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Reflections on Odessa
James Petras
Some things do not change, despite world-historic catastrophes. Back in the late 19th century, Isaac Babel witnessed and described mobs, self-described as “Black Hundreds”, rampaging the streets of Odessa, dragging red-bearded Jews through the streets, sacking and burning their stores. Dozens of Jews were murdered and hundreds fled to sanctuaries. Terrible times, indeed!
But how much worse today when the progeny of the Black Hundreds and the proud descendants of Nazi collaborators, who now call themselves the ‘Right Forum’, roam the streets of Odessa with impunity and license, beating whomever they encounter.
Women, adolescents and pensioners fled, seeking refuge in a Trade Union Center. The contemporary Nazi’s firebombed the Center, incinerating forty and forcing others to jump from windows to their death. And those injured from their fall… beaten to a bloody pulp.
Odessa Massacre: Eyewitness Account
by Stephen Lendman
Palestinians remember Deir Yassin. Poles remember Katyn Forest. Native Americans remember Wounded Knee.
Odessans won't forget May 2. Nor will people of conscience everywhere paying attention.
Massacring people in cold blood exposed the worst of fascist extremism. Neo-Nazi Right Sector thugs committed mass murder.
Kiev putschists ordered them to do so. Washington OK'd their atrocity. What happened was well planned in advance.
A previous article discussed it. About 300 Ukrainians were slaughtered. Fire didn't take them. Neo-Nazi hoodlums did.
Mass murder was mostly inside Odessa's Trade Union House (TUH) building. People perished inside from gunshot wounds, strangulation and beatings. Some were thrown from windows. They didn't jump.
Photographic evidence is damning. Independent videos don't lie. Nor does graphic eyewitness testimony.
Bashing Putin's Diplomatic Proposal
by Stephen Lendman
It bears repeating what other articles stressed. Putin represents responsible geopolitical leadership. Obama is polar opposite.
Responses to Putin's diplomatic proposal didn't surprise. According to State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki:
"(W)e need to see more from President Putin than simply calling for (Eastern Ukrainian referendums) to be postponed."
"And we believe and we would call on Russia to use its influence to - with the militant groups to ensure a safe and secure environment for all Ukrainians to cast their ballots on May 25th. And that's how they can deliver on these words."
Russia is withdrawing its forces from close to Ukraine's borders. They never threatened Ukraine. They engaged in Western-monitored military exercises.
Kiev Uses Chemical Weapons
by Stephen Lendman
Fascists wage wars their way. Dirty ones rage. America fights this way.
It's done so throughout its existence. No-holds-barred barbarism reflects official policy.
Washington manipulates criminal events in Ukraine. Coup-appointed putschists are convenient stooges. They're murdering their own people. They're doing it in cold blood.
Donetsk People's Republic leaders said Mariupol self-defense forces were attacked with chemical weapons. A statement issued said:
"Kiev bears the entire responsibility not only for their state agencies' actions, but also for the actions by citizens who illegally apply means of chemical warfare."
"Armed groups controlled by Kiev used unidentified chemical weapons on May 6 while storming the City Council headquarters."
Kiev Obstructs Peaceful Dialogue
by Stephen Lendman
Coup-appointed putschists are convenient US stooges. Washington manipulates their policies. They salute and obey.
They spurn peaceful dialogue. They continue lawless aggression. They do so against their own people. They do it with full US support.
On May 8, Russia's Foreign Ministry said they sabotaged OECD peaceful conflict resolution dialogue.
"The reaction to the results of the Moscow meeting between the presidents of Russia and Switzerland that came from the Kiev authorities, who have essentially jeopardized the OSCE efforts to launch an inclusive dialogue, is deeply regrettable," the ministry said.
"Putting an immediate stop to the use of force, primarily of the regular army, and practical steps to disarm illegal armed groups are an obligatory condition."
"Russia expects the slaughter in Odessa to be investigated in an unbiased and comprehensive way and those guilty to be punished seriously."
Putin's Diplomatic Gambit
by Stephen Lendman
Putin is polar opposite Obama. He represents responsible geopolitical leadership.
He wants Ukrainian crisis conditions resolved diplomatically. He does so despite knowing Washington's hardline agenda.
It's longstanding. It's all take. It's no give. Its rules alone matter. Unchallenged global dominance is sought. So is eliminating major rivals.
On Wednesday, Putin addressed ongoing Ukrainian crisis conditions. He did so forthrightly. He was candid, saying:
They've "tak(en) the worst direction in its developments lies with those who organised the coup d’etat in Kiev on February 22-23, and have not yet taken the trouble to disarm right-wing radical and nationalist groups."
"(W)e must look for ways out of the situation as it is today. We all have an interest in ending this crisis, Ukraine and its people above all."
Putin in Crimea
by Stephen Lendman
On Friday, he arrived in Sevastopol. It was his first Crimean Federal District visit since reunification with Russia.
He came commemorating Moscow's Great Patriotic War victory.
Its efforts were key to defeating Nazi Germany. Things might have turned out differently otherwise.
Putin honored fallen war heroes. He thanked living veterans. He praised their heroic contribution. They defeated Hitler.
They sacrificed greatly doing so. They did so more than all other allied countries combined. Millions of lost lives attested to their determination to prevail.
Putin congratulated Crimeans on Victory Day. He was delighted to be with them, he said. Sevastopol defenders were some of Russia's most heroic.
Despite Hitlers order "to hold every meter" of the city, Soviet forces triumphed in spring 1944. Doing so took nearly 18,000 lives and tens of thousands of injuries.
Israeli ties compromise Asian support to Arabs
By Nicola Nasser*
Israel has carved economic inroads into Asia deep enough to compromise the traditional Asian political support for Arabs. If this trend continues, the growing economic Israeli-Asian relations could in no time translate into political ties that would neutralize Asia in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s official visit to Japan from May 11-15 is not an historic breakthrough per se in bilateral relations that date back to 1952.
Neither is the normalization of relations in “a matter of weeks” between Israel and Turkey, which was the first major Muslim country to recognize the State of Israel in 1949, as promised by the Turkish premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan on last April 27.
However both events should highlight the historic breakthrough Israel has discreetly and quietly achieved in pivoting to Asia, once an Arab reservoir of support in their conflict with Israel over Palestine.
Fascism's Dark Side
by Stephen Lendman
An earlier article called Ukraine the epicenter of European fascist reemergence. Kiev putschists reflect it.
Last Friday's Odessa massacre shows how far they'll go. No-holds-barred barbarism explains it.
What happened exceeded the horrors of early reports. Neo-Nazi Right Sector thugs set Odessa's Trade Union House ablaze.
People were trapped inside. Dozens were massacred. Scores more were injured. Many remain missing. They're either dead or in neo-Nazi hands.
If alive, they face torture and other forms of abuse. They won't survive. They might as well be dead.
Early reports way underestimated what happened. It's multiples worse than reported.
On May 5, Live Journal (LJ) headlined "How the thugs killed Odessa inhabitants in the Trade Union House (TUH) - the details of bloody scenario."
Fascism's Willing Co-Conspirators
by Stephen Lendman
Western media scoundrels mock legitimacy. They march in lockstep with lawless US policy.
They misinform readers and viewers. They spurn truth and full disclosure. They proliferate Big Lies.
They violate core journalistic ethics doing so. They shame themselves in the process.
Ukraine is in the eye of the storm. Managed news misinformation persists daily. Irresponsible Russia bashing is featured.
Truth is twisted to fit US imperial policy. It's turned on its head. It's pure garbage. It doesn't matter. It's featured daily.
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