by Stephen Lendman

How many previous times did Big Lies proliferate about hoards of Russians coming? Claimed by US officials. Other Western ones.

Former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Current NATO head Jens Stoltenberg.

The latest on January 22 from NATO commander US General Philip Breedlove. Earlier he suggested the same thing. More on what he said below.

Last August, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki claimed a nonexistent "Russian-directed counteroffensive is likely underway in Donetsk and Luhansk."

"(W)e're also concerned by the Russian Government's unwillingness to tell the truth even as its soldiers are found 30 miles inside Ukraine," she said.

"Russia is sending its young men into Ukraine but...are not telling them where they’re going or telling their parents what they’re doing."

Asked why she said "likely" instead of saying a Russian invasion is underway, Psaki said she "decided to say likely."

"But why," she was asked? "(L)ikely implies…some uncertainty because there is a possibility that it's not."

Psaki ducked the question. Merely cited "a range of (unsubstantiated) reports."

"Well, is it an invasion," she was asked? "(A)re we seeing, like, brigades or divisions crossing the borders into Ukraine?"

"I don't have any other details to read out for you at this point in time," she said.

No Russian invasion occurred. Nor was one planned. Psaki lied suggesting otherwise.

On Thursday, she was asked about illegitimate oligarch Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko claiming 9,000 Russian troops, tanks and heavy equipment in Ukraine.

On the one hand, she claimed no "confirmation of the figures." On the other, she lied accusing self-defense forces of "increase(d) violence."

"(I)ncluding renewed attacks…on the Donetsk airport (and) seizures of more territory."

"We've also seen reports that two tactical battalions - Russian tactical (ones) - Russia has moved two tactical battalions into Ukraine."

Admitting no "independent (corroborating) confirmation" exists.

At the same time "confirming…Russia(n) tanks, armored vehicles, trucks, artillery pieces, and other military equipment…deploy(ed) (to) sites near the Russia-Ukraine border…"

"(S)taging points before transporting military equipment to pro-Russian separatists," she claimed.

On the one hand, saying "(t)hat is something we're seeing." On the other, admitting no confirmation.

RT International reported its Washington correspondent Gayane Chichakyan's inability to get Psaki to give "straight response(s)" to her questions.

Ignoring Kiev high crimes against peace. Irresponsibly blaming them on Russia. Chichakyan saying "the US always has something to say about Russia, but never about what the Ukrainian government is doing."

Throughout months of US planned, directed and instigated conflict in Ukraine, Washington consistently blames Russia for its own high crimes.

"(A)voiding questions," said Chichakyan. Refusing to acknowledge Kiev using heavy artillery in Donbas. Including against residential neighborhoods.

Calling naked Kiev aggression its "absolute right to defend itself." When pressed to answer Chickakyan's questions, Psaki responded saying "I think I'll leave it at what I said."

Including the Big Lie about Russia "illegally interven(ing) in Ukraine." Despite no evidence whatever suggesting it. Plenty proving otherwise.

Previous articles explained how Vladimir Putin, Sergey Lavrov and other Russian officials continue going all out for peaceful conflict resolution.

Impossible with Washington arming, funding and directing its puppet Kiev government to wage war on Donbas without mercy.

Including against defenseless civilians. Murdering them in cold blood.

Kiev state-sponsored murder in Donetsk the latest example. Attacking a Leninsky district bus stop.

With multiple minivan-launched mortar strikes. Killing around a dozen civilians. Mostly women. Injuring many others.

Brazen state terrorism. Kiev wrongfully blaming the incident on Donbas freedom fighters.

Psaki suggesting it by claiming "an increase in separatist violence…"

Ukraine is a hotbed of fascist extremism. Illegitimate US-installed putschists run things.

Democracy is pure fantasy. Human and civil rights nonexistent.

Premeditated aggression without mercy continues against Donbas freedom fighters refusing to accept fascist rule.

Last Friday, State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke claimed otherwise. Repeating one Big Lie after another.

Saying Ukraine "has come an enormous distance (over the past year) to meet its people’s aspirations."

Its "current government remains committed to advancing important reforms, despite ongoing violence in eastern Ukraine."

Ugnoring US-sponsored and directed aggression on Donbas. Claimed illegitimate farcical presidential and parliamentary elections were "free and fair."

Said Kiev's regime controlled judiciary is independent. Suggested anti-corruption efforts are working.

Ukraine arguably is Europe's most corrupt country. Worse than ever now under fascist rule.

"(W)e congratulate the people of Ukraine on how far they have come in such a short time," said Rathke.

"And we continue to stand with them as they press forward on critical reforms."

Conditions in Ukraine are polar opposite Rathke's description. State terror is official policy. Fascist regimes operate this way.

