Over the weekend I watced a video of Ukrainian president Yanukovich's security forces gunning down unarmed protesters. The brutal bloodshed was widely reported in the international press and condemned by human rights organizations such as Amnesty International. The terrible incident was also reported in Germany – but with one notable exception: there was no mention of the murder of protesters in the left-wing publications. Instead, the protesters were described as roving bands of "fascists" who were incited by the United States. The leftwing daily Junge Welt ran screaming headlines: "Right-Wing Putsch – Fascists in control in Kiev." The success of the mass protests is being depicted as a severe security threat to Russia. Even worse, the "fascists" are committed terrible crimes:
Im ganzen Land wurden mehrere Dutzend Lenindenkmäler und Denkmäler für den Sieg der Sowjetarmee im Zweiten Weltkrieg gestürzt.
(Throughout the country several dozen statues of Lenin were toppled, along with monuments commemmorating the victory of the Soviet army in World War II."
Of course, the protests had nothing to do with the crackdown on civil liberties in the Ukraine, or the massive corruption of Yanukovich and his close circle who looted $$billions from the national coffers. Rather, as learn in NachDenkSeiten, the whole thing was orchestrated by the United States:
Der Protest in der Ukraine war gut und teuer organisiert.
Für 2012 gibt es dazu nähere Angaben. Die USA gaben für ihre weltweite Einflussarbeit mindestens 5 Milliarden $ aus. Über die NED, die National Endowment for Democracy in Washington D.C. wurden 2012 117 Millionen in die Ukraine geleitet. Die Beauftragte der US-Regierung für die Ukraine und einige andere Länder der Region, Nuland, hat bei einer Pressekonferenz im Dezember 2013 davon berichtet.(The protest in the Ukraine was well funded and well-organized: We have details from expenditures. Worldwide the US spends over $5 billion to expand its influence. The National Endowment for Democracy in Washington DC channeled $117 million to the Ukraine. The US envoy to the region, Nuland reported about this a press conference.)
What types of evil, fascist enterprises did the Americans fund? NachDenkSeiten helpfully provides a detailed list. Here is typical grant:
Independent Association of Broadcasters
$39,271
To raise awareness of human rights, protect freedom of speech, and educate youth about the role of media in democratic society. The Association will organize its third annual “Kinomedia” festival, which will include film screenings and public lectures in seven Ukrainian cities. The Association will also organize a short film competition for youth, focusing on media freedom, democracy and human rights.
For the German left, any effort funded by the US to promote parliamentary democracy, transparency, and objective journalism = Fascism.
Today new documents surfaced in Kiev that outline plans for an even greater assault by Yanukovich against the protesters. Again, no coverage by the left in Germany. Instead, there is constant reporting on how the US is behnd the growing mass protests against repression in Venezuela.
plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose
11 comments
It’s sad that human race has parts like this, people died over there in 2014.
David, what do you think is the German rightwing? The German leftwing seems to be the communist platform within the Left Party for you, and some of the newspapers they run, and some bloggers hardly anyone reads. So the German rightwing could be the NPD, readers of the Nationalzeitung and PI? And the 90% between these extremes are what?
I would include the AfD and much of the CSU under “right wing”. You?
It begins with the CDU.
Does that mean nearly 50% of the population would be considered “right-wing”? I would characterize most of the CDU as “centrist”.
I guess the fact that they were flying Confederate Flags from the American south accompanied by Aryan crosses and other neo-nazi symbols in Kiev City Hall.Then there is the Svoboda Party, known neo-nazi fascist-jingoist party. But Its not so surprising, after all the USA supported Pinochet as well. Its standard policy for the USA to support a fascist group against anything even moderately socialist.
Do you get paid by Russia Today? Tell it to the family of Anna Politkovskaya, murdered by Putin’s thugs.
“Instead, the protesters were described as roving bands of “fascists” who were incited by the United States.”
Disturbing news: “Congress Has Removed a Ban on Funding Neo-Nazis From Its Year-End Spending Bill.”
http://www.thenation.com/article/congress-has-removed-a-ban-on-funding-neo-nazis-from-its-year-end-spending-bill/
@KR,
This piece comes from The American Committee for East-West Accord – part of Putin’s American Fifth Column.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/10/putin-s-new-american-fan-club.html
The co-founder of the Committee, Professor Stephen F. Cohen, is Putin’s principal apologist in the US. Cohen’s wife is Katrina vanden Heuvel – the editor-in-chief of “The Nation” magazine.
That’s interesting!
Does that also mean that the statement is false and the Azov battalion will remain excluded from funding?
Don’t know, but I’m not going to rely on reports in RT and Sputnik to make a judgment. The language of the bill doesn’t mention Azov.