Has anyone figured out just what the eff is going on there in the background painting?
It looks like some sort of Scientology shit or something. Anyone got a better view or know where this photo was taken?

Posted by: JSorrentine | Mar 12 2014 18:19 utc | 3

From a European perspective it is a major tragedy that the EU has made itself subservient to the geopolitical objectives of the US at the detriment of their economic and strategic interests.
I would like to know why that is the case. Being a German I happen to know how it came about for Germany (it lost WW2 and never regained full autonomy), but why do nations like France and other European states join this chorus?
It makes no sense to me and I fear that the US will drag the EU down by embroiling it not only in a second Cold War, but also making it a participant in a hot one too. The likelihood of which is increasing by the day.
I curse the European leaders who seem unable to combine their economic muscle into a powerful tool to further Europe’s interest, and increase their military cooperation so as to guarantee the security of its borders and keep any American, Russian or Chinese bullying at bay.

Posted by: HnH | Mar 12 2014 18:32 utc | 5

Here is the passage on Svoboda from today’s NYT story (which treads with a cat-like delicacy around the issue of Ukrainian fascism) on Right Sector pop star Dmytro Yarosh:

The Svoboda party, meanwhile, has moderated, and did not openly endorse the tactic of throwing firebombs when street fighting began in January. Svoboda was founded in 1991 under the name the Socialist-Nationalist Party of Ukraine, with a symbol that resembled a swastika. Its leader, Oleg Tyagnibok, met Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday and in December appeared onstage with Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona. Svoboda holds 37 seats in Parliament.

It appears we’re being treated to a similar logic as the one applied to the Wahhabis in Syria where there is good Al Qaeda (Nusra/Islamic Front) and bad Al Qaeda (ISIS). Here the division is between moderate Nazis (Svoboda) and menacing Nazis (Right Sector).

Posted by: Mike Maloney | Mar 12 2014 18:36 utc | 7

With all of the Youtube videos – drunken American mercenaries videochatting about their sniper exploits,
“Vice” video full-retards provocateurin’ at checkpoints in Crimea after setting up the fake staged Pussy Riot performance beatings, all for their ever-so-truthy ‘documentaries'(which are HOLY GRAIL JOURNALISM according to their many fans),
Ukrainian PM’s not ‘loyal’ to the putschist gov being ambushed, kidnapped, and roughed up, and ‘made to confess’ by bussed in skinhead bouncer types,
crowds of many thousands in eastern Ukraine resisting the incoming ‘new gov’,
Miss Olga the doctor, reaffirming the contents of the Estonian FM’s leaked call w/ Ashton live on CNN, BEFORE SHE DENIED IT, etc…not to mention the sniper fire analysis videos showing fire coming from an opposition-controlled hotel and environs.
Some serious consolidation and presentation should be happening if the truth is going to come out. I for one don’t have the time – nor the translation capabilities. It’s all very bleak.
I’ve posted that Oleh Tyahnybok pic on places like Daily Kos and gotten ZERO response. We’re officially in Emperor’s New Clothes territory.

Posted by: L Bean | Mar 12 2014 18:38 utc | 9

I’ve posted that Oleh Tyahnybok pic on places like Daily Kos and gotten ZERO response. We’re officially in Emperor’s New Clothes territory.
Posted by: L Bean | Mar 12, 2014 2:38:18 PM | 9
Why would anyone expect any sign of intelligent life at DKos?
It’s full of Dem-tards, Obama-Tards, Tards in general
Why would any intelligent person even go to DKos in the first place? (it’s a rhetorical Q, no need to answer)

Posted by: brb | Mar 12 2014 18:52 utc | 11

brb, of course. Daily Kos is only good for trolling. But when trolling is the only way left to tell the truth, somebody should get on that sht. Before it’s too late.

Posted by: L Bean | Mar 12 2014 18:55 utc | 13

@ TomV – Saudis and Think Tanks. – Rand has left Qatar end of last year. They screwed up the project they were paid for – education reform. Brookings Doha is paid by Qatar and is the main promoter, quoted all over U.S. media, for the Muslim Brotherhood. Shadi Hamid is their front man. Before Brookings he was political consultant for the Qatar sheiks wife.
To the Saudis the MB is dangerous as it presents an alternative to the Saudi ruling system.

