Obama’s speech on Ukraine: vocal juggler at work

International media chime on Wednesday’s speech of the US President Barack Obama in Brussels made us download and scroll down the transcript [1]. The overall impression: too many controversial statements and logical faults to take it seriously.

Examples:

– He started nicely with “…each of us has the right to live as we choose, the belief that power is derived from the consent of the governed and that laws and institutions should be established to protect that understanding.” – The undesired truth is that Crimeans have never accepted Kievan governors as the authoritative powers and switched the sides immediately when the situation favored them. Trying to find any kind of Moscow’s hand in people’s uprising in Crimea (or any other Ukrainian region) is a strategic mistake committed by the American policy-makers;

– “It is in response to this tragic history that in the aftermath of World War II, America joined with Europe to reject the darker forces of the past and build a new architecture of peace.” – A very strange assertion given direct American and British involvement in bringing Hitler to power in Germany, his appeasement, setting against Soviet Union etc; [2]

– “Russia’s leadership is challenging truths that only a few weeks ago seemed self-evident, that in the 21st century, the borders of Europe cannot be redrawn with force, that international law matters, that people and nations can make their own decisions about their future.” – as Vladimir Putin said last week, “it is good that they eventually recalled that there is such thing as international law”. Taking into account Kosovo adventure, unlawful ousting and assassination of Muammar Qaddafi, and the result of the referendum in Crimea (96+% for reunification with Russia), Obama’s statement is just beyond absurdity;

– “Together, we have isolated Russia politically, suspending it from the G-8 nations and downgrading our bilateral ties. Together, we are imposing costs through sanctions that have left a mark on Russia and those accountable for its actions.” – transatlantic differences on the issue of sanctions against Russia is a commonplace. A sober look at the NEO-G7 reveals that it is a club of decrepit former metropolis with no serious economic might and political leverage. The only thing they still enjoy is the indulgence and tinsel respect by the rest of the world (based on out-of-dated and ephemeral phobias). Sanctions would cause ZERO damage to Russian industries and individual assets but significantly consolidate Russian political class. This round of political judo is still to be properly evaluated by the West.

– “Together, we are going to provide a significant package of assistance that can help stabilize the Ukrainian economy and meet the basic needs of the people.” – announced sums and conditions of the IMF loans to Ukraine are mortifying to say the least [3]. Social turmoil on the eve of IMF-imposed drastic cuts of public spending in Ukraine is already threatening to sweep away incumbent puppets-in-power in Kiev.

“…the Russian people will recognize that they cannot achieve the security, prosperity and the status that they seek through brute force.” – Zigmund Freud is laughing in his grave. Obama might have been talking about the United States? The least argument Russia had for Crimea was military supremacy. The most notable fact is that even the Ukrainian military in Crimea had strong pro-Russian sentiments. At the beginning of political crisis in Ukraine the number of Ukrainian and Russian troops in Crimea was almost equal: 18,000 for Ukraine, around 20,000 for Russia. The “blockade” was performed without a single victim. After Crimea reunified with Russia last week only 1500 (!) Ukrainian soldiers returned to Ukraine, while 16 000 (!!!) have taken an oath to Russia and joined the Russian army. Could it be done by a “brute force”? You decide.

– “Russia has resisted diplomatic overtures” – Russian Foreign Minister had a countless number of meetings with Secretaries Kerry and Hague as well other European and international counterparts in the last weeks to promote Russian initiative on the establishment of a support group for Ukraine [4]. Russian abstention to interact with the interim Ukrainian administration is quite logic: they lack legitimacy, do not represent any significant popular movement in Ukraine but ultra-nationalist thugs, totally dependent on the Western power groups.

– “Kosovo only left Serbia after a referendum was organized not outside the boundaries of international law, but in careful cooperation with the United Nations and with Kosovo’s neighbors.” – FALSIFICATION (!). There was NO referendum in Kosovo. Kosovo’s provincial assembly did hold a referendum on the possibility of secession in 1991, but it was not done with UN backing, nor did the US or anyone else even recognize the result. Albania was the long state to recognize the vote, and it was never cited as justification in NATO’s 1999 war. The only other referendum to take place in Kosovo came in 2012, under Obama’s watch. In that vote, 99% of Kosovar Serbs in several northern districts voted against being part of an independent Kosovo. As with the 1991 vote, the US rejected its validity.

“But even in Iraq, America sought to work within the international system. We did not claim or annex Iraq’s territory. We did not grab its resources for our own gain. Instead, we ended our war and left Iraq to its people in a fully sovereign Iraqi state that can make decisions about its own future.” – well, it is even inconvenient to comment. A complete trash. The latest briefing on the situation in the war-torn failing state of Iraq is here [5].

“It is absurd to suggest, as a steady drumbeat of Russian voices do, that America is somehow conspiring with fascists inside of Ukraine but failing to respect the Russian people. ” – the facts tell for themselves [6]– Ukrainian ultranationalists are funded and controlled by the US intelligence till now.

Finally, another correct phrase: “No amount of propaganda can make right something that the world knows is wrong.” You are talking about your own propaganda machine, president Obama! Just switch it off!