RT
March 5, 2015
Victoria Nuland’s anti-Russian rhetoric comes from the neocon camp of US politics, seeking to stir the Ukraine crisis, thrilled by the prospect of defense industry expansion and more arms sales, Daniel McAdams of the Ron Paul Peace Institute told RT.
RT: World leaders and international monitors agree the situation in Ukraine is generally improving. Why are we still witnessing aggressive rhetoric from some US officials?
Daniel McAdams: Because the US does not want peace to break out. The US is determined to see its project through. But unfortunately like all of its regime change projects this one is failing miserably. Victoria Nuland completely disregards the role of the US in starting the conflict in Ukraine. She completely glosses over the fact that the army supported by Kiev has been bombarding Eastern Ukraine, as if these independent fighters in the east are killing themselves and their own people. Victoria Nuland was an aid to Dick Cheney; she is firmly ensconced in the neocon camp. The neocons believe very strongly in lying, the noble lie… They lied us into the war in Iraq; they are lying now about Ukraine. Lying is what the neocons do.
RT: Nuland listed a lot of hostile actions by Russia without providing any reliable proof. Do you think she can she be challenged on these topics?
DM: Maybe she is right but the US hasn’t provided one piece of proof, except for Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt’s Rorschach tests he passes off as a satellite photo. Maybe they are true but we have to present some evidence because we’ve seen now the neocons have lied us into the war. This is much more serious than the attack on small Iraq. This has the potential for a global nuclear war. So I think they should be held to a higher level of scrutiny. Thus far they have not provided any. We do know however that the US is providing military aid. As the matter of fact this week hundreds of American troops are arriving in Ukraine. Why is that not an escalation? Why is it only an escalation when the opponents of the US government are involved?
RT: How probable is that the Western nations ship lethal aid to Ukraine?
DM: It is interesting because Victoria Nuland this week spent some time with Andriy Parubiy, one of the founders of the fascist party in Ukraine and I believe one of the founders of the Joseph Goebbels Institute. She met with him this week and had a photo taken with him. He came back to Ukraine and assured his comrades that the US will provide additional, non-lethal weapons – whatever that means – and felt pretty strongly that they would provide lethal weapons. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey has been urging the US government to provide lethal weapons as has the new US defense secretary [Ashton Carter], both of whom come from the military industrial complex which is thrilled by prospect of a lot more arms to be sold.
RT: Nuland has said the State Department is in talks with EU leaders for another round of sanctions on Russia. Do you think the EU will agree?
DM: I think they will be pressured into agreeing. It is interesting that Nuland said that the new Rada, the new Ukrainian parliament, in this first four months has been a hive of activity. I was just watching some videos from the fights in the Ukrainian parliament. So that was one bit of unintentional humor probably in her speech. It looks like a fight club over there.
[Daniel McAdams is Executive Director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity. He served as foreign affairs advisor to US Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) for 12 years.]
Related article:
‘We should absolutely consider lethal aid’ to Ukraine – US Gen. Martin Dempsey
RT
March 4, 2015
Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman Joint Chiefs oF Staff
Even with a sustainable ceasefire active in Ukraine, the US top brass is nursing schemes of arming Kiev troops with lethal aid, while the US president has prolonged anti-Russian sanctions introduced a year ago in connection with the Ukraine crisis. It’s the first time that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, has spoken out in favor of supplying Kiev troops with American weapons. “I think we should absolutely consider lethal aid and it ought to be in the context of NATO allies because [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s ultimate objective is to fracture NATO,” AFP cited Dempsey, speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee.
US Army Europe Commander Ben Hodges said in Berlin on Tuesday that Ukraine is demanding from Washington “intelligence, counter fire capability and something that can stop a Russian tank.” Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges said that supplying Ukraine with lethal aid is going to increase stakes for Russia, accused of helping the rebels in eastern Ukraine militarily, something Moscow consistently denies. “When [Russian] mothers start seeing sons come home dead, when that price goes up, then that domestic support begins to shrink,” Hodges said, as cited by AP. “If you don’t have something that gives muscle to the diplomacy, to the economic aspect, then it’s not going to be as effective,” he said.
A month ago, when the conflict in eastern Ukraine was in full swing, the Obama administration, was considering sending only “defensive” weapons to Kiev forces. Now that the armed hostilities in Ukraine have been put on hold in general, Washington is going public with plans to supply Kiev with lethal aid. US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, said on Wednesday that Obama has not yet decided whether to send arms to Ukraine. Nuland said that Obama has received recommendations and advice from cabinet members but is still deliberating.
America’s NATO allies, namely France and Germany, have spoken against arming Ukraine, a move that could shatter the fragile peace that have just settled in the country torn by a civil war. Both sides of the conflict are currently fulfilling their obligations under the peace agreement signed between the Kiev authorities and the rebels on February 12, pulling away all major artillery and multiple rocket launching systems from the frontline. British Prime Minister David Cameron has said last week that UK is not going to supply Ukraine with lethal weaponry, but British troops might support Kiev with tactical intelligence, training and logistics.
Poland also announced it may follow the UK’s lead and send military advisers to Ukraine to help train troops. In early February, the foreign minister of NATO member state Lithuania told media that his country should provide defensive arms to Kiev. According to UN estimates, the number of casualties from the Ukrainian conflict – now 11 months old – exceed 6,000.
Obama prolonged anti-Russian sanctions. When it comes to sanctions against Russia, which is accused of providing military support to the Ukrainian rebels, NATO member states are presenting united front. On Tuesday, Western powers once again threatened Moscow with more sanctions if Russia, which has always stressed is not a side of the conflict, somehow violates the truce. The US President Barack Obama has prolonged the sanctions introduced against Russia by Executive Order 13660 on March 6, 2014, “to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.” The actions of the Russian government “undermine democratic processes and institutions in Ukraine; threaten its peace, security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; and contribute to the misappropriation of its assets,” claims the order.
The US sanctions against Russian economy and authorities are prolonged for another year. But European states that have suffered the worst consequences from the Russia’s countermeasures, are likely to reconsider the trade war with Moscow, believes Russian Economic Development Minister Aleksey Ulyukaev.
Europe considers suspending sanctions. “As regards the sanctions, I have mentioned some aspects of this issue,” Ulyukaev said following talks with the new EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom. “Firstly, the aspect of the political development now that we see that the Minsk agreements are implemented in real life, when the tensions fall, when there is a real separation of the conflict participants, and this is the reason for a revision. As far as I understood, Malmstrom treats my position with understanding, and she shares it in general,” said Ulyukaev as cited by Prime business news agency.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said on Tuesday that sanctions could be removed altogether if the Minsk peace agreements are fully observed.
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