By Ted Belman Mar 7, 2022
“If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that.” Shylock.
If you provoke the bear and it gets angry, who should you blame? Yourself or the bear?
I recently commented;
“I chose to put the spotlight on the US rather than on Russia to counter the spin put on the Ukraine conflict by the west. In doing so we all got educated more fully on the facts and realities. That’s a good thing.
Other stalwarts for the west have chosen to do the same thing. Look at recent posts on Israpundit ;
Ukraine’s Deadly Gamble By Lee Smith
“Biden is as much to blame for this conflict as Putin is” By Robert Spencer,
Can an Exhausted America Confront Russia? by Alex Markovsky.
By the way, Arutz Sheva posted my article, The pot is calling the Kettle black, yesterday. That article mentions nothing about the nefarious activities of the US in Ukraine by installing their own puppet regime there and turning a blind eye to the Nazis and the killing of 14,000 Ukrainians in the break away provinces in eastern Ukraine since 2014. Nor the bioweapon labs they finance and oversee. The US only got the support of 87 nations so far to their resolution condemning Russia. Among those abstaining or staying neutral are China, India, Brazil, Israel and UAE so far. This may change..
From where I am sitting Russia has been hard done by the US whose policies in Ukraine have pushed Putin to these actions in self defense. Russia is no threat to the US but the US has shown itself to be a threat to Russia.
Before the invasion, Putin demanded that NATO unwind its relentless eastward expansion. NATO refused. So we must ask, was the Russian demand reasonable or understandable? Should NATO have agreed at least in part? NATO was totally against doing so. The inevitable result was the invasion..
Daniel Greenfield just published Ukraine Isn’t WW2 or WW3 – It’s WW1 in which he argues;
Now the Western side of the divide are part of a regional union whose mission is to diminish nationalism and national independence, while on the Eastern side all the nationalism that had been suppressed by Communism reigns unchecked.
The League’s successor, the United Nations, like the European Union and other international bodies, was no longer based around a union of independent nations, but on leveraging the interdependence of global institutions to weaken and eventually eliminate national identities in order to finally bring an end to all wars.
The UN’s effort to bring peace through denationalization has been an even bigger failure than the old community of nations.
In effect we are seeing the return to nationalism rather than internationalism (Globalism). Dr S. Turley argues that the last century saw conflicts over ideology. No Longer, he says, conflicts are over identity.
The Liberal Globalist Order Has Officially COLLAPSED!!
Ukraine On Verge of COLLAPSE As New World Order IMPLODES!!!
Israel National News reported that Zelensky said “Russia initially demanded preconditions to talks that were tantamount to full surrender, including a halt to all fighting by Ukrainian forces, a demilitarized Ukraine, and the “deNazificiation” of the country. Ukraine refused to negotiate under such conditions, and also objected to Russia’s proposal to hold talks in Belarus,” Zelensky said they were non starters. To me they are reasonable.
Did the eastward expansion of NATO bring peace or war? Had NATO stayed put, would Russia have moved westward? Maybe, maybe not. If the US had not turned Ukraine against Russia, would there have been an invasion? I think not.”
Most of your criticisms of my position pointed out how bad or untrustworthy Putin/Russia was. At no time did I whitewash Putin.
My goal was to sound off against the Clinton, Obama, Biden cabal. They take a great deal of the blame for what has transpired. When the bear walks into your house its because you left the door open.
If China follows Putin’s lead and retakes Taiwan, should we blame Biden or Xi or Putin?
If Iran gets the bomb, should we blame Obama/Biden, Putin or the EU or perhaps Israel? Or nobody?
The WWII was brought about by the failure of the west to prevent Germany’s remilitarization or perhaps because it imposed great punishment on Germany because of WWI. So who is at fault for WWII?
Germany killed 6 million Jews during the Holocaust. Did you know that but for Britain, Germany wouldn’t have succeeded in killing so many. Had Britain stuck to the terms of the Balfour Declaration and permitted Jewish emigration from the early 1920’s to 1948, Millions of these Jews would have survived. Had Britain not encouraged Arab emigration during this period, there would be no Palestinian problem today.
And what blame should the US take for its arms embargo of Israel from before 1948 to after the Six Day War?
