4 Lies Fed by Putin to Russians to Justify Invasion of Ukraine, Europe and Nuclear Showdown with America
Reports and speculations are rife that Russia is positioning to invade and annex Ukraine then move forward to select European territories that were formerly members of the Soviet Union and now allied with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The move is feared to trigger armed confrontation with NATO and the United States, which experts said could precipitate World War III that inevitably involves nuclear weapon.
Yet the question begs: Is the Russian public supportive of President Vladimir Putin hardline stance against the West and U.S. and his military adventurisms?
The answer is YES, according to Vitaliy Katsenelson, a Russian native and a U.S. resident. In his article for the Institutional Investor (republished by Business Insider), Katsenelson said that the Russians will believe everything that Moscow feeds to them because they see Putin as a father-figure or even a demigod.
To them, the charismatic Russian leader is nearly infallible and his words hold weight. Katsenelson observed too that there is little doubt that Putin could advance military forces into Ukraine or even beyond and perhaps start a conflict on a global scale and the Russians will back him - fully and unflinchingly.
What's behind the unbelievably acquiescent psyche? Putin, Katsenelson said, is a master of propaganda and has successfully peddled the lies detailed below (with the help of Russian state media) to justify his intents of "recovering" Ukraine and tussling with the U.S. and NATO.
Russia, in fact, is coming to Ukraine's rescue
Putin is adamant that Russia is doing Ukraine a big favour by stepping in and pacifying the nation in trouble. Per Russian news stories, Kiev is ran by corrupt and weak politicians, too friendly to the West and the U.S. and is a heartbeat away from being overwhelmed by ultra-nationalists and neo-Nazis.
Fears for the resurgence of the Banderovtsi have been played up to the hilt that struck a sensitive chord not only to Russian citizens but also to ethnic Russians living inside Ukraine. The group is blamed for the wholesale slaughter of Russians and Jews during World War II.
Russia originally and rightfully owns Crimea
Moscow deserves Crimea because the country owns it to begin with. Russia is convinced that its absence from the strategic port would result to the U.S. and its allies taking over the site. Such would be the logical move of Kiev that Putin accuses of playing too cozy with the West to the point of submitting to its dictates.
No Russian troops inside Ukraine
The Kremlin insists that Ukraine remains free of Russian troops though it concedes a number of service members may have stepped in to Ukrainian soil strictly for vacation purposes - primarily visiting relatives.
The numerous news of Russian incursions inside the county are but empty claims coming from NATO, Moscow maintains.
Downing of Malaysia Airlines MH17 is Ukraine/NATO fault
As for the disastrous shooting down of the civilian flight MH17 of Malaysia Airlines, Russia maintains its innocence along with that of the Pro-Moscow Ukrainian rebels. The plane went down as a result of a war game that went wrong between Ukraine and NATO forces.
The U.S., in fact, has proofs of what really transpired that caused the "accident" but Russia insists that the White House is suppressing the truth as expected.
Hitler in the making?
In the end, Katsenelson is sounding alarm that Putin is mimicking Hitler, who before starting World War II was testing the European Powers' resolve in stopping him.
The West failed to stop Hitler early at the Rhineland and Germany marched on then gobbled up much of Europe in the succeeding years and ended up killing millions.
As history would show, the world powers would be gravely mistaken to ignore Putin and basing on his recent actions would be doing so "at our own peril," Katsenelson warned.
