The immediate cause of the MH17 disaster was a missile shot by pro-Russian forces who mistook it for one of the military aircraft they had been regularly shooting down. It is a terrible tragedy – and tragically not unique. There have been several such events in my lifetime, including the USS Vincennes incident and the Soviet downing of a Korean airliner.
The problem is that Vladimir Putin has revived the Soviet cult of perfectionism – the idea that the state simply cannot make a mistake. That Putin-backed forces could commit an error is therefore unthinkable, as that would imply that Putin made an error in backing and supplying them. Putin cannot make errors. We have therefore seen a stream of desperate propaganda stories emanating from the Russian media, such as the allegation that it was the government in Kiev attempting to shoot down Putin himself. These narratives are aimed at the domestic Russian nationalist audience, but are accepted by the small band of ardent Putin supporters in the West.
Many people in the West, myself included, have been shocked and alienated by the rampant and vicious immorality of Western foreign policy in what I might call the neo-con era, with the ascendancy of Bush and Blair marking a step change in the open use of military force to grab natural resources – a return to the Imperial heyday. The veneer of concern for democracy and human rights layered over Guantanamo, extraordinary rendition, the curtailment of long-cherished civil rights at home and the mass compound crimes of Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, led to a visceral revulsion.
Putin’s successful opposition to western designs on Syria and Iran gave the impression, quite probably correctly, that a revived Russia was the only effective obstacle to western hegemony, China being passive. But unfortunately this led some who opposed Western neo-imperialism to join in the hero worship of Putin.
The mechanisms of this vary. In my view, the largest number are people who are not psychologically equipped to fight over-mighty power everywhere, which is a lonely path, and prefer the much easier option of joining the entourage of a big power, and convincing themselves that power is good. It is comforting to feel part of a powerful team. Some of course are paid by the Russians, and you see them turning up on Russia Today both as presenters and interviewees, but these are a small section. Some were supporters of the Soviet Union.
What is perhaps most extraordinary is that, the very things which these people criticise most about Western society, Russia and Putin do much worse. At the most fundamental level, the disparity of wealth between rich and poor in Russia is far, far worse than the still appalling level it has reached in the West.
The total Russian economy is 20% smaller than the total British economy. Yet Russia has almost three times as many billionaires as the UK, and the Russian billionaires’ combined wealth is over six times the combined wealth of British billionaires.
Go figure. Yet the delusional continue to contrive to believe that Russia is an alternative to global capitalism.
Russia is not only a much more unequal society than the West. It also much worse in the field of civil liberties and media freedom. Scores of real journalists have been killed, mostly unheard of internationally. The free media has vanished. In the West, the field of opinion reflected in the mainstream media has narrowed right down. In the UK, Andrew Gilligan was sacked for telling the truth about Iraqi WMD, while his source was murdered. But the West is moving in the direction of autocracy; Russia is already there. It in no sense represents an alternative, freer society than the West.
Nor is Russia any less imperialist. Putin is in fact an extremely aggressive nationalist imperialist, as his annexations of Abkhazia and Crimea have shown. Highly significant is the legislation just passed to award Russian nationality to ethnic Russians in former Soviet states. That is racially based legislation. It means for example that 40% of the population of Kazakhstan potentially become Russian citizens, with similar figures in the Baltic states. It is highly aggressive and designed to have destabilising potential.
One fact which has become undeniably clear in the Ukraine is that the pro-Russian insurgency in the East is commanded by members of the Russian military and security forces like Strelkov who are Russian, not Ukrainian citizens, and they are under tactical and strategic supervision from Russia. Again, the self-hating fantasist tendency in the West manage to convince themselves that what is happening in East Ukraine is massive destruction of civilian populations by NATO forces.
People who are that removed from reality cannot be helped.
Much more dangerous are those who do have a grip on reality, who understand exactly what is really happening, and who don’t care. That sums up the position of almost all western governments. The truth is that the financial interests of all those Russian billionaires are completely linked in with those of the super-rich of the West. To take only the UK as an example, these are the people Tony Blair, Peter Mandelson and Boris Johnson lunch and have holidays with. These are the people who employ Gerhard Schroeder and David Owen as lapdogs.
