Democracy Continues to Shrivel in Russia

The enigma that is Russia for some is filling out step by step every day, giving pundits, world leaders, doubters, naysayers and the entire global community a clearer picture of the threat Moscow is posing to international peace, stability and security.

Russia, with its omnipotent leader Vladimir Putin, has set out on a dangerous course of global domination. Its invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Ukrainian land is but one recent example of its violent external expansion.

Domestically, the Kremlin and its so-called legislative bodies, which are merely rubber stamps for Putin’s whims, are tightening their grips on all forms of freedom of expression, even outlawing the LGBT community and arresting anyone wearing Ukrainian colors, thereby squeezing out the last drops of democracy from society. Non-governmental organizations, which are the foundation of democracies around the globe, have also come under fire with those receiving support from overseas subject to charges of treason.

Then today, a draconian law restricting freedom of the press via blogging was signed into effect by Putin. The law requires registration of this popular form of reporting in a list compiled by the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media (Roskombadzor), which would partially equate them to journalists.

The law is included in the framework of an “anti-terrorist package” implying that bloggers are terrorists – and consequently could be enemies of the state.  The law pointed out that a blogger is a person who places universal-access information intended for a mass audience, on a personal page in the Internet. Bloggers, whose posts are read by more than 3,000 users per 24 hours, must be included in the Roskombadzor register. The law also introduces such a notion as organizer of the dissemination of information in the Internet.

The blogger may either file an application for registration on his own upon filling an e-form on a special website, or wait for a notification about the need to register from Roskombadzor.

The registered bloggers will be required to list information about themselves on their pages, prevent the use of the information for criminal purposes, avoid unverified information, intrusion into the private life and denigration of the honor of other citizens.

This stricture was condemned by civil rights experts around the world.

Remi Piet, assistant professor of public policy, diplomacy and international political economy at Qatar University observed in Al Jazeera: “Since the escalation in Ukraine in early spring, news websites have been under the close scrutiny of Roskomnadzor, especially those of independent media outlets and blogs of key opposition leaders. Several have been blocked since the beginning of the year, including the official website of Alexei Navalny, who finished second in the recent mayoral elections in Moscow, running on a political platform of the liberalisation of politics and fighting corruption. The website of opposition leader and former World Chess Champion, Gary Kasparov, was also censored.”

It was certain that as Russia expands its anti-democratic policies and aggression, Putin would shackle the freest form of journalist expression – the blogger.

While it is a new phenomenon, blogging has contributed to some of the most insightful analyses of world events, especially those that threaten the safety of societies. They have become the bane of dictators around the world.

Hugh Williamson, of New York-based Human Rights Watch, called the law after it was adopted by the Russian parliament in April “another milestone in Russia’s relentless crackdown on free expression.”

Russian blogger Oleg Kozyrev opined that “every blogger might face a threat of criminal prosecution,” adding that he does not intend to register his Web site.

Kozyrev was further quoted as saying that he expected that many of his colleagues would resort to a Soviet-era habit of making their points elliptically to avoid outright confrontation with authorities.

“There is a tradition in Russian literature of fables, and of speaking figuratively and hinting,” he said. “They won’t say what they really mean, but people will guess.”

While it is a new phenomenon, it is a recognized craft that deserves protection, according to opinions expressed by United Nations officials.

Donna Ann Welton, deputy director for communications, United States Mission to the United Nations, pointed out: “As communications technologies evolve, we are reminded that all individuals are entitled to the same human rights and fundamental freedoms online as they are offline, and all governments must protect those rights regardless of the medium. We must also recognize the importance of journalists and we call on all governments to protect the ability of journalists, bloggers, and dissidents to write and speak freely without retribution.”

With Russian mass media – TV, radio and publications – forced to perpetuate lies and fabrications about internal events, Russia’s war with Ukraine, and its downing of MH17, Russians will have limited access to accurate, fair, balanced and credible accounts of what’s happening. Perhaps today’s media lies have contributed to Putin’s unbelievable high popularity – or perhaps even that’s a lie.

As long as Putin remains in power in Russia, all segments of Russian society will suffer. Ultimately, the international community will also suffer.

