity. Drawing on work by Rian Whitton for the Prosperity Institute, Cousins sets out how the energy policies of Western Europe, and especially Britain, have undermined fundamental industries that are essential to running any industrial economy, let alone a war economy. Steel, chemicals, fertilisers, and materials technology have atrophied or escaped, and with them a myriad of sub-sectors and expertise. This leaves me free to consider the politics behind it with the derision they call for.
Talk of war is political performance art
The British establishment does not see war as a realistic prospect
Now, as we try to make sense of Britain’s Sensible Faction solemnly preparing to lead us to war with Russia, it is our turn to choose between dissecting the absurdity, or just ignoring them. Alas, the Sensibles are not a dissident group; they are in fact in charge of pretty much everything, including for the time being, Britain’s foreign policy and armed forces. Which to some extent obliges us to at least pretend to take the things they say seriously.
Fortunately for me, Maurice Cousins has already done that, setting out in these pages the practical realities of why the concept of Western European countries going to war with Russia is a straightforward and unquestionable absurdity. Drawing on work by Rian Whitton for the Prosperity Institute, Cousins sets out how the energy policies of Western Europe, and especially Britain, have undermined fundamental industries that are essential to running any industrial economy, let alone a war economy. Steel, chemicals, fertilisers, and materials technology have atrophied or escaped, and with them a myriad of sub-sectors and expertise. This leaves me free to consider the politics behind it with the derision they call for.
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