National Nihilism

I am extremely happy to post today and article submitted for publication to me by Mark Hackard who, with Daniel Spaulding, writes a most interesting blog called "The Soul of the East" whose aim is to translate and spread the writings of such Russian thinkers and philosophers like Ivan Ilyin, Konstantin Leontiev, Lev Tikhomirov, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Walter Schubart and Konstantin Pobedonostsev.  I have to confess that when I saw that list of names I went "wow!" as I had never expected to see so many of my favorite authors mentioned (especially Tikhomirov!) on an English language blog (all that was missing from this list to truly make me happy would have been Aleksei Khomiakov, Ivan Solonevich and Leonid Borodin).  Hackard even lists Father Seraphim Rose as one of his main influences. Bottom line - this is a very interesting and unique blog written by very interesting and unique people - make sure to check them out!

And a big "thank you!" to Mark Hackard for sending me his article!

The Saker
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National Nihilism

by Mark Hackard

Strategies for full-spectrum dominance encompass far more than just military means – their entire point is found in politics, the struggle for power. Movements proclaiming themselves the champions of national salvation thus deserve extra scrutiny, since they might serve precisely the opposite end.

Ever since a US-backed junta seized control of Ukraine in February, the country’s ethnic, cultural and linguistic fault lines have been accentuated to deadly effect. The predominantly russophone south and east have already paid a terrible price for resisting the new liberal-nationalist regime, from a fiery massacre in Odessa to outright war against Donetsk and Lugansk, two regions bordering Russia that have declared their independence. Had Vladimir Putin not moved to secure Crimea, the peninsula today would be suffering an analogous fate. When we consider the atrocities committed against the inhabitants of historical Novorossiya (New Russia), it must be understood that Kiev’s counterinsurgency is far more significant than a local conflict – it is a proxy war the Pax Americana wages against Russia in order to command the Eurasian heartland.

In the quest to “contain” and destabilize Russia, Washington has found willing and eager proxies in Ukrainian nationalists. Longtime enemies of Moscow, outfits like Stepan Bandera’s Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and the Ukrainian Rebel Army (UPA) worked in close partnership with Nazi Germany during the Second World War. With the Reichstag still smoldering and the new Cold War underway, the United States would continue where the Abwehr and SS left off, dropping nationalist agents into western Ukraine to conduct sabotage and guerrilla campaigns against the Soviet government until the early 1950s. The Berlin Wall may no longer stand, but US/NATO employment of Ukrainian nationalists in subversion programs continues to this day. Aside from the $5 billion the US has openly spent over twenty years to suborn Ukraine, it stands to reason that substantial clandestine assets were also dedicated to that objective.

Supported by the CIA as well as Polish intelligence, Kiev has attempted for the past two months to bring the east to heel, yet the regime has little to show for the effort other than dead and wounded in the thousands, while towns such as Slavyansk and Kramatorsk are pulverized under sustained bombardment. The regular Ukrainian army, demoralized, underfunded and under-equipped, hasn’t taken to the repression with the revolutionary fervor expected of them by the junta. Rather, Kiev has relied on the newly-instituted National Guard, foreign mercenaries and paramilitaries bankrolled by billionaire oligarchs like Dnepropetrovsk governor Igor “Benya” Kolomoisky, an ardent Zionist with a business empire reportedly built on ruthless criminality. Filling the ranks of these “special battalions” are motivated but often inexperienced thugs from neo-fascist Right Sector, the group that played a pivotal role in the success of February 22nd’s Maidan putsch. The death squads have proven adept at terrorizing civilians, but they haven’t fared so well in combat with local resistance forces. 



Possible outcome of the Ukraine crisis: Novorossiya and already Russian Crimea (South/East), Malorossiya-Ukraine and Galicia (North/West).

Underlying the regime’s disastrous attempt to smash the revolt in the east is the utter incoherence of Ukrainian nationalism. Ukraine as a nation-state has all the natural viability of Belgium, for it is an artificial country hopelessly divided within Soviet-era borders. Civil war has erupted because ethnic Russians and culturally Russian Ukrainians, for generations living on traditionally Russian lands, refuse to accede to a poisonous chauvinism demanding the surrender of their religious, cultural and linguistic heritage. The armed ideologues who come to impose “ukrainianization” might as well be foreign invaders seeking to wipe out a subjugated people’s very identity, and this is why bands of rebels in the Donbas are fighting to the knife.

While far from the only case, the fabricated nature of militant Ukrainian nationalism becomes clearer through the lens of great-power competition. The shaping of “Ukraine” (originally Malorossiya – Little Russia – plus Galicia and Volynia) as an entity implacably hostile to “Muscovy” is an ongoing Western geopolitical project launched in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when Poland and the Vatican maneuvered to fracture the unity of Orthodox Eastern Slavdom. From that time and in succession, Austria-Hungary, Germany, and now the United States have all found fostering and further inciting this antagonism as an economical means to undermine and even attack Russia itself. Though foolish and extremely dangerous, America’s latest bid to incorporate Ukraine into the “free world” is thus well-founded in historical precedent.

Also set in historical precedent is US collaboration with fascists. Far from limited to sponsorship of Pinochet-style military governments in Latin America, it’s worth recalling that Wall Street actively financed Adolf Hitler’s rise to Weltmacht. And so today the ultra-nationalists of Ukraine enjoy Washington’s tacit support as they drive to ethnically cleanse the country’s south and east of Russians and attain a pyrrhic victory for their ideology. Since Right Sector, Svoboda and other radical parties are enraptured by the legacy of National Socialism, they would do well to remember not only its fate, but also its dialectical function. The wholesale destruction and dehumanization wrought by Nazism merely cleared the way for the triumph of international capital, which from the end of World War II has enforced its dictates through liberal political economy, cultural Marxism and American military power. As US President Barack Obama elaborated in a recent speech in Warsaw:

We have a solemn duty — a binding treaty obligation — to defend your territorial integrity. And we will. We stand together — now and forever — for your freedom is ours.

