The Dangers Of Russian Propaganda
On Day 14 of the invasion of Ukraine, the world wonders what NATO will do?
This has been a long two weeks, and a time of unimaginable horror and despair for the Ukrainians. Each day we wait to see whether NATO will do more than provide some humanitarian aid, some weapons, and words of support. I may seem critical of NATO, but it is a case of, ‘We can’t help you stop the deaths and suffering because we don’t want to engage in war, but we will provide you with the medical supplies to bandage the wounds when you get injured, and provide the coffins for the dead.’
Several cities and towns (Melitopol, Kherson, Starobilsk, Novopskov, and Berdyansk) are living under Russian occupation waiting for the Ukrainian army to liberate them and oust the Russians. They protest, knowing that the Russians may shoot or arrest them, while supplies have come to a halt. Food and medicinal supplies are low, where the local governments are trying to keep the cities running, but balancing it with refusing to cooperate with the Russians.
In 19th century Russian and French novels, we read of cities being seized and they starved the people until they complied with the hostiles who took over their city. Trucks were brought in with food and supplies only for the army, as they watched the people starve and suffer. That was in novels, but there was probably some truth in it too. Apparently humanitarian aid is being denied in occupied cities, and Russian trucks are distributing food but filming people for propaganda purposes. The Ukrainians will not play a part in this propaganda, and the Russians have resorted to using actors to take food from the soldiers to give the appearance that the occupation is peaceful and Ukrainians are grateful.
This kind of propaganda is similar to the Nazi camps where videos were staged to show the prisoners being treated well. The Terezin model camp was set up so that the world would think that the Nazi camps were well run, and the people were treated well. The Russians are using the same tactics.
https://www.czechcenter.org/the-history-of-terezin
Again, these are scenes we have seen reacted in movies and told in real life accounts by those in the Holocaust, and Nazi concentration camps. I find it difficult that I am reading accounts of this today where these things are happened a few days ago, and that the bodies (NATO) are reticent to act to prevent further harm to victims of war. A delay in acting, or a failure to take proactive measures is condemning Ukrainians to prolonged attacks and misery. This seems to be evident in the quick response the US has made regarding the offer of Polish MIG-29 jets when they rejected it. We assume that NATO are all working with the same goal—to help protect and defend Ukraine, but this is political too. Poland is taking in refugees, and are directly affected by the crisis being a border country
While people from other countries wish to go to Ukraine and fight to help them, at first Zelenskyy welcomed them, but one should also act with caution. If an off-duty or reservist soldier were to engage, then the country where they are from could be accused of hostilities against Russia and be seen as an ally. Ukrainians who have left the country are returning to fight, and that is different as they were born there and are returning to fight for their country, but what this does indicate is that these are delicate political times we live in.
The suggested offer of Poland offering MIG-29 jets for American use appears not to have been discussed at length with the US. Some may ask why the hesitation, but we should remember that the US has always been overly cautious when it comes to engaging in war when it doesn’t directly affect or benefit them. The main reason is more political because the US believes it would compromise NATO as an alliance, but also they would be reluctant to ‘swap’ jets with Poland. It is a case of we are all together as an alliance, but we still don’t trust you that much.
The US didn’t join the First World War until April 1917( nearly 3 years later), and Churchill visited the White House to persuade Frankin D.Roosevelt to help fight the Second World War. The US supplied assistance in 1940, but did not join the war until December 1941, more than 2 years later.
Negotiations failed during the First World War, and lasted a few months before war was declared (June to August 1914). The Second World War fared worse, with Austria being annexed (Anschluss) in March 1938, followed by Czechoslovakia in March 1939, due to the distastrous Munich Pact in September 1938. The agreement was for Hitler to halt any further hostilities. Well, that didn’t work, where the failures to act decisively led to Poland being invaded, and the offical start of the Second World War on 1 September 1939. The lesson of appeasement is that it doesn’t work with a dictator who fears no one and who has no respect for the rule of law, humanity, or rules of engagement.
Obviously there is a pattern here, and NATO was formed to prevent such happenings again. It seems that the idea of NATO is failing in its most basic principle, bogged down with red tape and concerns over being politically correct while people die. Neigbouring countries should be concerned, for if they wait for negotiations to be agreed, the chances are that the aggressor will dispense with them and resume their original plan. Historically, negotations only work for a short period of time and are never a long term solution because each party will have had to give up something they didn’t want to.