So should we not focus on the failures of the west rather than the sins of Russia, Iran and the Arabs for what transpires.?
https://slippedisc.com/2023/03/netrebko-packs-out-la-scala/
So much for sanctions.
@Ted
@Michael
Also recall that Blinken, just two months ago, carved a loophole in the otherwise crippling sanctions on Russia to encourage them to move Iran’s nuclear program forward. Russia is and has been doing the bidding of the American establishment to provide Iran with the means to advance its nuclear program. But as Alex Grinberg explains, Russia was quite tardy in fulfilling the contract regarding the reactor’s construction, delays which took years longer than needed.
Israel must act to support herself against the international efforts from all corners to make Iran a middle eastern hegemon, and to do this she must counter the efforts of both America and Russia to further expand the Iranian nuclear program. Hence, Israel needs to not be chided into taking the side of Russia nor America while opposing Iran’s rise, as these two nations are each directly and indirectly acting to aid Iran, and by doing so they are each poking the Israeli bear. The only question is when the Israeli bear will finally act to end this blatant provocation being installed against her by both her greatest ally, the US, and her greatest ally’s proxy, Russia.
Excellent text, Mr. Belman. Thank you.
I think people fell to realize that everything is not black and white, but with many shades of gray as Ted once said.
Every nation plays both ends against the middle. The games stacks are high, but they change almost with the wind. Like a James Bond movie, The one trying to kill him before breakfast, is the one he’s in bed with shortly after the evening meal.
Michael, just because Putin, does something and it is used for an evil purpose, months and years later, is like saying we should dig up the great grandfather of Hitler and punishing him for producing such and evil seed. Everyone is responsible for their own choices.
Which makes one wonder, how much of the wrath of Hashem, is coming to the United States and Great Britian because of our lack of support for the Jews in ww2.
@Michael
Don’t forget that the 5 appointed Russia to the rle and allowed it to do this.
IMHO, Seeing that Russia built the Bushehr reactor, enabling Iran to enrich uranium in the first place, then was instrumental in the treaties allowing Iran to progressively enrich it to near-weapons grade, then formed a NATO-like treaty with Iran, one would have to be either an idiot or grossly misinformed to take Russia’s side in this matter.
@Liz
You are right, very few people know about Britain’s complicity. It has been hidden. I am pleased to hear that Revelation TV reported on it.
In this article
https://www.israpundit.org/the-100-year-betrayal-of-israel-by-the-west/
I expanded on this point.
Coming late to this party, but the only way I learned of Britain’s betrayal of the Jews was through a series of documentaries on Revelation TV, a Christian evangelist channel. It went into detail about Britain’s broken promises, and put the blame on the UK government, where it belongs. I have dual citizenship (USA and UK) and live in England, and this is only TV programme I have seen in either country which made this betrayal quite clear. Of course, “Exodus” had a similar theme, but the Revelation documentaries went further back and was entirely factual.
This article includes,
This is very damning but it got no response.
Wokism, “Dream from my father”!
The intended/unintended consequences of political malfeasance and stupidity!
Did Putin feel threatened by the Russia hoax, and did he take advantage on this opportunity to invade Ukraine?
What did Joe ask Vlad during their last conversation?
Vlad responded: “If you let me take back Ukraine, I will in return give you “the Ukraine Paper Trail”!
@peloni
I wouldn’t worry about the Ukrainian extremists infiltrating Europe or the West.
The West is for freedom and democracy when it wants to manipulate other countries.
If the refugees try another Maidan in the West, they will be simply shot on the spot or given very lengthy jail sentences.
Besides, freedom and democracy are really laughable terms after two years of COVID takeover.
@Reader
The Far Right paramilitary groups in Ukraine are actually a mix of various shades of the Right, including fascists and anticommunists and anti socialists among others. These groups will be among the first to be chased out of Ukraine and they will move to Europe. They are accustomed to violent demonstrations of their political fervors and will likely seek out similarly viewed citizens in any country they seek refuge, unfortunately for the Socialists within that country. Ukraine is not a democracy, and it never has been nor would it be easily changed into one. Placing the Ukrainians into a Socialist Democratic state such as Germany will be a rough fit, sort of the round peg into a square hole.
