Why "humiliate" Greece and Russia?

Much is being written in the mainstream press denying that there ever was an intention to actually "humiliate" Greece and Russia, and that it is up to Russians and Greeks to find a way of addressing their own domestic faults. At least the Star Comment is clear on the treatment of Greece, and that "austerity is a medicine which enriches those who dispense it" (Morning Star,20/06/15). Well said!

     Of course there is a desire in the EU to "humiliate" the Greeks and their democratically elected left-wing government; economically it makes no sense to force Greece into bankruptcy, especially as the rest of the Eurozone is already benefiting from the European Central Bank`s 60billion euros a month quantitative easing programme. However, politically, illustrating to the people of Europe that there is no alternative to austerity, so they can forget all their radical, socialist and Keynesian ideas, there are obvious advantages. Sadly, the historical lessons of "squeezing until the pips squeak" have not been learned, as is made obvious, also, with the repeated imposition of economic sanctions on Russia. How can compromise solutions be made over, not only the future of Ukraine, but also the expansion of Nato, when economic uncertainty in Russia is being purposely exacerbated by the west? At a time when diplomatic talks are urgently needed, and when there are opportunities for east-west deals over energy provision, what can be achieved by the permanent exclusion of Russia from the G7? As Alan Mackinnon wrote, the world appears to be "rushing headlong" into the next cold war (Morning Star,20/06/15)

     A Greek-Russian alliance is indeed the most likely outcome of such short-sightedness by our politicians, with financial aid in return for a Russian pipeline through Greece. Those same politicians will, no doubt, express moral outrage at such a deal, whilst at the same time denying desperate people fleeing oppression access to their countries, unlike Greece, and refusing the return of the Parthenon marbles to their rightful owners, an act which could benefit the Greek tourist industry enormously.