Ukraine (cont.)

[Ridgerunner]

presstv.com/detail/2014/03/28/356339/us-sets-europe-and-russia-at-war/

*When US President Barack Obama embarked on his European tour this week there was the usual sycophantic Western media image of the American leader as a benefactor. Obama, so the story went, was coming to unite and support Europe in the face of Russian aggression in Ukraine.

The facts are the opposite. The US has sought to divide Europe from Russia and sow conflict in Eurasia ever since the end of the Second World War nearly 70 years ago. That is a continuum to the present day. The main objective for Washington is to prevent Europe developing closer relations with Russia. Central to the problem, from the US point of view, is to curb Europe and Russia becoming strategic energy partners.

This is what the current crisis over Ukraine is really about. Washington took the lead in inciting regime change in Kiev at the end of last year. And it is Washington that is taking the lead in rushing through Congress-approved finance and IMF loans to shore up the unelected anti-Russian junta in Kiev.

Admittedly, some European politicians, such as Britain’s David Cameron and France’s Francois Hollande, appear to have gone along gung-ho with the US adversarial agenda towards Moscow. But there again several other European states, including Italy, Austria, Holland, Belgium and Finland, have sought to de-escalate tensions. Most notable is Germany, Europe’s largest economy

While Obama was this week endorsing “unity” between the US and Europe and “isolation” for Russia, he was also pushing for two major American interests - under the guise of American benevolence of course.

Those two interests are, firstly, the long-term replacement of Russian energy supplies with American exports of natural gas. The renewed US fossil fuel industry is a leitmotif of recent years in an attempt to boost the stagnant American economy. America needs to find export markets for its projected natural gas production. Currently, Russia supplies some 30-40 per cent of Europe’s fuel consumption. The US wants this lucrative chunk of the global energy market.

A cheeky admission of that divisive American influence was let slip by Obama during one of his European speeches this week when he told an admiring audience in The Hague: “We [the US] have considerable influence on our neighbors. We generally don’t need to invade them in order to have a strong co-operative relationship with them.”

Instead of “co-operative relationship” Obama really meant to say “coercive relationship”.*

An interesting point of view, but it ignores the fact that Obama is fundamentally not a person who promotes American interests on the international stage. He is much more useful to America’s enemies than to America. It also ignores the fact that Obama is obstructive to the development of oil and gas in America. He supported petroleum development in Brazil, yes, for George Soros, but not in America.

And one look at the American economy and the barriers Obama has inserted within it tells you he’s not interested in developing America’s economy either.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes, it has been going on for weeks from other web sources. It is the unfortunate consequence of the rioting, an overthrown government and hence widespread civil unrest between all ‘sides’.

How many Ukrainian special forces are there in Russia? If Andrew is correct, Russian Spetznaz are in Ukraine as we speak, stirring up provocations. That has a long history in Russia, as we know, creating bogus provocations in order to “retaliate” was one of the Soviets’ specialties.

 

[Ridgerunner]

As God is my witness I was watching a video: “Armies of the ancient world” and when it was over, thinking it was part #1, I clicked on the video that I thought was part #2:

Shocking isn’t it?
The crazy thing is that the area of Khazaria happens to be on the Russian side including Crimea of this present day conflict …
something else interesting is that the Aryan race which started in Iran spread through this Khazarian area and into Europe.

Another weird coincidence is that apparently the Khazarians considered themselves as a 13th tribe of Israel and they adopted Judaism which according to the video is denied by Israeli Jews that they (the Khazarians) ever had a foot in Israel;

rex

It’s quite possible that the Khazars never set foot in Israel…at least (according to some) until relatively modern times. There are those who maintain that most Ashkenazi Jews are, in fact, descendants of the Khazars.

 

[pepipop]

Better late than never, I suppose. The international community ‘finally’ recognises the lawless activities of Ukraine’s right sector nationalists. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton denounced the Right Sector for its ‘pressure’ and ‘undemocratic’ demand of the interior minister’s resignation.

Mind you, I thought those same tactics were OK, a few months ago?

eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140328_04_en.pdf

*B]by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton
on recent events around the Parliament of Ukraine

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and
Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today:*

"I strongly condemn the pressure by activists of the Right Sector who have surrounded the
building of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Such an intimidation of the parliament is against
the democratic principles and rule of law.

