Daniel Kovalik: Why Russia's intervention in Ukraine is legal under international law

[Donald H]

Imho, Russian never had enough troops to seize (much less occupy) Kiev. Scott Ritter believes that assault was a feint designed to hold Ukrainian forces in place long enough to destroy ammunition and fuel dumps. Putin's goal seems to be focused on Ukraine's coastline:

Yours is a popular opinion but so is Ritter's, although Ritter's is hardly being heard and not promoted by the propaganda blitz.
If we considered the use of nuclear weapons by Russia, there's no doubt that Ritter would be right.
If we consider that Russia hardly touched Kiev, the answer leans toward Ritter's explanation.
If we accept that Russia's army was endangered then we could accept that the US/Nato was right.
If we accept that Russia inflicted heavy damage on Kiev in the attempt to take down the Kiev government then the US/Nato was right

Was Kiev heavily damaged?
No, it was hardly touched and the propaganda can't alter that fact.

I have to suspect that Ritter got it right.
But it's certainly a good topic for discussion.

Putin does not have to occupy all Ukraine to "win."
His goal may be to wreck the Ukrainian economy by cutting Ukraine off entirely from the sea?

Russia now faces an active and hostile force on it's borders. Russia needs to neutralize that threat or sue for peace.

I think we can agree that the eventual peace won't be at Zelensky's bidding. It will be on America's terms.

But we really are still in the Sitzkrieg stage with China and the rest of the world still not involved yet.

Nato countries are forbidden by the rules of not fighting in the Ukraine. Is China or N.K. also forbidden? Will China come to the aid of Russia when Russia requests it of them? What sort of aid could China offer that could be agreeable to US/Nato? None?

I'm going to continue to hope that we can hear some logical solutions for ending this war, but that requires people's hopes and biases to be discarded.

 

[Donald H]

It's easy to get the impression Ukraine is winning or that it can win this war if you watch a lot of MSM; I don't believe that is possible. Scott Ritter talks about this at length in numerous videos that have not yet been banned (like his Twitter account)

No doubt that Ritter is America's loose cannon! Especially because he's such a big cannon. Desperate measures have already been taken to shut him up.

 

[georgephillip]

As the war gets older, the facts that trump the propaganda blitz become more understandable and more accepted.

Starting with the fact Zelensky was elected in 2019 to deescalate the War in Donbass. Far right elements in the Ukraine defense forces objected (threatened to hang Zelensky if he attempted to fulfill his campaign pledge?) and the US failed to support the president.

Your link:

"Pushed off the path of diplomacy mapped out by the Minsk Agreement, and receiving no support or pressure to reorient back on it, Zelensky, instead, yielded to the ultranationalists and enacted a decree establishing the Crimean Platform, which, contrary to the mandate he was elected on, promised to de-occupy and reintegrate Crimea, militarily if necessary.

"The first summit meeting of the Crimea Platform was attended by every member of NATO."

 

[Donald H]

Zagreb Pledges to Block Sweden and Finland From Nato.

NATO member pledges to block Sweden and Finland's candidacy

Croatia will block Sweden and Finland’s admission to NATO until the alliance protects its interest in Bosnia, Zagreb said

www.rt.com

Why is this?
Is insecurity causing a crack in the armour? An aggression by one is an aggression by all.

 

[Donald H]

Starting with the fact Zelensky was elected in 2019 to deescalate the War in Donbass. Far right elements in the Ukraine defense forces objected (threatened to hang Zelensky if he attempted to fulfill his campaign pledge?) and the US failed to support the president.

Your link:

"Pushed off the path of diplomacy mapped out by the Minsk Agreement, and receiving no support or pressure to reorient back on it, Zelensky, instead, yielded to the ultranationalists and enacted a decree establishing the Crimean Platform, which, contrary to the mandate he was elected on, promised to de-occupy and reintegrate Crimea, militarily if necessary.

"The first summit meeting of the Crimea Platform was attended by every member of NATO."

Which proves that Zelensky was pressured by the US/Nato to back off on his planned agenda.
Or did Zelensky just lie about his agenda to get himself elected?

 

[BackAgain]

an American voice that is going to be hugely resented but still heard.