Go Ahead, Knock this Stick off My Shoulder, I Dare Ya

Repetitive threats of tough and tougher sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine and shooting down MH17 remind me of reluctant schoolyard dares to knock it off. Go ahead, knock it off, I dare ya.

To be fair, US, Canada and the EU have imposed punitive sanctions against Russia, which reportedly have cost Russian oligarchs some $14.5 billion. But Russia’s aggression and killings continue unabated. Nothing seems to be convincing Putin that he must cease and desist or else his belligerent polices will bring Russia and Russians Nazi-like disgrace for generations.

Washington and other capitals that are endeavoring to bring Russia to its senses haven’t yet convinced Russia of their resolve because Russia raises its criminal ante everything the US and EU reply by warning Moscow that if it does that once more, they will then really punish Russia. Go ahead, knock it off, I dare ya.

Apparently frustrated by Putin’s aggressive obstinacy, the European Union and the United States on Tuesday, July 29, announced what they consider significant additional sanctions against Russia, targeting its energy, banking and defense sectors. The declared sanctions were touted as the strongest international reaction yet over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in hopes that it would back down from its war to subjugate Ukraine.

“Russia is once again isolating itself from the international community,” President Obama was quoted as saying, claiming that the US sanctions will have an “even bigger bite” thanks to action by the Europeans. 

“If Russia continues on this current path, the costs on Russia will continue to grow,” Obama said in Washington. “Russia’s actions in Ukraine and the sanctions that we’ve already imposed have made a weak Russian economy even weaker.”

Obama said the US sanctions would hit the finance, arms and energy sectors of Russia’s economy. Among the US sanctions, according to the Treasury Department, are penalties that target the Bank of Moscow, the Russian Agricultural Bank and VTB Bank. Also listed on the Treasury designation is the United Shipbuilding Corp., which is based in St. Petersburg. 

Obama said the US is also blocking the export of certain goods and technologies to the Russian energy sector, and suspending credit “that encourages exports to Russia and financing for economic development projects in Russia.”

In Brussels, diplomats said ambassadors from the 28-member European bloc agreed to restrictions on trade of equipment for the oil and defense sectors, and “dual use” technology with both defense and civilian purposes. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Putin’s biggest supporter who had been reluctant to step up sanctions before the crash because of her country's trade links with Russia, said the latest EU measures were “unavoidable.” Russia’s state run banks would be barred from raising funds in European capital markets. The measures would be reviewed in three months and they’re supposed to be enacted August 1.

The word “if” and the lack of immediacy will not convince Putin of the West’s conviction. Also, it is unknown how much financial pain the Russian oligarchs, most of whom are loyal Putinists, are prepared to tolerate. Is $14.5 billion enough? Will $20 billion send them over the top and spark a revolution against Putin?

Regrettably, Putin has shown no sign of backing down now or in the face of future sanctions or threats. Indeed, despite the virtually universal global condemnation following the downing of MH17, Western countries have said Russia hasn’t backed down but rather it stepped up support for Russian terrorists in Ukraine by sending them more tanks, artillery, rockets and heavy weapons.

News media noted that London’s financial could face disproportionate harm from measures against Russian banks. German manufacturing firms could also lose customers. European banks and other creditors that are owed money by Russians may face a greater risk that clients will have trouble refinancing or repaying their loans. Perhaps those are the real reasons for hesitation.

“These sanctions are harder than anything we have ever had before,” said James Nixey of British think tank Chatham House. “It will hurt a little bit but it’s a down payment on the future security of Europe. It's a question of Western credibility.”

So far the down payment has not convinced the aggressor.

Sen. John McCain’s quaint warning that there would be hell to pay if Russia doesn’t cooperate with the international investigation about the downing of MH17 can be extended without exaggeration to Russia’s behavior not only over the past six months but through centuries. Hell wasn’t paid because Russia has a large letter of credit from Lucifer. Last week McCain called Europe’s tepid sanctions on Russia are “a joke” that will only encourage further aggression from Putin.

“It's a joke and they will do nothing and I predicted they would do nothing,” McCain was quoted as aptly remarking. “They will continue to do nothing until the day they become independent of Russian energy. Until then they will talk.”

