by Stephen Lendman

Obama declared war on Ukraine. He dispatched CIA chief John Brennan to Kiev. He arrived with administration instructions. Obama's proxy putschist stooges were unleashed to wage war on Eastern Ukrainian freedom fighters. The battle for Ukraine's soul escalated.

The country is "on the verge of civil war," said Putin. Prime Minister Medvedev said the same thing. Putschists launched violence.

"The illegal rulers are trying to restore the order they cynically trampled on when they participated in an armed uprising," Medvedev added.

Their military forces headed east. Tanks, armored vehicles and artillery are on the move. An assault on activist controlled Eastern Ukrainian cities began.

Kramatorsk's airfield was stormed. Gunfire and explosions were heard. Ukrainian warplanes were involved.

Soldiers manning six tanks switched sides. They hoisted Russian flags. A local resident said:

"We found them at a square near the railway station. A group of women surrounded them."

"We started telling them we were peaceful residents who are just fighting for their rights and that there are no terrorists. They won't shoot us."

"The main armored transport vehicle had a Russian flag on it and they left together with our insurgents towards Slavyansk."

"We are deeply concerned over the military operation launched by the Ukrainian special forces with support of the army. There have already been victims," he said.

"Current events demonstrate persistent unwillingness of Kiev's authorities to organize a dialogue with Ukrainian regions, which is necessary for the country," he added.

On Tuesday, Slavyansk was attacked. According to Donbass people's militia head Sergey Tsyplakov:

"Currently there is a major attack on Slavyansk. Armored personnel vehicles are entering the city."

"There are many troops. The men are getting ready to defend" the city. "There is a lot of military machinery here. But the shooting hasn't started yet."

An uneasy calm awaits a likely storm. Activists still maintain control. Hundreds gathered in central Skavyansk.

They're not leaving. They want local autonomy. So do growing thousands across Eastern Ukraine. They're putting their bodies on the line for freedom.

One activist said civil war erupted. So far no major hostilities. Just local flareups. It remains to be seen what's next.

Fascists operate lawlessly. Washington runs things. Putschists are proxy stooges. Claiming they acted with "great caution" is polar opposite truth. So is saying they're "prov(ing) law and order."

Behind the scenes manipulation is longstanding US practice.

Sergei Lavrov condemned using military force against Eastern Ukrainian civilians.

"We will seek tranquility and insist on the respect of Kiev leaders for the opinions and demands of the southeast and Ukrainian citizens who live there, as well as on negotiations aimed to de-escalate the situation rather than escalate it with the involvement of law enforcement authorities, moreover, the army, which is clearly prohibited by Ukrainian law," he said.

Putschists have no legitimacy. Growing numbers of Eastern Ukrainians reject them. East/West divisions threaten civil war.

"(U)nity state (authority) stopped working in Ukraine," Lavrov added.

"Its foundations were shattered by a series of political disasters that were shaking the country for years."

"One of the main reasons of such situation is the absence of a balanced basic law in Ukraine, which adequately takes into account the interests of all ethnic and language groups and ensures the rights and interests of all the citizens of Ukraine."

"It is impossible to consider the situation, when after each Presidential election the Constitution of the country fixing a particular form of government was changed depending on the desire of the victorious political forces, to be normal."

"Therefore, federalization is a way to ensure that each region feels comfortable and secured in his rights, traditions and traditional ways of life."

"All this should be reflected in the reformed Constitution, and the multi-ethnic Ukrainian society should treat it as a reliable foundation of the legal state meant for a long-term perspective."

"I am convinced that it will be difficult for Ukraine to preserve its unity and to solve urgent tasks aimed at overcoming the current severe crisis."

"Of course, no one can dictate a scheme of organizing a state system to the Ukrainian side. But Ukrainians must start a dialogue and ensure its inclusive and comprehensive character."

"The idea is that all regions and political forces of Ukraine, without exceptions, should participate in it on an equal basis and have equal rights in solving essential issues."

Media scoundrels twist truth daily. They disgrace themselves in the process. They're presstitutes. They make street whores look respectable by comparison.

On April 15, The New York Times continued its daily Russia bashing. Gore Vidal once called The Times the "Typhoid Mary of American journalism."

He did so for good reason. It headlined "Russia Is Quick to Bend Truth About Ukraine."

It called above quoted Putin and Medvedev comments "bluster and hyperbole." It lied calling their honest assessment "misinformation, exaggerations, conspiracy theories, overheated rhetoric and, occasionally outright lies…"

It claimed "an extraordinary (Kremlin) propaganda campaign." A "new brazenness," it added.

A "24-hour vortex of alarmist proclamations of Western (sponsored) aggression…"

"Sinister claims of rising fascism and breathless accounts of imminent hostilities by the 'illegal' Ukrainian government in Kiev…"

You can't make this stuff up. It bears repeating what earlier articles stressed. All the news Times editors call fit to print isn't fit to read.

Truth is systematically buried. Lies, damn lies and bigger ones substitute. Times editors and management notoriously support lawless US imperialism.

Their longstanding overall record is deplorable. It's worst of all when America goes to war, plans one or uses proxy stooges. Unquestioning support follows.

A companion April 15 Times article headlined "UN Cites Abuses in Crimea Before Annexation Vote."

A litany of lies followed. A previous article discussed duplicitous human rights misinformation on Ukraine. Not according to The Times.

It reported bald-faced lies as truth. It said Crimea's model democratic voting process was "rigged."

It falsely claimed harassment, journalist abductions and torture occurred. It ignored independent monitors saying Crimea's process was scrupulously open, free and fair.

Not a single irregularity took place. Not a sign of wrongdoing. No crimes were committed before, during or after Crimeans voted. Claims otherwise were false.