Don't expect Washington to explain. Or other Western governments. Or supportive MSM scoundrels. Regurgitating official Big Lies like gospel.

The New York Times describing Kiev's mortar attack on a civilian Donetsk bus as an "early morning explosion show(ing) the bus…with its tires flattened, its sides punched in, filled with shards of concrete and stone and all of its windows either shattered or pocked with holes."

Citing "conflicting reports" about what happened. Despite clear evidence of Kiev culpability.

Sergey Lavrov correctly accused its "party of war" of committing "a crime against humanity, a rude provocation aimed at undermining the efforts on a peace settlement."

The Times quoted Poroshenko turning truth on its head. Saying "(i)f the enemy does not want to abide by the cease-fire, if the enemy doesn't want to stop the suffering of innocent people in Ukrainian villages and towns, we will give it to them in the teeth."

General Breedlove earlier lied about Russian intervention in Ukraine. On January 22, Pentagon controlled Stars and Stripes headlined "Threat of new Russian incursion as violence flares in Ukraine."

Citing Breedlove saying Russian forces are building up their presence on Ukraine's border.

"What we do see is that the Russian-backed forces have renewed capability now to bring pressure on the Ukrainian forces, and have in several places moved the line of contact to the west. And this is concerning," said Breedlove.

He claimed a repeat of two previous nonexistent Russian incursions, adding:

"We are beginning to see the signatures of air defense systems and electronic warfare systems that have accompanied past Russian troop movements into Ukraine, but we are unable at this moment to confirm any specific number of additional Russian troops inside eastern Ukraine."

US Army European commander Lt. General Ben Hodges lied claiming "irrefutable" evidence showing Donbas self-defense forces getting "direct support from Russia."

No evidence whatever proves it. None exists. Including irresponsible NATO/Poroshenko claims about Russia invading Ukraine.

What satellite images would clearly show if true. None exist.

Igor Kolomoisky is an Israeli/Ukrainian billionaire-appointed Dnipropetrovsk Oblast governor.

Nicknamed Benya. Living in Switzerland. Infamous for using paramilitaries to enforce hostile takeovers of companies he covets.

Forbes magazine earlier said he sent "hired rowdies armed with baseball bats, iron bars, gas and rubber bullet pistols and chainsaws" to forcibly take over a Kremenchuk steel plant in 2006.

He uses "a mix of phony court orders (often involving corrupt judges and/or registrars) and strong-arm tactics" to replace board directors of companies he invests in.

Criticized by a judge in a London court case for seeking "to take control of a company at gunpoint in Ukraine."

Putin once called him "a unique crook." Russia wants him put on Interpol's wanted list.

On July 2, 2014, a Russian district court authorized his arrest in absentia. For "organizing the killing of civilians."

On January 22, Fort Russ headlined "Kolomoisky is preparing a massive private army for a coup in Kiev."

"(B)ehind the scenes of Ukrainian theater, namely in Dnepropetrovsk, a powerful military formation is in the final stages of preparation."

"It consists of foreign military battalions, and has a strong skeleton from NATO specialists."

"Dnepropetrovsk needed time to prepare, and a good smoke screen."

"We observe the highest activity at all the areas of military-political field of Ukraine, all except for Dnepropetrovsk."

"It is hot in Donbass, Kiev, Kharkov, Odessa. Even Western Ukraine is heating up. Only Dnepropetrovsk is quiet."

"(A)s soon as Dnepropetrovsk ripens it will capture the power in Verkhovnaya Rada (Ukraine's parliament) along with the right to institute a martial law."

Fort Russ reports a "new phase of Ukrainian crisis" unfolding…(A) destruction of Ukraine" emanating from Dnepropetrovsk.

"Everything is almost ready there." Are Washington's dirty hands involved?

Does it want Kolomoisky replacing Pororshenko? For sure it's displeased with Donbas freedom fighters consistently routing Kiev's military.

A guerrilla force defeating its army. Do US officials think Kolomoisky's reputation for ruthlessness can change things?

Forthcoming articles will discuss future events as they unfold. The battle for Ukraine's soul very much continues.

A Final Comment

On Wednesday, US Army European commander Lt. General Ben Hodges confirmed plans to deploy US combat troops to Ukraine.

For a "training operation," he said. To strengthen the "rule of law," he claimed. Code language for aiding Kiev in its aggression on Donbas.

Hodges called what's planned a "first step in further training." Likely mission creep involving US military forces in Kiev's dirty war.

It remains to be seen whether Washington intends so-called advisors operating along Donbas' front line.

Directly or indirectly participating in combat. A major provocation if happens. Perhaps triggering an undetermined Russian response.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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