America and Russia have two nearly opposite narratives on Ukraine, which is more an indictment of the U.S. news media which feigns objectivity but disseminates what amounts to propaganda. These divergent narratives are driving the world toward a possible nuclear crisis, writes Robert Parry.The neocons have control over the narrative and Obama seems to be OK with that. Those that are objecting to this folly most loudly are the Libertarians. Most Democrats seem to be be on board with the GOP hardliners who are banking the neocons in the Obama administration. Moreover, they seem to be completely misreading Putin and the Russian military and are shrugging of what Putin has made explicit about Russia's position as a bluff. The media is preparing the American people for a righteous conflict with Russia because freedom. Looking like Iraq redux except Putin is not Saddam, and Russia is not Iraq. Russia actually has WMD, and they are now at the ready.
Consortium News
Nuclear War and Clashing Ukraine Narratives
Robert Parry
10 comments:
Equally important: the Russians are not the Iraqis. Iraqis had little motivation, training, and equipment. Russians, at the other hand, are supportive of Putin; the best Russian units could give a surprise to Americans and certainly to Europeans (I'm told the poor performance of the Chechen war taught them plenty) and they may lack the latest in technology, but they aren't that far behind, either.
Let's remember something: after the disaster of Columbia, the ISS was serviced reliably by Soyuz crafts.
The poor Iraqis, at the other hand, had only relics, which were outdated when they acquired them, their planes had second rate avionics; lacking spare parts and trained technicians to perform maintenance (after all, there was an embargo).
Nukes are at the root of the whole conflict. If Ukraine maintained their Nukes after the fall of the USSR, they would not have neighbors invading their territory. They need to re-arm with a strong deterrent that can reach Moscow and Berlin to keep them at bay.
@ Magpie
the best Russian units could give a surprise to Americans and certainly to Europeans (I'm told the poor performance of the Chechen war taught them plenty) and they may lack the latest in technology, but they aren't that far behind, either.
http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2015/02/about-us-weapons-deliveries-and.html
Read the comments there, too.
If Ukraine maintained their Nukes after the fall of the USSR, they would not have neighbors invading their territory. They need to re-arm with a strong deterrent that can reach Moscow and Berlin to keep them at bay
Why not nukes for everyone?
Ukraine isn't everyone. They are a poor agricultural nation located between two belligerents with a long history of trampling over their neighbors.
With extreme nationalists and neo-Nazis (who are rabid Russophobes) already in the government, and threats of a Right Sector coup if Poroshenko doesn't perform better militarily, what could go possibly wrong with the Ukraine having nukes? I can think of lots and lots of things, not the least of which that the Russians the fingers of the Russians who already have them hovering over the nuclear triggers would start twitching.
The problem with nukes is... they are the best weapon to avoid wars, until a Dr. Strangelove comes into power. There is no shortage of suckers and nihilists in this world as can be seen.
From a risk management point of view is like letting Wall St. sell CDO's to everybody and his mother.
The neo-nazi and nationalist elements like Svoboda are fringe groups. Svoboda only received about 6% of the vote in the last parliamentary elections. To characterize the entire government of Ukraine which is overwhelmingly dominated by liberals and centrists in these terms is dishonest at best. I do read the propaganda too but try to at least sift through and not repeat what is complete fabrication. I suppose it is important to know how each side is positioning themselves with lies though, because that positioning is what usually best tells us the motivation of each side.
They may be fringe groups electorally but not politically because they are armed, and many armed by oligarchs like Ihor Kolomoysky. They are overrepresented in the government and are positioned in security. Moreover, the Right Sector operates a volunteer force that is independent of the regular Ukrainian armed forces. It has been active in the fighting in the East.
Of course, the entire Ukrainian government is not neo-Nazi or Right Sector. However, Yats and Turchinov et al are war hawks and are close with the Right Sector.
Poroshenko is more moderate. He is being pressured from the right with threats for a Maidan 3 if he fails to prosecute the war successfully in the East.
Essentially there are the more moderates, the Right Sector, and the oligarchs. They have different aims and agendas, none of which are particularly relevant to the people at large.
Check this out (from a couple of years ago):
"Australia's JSF [i.e. the new generation F35 stealth fighter] aircraft can't fly in lightning storms"
http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/australias-jsf-aircraft-cant-fly-in-lightning-storms/story-fn5fsgyc-1226580674219
On top, the plane is nicknamed "Lightning".
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