Kiev's Dirty War
Rogue terror states wage wars the same way. America does it. So does Israel. Kiev's illegitimate fascist government operates extrajudicially. Rule of law principles don't apply. Dirty war is waged on its own non-combatant men, women and children. Residential neighborhoods are bombed and shelled. Banned chemical and other terror weapons are used.
Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) member of parliament Miroslav Rudenko said:
"According to our soldiers' information, the Ukrainian forces are using chemical ammunition on DPR territory. Once a shell bursts, a gas affecting sense organs is emitted. We have this information."
In early June, Southeastern Ukrainian freedom fighters said Kiev forces attacked Semyonovka near Slaviansk with an unknown chemical weapon. On August 6, freedom fighters claimed "irrefutable evidence" of a weapon used similar to white phosphorous. It burns flesh to the bone. It keeps burning until entirely consumed or deprived of oxygen.
The Hague and Geneva Conventions categorically prohibit use of these type weapons. It doesn't matter. Kiev uses them against civilians. So does Israel. America uses banned chemical, biological and radiological weapons in all its wars. These countries kill and destroy indiscriminately. They commit daily crimes of war and against humanity.
US special forces are trained killers. They're actively involved in training and aiding Kiev's military. So is L-3 Communications. It's a private military contractor. According to Rossiya Segodnia's Center for International Journalism and Research's Daniel Zubov:
"L-3 is packed with former high-ranking US military generals and other officers, including several L-3 board members."
They include former Joint Chiefs chairman Henry Hugh Shelton and former Army vice Vice Chief of Staff General Richard Cody. Kiev forces deliberately and maliciously inflict prohibited collective punishment on hundreds of thousands of Southeastern Ukrainians. It does so with full support from and complicity with Washington. Two rogue terror states partner in crimes of war and against humanity. They continue daily unaccountably.
Media scoundrels ignore the worst of what demands headlines. They point fingers the wrong way. They call lawless Kiev forces liberating ones. Southeastern Ukrainian freedom fighting democrats are called terrorists. Daily managed news misinformation substitutes for truth and full disclosure.
On Monday, a convoy carrying refugees was attacked. Each side accused the other. Most likely, Kiev forces were responsible. What possible motive would Southeastern Ukrainian freedom fighters have to attack defenseless civilians from their own areas fleeing for safety?
Kiev forces benefit by blaming self-defense democrats for their crimes. Not according to The New York Times. On August 18, it headlined "Rebels Killed Dozens in Attack on Refugees, Ukraine says." What about what freedom fighters say? What about what most likely did or did not happen? Citing Ukraine's military, The Times said
"(s)eparatist rebels on Monday attacked a caravan of cars carrying refugees trying to flee war-ravaged eastern Ukraine, killing 'dozens' of people in a devastating barrage of artillery fire…"
The Times quoted Ukraine military spokesman Col. Adriy Lysenko saying "terrorists had perpetrated a bloody crime."
"Many people died, including women and children." No specific numbers were given. Reuters reported "dozens."
The attack occurred on a main highway near Lugansk. "A powerful artillery strike…was so strong that people were burned alive in (their) vehicles…" Freedom fighters denied involvement. They questioned whether any attack occurred.
At the same time, DPR Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Purgin said Kiev forces "have bombed the road constantly with airplanes and Grads."
"It seems they've now killed more civilians like they've been doing for months now. We don't have the ability to send Grads into that territory."
Donetsk self-defense leader Alexander Zakharchenko added:
"As far as I understand, there was no column of refugees in Lugansk region that fell under fire. We…did not shoot any convoys (of refugees) with Grads and moreover we did not shoot with any Grads from Russia."
The State Department was quick to condemn the attack that may not have occurred if area self-defense leaders are right. At the same time, deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf stopped short of laying blame. "We strongly condemn the shelling and rocketing of a convoy that was bearing internally displaced persons in Lugansk," she said.
Throughout Israel's Operation Protective Edge on Gaza, Harf and State Department's Jen Psaki outrageously called Israel's premeditated genocidal war self-defense. Over 80% of casualties were civilians. Over 500 children were killed. Israel's war without mercy continues. How many more Palestinians will die remains to be seen.
Kiev forces began attacking Southeast Ukrainian freedom fighters and civilians in early April. Conflict remains ongoing. Dozens are killed or wounded daily. Well over 2,100 have died. Over 5,000 have been wounded. UN spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly calls these "very conservative estimates." Itar Tass said around 34 people were killed and 29 others wounded in the city of Donetsk in the last 24 hours alone.
Two districts were heavily shelled. A coal mine was struck. Attack drones struck targets. On Wednesday morning, strong blasts occurred in central Donetsk. Gunfire set a warehouse with car tires ablaze. Street-to-street fighting in Lugansk continues. Russian, German, French and Ukrainian foreign minister talks in Berlin Sunday included pledges to keep working for conflict resolution.
On August 18, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed Moscow's humanitarian aid initiative, border control and efforts to achieve a durable ceasefire. "People are dying every day," he said.
"Civilian infrastructure is being destroyed every day as well." He stressed Russia's position. Ceasefire "must be unconditional. Unfortunately, our Ukrainian colleagues continue to put forward a variety of rather vague terms and conditions, including, as they put it, ensuring the 'tightness' of the borders. (W)e have nothing against border control being maximally effective, and we are doing our best to achieve this goal. A ceasefire is a two-way street. Our colleagues from Kiev are complaining that the self-defence fighters are not communicating with them. It’s difficult to be in contact when you're being bombed relentlessly, as is the case in Lugansk. Our Western colleagues who have direct influence on Kiev have work to do in this department. Unfortunately, the United States was not represented at the meeting in Berlin."
Washington spurns diplomacy. It wants Kiev's dirty war continued. It wants freedom fighting democrats crushed. It wants fascist putschists firmly in control nationwide.
Lavrov's meeting with his German, French and Ukrainian counterparts achieved no results. Nor will follow-up discussions. At the same time, Lavrov continues going all-out for peaceful conflict resolution. He refuses to accept anything less. He's a world class diplomat. He shames his US and EU counterparts. He deplores US-led adventurism. He pursues peace. He does so tirelessly. He deserves Nobel Peace Prize recognition.
War criminals usually get it. Obama is Exhibit A. He bears full responsibility for Ukrainian crisis conditions. For deposing a democratically elected government. For installing a putschist neo-Nazi-infested fascist one. For partnering in Kiev's dirty war against its own citizens. For adding another genocidal crime to his rap sheet. For risking the unthinkable - direct confrontation with Russia. For potentially transforming a new Cold War into a hot one. Madness defines his agenda. Peace is a non-starter. Multiple direct and proxy wars continue. Humanity remains hugely at risk.
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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He has devoted his time and efforts to progressive causes and organizations, all involved in working for a more humane and just world for all people everywhere, but especially for the most needy, disadvantaged and oppressed. His efforts since summer 2005 have included writing on a broad range of vital topics ranging from war and peace; social, economic and political equity for all; and justice for all the oppressed peoples of the world like the long-suffering people of Haiti and the Palestinians. He also co-hosts The Global Research News Hour, gives occasional public talks, and appears frequently on radio and at times television. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization. Also visit his blog and listen to The Lendman News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday - Friday at 10AM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on world and national issues. All programs are archived for easy listening. His new book "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War" can be ordered here. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
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Photo 1: © EPA/Maxim Shipenkov. Photo 2: © N/A
URL: http://www.a-w-i-p.com/index.php/2014/08/20/kiev-s-dirty-war
