645: Ukraine VIII - Force Majeure

This BBC photograph says it all; the photographer is a true artist.

Force Majeure - "might is right;"  who is going to stop these bastards?

No-one I suppose.

Until the next time

639: Ukraine VII (er, and China)

The BBC tells us today that the Chinese are demanding action from Malaysia – since many Chinese citizens were on the aircraft that tragically disappeared on Saturday last.

Whilst of course I sympathise with those who are related to, or friends with, those in the aircraft concerned, I am interested that the Chinese – that is the Chinese authorities, actually have a voice.

Apart from a brief statement last week the Chinese government has had nothing to say - at least publicly, about the Russian thuggish behaviour and/or Russian-inspired thuggish behaviour in Ukraine.

Russia and China in the tragic communist era had many differences; latterly it seems that their domineering governments have much in common.  If you doubt my word, consider their inhumane and complete disregard of events in Syria (and yes, I know that the Russians, finally and grudgingly assisted in connexion with the disposal of al-Assad’s horrible chemical weapons).  A little concerted action (for ONCE) in the UN Security Council could perhaps avert a great deal of misery for the people these ghastly governments claim to represent.

Until the next time

635: Ukraine VI: Putin's Anchlüss

Source

I have changed the flag since the previous one doesn't work any more and is thus embarrassing.

Putin really needs to read a history book, but only as far back as September 1939.  What he should do is have some of his thugs dress up in Ukrainian uniforms and then have them blow up a Russian radio station near the border.  Then, like his spiritual predecessor Hitler, he could go to war which is what, quite obviously he wants.

Instead we have a bunch of third-rate Russian oiks swaggering about and insulting the country in which they have no business at all.  Ironically, some of them raided a Ukrainian TV station and stole some equipment.

Veritably a triumph for Russian arms eh?

Putin, who could stop all this crap with a word, is quite obviously a criminally-irresponsible shit.

Until the next time

633: Unbuttered Parsnips - Ukraine V

Source

Well there have been plenty of fine words expressed on the subject of Putin's blatant aggressive stance and actions in a country other than his own: Ukraine.

I am ashamed of the behaviour of the United Kingdom government; yes there have been a few stern words, but the breathtaking incompetence - the carrying of a document in public view, showing apparently this country's lily-livered position, is profoundly embarrassing and indeed, pathetic.

So far - as is always the case - only the US has actually done anything and as usual, Europe sleepwalks, wringing its powerless hands.  Pathetic.  And I doubt if NATO would ever actually do anything; I wonder how much NATO costs us? What's the point of it? And the UN is a talking-shop every bit as impotent as was the League of Nations in the 1930s.

The Tsar declares that the Ukrainian government is one of "fascists and anti-semites (rubbish);" he describes the Ukrainians as having carried out an "armed coup."  He is a liar, a bully and a fascist/NKVD/Chekist thug.  It was his puppet then in Kiev who ordered snipers to shoot down unarmed protestors.  Now he is metaphorically goose-stepping around, allowing his invading soldiers, and more sinisterly, some half-uniformed thugs, to attempt to provoke the Ukrainian soldiers WHO ARE ON THEIR OWN TERRITORY, into defending that territory.

Last night, I saw on the television, an interview with American senator Mr John McCain; I was pleased to hear him refer to the events of the 1930s in  Central Europe just as I did on this blog a few days ago; perhaps he is one of my readers?  And US Secretary of State, Mr John Kerry was fairly robust today. 

I should add that I groaned in despair at the sight of Russian-speaking Ukrainian citizens, gathered around a statue of that murdering tyrant Lenin, carrying Soviet flags; how stupid are these proles?  Have they never read a book? Have they never heard of the starving to death (by Stalin) of millions - yes millions - of their countrymen in the 1930s, all in the name of "progress" under that self-same flag?