I call on the Right Sector and other parties in Ukraine to refrain from the use or threat of
violence. They need to hand over any unauthorised arms to the authorities immediately.

An impartial and credible investigation into the circumstances of the death of Oleksandr
Muzychko during a detention attempt by the police is needed. I welcome the setting up of an
ad-hoc investigation committee in the Verkhovna Rada today."

bbc.com/news/world-europe-26784236

*Ukraine’s interim President Olexander Turchynov has condemned the ultra-nationalist Right Sector, saying the group is bent on “destabilisation”.

Right Sector activists blocked the parliament (Rada) building in Kiev on Thursday night and smashed windows.

They blamed the interior minister for the killing of a Right Sector leader.

The Right Sector played a prominent role in the Kiev protests - and the clashes with police - which led to the removal of Mr Yanukovych from power. Its main support base is in western Ukraine.

 

[pepipop]

How many Ukrainian special forces are there in Russia? If Andrew is correct, Russian Spetznaz are in Ukraine as we speak, stirring up provocations. That has a long history in Russia, as we know, creating bogus provocations in order to “retaliate” was one of the Soviets’ specialties.

Personally, I don’t know if Russian Spetznaz are in Ukraine - I would doubt it, as it does not seem to be part of Putin’s game-plan and I don’t see why they would bother, or what it would achieve. The Russians don’t need to create any provocations, in Ukraine, they were well and truly lit, by the West, in December.

The latest unrest, as I posted earlier, is by the Right Sector against the new government, which is quite a turn for the books - the same group that allegedly got Yanukovich thrown out.

But no doubt the latest provocation, by the Right Sector, will also be blamed on the Russians, by the MSM…:yawn:

 

[kelvinf]

PressTV? Really?

So now you have gone a step further and are using the propaganda outlet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a theocratic dictatorship run by millenarian Shia clerics, as your source?

Come on, I’d even rather have RT than PressTV.

It doesn’t matter. What matters is whether the opinion piece makes sense or not.

 

[kelvinf]

Better late than never, I suppose. The international community ‘finally’ recognises the lawless activities of Ukraine’s right sector nationalists. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton denounced the Right Sector for its ‘pressure’ and ‘undemocratic’ demand of the interior minister’s resignation.

Mind you, I thought those same tactics were OK, a few months ago?

eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140328_04_en.pdf

*B]by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton
on recent events around the Parliament of Ukraine

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and
Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today:*

"I strongly condemn the pressure by activists of the Right Sector who have surrounded the
building of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. **Such an intimidation of the parliament is against
the democratic principles and rule of law. **

I call on the Right Sector and other parties in Ukraine to refrain from the use or threat of
violence. They need to hand over any unauthorised arms to the authorities immediately.

Gee, this woman is hypocrite number 1!

 

[gilliam]

Ukraine prepares for war

Putin wants to “regain Finland,” says close advisor

 

[Vouthon]

Ukraine prepares for war

Putin wants to “regain Finland,” says close advisor

Finland?

Finland was part neither of the Soviet Union nor a country behind the Iron Curtain.

The only reason for that was because the Fins bravely resisted the Soviet Invasion of 1939, launched as part of the Nazi-Soviet Pact.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_War

So in what sense would Finland be “regained”? It was an autonomous grand duchy of the Tsarist Russian Empire until 1917. That is nearly 100 years ago, 100 years of independence making Finland older than many countries.

 

[Seamus_L]

I think it’s time for all of us to watch this movie youtube.com/watch?v=pXXGep9RB34

 

[gilliam]

I think it’s time for all of us to watch this movie youtube.com/watch?v=pXXGep9RB34

I loved that movie when I was a kid. Our family would sit together on a Sat. night and watch it and eat popcorn. Brings back good memories.

 

[gilliam]

Finland?

Finland was part neither of the Soviet Union nor a country behind the Iron Curtain.

The only reason for that was because the Fins bravely resisted the Soviet Invasion of 1939, launched as part of the Nazi-Soviet Pact.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_War

So in what sense would Finland be “regained”? It was an autonomous grand duchy of the Tsarist Russian Empire until 1917. That is nearly 100 years ago, 100 years of independence making Finland older than many countries.

