This particular journalist from India is amazing. I have watched several of her videos and this is one of them. Very well thought out and to the point.
Anti-NATO protests in Europe
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Ohhhhh and I see you are only answering on the basis of buying people!
Are we talking about buying them with something to connect toilets and washing machines to vs 2kg of (minced?
)goat meat as compensation for the loss of the father of the family 'defending the motherland on the front lines'?You didn't mention the value of freedom.
And you are right, it would "call for speculation". Not like your previous statements of who is pro-Russia and in what divisions. After all, what can you trust when it comes to opinion polls and elections if not Russian governed populations?
I might think that pre-invasion feelings of these people might have changed since Russia's invasion and how it affected their lives and even further restricted their freedom. Whether it is Belorussian citizens now being at risk of going to the meat grinder. Or the Russian speaking people of Donetsk and Luhansk who have already seen their men be sent to slaughter, I mean liberated.
Would you think the Baltic countries are a reasonable comparison in choosing their oppressor?
I do recall the protests and civil strife to re-join the NEW AND IMPROVED Russian Federation!
And who can forget all those NATO direct mail flyers that begged the Baltics, Poland and others to bring their Septic Tanks into the NATO war machine?
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I disagree. I believe that many honestly and truly believe the propaganda they have been weaned on. No different than religious indoctrination from birth. I bet you could prove it on PET scan.
Having said that, I think a lot indeed has to do with education and the self-selection of those who pursue it. And many of those that are intelligent and educated have left their countries for a freer life elsewhere. Not to say that those remaining are stupid and lazy and will choose their 'pension' to live a simple, rural life. There is a lot to be said for that.
But one thing that is a primal, human instinct is that of freedom. People, individually or as a people, will not give up until they are free.
One way to find out about Belorussian people's wishes is to have a free election.
It isn't freedom one way or another for any puppet state regardless of their quality of life.
United Fruit Company and Honduras ring a bell?
But in short, what is the point you are trying to make? Are you saying these countries are better of being a western puppet instead of a Russian puppet?
First, you are the one calling Ukraine a puppet state. I am only continuing the discussion on that false premise for the sake of meaningful discussion. I absolutely reject your (and Russia's latest talking point) that Ukraine is any sort of a Puppet State. Have you not seen these fucking Ukrainians fight? Have you not heard the esteemed Prighozin himself say how fucking determined the Ukrainians are? Have you not recognized that Ukraine is IGNORING AND DISMISSING the United States suggestions of a negotiated settlement or even abandoning Bahkmut?
You think that ANYONE is going to tell Ukrainians what to do?
I would prefer they make their own decisions freely, not with the barrel of tank or AK-47 pointing at them... or at their back.
And I am happy that I, as part of the free world is providing Ukrainian PEOPLE whatever they need to fight for their right to choose. Guns, planes, tanks, bulletproof vests, generators, wood stoves, food, blankets, clothing, cash. I don't care if they are NATO members any more than I care if my friend in another town asks for my help. If I can help, I will.
Unlike the benevolent Father Putin of the Russian Motherland, I don't see any NATO or western puppetmasters forcing guns into the hands of Ukrainian people.
Oh, and yes I've heard of United Fruit Company and Honduras.
Have you heard of the non-tropical Russian version known as the Gulag and Siberia?
Forced mass deportations of the citizens of
Yeah, ya really gotta wonder whose side is evil eh?
(Just out of curiosity, do you you ever think how you may feel in a few years when you look back on all the effort you have made in your de-facto excusing of the crimes against humanity? )
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Those are contradictory statements. If they make their decisions "freely" then they are not puppets. If they are puppets, they are not making their decisions freely. You are doing the same thing Val did, where you are characterizing a western puppet as "free thinking" and a Russian puppet as "oppressed". Those are double standards. Truth is, they are either free or they are not. This also means you dont care so much about the freedom or quality of life of those people, you only care that Russia loses. So your intent in "helping" these people doesn't hold water. You are not helping them, you are using them to fight your fight. That is manipulative. That is a proxy war. That is what I have been saying all along.
United Fruit Company and Honduras is not comparable to Russian gulags. But, Guantanamo Bay, extraordinary renditions etc are if you catch my drift.
Given all this, the crimes against humanity you speak of are not just Russian responsibility. The west has a lot of blood on their hands because they not only pushed Ukraine into war but are now fueling it through weapon supplies...ahem..."helping" Ukraine.
Your arguments rely on taking a word or phrase then mischaracterizing it before launching off on your tangential argument.
For example, I said that I would prefer them to make their decisions freely, without a gun pointed at them or at their back. And while i did not make it clear, I mean the Belorussian people. But that is pure fantasy as Lukashenko is the most clearly identifiable Puppet Vice-Dictator as there is.
I do not for one moment regard Ukraine or Ukrainian people as any sort of puppet of anyone. And except for you transparent Excuseniks, neither does anyone else.
As for for Gulag. How many million of their own people have Russian dictators sent to their death through forced labour in the past 100 years?
That is a more apt comparison to the Red Herring you bring up about bananas.
And the comparison to Guantanamo Bay is even more ludicrous and demonstrative of the desperation of your feeble excuses for the long, cultural Russian Dictators practice of sending their own people to Siberian forced labour camps.
