President Obama’s key speech in Brussels on Ukraine and attempts to isolate Russia appears to be an exercise of omission, mutually-exclusive statements and unveiled double standards.
Here’s a quick look at what Obama told an audience of some 2,000 people in his damning 30-minute speech.
“Each of us has the right to live as we choose.”
But it’s true only for those good pro-European protesters in Kiev, who used firebombs and batons to make their point. The bad pro-Russian residents of Crimea are not allowed to, right?
A man prepares to cast his ballot during the referendum on the status of Ukraine’s Crimea region at a polling station in Simferopol March 16, 2014 (Reuters / Vasily Fedosenko)
“Together, we’ve condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rejected the legitimacy of the Crimean referendum.”
That’s right. Referendum = bad. Firebombs = good.
An anti-government protester throws a Molotov cocktail towards Interior Ministry members during clashes in Kiev, February 18, 2014 (Reuters / Maks Levin)
Well, Obama says Russia invaded Ukraine while the US and the EU stayed at arm’s length and allowed things to settle down.
“Make no mistake, neither the United States nor Europe has any interest in controlling Ukraine.”
And they absolutely didn’t send troves of officials to Kiev to cheer up anti-government protesters. And when Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland discussed with Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt who should and who shouldn’t be in the next Ukrainian government, that was merely small talk between two observing diplomats.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland (R) and U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt (2nd R) distribute bread to riot police near Independence square in Kiev December 11, 2013 (Reuters / Andrew Kravchenko)
When it comes to invasions, President Obama has a lesson or two to teach Russians.
“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.“
This sovereign nation has only token sovereignty over Kurd territories in the north. Terrorists roam free in some rural areas and want to carve an Islamist state of it. And deaths from car bombs are more frequent then deaths from car accidents. A decade of statecraft later, at least 7,800 civilians and 1,000 troops killed in 2013 alone. Mission accomplished.
ecurity officials and rescue workers collect evidence at the site of a bomb blast on outskirts of Peshawar March 14, 2014 (Reuters / Fayaz Aziz)
Obama mentioned another interventionist success story in his speech, that of Kosovo.
“NATO only intervened after the people of Kosovo were systematically brutalized and killed for years.”
Good point. Of course the alliance didn’t bother to get a UN Security Council mandate and bombed the Serbian capital, killing hundreds of civilians in the process, in violation of international law. The same law which Obama accuses Russia of violating with Crimea. But that was even before Bush Jr., so who cares?
The Yugoslav Army Headquarters building hasn’t been rebuilt after being damaged by cruises missiles in April 1999 during NATO’s bombing of Serbia over Kosovo. Belgrade (AFP Photo)
“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.”
That’s Mr. Obama’s version. What really happened was that Kosovo’s parliament unilaterally declared independence from Serbia and later adopted a constitution on Feb. 15, 2008. On the same day, the US and four European states recognized Kosovo as an independent country.
Ah, right, the referendum. Maybe President Obama meant that 1991 referendum (deemed ‘illegal’ by Serbia), whose results were recognized by only one country, Albania?
A woman is reflected in a mirror as she casts her ballot during voting in a referendum at a polling station in Simferopol March 16, 2014 (Reuters)
“We are confronted with the belief among some that bigger nations can bully smaller ones to get their way — that recycled maxim that might somehow makes right.”
World’s biggest bully preaching peace and love. And its flying killing robots are the messengers. And guards in secret CIA prisons are the keepers. And the NSA keeps an eye on those who won’t listen.
As the Romans used to say, quod licet Jovi, non licet bovi (what is allowed to Jupiter is not allowed to the bull). Well, there are no gods sitting in Washington, and some people just don’t want to be treated as cattle.
“Obama says ‘bigger nations cannot simply bully smaller ones’. Wait… what?”
ROLMFAO!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
That’s so damn hilarious! 😆
I’m not to sure if bat ears even knows how ridiculous and ignorant he sounds. This guy says crap and people just look at him like “really” you really just said that? His handlers must be rolling on the floor at how moronic they make him look.
Yep, I completely agree with you on that one, Redhorse.
This one is beyond ludicrous.