The banksters are at liberty to subvert, invade and expropriate across the world forever. A key condition for the IMF’s extension of its $18 billion loan to Ukraine is “territorial integrity” – in their war on Novorossiya, nationalists act as the foot soldiers of predatory multinationals. They march not for their fatherland, but for the greater glory of Exxon-Mobil, Monsanto, and Lady Gaga; they are expendable, and so is Ukraine. Fantasies of a state from the Carpathians to the Caucasus seem quaint compared to the vision of planetary rule decreed by the masters of the dialectic, and the parochial nihilism of Bandera’s disciples represents only a transitory stage toward universal enslavement and the dissolution of all peoples.

Globalist elites design their policies according to the classical maxim of divide et impera, yet its esoteric corollary is solve et coagula, the alchemical process applied to entire societies. Behind inane sloganeering on freedom, democracy and human rights lies a relentless desire to destroy. Sovereignty must be ended, sex and the family distorted unto grotesquery, and God usurped by Mammon. The nation – the great extended family – must be annihilated. What the Brave New World needs are neither Russians nor Ukrainians, but demographic biomass engineered for exploitation.

Ukraine’s tragedy provides us a ready example of nationalism manipulated for the benefit of internationalist oligarchs. And Russia must meet its own challenge of upholding traditional identity against the onslaught of the West’s postmodern imperium. The organic, tribal nationalism of the blood can be reconciled with the higher demands of the spirit; such has been the mission of the Church and state in forming a wider Russian Orthodox civilization. In the meantime, the mounting outrages and provocations of the Kiev junta are catalogued for the sake of justice – to be meted out at a time of the Kremlin’s choosing.

Full text of the appeal of the commander of the militia of Donetsk People`s Republic Igor Strelkov (UPDATED WITH 2nd translation!)

(Huge thanks to "CG" who found this text here.  The Saker)

“Citizens of Donetsk People`s Republic, I address you with a quest. It`s the quest to protect your Motherland, your homes, your families, your people. I have to ask you to do the thing which by all human standards is not required to ask. As it was always an honor in Russia to protect your Motherland and your freedom. This call was always responded by those who considered themselves to be men. Nevertheless, I have to tell you the truth to straight in the eyes. I have to tell you words which are hard and maybe even insulting for your dignity.

Igor Strelkov

It`s more than a month already that we, a small group of volunteers from Russia and Ukraine, heeding the calls for help have arrived here and have been opposing in our armed struggle all Ukrainian army and many hired waste flying down to feast.

During the past month we have heard many times a desperate call – give us weapons! Give us weapons to make it possible for us to fight for our freedom, for our right to read and speak our native Russian language, for the right to honor our ancestors as heroes of the Great Patriotic war and not the henchmen of Nazi criminals. Heeding this call we`ve got the guns. We have seized it in warehouses; have taken from Ukrainian military and police; have bought from the underground merchants for crazy money. And now we have weapon. It`s not in the deep rear – neither in Donetsk, Lugansk or Makeevka nor in Shakhtyorsk or Antratsit. It is on the front line of defense – in sieged Slavyansk, Kramatorsk and Konstantinovka. It`s here, where it`s necessary more than anywhere else. Here, where the volunteers cover all the rest Donets Basin and together Donetsk and Lugansk. And again here under the cities Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, KrasniyLiman and Konstantonovka, where our garrisons are located, Kiev junta has gathered its most capable and numerous forces. The two thirds of chasteners and the headquarters of so-called anti-terrorist operation are located nearby.

And so, the moment has come, when every Donets Basin resident fit to carry arms and use them against the enemies of his people, may arrive and get the weapon right in his hands. He may get it and join the ranks of the militia to drive the chasteners outside the native land. But what do we see? - Anything, but not the crowds of volunteers at the gates of our headquarters.

There is 120 thousands of population in Slavyansk; there are twice more in Kramatorsk. Generally 4.5 million people live in Donetskaya region. Yes, not all of them are men of capable age. Not all of them are healthy and not employed in the important for life productions. Not all can come to us due to family and any other justifiable circumstances. But frankly, I haven`t expected that there isn`t a thousand of men in the entire region who are ready to risk their lives in their city not on the neighbour to their house barricade from where it takes half a day by car to reach the first national guardsman rather on the front line where they fire every day.

Nevertheless, it`s so. I`ll give examples in order not to be unfounded. Three days ago the group of 12 heroes from Artyomovsk selected and recommended by one highly-respected man came. When they came to know that they would have to serve directly in Slavyansk and not in their Artyomovsk and that the term is not limited to a few days, they didn`t even get weapons.

The story repeated yesterday. From the 35 volunteers arrived from Donetsk, listened to the sounds of faraway mortar bombardment and found out that they couldn`t go home together with the received weapons in three days, 25 safely went home. Perhaps, they went to complain for hard conditions they hadn`t felt a minute and to tell about their heroism appeared in a passenger bus. And these are not the only cases. We face this regularly.

Still being in Crimea, I had to hear the stories from the activists of people`s movement that “as soon as miners rise, they tear everybody with bare hands”. Well, maybe once it was so. But now it`s still not observed. Dozens and hundreds of people have stood in line and fight. Tens and hundreds of thousands quietly watch this on TV, sipping beer. Perhaps they are waiting when the army capable to do everything for them launches from consanguineous Russia or when enough crazy volunteers come who a ready to die for their right to live a decent life instead of that they have been existing for 23 years under the power of Ukrainian nationalists.

Where are those 27 thousand volunteers, which magazines are writing about? I don`t see them. To come home and to tell excited women with a proud look, “I signed up a volunteer!” is it all you are able to do? In our volunteer rank there are more and more people who are more than 40. They grew up and got their education at the time of the USSR. But there are very few young people. Where are they all, young healthy guys? Maybe they are in those bandit brigades who feeling anarchy have rushed to loot the loot and to create chaos in all cities and towns of Donetsk area? Yes, the news about the next “feats” comes to us every day.

