In Ukraine: Reports Of Soldiers Switching To Pro-Russia Side

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In Ukraine: Reports Of Soldiers Switching To Pro-Russia Side : The Two-Way : NPR


The Fascist Menace Across the Continent

Ukraine and the rise of right wing extremism there cannot be seen, let alone understood, in isolation. Rather, it must be examined as part of a growing trend throughout Europe (and indeed the world) – a trend which threatens the very foundations of democracy.

In Greece, savage austerity imposed by the troika (IMF, ECB, and European Commission) has crippled the country’s economy, leading to a depression as bad, if not worse, than the Great Depression in the United States. It is against this backdrop of economic collapse that the Golden Dawn party has grown to become the third most popular political party in the country. Espousing an ideology of hate, the Golden Dawn – in effect a Nazi party that promotes anti-Jewish, anti-immigrant, anti-women chauvinism – is a political force that the government in Athens has understood to be a serious threat to the very fabric of society. It is this threat which led the government to arrest the party’s leadership after a Golden Dawn Nazi fatally stabbed an anti-fascist rapper. Athens has launched an investigation into the party, though the results of this investigation and trial remain somewhat unclear.
Ukraine and the Rebirth of Fascism in Europe | Global Research

We should keep an eye out on our own home grown groups that call themselves the tea party

 

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Granny says, "Oh no Joe, don't be shakin' hands wiff dem Commies...

Biden: US Stands with Ukraine in Face of 'Humiliating Threats'
April 22, 2014 ~ U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has told Ukrainian leaders that the United States will stand with them in the face of what he called "humiliating threats."

Biden is in Kyiv to meet with acting President Oleksandr Turchynov and interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk as the tension in eastern Ukraine shows no sign of cooling off. Biden said the new Ukrainian government has an opportunity to create a united country, but warned the Ukrainians that they first must fight what he called the "cancer of corruption." Biden also said the United States is ready to help Ukraine become energy independent and not have to rely on Russian natural gas.

Meanwhile, Ukraine and Russia are blaming each other for a deadly shooting at a checkpoint in the pro-Russian city of Slovyansk, shattering an Easter truce. Three people were killed. The U.S. State Department has released photographs it says shows Russian special forces in eastern Ukraine. It says Ukrainian diplomats gave U.S. officials the pictures. Russia has denied having any soldiers in Ukraine. It says all the pro-Russian separatists are locals.

Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchynov (R) shakes hands with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden during a meeting in Kiev

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to take concrete steps to ease tensions in eastern Ukraine, including publicly calling on pro-Russian separatists to vacate Ukrainian government buildings they are holding in a number of cites. The Kremlin says Lavrov told Kerry to influence Kyiv not to let "hotheads" provoke a bloody conflict.

Lavrov said Monday Ukraine is "crudely" violating last week's Geneva agreement calling on all armed illegal groups in the east to disarm and leave. The agreement also calls for a mission by European monitors. So far, pro-Russian demonstrators have so far showed no sign of backing down. The pro-Russians are demanding the right to hold referendums on splitting with Ukraine and joining with Russia. A vote last month in Crimea led to the Russian annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula.

Biden: US Stands with Ukraine in Face of 'Humiliating Threats'

See also:

Why U.S. Sanctions on Russia Could Boomerang
April 21, 2014 — President Obama reportedly announced more sanctions last week on individuals and one bank in response to Russia's move to annex the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine. That's after a meeting of foreign ministers from Russia, Ukraine, the U.S. and the European Union's foreign policy chief in Geneva.

"We want the Ukrainian people to determine their own destiny and have good relations with the United States, Russia, Europe and anyone they choose," Obama said in calling for diplomacy to resolve the ongoing Eastern European crisis.

At issue is Kiev's struggle to regain control of Eastern towns largely ruled by armed pro-Russian separatists. "Direct impact of sanctions would freeze assets going towards and away from Russia but authorities have also talked about restricting individuals from investing in Russia," said Gemma Godfrey, head of investment strategy at Brooks McDonald in London. Officials have said an all out invasion of eastern Ukraine would result in broad U.S. and European sanctions on key Russian economic sectors.

Godfrey deemed initial sanctions announced in March against Russia far reaching. "Stage one is a curb on trading and visas and stage two is where asset freezing of European and American companies operating in Russia comes in, which means any mutual fund companies that have offices in Russia would be directly affected and probably limited," Godfrey told MainStreet.

However, a new executive order issued Thursday also authorized possible further sanctions. "Americans will lose out because there are fantastic investment opportunities in various regions and because these sanctions are coming into place on the corporate level," said Godfrey.

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