McCain’s allusion was correct. How long will the US and EU tolerate Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its neighbors? The former captive nations feel the threat but when will Berlin and Paris?

The Washington Post stated in an editorial on July 24 that Putin “has responded to the international outrage over the destruction of a Malaysian airliner by his proxies in eastern Ukraine by escalating his aggression.” The newspaper noted that the Russian leader “is clearly not impressed” by the West’s response and sanctions.

Criticizing Obama’s halfhearted response to Russia’s aggression, The Washington Post correctly opined that the US “has already missed the opportunity for swift action to stop Mr. Putin’s escalation. If he does not act soon, it may be too late to save Ukraine.”

Will Ukraine, 23 years after declaring its independence from Russia, be lost on our watch?

Economic sanctions have so far been ineffective because Putin has scoffed at them. He is keenly keeping his eye on regional and then global domination – Russia’s manifest destiny. The US, Canada and EU must up the ante. They must declare Russia a global terrorist state, exclude it from international affairs, ostracize it from the table, stop trading with it, and sever diplomatic relations with Moscow.

They also have to take to heart the sobering conclusion by Leonid Nevzlin of OJSC “Yukos Oil Company,” the Russian petroleum company, that the only salvation for Russia – and the world – is Putin’s ouster from power.

US Congress Urges Putin to Stand Down

With Russia’s war against Ukraine escalating, President Poroshenko has been busy appealing to the US Congress and White House for moral and practical help. Indeed the US, Canada and EU have been in the forefront of condemning Russia for its belligerence against Ukraine and threatening it with additional sanctions if Moscow doesn’t stand down.

Last week Poroshenko called on the Congress to recognize militants and organizations acting eastern Ukraine, as well as those who support them, as terrorists. “It will be an important gesture of solidarity that we are expecting from the entire world,” he pointed out.

His call dovetailed with what many in Ukraine and around the world have been saying about Russian mercenaries and regular troops and officers fighting against Ukrainian armed forces in eastern Ukraine. They are terrorists – and not merely for the amount of death and destruction that they’ve sown. There have been credible reports that Russian invading forces have used civilian residences for target practice.

Poroshenko emphasized that you cannot call those who kill innocent people separatists -- they are terrorists. “Each person in the world must feel how dangerous it is for everyone,” he said.

He pointed out that if anticipated sanctions against Russia do not work – and delaying enacting them do not help, there are grounds to request Congress for a special status of “Major Non-NATO Ally of the United States” that has already been granted to Israel, Australia and the Philippines.

“It is a threat for the whole world. It is not a conflict inside Ukraine. Ukrainian nation is united as never before and the world should find the right answer to the actions of terrorists,” he emphasized.

In the halls of Congress, Congressional Ukrainian Caucus co-Chairs Reps. Jim Gerlach (PA-6th District), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Sander Levin (D-MI) on Thursday, July 24, introduced legislation to provide a clear and specific process to provide direct military and security assistance to the Government of Ukraine as it seeks to strengthen its democracy and prevent Russian violence and aggression within its borders.
HR 5190, the proposed Ukraine Security Assistance Act of 2014, would reinforce the strong relationship between the US and Ukraine and take an important step toward helping Ukraine neutralize the military-support advantage that Russian terrorists are using to target civilian and military aircraft in eastern Ukraine and foster violence and instability across that country.  This legislation would authorize the president to work with the government of Ukraine to assess that country’s military, intelligence, and security needs and provide adequate and necessary assistance to protect Ukrainian democracy and sovereignty.

“The Ukrainian people have made clear their desire to build a stronger democratic self-government and establish closer ties to the European Union and the west,” Gerlach said.  “Unfortunately, as recent events have demonstrated, the Russian Federation will not honor Ukraine’s sovereignty and will continue to meddle within Ukraine’s border until it has broken the spirit of the Ukrainian people.  The evidence released by US and Ukrainian intelligence authorities shows without a doubt that rebel separatists and hired thugs, armed with superior Russian technology and weapons, continue to foment havoc and instability. The bipartisan legislation we introduced today is another important step towards reaffirming the United States’ commitment to helping our Ukrainian allies develop as a fully democratic nation.”

