by Stephen Lendman

Putin's statesmanship embarrasses Kerry. Both men are geopolitical opposites.

Putin represents responsible leadership. Kerry shames the office he holds.

On April 29, Putin addressed Ukrainian crisis conditions forthrightly. On the same day, Kerry irresponsibly addressed the Atlantic Council.

In 1961, it was established to support NATO. It's headquartered in Washington. It supports America's global agenda.

Past and current members include a rogue's gallery of reliable US imperial supporters.

They include Henry Kissinger, George Schultz, James Schlesinger, James Baker, Zbigniew Brzezinski, James Jones, Condoleezza Rice, Richard Holbrooke, Susan Rice, and an array of current and former top military officials.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel formerly served as chairman. Kerry's comments reflected US imperial arrogance. More on them below.

Putin pointed fingers the right way. What's ongoing in Ukraine "shows us who really was mastering the process from the beginning," he said.

"But in the beginning, the United States preferred to remain in the shadow(s)."

In addressing crisis conditions, Washington is "telling that they originally were behind this process, but now they just have emerged as (its) leaders."

US officials encouraged Maidan protesters. They supported them. They did so against Ukraine's democratically elected government.

They manipulated events. They aided and abetted Viktor Yanukovych's ouster.

They helped empower illegitimate fascist putschists. They did so lawlessly.

"It is necessary to understand that the situation is serious and try to find serious approaches to the solution," said Putin.

He called on coup-appointed officials to "treat equally the rights of those living in other areas of Ukraine, first of all, I mean, the east and southeast, establish a dialogue, find a compromise."

He addressed illegitimate US/EU sanctions, adding:

"We would very much wish not to resort to any measures in response."

"But if something like that continues, we will of course have to think about who is working in the key sectors of the Russian economy, including the energy sector, and how."

Major US companies are involved. They include ExxonMobil and Chevron.

"Regarding (sanctions imposed on Moscow), it's not clear at all what this is linked to, because there is no cause and effect link with what is happening now in Ukraine and Russia," said Putin.

At the same time, US/EU policy won't deter Russia's Eurasian integration process, he explained. It involves Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Putin prioritizes resolving Ukrainian crisis conditions responsibly. US policy is polar opposite.

Kerry fronts for power. He represents longstanding US imperial arrogance.

His comments leave no doubt where he stands. Big Lies infest them. They do so repeatedly.

He addressed the Atlantic Council's "Toward a Europe Whole and Free" conference.

Washington wants Europe co-opted. It wants full control. It wants it united against Russia.

It bullies, pressure and threatens European leaders to bend to its will. Outliers aren't tolerated. They're targeted for replacement. Washington rules apply.

The year 2014 marks NATO's 65 anniversary. Its mission is offense, not defense.

It's a machine for the manufacture of mass slaughter, destruction and unspeakable human misery.

Not according to Kerry. He lied saying "over (its) decades-long history, I think NATO, without any question, has done more to promote security, more to promote prosperity, and more to promote freedom than any other alliance in human history."

He cited nonexisting threats. Ukraine is Exhibit A, he suggested.

Its crisis "calls us back to the role that this alliance was originally created to perform, and that is to defend alliance territory and advance transatlantic security."

False! US-led NATO is a destabilizing machine. It prevents global security.

It advances America's imperium. It does so through lawless violence, belligerence and full-blown aggression.

"The events in Ukraine are a wake-up call," said Kerry.

He lied claiming "(o)ur European Allies have spent more than 20 years with us working to integrate Russia into the Euro-Atlantic community."

"It is not as if we really haven't bent over backwards to try to set a new course in the post-Cold War era."

"And so we've pursued serious bilateral engagement…But what Russia's actions in Ukraine tell us is that today Putin's Russia is playing by a different set of rules."

"And through its occupation of Crimea and its subsequent destabilization of Eastern Ukraine, Russia seeks to change the security landscape of Eastern and Central Europe."

"So we find ourselves in a defining moment for our transatlantic alliance, and nobody should mistake that."

"And we are prepared to do what we need to do, and to go the distance, to uphold that alliance."

"Our strength will come from our unity. And the strength of our alliance always has come from our unity over the course of the 65 years."

"So together, we have to push back against those who want to try to change sovereign borders by force."

"Together, we have to support those who simply want to try to live as we do or as others do."

Fact: Washington wants sovereign Russian independence eliminated.

Fact: It wants subservient pro-Western governance replacing it.

Fact: Longstanding US policy wants all independent governments replaced.

Fact: Eliminating major rivals matter most.

Fact: Russia and China are top targets.

Fact: Both countries deplore war.

Fact: They prioritize peaceful coexistence.

Fact: Advancing America's imperium prevents it.

Fact: Kerry lied suggesting otherwise.

"(W)e have to support those folks who want to live free, making their choices about their own future. Together, we have to continue our strong support for Ukraine," he said.

"(W)e have to make it absolutely clear to the Kremlin that NATO territory is inviolable. We will defend every single piece of it."

"(F)rom day one, Ukraine undertook to implement both the spirit and substance of" Geneva four-party agreement terms.

"(N)ot one single step has been taken by Russia."

"Every time you have a conversation, it’s pointing the finger at what the Ukrainians haven't done, without even tallying up what they have done or acknowledging their own zero in the column with respect to what they have undertaken."

"(I)t's fair to say they have escalated the crisis even further."

"There is strong evidence that I laid out several days ago of the degree to which Russian engagement exists directly in the east and has been building up over some period of time."

Russian policy persists "to pursue (its) own goals and…ends."

It has "a clear choice: Leave Ukraine in peace and work with us together to create a strong Ukraine, a Ukraine that is not a pawn, pulled and tugged at between East and West…"

"…I can guarantee this: The United States and our allies will stand together in support of Ukraine."

"This crisis is a wake-up call for us to accelerate the other work that we’ve been doing to promote a stronger, more prosperous transatlantic community."

Fact: Kerry repeated one Big Lie after another.

Fact: He's a serial liar.

Fact: He's a world class thug.

Fact: He makes lesser rogue officials look pacifist.

Fact: He makes mafia bosses look saintly by comparison.

Fact: He makes serial killers look like pussy cats.

Fact: "NATO, without a question, has done more to (subvert) security, more to (prevent) prosperity, and more to (destroy) freedom than any other alliance in human history."

Fact: NATO "was originally created" for offense, not defense.

Fact: "European allies have spent more than 20 years with (Washington) working to" marginalize, weaken and isolate Russia.

Fact: "(W)hat Russia's actions in Ukraine tell us is that today Putin's Russia" represents responsible geopolitical leadership.

Fact: No Russian "occupation of Crimea and its subsequent destabilization of Eastern Ukraine" occurred.

Fact: Moscow did nothing "to change sovereign borders by force" or any other way.

Fact: Washington and rogue EU partners want free people subjugated.

Fact: They want their fundamental freedoms eliminated altogether.

Fact: They want their futures destroyed.

Fact: "(F)rom day one, Ukraine (violated) both the spirit and substance of" Geneva four-party agreement terms.

Fact: (I)t's fair to say" Washington and rogue EU partners "escalated the crisis even further."

Fact: No evidence suggests Russian involvement with Eastern Ukrainian activists.

Kerry represents the worst of Washington's dark side. Lawless aggression reflects it.

Millions of corpses attest to America's barbarity. Don't expect Kerry to explain.

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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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