Why should we support Ukraine?

by Antti Rautiainen by Антти Раутиайнен on 20 Autonomous Action February, 2022 Listen in SoundCloud

note – Antti’s talk was recorded before the Invasion began

“The results of the first 30 years of “democracy” in Ukraine are, to put it mildly, unconvincing. The economy and the media are in the hands of rival oligarchs, corruption is at staggering levels, economic development lags behind many African countries, and in addition, the country has become the center of the neo-Nazi movement around the world. And these problems are basically home-grown, not the result of the Kremlin’s intrigues.

Yet, the alternative is even worse. Putin is not just the gendarme of Europe, but the gendarme of the whole world —from Syria to Myanmar, whenever a dictator tortures and kills thousands of his own people, Putin is there to support him. There are no elections in Russia anymore. Even the most moderate attempts to change something results in criminal cases and persecutions. 

Hundreds detained at anti-war protests in Russia ..RT

I do not believe that the result of this, yet another, round of threatening declarations and building up pressure is a full-scale war. But as the conflict is not disappearing, a full scale war may start after 5-10 years, even as a result of a cycle of escalation, even if no-one really wants it.

And in case of a full-scale war, we should be on the Ukrainian side. As Malatesta said,  “For me there is no doubt that the worst of democracies is always preferable, if only from the educational point of view, than the best of dictatorships.”*. Neutrality in a war between Ukraine and Russia would mean neutrality in an invasion of a democracy by a dictatorship.  

I may not take seriously leftists that declare that «they are against any kind of imperialism in Ukraine, American or Russian». Obviously, American imperialism exists, for example in Iraq and Central America, *but not in Ukraine. (*note> see comment 2 below against Antti’s statement above. ed.)

Nato and USA have de-facto agreed to give Ukraine to the Russian sphere of influence. Whatever military or other aid Ukraine has received, it is not enough to stop a theoretical invasion. No-one would send military detachments to support Ukraine in case of an invasion. 
 
What does «no war but a class war mean»?

Al Jazeera shared with thanks

Asylum seekers in Libya speak of inhuman detention conditions after raids outside the UN refugee agency compound in Tripoli.

By Federica Marsi Published On 23 Feb 2022

Yasin has lost count of how many times he has been shot at – but he does remember the last time.

On January 10, Libyan militias and security forces opened fire as they moved in to disperse a months-long sit-in by more than 2,000 asylum seekers outside a United Nations compound in Tripoli, many of whom had been violently evicted from their homes in October during raids in the western town of Gargaresh.

More than 160 migrants drown in shipwrecks off Libya, UN says Libya’s migrant detentions tops 5,000 as crackdown continues

• Bodies of some 27 refugees wash ashore in Libya: Red Crescent

Explainer: What is fuelling Libya’s instability?

“It would have been better to die than to be arrested,” Yasin, who has asked to go by a nickname for his own safety, told Al Jazeera by voice message.

The refugee from Sudan’s war-torn western region of Darfur was among the 600 people apprehended in front of the Community Day Centre run by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and taken to Ain Zara detention centre, also in the Libyan capital.

This crazy man must be stopped. People are dying and running and crying and suffering. What crazy man could have wanted this? A crazy man !!! Stop this stupid man cause destruction is not a solution !!! Stop this madman !!!

STOP PUTIN!!! NO WAR!!! — THE PRODIGY OF IDEAS

23 Feb 2022 — Indian Punchline by M. K. BHADRAKUMAR shared with thanks via williambowles.

People wave Russian national flags celebrating Moscow’s recognition Donetsk and Lugansk, eastern Ukraine, Feb 21, 2022

Russia’s recognition of the ‘people’s republics’ of Luhansk and Donetsk in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbass on Monday is a watershed event.In a manner of speaking, by this decision President Vladimir Putin crossed the Rubicon.

And they accuse Russia of Imperialism!

But a tumultuous period lies ahead. Moscow followed up by putting the legal underpinnings in place “to deploy troops to these regions,” concluding two treaties on friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance between Russia and the two Donbass republics.

************

UPDATE..

Russia has launched “a full-scale invasion” of Ukraine with explosions heard across major cities. Vladimir Putin, in a statement on Russian TV, said warned allies of Ukraine who try to interfere with his attack will “face consequences greater than any you have faced in history”.

Within moments of confirming a military operation in the neighbouring nation, explosions rung out and could be heard across a number of eastern cities. Troops have since crossed the Russia/Ukraine border, with air raid sirens being tested in Kyiv. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy quickly announced martial law across all territories.

Videos show cars of people fleeing Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, as others sheltered in basements to the sound of distant explosions.

*************

It also obtained the authorisation by Russia’s Federation Council, or upper parliament house, for the use of armed forces outside Russia (as required under the constitution.)

see also: 24 Feb.2022 Putin Announces ‘Special Military Op’ In Ukraine’s Donbass to ‘Defend People’ and Ukraine declares nationwide martial law

via Alma Cubanita shared with thanks

Beirut, Feb 24 (Prensa Latina) Social networks in Lebanon today reproduced massive criticism against the hypocritical policy of the United States of besieging Russia for recognizing Donetsk and Lugansk, while supporting the illegal Israeli occupation in Palestine and Syria.

Hundreds of activists in this country rejected this position of double standards, to which several Western governments are added.

For them, the threats against Russia for its recognition of the sovereignty of the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk and on the other hand accepting the attempts of annexation by Israel of the Golan Heights, of Syria, and the total occupation of the West Bank, in Palestine.

Similarly, they condemned the West for avoiding mentioning cases of human rights violations, killings and illegal detentions by Israeli forces in occupied Palestinian territory, including holy religious sites in Jerusalem.

Israeli Forces Kill 14-Year-Old Palestinian;

Israeli regime kills another Palestinian child

Critica masiva en ciberespacio de Líbano a política de #EEUU

41m ago

Beirut, 24 feb (Prensa Latina) Las redes sociales en Líbano reprodujeron hoy críticas masivas contra la hipócrita política de Estados Unidos de asediar a Rusia por reconocer a Donetsk y Lugansk, mientras apoya la ocupación ilegal israelí en Palestina y Siria.

Centenares de activistas de este país rechazaron esa postura de doble rasero, a la cual se suman varios gobiernos de Occidente.

Para ellos se trata de una hipocresía total las amenazas contra Rusia por su reconocimiento a la soberanía de las repúblicas populares de Donetsk y Lugansk y de otro lado aceptar los intentos de anexión por Israel de los Altos del Golán, de Siria, y la total ocupación de Cisjordania, en Palestina.

De igual manera, condenaron a Occidente que evita mencionar los casos de violación de derechos humanos, asesinatos y detenciones ilegales de las fuerzas israelíes en territorio palestino ocupado, incluidos sitios religiosos sagrados en Jerusalén.

• #Israel y su impunidad para matar

#Siria apoya decisión rusa de reconocer las repúblicas de #Donbás https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/105164614/posts/50272