This is the type of support Ukraine needs and deserves now. Ukraine is in the throes of a war for its independence, freedom and continued democratic evolution. The display support from the public officials of the United States and other free countries must be relentless.

HR 5190 was also supported by Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D-OH-9], Rep. Sander Levin [D-MI-9], Rep. Louise Slaughter [D-NY-25], Rep. David Joyce [R-OH-14], Rep. Patrick Tiberi [R-OH-12], Rep. James Renacci [R-OH-16], Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. [D-NJ-9], Rep. Tom Marino [R-PA-10], Rep. Steve Stivers [R-OH-15], and  Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick [R-PA-8].

Don’t Think Russia will Cower behind the Broom

Even in the face of its impudent crimes of late, Vladimir Putin and Russia will not cower behind the broom and submissively take his medicine. Putin, who for years has been overseeing a fast paced militarization of Russia, is already planning how to stand up to the United States and NATO for disseminating lies against him and Russia.

At a meeting with the Russian Security Council on Monday, July 22, Putin made the following statements:

“We shall provide an adequate and well-measured response to NATO’s expansion towards Russia’s borders, and we shall take note of [the West] setting up a global missile defense architecture and building up its arsenals of precision-guided weapons.”

“No matter what our Western counterparts tell us, we can see what’s going on. As it stands, NATO is blatantly building up its forces in Eastern Europe, including the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea areas. Its operational and combat training activities are gaining in scale.”

“With that in mind, we need to promptly and diligently implement all the measures we have planned to strengthen our nation’s defense capabilities, including our plans for Crimea and Sevastopol, where we will practically have to set up our military architecture from scratch.”

“The very concept of the state sovereignty is becoming diluted. Unwanted regimes and countries that are trying to exercise independent policy or simply stand in the way of someone’s interests are getting destabilized.”

“Attempts aimed at destabilizing the social and political situation, throwing off Russia and striking at its vulnerable and soft spots have been and will be made.”

“The so-called competitive struggle at the international arena will imply the use of tools in both economic and political fields. This will include the potential of security services, modern information and communication technologies, and connections of dependent, puppet NGOs – the so-called soft power. Apparently, some countries regard it as democracy.”

“On our part, we follow all the norms of international law and fulfill our obligations to our partners. We expect other countries and organizations, military and political alliances – Russia is not a part of any alliance, and that underpins our sovereignty – to take our national interests into consideration.”

According to Reuters and Russian news media, Putin, reading from notes at the head of a long table with officials seated on each side, spoke much more forcefully than during brief televised remarks on the plane's downing first released in the early hours of Monday, when he had seemed less assured than usual.
Putin reiterated his belief that protests that toppled Ukraine's former Russian-backed leader were instigated and funded from abroad. Despite Western sanctions, he said Moscow would stand by separatists in eastern Ukraine whom, he denounced as part of a popular rising against an illegal coup.
“Russia is being presented with what is almost an ultimatum: “Let us destroy this part of the population that is ethnically and historically close to Russia and we will not impose sanctions against you.’ This is a strange and unacceptable logic.”
The sound that we will be hearing for many years is the sound of Russian factories from Vladivostok to Petersburg churning out new weapons. Hopefully, the White House has formally renounced its dangerous reset policy in relations with Russia and will not show that it is unequal to the task of being the leader and defender of the free world.

War with Ukraine, MH17 Place Russia in New Light

·                     This morning Russia shot down two Ukrainian SU-25 fighter jets in the region of the destruction of MH17, signaling its intention to escalate hostilities against Ukraine. Reportedly, the pilots ejected. Ironically, at the same time The Daily Beast reported that Ukraine had quietly asked the US and NATO for sensitive technology that could jam the radar that the Russians are using to lock their missiles on Ukrainian jets. Apparently, the US and NATO did not agree with the request thereby perpetuating the likelihood of more Ukrainian aircraft and pilot losses. It should be pointed out that the guided missile BUK system used by Russia – the one that is driven into and out of Ukraine – requires more intelligence to manipulate than the Neanderthal Russian terrorists seem to possess. Additionally, the conversations between the mercenaries on the ground and their controllers in Moscow revealed a level of linguistic skills and enunciation that is in character with an educated senior Russian officer rather than Moscow’s cutthroats in Ukraine.