Given the amount of trust that’s built up among us I believe that we can discuss the issue of climate without fear or rancour and in time reach conclusions.
Peloni very perceptive. These left parties of whatever hue have always been politically correct and always seek an accomodation with fascism. The big thing in 1933 is that Hitler was stoppable but they could not ACT. Another thing which is patently true is that it requires a certain method (party necessarily because the individual is always well – an individual!) to SEE clearly what’s happening. I defend Putin because he is FOR nation. I am too. But essentially because it is necessary to defend against Fascism.
Usually media are branded as foreign agents when they are funded by foreign entities and don’t register properly.
The US has laws like this which it strictly enforces.
“Rain TV” the only independent non state controlled media in Russia has decided to close its doors. They say they can no longer report the lie the Russian was requiring is to say no war was on going.
So RT which is basically Kremlin TV looks even larger. From the sound of some of the commentary here on Israpundit some of you might be fans of RT.
Too bad Rain TV is going away. The Kremlin had branded it as a foreign agent last year.
@peloni
You are right that there will be negative consequences but I don’t get the socialist/communist allusion.
Russia has nothing to do with either one of those things, and it was the DEVIL under the czars, under communists, under capitalists/oligarchs.
You might as well connect the consequences to its former absolute monarchy.
I think that most refugees are simply regular people trying to get out because they are scared.
Do you mean that Europe is now socialist and the refugees will try to undermine it?
I really doubt it.
@peloni
You are right that there will be negative consequences but I don’t get the socialist/communist allusion.
Russia has nothing to do with either one of those things, and it was considered the DEVIL, by the US especially, under the czars, under communists, and under capitalists/oligarchs.
You might as well connect the consequences to its former absolute monarchy.
I think that most refugees are simply regular people trying to get out because they are scared.
Do you mean that Europe is now socialist and the refugees will try to undermine it?
I really doubt it.
@Reader
There will be two major negative outcomes from this conflict that will directly affect the whole of Europe, regardless of the outcome of which Vlad wins the day in Ukraine. The first of these will come in the form of the refugees being scattered among the European states who are quite intolerant of anything reminiscent of socialism, and who also have a strong history of violent actions to demonstrate this intolerance. The second negative outcome will be the new champions of even more radicalized champions of anti-Socialist/anti-Communist warriors, imported for the expressed purpose of murdering even those who were once socialists/communists, ie Russians.
When the war in Ukraine is won by Putin, and it will be won by Putin, these imported warriors will carry on the fight which will increase the “Neo-nazi”/anti-communists infiltration into Europe. Europe should be careful which seeds they plant in their own back yard. Ukraine is not Afghanistan, and despite Ukraine’s efforts to act as if there is no consequence to this free infiltration of a “foreign legion” at the steps of Europe to act as NATO’s proxy army, Socialist Europe will likely find a consequence to importing these elements in their not too distant future.
Bear Klein they shot their own people and own police to blame it on Yanokovic
That was America working with the Fascists.
Of course Zelensky is steered from the beginning by Victoria Nuland as evidenced in video from Maidan 2014. Jews who do not warn on this open a terrible trap for Israel. The climate people on twitter have lost it. They won’t recover. A new leadership will replace these phonies.
Bear and Adam just repeat ancient dogma.
Reader
March 1, 2022 at 6:52 pm
War Propaganda About Ukraine Becoming More Militaristic, Authoritarian, and Reckless
Every useful or pleasing claim about the war, no matter how unverified or subsequently debunked, rapidly spreads, while dissenters are vilified as traitors or Kremlin agents.
By Glenn Greenwald
Global Research, February 28, 2022
Glenn Greenwald 27 February 2022
https://www.globalresearch.ca/war-propaganda-about-ukraine-becoming-more-militaristic-authoritarian-reckless/5772350
And it is only getting worse.
And it is only getting worse.
If one supports Putin in his destruction of the Ukraine and killing Ukrainians I can only believe one has no empathy for fellow humans or no informed rational understanding of what is taking place.
I want to go back to Adam and this Becky Sullivan
To these paragraphs which are very critical to our knowledge.