Posted by: b | Mar 12 2014 19:01 utc | 15

Brookings in Doha is Haim Saban territory.

Posted by: Rowan Berkeley | Mar 12 2014 19:07 utc | 17

HnH 5 As I wrote before – Europe has been under constant threat of the GLADIO redux (look up the BBC video documentary from the 80s – the terror campaign was called “strategy of tension”), operatives are commandos, special ops, mercenaries from NATO/Israel/GCC. The bloody coup in Ukraine was done with their help. Germany received a warning about 2 years ago when a package with explosives was found on a train station in Berlin. Among the false flags performed by this NATO terrorist network are “Breivik” (by no means he acted alone, read Wayne Madsen, aangirfan, Veterans Today, VoltaireNet, see photos from Utoya from the day before the massacre with posters against Israel), Madrid bombing (Spain is not the same country anymore Don Quijones: Round Two Of The Global Financial Sector’s Takeover Of Spain), London bombing, “Mehra’s” assault on Jewish school in Tolouse, etc. See e.g. this Gladio – the Gift that Keeps on Giving.

Posted by: ProPeace | Mar 12 2014 19:10 utc | 19

And France has a problem with the quenelle?

Posted by: MRW | Mar 12 2014 19:16 utc | 21

I see a hamburger and fries on the left. But then again I haven’t had lunch yet.
Funny comment below the Youtube video of the drunk American merc in Ukraine:
“what can you expect from a guy with a hamburger for a brain?”

Posted by: L Bean | Mar 12 2014 19:21 utc | 23

Not really “Jews in Ukraine”, Jewish LEADERS in Ukraine – read the list, it’s millionaire business owners and financier/holocaust industry types, and also prominent rabbis, who if we’re being honest are also big businessmen.
This shitty letter is becoming the last word in more places than I can count. Finally, global hasbara!

Posted by: L Bean | Mar 12 2014 19:27 utc | 25

The deployment of the new National Security Chief’ Parubiy’s 20.000 strong “National Guard” conveys that these are well organized “armies”, of Neo-Nazi and Fascist character, which will be deployed to the Ukraine’s eastern and southeastern regions and along the Russian border.
So they’re going the ‘terrorism & Intimidation’ route to try and goad russians into taking action.
Guess the Russians will have to do the same
This is going to get very messy

Posted by: brb | Mar 12 2014 20:11 utc | 27

the inference is that Tariq Ali = R2P Imperialist (I think)

Posted by: brb | Mar 12 2014 20:18 utc | 29

I wouldn’t have thought a left-handed fascist salute would be acceptable to the gods. It’s got to be right-handed.

Posted by: Rowan Berkeley | Mar 12 2014 20:30 utc | 31

Nobody
As usual israel start another massacre while the world is focused on ukraine..

Posted by: Anonymous | Mar 12 2014 21:37 utc | 33

Bevin
Thanks, ali tariq: another fake antiimperialist

Posted by: Anonymous | Mar 12 2014 22:10 utc | 35

PP @ 19: Thanks for the Gladio link. New for me.

Posted by: ben | Mar 13 2014 6:17 utc | 37

The Court has begun proceedings on the illegality of the assigning Turchinov as a President of Ukraine
The Supreme Administrative Court of Ukraine has begun proceedings on the claim due to illegal assignment on duties as President of Ukraine Alexander Turchinov. Donetsk lawyer Vladimir Olentsevich demanded to recognize the wrongfulness of acts of the Verkhovna Rada, which endowed Turchinova in power as President in the time when in power still had been legitimately elected President Viktor Yanukovych. The first hearing is scheduled for March 19th.
http://tvzvezda.ru/news/vstrane_i_mire/content/201403121516-dyag.htm

Posted by: brian | Mar 13 2014 8:35 utc | 39

Some humour 🙂
https://twitter.com/NinaByzantina/status/443619553960939520/photo/1