Nobody is more annoyed than Angela Merkel at the downing of MH17, not because she cares about those dead people, but because of the massive effort she has put into ensuring that, whatever Russia does in Ukraine, German economic interests will not be affected. Germany gets most of its electricity from Russian gas, and both Siemens and Mercedes, on a daily basis, have been lobbying Merkel to make sure that nothing is done that hurts German economic interests. Cameron has been receiving the same lobbying from his banker mates. In both these cases, the politicians are being talked to by the people who finance them.
The result is that there has been a strong diplomatic push, particularly by Germany, to divert the question of sanctions on to matters of process. The problem is not Russia trying to annex bits of Ukraine and funding, arming and staffing the destabilisation of a European state. The Germans are seeking to define the problem down to whether or not Russia cooperates in various stages of the air crash investigation.
Putin will continue his dangerous expansionist nationalism because it is a self-trapping path for a politician to take; but also he is encouraged that whatever he does, nobody makes any serious moves to stop him. The people on MH17 were killed because of the pusillanimity of Western politicians, financed and guided by the financial elite.
The pathetic “sanctions” adopted by the US and EU so far have been specifically designed to be completely toothless. They target middle and lower ranking individuals without major western links anyway. None of the top ten largest Russian billionaires has been touched.
Russia’s richest man – Alisher Usmanov – is extremely close to Putin and as chairman of Gazprominvestholdings has been directly involved for a decade in pressurising Ukraine, and was also Putin’s chosen instrument for closing down the free media. But you won’t see Usmanov on any sanctions list – he has 10% of Facebook, 29% of Arsenal FC, the most expensive mansion in Surrey and numerous other western connections, not to mention he is Gerhard Schroeder and David Owen’s direct boss.
Much has been said of the 1.2 billion dollars contract for two amphibious assault vessels Russia has ordered from France. Amphibious assault! Where?
But, actually much more interesting, 1.2 billion dollars incredibly happens to be the combined value of four of the World’s largest luxury yachts, which met together off Cap Ferrat and Antibes from 10 to 16 June this year. They are Dilbar, Madame Gu, Grand Bleu and Hermitage.
In Putin’s Russia, government, organised crime and secret services are absolutely integrated. All were well represented at the series of meetings that took place on those yachts, where deals were done on everything from metal prices to heroin – and Ukraine. If US drones had wanted to do some good in the world, there was their target, but they were too busy killing some 16 year old kid, and numerous bystanders, in Waziristan or Yemen for a dangerous interpretation of the Koran. None of the people at those meetings will appear on any sanctions list, though they are the men who rule Russia with Putin. They will all still be very welcome in boardrooms in London, Berlin and New York.
If Europe had followed from the start the excellent leadership offered by Radek Sikorski, the passengers on MH17 would not have died. I should like to think that the European Council will start to listen to Sikorski now. But I doubt it.
Harry Law
They said there was conclusive evidence that the plane was brought down by the pro-Russian separatists, but no evidence of direct Russian involvement.
Doug Scorgie
“First, I didn’t ask you if you had a favourite holocaust.”
The antonym for worse is better. A judgement for worse necessitates a better. If you consider there is a better then you have a favourite. I was being logical. Facetious but logical.
But whatever mate. You keep getting confused as you choose which are your bestest most favourite holocaust. Anyone prepared to even make such judgements is probably lost in a madness of rationalising the indefensible.
Go fuck your logical self.
Mods Could you please delete my 11.01am above here. I am transferring it to Craig’s new post. Thanks.
Ceemac- thanks for the links you posted here this morning. Robert Parry is an excellent investigative journalist.
Poorly trained rebels or deserters from the Ukrainian army, using captured Buk missiles and mistaking MH17 for a troop carrier, still seem the most likely culprits for the downing of the plane. Now the black boxes are being scrutinised by the boffins at Farnborough further hard information should be forthcoming shortly-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28439862
Ruth
Got any decent links explaining intelligence service involvement in VAT fraud? I found nothing with a quick search. Ta.
Craig – “they said…”
So where is this conclusive evidence?
Timely reminder that Putin is not a very nice guy, and that Russia isn’t a stronghold even of the liberties and freedoms remaining to us. It’s a pity that nostalgia for a largely mythical Soviet past is unquestioningly retained by some and transferred to the new centralised oligarchy – which has dumped even the pretence of working for the common good.