“Just days before it is to be signed, Yanukovych announces that he will refuse to sign an association agreement with the European Union to bring Ukraine into a free trade agreement. He cites pressure from Russia as a reason for his decision.
The announcement sparks huge protests across Ukraine — the largest since the Orange Revolution — calling for Yanukovych to resign. Protesters begin camping out in Kyiv’s Maidan, also known as Independence Square, and occupy government buildings, including Kyiv’s city hall and the justice ministry.
In late February, violence between police and protesters leaves more than 100 dead in the single bloodiest week in Ukraine’s post-Soviet history.
Ahead of a scheduled impeachment vote on Feb. 22, Yanukovych flees, eventually arriving in Russia. Ukraine’s parliament votes unanimously to remove Yanukovych and install an interim government, which announces it will sign the EU agreement and votes to free Tymoshenko from prison.
The new government charges Yanukovych with mass murder of the Maidan protesters and issues a warrant for his arrest.
Russia declares that the change in Ukraine’s government is an illegal coup.” End Quote
Sullivan is clearly performing a whitewash here of Ukrainian Fascism.
Adam did you not believe Almueda in that critical article presented by Reader.
This TRUE HORROR STORY meant the total turning of the tide BY THE FASCISTS
AND LED INEXORABLY TO THE PRESENT WAR.
Adam what good will it do you as a Jew covering for Nazis?
Ukrainian drone attack heavily damages Russian fuel convoy ~west of Ki’iv
https://twitter.com/i/status/1498325387650256897
Actually, in the FSU there was a referendum on whether the republics wanted to keep the USSR.
All of them said “Yes”, including the Baltic republics (~75% of the votes).
However, there were three government officials who got together afterwards and created an agreement dissolving the USSR, signed it, and reported this act to the American president (I am not making this up).
When Gorbachov found out about this, he did nothing, and let the agreement stand.
The populace, of course, didn’t understand anything that was going on and thought that things will be the same but better – more freedom, prosperity, etc.
To make it easier to understand – what would you think if the governors, let’s say, of California, New York, and Texas got together, signed a paper that the United States of America is thereby dissolved, and every state is now a free and independent country, reported this event over the phone to Putin, and the current US president found out about this and thought that it was perfectly OK?
BTW, “Putin” has no interest in killing “Ukrainians”, the Russian military is destroying the Ukrainian military infrastructure there while avoiding the cities, etc. while the Ukrainians are blowing up every bridge they can lay their hands on.
There is a very large Ukrainian military contingent now at the borders of the self-proclaimed republics killing “Ukrainians”, “Russians”, et al. – why do you think they shipped women and children to safety in Russia?
@Ted Belman
I am glad you noticed.
It is amazing to find out that Francisco Gil-White is your friend.
I found his website many years ago,
In this country, the American soldiers are adored.
They are “our heroes who fight in (fill in the blank) for our freedoms” and it is considered an honor to buy them a meal or to pay their bill at a store.
Russia, of course, is the DEVIL and has no right to have its own interests or anything else (the only country in the world which does is the US, of course).
I suspected that the destruction of the economy by COVID would be used to prime the population for a big war but I really didn’t want to be proven right.
I think the calculation is that the fight will be between Russia and the former Eastern Bloc countries which will destroy each other, and everything will be Russia’s fault.
I think they do want a big war in Europe:
@Ted, what you are missing clearly in conflating the imperfections of the US (people like Obama) with Putin’s killing of Ukranians.
Is the Ukrainian people DO NOT WANT to be ruled by the Russians.
They DO NOT WANT to be killed by Him,
They DO NOT WANT their homes destroyed.
They DO WANT to be Refugess.
They voted in the 1990s to be separate from the Russians and they want to be FREE! They are fighting bravely even though overmatched to try and stay free.
Most of the world gets this loud and clear. It is black and white. Conflating your grievances into this about the USA are frankly incomprehensible and callous.
Israelis get it clearly. Think about it please!!! You are dreaming up arguments where Russia under Putin are some great friend and in fact they are pure evil at this point in action and deed!
Israel tiptoes with Putin because of his threat to Israel from Syria. Morally Israel would love to send Ukraine weapons but for fear of incurring his wrath they do not. So they stop with messages from Lapid (ONLY not Bennett) plus allowing volunteers to help Ukraine plus sending lots of humanitarian aid in material and human aid.
