Remembering Some Uncomfortable Facts About Ukraine……

Posted on February 25, 2022 | 11 Comments

This article, in The Nation magazine, published just three years ago, should be required reading for those giving unalloyed support to the Western powers’ (and almost universal media) criticism of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It does not excuse Putin’s invasion, nor explain it, but it should make uncomfortable reading for those determined to cast Ukraine as a modern version of ’Brave Little Belgium’.

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11 responses to “Remembering Some Uncomfortable Facts About Ukraine……”

seachranaidhe1 | February 25, 2022 at 12:14 pm | Reply

Reblogged this on seachranaidhe1.
Peter Magill | February 25, 2022 at 2:05 pm | Reply

They say a week is a long time in politics nevermind three years. I would be curious to see the author’s take on the situation in Ukraine since the election of the current President Zelenskyy in 2019 and his subsequent clear out of many political office holders. In particular, I wonder how the anti semitic elements in Ukraine pursue their aims now that both the President and his Prime Minister are both Jewish. Although as Mr Putin has decided to assume the mantle of world policeman (since Joe retired the US – again) then the treatment of minority groups is the least of Ukrainians problems for now and worryingly us too.
- The Broken Elbow | February 25, 2022 at 2:14 pm | Reply
  
  They haven’t gone away, you know, to quote one expert in such matters……
JOAN McKiernan (@JoanMckiernan) | February 25, 2022 at 10:29 pm | Reply

Ukraine
It is sadly ironic, indeed, dreadfully hypocritical to see questions being raised about building opposition to the Russian assault on the Ukranian people.
We in the international community have a long history of anti-war resistance. For me, it began with the anti-war movement against the American war against Vietnam. We did not stop to argue whether South or North Vietnam were problem states when we marched on Washington. We just said No to American aggression.
When Americans bombed Iraq in the first Gulf War in 1990, people were understandable outraged by the American aggression. They did not ask whether the oil rich Emirate of Kuwait dominated by the ruling Al Sabah ruling family was worthy of our support. We said no to war.
And again when America went to war and bombed the hell out of Iraq, killing over a million Iraqis, we did not question the nature of Iraqi politics. We just said no to war against Iraq.
My son and I marched in New York when the US was getting ready for that war. It was a massive demo, and exciting. As we were unable to move because of its size, we were able to hear the reports that people were getting of demos happening at the same time from around the world. A really international anti-war movement was building. But we did not win, and history has shown the dreadful results.
It’s what we need, and what is developing now. Just as we in the US opposed American imperialism and its wars, Russian people are out opposing Russian imperialism and its war against Ukraine. They are very brave people, taking on the draconian Russian dictatorship, a lot more dangerous than any impact felt by American protesters. Tens of thousands of people are out in Georgia supporting Ukraine, despite the danger of Putin’s threats to their security.
What we can best do in our countries is build anti-war movements against what is happening in Ukraine. We also have to be clear that Ukraine, Vietnam, Iraq, Kuwait and other countries are not the problem. The problem is the imperialist powers, the US and Russia. And in this case, Russia is the big country, the aggressor.
European socialists and trade unionists have done wonderful solidarity work in support of workers in Ukraine. Here is a link to a solidarity campaign that you can sign up to.
Add Your Name To Our Statement NO TO WAR – Кампанія Солідарності з Україною

https://ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org/2022/02/08/no-to-war-russia-hands-off-ukraine/
Demand an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops.
Oppose any NATO escalation in response which will just threaten an even bloodier conflict.
- Barry Gilheany | February 26, 2022 at 7:27 pm | Reply
  
  Joan
  
  The problem in Ukraine is aggression from its Russian neighbour which wishes to destroy an independent democratic nation just as Hitler was allowed to destroy an independent democracy namely Czechoslovakia in 1939. It has nothing to do with NATO expansionism.
  
  No one likes war. But for war to be prevented it requires a robust international system of rules and security and peacemaking institutions. Rules which Russia has flagrantly and serially violated in Chechnya, Georgia, Crimea, Donbass, Syria and now in Ukraine. The lesson of the 1930s if that fascism must never be appeased; it has to be defeated.. You also seem to forget that the First Gulf war in 1991 was provoked by Saddam Hussein’s unprovoked invasion of Kuwait.
  
  You talk about the failure of the international anti-war movement; well the UK version of it, Stop the War Coalition, have continually shilled for aggressors like Putin because they are anti-Western and so tick their “antiimperialist” boxes. They therefore have no legitimacy among victim of Russian imperialist aggression and war crimes. As I type this, Kiev faces bombardment and untold civilian deaths. There will be total silence from the usual suspects.
Barry Gilheany | February 26, 2022 at 7:05 pm | Reply

The real fascists here are Putin and his followers with their Christian nationalist ideology and hostility to liberalism, feminism and gay rights.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/the-antisemitism-animating-putin-s-claim-to-denazify-ukraine/ar-AAUkbdt?ocid=msedgntp
- spuncjesterinc | March 2, 2022 at 6:59 am | Reply
  
  Anyone who supported the invasion and bombing of the sovereign nations of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, by Nato and the West is a hypocrite if they criticise Putin for taking precisely the same actions
  - Barry Gilheany | March 2, 2022 at 11:57 am |
    
    Putin has launched an unprovoked attack on a democratic nation. Afghanistan was (and now is again) a repressive theocracy; both Libya and Iraq were run by homicidal dictators responsible for multiple crimes against humanity and serial violations of international law and the laws of war. The operations in Libya and Afghanistan had UN cover and in the latter case, cover of Article 5 of the NATO Charter. Yes, the operations eventually turned out badly in both and the Iraq operation was a disaster from the get-go with dubious legitimacy But what anti-interventionists never address is how to deal with playground bullies like Putin; with regimes such as Saddam Hussein’s and Pol Pot’s who commit genocides within their own territories; with regimes who violate international law on the use of chemical and biological weapons (Assad and Saddam again; to say nothing about the genocides in Bosnia, Rwanda, Darfur and Myanmar. I would be interested to know your views on how to deal with such crimes and criminals.
  - spuncjesterinc | March 3, 2022 at 1:17 pm |
    
    Libya was a wealthy and prosperous country where over 70% of the adult population had a least one university degree. There were no tuition fees in those days when Gadaffi was in power. I’m sure that is changed now. So to call Libya a dictatorship is nothing by Western propaganda which you seemed to have purchased in abundance. As for Bosnia. That harks back to NATO, the UK and the US destruction of that country.
    
    In truth, there are three countries worldwide that can be blamed for the troubles we find ourselves in. The UK, The USA and that bastard state in the Middle East calling itself israel.
    
    How would i deal with the despots running these countries, i would give them a warning shot to the back of the head.
spuncjesterinc | March 3, 2022 at 1:19 pm | Reply

“So to call Libya a dictatorship is nothing **but Western propaganda….”
spuncjesterinc | March 3, 2022 at 1:22 pm | Reply

Libya was a wealthy and prosperous country where over 70% of the adult population had a least one university degree. There were no tuition fees in those days when Gadaffi was in power. I’m sure that is changed now. So to call Libya a dictatorship is nothing but Western propaganda which you seemed to have purchased in abundance. Libya was destroyed because they would not permit the IMF into the country to rape and pillage. This is the reason that Iran is also in the cross-hairs.

As for Bosnia. That harks back to NATO, the UK and the US destruction of Yugoslavia.

In truth, there are three countries worldwide that can be blamed for the troubles we find ourselves in. The UK, The USA and that bastard state in the Middle East calling itself israel.

How would i deal with the despots running these countries, i would give them a warning shot to the back of the head.