·                     Annexation of Crimea, followed by a seventh-month-long war with Ukraine and the destruction of Malaysian MH17, killing 298 people, has placed Russia in a new light.

It is safe to say that most sober officials, analysts and pundits are fairly well acquainted with Russia’s bloody and despotic legacy but are hesitant to relate that knowledge to current affairs.

However, the tumultuous events in Ukraine since late last year have brought Russia’s highhandedness in its former captive nation to the forefront, making observers scratch their heads and wonder whether they should have heeded the warnings about the Kremlin. Were the right-wing conservatives and Eastern European Americans more on target about Russia than kneejerk liberals have been?

Opinions about how to respond to Russia range from tougher sanctions to a war crimes trial against the Kremlin.

The Red Cross contributed to the war crimes talk by making a confidential legal assessment that Ukraine is officially in a war, opening the door to possible war crimes prosecutions, including over the downing of Malaysia Airlines MH-17. “Clearly it’s an international conflict and therefore this is most probably a war crime,” a Western diplomat in Geneva was quoted as telling Reuters.

Since the International Committee on the Red Cross is in the UN system, it can make that determination because it is considered the guardians of international humanitarian law.

Dutch prosecutors are pursuing this angle by opening an investigation into the crash of MH17 on suspicion of murder, war crimes and intentionally downing an airliner. Based on the Law on International Crimes, the Netherlands can prosecute any individual who committed a war crime against a Dutch citizen.

Forcing Russia to stand trial for this war crime would at least symbolically bring it to justice to its legacy of brutality.

·                     In the wake of the destruction of MH17, The US and European Union have intensified their threats of imposing additional sanctions against Russia. Without a doubt, these sanctions must be painful, crippling and punitive – not figurative.

The usually reserved Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, in a statement last weekend, had harsh words for  Putin as investigations seemed to be stymied. “I want to see results in the form of unhindered access and a speedy recovery of the victims’ remains. This is now priority No. 1. Putin must take responsibility vis-à-vis the rebels and show the Netherlands and the world that he is doing what is expected of him," he said.

Rutte's anger comes as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron, and French President François Hollande agreed that “the EU must reconsider its approach to Russia and that foreign ministers should be ready to impose further sanctions on Russia when they meet on Tuesday.”

Unfortunately, the European leaders spoke better than their sanctions did.

The EU agreed Tuesday to expand a list of Russian entities and individuals subject to asset freezes and travel bans and threatened to target vast sectors of the Russian economy if Moscow does not act swiftly to rein its terrorists.

EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels stopped well short of immediately carrying out vows in some countries to jump quickly to “phase three sanctions” that could cripple the Russian economy. Rather, they agreed to prepare by Thursday a list of possible options, including a potential arms embargo, limits on dual-technology sales and, more important, measures targeting the energy and financial sectors. They said such measures could be imposed later only if Russia does not force pro-Moscow separatists to grant unfettered access to the crash site and fulfill its pledge to cooperate with an international investigation.

The “if” is troublesome because it lets Russia off the hook and gives it another chance to commit another crime.

Another strong condemnation came from Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada. “Canada remains committed to doing its part to apply that pressure in response to Russia's provocative actions,” Harper wrote.

“We call on President Putin to immediately order a withdrawal of his troops from the Ukrainian border, to stop the flow of weapons and militants into Ukraine, and to use Russia’s influence to persuade insurgents to lay down their weapons and renounce violence. It is also imperative that investigators be given full, unimpeded access to the crash site of the downed Malaysian airliner.”

·                     At the White House on Monday, President Obama emphasized the need for accountability in an investigation of the shooting down of MH17. But he naively said Russia must urge the rebels to cooperate.

Citing mounting evidence, Kyiv and Washington have built a strong case that a Russian-made missile fired by pro-Moscow terrorists in Ukraine brought down the Boeing 777 airliner.

