February 23, 2022
On Those Russian "Peacekeepers"
James Doogue
So one country, Russia, recognises the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Then Russia unilaterally sends in 'peacekeepers' with heavy artillery, presumably to put down any resistance against the Russian backed separatists who have been carrying on terrorist activities in the region for years.
Has Russia ever taken concerns about these two regions in Ukraine to the UN Security Council? Surely as a permanent member with veto power, Russia could have raised concerns and had the UN involved in peacekeeping?
Well no, Russia have never raised a concern for the safety of the population in the Donbas region. They have simply claimed the region to be part of Russia.
The United Nations political chief says Russia’s recognition of separatist areas in Ukraine’s east is a violation of the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Russia was widely criticised by most council members for its actions on Monday.
The UN has met dozens of times to discuss the Ukraine crisis since Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region in 2014.
But it cannot take any action because Russia is a veto power along with France, Britain, China and the US.
Thus exposing just how useless the UN is. And why the UN has not been able to step in.
Reform or get rid of the United Nations. It is not fit for purpose.
Lithuania's Prime Minister and their Foreign Minister were on the mark when tweeting about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Though they also explain why some people believe either there is no invasion, or it's a false flag operation by Ukraine against their own people, staged to drag in The West against Russia in their support.
Lithuanian prime minister Ingrida Å imonytÄ— has said Russian president Vladimir Putin’s move to recognise two separatist pro-Moscow regions in Ukraine puts "Kafka & Orwell to shameâ€.
Putin just put Kafka & Orwell to shame: no limits to dictator’s imagination, no lows too low, no lies too blatant, no red lines too red to cross.
What we witnessed tonight might seem surreal for democratic world. But the way we respond will define us for the generations to come.â€
Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis also tweeted that Russia’s recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk "proves a total contempt for international law & UN charters.â€
Tim adds:
The reality is this is an old, time-worn tactic and especially one employed by the Soviets and by Putin. The Afghan government invited the Soviets into Afghanistan, for example, when they invaded too. And Putin used the exact same tactic in Georgia, and in Crimea. It's the Czechoslovakia gambit; take several bites rather than swallow whole and claim there are legitimate reasons, mainly defending ethnic comrads.
They won't stop at Donetsk Remember, they already carved a quarter of Ukraine off when they seized the Crimea. Putin has said quite plainly he wants to restore the Russia of the Tsars, and that would have to include Ukraine.
The United States made a solemn vow to Ukraine to defend her from any Russian invasion in return for them destroying the old Soviet nuclear arsenal. They wanted to keep the nukes but we strongarmed them into destroying them with the promise of our protection. If we renege on that now we will look even worse than we do at present.
Also, I would point out that part of the genesis of this conflict is the Ukrainian application for membership in NATO. To the Russians that means a potential invasion force on their doorstep. They were already very unhappy with NATO expansion to Poland and Hungary, but could live with that. But the Ukraine is one of "the Russias", an actual part of the old Russian empire.
Worse Ukraine has a lot of oil and gas as yet untapped, and is the primary route for Russian oil and gas to Europe. The Ukrainians were threatening to cut that flow off in response to price gouging from Gazprom. Putin could indeed freeze Europe with this - which is no doubt why he waited until the dead of winter.I would point out the exact same conditions existed when Russia invaded Georgia in 2008; an aspiring NATO member with a major pipeline running through the country posed a threat to Russia's energy hegemony and a dangerous spot for foreign invasion if war came. So Russia fomented revolution in South Ossetia then moved in as "peacekeepers" splintering off a pro-Russian state and guaranteeing Georgia stay out of NATO. It worked then and it will work now in Ukraine, as it did when they seized Crimea.
It doesn't mean we take military action; that would be insane against a nuclear power like Russia. But we can crush them economically through a number of sanctions. Most particularly, we can go back to the Trump policies of cheap energy. The drop in energy prices dried up the funding for Putin in Georgia at the time, and would do likewise here if we could ramp up supply.
