Alan Murdock gives a good history of the relationship of Ukraine and Russia but his characterization of Putin's methods as "barbaric," with the ultimate goal of "rebuilding the Russian Empire" is totally without foundation and any supporting evidence. On the contrary, Russia is much better off without the responsibilities of the former USSR, and is now entirely capitalistic.
Despite the Ukraine's southeastern region's referendum and almost unanimous vote, both for independence and joining Russia, Putin refused its request in favour of a legitimate Ukrainian government.
Since the coup neo-Nazi militias have harassed, tortured and killed Russian speaking eastern Ukrainians, and this Putin will not tolerate. But as for massive military infiltration in the Donbas region, there is no evidence for it, nor for Russian culpability in downing a civilian airliner and the deaths of 300 people: if there were, we would certainly have satellite and other reconnaissance evidence.
But experts in the field easily debunked the lame photographs submitted.
Crimea was taken over as the result of a massively supportive vote, and without bloodshed. So how is the word "barbaric" justified?
Putin cited Kosovo as precedent, where independence was gained by vote and, in accordance with international law, without approval of the central authority. But Crimea was so much more justifiable because it is central to Russia's legitimate interests and home to its only fresh water fleet.
Putin has tolerated the steady encroachment of NATO but a NATO-fied Ukraine he will not tolerate. The Taiga, he says, "is ours." They paid for it over again in the loss of 26 million lives and total devastation in the Second World War.
We should be clear on that point: they will not give it up – no matter the final cost. Is it not telling that even NATO has contradicted Jason Kenney's irresponsible claim that, "Royal Canadian Navy sailors have been confronted by Russian warships and buzzed by Russian fighter jets?"
Apparently, the inflammatory rhetoric and outright lies of this government are perceived as going too far – even by NATO.
As a pediatrician, Alan Murdock must appreciate the criminal enormity of the deaths of children by sanctions foisted on Iraq from 1991 to 2003: 500,000 children five years and younger died for lack of simple medical aids and pharmaceuticals.
This is an indisputable fact even acknowledged by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright who said, "It was worth it." Many think the total deaths exceeded one million. The U.S. and West destroyed Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, and supplied aid to radical elements in Syria that now comprise the brutal Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL). Much else has been inflicted on Middle East countries, and Iran is weighed down with sanctions that constitute a declaration of war in international law.
This surely gives new meaning to "barbaric" and makes Putin's "aggression" pale in comparison. To boot, with bill C51 being foisted on Canadians, even protesting and citing these sins of the West could be constructed as "aiding and abetting the enemy." So much for the vaunted "freedoms" our "enemies" reputedly resent us for.
Doris Wrench Eisler, St. Albert
