Ukraine

[french frank]

In Chechnya he claimed to be doing the west a favour, helping do away with "Islamic terrorism".

As he is now ridding Ukraine of "Nazi terrorism"?

Probably the reason that "the west" said nothing.

Well, there are 'fashionable theories about such matters which would probably label it 'racism' but like so many issues bearing on the situations, not least historical experience, it's complicated. Over Ukraine "the west" is at least not "saying nothing". No, but they are now not "doing enough" for some people (let's say nothing about certain prominent Americans who think we should be siding with Russia in this war - and whose words are now to be used -allegedly - by the Russians for propaganda purposes. Just apart from the fact that Kazakhstan was/is part of the "Russian Federation" and Ukraine is not; and as it happens, Chechens were guilty of terrorist activity in Moscow (I won't say 'without justification', just that Moscow created the terrorists in the first place). The Chechens were simply 'separatists'. Just as the Abkhazians and South Ossetians were 'separatists'. The only difference being the side the Russians chose to support - we're against the separatists in our own back yard, but we support the separatists (add the ones in Donbas as well) in other people's back yards.

As a piece in the Guardian pointed out, there has never been any question - yet - of "the west" attacking Russia. What is "the west" anyway? NATO? The EU? All-the-individual-countries-in-the-EU-and-NATO-especially-the-USA? Plus the UN minus Russia? Lump them all together and the single entity that has been artificially created becomes "a threat". Just as "the EU" was a threat to the UK.

I'm sure we all find the situation in Ukraine harrowing in the extreme, but "the west" has been united in condemning Russian actions and thank heavens there wasn't a trigger-happy American president unilaterally deciding to "save Europe" from the Reds.

PS And it's more complicated than that. There were Islamist terrorists involved from early on. As I said, all very complicated.

[ardcarp]

It's an ill wind. Nazanin and another British hostage have been set free. What a relief for their families. Without wishing any disrespect to them or to the Ukrainians, there is surely little doubt that the fuel crisis caused by Putin's war was a considerable factor in the Iranian/British machinations to enable this to happen.

[Serial_Apologist]

It's an ill wind. Nazanin and another British hostage have been set free. What a relief for their families. Without wishing any disrespect to them or to the Ukranians, there is surely little doubt that the fuel crisis caused by Putin's war was a considerable factor in the Iranian/British machinations to enable this to happen.

Rumour has it (well more than rumour, actually) that Britain has paid off some of the Iran debt, which is probably more of a factor. Not sure how much oil Britain now gets from Iran, but Johnson's cap-in-hand visit to the Saudis wouldn't be pleasing to Tehran, I don't think.

[ardcarp]

Britain has paid off some of the Iran debt

Yes, that was part of my reasoning, but in return for what? Not oil surely

[Bryn]

Yes, that was part of my reasoning, but in return for what? Not oil surely

No, but sucking up further to the Saudi regime is not likely to ease tensions with Iran. Some easing of the Iranian nuclear power issue might lead to the release of oil to the general international market but I don't think we should hold our breath.

[Mario]

I’m horrified by this.

Never heard of Boris Berezovsky the pianist. I’ve never heard him playing, and now I know I never will.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Berezovsky_%28pianist%29

Mario

[Bryn]

I’m horrified by this.

Never heard of Boris Berezovsky the pianist. I’ve never heard him playing, and now I know I never will.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Berezovsky_%28pianist%29

Mario

He has tried to backtrack, somewhat but I find his excuse to be a quite unconvincing attempt to save his international carreer.

[Mario]

From the limited information I have discovered, his excuse runs along the lines of

“I only suggested power cuts to Kiev to help reduce the casualties on both sides”, or something like that.

Shameful.

Mario

[richardfinegold]

He has tried to backtrack, somewhat but I find his excuse to be a quite unconvincing attempt to save his international carreer.

“Better to remain silent and be thought to be a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt”

[richardfinegold]

Zhelinsky received a standing ovation after a video address after addressing both houses of Congress here.,

[Mario]

“Better to remain silent and be thought to be a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt”

One of my favourite quotes Richard.

Here’s another, attributed to Bertrand Russell,

“War is not about who’s right, but about who’s left.”

Mario

[eighthobstruction]

....just saw Simon Bates [the ex BBC Radio 1 DJ] as a presenter for US CBS News commenting in a segment London Calling on the UK response to Ukrainian refugees....his views were perfectly acceptable....but,How odd

[cloughie]

....just saw Simon Bates [the ex BBC Radio 1 DJ] as a presenter for US CBS News commenting in a segment London Calling on the UK response to Ukrainian refugees....his views were perfectly acceptable....but,How odd

Nicey gone Stateside then?

[oddoneout]

I’m horrified by this.

Never heard of Boris Berezovsky the pianist. I’ve never heard him playing, and now I know I never will.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Berezovsky_%28pianist%29

Mario

A Google search has shown the necessity of adding "pianist" to the name...
The name rings a bell so I'm wondering if he has been on R3 not so long ago.

[eighthobstruction]

Nicey gone Stateside then?

....based in Dev[b]on....no doubt still playing Our Tune........dee dee dee dee.....