Thoughts on #Ukraine Crisis

Having recently read Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman’s 1988 book Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media, there is no more fitting modern day view of the propaganda model at work then by Russia’s relentless dance of misinformation in Ukraine’s crisis.    

The continued insistence that “there are/were no Russian troops in Crimea” has been an utter fallacy from the start. Day by day organized, professional, and financed, the Russian army slipped across the border. Indeed, the statement that these well dressed, well equipped forces are “local defense” or “pro-Russian local militia” is a mockery of the eyes and ears of Ukraine, and the rest of the world.

Admittedly, Western media, who knew better, should take their share of blame in getting the right information out to the world. It was after all, many in Western media who continued to repeat the phrase “organized groups without insignias”, “military without insignias”, “pro-Russian local militia” and other fancy phrases that completely ignored the organized, deliberate and at first stealthy movement into Crimea by Putin’s men. Thankfully, there have been others in the Western media trying to get the truth out to the public: Shaun Walker, Ben Brown, Kevin Bishop, Anshel Pfeffer, Simon Ostrovsky, Daniel Saunders, Stuart Webb, Simon Shuster to name just a few. 

 And yet within Ukraine, Putin’s propaganda rages on, sometimes reaching beyond Ukraine’s walls, sometimes not. Putin’s invisible hand reaches into Crimea, subverting the stated Ukrainian goal of democracy, freedom and the will of the people to have free elections, as early as possible. By disrupting Crimea’s parliament through the use of Russian agitators (clearly having enough training or strategic management by someone, do so), who then ensured a rigged vote at gunpoint, for Crimea’s succession referendum.  Coincidentally, the most recent vote by Crimean MPS was approximately 38/100 voting to support joining Russia, and pushing the vote to March 16 instead of May 25. The final step just taken, Crimea’s Parliament declaring “independence” ahead of the referendum, is Putin’s proverbial welcome mat.

In Russia, Ukraine and elsewhere, Putin’s propaganda machine has situated himself as the saviour of Crimea, the protector of rights of pro-Russian speakers. Mass marketing of the referendum compares Ukraine to Nazis and fascists and flames fears of some ethnic Russians. Yet there have been no reports of aggression towards ethnic Russians, or even those pro-Russian. There are reports of Tatars being contacted and threatened, Tatar houses marked with crosses, a hotel burned down, and Ukrainian passports being taken from Ukrainian citizens until after they vote. Many Russian Ukrainians do not want a separation, but their voices are being drowned out, or worse. Just as ominous, the arrival of Serbian fighters, images of beatings with baseball bats by local Russian militia, and finally the kidnapping, as of today a combined total of six journalists and activists, with many more journalists threatened and chased. By Russian troops.

Surely, it come as no surprise that the fix is in.

As Ukrainian soldiers have their loyalties tested, and as Tatars and Jewish citizens do face real and valid fears of persecution, exile and even bloodshed in Russian operated Crimea, the truth must be shouted from the rooftops, from every digital corner, from every pen, that what we believe to be true because we have been conditioned to believe it, is not so. Crimea will not be a better place in the hands of Russia, nor even to survive on their own sans Ukraine.

Nor can the rest of the world stand by. Covert operations and fly-bys must give way to presence and support of NATO on the ground in Ukraine, at strategic locations with a show of numbers. Financial aid to the government of Ukraine must be provided now, not after elections. Countries can and must send international observer delegations now and continue to stay beyond elections in May.  Finally, the EU and in particular Britain, must take a  real stand, more than small sanctions, putting basic human rights over desire to continue economic ties with Russian gun and energy markets.  It’s time for a joining of countries in putting their action ahead of their mouths. 

Deeply and gravely concerned are just words.  

What Ukraine now requires is global citizens to stand up, speak, support, and demand our leaders act. What Ukraine requires now is nations that recognize they need not engage in full scale war in order to ensure safety and security for not only Ukraine, but its neighboring countries and partners.

After all, if Russia is given implied consent through inaction to take by manipulation and force Crimea, what reason do other countries have not to invade desired territory themselves?