And I think that everything to do with the US and Guantanamo Bay is absolutely wrong. I don't care how horrific 9/11 was, the subsequent actions of the US military are clearly war crimes. I would hold everyone from the President down to the groundskeepers at GITMO responsible for these war crimes. But to draw any parallels or in your case, to excuse the mass genocide commited by Russian leaders only shows how desperate you are to excuse them at any cost.
You have long ago crossed the Rubicon from your ostensible cover story of non-interventionist to being as morally inhumane as those you now make excuses for.
As for me. Of course I hope Russia loses. I have said for some time that, for the sake of the future of the Russian people, that I hope Putin's self-infliction of a thousand cuts will bleed Russia's military ability to be any sort of threat to anyone. Including, and especially his own people.
Sometimes the only way for a really fucked up person, company or country to recover is to fail. Like the Soviet Union (almost) did last time.
Can you imagine the quality of life and true strength that Russia and Russians would have if they had not acquicesced to a KGB agent with dreams of the return to Soviet times? If Russia had to give up their nuclear weapons under a security guarantee. If they had not allowed their resources to be stolen by Gazillionaires with the blessing of the government?
Now, that would be a workers paradise.
And despite your attempts, you aren't helping with their future.
The problem is that your argument relies on moral double standards and whataboutisms.
Is Belarus a puppet state? Yes I think so. Are they are free country? No. But the same applies to Ukraine. Ukraine is most definitely a puppet state. Things like the Ukraine Reform Council and many other western led organizations have repeatedly called and been in discussions for privatization of Ukraine. Zelensky himself has called for handing over everything from infrastructure to defence to agriculture to western corporations. This is how economic and political control is established.
Similarly, is Russia oppressive and did Russian dictators send their own people to gulags ? Sure. But so is Guantanamo, practice of extraordinary renditions etc.,
You cannot call one oppressive and the other not. You have to be unequivocal in your bashing of all oppressive systems, instead of pretty much saying "My oppression is not as bad as your oppression".
My personal beliefs of being anti-war and non-interventionist, is different from analyzing why we have the war in the first place. My arguments that NATO pushed Ukraine into war with Russia do not in any way contradict my non-interventionist beliefs.
Your argument above is more full, directed, relevant and well fleshed out and I respect it, and you, more.
However, you accusing me of whattaboutism etc is rich considering my responses were just that, responses to the whattaboutisms you went off on. And you still don't recongize nor respect things I have said such as agreeing 100% about anything to do with GITMO (and ALL US actions/policies towards Cuba, Iraq, Vietnam, afghanistan being absolutely unacceptable. GITMO activities being war crimes in my opinion. AS I SAID: ANYONE AND EVERYONE FROM GWB TO THE GUY MOWING THE LAWN!!!!
Here is here we differ:
I believe that we/I should do or support whatever we/I am able and willing to do to help defend other humans being attacked by an aggressor, especially when the attacker's stated intention is genocidal.
As I understand your position is that you believe that we should mind our business and let them fend for themselves.
We both seem quite resolute in our feelings so, as the saying goes, "You do you, and I'll do me".
I sometimes find it hard to sleep knowing that a fellow human being a few hours ahead of me sleeping in their home or muddy trench may be bombed and die. Or be wounded or otherwise have their life destroyed. Ukrainian, Russian, Iraqi, Afghani alike.
I dont know if I agree it is genocidal etc., because that is hyperbole.
However, the one question and this is not specific to you per se, but a general question posed to western nations and people - Why do we express so much outrage when a country like Ukraine (white and Christian) is attacked and we are fully ready to accept millions of refugees, but we dont even talk about people in Syria, Iraq and other nations suffering? I mean even with refugees European nations openly told Syrian refugees to not come.Here is an example:
So it seems a lot of people empathize with Ukraine, due to race. And a lot of western governments support this nation, because they care more about ensuring Russian downfall. I dont find both of these reasons very respectable. (Again, this is not a commentary or observation on your own feelings, or a few others who genuinely want to help, I trust they are genuine. I am simply commenting on the general western perspective - both individual and official).
I don't know about others but I think countries are better off deciding for themselves who they want to work with.
Do you think Ukrainians need people like you to tell them what they want?
I agree. And no. But that is precisely what is happening with Ukraine becoming a western puppet.
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A photo of anti NATO/anti Ukraine protesters
Anti NATO people are beyond special needs.
A photo of anti NATO/anti Ukraine protesters
Anti NATO people are beyond special needs.
Glen Greenwald:
Every US enemy is Hitler. Every country neocons in both parties want to go to war with is Nazi Germany. There are no other historical events that exist.
Thus, you either support every new bipartisan war and be Glorious Churchill, or oppose it and get condemned as Chamberlain.
Every US enemy is Hitler. Every country neocons in both parties want to go to war with is Nazi Germany. There are no other historical events that exist.
Thus, you either support every new bipartisan war and be Glorious Churchill, or oppose it and get condemned as Chamberlain.
Why do you keep arguing that Russia is entitled to determine who Ukraine wants to do business with?
Yes. And Israelis.
I know you want Jews eliminated from the region but there is absolutely no contradiction in supporting a Palestinian sate alongside Israel.
Actually it has been Putin and the Maga crwod that has been referring to Zelensky and the Urianians as nazis. not the other way around. I keep asking. Should Ukraine just capitulate?