And many failed militiamen demand weapons first of all to protect themselves from bandits and criminals in their own houses. Well, their desire is reasonable. But the question is – how should militia commanders understand: who has come for weapons to them? Whether it`s an honest citizen or another bandit imitating a Donetsk patriot?

The answer we give sounds simple: only that one is considered to be a militiaman who personally participates in the battle activities against the troops of junta as a part of a combat unit in the place and at the time his commanders consider to be proper. Because there will be nothing without discipline – not only victory but order as well.

If everyone fights in the place he personally wants and as long as he wishes then Donetsk militia rapidly turns into something between a bunches of disparate deserters and the gang of “father Angel” (a character of the Soviet movie “The Adjutant of His Excellency”. – “NewsBalt”). But it won`t be this way.

Only those who recommend themselves in combats with the enemy and recommend themselves in other combat tasks will receive the right to establish order at their own homes in the ranks of the militia. And we`ll establish this order, you may have no doubts.

Let those who today set “under the roof” stores and enterprises, who sell drugs and simply rob the defenseless population, let them all do not hope the game runs under the old rules and for the war emergency. An end of bandit Donets Basin has come. The new power will give the opportunity to refuse the criminal craft to everybody. But those who doesn`t want is given a fitting rebuff – such kind of a rebuff which is impossible to pay off with any money,according to the law of war.

I`ll return to the main. Donetsk land needs protectors and the militia needs disciplined soldiers-volunteers. If men are not capable to do it, we`ll have to call women. From today I have given the order to take them into the militia. It`s a real pity, that there are no officers among women – neither acting nor from reserve.

But what`s the difference if men-officers don`t come to us at all. In the entire region we haven`t yet found a couple of dozens military men ready to head the fighting units. It`s a darn shame!

For two weeks I`ve been asking to send me the chief staff and at least five companies` and platoons` commanders. There`s silence, there`s no one. Privates and sergeants of reserve command companies and platoons. Some of them command really not bad, but the further the more the absence of proper military knowledge is felt. Well, they learn after some time. But I warn no one of so-called officers sitting in their apartments like scared sparrows under the roof during thunder having not joined the ranks of militia, in our eyes is ever considered to be an officer. We`ll take care to make ordinary citizens share our opinion.

Perhaps, there are just a few days left until the battle activities still running without especial bitterness expand to a scale of a true battle with dozens and hundreds of killed and wounded.

The enemy is demoralized but still very strong. He has sponsors-oligarchs ready to pay enormous money for each murder, for each ruined house, for each crime against Russian nation. To win him we need to fight.

Let those citizens who are able to hear me and prove the faithfulness to his land and his people, arrive at the headquarters of the militia in the cities: Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Krasniy Liman, Konstantinovka, and Gorlovka.

There the commanders appointed by me will form marching units, organize training and when they are ready send them to the army. And let it still looks as not large, not well-organized partisan detachment, it fights and will win.

Walk and yes hall reach. God and truth are together with us!

Thank you. 

-------  Translation by "E.K" -------

Citizens of the People's Republic of Donetsk, I appeal to you. With a request to rise in defense of your Motherland, your homes, your families, your people. It falls on me to ask you to do the thing that shouldn't need asking. After all, to rise for the Motherland and for the freedom in Russia always was an honourable thing. It is an honourable thing to answer the call, to which people that count themselves real men always willingly responded. Nevertheless, I should tell you the truth. Straight in your eyes. To tell harsh and, perhaps, even offensive for your dignity words.

For more than a month now, we, a small group of volunteers of Russia and Ukraine, having listened to the calls for help from the lips of leaders of the protest elected by you , arrived here and in the armed fight we resist all the Ukrainian army and the hired scum.

For the past month we heard many times a desperate appeal – give us the weapons! Give us the weapons so we could battle for the freedom, for the right to read and speak native Russian, for the right to honor our ancestors and heroes of the Great Patriotic War – not the henchmen of Nazi criminals. Having heard this appeal, we got the weapons. We took them from warehouses, took them away from the Ukrainian military and militia, bought them from underground dealers for unthinkable money. And now we have the weapons. They are not in the rear – they are not in Donetsk, Lugansk or Makeyevka, not in Shakhtyorsk or Anthracite. They are at the lines of defense - in the besieged city of Slavyansk, in Kramatorsk, in Konstantinovka. They are where they are needed most. They are where volunteers defend all of Donbass, and Donetsk, and Lugansk. And here, around the cities of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, Krasniy Liman and Konstantinovka – where our garrisons are located – the Kiev junta gathered the most capable and numerous forces. There are two thirds of castigators and the headquarters of so-called anti-terrorist operation.

And there came the moment when each Donetsk citizen, capable to bear arms and to use them against enemies of the people, can arrive and receive the weapons directly in their hands. To receive and rise in as self-defense (opolchenie) in order to expel the castigators out of limits of the native land. But what do we see? Anything, but the crowds of volunteers at the gates of our headquarters.

The population of Slavyansk is 120 thousand, Kramatorsk has twice as many people. There are 4,5 million people in Donetsk region. Not all of them are men of capable age. Not all of them are healthy and unoccupied in important manufacturing. Not all of them can come to us – because of family and any other circumstances. But honestly, I never expected that there would be not even a thousand men , who are ready to risk their lives even on the barricades next to their house, half a day driving time to the nearest national guardsman – let alone being on the front line where the actual shooting is.

Nevertheless, it is true. I will give the examples. Three days ago, a group of 12 “heroes” arrived from Artyomovsk, they were selected and recommended by a very respected person . Having learned that the services have to be conducted in Slavyansk, instead of Artemovsk, and are not limited by several days, they did not even take the weapons.

