The Meme of “Russian Aggression”
The BBC's Drums of War
The Meme of “Russian Aggression”
by OLIVER TICKELL
“Russian aggression” is the BBC’s meme of the day. I lost count of how many times the phrase popped up in the first 15 minutes of Radio 4’s World at One programme, devoted entirely to the ‘Russian problem – but the theme was drummed in relentlessly.
The idea is that Russia presents a huge a growing threat to world peace and stability. Russian bombers are threatening the ‘English’ Channel (albeit strictly from international airspace). Russia is an expansionist power attacking sovereign nations, Ukraine in particular. And watch it – we’re next!
Commentators wheeled into the studio were unanimous in their views. NATO must stand up to the threat. Presient Vladimir Putin is a dangerous monster who refuses to abide by the rules of the international order. NATO countries must increase their defence spending to counter the Russian menace.
Not a single moderating voice was included in the discussion. No one to ask Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, if alliance aircraft ever fly close to Russia’s borders (they do). No one to point out that the real Ukrainian narrative in is not that of Russia’s ‘annexation’ of Crimea – but of NATO’s US-led annexation of Ukraine itself.
No one to argue that Russia’s assimilation of Crimea was effected with hardly a shot being fired, backed by overwhelming support in a referendum which reflected the popular will – and if you’re in any doubt, just compare it to Israel’s ongoing and endlessly justified annexation of Palestine.
The lies are in what the media don’t tell us
Continued:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/01/30/the-meme-of-russian-aggression/
= new reply since forum marked as read
The people voted, overwhelmingly to leave Ukraine. They were immediately threatened by the brutal coup-sponsored 'gov't' with the loss of their native language, what other fears do you think they might have had, a people predominantly of Russian culture suddenly confronted with that kind of hatred and threat???
The fascist right-wingers handed them to Russia on a silver platter ..... they went willingly.
There were picture after pictures of them lined up to vote, ordinary people wanting to get the hell of a place they were being treated as the enemy right from the start of the brutal coup.
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Two women hold flags reading "Crimea is with Russia" as people wait for the announcement of preliminary results of today's referendum on Lenin Square in the Crimean capital of SimferopolReuters
Crimea parliament has formally voted to declare independence from Ukraine following an overwhelming outcome from the referendum to secede from Kiev rule and join Russia, according to reports.
A formal application to join Russia was sent after 93% of Crimea residents reportedly voted in favour of the split, in a referendum that the US and the EU say violates the Ukrainian constitution and international law.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ukraine-crisis-crimea-votes-join-russia-eu-us-eye-sanctions-1440572
With Crimea's electorate composed mostly of ethnic Russians, the referendum was widely expected to support a split from Ukraine. While the Kiev government called the vote illegitimate and other countries saying they won't recognize the outcome, exit polls cited by officials reported that 93% of Crimean voters supported joining the Russian Federation. That number increased to 95% once half of the ballots were counted. As voting concluded, huge crowds gathered in the Crimean capital of Simferopol to celebrate the outcome.
Evgeny Feldman, a staff photographer for the Russian publication Novaya Gazeta, spent the day in Crimea's main cities, Simferopol and Sevastopol, as the vote progressed under the watchful eyes of masked soldiers aligned with Russia.
People celebrate in Lenin Square, in the Crimean capital of Simferopol, after a reported 95% of people voted to make the peninsula a part of Russia.
The crowd celebrates, waving Russian flags, in front of a statue of Lenin in Simferopol.
Local residents, including a police officer, show identification to get their ballots from election commission members in Simferopol.
A woman votes in Simferopol: Little tension could be seen in the voting booths, where most voters appeared to choose to make Crimea a part of Russia.
A Simferopol voter lets her son cast her ballot during the first hour of voting.
http://mashable.com/2014/03/16/crimea-votes-the-day-in-pictures/
Bread, still less than 50 cents a loaf.
Your "take" won't work against me because I know people who are there and talk to them regularly.
One friend just bought a TV for their kitchen - They made the choice for once by a company called "Telefunken" (older German brand now made in Russia). Works great and cost them $100 (24"
.
Some things have gone up, but not dramatically as you would like to think. In addition Russia has increased social programs to compensate. Housing programs have been increased dramatically.
Several friends I keep in regular contact with their family income more than doubled as all government jobs increased 2-3x in pay overnight. That also had carry over effects on private industry.
What is the purpose of trying to make something sound the way you want it to when it isn't fact? Does it feel better? I just don't get it. You are obviously not talking to anyone who is there?
There are a lot of storefronts closed (Mostly businesses headquartered in Ukraine that were forced to pull out (by Ukraine law)). But plenty of others remain in place.
If you have ever been to that part of the world you might know that they still have large centers of small family kiosks and stands everywhere and those are very good at finding sources and provide a buffer against international business whims. Even so, Russian department stores have moved in and still, interestingly, there are major Ukrainian appliance stores that have somehow managed to continue business (Ukraine was far more corrupt than Russia, likely "blot" is still a factor there)
Although Russia's Black Sea fleet had been stationed on the peninsula for decades, Putin's comments were the first confirmation that Moscow's troops had backed up the so-called "self-defense forces" in the region.
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/vladimir-putin-admits-russian-forces-helped-crimea-separatists-n82756
Here we go once again with the Putin apologists.
and the "russkiy mir" (literally "Russian world" . Putin has spoken very clearly and consistently on these matters for a long time. He consistently talks about areas "which historically have always belonged to Russia". He consistently talks about the obligation to defend the "rights and interests" of "millions of Russians and Russian-speaking" people who live in abroad and in former Soviet countries. Putin's outlook on the breakup of the Soviet Union is very clear. He has consistently declared, as you pointed out, that it was a catastrophe.
As he put it in a televised message last year:
I'm not saying that he's wrong, or that Russia is "evil". But his aspirations and vision for Russia are undeniable, and while I'm sure that Putin would put it in less direct, more guarded, and more general terms, I believe it can accurately be described as "expansionist".