I know Biden is using this to hide his failuires, and it is what makes this situation so very dangerous. Biden needs a big win at almost any cost at this point. This could have been handled quietly before the Russians invaded, but Biden believed the demonization of Russia done over the last four years and he also doesn't understand that the Russians - and particularly Putin - are not playing political games as is he. And since Russia possesses a nuclear arsenal as capable as ours (it's about half of the size of ours but far more modern and with multiple warheads probably as capable as many of our ancient birds won't explode) we are in great peril. Biden won't back down, I fear, and Putin certainly won't. Neither can afford to, with skyrocketing inflation in both countries. Now, stopping Russia was easy; keep the price of oil and gas low and Putin wouldn't have had the money to do this. It's what ended the Russo-Georgian war, I might add. Putin ran out of money when the price of oil and gas dropped during the war. We could squeeze Russia economically; they only have energy as their main export. But Europe committed to "renewable energy" a long time ago and Biden is doing likewise and that empowers Russia, plain and simple. I don't think Biden can get energy prices down fast enough because he has to go hat-in-hand to the Saudis and OPEC to get them to ramp up production. He's going to be in trouble with his base if he renews drilling here. So Biden lost the most potent weapon we had against the Russians. No doubt Biden will accept the new border drawn by Putin and declare he "won" by getting a Russian troop withdrawl by summer. Donbass will become a puppet regime under Russian domination, and thus Russia will have carved half of Ukraine away. But Biden will claim victory and do a dance to trick low-information voters into believing he is a strong President.
So one country, Russia, recognises the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Then Russia unilaterally sends in 'peacekeepers' with heavy artillery, presumably to put down any resistance against the Russian backed separatists who have been carrying on terrorist activities in the region for years.
Has Russia ever taken concerns about these two regions in Ukraine to the UN Security Council? Surely as a permanent member with veto power, Russia could have raised concerns and had the UN involved in peacekeeping?
Well no, Russia have never raised a concern for the safety of the population in the Donbas region. They have simply claimed the region to be part of Russia.
The United Nations political chief says Russia’s recognition of separatist areas in Ukraine’s east is a violation of the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Russia was widely criticised by most council members for its actions on Monday.
The UN has met dozens of times to discuss the Ukraine crisis since Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region in 2014.
But it cannot take any action because Russia is a veto power along with France, Britain, China and the US.
Thus exposing just how useless the UN is. And why the UN has not been able to step in.
Reform or get rid of the United Nations. It is not fit for purpose.
Lithuania's Prime Minister and their Foreign Minister were on the mark when tweeting about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Though they also explain why some people believe either there is no invasion, or it's a false flag operation by Ukraine against their own people, staged to drag in The West against Russia in their support.
Lithuanian prime minister Ingrida Å imonytÄ— has said Russian president Vladimir Putin’s move to recognise two separatist pro-Moscow regions in Ukraine puts "Kafka & Orwell to shameâ€.
Putin just put Kafka & Orwell to shame: no limits to dictator’s imagination, no lows too low, no lies too blatant, no red lines too red to cross.
What we witnessed tonight might seem surreal for democratic world. But the way we respond will define us for the generations to come.â€
Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis also tweeted that Russia’s recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk "proves a total contempt for international law & UN charters.â€
Tim adds:
The reality is this is an old, time-worn tactic and especially one employed by the Soviets and by Putin. The Afghan government invited the Soviets into Afghanistan, for example, when they invaded too. And Putin used the exact same tactic in Georgia, and in Crimea. It's the Czechoslovakia gambit; take several bites rather than swallow whole and claim there are legitimate reasons, mainly defending ethnic comrads.
They won't stop at Donetsk Remember, they already carved a quarter of Ukraine off when they seized the Crimea. Putin has said quite plainly he wants to restore the Russia of the Tsars, and that would have to include Ukraine.
The United States made a solemn vow to Ukraine to defend her from any Russian invasion in return for them destroying the old Soviet nuclear arsenal. They wanted to keep the nukes but we strongarmed them into destroying them with the promise of our protection. If we renege on that now we will look even worse than we do at present.
Also, I would point out that part of the genesis of this conflict is the Ukrainian application for membership in NATO. To the Russians that means a potential invasion force on their doorstep. They were already very unhappy with NATO expansion to Poland and Hungary, but could live with that. But the Ukraine is one of "the Russias", an actual part of the old Russian empire.
Worse Ukraine has a lot of oil and gas as yet untapped, and is the primary route for Russian oil and gas to Europe. The Ukrainians were threatening to cut that flow off in response to price gouging from Gazprom. Putin could indeed freeze Europe with this - which is no doubt why he waited until the dead of winter.I would point out the exact same conditions existed when Russia invaded Georgia in 2008; an aspiring NATO member with a major pipeline running through the country posed a threat to Russia's energy hegemony and a dangerous spot for foreign invasion if war came. So Russia fomented revolution in South Ossetia then moved in as "peacekeepers" splintering off a pro-Russian state and guaranteeing Georgia stay out of NATO. It worked then and it will work now in Ukraine, as it did when they seized Crimea.