Posted by: Anonymous | Mar 13 2014 9:18 utc | 41

For German speaking barflies, a recording of Gerhard Schroeder in a podium interview with Josef Joffe, publisher of the arch conservative ‘Zeit’ newspaper.
As expected, Joffe portrays the Crimean referendum as illegal under international law and tries to extract a similar statement from Schroeder. Schroeder instead argues that while chancellor he himself broke international law by participating in the break up of Yugoslavia and then proceeds to read a quote from Joffe from three years ago where he had written concerning the legality of Serbia’s break up that the International Court of Justice were rather smart by taking the position that intl. law doesn’t disallow declarations of independence. Gold.

Posted by: Juan Moment | Mar 13 2014 9:49 utc | 43

@l bean – great posts
@bevin the good thing about Ali is that he isn’t shy about taking a side. Unfortunately that side is usually “both”.

Posted by: guest77 | Mar 13 2014 12:17 utc | 45

Lugansk is the capital of the easternmost province in Ukraine. It is a sister city of Cardiff in Wales.

Posted by: lysias | Mar 13 2014 14:42 utc | 47

lysias there are many links between Wales and Ukraine. In the eighteenth century, I think it was, a Welsh colony of Baptists was established there, I am pretty certain that they were involved in the development of the coal and iron industries. even today I believe that Rugby is played there!

Posted by: bevin | Mar 13 2014 15:30 utc | 49

There are rumors on the Internet that Yatsenyuk is a high-ranking Scientologist.

Posted by: lysias | Mar 13 2014 18:32 utc | 51

Noirette
Well..if you look at her wrist she got a tattoo, so unfortunately fake imho.

Posted by: Anonymous | Mar 13 2014 19:36 utc | 53

and another:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37929.htm

Posted by: bevin | Mar 13 2014 23:14 utc | 55

JSorrentine,
Perhaps it’s one of those things which contains a kernel of truth – considering Yats’ activities for the past few years I wouldn’t be surprised if he funnelled NGO money or something similar to this Scientology “reeducation” campaign in Ukraine, maybe even did a few photo ops, which would be an excellent rumor-starter. Religious groups are also terrific vehicles for inserting Americans into grass roots orgs, all over the friggin place.
What’s puzzling is that you’re right, *someone* should be able to figure it out, especially if like his old wiki stated, he has a sister residing in Santa Barbara who’s also a Scientologist.
I’m wondering about that Jason P Gresh person too. He’s by all accounts a real person at the embassy in Kiev, married to a woman who’s also an embassy employee- rather high level, economics apparatchik. So is he or is he not working with Ukrainian security to perpetrate a false flag in Eastern Ukraine to be blamed on the Russians?
From what I can tell, the only thing fishy about this is the blatant disregard for security shown in the emails, as if Jason thought he could freely email all he wanted about covert BS because he was writing in Ukranian and well gee gosh no one who might blow the whistle on him would even be able to read it. Hubris? Wouldn’t be the first time for these jackals. I was thinking about people like him and his wife last night…according to their bios both of them were ushered in to Russian-language classes to supplement their skill set at roughly the same time, around 5 yrs ago. It feels like this thing has been planned from at least then. Like, explicitly planned. Nauseating.

Posted by: L Bean | Mar 14 2014 0:24 utc | 57

“It’s not hard to detect calls for incitement of ethnic hatred [in those materials],” the Polish MP said.
According to the data gathered by the observers, representatives of national minorities, Hungarians in particular, do not feel safe under the new authorities in Ukraine, Piskorski said.
“We also heard certain anti-Semitic slogans predominating at Maidan [in Kiev],” he added.
Piskorski said that Ukraine is engulfed in a wave of political repressions, which are aimed not only against the representatives of the Party of Regions’ ousted president, Viktor Yanukovich, “but other political parties and associations, for example, the Communists.”
“We’ve have heard a lot about cases of physical attacks on representatives of the parties, which are in opposition to the new government,” he said.
Piskorski said that the main political powers which staged the Maidan, “would’ve been labeled as neo-Nazi or neo-Fascist in any mainstream civilized European state.”
http://rt.com/news/ukraine-human-rights-violated-402/