You are ignoring again my comments that Russia arms all of Israel’s worst enemies plus sold them the nuclear technology to allow them to make nuclear fuel. Ted you should stop your conflating and rationalizing of Putin and Russia. Do not try and protect evil!!
@Peloni, the reactors to start with are Russian in Iran.
There are many other citations. This is very common knowledge.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-russia-nuclearpower/iran-russia-start-construction-of-new-iranian-nuclear-plant-idUSKCN11G0EB
@Bear
RUSSIA AND THE NEW ME -Part IV: Can Russia be induced to use its UN veto to protect Israel
Contemplating, a US-Russia Alliance
@ Reader
I note that you are generally in agreement with me.
By the way you quoted an article by Dr Francisco Gil-White who happens to be a friend of mine.
He has another piece in which he says that the US will never attack Iran.
@Bear
I have never heard that Iran received its nuclear technology from Russia. Do you have a citation for this or a source I could pursue? I really don’t believe that Russia would be so foolish as to empower Iran with nuclear tech. It is completely contrary to Russia’s self interest to do so, which doesn’t mean it isn’t true, but I have never heard of this claim beyond your assertions.
@Ted, just very recently Russia themselves jammed Israeli communications and kept many planes from flying for a couple of days or so. So referencing previous years is and downplaying it is inadequate in mind.
Has the USA sold Iran equipment to make nukes? NO Russia has.
Russia Selling Weapons to all of Israeli enemies is that okay with you?
Interesting is that you need to go back to bad mouthing US to try and downplay Russia’s anti Israeli positions.
Russia has always said the Golan is Syrian!! Yes they recently they brought it up again. So it was okay with you that Russia was punishing Israel?
Is okay with you that Russia consistently takes anti Israeli and pro Pal positions at UN?
Forget the US for a moment. Can you honestly say Russia is Pro Israel and an ally?
Is the US an ally of Israel?
http://www.hirhome.com/israel/hirally.htm
@Bear.
I will deal with your comment issue by issue.
By the way, I am not a hater. I don’t have such a strong emotion.
1. Except for Iran, so does the US. But the US give Iran the money to buy the weapons.
2. I do not know to what extent they sell nuclear technology to Iran. Here’s the definitive report. but the US didn’t object to the deal and currently has no issue with it.
3. Backing the Palestinians on the two state solution but Russia doesn’t apply any pressure on Israel on that front but the US and the EU and the UN do. When Obama didn’t veto Res 2334, Putin was asked to veto it and he declined. What you don’t know is that Obama wanted to follow up with an even worse resolution but didn’t because Putin said he would veto it. Look it up.
4. Yes Putin did say he supported Syria’s claim to the Golan but only did so to punish Israel from voting against Russia on Ukraine.
5. Don’t blame Russia for the war in Syria. Obama started it. Although Putin sold Syria the S-400 system it hasn’t prevented Israel from attacking. And Russia has been upholding the deconflicting agreement with Israel. Even now. Nevertheless one Israeli plan was shot down though there have been hundreds of Israeli attacks.
6. Yes in 2019, Israel accused Russia or selling jamming equipment to Syria. Russia said it was necessary. to protect her soldiers. It turned out not to be such a problem as Israel created an antidote.
7. Diplomatically Russia stands by the Palestinians. Agreed.
But the damage to Israel in her fight against the Palestinians is caused by the US demands on Israel. So the US is harming us more than Russia is.
@Ted, you can NOT answer my question because it would show in your hate of the USA you give Putin and Russia a pass for all their anti Israel actions:
1. Selling weapons to all of Israel enemies
2. Selling Nuclear technology to Iran
3. Backing the Palestinians on the two state solution
4. Claiming the Golan is Syrian
5. Backing Up Assad and helping him slaughter millions (plus selling them weapons to hurt Israel and shoot down their planes.
6. Jamming Israeli communications which kept planes down at Ben Gurion
7. Supporting anti Israeli agenda at UN
So basically you support Putin and Russia more than you care about Israel?
@Peloni
Thanks for your support.
The Times of Israel also turned me down saying essentially it was not true.. It obviously is taking the position of the MSM.