It doesn't mean we take military action; that would be insane against a nuclear power like Russia. But we can crush them economically through a number of sanctions. Most particularly, we can go back to the Trump policies of cheap energy. The drop in energy prices dried up the funding for Putin in Georgia at the time, and would do likewise here if we could ramp up supply.
I know Biden is using this to hide his failuires, and it is what makes this situation so very dangerous. Biden needs a big win at almost any cost at this point. This could have been handled quietly before the Russians invaded, but Biden believed the demonization of Russia done over the last four years and he also doesn't understand that the Russians - and particularly Putin - are not playing political games as is he. And since Russia possesses a nuclear arsenal as capable as ours (it's about half of the size of ours but far more modern and with multiple warheads probably as capable as many of our ancient birds won't explode) we are in great peril. Biden won't back down, I fear, and Putin certainly won't. Neither can afford to, with skyrocketing inflation in both countries. Now, stopping Russia was easy; keep the price of oil and gas low and Putin wouldn't have had the money to do this. It's what ended the Russo-Georgian war, I might add. Putin ran out of money when the price of oil and gas dropped during the war. We could squeeze Russia economically; they only have energy as their main export. But Europe committed to "renewable energy" a long time ago and Biden is doing likewise and that empowers Russia, plain and simple. I don't think Biden can get energy prices down fast enough because he has to go hat-in-hand to the Saudis and OPEC to get them to ramp up production. He's going to be in trouble with his base if he renews drilling here. So Biden lost the most potent weapon we had against the Russians. No doubt Biden will accept the new border drawn by Putin and declare he "won" by getting a Russian troop withdrawl by summer. Donbass will become a puppet regime under Russian domination, and thus Russia will have carved half of Ukraine away. But Biden will claim victory and do a dance to trick low-information voters into believing he is a strong President.
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at
09:27 AM
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To know Ukraine, know its history. Until 1945 the area known as Ukraine was controlled by which ever Empire carried the big stick, Russia being the last. Stalin, who I believe wanted to stack the United Nations with known votes created what now is the nation of Ukraine to do so. Stalin could have just swallowed the area into Russia as was done in the past.It was also part of the Soviet plan after the war to seed areas in their control with loyal Russians. In the Ukraine this plan was called Ukrainianization. After starving millions of Ukrainians the Russian needed to repopulate the areas where millions died. The genius of the plan was that for every Ukrainian used to repopulate 2 Russians accompanied them. And we make fun of Soviet long range plans.
Here we are 1991 and the people who now we can officially call Ukrainians voted for independence. That vote was telling in that the majority of no votes came from these seeded areas. So here we are today. From 1991 until present in that area the Soviet preparations for the time when the West would be more focused on events inside their countries then out. It would be a no hassle, done deal takeover. And it will be.
I believe Biden told Putin the time was right with the Afghanistan withdraw.
Here we are 1991 and the people who now we can officially call Ukrainians voted for independence. That vote was telling in that the majority of no votes came from these seeded areas. So here we are today. From 1991 until present in that area the Soviet preparations for the time when the West would be more focused on events inside their countries then out. It would be a no hassle, done deal takeover. And it will be.
I believe Biden told Putin the time was right with the Afghanistan withdraw.
Posted by: Mike at February 23, 2022 10:35 PM (NaXLk)
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Posted by: SMM shoppier at February 23, 2022 11:25 PM (SBVD8)
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I can't say I disagree Mike.
Ukraine was one of the "Russias" insofar as it was part of the region of Rus. In fact, it was once the civilized part of Russia. Kiev was the great power in the region while Moscow was nothing at all, or just a small trading village. But the coming of the Mongols changed all that; they torched a buffer zone to keep Europe from counter-attacking, and Kiev and the rest of Ukraine were the zone. They would ride back in periodically and burn it out. So for a couple of centuries Ukraine was the true Borderland (hence it's name).
It diverged from Russian culture at that point.
It was such a pity because it was as civilized as any European area at the time and would have been a leader in Westerrn civilization. But after the Mongols the prince of Moscovy rose, and he learned everything he knew from the Golden Horde. He used their tactics, their secret police, their suspicious nature to take over their territory.