Daniel Kovalik: Why Russia's intervention in Ukraine is legal under international law

Russia’s incursion in Ukraine is more justified under the “right to protect” than what the West has done in the past

www.rt.com

Completely against the grain of the propaganda blitz.

Well, that was certainly a bullshit piece.

 

[Donald H]

The second front against Russia will be opened soon.

The Balkans?
Syria?

 

[georgephillip]

Which proves that Zelensky was pressured by the US/Nato to back off on his planned agenda.

The US and NATO have been arming and training foreign fighters (many with far-right politics) for years. Along with Ukrainian neo-Nazis, these mercenaries have been the most efficient killers in the Donbass.

When Zelensky attempted to make good on his campaign promise to reduce the level of violence in 2019, he met a wall of resistance from Azov and others:

How Ukraine's Jewish president Zelensky made peace with neo-Nazi paramilitaries on front lines of war with Russia - The Grayzone

"Back in October 2019, as the war in eastern Ukraine dragged on, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Zolote, a town situated firmly in the 'gray zone' of Donbas, where over 14,000 had been killed, mostly on the pro-Russian side. There, the president encountered the hardened veterans of extreme right paramilitary units keeping up the fight against separatists just a few miles away."

Scott Ritter's made the claim that Zelensky was threatened with hanging if he pursued a policy of de-escalation in Donbass. The US and NATO did nothing to back Zelensky, so here we are fighting the evil dictator Putin to the last drop of Ukrainian blood.

 

[badger2]

Pre-Zelenskiy links to CIA's Ukraine involvement for decades.

Yesterday, true to the West's schizoid form:

Putin to Guterres: "The UN tribunal has recognized Kosovo's right to self-determination, so Donetsk and Luhansk have the right to self-determination, too."

Guterres to Putin: "But the UN did not recognize Kosovo."

Putin: "But the tribunal did."

True to effeminate NATO protection-racket form: US, UK to provide Sweden with security guarantee (before [italics]) joining NATO.

 

[badger2]

an American voice that is going to be hugely resented but still heard.

Daniel Kovalik: Why Russia's intervention in Ukraine is legal under international law

Russia’s incursion in Ukraine is more justified under the “right to protect” than what the West has done in the past

www.rt.com

Completely against the grain of the propaganda blitz.

Yes, Russia is light years ahead of Ukraine for the History of the preservation of minority languages inside its borders, from Armenian, Nenets, Chuvash, to Udihe of the Primosrkye Krai.

 

[Donald H]

Putin makes an ominous warning that Russia will use all the weapons at their disposal if Nato countries continue to interfere. The story can be seen at RT.com.

Some are finding it objectionable when I post links from that site.

 

[Donald H]

Imho, the last thing the US wants in Ukraine is peace.
DC will fight Russia to the last Ukrainian and then move on to Sweden and Finland.
The US has a long history of overthrowing foreign government, and Russia has always been at the top of that list:

Opinion | Cheering a ‘Democratic’ Coup in Ukraine

"There has been, of course, a long and inglorious history of the U.S. government supporting the overthrow of elected governments: Mossadegh in Iran in 1953, Arbenz in Guatemala in 1954, Allende in Chile in 1973, Aristide in Haiti twice, Chavez in Venezuela briefly in 2002, Zelaya in Honduras in 2009, Morsi in Egypt in 2013, and others.

"After Yanukovych, the next target of these U.S.-embraced 'democratic' coups looks to be Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela."

Yes, bombing their countries to bring them (democracy?)

But the Ukraine could be the first instance of resistance by another competing super power. It might not be too late for Venezuela.

Iran is untouchable and Syria was saved by Obama and Putin.

 

[georgephillip]

The second front against Russia will be opened soon.

The Balkans?
Syria?

Finland, maybe?
From 2019:

White nationalists from around the world are meeting in Finland. Here's what you need to know.

"Far-right extremist groups from around the world have, for years, been quietly working behind the scenes to amplify their messaging through forging international alliances.

"And they’ll be building those bonds in person this weekend in Finland, at an event that underscores the growing internationalization of the white nationalist movement.

"The second annual 'Awakening' conference..."

 

[Donald H]

Finland, maybe?
From 2019:

White nationalists from around the world are meeting in Finland. Here's what you need to know.

"Far-right extremist groups from around the world have, for years, been quietly working behind the scenes to amplify their messaging through forging international alliances.