Yesterday, same story. 25 out of 35 volunteers, arrived from Donetsk, went home, when they heard the distant sounds of mortars and when they found out that they wouldn't be able to go home in three days with the received weapons. Perhaps they will complain about hard conditions which they didn't feel for a minute, and about their heroic behavior during the bus ride. It not only. Such cases occur regularly.

When I was in the Crimea, I happened to hear stories from the activists, that when the miners rise, they will tear everyone with their bare hands. Maybe, it did happen some time. It has not been seen here, so far. While tens and hundreds people rose for the battle – tens and hundreds thousand quietly watch TV, sipping beer. Apparently, they wait when Russia moves forward its army, or when there will be enough volunteers, who are ready to die for their right to have a better life, better than what they had for the twenty three years under the power of the Ukrainian nationalists.

Where are those twenty seven thousand volunteers the journalists write about? I don't see them. Is it all they can do – come home with a proud look and declare to admiring women: "I signed up in self-defense” ? Our volunteers are mostly men in their forties, who grew and received their education in the times of the USSR, but there are not enough young people. Where are they, young and healthy guys? Perhaps they are in those gangster brigades, they got the wind of anarchy and started to "steal the stolen" and outrage in all the cities and rural parts of the Donetsk region? The news about their "acts of bravery" reach us daily. And many might-have-been self-defense fighters demand the weapons in order to be able to protect their homes from the bandits and criminals. Their desire is well-founded. But there rises the question: how the self-defense commanders can sort out whether it is an honest citizen or just another bandit pretending to be a Donetsk patriot?

The answer is simple: the true self-defense fighter is the one who personally, as a member of a fighting unit, takes direct part in the fight with junta armies, in that particular place and time which is deemed necessary by his commanders. Because without discipline there will be nothing – not only a victory, but even order. If everyone fights where he himself fancies, then the Donetsk self-defense will promptly turn into something in-between a gang of deserters and a gang of the Father Angel. But this will not happen. Only those who prove in the fights with the enemy and other assignments, will receive the weapons to bring an order to their homes in the ranks of the self-defense. And we will bring this order, do not doubt that. Let those who trades in drugs and simply plunders the defenseless population – let them not rely on old rules as in "war will write off everything". The gangster Donbass came to an end. The new power will give the opportunity to all to turn away from criminal trade, but those who won't want this, they will be rebuffed. Such rebuff from which it won't be possible to buy the way out with any money, under the wartime laws.

To return to the main thing. The Donetsk land needs defenders, and the self-defense needs the disciplined soldiers-volunteers. If the men are not capable of that, it is necessary to call the women. Starting today, I gave the order to accept them in self-defense. It is a pity that there are no officers among women, neither acting, nor in reserve. But what is the difference, if there are no male officers? In the whole region, there are not even twenty professional officers, ready to head fighting units. What a shame. For two weeks I've been asking to send me the chief headquarters and at least five commanders of companies and platoons. Silence. Not even one. Companies and platoons at me the Sergeants are in command of companies and platoons – and some are very good at it – but there is lacking of necessary military knowledge. They will learn, with time. But I warn you: not one of the so-called officers sitting now in their apartments, as scared sparrows under a roof during the thunder-storm, will be considered as an officer in our eyes. We will make sure that ordinary citizens share our opinion.

Probably, there are only few days till the moment when the fighting becomes a large scale battle, with tens and hundred killed and wounded. The enemy is demoralized, yet very strong. The enemy has the sponsors-oligarchs, who are ready to pay huge money for every murder, for every destroyed house, for every crime against the Russian people. We have to fight in order to win. Let those citizens who can hear me, who are ready to prove the devotion to the native land and the people, come to self-defense headquarters in the cities of Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Krasniy Liman, Konstantinovka, Gorlovka. The commanders appointed by me will create fighting units, train and send them to the field army. The army might look as a small and not well organized group now, but it fight and it will win. Walk and ye shall reach. God and the truth are with us. Thank you.

How the conflict in the Ukraine is seen by the rest of the world

Today I will begin by looking at how the Ukrainian conflict is covered in the international media thanks to this blog's network of 55 correspondents and translators in the following regions: Europe, North America, South America, Middle-East, Russia/CIS, Indian Subcontinent, Far East Asia, Oceania and Africa. Below I am reproducing some reports I selected form those which our correspondents sent me.  This is our first try at that, so we ask for your undersanding and patience with us.

------- reports -------

North America:

B. reports from North Carolina: all news media is owned and operated by the usual mainstream conglomerates, occasionally offering independent regional reports, otherwise merely regurgitating official propaganda funneled through their corporate news feeds.  The majority of people in this region are exceptionalistically (not a word but apropos) pro-U.S. first and foremost, pro-NATO/EU to some degree, although most do not concern themselves with international affairs, and, of course, anti-Russian, some of whom have retained remnants of fear from the Cold War era  "Red Scare" propaganda campaigns, especially older Americans.  Shortly after the putsch, I voiced my concern to the NBC/MSNBC newsroom that their frequent personal attacks and fear mongering against Putin and Russia could possibly create a backlash inciting fear, hate and perhaps violence towards Russians living in the U.S. among those so inclined.

