EJ

Like DG you're more about hating the US and Israel than concern for human rights.

Putin is following the well trod path of all Russian leaders ie. brutal, miscalculating and authoritarian.

Ukraine has enjoyed independence from Russia for only a short period of time in its history - with the establishment of a republic after the timely collapse of the USSR in the early 1990s.

Ukraine has suffered a tragic history as a vassal of Russian imperialists. It was in the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917 that Ukraine got its first glimpse of independence.

It was under the rule of the USSR and Stalin from 1932-1933 that the Ukraine faced the extreme measures that Russians would go to in order to ensure political domination. During the Holodomor (Death by Hunger).

The Soviet government diverted food deemed “surplus” to other parts of the USSR, causing the deaths of somewhere between seven and twelve million Ukrainians. This was intentional murder - to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people.

The official Soviet census in 1926 showed a population of 29,018,817 Ukrainians, with an estimated growth rate of 2.65%. By the time the next census was taken in 1939, there should have been a population of 40,770,506, however there was only a population of 30,946,218. Using the methodology used by The Lancet in the mid 2000s (for Iraqis who should have been alive) the Ukrainian figures indicate the Russians killed over nine million Ukrainians.

also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denial_of_the_Holodomor

Clearly Russia needs to bring in a Ukrainian Sorry Day or at least not torture Ukraine again.

Think about it.

Pete

"Like DG you're more about hating the US and Israel than concern for human rights," opines Pete, OLO's principal American apologist!

The U.S. and Israel, currently are the greatest deniers of human rights in the world. Both of them are war-lovers and imperialists and both are engaged in creating empires near Tel Aviv and Washington.

Both of them kill using a variety of weapons not least of which are drones as well as depleted uranium and various chemicals which create hideous birth defects. Both of them are into torture in a big way and don't care about how many civilians they kill.

Both of them are power-mad and believe that might is right. Both of them believe they are exceptional and superior and born to rule. The U.S. is well advanced in its attempt to control the world and only Russia and China stand in its way!

And both of them have used nukes or threatened to use them if they're thwarted in their hegemonic ambitions.

Sane humans must stand against Israeli and American imperialism if they want to avoid nuclear war!

Only deranged people support endless war!

Hi David Singer

Slightly off topic. We can probably agree that Israel has a nuclear arsenal and needs it given Iran's nuclear aims.

For the record Phillip Dorling for The Canberra Times, April 15, 2014, reported http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australia-still-denies-israels-open-secret-of-a-nuclear-arsenal-20140414-36nr4.html :

"Australia still denies Israel's open secret of a nuclear arsenal"

"Secret government files reveal that Australian governments, diplomats and spies have known for more than 30 years that Israel has an arsenal of nuclear weapons, while continuing to deny any knowledge of its existence to the point of misleading Parliament.

Previously secret diplomatic files declassified by the National Archives reveal a longstanding policy to turn a blind eye to Israel's nuclear arsenal. Last week the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade again declined to comment on whether the Australian government thinks Israel is an undeclared nuclear weapons state.

Foreign Affairs Department briefing papers prepared for former Labor foreign minister Bill Hayden in 1987 state that ''intelligence assessments are that Israel has a small arsenal of nuclear weapons (possibly about 20). Israel's technological capabilities would enable it confidently to deploy such weapons without recourse to a nuclear test.

In a confidential exchange with International Atomic Energy Agency chief Hans Blix on September 22, 1987, Mr Hayden ''commented that there appeared no doubt that Israel had nuclear weapons''.

Mr Hayden and Dr Blix were talking against the backdrop of the treason trial of Mordechai Vanunu, the Israeli nuclear technician who in 1986 disclosed detailed evidence of Israel's nuclear weapons production. The Foreign Affairs Department advised Mr Hayden to publicly deny knowledge of Israel's nuclear weapons capabilities. Mr Hayden told Parliament on September 17, 1987: ''We have no information to corroborate these allegations.''

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australia-still-denies-israels-open-secret-of-a-nuclear-arsenal-20140414-36nr4.html

CONTINUED FROM ABOVE

"However, Foreign Affairs' files, declassified in response to applications by Fairfax Media, reveal that Australia had been monitoring Israel's nuclear program from its beginnings in the 1950s.

Australia scooped US and British intelligence when in 1966 its Atomic Energy Commission obtained ''highly sensitive'' information from the French builders of Israel's Dimona nuclear facility, revealing the existence of a chemical processing plant to extract plutonium from spent reactor fuel.

By 1970 Australia's Joint Intelligence Organisation thought ''Israel could have some weapons''.

Australian policy remains unchanged, with the Abbott government deciding last October not to support a UN General Assembly resolution on nuclear proliferation in the Middle East - 169 countries voted for the resolution. Only five - the US, Israel, Canada, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia - voted against. Australia abstained.
Former foreign minister Professor Gareth Evans has long been closely engaged with nuclear disarmament issues. Last month he publicly described Israel as one of ''nine nuclear-armed states'' committed to the ''indefinite retention'' of their arsenals.

On Monday Professor Evans declined to explain why Australia had not acknowledged the existence of an Israeli nuclear weapons program, saying only: ''The whole world hasn't acknowledged it. I mean, this is the strange thing, but that's another story for another day." ENDS

My comment is that Australia would do well to join the US, Israel, Canada, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia in actually voting against the UN's regular General Assembly resolution on nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, rather than Australia only abstaining.

Regards

Pete

I wonder why this Easter as in others there is no out-pouring of anti-war sentiment. Religion, based on love, seems to be able to change its spots at will.

Of course, clerics are experts at the 'pea and thimble' trick and they should be given the centuries of successful repetition they've had.

Jesus escaping the tomb has proved to be a popular tale among humans though it must be said, "Not All!"

Religion tells us many things about humans.

They are exemplary liars!

Yeah thats something we can agree on DG.

It is written that Jesus:

- oddly tall (6'2" in his socks)

- oddly Nordic in appearance (long red to blond hair)

- Known to Roman Police

Died on the Friday, rose on the Sunday and enjoyed Monday off - as it was a public holiday.

With Intellectual Property rights from the Papacy, other churches, all sellers of eggs, cards, bunnies, s---loads of chocolate and any manufacturer of dairy products http://youtu.be/RpkWT5voTSE .