Posted by: brian | Mar 14 2014 8:16 utc | 59

Germany threatens “massive damage” to Russia ahead of Crimea referendum

Merkel blamed Moscow for illegal actions, using the methods of the 19th and 20th centuries. “The law of the jungle is placed against the strength of the law, unilateral geopolitical concerns against understanding and co-operation,” she said.
With staggering hypocrisy, Merkel is standing reality on its head. It is Germany and the US that are acting as the aggressors, backing and organizing a putsch led by fascist groups in Ukraine, the descendants of political forces Nazi Germany relied upon to commit horrible crimes during World War II.
The creation of the national guard and the transformation of the fascistic shock troops of the “revolution” into official state institutions has the backing of the imperialist powers. The vote on the national guard came only one day after interim Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk met in Washington with US President Barack Obama, who emphasized his support for the new Ukrainian regime and issued new threats against Moscow.

It seems as though Germany is looking for Lebensraum in Russia, gas and oil included.

Posted by: john francis lee | Mar 14 2014 9:42 utc | 61

Mike Maloney@36,
The new prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has Jewish ancestry so his appointment of another Ukrainian with Jewish roots is no surprise. Both will happily do everything the US wants. This is not a racist comment, just wanted to highlight their background and their allegiance. Another fact he is a failed minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk was once the head of the Ukrainian Finance Department or the bank and he failed miserable in looking after the finances when he was previously in charge about 6 years ago. The people now in power have no real idea what to do, all they knew was to overthrow the government and then let the West provide and allow them to dictate how Ukraine should be run. First will be a austerity move, new contracts signed to buy American weapons, allow them to build missile defense, contracts to American oil and gas companies. I hear Chevron and Exxon already have contracts. Monsanto will come in with GM seeds. Ukraine will get some money, but it will be phased in over the next 5 years when they really need $15 billion a year. So the people will be poorer than they are now. Ukraine won’t feel any benefit for a long time from EU integration, a few will get rich while the rest will suffer. After a year of this, I’m guessing the people will be out in Maidan again to get rid of this one sided deal.

Posted by: Cynthia | Mar 14 2014 12:02 utc | 63

brb – Yes, my first instinct was that they were fabricated as well but given the absolutely craven and careless nature of previous diplomatic leaks I’m not so sure. Remember the Stratfor leaks? Unbelievably stupid. And these guys are de facto CIA/NSA contractors. As is Jason P.Gresh.
These types are always morons. Who do you think oversees communication protocol in Kiev? Another moron probably.
Did you see the video of the drunk American merc in Ukraine? He was captured on a livechat aiming his sniper at his webcam and saying ‘fuck Russia’ in Ukrainian and repeating (probably the extent of his Ukrainian language proficiency) Maidan slogans. LIVECHAT! As if no one would notice. Livechat, Gmail…just bc this Jason person had a short stint at Georgetown and took a Russian language course, we shouldn’t forget that he’s basically a grunt. If his resume is right, he literally *was* a grunt until a few yrs ago when he probably told his superiors; “Fuck Yeah I’ll learn Ukrainian, anything to get me overseas where the real sht is goin down”. I mean that’s how these guys ‘think’. So they put this grunt in charge of coordinating w the Ukranian military and he uses his official gov email to do the correspondence… which of course, is retarded, but if you’ll notice he doesn’t spell anything out in his initial email, not ‘literally’, and shallow people like this think they are invincible even with the slightest modicum of effort and cleverness.
(And to add, “Igor” is a real person too, if I’ve got the right guy, his professional facebook page is full of Ukrainian NGOs, Chenso et al. – but he is also an ex-grunt shithead, now looking greasy, overshaved, and uncomfortable in his ill-fitting suit)
Of course now, if they really were planning a false flag – as they indicate, ‘no corpses…target scrap planes etc’, they’ll have to come up with another plan. But it’s all in a day’s work.

Posted by: L Bean | Mar 14 2014 16:39 utc | 65