A. reports from Washington DC:   My local paper, The Washington Post, has several reporters focused on Ukraine: Simon Denyer (LOL…how perfect is that name…you just can’t make this chit up…), Frederick Kunkle, Anna Nemstova, Alex Ryabchyn and Michael Birnbaum. The reporting has been typical of MSM propaganda “Kiev-Junta good/Russia bad” with DOS sanctioned adjectives and plot to reinforce its Euromaidan propaganda meme. Usually I only skim the articles because they follow such a predictable well-worn path I could write them myself. However, lately – and particularly in the last few days -- I detected a subtle shift in the rhetoric. The “facts” are leaking into their reporting. Maybe the horrific scenes in Odessa has pushed this “new” journalistic effort. Not that there was much real reporting on Odessa – and certainly WAPO didn’t publish the horrific pictures – but maybe journalists “on the ground” saw these events and were influenced by them. Today, two pictures on page 1 above the fold show a large crowd of normal, peaceful people voting in Maripol and a woman reacting with concern to the killings (by Ukrainian national guard into a crowd of civilians) in Krasnoarmeysk. The caption/quote read “I am not against Ukraine. My children go to a Ukrainian school. But I want peace, stability and not to be afraid.” This quote was attributed to Elena Voronkova, 39, who voted yes. This is a HUGE shift in the matrix at WAPO on page 1. It’s refreshing.  That said, the Op-Ed pages are the same tribal drumbeat BS. In particular – David Ignatius is unreadable. He’s so clearly a CIA/DOS/Zionist tool. It’s embarrassing really. I’m ashamed for him.    Lots of folks are waking-up. Facts on the ground speak for themselves. Even the MSM can’t hide TRUTH forever. These little victories are tell-tail signs there’s a HUGE churning on the foreign desk at MSM. Tick-tock.

J. reports from Canada: Many Canadians are very loyal to the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, a crown corporation, and accept its perspective without much question. (Perhaps similar to National Public Radio in the US.) Here are four selected excerpts this morning from CBC news. Notice that while each of the statements is factually true, it amounts to pro-west propaganda. My feeling is that most Canadians accept this kind of reporting without question:
 

CBC World News, May 12, 2014

There were no immediate signs of any outright intimidation by pro-Russian forces Sunday, and insurgents near the polls were not wearing their usual balaclavas.  The insurgents in the east have seized government buildings and clashed with government troops and police over the past month. More than 30 people have been reported killed since Ukrainian forces began trying to retake some eastern cities from the insurgents.  Over the past few weeks, the Ukrainian government and the West have accused Russia of trying to destabilize the country or create a pretext for another invasion. Russia — which annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula just days after voters there approved secession in a March referendum — has rejected the accusations.  "The farce, which terrorists call the referendum, will have no legal consequences except the criminal responsibility for its organizers," Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchynov said in a statement Monday.

In Canada The Globe and Mail newspaper is generally considered sympathetic to big business, government and intellectuals, analogous perhaps to The New York Times in the US. It is considered one of two Canadian 'national newspapers.'  Following are two selected excerpts illustrating the language used in today's Globe and Mail report about Sunday's referendum.

The Donetsk People’s Republic was declared Monday by Denis Pushilin, a 32-year-old businessman who is accused of having run a pyramid scheme before emerging last month as the political leader of a pro-Russian rebel movement whose gunmen seized control of government buildings around the Donetsk region.  Almost immediately after declaring sovereignty, Mr. Pushilin appealed to Moscow to absorb Donetsk, which he said had “always been part of the Russian world.” Addressing a packed press conference inside a government building held by pro-Russian gunmen, Mr. Pushilin bemoaned the collapse of the Soviet Union as a “catastrophe.”

Europe:

C. reports from Greece: Most of the mainstread print media give what appears to be a balanced report of the situation: in their majority they don't offer their own opinion on the referendum and quote all relevant stakeholders. The gist they present is that most of the people in East Ukraine voted in a "controversial" referendum, amidst violence, which has been declared illegal by Kiev, the EU, the USA etc. The West, the media report, accuse Putin of trying to destabilize the region, something which Moscow denies. So, for the unsuspected reader, this is a more or less balanced story, easily digestible. However, the choice of titles for the articles and the language used throughout indicates a pro-American bias. An example is an article from the newspaper Ethnos, which is entitled The referendum in East Ukraine "a criminal farce with the support of the Kremlin", using a quote that came out of Kiev (http://www.ethnos.gr/article.asp?catid=22769&subid=2&pubid=64005419). Another is of the major newspaper "To Vima", whose main article is entitled A controversial referendum in Donetsk and Lugansk (http://www.tovima.gr/world/article/?aid=594718 . A characteristic example which further exemplifies this is the coverage of the Odessa tragedy which, according to "To Vima", citing BBC, started when pro-Russian activists ambushed football fans heading for the stadium (http://www.tovima.gr/world/article/?aid=593105). This pro-American bias is at the same time voluntary and involuntary, I think. On the one hand, Greece is currently under the occupation of the Troika of course, so most major media cater to that. On the other hand, the editors themselves follow it unconsciously. I worked for years at the Foreign News desk of a major newspaper and saw how they use as their main source the Anglosaxon news agencies (Reuters, AP etc.) so they automatically assume their language and approach on those issues.  The people in Greece definitely don't support the EU and the USA in the Ukrainian crisis; sentiments run very strong against both at the moment. Regarding Russia, even though feelings are traditionally warm towards it, there are two different approaches: a) those exposed to the conventional media (mostly TV) espouse the story of Putin's "aggression" as a trigger in the crisis and fail to see through the propaganda; b) those who actually have even an ounce of political thinking know very well that this is not the case. Alas, the latter are a minority. In general, people who think politically will tell you that Greece should develop further its relations with Russia; people of the status quo or those who have fallen for the propaganda are driven out of fear and will tell you that it's better to be tied to "the chariot of the West". Which is what the Memorandum did to Greece.