Twisting truth for power is longstanding Times policy. It's buried. Readers are systematically lied to. Misinformation is featured.

Washington propaganda is worst of all. On March 5, the State Department published misinformation on Russia. It claimed Putin "fiction."

Russia "spins a false narrative to justify its 'illegal' actions in Ukraine," it said. It wrongfully claimed "Russian aggression in the Ukraine."

A litany of lies followed. More on April 13. The State Department headlined "Russian Fiction the Sequel: 10 More False Claims About Ukraine."

It lied claiming "Russia continues to spin a false and dangerous narrative to justify its illegal actions in Ukraine."

"The Russian propaganda machine continues to promote hate speech and incite violence by creating a false threat in Ukraine that does not exist."

"We would not be seeing the violence and sad events that we've witnessed this weekend without this relentless stream of disinformation and Russian provocateurs fostering unrest in eastern Ukraine.

More lies, damn lies, and bigger ones followed.

(1) "Russia Claims: Russian agents are not active in Ukraine."

No evidence suggests otherwise. Not according to the State Department.

It said Kiev putschists arrested "more than a dozen 'suspected' Russian intelligence agents…"

Innocent victims are targeted. Lies substitute for truth.

(2) "Russia Claims: Pro-Russia demonstrations are comprised exclusively of Ukrainian citizens acting of their own volition…"

Again no corroborating evidence refutes this. "This is not the grassroots Ukrainian civic activism of the EuroMaidan movement," said the State Department.

No "grassroots" activism existed. Washington orchestrated Kiev lawlessness. It manipulated events disruptively.

It funded fascist thugs. It did so to unleash violence. It ousted Ukraine's democratically elected government.

(3) "Russia Claims: Separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine enjoy broad popular support."

The State Department claims a "large majority" of Donetsk region residents reject them.

No evidence suggests it. Growing thousands across Eastern Ukraine reject Kiev putschists. The State Department didn't explain.

(4) "Russia Claims: The situation in eastern Ukraine risks spiraling into civil war."

It's happening. It risks spilling cross-border. It risks a potential East/West confrontation.

Uprisings "would not be happening without Russian disinformation and provocateurs fostering unrest," claims the State Department.

They "would not be happening if a large Russian military force were not massed on the border, destabilizing the situation through their overtly threatening presence."

No Russian disinformation exists. No provocateurs. No Russian forces massed on Ukraine's border. No threatening presence. State Department Big Lies don't wash.

(5) "Russia Claims: Ukrainians in Donetsk rejected the illegitimate authorities in Kyiv and established the independent 'People's Republic of Donetsk.' "

Not according to the State Department. It ignored mass anti-Kiev opposition. It lied claiming a "small number of separatists" are involved.

For every one active on Donetsk streets and elsewhere across Eastern Ukraine, hundreds, perhaps many thousands, more support them.

(6) "Russia Claims: Russia ordered a 'partial drawdown' of troops from the Ukrainian border."

"No evidence" suggests it, said the State Department. Russian forces are involved in nonthreatening military exercises.

Western monitors observed them. They've had direct contact with Russian commanders.

They took on site photos. They reported no irregularities. Nothing suggests Moscow threatens Ukraine. US officials lie claiming otherwise.

(7) "Russia Claims: Ethnic Russians in Ukraine are under threat."

The State Department lied claiming no threat exists. Neo-Nazi thugs run key ministries. They hate all opposition elements. They live under threat. Their lives and safety are endangered.

(8) "Russia Claims: Ukraine's new government is led by radical nationalists and fascists."

The State Department twisted truth claiming otherwise. Neo-Nazi thugs prominently display swastikas, Iron Crosses, SS insignia and other fascist symbols.

US officials ignore it. Obama's new friends are thugs. They represent the worst of societal misfits.

They threaten all Ukrainians. They threaten regional peace. They risk turning Ukraine's crisis into global conflict.

(9) "Russia Claims: Ethnic minorities face persecution in Ukraine from the 'fascist' government in Kyiv."

All Ukrainians are at risk. Fascists tolerate no opposition. Presidential aspirant Oleg Tsarev is Exhibit A. He opposes Kiev putschists.

A previous article discussed him. Neo-Nazi Right Sector Sector thugs attacked him. They brutally beat him. He's hospitalized in critical condition. Washington ignored what happened. Scoundrel media buried the story.

His candidacy stands. He's not pulling out. If he recovers, maybe putschist thugs will kill him. Fascists operate this way. Obama supports them.

(10) "Russia Claims: Russia is not using energy and trade as weapons against Ukraine."

The State Department lied claiming otherwise. Since 2009, Moscow subsidized Ukraine's economy.

It provided unprecedented natural gas discounts. They totaled $17 billion. Plus another $18.4 billion Ukraine incurred as a minimal "take-or-pay fine."

"No other country provided such support except Russia," said Putin. Western ones provided none.

They want Ukraine colonized. Plundering its resources is planned. Exploiting its people. Turning Ukraine into a pro-Western vassal state. Incorporating it into NATO.

Deploying US nuclear armed missiles on Russia's borders. Threatening regional peace and stability unconscionably. Risking WW III.

Don't expect the State Department to explain. Or neocon infesting Washington.

Or supportive scoundrel media. War winds head dangerously toward gale force. Risks demanding headlines are buried.

A Final Comment

On April 16, Odessa anti-Maidan activists proclaimed the People's Republic of Odessa. They issued a statement saying:

"From today, Odessa region becomes the People's Republic of Odessa, where the power belongs to the people living in its territory."

City residents were urged to prevent outside traffic from entering except ambulances. Odessa activists joined their counterparts in over a dozen other Eastern Ukrainian cities.

Growing protests demand local autonomy and democratic rights.

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

His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity"

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

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com

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