Amongst the books I am currently reading is Sir Winston Churchill's first volume of his history of the Second World War, The Gathering Storm.  I now appreciate to the fullest extent that no-one ever seems to learn  the so-called "lessons of history." The book (written in 1947) is full of nicely-expressed (and apposite) sentiments, and I shall end this post with the following quote:

"Virtuous motives, trammelled by inertia and timidity, are no match for armed and resolute wickedness."*

Amen to that.

Until the next time.

*Sir Winston Churchill The Gathering Storm, Cassell 1949 p.171

630: Ukraine IV

 

The unfolding crisis in Ukraine appears to be the sort of thing that breeds nightmares; why is Russia living in the 19th century - or at least acting in 19th century style?

Certain "tweeters" have observed the irony of these events occurring 100 years since 1914, a rather obvious parallel to draw perhaps.

 

I am more uneasy when I think of the events of 76 years ago, and shall be even more uneasy should a "summit" conference be held at Munich.

It is essential that the megalomaniac Russian president not be appeased and indeed be forced one way or the other to bring his troops back within Russia's borders, where they belong.

Until the next time.

629: SIGINT & COMINT

The terms in the title refer of course to the raison d'être of such allegedly sinister organisations as the NSA in the US and GCHQ here in the UK.

I imagine that with the crisis in Ukraine caused by the corruption and incompetence of Yanukovich, the enthusiasm of thousands of ordinary Ukrainians, and finally the absurd and megalomaniac empire-building efforts of Tsar Valdimir, the SIGINT and COMINT merchants must be very busy indeed - and actually I think that that is a very good and necessary thing.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it Mr Clever-Dick Snowdon and your sandal-wearing pals at the Guardian, after all every dog has his day doesn't he?

Until the next time

628: Ukraine III

It is somewhat curious that over the last few days, the number of visits to this blog has plunged dramatically.  Could it be that with my 627th post concerning the two ghastly "holy warriors" who have been sent to gaol for a jolly long time, I have put people off?  Well I state here and now that I have no intention of moderating my opinions in order to make recognisance of their "(in)human rights."

So, on to today's rant.  This one concerns that megalomaniac, President Putin. 

What a neck this bastard has!  Does he imagine that we are so stupid as to believe that the Russian-speaking citizens of Ukraine are in such danger as to justify the invasion of a sovereign state by 6000 soldiers and their associated armoured vehicles? 

I wrote recently on this subject in speculative mode, suggesting that Putin might be grinding his teeth in the face of the Ukrainians daring to throw out their president, whose personal corruption would appear to be sufficient even to discountenance an African politician.

Being well aware of President Obama's weakness and lack of resolve, decent bloke though he is (think about the Syrian "red line" poison-gas farce for example) and the remarkable ineptitude of the European Union, Putin probably feels that he can get away with this just as he did in Georgia in 2008; after all nobody did anything about that did they?

I was wondering today how it is that Russia with a GDP roughly the same as Italy's, and therefore about 20% smaller than that of the UK can afford her enormous armed forces.  I suppose that this is achieved by the simple expedient of keeping most of the population poor.

Give that man a Nobel Peace Prize!

Until the next time.

625: Ukraine II

 

 

It is reported today that Russian Prime minister (and sometime president) M. Dimitri Medvedev has questioned the legitimacy of the current rulers in Ukraine following last week's upheaval; "an armed mutiny" he calls it.  It is a typically one-sided statement - so common from the Russians (and indeed from the Chinese on occasion).  When the so-called democratically-elected president and his cronies choose to employ snipers to shoot dead unarmed (note that word) protestors, how are the people expected to react M. Medvedev? Another Russian commentator described the result as "mob rule," not bad shorthand for democracy eh!

And I expect that certain persons in the Russian ruling class are perhaps feeling a little uncomfortable at the revelations that on his reported modest salary, the erstwhile president of the Ukraine found himself in a position to acquire a remarkably luxurious country residence.

M. Yanukovich's Dining-Room (BBC Image)

And then there are the cars that have been uncovered!

