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Post by dodger on Apr 3, 2014 12:08:34 GMT
REFLECTIONS ON UKRAINE AND REGIME CHANGE
by Michael Parenti
More than 83 percent of the qualified voters of Crimea recently participated in a referendum to rejoin Russia. And of that number well over 93 percent voted to separate themselves from Ukraine and once more become a part of Russia, in what was a massively one-sided victory .
What should be kept in mind is that Crimea would never have pursued such an action, and Russia would never had been receptive to such a course, were it not that Ukraine was in the grip of disruptive forces that were driving toward "regime change."
"Regime change" is a form of action designed to make it impossible for the existing government to govern. We have seen this organized chaos and endless disruption in various other countries. Well organized groups are financed and equipped by outside western interests. Ultra-nationalists and mercenaries take hold of the protesting crowds and set the direction and pace of action, secure in the knowledge that they have the global reach of the western powers at their backs. The most retrogressive among them in Kiev launched slanderous attacks against Jews, Negroes, Chinese, Muscovites, and, of course, Communists.
In Ukraine, crypto-fascist groups like Svoboda, the Right Sector, and others have had ample funds to keep thousands of people fed and comfortable on the streets of Kiev for weeks, complete with well-made marching flags, symbols, and signs in various languages. Meanwhile the western media report everything the way the White House wants. And the "protestors" perpetrate acts of disruption, violence, and terror.
This disruption is something we have seen in numerous other countries---at this very time from Venezuela to Thailand. The goal of these western-financed attacks has been to make the world safe for the 1%, the global super rich. Ukraine citizens who think they are fighting for democracy will eventually discover that they are really serving the western plutocracy. They will be left with a new government filled with old intentions. Ukrainians will end up with nothing to show for their efforts except a still more depressed and more corrupt economy, an enormous IMF debt, a worsening of social services, and an empty "democracy," led by corrupt opportunists like Tymoshenko.
Russia has stepped in on behalf of Russian Crimea. So Russia is now maligned by the western global plutocrats who seek ways to put Moscow in isolated retreat. Putin is denounced and demonized at every opportunity. Has anyone in the U.S. media ever read Putin's speeches? They are so much more clear and sane than the lies put out by Obama (as in Obama's Brussels speech about how the U.S. has saved and democratized Iraq). The intent is to encircle and reduce Russia to a frightened satellite. But that is much easier said than done. Obama has very few tricks and trumps left to play.
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Michael Parenti is an internationally known author. His most recent books include: The Face of Imperialism and Waiting for Yesterday (an ethnic memoir).
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Post by dodger on Apr 3, 2014 14:55:18 GMT
www.workers.org.uk/opinion/opinion_0414/ukraine.htmlUkraine: the US, the EU and fascism
WORKERS, APR 2014 ISSUE ON 16 MARCH, an overwhelming majority (96 per cent) in Crimea voted to realign themselves with Russia, an outcome quickly confirmed by Russia itself. Sixty years ago Crimea was handed to Ukraine by then-premier Nikita Krushchev in an act which apparently took 15 minutes. The Crimean people were and are deeply unhappy with this autocratic decision, now reversed.
Howls of outrage from the US and EU accusing Russia of annexing Crimea cannot hide their imperialist intentions in the region. The US, using the EU, seeks to extend its power over ex-Soviet territories to open up their economies as a source of US profits. It has met a significant obstacle. How could Russia stand by with such chaos on her border? Crimea, its Black Sea ports central to Russian trade and military capability, is of huge strategic importance to Russia.
For years, tensions simmered as the EU, acting as usual on behalf of the US, sought to lure Ukraine within its orbit and deliver a blow to the old enemy, Russia. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union Ukraine, despite being the third-largest grain producer in the world and with a well developed manufacturing sector, has edged closer to bankruptcy. Around 60 per cent of GDP was lost between 1991 and 1999. The “recovery” after 1999 was largely brokered by Western banks, with onerous interest rates.
Corruption and fraud on a staggering scale remained. The laughably called “Orange Revolution” of 2006 heralded further stagnation, with political power switching from one group of oligarchs to another. Late last year Russia was set to bail out Ukraine’s debts. Now that job will fall to the peoples of the US and the EU.
Things came to a head late last year when elected president Viktor Yanukovych pulled out of an association agreement with the EU and signalled his intention to ally with Russia instead. Protests erupted in Kiev and western parts of Ukraine, where many were dazzled by the prospect of joining the EU, ignoring the nightmare reality for Greeks, Portuguese and millions of others.
Spurred on by the EU, and abetted by terrorist elements, an upsurge of rioting broke out this February. A truce brokered by the US, Russia, the EU and Kiev protesters was immediately broken. The muscle was provided by the far right with snipers and Molotov cocktails, culminating in the occupation of government buildings.
This coup has met with not a word of criticism from the US and the EU. The rump of pro-EU members of parliament who remained cemented it by installing their own government. The EU and US poured petrol on the fire by immediately recognising it. In fact, as has since been revealed, they actively supported the coup, with the US providing a list of “suitable” new ministers. So much for elections!
In so doing, these “democrats” are relying on some of the filthiest fascists in the world. The neo-Nazi Social-National Party of Ukraine (since rebranded Svoboda – freedom!), whose heroes are World War Two collaborators, now has five ministerial posts. Members of Svoboda and the Right Sector control the armed forces, the police, economic affairs and national security, among other areas. On 18 March Svoboda MPs led violent raids on TV editorial offices for spreading “anti-Ukrainian propaganda”. International criticism of the raids has not been echoed by normally vocal Foreign Secretary William Hague.
Ukraine is not a member of the EU nor of Nato, so there is not even that cover provided for western interference. The people of the region must decide for themselves. Ukraine is not our business.
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