Kiev Plans Escalated Aggression

by Stephen Lendman

Fascist regimes operate this way. Kiev deplores peace. Democracy in any form. Fundamental rule of law principles.

Breached unaccountably. Over and over again. Operating with full US-led NATO support and encouragement.

Western supplied weapons and munitions. Soviet era stockpiles.

Making a bad situation worse.

Pouring gasoline on a raging inferno. Assuring protracted conflict. Lying about pursuing peace.

In mid-September, Ukraine's Defense Minister Valery Heletey said:

"We reached agreements in closed talks, without media, about…weapons that we currently need."

"(T)o stop Putin," he claimed. "I have no right to disclose any specific country we reached agreement with."

"But the fact is that those weapons are already on the way to us. That's absolutely true, I can officially tell you."

On November 13, Itar Tass headlined "Ukraine pulling military hardware closer to Donbass - Russian OSCE ambassador," saying:

"(I)ncluding artillery and tanks, according to Andrey Kelin. Russia has hard "facts that prove concentration of military hardware (on borders with Donetsk and Luhansk regions)."

"Over the past few days, from November 6 to November 9, we have information about seven cases when army vehicles were pulled to Donbass.

Including tanks, artillery, anti-aircraft self-propelled artillery systems, short-range ballistic missile systems, and multiple launch rocket systems.

"What is to be expected from the local self-defense forces," Kelin asked? "They are reinforcing their positions, since they expect an attack."

"Ukraine has promised not to launch a massive offensive against Donbass. I put that question straight to (its OSCE) representative."

"I asked him to say honestly whether a massive attack against Donbass can be expected soon."

"He thought for while and then said that no attack on Donbass was being planned. He gave me his word."

It's meaningless and then some. One of many Big Lies. On April 27,  joint US/EU/Russia/Ukraine negotiations agreed to refrain from violence, intimidation, and provocative actions.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov explained at the time, saying:

"Participants strongly condemned and rejected all expressions of extremism, racism and religious intolerance, including anti-semitism."

Agreement "call(ed) for an immediate commencement of a broad national dialogue which must be inclusive, transparent and accountable."

"(W)ithin the framework of the constitutional process, which must be inclusive and accountable."

"Resolved by the Ukrainians themselves concerning an end to the conflict." Followed by real constitutional reform.

"(M)esures we have stated concern all regions of Ukraine without exception and all problematic questions without exception," said Lavrov.

"An amnesty for all the protesters must take place, except for those who committed grave crimes."

"Those who took power in Kiev as a result of a coup - if they consider themselves as representing the interests of all the Ukrainians - must show the initiative, extend a friendly hand to the regions, listen to their concerns, and sit down with them at the negotiation table."

All Ukrainians must agree on decisions reached. They "must be mutually acceptable...as this is a guarantee of stability of the Ukrainian state with due regard for the linguistic peculiarities of different regions of the country."

Kiev violated Geneva terms straightaway. Breaching what it promised to support. With full US-led Western backing.

Obama's friends are illegitimate putschists. Societal misfits. Representing ruthless mob rule. Deescalation is a four-letter word.

Fighting never stopped. Violating Minsk September 5 protocol and follow-up September 19 memorandum terms.

Pledging to end conflict. Engage in inclusive national dialogue for peace. A new page.

Kiev straightaway violated the letter and spirit of both agreements. Continuing naked aggression.

Escalating toward full-blown. Perhaps more ruthlessly than earlier.

In response to Big Lies about Russia invading Ukraine, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich was clear and unequivocal, saying:

"I’m telling you very officially there are no military units and no movements of the military across the Russian-Ukrainian border in the south-east of Ukraine and there haven’t been any."

Claims otherwise turn truth on its head. "(A)sk the officials who make such statements in order to fan tensions and justify their actions."

"The military always needs some excuse, so, without a second thought (irresponsible officials) make unsubstantiated accusations."

"Instead of…facts…they…present…unfounded" charges. Bald-faced lies. With no verifiable evidence. None exists.

"They are doing nothing to decrease…tension(s). We cannot but note one-sided information materials of this mission intensifying recently over the situation in Donbass."