OTOH might I suggest that the UK GDP consists very largely of funny money printed by banks, and adding magically to its value every time it circulates, while Russia produces and trades a lot more oil and gas…? I don’t think fair comparison can be made unless you share the definitions invented by both Western (corporate) and Russian (individual) oligarchs.
I have lived in Putin’s Russia for two years. The first thing I noticed is how prosperous people were. It may be based on oil and gas revenue but the idea that all the wealth is in the hands of the oligarchs is clearly exaggerated. Putin’s approval rating has now hit 83% according to the Moscow Times.
Russia is definitely not a model of democracy but most Russians compare Putin with the chaos and economic collapse of the Yeltsin era rather than to a notional fully democratic government. A serious democratic opposition would be a good idea but the idea that people like Pussy Riot are a serious opposition is laughable.
Some people also seem to be under the delusion that it is impossible to be gay in Russia. Just this morning I saw two gay guys holding hands in a branch of Starbucks in central Moscow. I was surprised because I although I am used to seeing lesbian couples together in public, male gays usually have to be more discreet. Popular attitudes to gays are similar to those in Britain in the seventies just after legalisation. In other words it is allowed but has to be kept private.
Really? No one sees any relevance wrt Barcroft media and their staged BUK transport photo-ops?
Unbelievable.
This is rather interesting and the published date is June 18th! Did they succeed in fooling the rebels this time round? Turn on captions for english subtitles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKKoKmUtQXE&feature=player_detailpage#t=69&fmt=18
Equally interesting, a few hours after the event Kiev publishes an audio recording purportedly between a rebel and a Russian general talking about the mistaken shoot down of MH17. Trouble is the file metadata shows this recording was created the day before, and seems to be spliced from 3 completely different recordings.
http://antiwar.com/blog/2014/07/18/audio-proof-of-ukrainian-rebel-responsibility-for-malaysian-flight-downing-is-fake/
Many here keep pointing out that “Western” governments and media are keen to blame Russia, Putin, or “Russian Separatists”, but Craig made the most important point; blame or none, no effective action proceeds from these governments. And there’d be none if the new Ukrainian forces were responsible, either. Both sides are a bunch of oligarchs.
Anyway, I hope all the dead passengers had had their bottled drinks and toothpaste properly confiscated.
Cui bono? #MH17
Apparently the fascist Ukies use human shields as a normal tactic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKKoKmUtQXE&feature=youtu.be
Se vuoi leggere; leggere. Se non si vuole leggere; non leggere.
IOW; GFY
Very reasonable post by Craig.
Quite funny to read of demands for evidence of rebel culpability for downing of MH17 when most of the fucked-up theories peddled by the very same ‘sceptics’ don’t require any evidence as they hop from one to another. And even if evidence is presented, how much credibility will be afforded by this bunch to any Western prosecuted investigation? That’s right – none!
I wonder if Mary is still infatuated with the bare-chested, horse-riding Putin, his nipples oiled up and glistening under the photographer’s lamp. Some women say that power is an aphrodisiac. I say there is no greater demonstration of power than getting away with mass murder. What do you say, Mary?
“Obama orders Pentagon advisers to Ukraine”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/22/pentagon-team-dispatched-to-ukraine-amid-crisis-wi/
John Edwards 23 Jul, 2014 – 2:25 pm – A refreshing grass-roots view of Russian community. The ‘cold war’ conditioning intruded on Western popular culture as media propaganda aired how polarised and dangerous the world was.
The continuity and momentum of this era seems to be motivated and manipulated from the likes of Zbigniew Brzezinski and Michael Ignatieff who insist it is imperative that no Eurasian challenger should emerge capable of dominating Eurasia and thus also of challenging America’s global pre-eminence, this rather than a structure that maintains worldwide influence by a system of mutually beneficial exchanges.
This ‘New Great Game’ as Matthew Edwards suggests materializes into a competition between the United States, the United Kingdom and other NATO countries against Russia for “influence, power, hegemony and profits in Central Asia and the Transcaucasus.
In a leaked US Embassy cable released by WikiLeaks, it was reported that Prince Andrew, Duke of York, supports the concept of a New Great Game:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11870581
In my opinion this so called ‘game’ is the origin, stimulus and enforcer of collusion, war, torture and human rights violations we witness today and yesterday.
Mr Scorgie
“Habbabkuk (La vita è bella) !
