The Silence of American Hawks About Kiev’s Atrocities

[newthinking]

[font size="2"]The Silence of American Hawks About Kiev’s Atrocities
The regime has repeatedly carried out artillery and air attacks on city centers,
creating a humanitarian catastrophe—which is all but ignored by the US political-media establishment.
The Nation Magazine
Stephen F. Cohen June 30, 2014
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Members of the Ukrainian ultra-nationalist Svoboda Party rally in Kiev. (REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev)

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For weeks, the US-backed regime in Kiev has been committing atrocities against its own citizens in southeastern Ukraine, regions heavily populated by Russian-speaking Ukrainians and ethnic Russians. While victimizing a growing number of innocent people, including children, and degrading America’s reputation, these military assaults on cities, captured on video, are generating pressure in Russia on President Vladimir Putin to “save our compatriots.”

The reaction of the Obama administration—as well as the new cold war hawks and establishment media—has been twofold: silence interrupted only by occasional statements excusing and thus encouraging more atrocities by Kiev. Very few Americans (notably, the independent scholar Gordon Hahn) have protested this shameful complicity. We may honorably disagree about the causes and resolution of the Ukrainian crisis, the worst US-Russian confrontation in decades, but not about deeds that are rising to the level of war crimes, if they have not already done so.

* * *

Initially, the “anti-terrorist” campaign was limited primarily, though not only, to rebel checkpoints on the outskirts of cities. Since May, however, Kiev has repeatedly carried out artillery and air attacks on city centers that have struck residential buildings, shopping malls, parks, schools, kindergartens and hospitals, particularly in Slovyansk and Luhansk. More and more urban areas, neighboring towns and even villages now look and sound like war zones with telltale rubble, destroyed and pockmarked buildings, mangled vehicles, the dead and wounded in streets, wailing mourners and crying children. Conflicting information from Kiev, local resistance leaders and Moscow make it impossible to estimate the number of dead and wounded noncombatants—certainly hundreds. The number continues to grow due also to Kiev’s blockade of cities where essential medicines, food, water, fuel and electricity are scarce, and where wages and pensions are often no longer being paid. The result is an emerging humanitarian catastrophe.

Another effect is clear. Kiev’s “anti-terrorist” tactics have created a reign of terror in the targeted cities. Panicked by shells and mortars exploding on the ground, menacing helicopters and planes flying above and fear of what may come next, families are seeking sanctuary in basements and other darkened shelters. Even The New York Times, which like the mainstream American media generally has deleted the atrocities from its coverage, described survivors in Slovyansk “as if living in the Middle Ages.” Meanwhile, an ever-growing number of refugees, disproportionately women and traumatized children, have been fleeing across the border into Russia. In late June, the UN estimated that as many as 110,000 Ukrainians had already fled across the border to Russia and about half that many to other Ukrainian sanctuaries.

It is true, of course, that anti-Kiev rebels in these regions are increasingly well-armed (though lacking the government’s arsenal of heavy and airborne weapons), organized and aggressive, no doubt with some Russian assistance, whether officially sanctioned or not. But calling themselves “self-defense” fighters is not wrong. They did not begin the combat; their land is being invaded and assaulted by a government whose political legitimacy is arguably no greater than their own, two of their large regions having voted overwhelmingly for autonomy referenda; and, unlike actual terrorists, they have not committed acts of war outside their own communities. The French adage suggested by an American observer seems applicable: “This animal is very dangerous. If attacked, it defends itself.”

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Full Article: http://www.thenation.com/article/180466/silence-american-hawks-about-kievs-atrocities#

[DetlefK]

1. One quote that unmasks the article as russian propaganda:

"After Russia annexed—or “reunified” with—Crimea in March, Putin, not Kiev or Washington, has demonstrated “remarkable restraint.” "

Since his invasion of Ukraine, Putin has been a remarkably nice guy who amassed only a portion of the russian army on the ukrainian border and has only issued mere threats that Ukraine shouldn't fight people who would help Russia annex further territory.




"They did not begin the combat; their land is being invaded and assaulted by a government whose political legitimacy is arguably no greater than their own"

That's why Ukraine had elections.

[newthinking]

2. You disagree with someone much better credentialed so it must be propaganda?

[DetlefK]

3. It is propaganda because information was intentionally left out or distorted.

"Putin’s hesitant decision in March to annex Crimea"

If Putin was hesitant to invade Crimea, where did all those thugs, bikers, militants and mysterious masked paramilitaries come from that invaded Crimea? Poor Vladimir Putin had no choice but to occupy ukrainian territory before Ukraine's new government gets legitimized and Yanukovych's ouster becomes permanent. And it had absolutely nothing to do with Crimea being Russia's only access to the Mediterranean Sea now that Syria is marred in a civil war.

The author leaves out basic information and he does so with a pattern. That's why his work is propaganda.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

6. "Hesitant decision" my ass.

Within a week of Yanukovych leaving the country, Russian military (sans insignia) started showing up all over Crimea.

That phrase alone--wildly out of touch with reality--is enough to demonstrate the clear bias and spin of the author of the piece.

[Nitram]

5. "Much better credentialled?"