Putin’s vision isn’t to bring back the USSR. His vision is to bring back the glory of Tsarist Russia.

 

[Vouthon]

Putin’s vision isn’t to bring back the USSR. His vision is to bring back the glory of Tsarist Russia.

I know, the point I was making was the insanity of envisioning the control of countries that were not even under Russian occupation in the last 100 years. There is absolutely no sane justification for wanting to gain control over a country that gained independence from an empire over 90 years ago and has been totally independent since. Even the ‘sphere of influence’ argument fails in this case.

I mean under that logic, given that Britain only relinquished its last colony of Hong Kong in 1997, after the fall of the Soviet empire…you get my draft.

It seems incredulous that any national leader would have such a disturbingly psychotic vision in the 21st century, one that goes beyond even the Brezhnev Doctrine (intervention in any socialist country under the Warsaw Pact).

Putin seems to foresee in theory the right of intervention in any country with a purportedly distressed Russian speaking minority and if this former advisor is to be believed, any that used to be part of the Russian Empire.

 

[gilliam]

It seems incredulous that any national leader would have such a disturbingly psychotic vision in the 21st century, one that goes beyond even the Brezhnev Doctrine (intervention in any socialist country under the Warsaw Pact).

I don’t think Putin or those in his oligarchy in Russia and a lot of Russians see it as psychotic. I think they see it as traditional.

Putin seems to foresee in theory the right of intervention in any country with a purportedly distressed Russian speaking minority and if this former advisor is to be believed, any that used to be part of the Russian Empire.

That seems to be the case.

 

[pepipop]

Ukraine prepares for war

Putin wants to “regain Finland,” says close advisor

An economically broke country desperately in need of foreign aid, wants to go to war whilst awaiting to sign deals to obtain such funding from the West; in addition to Putin now wants to ‘regain’ Finland?’

Hmmm…these ‘western media stories’ involving Russia, sound very factual and realistic.

They must be seriously running out of anti-Russian ‘news stories’, at this point.

 

[gilliam]

An economically broke country desperately in need of foreign aid, wants to go to war whilst awaiting to sign deals to obtain such funding from the West; in addition to Putin now wants to ‘regain’ Finland?’

Hmmm…these ‘western media stories’ involving Russia, sound very factual and realistic.

They must be seriously running out of anti-Russian ‘news stories’, at this point.

No so far fetched when you look at the neighborhood and what Putin has already set his eyes on. According to the article it includes: parts of Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic States and Finland.

So he already has attacked, where?

 

[josie_L]

Kremlin’s Media ‘Guidelines’ on Crimea Leaked Online

Russian hacktivist group Anonymous International has posted what it claims is a gagging order (or tyomnik) issued by the Kremlin as guidance for Russian news broadcasters in their treatment of Crimea.

The list of themes instructs broadcasters to justify Russia’s recent annexation of Crimea, celebrate president Vladimir Putin’s efforts to develop the region, and to advertise Crimea’s tourist season, on which the local economy heavily depends, with “nearby, safe, among your own people” to be pushed as the region’s main appeals.

“Cleaning the Augean stables left by Ukrainian authorities cannot be accomplished overnight, but the work is underway, and Crimeans will be seeing it every day,” is identified as a key angle for stories, reports Global Voices.

Journalists are instructed to paint a picture of the rest of Ukraine as “spinning out of control”, and run by fascists and crooks.

Ever since protests broke out in Kiev in February, Russian media have launched a concerted attempt to portray the revolution negatively, and Russian actions in a positive light.

Dmitry Kiselev, new head of RIA-Novosti, the state news agency, and one of its main anchors, has recently been subjected to EU sanctions.

Before the last two years a marginal figure, he has spearheaded much of Russia’s recent homophobic and anti-western rhetoric.

In a recent broadcast he declared that Russia was the only country capable of turning America into “radioactive ash”.