"Concentration of Ukrainian military forces is almost (never) reflected." Kiev naked aggression is OK. Donbas self-defense is called terrorism.

Pentagon officials have no evidence of Russian forces in Ukraine. Spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said:

"I don't have any independent operational reporting that would be able to confirm that report that (Russian) formations have crossed the border."

"What we do see is a continued presence of significantly capable and ready Russian battalion tactical groups right across that border."

"And they are close. And they are very capable."

"Russia continues to demonstrate its lack of regard for international agreements and its determination to further destabilize Ukraine."

No evidence whatever corroborates these and other reckless statements. Plenty reveals Kiev's dirty war. Without mercy.

Using cluster bombs, chemical toxins and other banned weapons.

Committing high crimes against peace.

Key information media scoundrels suppress. Blaming Russia irresponsibly for US-supported Kiev crimes.

On November 13, NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow addressed 2014 NATO Industry Forum participants, saying:

Ukrainian and other regional crisis conditions "represent major challenges to our security."

Code language for Washington's quest for unchallenged global dominance. Boasting of US-led NATO war-making capability.

The largest military alliance in history. With over 70 members and partner countries. Over one-third of world nations.

On every continent except Antarctica. Conducting provocative war games near Russia's borders.

Increasingly encroaching on them recklessly. Risking open confrontation.

Ludicrously claiming it supports peace and stability. While waging direct and proxy wars.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev saying normalizing relations depends on Washington.

It's policies are polar opposite. Recklessly risking open confrontation. At the most perilous time in world history.

"To overcome current problems it is necessary to lift sanctions, shift (working) relations…come back to normal, calm and productive talks, then everything will stabilize," said Medvedev.

"This does not depend on us, because we did not impose sanctions. (They're) a double-edged instrument…lead(ing) to nowhere…"

Without resolving "serious problems… (Or) restructuring international relations." Pressuring "the (world) financial/economic system."

Days earlier, Russia's G20 Sherpa Svetlana Lukash said participants may consider new sanctions.

Aimed at "prevent(ing) us from achieving our goal to increase GDP." Pressuring world economies further.

"We will continue implementing those measures of economic policy, which will make it possible to give additional impetus both to our and global economies."

"It was not we who imposed the sanctions. But we are always open to further dialogue. This is our stance."

On November 11, Putin and Obama engaged briefly in Beijing. No formal meeting was planned.

Both leaders last met on June 6 in Normandy. Uneasily. Awkwardly. An unscheduled conversation followed.

Similar to Beijing. Discussing bilateral ties, disagreements, Ukraine, Syria and Iran.

On the APEC Forum sidelines. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

Both leaders "use(d) pauses at the summit several times to talk. (They had) more than two opportunities (to meet) and these were brief discussions."

"(G)reet(ings)…(N)o (real) conversation." No detailed talks. Perhaps later. In "coming days."

So far, nothing scheduled. Putin prioritizes strong Sino/Russian ties. Expanded economic and political relations. Military cooperation if needed.

US/Russian tensions remain high. Washington bears full responsibility. Sergey Lavrov said bilateral ties reached dead-end long before Ukrainian crisis conditions erupted.

Because "Washington does not attempt to take into account the wishes of partners."

"Suggestions our American partners (bring) to the table (are) one-sided…(W)hile we…try to take into account their approaches and find the balance of such issues."

Diplomacy requires "compromise," he stressed. "We're always ready." Washington is polar opposite.

He called sanctions outdated thinking. Unrelated to Ukraine.

Their "true purpose (is) to make over Russia to change its position on the key issues of fundamental importance to us and get (us) to take the position of the West."

"W)e are told to change our policy and approaches. It would be a different matter if we were offered to seek something jointly. But we are told: ‘We know how to act and you must do so’.”

Responsible behavior isn't America's long suit. Washington rules alone matter. Russia stresses cooperation, compromise and balance.

America wants things its way. Bullying other countries to comply. Go along or else is official policy.

Sticks, not carrots are offered. One-sided demands. Non-believers face harsh recrimination. Sanctions. Isolation. Regime change. Naked aggression.

US-instigated conflicts rage. Nothing ahead looks positive. Humanity's fate hangs in the balance.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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