And how would you know that? You're good, but not good enough. Lies and distortions have a way of leaking at the seams.

[cprise]

7. Is The Nation too seam-y for you?

Perhaps we should relegate ourselves to ABC News or CNN.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

8. All The Nation is is a compendium of various contributors.

You can go through the various contributors and reject or accept whatever you see fit without rejecting the magazine itself as a whole.

I will say that Stephen Cohen does have a pretty easy path to getting himself published there, though.

[newthinking]

10. I would imagine they already do. Even a simple search shows that Cohen is extremely credentialed

Education and career

Stephen F. Cohen's grandfather, while speaking only Lithuanian, Russian and Yiddish, emigrated from Lithuania (then part of Tsarist Russia) to the United States.[2] Stephen Cohen was born in 1938 in Owensboro, Kentucky where his father owned a golf course,[3] and attended Indiana University, where he earned a B.S. degree and an M.A. degree in Russian Studies. While studying in England, he went on a four-week trip to the Soviet Union, where he became interested in its history and politics. Cohen, who received his Ph.D. in government and Russian studies at Columbia University, became a professor of politics and Russian studies at Princeton University in 1968, where he taught until 1998, and has been teaching at New York University since.

Cohen is well known in both Russian and American circles. He is a close personal friend of former Soviet Pres. Mikhail Gorbachev, advised former U.S. Pres. George H.W. Bush in the late 1980s, helped Nikolai Bukharin's widow, Anna Larina, rehabilitate her name during the Soviet era, and met Joseph Stalin's daughter, Svetlana.[citation needed]

Since 1998, Cohen has been professor of Russian Studies and History at New York University, where he teaches a course titled "Russia Since 1917." He previously taught at Princeton University. He has written several books including those listed below. He is also a CBS News consultant as well as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Cohen has a son and a daughter from his first marriage to opera singer Lynne Blair, from whom he is divorced. Cohen is now married to Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor of the progressive magazine The Nation, where he is also a contributing editor. They have one daughter.

[newthinking]

9. Um, you might want to remove this post lol

Ever heard of google? You might want to make sure you know just a little something about what you are talking about before you make a reply like that.


Education and career

Stephen F. Cohen's grandfather, while speaking only Lithuanian, Russian and Yiddish, emigrated from Lithuania (then part of Tsarist Russia) to the United States.[2] Stephen Cohen was born in 1938 in Owensboro, Kentucky where his father owned a golf course,[3] and attended Indiana University, where he earned a B.S. degree and an M.A. degree in Russian Studies. While studying in England, he went on a four-week trip to the Soviet Union, where he became interested in its history and politics. Cohen, who received his Ph.D. in government and Russian studies at Columbia University, became a professor of politics and Russian studies at Princeton University in 1968, where he taught until 1998, and has been teaching at New York University since.

Cohen is well known in both Russian and American circles. He is a close personal friend of former Soviet Pres. Mikhail Gorbachev, advised former U.S. Pres. George H.W. Bush in the late 1980s, helped Nikolai Bukharin's widow, Anna Larina, rehabilitate her name during the Soviet era, and met Joseph Stalin's daughter, Svetlana.[citation needed]

Since 1998, Cohen has been professor of Russian Studies and History at New York University, where he teaches a course titled "Russia Since 1917." He previously taught at Princeton University. He has written several books including those listed below. He is also a CBS News consultant as well as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Cohen has a son and a daughter from his first marriage to opera singer Lynne Blair, from whom he is divorced. Cohen is now married to Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor of the progressive magazine The Nation, where he is also a contributing editor. They have one daughter.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

11. So educated people are incapable of having an agenda?

That's news to me.

[newthinking]

14. aha...

I see what you are doing...

Here, I will make a short version..

I said so
No you didn't
yes you did

There, now we can both go out and get fresh air.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

21. Actually, it's more like this:

"Steven Cohen is completely impartial and is undoubtedly telling the God's honest truth when it comes to Ukraine!"
"Why is that?"
"Because he's smart!"

[newthinking]

22. He is obviously not impartial because he invested his career in understanding across cultures

That is the thing about diplomacy and finding peace in the world. You are never going to find two cultures thinking exactly alike. Understand the viewpoint from each other's side is what makes peace and diplomacy work.
History can rarely be truly seen through only one lens, something every good historian and most diplomats understand. There usually is more than one version of events, both of which are seen through cultural lenses. What happened in Ukraine is a dramatic example of that. There are no accurate definitions for a "good overthrow/revolution/coup/ whatever vs a "bad" one. Even international law is argued all the time regarding where the rights of a nation vs rights of peoples within those nations and their boundaries.

That is why, ultimately, what matters is not the nature of the "revolution", but that the consequences of it respect human rights and dignity.

Do you really think that Kiev could not bring in some moderate professionals that are trusted by the east and replace more of the officials that are untrusted? There are many ways that Kiev could actually gain legitimacy while at the same time disarm the issues. But they are tone deaf (or they don't care?)

[Tommy_Carcetti]

25. Listen, the guy's clearly a Russophile. And that in and of itself is perfectly fine.

There's nothing at all intrinsically wrong about having an admiration towards Russian culture and history.