"And they’ll be building those bonds in person this weekend in Finland, at an event that underscores the growing internationalization of the white nationalist movement.

"The second annual 'Awakening' conference..."

Finland? Only useful as an intimidation tactic against Russia, but it has a downside in the midst of an ongoing war. WW3 is threatening and being a neutral offers some hope.

I'm wondering if all Nato countries could be having second thoughts on being dragged into America' war against Russia?

I can't be anymore blunt about it than that.

Why isn't America looking for a solultion for peace so the whole thing can be called off?
It has to be believed that the Russian people will lose strength and confidence in their country, and rise up in protest.

If peace comes, there won't be a losing and a winning side. Both sides will spin it politically as their win. Nuclear weapons discount the possibility of a victory as was claimed by the allied side in WW2.

 

[Ringo]

If the Fed's swag of reptilians had been halved, (lake they did with rusiian money abroad) they would have started a nuclear war in the next 5 minutes.
No options. Thank the russians for their barbarity, you sons of bitches.

 

[SavannahMann]

Preposterous.

Look. It doesn’t matter who says the lie. It is still a lie. If the lie is told by the greatest religious scholar of our time. It is still a lie. If it is repeated by a lettered professor. It is still a lie.

Let’s start with the biggest and most obvious difference. Putin lied. During the buildup Putin denounced Biden for warning that Russia would invade.

America spends a great deal of time explaining what we are doing. And why. America nearly always has authority from the one of the recognized International Governing Bodies. We tell other nations this is what we believe should happen. And the bodies made up of many nations. Agreed.

Russian Actions are barbaric. That is the truth. The actions are unjustified. That is the truth. The propaganda is still a lie. No matter who says it.

 

[georgephillip]

America spends a great deal of time explaining what we are doing. And why. America nearly always has authority from the one of the recognized International Governing Bodies. We tell other nations this is what we believe should happen. And the bodies made up of many nations. Agreed.

America is fighting for regime change in Russia to the last drop of Ukrainian blood, and this policy has been in place since Operation Red Sox in 1949.

In 2014 an American diplomat picked the next Prime Minister of Ukraine after a violent mob drove a duly elected president from office.

In April 2021, at the urging of America, Zelensky issued a declaration of intent to retake Crimea and built up his forces on the border with Donbass.

Putin had a much better reason for his invasion than Bush had for his assault on Iraq in 2003 which has killed, maimed, and displaced millions of innocent civilians.

 

[georgephillip]

Why isn't America looking for a solultion for peace so the whole thing can be called off?
It has to be believed that the Russian people will lose strength and confidence in their country, and rise up in protest.

Imho, proxy war is the best way for America to gain a similar measure of control over the Russian state as we had when Yeltsin was in office. There was a massive theft of Russian natural resources that created dozens (hundreds?) of billionaires in both countries. We can't change any of this by "choosing" between Republican or Democrat in the voting booth.

Hypocrisy of Russia-Did-It Stories Is Hard to Stomach - FAIR

 

[Donald H]

Imho, proxy war is the best way for America to gain a similar measure of control over the Russian state as we had when Yeltsin was in office. There was a massive theft of Russian natural resources that created dozens (hundreds?) of billionaires in both countries. We can't change any of this by "choosing" between Republican or Democrat in the voting booth.

Hypocrisy of Russia-Did-It Stories Is Hard to Stomach - FAIR

I'll get to reading and thanks.

 

[Donald H]

Here's another story posted at antiwar.com

On Ukraine, the World Majority Sides With Russia Over US - Antiwar.com

2014 saw two pivotal events that led to the current conflict in Ukraine. The first, familiar to all, was the coup in Ukraine in which a democratically - John V. Walsh for Antiwar.com

original.antiwar.com

On Ukraine the World Majority Sides With Russia Over U.S.

Out of 195 countries, only 30 have honored the US sanctions on Russia. That means about 165 countries in the world have refused to join the sanctions.

The tide could be turning, based on the Iraq experience and all the other wars of aggression not just being ignored.

The awakening was starting to become evident even on this forum. Initially with Americans' first consideration being domestic politics of hate for Biden and his war.

But even the lack of enthusiasm for the propaganda was starting to show on Canadian news networks.

There is always hope for peace, even if it's a ceasefire.