In a letter to the President, from Democratic Senators Dianne Feinstein (CA), Carl Levin (MI) and Robert Menendez (NJ), who respectively chair the committees on intelligence, armed services and foreign relations, the lawmakers urged consideration of broader sanctions on the Russian economy, including the energy and financial sectors, and designation of the separatists’ self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine as a foreign terrorist organization.

“We understand and strongly support your efforts to coordinate the imposition of sanctions with our key European allies,” the senators wrote. “However, the United States must not limit its own national security strategy when swift action will help fulfill our strategic objectives, support an independent Ukraine and counter malignant Russian interference.”

·                     In its editorial on this topic, The Washington Post quaintly went back to the future. It urged the West to devise a strategy to contain the world’s newest rogue state — Russia. Yes, the West does need a new strategy. The first one was a strategic foreign policy pursued by the United States in the late 1940s and the early 1950s in order to check the expansionist policy of the Soviet Union. In an anonymous article in the July 1947 issue of Foreign Affairs, George F. Kennan, diplomat and US State Department adviser on Soviet affairs, suggested a “long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies” in the hope that the regime would mellow or collapse.

Containment failed for the same reason the League of Nations did: lack of will power and interest. The new policy must have dedication and teeth to stop Russia at the slightest transgression.

Ban Putin from Global Affairs

The impassioned call for banning Vladimir Putin of Russia from all international events is spreading around the world like wildfire.

Russian terrorists’ coldblooded destruction of a Malaysian civilian airliner over Ukraine, killing some 300 people, including 80 children, has triggered humanity’s unchained denunciation of the Russia leader.

Peoples represented by the nationalities murdered by Putin’s mercenaries and others are unable to contain their shock, grief, outrage and disgust for what happened.

Newspapers around the world screamed with banner headlines:

Putin Murderer

Putin’s Missile

Putin’s War

Putin Killer

Putin, You Killed my Son

Putin, You Killed my Friends

This Baby’s Death is on Your Conscience, Putin - Damn You for Centuries

Slaughter at 33,000 feet
And so forth …

Indeed this mass murder has shaken humanity to the core. Common people and pundits have been caught by surprise by this Russian destruction of human life. Some even asked that 20 years ago, when Putin was rising in fame, prestige and power, could the world have thought that he could annex Crimea, wantonly invade southeastern Ukraine and now shoot down a civilian jetliner?

The simple answer is yes. That was bound to happen because no Russian leader is able to abandon Russian manifest destiny of dominating not only its so-called near abroad but the world.

This latest Russian crime brings to mind Moscow’s earlier destruction of KAL 007 in 1983 and President Reagan’s condemnation of it: “This was the Soviet Union against the world and the moral precepts which guide human relations among people everywhere. It was an act of barbarism, born of a society which wantonly disregards individual rights and the value of human life and seeks constantly to expand and dominate other nations.”

History has repeated itself thanks to Moscow.

Photographs seen in newspapers on social media are unbearable to observe. Bodies of adults and children strewn on Ukrainian sunflower and produce fields. One photo shows a child still strapped to its seat. Then there is a photograph of a Russian terrorist, one of many with Neanderthal faces, holding above his head a child’s stuffed toy.

The wreckage scene has not been secured and terrorists have contaminated the area and bodies, making any forensic investigation impossible. It was reported that some 50 bags of body parts have been removed from the crime scene and it was surmised that the Russian terrorists are planning to hold the bodies as hostages to exchange for their imprisoned comrades.

But this cold-hearted murder was not enough for Putin’s hoodlums. A day later, in Luhansk they shot up a city bus killing 20 commuters. Photos showed bodies on the city streets.

President Obama, like other leaders, joined the condemnation but many in Congress criticized his response as being absurdly weak.

“Yesterday, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 took off from Amsterdam and was shot down over Ukraine near the Russian border.  Nearly 300 innocent lives were taken – men, women, children, infants – who had nothing to do with the crisis in Ukraine.  Their deaths are an outrage of unspeakable proportions.

“Evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile that was launched from an area that is controlled by Russian-backed separatists inside of Ukraine,” President Obama said.

