by Stephen Lendman

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond

America and Britain partner in each other's high crimes. Their longstanding relationship dates from the 19th century. It's modern form emerged post-WW II. Imperial interests are shared.

When America goes to war or plans one (direct or proxy), Britain marches in lockstep.

One rogue state supports another. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and John Kerry specialize in bashing independent governments they want replaced with ones their regimes control.

Hammond's Foreign Office condemned Syria's right to defend itself against US recruited, armed, funded, trained and directed IS and other imported death squads ravaging the county.

It blamed Assad for their crimes. It lied claiming he uses chemical weapons, torture, starvation and "other despicable acts (as) methods of warfare."

Britain and America won't let Crimea go. It's Russian territory. It won't change.

It's been part of Russia since Catherine the Great (1783) - except from when Nikita Khrushchev ceded it to Ukraine in 1954 to when Crimeans voted near unanimously to rejoin Russia in 2014.

Kerry calls Crimean international law recognized Crimean self-determination "an incredible act of (Russian) aggression."

You can't make this stuff up. You can't find a single major media profile in courage debunking his Big Lie - nobody. Or any of his other lies.

Hammond's knowledge of international law is as flawed as Kerry's. So is his propensity to lie.

Days after the March 18, 2014 anniversary of Crimea rejoining Russia, he turned truth on its head saying:

"The illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia one year ago was a blatant breach of international law."

"It showed total disregard for Ukraine’s right to sovereignty and territorial integrity, and I condemn it in the strongest terms."

"It is completely unacceptable for Russia to use force to change borders."

"We do not recognise last year’s sham referendum which President Putin has admitted was planned to provide a fig leaf for his land grab."

"This behaviour threatens international security, and has grave implications for the legal order that protects the integrity and sovereignty of all states."

"Our message to Russia is consistent and clear: the annexation of Crimea was illegal and illegitimate in March 2014, and remains illegal and illegitimate in March 2015. Russia must return Crimea to Ukraine."

Fact: Russia didn't annex Crimea. No "land grab" occurred.

Fact: Russian sovereignty over Crimea is far more legitimate than Britain's phony claim to Argentina's Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas).

Fact: Crimeans freely chose to exercise their international law self-determination right to rejoin Russia.

Fact: Vladimir Putin accommodated them - what any responsible leader would do.

Fact: Rejoining Russia in no way "disregarded" Ukrainian sovereignty.

Fact: No Russian force was involved or at any other time against Ukraine or its neighbors.

Fact: Nothing suggests Putin has revanchist aims.

Fact: International observers monitoring Crimea's referendum judged it open, free and fair. It reflected model democratic choice.

Fact: In no way does Crimea rejoining Russia threaten international security - or have any "grave" legal implications.

Fact: Moscow's message to Britain, America and other rogue states is keep your dirty hands off its affairs.

Fact: Russia scrupulously observes international laws, norms and standards.

Fact: America, Britain and rogue NATO partners violate them them consistently.

Fact: They're guilty of multiple high crimes of war and against humanity.

Don't expect Kerry, Hammond or likeminded partners to explain.

On March 25, Hammond addressed Britain's diplomatic corps at a Lord Mayor's Easter Banquet.

Russia bashing was featured. A litany of Big Lies followed.

Ludicrously saying "Britain can stand tall in the world…confident that it is playing its part in maintaining peace and stability."

Along with America and Israel, it's done more to prevent it than any other nations in world history over a longer duration on a global scale.

Hammond outrageously said "Eastern Europe is menaced by President Putin’s flagrant disregard for international law in Ukraine."

Nonexistent "Russian aggression," he blustered. (It chose) the role of strategic competitor, at the very time when the diffusion of power more widely around the world makes the international rules-based system all the more important as the principal means to keep the peace between nations."

"So we must be steadfast in the defence of where nations threaten to undermine it, as we have been, and will remain, in response to Russia’s actions."

Russia's Foreign Ministry (MFA) issued a statement calling Hammond's comments "undiplomatic and unacceptable."

Britain like America needs enemies. "Russia fits perfectly at all times, but also attachment to the prejudices of the imperial past, including the idea of containment of Russia," its MFA said.

Irresponsible Russia bashing continues relentlessly. Big Lies substitute for hard truths.

Propaganda wars precede hot ones. America seems headed toward confronting Russia militarily.

Britain recklessly partners in its crimes. Both nations risk the unthinkable.

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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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