22 Jul, 2014 – 9:29 pm
“Habbabkuk against racism [unless it’s directed at Palestinians] …””
______________________-
Quotes for that please, Doug.
*******************
PS – has your thinking on the right of Israel to exist and on FGM evolved yet?
Mr Scorgie
“So Phil you don’t think that the Nazi Holocaust was any worse than other holocausts (e.g. Armenia)?”
_____________________
What a strange question from someone – you – who has on occasion written that what has happened in Gaza is as bad as the Nazi Holocaust!
And that the West Bank and Gaza are “vast open-air (Nazi)concentration camps”.
Your wires appear to be short-circuiting, Doug.
Jemand As I always say ‘Advance Australia Fair’.
I have posted once on this page about Gaza.
On the previous page, once on the yacht owners and another saying I would await the results of the AAIB investigation.
On the previous thread, Curiouser and Curiouser, nothing apart a comment about a troll’s typo.
That demonstrates the level of my interest in the subject. Nil.
~~~
Does using the word ‘nipple’ excite you or something. Pathetic.
Peacewisher
“If your figures are right Putin’s campaign was clearly worse (but less awful than Iraq).”
__________________
Here we go, moral relativism again.
Phil says to Mark “Wait” Golding
“No I do not. I applaud my friends efforts to fight US hegemony. I applaud your efforts. I applaud Ben’s efforts etc etc.”
_____________________
What “efforts” of Mark’s and California Ben’s are those, then?
Posting frequently on here?
********************
Habbabkuk for a little self-awareness and a sense of reality.
OK, Habby. Let’s forget moral relativism, What about bravery? You may have heard that Graham Phillips has gone missing again, after returning to the war zone. Is that an act of bravery (heroic journalism) or stupidity (should have kept away)?
Here’s a couple of tweets, in case you don’t know who I’m talking about:
https://twitter.com/marina_saniram/status/491912930288746496/photo/1
https://twitter.com/CT4444/status/491898291261800448/photo/1
Ben. 2 51pm
“Really? No one sees any relevance wrt Barcroft media and their staged BUK transport photo-ops?
Unbelievable.”
What’s there not to believe?
“In my view, the largest number are people who are not psychologically equipped to fight over-mighty power everywhere, which is a lonely path, and prefer the much easier option of joining the entourage of a big power, and convincing themselves that power is good. It is comforting to feel part of a powerful team.”
That’s a large part of the rationale behind support for the E.U., isn’t it?
“Yet the delusional continue to contrive to believe that Russia is an alternative to global capitalism.”
The delusional may well. Others simply see Putin and Russia as one of the last – and certainly probably the strongest – proponent of the Nation State and national sovereignty. As such, the goings on within Russia are of little importance. Those who advocate “Liberal Interventionism” can worry about stuff like that – preferably quietly, while the champagne corks pop behind closed doors, preferably without taking the rest of us to war and preferably without killing the number of people that they have become accustomed to killing.
I’ll take your word about Russian expansionism. You are certainly better connected than I am and I am sure you are not dishonest. But expansionism where? Chile? Australia? Or somewhere much closer to home containing a russophone population on land which has long been occupied by one or other of the Slavonic tribes? Now I can understand Russia’s interest in eastern Ukraine and Crimea. But what were Western politicians doing showing up at a violent anti-government demonstration in the capital of a sovereign nation? The best thing you can say about that is that it was exceedingly bad manners.
“What’s there not to believe?” soifa;
Their evidence is astonishing. One map of downtown Cleveland with arrows pointing very far east. Add to that the doctored audio of certain improper state actors, and acerbic public speechifyin’ by both dot.gov and dot.gov media wherein Putin is bad because he isn’t coming clean to assuage his evil, but manly visage.
Has he no shame, after all?
Good News! Graham Phillips held captive by “irregular forces” but alive:
https://twitter.com/27KHV/status/492040191063130112
This is how they do it. They rely on very short memories.
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN0FS1V920140723?irpc=932
Which side was he on the previous week? Next week?
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/06/05/world/europe/in-ukraine-separatist-militia-with-russian-fighters-holds-a-key.html?_r=3&referrer=
S.2277 – Russian Aggression Prevention Act of 2014
https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/2277
The war-mongering ‘madness’ has stepped up a notch…