When the War Comes Home to Moscow

Russian tourism authorities have reported that at least 350 flights have been delayed or canceled due to last night's drone attacks by Ukraine. According to them, this has affected around 60,000 passengers, meaning that Putin’s subordinates have now personally experienced what it's like to live under a dictator waging a senseless war.

This is, of course, a good thing, as public support for Putin’s so-called special operation might once again drop a little. However, it’s futile to imagine that the opinions of the Russian people would have any more influence on their president than those of citizens under other global dictators.

That’s why it’s interesting to read that U.S. President Donald Trump has speculated that Putin might be enticed into peace by offering Russia a chance to participate in the next FIFA World Cup. However, such speculation is likely already too late, as the qualification rounds are underway, and Russia can no longer make it to the tournament.

Nevertheless, the idea that major sporting events could be used to pressure Putin into peace is intriguing. The thought is almost delightful—if only it were that easy.

Unfortunately, I have to remain somewhat skeptical here as well. Peace would mean that at least hundreds of thousands of brutalized men would return home from the Ukrainian front, many of whom would undoubtedly struggle to reintegrate into normal civilian life.

As a result, these soldiers could generate tensions within Russian society, which in the worst case could escalate and even lead to questioning Putin’s position. I don’t believe for a second that Putin fails to understand this—nor do I think he would be willing to take such a risk.

The fact is that, for a dictator, it's safer to wage even an eternal war—as long as it doesn’t end in defeat and doesn’t overly affect the daily lives of ordinary Muscovites or St. Petersburg residents. Which, incidentally, Ukraine’s recent drone strikes against Moscow might well begin to do.

And it’s certainly not insignificant that Ukrainian drones might very well spoil the mood of the dictator’s upcoming holiday celebrations. This could happen even if Zelensky’s army voluntarily refrains from sending a single drone to annoy the Russians on Friday, out of respect for the end of World War II.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Putin Faces a Heavy Price for His Hesitation
Be Ready: Russia May Launch Another "Special Operation"
Trump Speaks from Putin’s Pocket – A Perilous Shift in the Ukraine War

Football-Associated Violence Is a Personality Problem

I have always wondered how sports can drive people completely out of their minds. Football, in particular, has been and continues to be exceptionally effective in this regard.

A recent example comes from Guinea, where a referee’s decision displeased part of the audience. This sparked violence that led to the deaths of dozens of people and, ultimately, the burning down of the local police station.

Guinea, of course, is a developing country, but football has also caused European and even Nordic sports fans to lose control from time to time. For instance, in Sweden, police had to intervene in a total of 24 matches in 2023 after situations spiraled out of control, with officers themselves becoming targets of violence.

Football is famously the world's most popular sport. According to Wikipedia, it is played by over 250 million people worldwide and is also the most-watched sport on television.

For this reason, violence associated with football is a serious issue. This is underscored by the fact that, in 1969, El Salvador and Honduras engaged in a military conflict triggered by a football match, though tensions between the countries were already high.

It was therefore intriguing to see that a recent scientific review article suggested that numerous psychological factors are at the root of football-related violence. These include personality traits, empathy, and materialism.

Research has also identified a positive correlation between sensation-seeking tendencies and sports violence, as well as a mitigating effect of cultural intelligence and tolerance on the likelihood of people resorting to unruly behavior during football matches. Among these, tolerance stands out as a particularly significant factor.

It seems, then, that it might be better if some individuals refrained from following football and redirected their interests elsewhere. This would benefit not only football players and other spectators but society as a whole. 

Unfortunately, I believe they don't want to do this – and precisely for the same reasons why they should.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Everyone has the right
Violent demographic changes in Denmark
Increase of violence by youngsters in Finnish towns

Should the Dutch Do Something About the Fact That Immigrants Don't Tolerate Visiting Jews?

One of the greatest public secrets of our time is that not all people and cultures are the same. We received a tangible example of this yesterday, when groups carrying Palestinian flags attacked Jewish supporters of the visiting team after a football match in the Netherlands, causing significant harm. Even non-Jewish tourists found themselves in difficult situations.

Naturally, Dutch police intervened and detained at least 60 rioters, and ultimately the Israeli government planned to send planes to bring Israeli football fans home from the Netherlands. The question, of course, is how such incidents are possible in a country that, just a few decades ago, was known for its exceptional freedom and liberal values.

I’m confident that my esteemed readers understand the answer to this question even without my explanation. However, I’m less certain whether this understanding extends to the decision-makers in politics. And whether they’ll reach the consensus that similar incidents will recur if immigration policies in the EU are not significantly altered.

So, we’ll see whether, in this case as well, the event will be lamented for a while, the attackers of Jewish people will receive minor punishments, but the real issue will be left unaddressed. Or will the Dutch government show the resolve that voters expected from it in the 2023 elections? And take actions that would halt the growth of problematic immigrant groups in the Netherlands, in the EU, and thus also in Finland.

That is at least what Geert Wilders demands, as he wrote on social media, "A pogrom in the streets of #Amsterdam. We have become the Gaza of Europe. Muslims with Palestinian flags hunting down Jews. I will NOT accept that. NEVER. The authorities will be held accountable for their failure to protect the Israeli citizens."

Never again.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Palestinian Youth Require More Understanding, Less Aggression
A woman's logic, Putin's test, and the Netherlands' change
The Rwanda Law of Britain paves the way for the future of Western Europe