In Belarus, Lukashenko appears to resume repression
For background, see “The democratic flame ignites in Belarus (Updated), The Trenchant Observer, August 14, 2020 (updated August 17). RUSSIA AND BELARUS On the eve…
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The democratic flame ignites in Belarus (Updated)
In coronavirus pandemic, China defies international law in the South China Sea–Part I
French President Emmanuel Macron puts France on war footing to fight corona virus; British study reports millions could die in U.S.
Das Scheitern des Völkerrechts in Syrien: Russland und Syrien, und jetz die Turkei
Übersicht: Die Lage in Libyen / Overview: The situation in Libya
What’s behind Trump’s pressure on Zelensky to work things out with Putin
What is going on in the world?
Russia continues aggression against Ukraine, now in Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov
Text of Crimea Declaration and Pompeo Testimony: U.S. finally states it will never recognize Russian annexation of Crimea
First Hints of Congressional Oversight Produce Significant Shift in U.S. Policy Towards Russia The Senate is to hold a series of hearings on different aspects…
Trump promotes Putin at G-7: Payoff for intervention in U.S. elections
OUR VALUES: Truth Integrity Decency Character Facts Science Law Freedom
Vladimir Putin launched a massive attack on the American electoral system in 2016, to help elect Donald J. Trump
as President of the United States. Among his goals were that of getting the U.S. and European sanctions lifted.
Since then Trump has taken a number of actions favorable to Moscow, and failed to take actions he should have in opposition to Russian aggression.
Now, at the G-7 in Montreal on June 8, 2018, he has proposed reādmitting Russia to the G-7 group of leading economic powers. Russia was expelled from the group (then known as the G-8) following its invasions of the Ukraine.
We may now expect Donald Trump, who has once again shown his pro-Russian colors, to further Putin’s agenda by seeking to relax U.S. and European sanctions against Russia.
When Trump or Putin speaks of abandoning “the old liberal international order”, it should be clear, they are arguing for abandoning the international legal order based on the U.N. Charter and the prohibition of the international use of force.
The Normalization of the Unforgivable — Trump and an America which is already half lost
With Donald Trump, we have been witnessing the normalization of the unforgiveable.
The rise of an authoritarian leader in the United States, who through outrageous lies, thuggish behavior, and the assistance of a large-scale Russian intervention in the 2016 elections, became President, would be great material for a movie but in fact be unbelievable, unless of course it actually happened.
During his campaign in 2016, the transition, and now his four months in office, Donald Trump has erased the boundaries of the impermissible, the unthinkable, and the very concept of the truth itself.
Now, in 2017, we can for perhaps the first time in many decades understand what happened after 1932 with the rise of the National Socialist Parry and its leader in Germany.
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Each day they chip away a little more at our concepts of the truth, of decency, and of the bulwarks against authoritarian behaviors that exist in a democracy.
We are desensitized. The outrage is drained from our souls. We begin to make excuses for Trump and his rhinoceri.
We begin to acquiesce.
Two of top three candidates in French presidential primary are friendly to Russia
Developing Russia is reportedly intervening in the French presidential elections, right now. Two of the top three candidates in the April primary are friendly to…
Putin threatens life of leading opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, then arrrests him and others at demonstrations in Russia — Meanwhile, Tillerson is racing to Moscow
When the life of the leading opposition figure in Russia is directly threatened, we may safely assume that the action did not occur without the knowledge and direction of Russia’s all-powerful dictator, Vladimir Putin.
On March 19, 2017, Alexsei Navalny, that opposition leader, was attacked with a green chemical that turned ut to be benign. Following the recent assassination in Malaysia of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, by having a deadly chemical smeared on him, the threat and the lesson for Navalny could not have been clearer: Next time it could be a deadly chemical. Putin in the past has demonstrated that Russia has great mastery and experience in this area.
REPRISE: Syria: Russia’s military assault on Western civilization
First published on September 26, 2016 *** See Anne Barnard and Somni Sengupta, “Syria and Russia Appear Ready to Scorch Aleppo,” New York Times, September…
Leading U.S. newspapers miss story: White House press secretary says Russia must return the Crimea (Updated February 16, 2017)
Updated February 17, 2017 Leading U.S. Newspapers Miss the Biggest Story on the Ukraine in More than a Year There is a lot going on…
REPRISE: Trump, Russia and the betrayal of American heroes
Originally published February 2, 2017 The worst case scenario, we wrote after the election on November 8, 2016, would be if Trump acted during the…
Clear statement from U.S. Ambassador to U.N. on withdrawal of Russian forces from the Crimea and the eastern Ukraine
Developing The American Ambassdor to the United Nations has delivered a clear statement the Security Council that the United States regards the Crimea and the…
Russia as the great white power: Behind Trump’s affinity to Vladimir Putin
See Alan Feuer and Andrew Higgins, “Extremists Turn to a Leader to Protect Western Values: Vladimir Putin,” New York Times, December 3, 2016. Tom Hamburger,…
Russian intervention in U.S. elections is flagrant violation of international law principle of non-intervention, giving rise to right to adopt countermeasures including strong economic sanctions
Developing Russia has intervened directly in the 2016 presidential and congressional elections, in a manner according to U.S. intelligence sources aimed at throwing the election…