C. reports from Germany:  The German media reported the results truthfully but did its best to discredit the referendum. Most articles quote one of the freaks in Kiev to provide the opposing opinion. Furthermore, the German media is emphasizing that nobody will recognize the referendum citing for example German FM Steinmeier (Steinmeier: Referendum ist nicht ernst zu nehmen). But it gets even worse. Bild sent a reporter into eastern Ukraine. He visited several polling stations with his friend "Vladimir" from Donetsk and "Vladimir" voted at least seven times to demonstrate how easy it was to manipulate the referendum (the article is behind a paywall but you can watch a short video about it here). Der Spiegel is following a similar approach. One Spiegel reporter, who was in Mariupol, stressed that there are no lists of registered voters and therefore everybody could vote multiple times. This was reemphasized in another Spiegel article today and has been highlighted by several German media outlets. Of course, nobody mentions the fact that Kiev had refused to hand out these lists. The Süddeutsche Zeitung published a summary of all the "evidence" refuting the validity of the referendum including this phony SBU recording:
"Was für eine Farce"

Mehrfachwähler, gefälschte Stimmzettel und Busladungen voller Separatisten, die aus anderen Landesteilen zur Abstimmung angekarrt wurden: Nach der Volksabstimmung über eine Abspaltung der Ostukraine werden Betrugsvorwürfe laut. Das ganze Referendum, so kommentieren viele, sei eine Farce.

Now the good news: The majority of the German population is fed up with the propaganda and understands the Russian point of view. Although most Germans do not necessarily support Russia in this conflict, they do not support the U.S. or the EU either. Two weeks ago, I wrote an article for Boiling Frogs Post about this issue, which deals with the struggle of the German people against the local oligarchy and AngloZionist influence:

NATO’s new Cold War runs into trouble in Germany

As I mentioned earlier, the revived Monday demonstrations are a major threat to the German establishment and NATO's anti-Russian campaign: Германия - Немцы требуют дружбы с Россией

Another noteworthy development is the recent work of a German satirical television program, which is aired on ZDF (one of Europe's biggest public-service television broadcasters famous for its NATO propaganda): [русские субтитры] - Немецкое телевидение насмехается над Майданом - German TV laughed at Maidan
[русские субтитры] - Новый выпуск немецкого "Дурдома"! О России и Украине

C. reports from France: Articles in the French media about the referendum are without any surprise. They all say the same thing.   But there is something really interesting. Since das Bild's publication of the American mercenaries in Ukraine yesterday, the main-stream newspaper and radio have repercuted this information (le Monde, le Point, Le Figaro, Boursorama, radio Europe1, RTL,..)

"L'hebdomadaire allemand "Bild am Sonntag" révèle que des employés de la société américaine privée Blackwater combattent aux côtés de l'armée régulière ukrainienne.//Environ 400 mercenaires d'une //*entreprise militaire privée américaine, Blackwater, *//opèrent en Ukraine aux côtés des soldats et de la police ukrainienne dans des opérations contre les séparatistes pro-russes, affirme le journal allemand//Bild am Sonntag //ce dimanche 11 mai."

The alternative anglo-french blog dedefensa.org gives an interesting analysis of the publication of the Bild http://www.dedefensa.org/article-les_myst_res_de_bild_12_05_2014.html the analysis seems true for the French press. Is it the beginning of the "sifflement du ballon qui se dégonfle" "wistle of the balloon that desinflates"? It should be noted that this information, that alternative media had already given sometimes ago, had never been given by the main stream media.

A. reports from Italy: our main newspapers are Corriere della Sera (the one read in foreing countries, it is like a whasington post), LaRepubblica (leftist, it is comparable with NYT and LeMonde) and Sole24ore (economic newspaper). Also there are IlGiornale and Libero (more rightist and, given they are aligned to Berlusconi, more free somehow) and LaStampa (Agnelli's property). 

Summary: as usual Italian media is totally aligned with propaganda. You can find more liberty in not very mainstream media (like the ones owned by Berlusconi - incredible but true). WHat i report below are the main articles dedicated today to Ucraine - which are basically all the same - and an interesting one (last one) by Il, Giornale special reporter with exclusive (but free) videos and audios contents.  My personal understanding is that our media stress a lot any facts that can be used, also if ambiguous, against Russia; putting then aside any neutral news. Also, it is clear to me concertation of western medias but this is not a big finding.   Italians do not trust anyone (neither each other) especially in this strange times with no values. With many doubts, they are basically aligned to US, in any case. Remember that Italy has a long story of getting into a war on the wrong side. Luckily (and quietly disappointing for other countries) we also have the costume to end wars on the right one. I hope this will also be the case.
 
Three examples:

Corriere della Sera: The news about Ukrains (may 12th, 11.40 am) are in the middle of the web page, not very visibile. The title is: Ucraina, il referendum chiuso con un plebiscito: 95% di sì Ucraina.  First part of the article try to report facts, without biasing them it seems.  Then follows the statement that for the west the referendum is illegal.  The article add that major of Svatove refuses to organize referendum.  Then it is finally written some considerations about the validity of the referendum. The news (like the civilian killed) are reported but not explained to a "normal reader". Also, it is stated that population is knonw about the non validity of referendum but that they do not care, they want to send a signal.

La Stampa: La Stampa, as usual, it is aligned to Corriere and Repubblic in Foreign policy (that is the foreign policy of a country with 300 US bases in its territory, more or a less).  It is interesting that the Ukraine news are above on the web site (LaStampa has more sophisticated readers, usually)

ILGiornale: More interesting ILGiornale, which is currently reporting situation FROM Ukraine having sent there journalist Fausto Biloslavo (by the means of crowfunding funded vy readers).  This article try to provide a more impartial point of view, just telling what Biloslavo sees. 

L. reports from Sweden: Unsurprisingly, there's nothing in Swedish media (Svenska Dagbladet - svd.se and Aftonbladet - aftonbladet.se) on Blackwater mercs. They follow their old script and pretend the news doesn't exist; in exceptional cases, such a news that was left out in Sweden but makes it 'round the world usually comes back to the local media a few days later as a twisted one-liner (like "German tabloids have reported that...") with no significance. However, there are reports by Aftonbladet (they just translate a story by CNN) on shootings in Krasnoarmijsk with at least 2 dead.  On the other hand, Balkan media has noticed and reported the "Academy" news, quoting both "Welt am Sontag" and "The Voice of Russia" (they even reminded their readers on last week's news proliferated by German media about "dozens of US alphabet soup agencies' agents counseling Yatz's gubbermint).  The referendum, as well as every other news coming out of Ukraine, is reported on with a pro-Banderastan tone in each and every one of Swedish media (both papers and TV/radio). Balkan media (I visit mostly Serbian and Macedonian) are attempting to be more objective and report on activities transmitted by both sides, though majority of editorials and guest analyses are pro-Russian (coming out of the pens of people that've seen enough of the Empire's goodwill).