The propaganda push culminated in a live broadcast a speech Putin gave in Red Square, Moscow on 18 March, in which he declared: “After a long, hard and exhausting voyage, Crimea and Sevastopol are returning to their harbour, to their native shores, to their home port, to Russia!”

ibtimes.co.uk/kremlins-media-guidelines-crimea-leaked-online-1442582

 

[pepipop]

Kremlin’s Media ‘Guidelines’ on Crimea Leaked Online

Russian hacktivist group Anonymous International has posted what it claims is a gagging order (or tyomnik) issued by the Kremlin as guidance for Russian news broadcasters in their treatment of Crimea.

The list of themes instructs broadcasters to justify Russia’s recent annexation of Crimea, celebrate president Vladimir Putin’s efforts to develop the region, and to advertise Crimea’s tourist season, on which the local economy heavily depends, with “nearby, safe, among your own people” to be pushed as the region’s main appeals.

“Cleaning the Augean stables left by Ukrainian authorities cannot be accomplished overnight, but the work is underway, and Crimeans will be seeing it every day,” is identified as a key angle for stories, reports Global Voices.

Journalists are instructed to paint a picture of the rest of Ukraine as “spinning out of control”, and run by fascists and crooks.

Ever since protests broke out in Kiev in February, Russian media have launched a concerted attempt to portray the revolution negatively, and Russian actions in a positive light.

Dmitry Kiselev, new head of RIA-Novosti, the state news agency, and one of its main anchors, has recently been subjected to EU sanctions.

Before the last two years a marginal figure, he has spearheaded much of Russia’s recent homophobic and anti-western rhetoric.

In a recent broadcast he declared that Russia was the only country capable of turning America into “radioactive ash”.

The propaganda push culminated in a live broadcast a speech Putin gave in Red Square, Moscow on 18 March, in which he declared: “After a long, hard and exhausting voyage, Crimea and Sevastopol are returning to their harbour, to their native shores, to their home port, to Russia!”

ibtimes.co.uk/kremlins-media-guidelines-crimea-leaked-online-1442582

If true, it seems the Russian PR (gagging) people got it right on the button. At least the Kremlin do not sack (gag) journalists that don’t follow their orders - i.e. Abby Martin in RT, or possibly she didn’t get a copy of the ‘gagging order’.

I dare say Dimitry Kiselev ‘radioactive ash’ comment (although he is an anchor man and not a member of the Russian government), was made in response to the comment made by Sarah Palin, 8 days earlier, advising Obama to ‘Stop Putin with nukes.’ Also, possibly egged on by John McCain’s comments in relation to Russia, made a week prior to Palin’s comment.

*While a military move is not an option for the US at present, he opined, “the most powerful nation in the world should have many options – including economic actions." He added, with emotion: "This is the ultimate result of a feckless foreign policy where nobody believes in America’s strength any more!” “I have never seen this world more in need of American leadership than it is today,” he summed up. * Sen John McCain 3/3/2014

Sarah Palin ‘Stop Putin with Nukes’
youtube.com/watch?v=MNnvOs5Tw-c

 

[gilliam]

Russia sets tough conditions for diplomatic solution in Crimea [actually Ukraine, where Putin now has his eye]

Russia set out a series of tough conditions on Sunday night for agreeing a diplomatic solution to the crisis over its annexation of Crimea, demanding that the US and its European partners accept its proposal that ethnic Russian regions of eastern and southern Ukraine be given extensive autonomous powers independent of Kiev.

Emergency talks between Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, and John Kerry, the US secretary of state, got under way at the Russian ambassador’s residence in Paris after a day in which tensions over Ukraine deepened appreciably. Neither man made any substantive comment before the talks began. Suggesting it might be a long session, Lavrov told reporters: “Good luck and good night.”

The meeting took place against an ominous backdrop of the massing of an estimated 40,000 Russian troops on Ukraine’s eastern border and warnings from Nato and the Pentagon that the Russian military activity, ostensibly relating to routine exercises, was abnormal and could be a prelude to an invasion.

theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/30/russia-ukraine-john-kerry-sergei-lavrov-paris

 

[Ridgerunner]

in addition to Putin now wants to ‘regain’ Finland?’

If the “Putin Doctrine” was applied in reverse, Russia would be giving back part of Finland that it seized during WWII. Well, and it would give back Koenigsberg and East Prussia to Germany.

But I don’t think the Putin Doctrine works the other way.