I recall a news item about a year or so ago concerning a vast palace being constructed in Russia; I suppose that we can all guess who commissioned that one! (N.B. whilst they can sometimes be synonymous, there is a vast difference in modern usage at least, between the terms a "ruling class" and an "aristocracy"; the latter term will not be seen hereabouts in regard to Russia - ever - except of course in an historical context).

It is perhaps surprising to the Russian P.M. that the Ukrainian Parliament actually voted for these changes which were were not imposed by means of tanks and/or "Spetsnaz" forces...

Finally, I note with interest that the pro-Russian supporters in Kharkov have cordoned off the statue of Lenin that stands in the main square.  Good God! And I thought that I was a reactionary!

And on that point, I see that "they" are doing it again: Lvov is now Lviv and Kharkov is now Kharkiv; file with Beijing, Innuits, Myanmar, Mao Ze Dong, Mumbai, "Ken-ya" and all the rest of that revisionist crap, which I do my best to ignore.

Until the next time.

625: Sochi 2014

BBC

My congratulations to the Russians for a stunning show in closing the 2014 Winter Olympic Games; what a superb display it was; the producers, performers and technicians have much to be proud of.

Being not what the French call sportif, I generally ignore athletics, football, rugby and pretty much all sports except F1 and snooker (!) and it was really only accidental that I watched the closing ceremony.  Of course I offer my compliments to all those who took part in the numerous sports; I am sure that they deserve them.

The music, ballet, the celebration of Russian literature and finally the great Russian circus tradition were wonderfully presented and performed - the ballet segment, Scheherazade, was so beautifully done that I had tears in my eyes.  The Russians have plenty to celebrate in these areas.

It is tragic however that I found it necessary to write here about the brutality of the Cossack security guards regarding their maltreatment of the very harmless Pussy Riot members; what a pity...

***********

I hope that there will be a video that I can attach to this post - I would love to see Scheherazade again.  Should such videos become available, I shall certainly add them to this post.

Until the next time

Post scriptum:

In his closing speech, the president of the International Olympic Committee, M. Bach said "Thank you to the volunteers. Through you, everybody with an open mind could see the face of a new Russia: efficient and friendly, patriotic and open to the world..." 

I suppose that many of those living in the Crimea and eastern Ukraine might believe this, but bearing in mind those Cossacks, I fear that a little more needs to be done.
 

624: Ukraine

Source

One can only be awed by the determination of the Ukrainian populace to express themselves in the face of three months of freezing weather and the violent attempts by the Interior Ministry police to break up the protests.

Once again we have seen that a peaceful demonstration (as so many begin) has gradually become violent; the causes of course are 1) the obduracy of the government and 2) the probable influx of tougher elements amongst the protestors.

 

I'd be willing to bet that Tsar Putin, no doubt depressed by recent events, must have been grinding his teeth, reflecting on the glory days of the KGB, when those be-medalled thugs knew how to deal with protests - oh yes!  Tanks, tanks, tanks. In his present role, I suppose he has considered turning off the gas or at least applying one of his price rises!

Anyway it seems as though the protestors are gradually getting their way, with the President, Yanukovich, apparently in hiding somewhere in the east of the country and other high-rankers having sloped off carrying their suitcases of cash - rather like the sort of events that used to occur in certain South American republics.

Very heartwarming is the news that all over the country, statues of mass-murderer and tyrant Lenin have been pulled down.  One wonders why they remained upright so long.

My hope is that the protestors' organisation will have sufficient integrity and control to ensure that the extreme elements are not permitted to influence the outcome.

In the meantime, best wishes to them.

Moving - "Ukraine's Got Talent"

This video is stunning; it helps if you have a sense of history, and some knowledge of the beastliness suffered by the Ukrainians under "the great leader and teacher" a.k.a; mass torturer and murderer, Josef Vissiaronovich Stalin.

But even if you do not have this knowledge you are certainly bound to be in awe of the talent of Kseniya Simononva.



Until the next time