I sent the article to Newsmax where I also have a blog. They have not gotten back to me as of yet.
@Bear
I failed to respond to your question because it would take a detailed account.. Nobody supports Israel in full. Russia and the US have their own interests so there are pros and cons. for Israel.with each..
Both Russia and the US are corrupt. I no longer worship the US nor recognize Biden as a democratically elected president.
There is no question in my mind that the US stole Ukraine from Russian influence. and is using Ukraine to the detriment of Russia. Does it amount to a causes belli? Russia thinks so. The US refused to negotiate so Putin took action.
Must Putin continue to accept the abuse. At what point is he entitled to fight back. Or do you believe he must take the abuse. The moral issue is was he entitled to invade Ukraine’s sovereignty? “never” is not the answer and good people will have differing opinions.
Next question is, who is responsible for this turn of events. Do we simply blame it on Russia or do we recognize that the US shares some of the blame. Robert Spencer and many others blame the US at least in part.
I am highly critical of what the US has become and so used this as an opportunity to show it in the pot calling the kettle black.
Now we must ask how sacrosanct is one’s sovereignty. For instance both the US and the EU and the UN do not recognized Israel’s sovereignty. So it is only sacrosanct when they say it is. I would prefer that no one’s sovereignty be violated including Ukraine’s. and Taiwan’s. But as Greenfield pointed out historically sovereignty gets violated either by the internationalists or by the nationalists. The new World Order also violates sovereignty.
Did the US care when she invaded the sovereignty of Cuba, Serbia, Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq? I think not.
China says it considers Taiwan is Chinese territory and wants to unify Chinese territory. The only thing stopping them is the notion of sovereignty. China never consented to it seceding.. So to me everything is complicated. To you and Laura, its straight forward. You see it as us and them. Black and White. I see a lot of grey.
Apparently, Israel is going to vote against Russia. I wonder if the US forced Israel to do so. Or do you think it was just a moral decision?
@Ted
I am glad the Arutz Sheva published your article. AmericanThinker was quite incorrect that the tone was anti-American. There is no more American quality than empowering the people with transparency of govt overreach, crimes and blatant corruption. Furthermore, there is no more vital role for a journalist, or a journal for that matter, than to expose the history of such governmental misdeeds, and thereby enlighten current events with a vigorous discussion and analysis, which I think you clearly have achieved. Well done!
A brief but useful summary of Ukrainian history since 1990. Obviously it doesn’t tell us everything in such a brief article. But it does give us some idea of how the conflict developed. As Deng Tsiao-ping, China’s wisest and most humane dictator, once said, “learn truth from facts.”
@ Ted, Putin only need for self defense is when he attacks a country and they counter attack. A consistent pattern. This article is a Putin propaganda spin!
Ted, you did not answer one of points about how Russia and Putin are NOT on Israel’s side but on its enemies side generally. Yet Putin is who you applaud and sympathize with!!
Ted you fail to observe and digest that in regards to Israel: Russia supplies Iran nuclear equipment, takes their side on the nuclear issue, sells them weapons, and sells weapons to everyone of Israel’s enemies. Takes the side of the Palestinians on almost all issues.
Putin is on the side of Assad in Syria and has kept in him in power and propped him up. He says the Golan belongs to Syria.
Putin wants to conquer or control other countries. He is trying this now in Ukraine. The West opposes this. Ted is on the side of Putin.
Ted, tell us what is pro Israel or good about Putin? Did you like it when recently they jammed Israeli flight equipment and planes could not take off safely from Ben Gurion? Do you approve of them selling Iran and Syria equipment to shoot down Israeli planes?
The USA and other western countries sell weapons to Israel and buy weapons from Israel. Yes the west or much of it has tried to have Israel agree to a two state solution but so does Putin and Russia.
What is good about Putin again from the standpoint of Israel. So this supposed objectivity in my eyes is not objective but is nothing but a shallow anti American rant that one could hear from a Jihadi and/ or Putin.
Your analysis that Ukraine was threaten is Russia is almost funny if was no so sadly wrong. The fly threatening the Elephant is the proper analogy. Wow how wrong you are 100%!!!!
Lunatic analysis.