IPFS Stephen Lendman

More About: Imperialism

Deplorable Western Hypocrisy

Deplorable Western Hypocrisy

by Stephen Lendman

A previous article discussed orchestrated Sunday street protests in Moscow and other Russian cities - staged to create the illusion of anti-Putin sentiment.

Convicted embezzler, pro-Western stooge Alexey Navalny was involved - arrested, fined and ordered detained for 15 days for participating in an unauthorized rally.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia respects civil activism when "expressed in accordance with the law and in places where the law prescribes."

It "cannot respect those who deliberately misguide people and who instigated these illegal activities yesterday."

"We cannot respect those who deliberately misled underage minors promising them some payment in return for participating in an unauthorized protest, thereby exposing them to danger. We cannot accept, nor respect this."

The orchestrated demonstrations were staged to attract Western headlines and remarks from their anti-Russian officials.

They did nothing to build domestic opposition to Putin. His overwhelming popularity is far greater than what any Western leader enjoys - notably in America, Britain, France and Germany.

State Department Obama holdover spokesman Mark Toner "condemn(ed) the detention of hundreds of peaceful protesters throughout Russia on Sunday." 

"Detaining peaceful protesters, human rights observers, and journalists is an affront to core democratic values," he blustered. 

"We were troubled to hear of the arrest of opposition figure Alexei Navalny upon arrival at the demonstration, as well as the police raids on the anti-corruption organization he heads."

"The United States will monitor this situation, and we call on the government of Russia to immediately release all peaceful protesters." 

"The Russian people, like people everywhere, deserve a government that supports an open marketplace of ideas, transparent and accountable governance, equal treatment under the law, and the ability to exercise their rights without fear of retribution."

America repeatedly meddles in the internal affairs of other nations illegally. Its human rights abuses exceed the worst of any other country.

Its imperial agenda is the greatest threat to world peace and stability. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blasted what he called "infamous (Western) double standards, saying:

When similar events occur in America and European countries, reactions of their officials are far different. 

"I cannot remember when somebody expressed a strong public reaction regarding the decisions recently made in Austria, Holland, Germany (and Switzerland) where the authorities banned holding certain protests. It did not concern anyone and nobody said anything about it."

"Considering the detentions, I remember how in a number of European capitals and in the United States, police dealt with such violators resorting, among other means, to the use of batons and tear gas, in case protesters gathered in locations, which they were banned from, and followed among the routes, which were not sanctioned."

"Russian journalists were also in such situations, particularly an RT (Russian Today) crew in the United States were detained for trying to deliver a report on some sort of unrest connected with protest."

Whenever Palestinians protest against occupation harshness, Israeli security forces attack them violently, at times resulting in injuries or deaths, always unlawful arrests and detentions, young children treated as abusively as adults.

Western countries are largely silent on oppressive Israeli actions against defenseless Palestinian civilians.

When American and European officials complain about affronts to free expression, assembly and other democratic values, they ignore their own horrendous high crimes and other human rights abuses.

Criticizing Russia is all about irresponsibly wanting its sovereignty weakened and leadership denigrated.

The New York Times notoriously supports all US wars of aggression and others planned. It's viciously anti-Russia, anti-Putin.

In response to Sunday protests, it turned truth on its head, saying he "ranks high for ruthlessness and repression," adding:

He "failed to crush the spirit and courage of Russian citizens who are willing to risk retribution to resist the excesses of his regime."

Orchestrated demonstrations like Sunday's have no adverse effects on his leadership. They're much ado about nothing, a whimper, not a bang.

Most everything of importance The Times reports about Putin is misinformation and fake news.

No "Russian aggression" exists, no unlawful annexation of Crimea, no "killing (of) journalists and opponents," no US election hacking to aid Trump's triumph, no collusion with his administration, no suppression of peaceful, lawful demonstrations, no high crimes against peace like America and its rogue allies commit repeatedly.

The Times is a notorious lying machine, proved daily in fake news reports, masquerading as journalism the way it's supposed to be - banned on its pages.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He 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 WW III."

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

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. 

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

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