Indian Subcontinent

A. reports from India:  Most of the foreign-news reporting in India comes from the American wire services (AP, Reuters, AFP, etc.)  We all know what that is like.  Normally, this is balanced by excellent commentary by retired diplomats (from the Indian Foreign Service).  The IFS corps is deeply skeptical of Western hegemony.  Being diplomats, they have an institutional bias towards multi-polarity, collaboration, and negotiation. However, because of the Indian elections, the newspapers aren't running those commentaries as they otherwise would.  The election results are announced tomorrow (May 16th), so everyone is focused on that. Overall, India strongly supports Russia regarding the Ukraine.  India has vast experience with Western hypocrisy and deceit (Kashmir, Pakistan, Bangladesh, nuclear non-proliferation, etc.)  Also, Russia is India's closest strategic partner.  There is some wariness regarding the idea of referenda, in general ... Because India is a large, diverse country, India is very concerned about maintaining the unity of the country.  This is a red line for India.

Russia/CIS:

S. reports from Kiev: Right now, I can’t say I read in details, I use it as comparative of « how propaganda » works, instead to find real headlines and infos. I confess it can be quite hard to read it, especially comments during Odessa tragedy.  Many online news are warning against Russian invasion every x days, especially Paruby who organized in Kiev some bomb alert exercises with citizens.  In many area of the city, you have plans and maps where to escape in case of Russian bombing…I start with Kyivpost which was remarkable during Kiev war but started to lose all credibility and became quickly a tool of propaganda. FYI, the Post is «  Independence, Community, Trust » . Interesting program.  I invite you to read how journalists are trying to prove how Odessa killing was impulsed by separatists with the blessing of police forces. I’m always impressed how they create stories from nothing and they only impulse "news" from the West news agency ( you can see this in the home page of the online Post):

https://www.kyivpost.com

https://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/world-war-ii-casts-long-shadow-in-odessa-347219.html

https://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/odessa-who-is-to-blame-for-46-odessa-deaths-346817.html

https://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/odessa-fire-survivors-tell-their-stories-346999.html

as you can read in headlines, 

https://www.kyivpost.com/hot/crisis-in-crimea/

you can already have an idea of the editors.

The second online news I started to follow was the «  ukrainian pravda » truth…  In the home page, nothing about referendum and Donbass.. nothing visible. until you check down, small lines.

http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/

Pravda is quite concerned by «  suspected coup, attacks from Russians or terrorists again government or country ».

http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2014/05/12/7025101/

There is also an interesting approach of how Bandera is different than Nazis

http://www.istpravda.com.ua/articles/2014/05/8/142834/

Banderas think that story has been rewritten and want to clear it. And some useful « mental jam » of Ukr press

http://uapress.info/ru/

this is « hysteria » online news. just to remind you what is the lower level or propaganda…

The communist party has his online news

http://vremia.ua/

clearly anti bandera and nazis, 

patriot, calling for referendum and federalism but not «  pro-russian ». Journalists are quite involved against the Pravi Sektor and they take serious position for Odessa Event.

http://vremia.ua/rubrics/problemy/5906.php

M. in Kiev reports:  Responses to the Lugansk/Donetsk referendum is quite predictable here in Kiev and in line with what I reported last time. Any publication that depends on print sales or has an identifiable location within Ukraine is towing the junta’s line. To not do so invites unwelcome consequences. The main English language source in Kiev, the Kyiv Post, publishes only once a week, on Friday, though they do have web updates during the week. I think this headline says it all…   Donetsk, Luhansk steam through another Soviet-sytle vote, so now what?  And this select quote…

“But the votes needed not to be tallied to know the result. It was clear from the beginning and made even more apparent throughout the day, as Soviet-style tactics of ballot stuffing, manipulation and intimidation were observed at polling stations across the regions: the referendums in the so-called “people’s republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk would pass.

Lastly, who do the people support?  That’s difficult. Throughout this whole tortured time, I’ve not seen a great outpouring of support for the junta here in Kiev. Nor have I seen the opposite. Sentiment in social media runs 90% for, but I don’t believe that’s representative of the population as a whole. There was a surprising strong turnout for Victory Day celebrations last week, although there was no official government support for it that I was aware of, beyond Yats bringing some flowers to the main celebration site.  No doubt people are tired of the whole thing.  And, preparations for the May 25 election is extremely subdued compared to past elections.

 

Africa:

F. reports from Nigeria: Most media in this part of the world generally do not concern themselves with international news, but to keep their readers, viewers, listeners entertained they usually just copy and edit the BBC or Aljazeera story... which is pro-Empire and anti-Russian. The biggest newspapers in most of Anglo Africa and Nigeria are usually by Pentecostal/Evangelical Christians who are also Christian Zionists. So what you get is the anti-Russian view. The few big private media that will challenge that consensus line are the ones owned by the Muslim publishers. The electronic media owned by the governments usually kiss the boots of the West since their employers are all Western puppets, private electronic media follows the same demarcation as the big newspapers i.e Christian-owned pro-West, Muslim-owned pro-Russia. 

Oceania:

C. reports from New Zealand: The reaction in NZ was fairly muted from what I saw.  The usual party line - it's democracy so we can't condone it  There was one TV# broardcast from Donesk region which was a tad bizarre   The theme was there was intimidation by armed men. As we are being told that it's obvious from the visuals that it was self defense forces GUARDING polling stations. Then it moves on to "poll won't be credible" due to turnout being non representative, whilst showing huge crowds of people young through to very old waiting to vote. Next piece of "evidence" that polls couldn't be trusted was that voting was taking place without checks & balances - that ID were not being checked. Mean while on screen were people in a voting station showing ID & having details recorded.  The whole piece was surreal. The reporter was telling us one thing and the visuals were basically showing the exact opposite. Believe the reporter - don't believe your lying eyes !! A back room revolt ???

