by Stephen Lendman

Ukraine is a US-installed hotbed of Nazi extremism - a scourge in Europe's heartland. It threatens continental peace. Numerous articles by this writer and others explained Obama replaced Ukrainian democrats with fascist thugs. He installed mob rule by coup d'etat in February 2014. Media scoundrels call them democrats. They combine police state repression with neoliberal harshness, massive corruption and war on their own citizens.

USA Today partly acknowledged what other presstitutes entirely ignore. Instead of explaining illegitimate US-installed fascists run Ukraine, it only discussed what it called "(a) volunteer brigade with self-proclaimed Nazis fighting alongside government troops against Russian-backed separatists."

Azov Brigade in USA Today's report is the tip of the iceberg. Other Nazi government forces, volunteer ones, cutthroat mercenaries and fascist government officials infest Ukraine.

It's Nazified for the first time since WW II. Dangerously confronting Russia - blaming it irresponsibly for its own high crimes.

USA interviewed a sergeant identified only as Alex. Saying he "wore a patch depicting Thor's Hammer, an ancient Norse symbol (used) by neo-Nazis…"

He admitted being a Nazi. So are most of his comrades, he explained. According to USA Today:

"He said he supports strong leadership for Ukraine, like Germany during World War II, but opposes the Nazis' genocide against Jews."

"Minorities should be tolerated as long as they are peaceful and don't demand special privileges, he said, and the property of wealthy oligarchs should be taken away and nationalized."

He said when war ends, he and likeminded elements will oust Kiev's government it considers corrupt.

USA Today claimed Russian media exaggerat saying Azov and likeminded brigades are comprised of "a bunch of thugs who menace the population yet are embraced by Ukraine's national government."

Avov spokesman Andriy Diachenko was quoted downplaying its real threat. It's infested with Nazis.

Diachenko lied claiming only 10 - 20%. So did Azov deputy commander Oleg Odnorozhenko - calling cold-blooded fascist thugs regular troops.

Nazi forces are a key part of Ukraine's military. Billionaire oligarch/lawlessly appointed Dnipropretovsk Oblast governor Igor Kolomoyskyi finances Azov.

Overt Nazi Andriy Biletsky heads it, as well as the fascist Social-National Assembly (SNA) and its Patriots of Ukraine paramilitary wing.

SNA members infest Azov ranks. They support Nazi-like racial purity laws, white supremacy and anti-Semitic hate-mongering.

They openly boast about attacking ethnic, racial and social minorities. Earlier Biletsky said:

"The historic mission of our nation in this critical moment is to lead the White Races of the world in a final crusade for their survival. A crusade against the Semite-led Untermenschen."

Azov displays the Nazi Wolfsangle on its banner - the same one Hitler's 2nd SS panzer division and other forces used.

Its ranks include fascist elements from other European countries and Canada.

Ukraine's national security and defense council head Andriy Parubiy co-founded the overtly Nazi Svoboda party.

He was recently feted in Washington and Ottawa seeking weapons for more war on his own people. He was directly responsible for February 2014 Maidan killings. Snipers he controlled were involved.

Overt Nazi Dmytro Yarosh heads Ukraine's Right Sector. He's unapologetically fascist. He openly boasts about "fighting Jews and Russians til I die."

In March 2014, a Russian court issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of inciting terrorism.

He was directly involved in last May's Odessa massacre. Hundreds were brutally murdered in cold blood. Nazi thugs bore full responsibility.

Washington recruited them for Maidan killings - falsely blamed on Viktor Yanukovych's government.

USA Today papered over the real Ukraine story. Focusing on Azov conceals what's ongoing.

Quoting Ukrainian armed forces Col. Oleksiy Nozdrachov calling Azov members "patriots" flies in the face of reality.

He lied saying they're "volunteers who decided to sacrifice their lives (for) their country." He ignored brigade committed atrocities and other high crimes adding:

"If any cases of misbehavior by Azov brigade are brought by the local population, it will be investigated."

Kiev's Odessa massacre inquiry entirely whitewashed what happened. Cold-blooded killers got off scot-free.

Eye witnesses were ignored. Clear evidence was buried to absolve mass murder. Maidan killings were falsely blamed on Yanukovych. Media scoundrels repeat official Big Lies.

A UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report discussed "credible allegations of arbitrary detention, torture and enforced disappearances, committed mostly by (Kiev's) armed groups but in some instances also by the Ukrainian law enforcement agencies."

Kiev's military prosecutor did nothing to investigate clear evidence showing a "considerable" number of human rights violations - "including looting, arbitrary detention and ill-treatment by members of certain voluntary battalions such as Aidar, Azov, Slobozhanshchina and Shakhtarsk."

Other reports documented their abductions, executions, extortion and other high crimes.

They're not alone. Germany's ZDF television showed Ukrainian soldiers openly displaying Nazi flags, swastikas and other Nazi symbols.

US media scoundrels report nothing. Nazism's reemergence in Europe's heartland isn't important enough to discuss - or the grave danger it poses.

According to USA Today, Azov recruits say "they want to protect their homeland and Europe from the ambitions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom they (wrongfully) blame for the war."

"Deputy commander Odnorozhenko said the brigade preaches Ukrainian patriotism and independence, strong leadership and accountability."

An Azov trainer named Alex Borisov was quoted ludicrously saying he "didn't see any fascists or anti-Semities."

On the one hand, USA Today admitted Nazi elements fight for Kiev's government.

On the other, it buried the real story. It willfully misreported what been ongoing since US-manipulated anti-government violence erupted in November 2013.

Not a word about how Washington replaced democrats with fascists. Nothing about their responsibility for atrocities throughout months of fighting.

Silence about their use of cluster bombs, chemical and other banned weapons.

Nothing about their willfully targeting civilian neighborhoods, hospitals, schools and vital infrastructure - about their economic blockade wanting Donbas residents starved to death, deprived of vitally needed medical treatment.

Not a word about ruthless fascists running Ukraine. Nothing about their dirty war of aggression against their own citizens - killing tens of thousands more than officially reported.

Causing Europe's gravest refugee and humanitarian crisis since WW II. Responsible for horrendous high crimes against peace.

Planning resumed full-scale war at Washington's discretion. Intending more mass murder than already committed.

Risking direct confrontation with Russia. Washington bears full responsibility for what's ongoing.

Rogue EU partners share it. So do US-installed Kiev Nazi thugs. Don't expect USA Today or other media scoundrels to explain.

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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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