American government and media endlessly demonize Russian president Putin over fears he’ll invade Ukraine.
Not one word appears on how America broke its promise 30 years ago not to expand NATO up to Russia’s doorstep; even placing offensive weaponry nearby. Not one word on how America inspired and supported the 2014 coup in Ukraine to depose the Russian leaning president to turn Ukraine away from Russia and its welcomed economic overtures to Ukraine.
We’re told Putin is simply an aggressive brute trying to re-establish the Soviet Union.
But nearly 60 years ago, revered U.S. president John Kennedy, brought the world to the brink of nuclear Armageddon to do precisely what Putin is doing today: demanding a strong nuclear adversary remove its offensive weaponry and influence from his neighborhood.
Indeed, Russia had more justification for putting nukes on America’s doorstep in client state Cuba than America has doing the same to Russia today in Ukraine. The Russian missiles were being installed to prevent another US invasion of Cuba just 16 months previously. They were also Russia’s answer to US nukes placed on Russia’s doorstep in Turkey. Yet, when Russia backed down, the US forbad Russia from even mentioning that the resolution included a secret US pledge to remove those offensive missiles in Turkey at a later date. JFK demanded and got a Win-Win for the glorious USA.
President Putin may be a thug at home. But on international affairs he’s simply channeling one of America’s greatest presidents. The US government and its fawning mainstream media would be wise to recognize and heed his sensible demands…and get the hell out of his neighborhood.
Walt Zlotow became involved in antiwar activities upon entering University of Chicago in 1963. He is current president of the West Suburban Peace Coalition based in the Chicago western suburbs. He blogs daily on antiwar and other issues at www.heartlandprogressive.blogspot.com.