NZ media are pretty much following the UKUSA meme - Russia bad, we good.

Fairfax Media while still largely following the West's view do try & balance things They run "Stuff .co.nz  They run all the main centers papers except Auckland's, our biggest cities (NZ Herald).

E. reports from Australia: It is clear that one valuable benefit with being involved in this enterprise is the number of voices and perspectives- to say nothing of facts- one would never, ever encounter save for the right now, stream of consciousness commentary coming from all the on-the-spot people from everywhere you are. Very cool.  Our Canada rep mentioned the allegiance of Canadians to the CBC. Here it is the ABC and for the consensus reality in Oz, what the ABC reports is gold plated.  But, they are schizo in their coverage.

Their 24 hour continuous NEWS features regular 15 minute updates spinning the expected anti-Russia "invasion" "aggression" Putin bad. Like one of the correspondents mentioned, they report "facts" but the spin creates confusion and lack of clarity. The drum beat suggestion is stoic Western powers enduring the irrational, unpredictable and disruptive influences on the "rebels" "separatists" "gunmen" being "directed" "supported" etc by Russia, by Putin, ambitious and unpredictable Putin intent on expanding his power and sphere of influence.

Then, next thing - between the headline report- will come an interview with a western journalist on the ground where the vote is on-going and we get a report that is fair, sympathetic and even a bit insightful about the reality as the people are living it. This schizo coverage keeps cycling - except when they switch to  the scheduled Radio National stream or the BBC for  the official BS line done with classier accents.  The two major newspaper organisations are Rupert Murdocks News Ltd. the Fairfax Group.

News Ltd flagship newspaper is The Australian. News Ltd also runs some regional newspapers around Australia (Aug 7, 2013 - News Corp Australia titles account for 59% of the sales of all daily newspapers, with sales of 17.3 million papers a week, making it Australia's ...) I won't report their take on anything. You know what they say.  I don't buy that POS (piece of shit) but checking their on-line version today there is NOTHING on anything going in Ukraine. Hard to believe.  The Fairfax papers are the other major newspaper operation here. Their website relegates the Ukraine story to a place of little prominence today BUT their coverage is written by Paul McGeough, the Chief Foreign Corespondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age [Melbourne, Australia]. He has distinguished himself covering Iraq and is a man with clarity and accuracy in his reports that often runs counter to the accepted and promoted editorial stance.  He has done a reasonable job here;

http://www.smh.com.au/world/separatists-in-ukraine-ask-for-region-to-be-absorbed-by-russia-20140513-zrar1.html

and he has been covering the unfolding events in Ukraine reasonably well;

http://www.smh.com.au/world/by/Paul-McGeough

All in all, here in Oz the general thrust is to maintain the ZioAngloAmerican line. But with reports like McGeough's, the situation is similar to the comments made by the Washington D.C. Subcor- that "facts" are beginning to corrupt the purity of their false narrative.   We are a long way from the Ukraine and Oz is an insular place. Our day in the sun will come (prayfully not!) when the USA calls on us to again (think Vietnam, Iraq) go "All the way with the USA" as they pivot to China with their new aircraft carrier the USS Australia.

Far East Asia:

P. reports from South Korea:  will try to give you a brief review on the reactions of the local press to the referendum that took place in Lugansk and Donetsk, but before that, I would like to remind you that in Korea, these international issues are not so important compared to local issues or issues with neighbor countries. Especially these days, the Korean press is mainly focused on:

- the Sewol ferry tragedy that occures 3 weeks ago (it is still one of the main topic on the news, since the incident surfaced a lot of society issues)

- the repetitive North-Korean "threats", with these days the investigation of so-called North Korean drones

The main information portal and search engine in Korea is called Naver (www.naver.com), so this is where I read some articles concerning the Ukrainian crisis.  From my perspective, some newspapers like Yonhap (Korean version) just relate the fact quite objectively with graphs, without being too much pro-West:

http://news.naver.com/main/hotissue/read.nhn?mid=hot&sid1=104&cid=979840&iid=48776958&oid=001&aid=0006901108&ptype=011

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/international/2014/05/13/0601100100AKR20140513007151080.HTML

The other newspapers I regularly follow are:

- Chosun Ilbo: http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/05/12/2014051200548.html

It insists quite on the "illegimitacy" of the referendum by mainly quoting Jen Psaki and using sources from VOA (Voice of America), a pro-US newspaper mainly read by Korean-American citizens.

- The English version of Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/index.asp) or Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/) almost do not mention the Ukrainian referendum results

To conclude, in my opinion, even though South Korea is completely under American military occupation and often shows pro-Western opinions on international issues, in the case of the Ukrainian referendum, I think that the local press was less West-oriented (especially if I compare to the French one) or simply did mention much about it. It may be due a will from Korea to reinforce its relations with Russia like for example, last year in November, an agreement was sign between Russia and South Korea to facilitate VISA procedure (http://en.ria.ru/world/20131113/184685828/Russia-S-Korea-Sign-Visa-Free-Agreement.html)

------- end of reports ------- 

I hope that this has been an interesting exercise for you, the readers.  For me, it has been a first test and I already see that there is a lot to be improved on, so please be patient with us.  With time, I hope that we can do better.

A big THANK YOU! to all the correpsondents who sent in their reports (I hope that this will encourage the others for the next time) .

Kind regards and many thanks,

The Saker

PS: I am most definitely still looking for correspondents and translators (from any language into English) willing to help the blog.  If you are interested, please email me at vineyardsaker at gmail dot com.  Many thanks!