Russia is preparing to invade the Ukraine – which is a dangerous move and has the world worried, no doubt. Nobody wants to see Russia invade another country, regardless of whether that country was part of the Soviet Union or not. There are strong historical ties between Russia and the Ukraine, and much of the Russian culture and identity is rooted in the Ukraine. It is therefore not hard to understand how these sentiments arise in Russia.
U.S. Secretary of State Kerry made this measured statement on the CBS program “Face the Nation:”
You just don’t in the 21st century behave in 19th century fashion by invading another country on completely trumped up pretext.
Hmm. Isn’t this exactly what the United States did in 2003, only 11 years ago (the 21st century), when it invaded Iraq?
Our pretext was two-fold:
- There were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq which we could not allow to remain in the hands of Hussein.
- Iraq and Hussein were part of the 9/11 attacks and there were Al Qaeda ties with Iraq.
Both pretexts have long been debunked as concoctions by the Bush Administration and propagated by its minions and the military industrial complex.
Whatever we went to Iraq for, it was for fabricated realities, lies, perhaps oil, likely vengeance (Bush’s daddy didn’t finish the job), but it was an invasion of another country on the other side of the globe that had no real connection with the United States.
Unlike Russia, that has deep cultural roots in the Ukraine. Unlike Russia, that is being called by a significant Russian-leaning Ukrainian population on the east of the country. Unlike Russia, a land-locked country with its only southern seaport in the Ukraine.
Let me be clear: I am not supporting Russia’s action at all, but I can see their rationale.
Kerry is unbelievably hypocritical when he claims “trumped up pretexts.”
He’d better think of a another reason, because the entire world must be laughing about this one right now.