There is some good news in that a mass evacuation was successful, but the realtiy is that these people should not have had to evacuate from their homes in the first place. The bad news is that there was an air raid on a hospital and a maternity ward where there have been deaths and casulties. Zelenskyy has hit out at the West, stating that they are enabling these deaths, and the truth is that there are.
Yesterday saw nearly all the major companies in the world suspend their operations in Russia. Why has it taken two weeks though? It is a big decision, and money talks. However, they also know that they must do their part to stop Russia and to prevent a World War, and that humanity will judge them for their actions. Those who do not suspend their operations will be harshly criticized by the masses now and in the future. That’s obviously bad for business too.
I watched the joint press conference with Liz Truss (Foreign Secretary) and Antony Blinken (US Secretary of State) and it was unimpressive. If the world has to rely on them to make decisions, then I fear we are doomed. Truss was unconvincing and unsure of what she was actually saying, and when Blinken responded with a ‘What she said’ remark, NATO appears as useless as the UN. No one was convinced when she claimed that anti-air weaponery was better than defending the skies with a no-fly zone—even Truss didn’t seem to believe her own words.
The issue of a no-fly zone was brought up again, and both have stated they will not consider this as it will mean that NATO is engaging in war. Both claim that they want to end the war, and by engaging they will be escalating the war. The irony that they cannot grasp is that by failing to act, they are in fact prolonging the invasion and are stalling the inevitable. If they want the war to end, they they must engage for a short aand swift period of time. Leaving it longer will only make the problem worse, while more people die, more cities get bombed, and more people must become refugees and escape to safety.
Many will claim they are already involved by providing weapons, and sanctions. The world waits to see what China will do. That prospect is not promising with their track record on humanitarian issues.
Day 14 (9 March)
The BBC resumes reporting in Russia after halting their brodcasts due to the new laws where those who speak out against the military will be imprisoned.
The people of occupied Kherson and other cities have been protesting, where there are reports of more than 400 people being detained by Russian troops. Some are attacked by the troops. The Rosgvardia are guards who report directly to Putin are in charge of controlling protests.
Humanitarian aid to occupied areas is being used as propaganda for the Russians as they film people taking supplies from the Russian trucks as other trucks are blocked. The reports claim the Russians are using actors as Ukrainians refuse to used as propaganda puppets.
The US rejects the Polish offer of MIG-29 jets stating that it is too complex and needs NATO approval and they believe it will compromise NATO. The confusion arose when Blinken said the US would give the green light to fighter jets if NATO agreed, but he expected that the Polish jets would go directly to Ukraine and not to the US to deliver. The issue is how to get the jets to Ukraine it seems.
Germany will not send warplanes to Ukraine, but have provided other weapons.
Ukraine seeks guarantor states (US and Turkey) as they have said that NATO will not accept them for at least 15 years. By then, what will be left of Ukarine?
The whole world has condemned the bombing of a hospital in Mariupol
where babies and children are believed to among the injured and dead. Zelenskyy repeats his request for the West to ‘protect the skies’ in order to prevent deaths. He states that the West have allowed these deaths to happen.
Pepsi join the major companies in suspending sales and production of their products in Russia.
Universal Music Group suspends operations in Russia.
Seven evacuation routes are now in place in Ukraine, and include Izyem, Mariupol, Sumy, and Enerhodar.
A joint press conference with the UK (Liz Truss, Foreign Secretary) and US (Antony Blinken, Secretary of State) is held where they state they will not impose a no-fly zone. Truss claims that the UK will provide anti-air weaponery instead which is better, and both state that they want to end the war and not expand it.
@EL - I am so gutted that it took me all day and evening to check in here so late. I feel guilty, I feel enraged. With so much on your writing and tracking plate, EL, it is truly miraculous that you can find the time to track this ghastly tragedy as well. Take care of yourself and your mental and emotional resources. TC
Another day of talks and no progress as innocent civilians continue to be targeted and killed. If this isn't genocide I don't know what is. No one wants war but talk is cheap. During the pandemic, my husband and I have been keeping in touch with friends by phone, all of whom are commonly known as "depression babies". During the past couple of years it seems as though every other day our Canadian government has been announcing multiple millions of dollars to be spent on this, that and the other thing, all worthy causes for sure, but those of our generation have been quick to assess "someone is going to have to pay for all this expenditure". I have to believe that governments throughout the world are faced with the same costs and deficits. I wonder if "cost", not in lives but in money is what is preventing them from taking the action we don't want, namely war, rather than what we DO want, an end to the "hostilities" we are witnessing in real time.