He noted that this was “a global tragedy – an Asian airliner was destroyed in European skies, filled with citizens from many countries.” He called for a credible, international investigation into exactly what happened.

“The U.N. Security Council has endorsed this investigation,” Obama said, “and we will hold all its members – including Russia – to their word.” He made clear that Russia, pro-Russian separatists, and Ukraine need to “adhere to an immediate cease-fire” in order to facilitate the investigation (though I wouldn’t include Ukraine in the same sentence as Russia and pro-Russian separatists).

“Evidence must not be tampered with,” he said. “Investigators need to access the crash site. And the solemn task of returning those who were lost on board the plane to their loved ones needs to go forward immediately.”

Calling for investigation and truce is an understated demand of the Russian perpetrators of this heinous crime while the world mourns.

The harshest condemnation came from Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott, who will host the upcoming G20 summit of the richest countries on earth. Many are already calling for Putin to be banned from entering the country and the government seems to be inclined to righteously and bravely go down that route.
“Australia takes a very dim view of countries which facilitate the killing of Australians, as you’d expect,” Abbott said, adding that he had spoken to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko but not Russian leader Vladimir Putin. “The idea that Russia can wash its hands of responsibility because this happened in Ukrainian airspace just does not stand serious scrutiny.”

Abbott then hinted that Putin’s attendance at the November conclave would hinge on Russia’s unequivocal support for an investigation, saying Australia would wait and see what next unfolded.

“Australia is a self-respecting country,” he said. “Visitors to this country are people who have done the right thing by this country.”

Abbott also stated: “The idea that Russia can wash its hands of responsibility because this happened in Ukrainian airspace just does not stand serious scrutiny. This is not something that can just be dismissed as a tragic accident when you have Russian proxies using Russian-supplied equipment.”

This tragedy has another set of victims – the people of Russia who are being dragged through the cesspools of history and the future by their inglorious leader Putin. Their culture, literature, legacy has been besmirched by this maniacal murder for all times, much like Hitler did to the Germany nation. They cannot be passive and submissive any longer.

The sooner they arise and free themselves of this killer, the better Russia and the world will be.

In the meantime, the world cannot allow this crime against humanity to fade from the pages of history. It must be remembered in tandem with the Holodomor and Holocaust.

World leaders must take up Tony Abbott’s view and isolate Putin from all global events, turning him into the criminal outcast that he is. Writer to your elected officials urging them to take a strong stand against this No.1 global terrorist. Spread the message across the world.

There will Be Hell to Pay

After hearing that a Malaysian civilian aircraft with 295 people on board was shot down today over eastern Ukraine, Sen. John McCain said that there would be hell to pay if Russia shot down the plane.

Ironically, Russia has an account with the devil.

Russian mercenaries in Ukraine indeed shot down the plane with a surface to air missile.

Russia will also be remembered for this crime against humanity – the murder of 295 innocent civilians for generations. This crime reminds us of the crash of the Polish military aircraft Tu-154 in Smolensk in 2010, killing everyone on board.

In a post on VKontakte, Russia's largest social media site, which reportedly has since then been taken down, Russian terrorist leader and officer Igor Girkin, aka Strelkov, wrote:  “In the vicinity of Torez, we just downed a plane, an AN-26. It is lying somewhere in the Progress Mine. We have issued warnings not to fly in our airspace. We have video confirming. The bird fell on a waste heap. Residential areas were not hit. Civilians were not injured.

Russia’s crimes against humanity are too numerous to list but how long will the United States and the EU and other so-called civilized countries tolerate Moscow’s evil doings. How long will Angela Merkel swoon like a teenage girl at the sight of Vladimir Putin?

Yesterday, the US and EU instituted additional sanctions against Russia for perpetuating its war against Ukraine. Hopefully those sanctions will have their anticipated result and force Russia to capitulate and withdraw its mercenaries from Ukraine.

However, today’s Russian destruction of a civilian aircraft over Ukraine calls for the most drastic consequences against Moscow, including a worldwide suspension of diplomatic relations with Putin’s outlaw regime.

The Kremlin must be taught once and for all that it cannot commit murder with impunity.

May God rest the souls of the innocent victims of this Malaysian flight.