And as you say, they kept a tight grip on Ukrain. They couldn't afford it to rise again. It was a danger; a natural invasion route from Europe, and an area with great natural resources.
Your late history is pretty much accurate. Stalin murdered a large swath of the country and repopulated with loyal Russians. And now Putin's using them as a justification for invading the country again.
I doubt he'll annex Ukraine, but it won't matter; it'll be a puppet state, much like ByeloRussia (White Russia) is now.
And Biden did nothing. He could have prevented this had he been even remotely competent.
Put was encouraged by Biden's weakness. Putin was flush with cash thanks to Biden's war on fossil fuels and his push for "green" tech at the expense of oil. The price of gas shot up, and Putin became rich enough to do this. (See my article on the Georgian war in Pajamas Media. https://pjmedia.com/blog/timothy-birdnow/2008/10/24/drill-here-drill-now-helped-end-russia-georgia-war-n18506 ) He had Biden's gross mishandling of Afghanistan to show America wouldn't act. And he had the fact that Biden's family was deeply involved financially with Ukraine; it suggested he was bought by them. That is significant; better to take steps to remove the Ukrainian government than let them continue to partner with the American President. Especially with elections coming up this year.
And the U.S. was preoccupied with so much foolishness. Biden was cracking down on the political opposition and Putin knew a large number of Americans would be lukewarm in supporting him at best. The trucker protests in Canada were an echo of what was coming in the U.S. too, he knew, and so the time was ripe. It was no coincidence he launched this invasion in winter; Europe will want to stay out so they don't freeze. They will push Crazy Joe to not act.
The time was ripe for this, and Putin has always dreamed of doing it, ever since the U.S.S.R. came undone.
And now, if this succeeds, China will likely seize Taiwan.
We are moving inexorably towards world war.
Ukraine was one of the "Russias" insofar as it was part of the region of Rus. In fact, it was once the civilized part of Russia. Kiev was the great power in the region while Moscow was nothing at all, or just a small trading village. But the coming of the Mongols changed all that; they torched a buffer zone to keep Europe from counter-attacking, and Kiev and the rest of Ukraine were the zone. They would ride back in periodically and burn it out. So for a couple of centuries Ukraine was the true Borderland (hence it's name).
It diverged from Russian culture at that point.
It was such a pity because it was as civilized as any European area at the time and would have been a leader in Westerrn civilization. But after the Mongols the prince of Moscovy rose, and he learned everything he knew from the Golden Horde. He used their tactics, their secret police, their suspicious nature to take over their territory.
And as you say, they kept a tight grip on Ukrain. They couldn't afford it to rise again. It was a danger; a natural invasion route from Europe, and an area with great natural resources.
Your late history is pretty much accurate. Stalin murdered a large swath of the country and repopulated with loyal Russians. And now Putin's using them as a justification for invading the country again.
I doubt he'll annex Ukraine, but it won't matter; it'll be a puppet state, much like ByeloRussia (White Russia) is now.
And Biden did nothing. He could have prevented this had he been even remotely competent.
Put was encouraged by Biden's weakness. Putin was flush with cash thanks to Biden's war on fossil fuels and his push for "green" tech at the expense of oil. The price of gas shot up, and Putin became rich enough to do this. (See my article on the Georgian war in Pajamas Media. https://pjmedia.com/blog/timothy-birdnow/2008/10/24/drill-here-drill-now-helped-end-russia-georgia-war-n18506 ) He had Biden's gross mishandling of Afghanistan to show America wouldn't act. And he had the fact that Biden's family was deeply involved financially with Ukraine; it suggested he was bought by them. That is significant; better to take steps to remove the Ukrainian government than let them continue to partner with the American President. Especially with elections coming up this year.
And the U.S. was preoccupied with so much foolishness. Biden was cracking down on the political opposition and Putin knew a large number of Americans would be lukewarm in supporting him at best. The trucker protests in Canada were an echo of what was coming in the U.S. too, he knew, and so the time was ripe. It was no coincidence he launched this invasion in winter; Europe will want to stay out so they don't freeze. They will push Crazy Joe to not act.
The time was ripe for this, and Putin has always dreamed of doing it, ever since the U.S.S.R. came undone.
And now, if this succeeds, China will likely seize Taiwan.
We are moving inexorably towards world war.
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at February 24, 2022 10:17 AM (znTZ1)
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