But on the same account, people have the right to bring up his stated biases and lack of partiality when it comes to his analysis of the situation in Ukraine. And the fact of the matter is, Russia has a very warped perspective when it comes to all things Ukraine. So one must take with a certain grain of salt advocates of such a perspective.

[newthinking]

26. It is a good thing diplomats don't in general think like that. "grain of salt"

They look to find the common ground between viewpoints. The same thing I have been trying to do in our discussions. But you just won't give any legitimacy whatsoever to the Russian viewpoint. You're viewpoint, so far, is on the opposite side of the spectrum: Toward the Russophobic and that is unfortunate as you do seem very interested in the region and I doubt you would be one to actually discriminate against the Russian people.

But it makes it very difficult to have an honest and nuanced discussion on this matter.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

28. Listen, I'm sure you and I have some common ground in which to agree.

You and I can both agree there was regime change in the Ukrainian government in February 2014.

We can agree that Svoboda and Right Sector are right wing, ultranationalist parties, and not really individuals you'd like to see in charge in Ukraine.

We can agree that Svoboda does hold several seats in the Ukrainian cabinet under Ukraine's parliamentary system of government.

Hopefully, we'd be able to agree that Ukraine and Russia are two separate and distinct people, albeit with common roots.

The problem is, I give you an inch, and you run a mile. So that regime change turns into a western-sponsored coup d'état, and Svoboda's minor presence in the cabinet becomes Ukraine being run by fascist neo-Nazis hellbent on ethnically cleansing ethnic Russian civilians in the country.

And the problem is, there are factual standards to be observed. And if those factual standards aren't being observed, I'm going to call you--or whoever--out on it.

[Nitram]

12. I see what you mean.

His grandfather owned a golf course! Very impressive indeed. But seriously, Cohen is obviously a pro-Russian apologist and Putin admirer. If that is a credential for honest reporting on Russian meddling in Ukranian affairs, then I guess you are correct.

[newthinking]

13. Your funny

Not showing much in the way of intellectual honesty... but funny

[Nitram]

18. Likewise, I'm sure. :-)

And the proper usage is "you're" not "your." Is your first language Russian?

[Nitram]

4. Pure Russian Propaganda

But the clincher is: "...generating pressure in Russia on President Vladimir Putin to “save our compatriots.”

Oh no, poor Putin will, at great sacrifice to his nation and to his eternal sorrow, "be forced" to invade Ukraine to "save" Russian-speaking Ukranians! If only Kiev had the sense to eternally bind itself to Russia instead of opening free trade relations with Europe. The horror!

[Chan790]

15. There seems to be confusion over US hawks critizing both sides...

as US hawks not criticizing Kyiv merely because there's more to criticize on Moscow's side of the equation.

[newthinking]

16. Russia offered to jointly monitor the borders and include OSCE and include Ukrainian soldiers

To monitor border activity **on Russia's border** .

Can anyone explain to me why that was rejected? Again, Kyiv acted interested and then did not follow through.

And of course nothing in our media about this:

[font size = "3"]Russia's foreign ministry said Putin suggested that both Ukrainian border guards and observers from the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe be stationed on the Russian side of the border[/font].

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140701_09.html

Russia proposes joint border control with Ukraine
Russia has proposed deploying Ukrainian and European observers at checkpoints along its border with Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin made the proposal during telephone conversations on Monday with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.

Russia's foreign ministry said Putin suggested that both Ukrainian border guards and observers from the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe be stationed on the Russian side of the border.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the plan will demonstrate that checkpoints are not being used as entryways into Ukraine for weapons and fighters.

During the telephone talks, Putin, jointly with the German and French leaders, urged Poroshenko, to extend the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine. The truce was due to expire on Monday.

France's presidential office said that Poroshenko agreed to the proposed joint border control.

But Poroshenko released a statement on the presidential website on Tuesday stating he will end the ceasefire.

[Nitram]

19. Russia offered to "monitor the borders?"

How kind of Russia. And we know we can always trust Russia not to overstep the bounds of a monitoring mission. Just look at their "reluctance" to invade and annex Crimea!

[newthinking]

23. What? You are just rambling. Did you not read the article

How exactly do you expect to tame the situation just nuke Russia and kill all Russians?

Did you even read about the proposal? You sound like a right wing cold war nut. The proposal is only about giving to the concerns about the borders and allowing verification, something that everyone agrees needs to happen. It is not the end/all be all but a step that is common sense.

It may be that trust has been so lost that they cannot do that at this point. But that does not mean it is not a good idea. And there is going to have to be steps toward each other no matter who you believe is doing what, the only other alternative would be war between the two countries.

[Nitram]

20. Hitler, stalin, what difference does it make?

We can only judge him by his words and actions. On that basis, he is a danger to Europe.

[truth2power]

30. ..

[newthinking]

24. They arrived right on time lol

Though I have to wonder if this one is for real.

[truth2power]

29. ahem...newthinking

Don't bother.

The truth CANNOT be allowed to gain any traction, otherwise we'd have to start talking about neo-Nazis and such.

Tsk tsk.