The capitalist experiment has not worked to any greater extent than it works anywhere else. Its faults are just masked in other countries like the USA and Britain. Russia, the largest state of the former USSR, is governed by gangsters, drug barons, prostitution is rife, and a President who lays claims to territory some of which frankly since the fall of the Soviet Union is not his. His armed forces are in disarray and are not performing brilliantly against a surprisingly strong enemy in Ukraine. The US President, Donald Trump, equally as negative as Vladimir Putin appears to be holding back* possibly because he wishes to have the power held by Putin himself in the US. It is arguably for this reason he is chipping away at the checks and balances which copper-fasten US liberal democracy. Could it be Trumps hope that by the time he is due for re-election he will have eroded these checks and balances sufficiently to allow him to suspend elections and impose a Putin style dictatorship in the USA?
On Tuesday night 24th February on BBC2 I watched a documentary; The Front Line: Inside Russia’s War, which painted a picture even by Western reporting biases of an army ill disciplined, badly officered, very low on morale - and men who did not want to be there. They don’t see this war as “saving the motherland” as they are constantly told it is. If they dare say so, the frontline is a pointless ‘meatgrinder’ with them and the Ukrainians as the meat. Putin may have had a point about the de-Nazification of Ukraine – one of his reasons for invasion – as Azov neo-Nazi troops are now incorporated into the regular Ukrainian armed forces and needed weeding out. Unlike their predecessors, the Red Army who trounced Nazi Germany, the Russian armed forces have not weeded out these Nazi troops of Azov active in Ukraine. This then gives rise to question Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President who claims to be Jewish, why is he allowing Nazi troops into his armed forces? He is either not Jewish at all, it’s a lie, or he has no power or control over who fights for Ukraine?
On Tuesday night 24th February on BBC2 I watched a documentary; The Front Line: Inside Russia’s War, which painted a picture even by Western reporting biases of an army ill disciplined, badly officered, very low on morale - and men who did not want to be there. They don’t see this war as “saving the motherland” as they are constantly told it is. If they dare say so, the frontline is a pointless ‘meatgrinder’ with them and the Ukrainians as the meat. Putin may have had a point about the de-Nazification of Ukraine – one of his reasons for invasion – as Azov neo-Nazi troops are now incorporated into the regular Ukrainian armed forces and needed weeding out. Unlike their predecessors, the Red Army who trounced Nazi Germany, the Russian armed forces have not weeded out these Nazi troops of Azov active in Ukraine. This then gives rise to question Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President who claims to be Jewish, why is he allowing Nazi troops into his armed forces? He is either not Jewish at all, it’s a lie, or he has no power or control over who fights for Ukraine?
Putin had a problem and has made a right pig’s arse of sorting it out. In Ukraine, Russia controls parts of Luhansk Oblast, Donetsk Oblast, and parts of Zaporizhzhia Oblast and the Crimea. Of these only the Crimea arguably belongs to Russia – the Crimean War (1853-1856) was fought between the forces of the Russian Empire taking on those of Britain, France, and the Ottoman Empire, making the Crimea arguably Russian even though they lost. Putin claiming people of the Donetsk Oblast and other regions are Russian speaking holds little water. Was this not the excuse Hitler used for annexing the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia in 1939, the population were ‘German speaker’s’? This is Putin’s argument, among others, an argument fuelled by the mindless attacks on Russian speakers by the Azov Nazis! If Zelensky cannot bring his fascist troops to heel then perhaps the Russian forces should remain! The Azov Regiment and these eastern regions should be part of any peace-deal surely.
There is no doubt about it the Azov expanded regiment are a problem, one which Starmer and his cronies trying to use the Ukraine to make a name for themselves as world powers, which they are not. Why does Starmer never mention the presence of neo-Nazi troops, Azov, who model themselves on the Waffen SS ‘Das Reich regiment’ (their description of themselves), when discussing Ukraine? Him and his second rate; “coalition of the willing”, only mention Russian atrocities and never those of Azov - why? Could Starmer and his mob see an opportunity to exploit Ukraine for its natural resources after the war? Could this be why Starmer wants “boots on the ground” after the war is over, to protect British capitalist interests?
The problem here is and as bad as Azov are, the Russians are certainly no better. They bully their own men into fighting a war they do not want to be in. The officers are very bad at earning respect in commanding their troops and strategically appear clueless! The treatment of civilians is very bad. One girl in Russia who dared to protest against the war and Putin was thrown in prison, similar to the USA when demonstrators protested against Vietnam, protestors were even shot in the US! The documentary, using secret footage, showed Russian soldiers at the front line stripped naked and humiliated for showing signs of cowardice in the eyes of their officers. The Russian officers do not lead by example - they send men into battles they themselves will never have to fight in. This is very bad officering of the worst order, a bit like the British in WW1 giving orders from thirty miles behind the lines. I suppose the British could argue some officers did go ‘over the top’ but not good old Dougie Hague!! However, I’m deviating, the Russian troops at the front are regularly bullied and humiliated according to the documentary, filmed in areas not internationally recognised as Russian with men who had deserted or gone long-term AWOL. They painted a very grim picture of tortured Russian troops whose only wish is to be home with their wives and girlfriends.
As for the Ukrainian forces, much smaller but appear dedicated on the surface, they are not much better off. They too are forced into situations they have no wish to be in but at least they can say they’re defending their homeland. Could this be the reason so many young men of fighting age are leaving Ukraine at their first opportunity? The documentary did not show the state of Ukrainian forces but with the exodus of young males from the country we may assume it is not great. The global ruling-classes, including modern shit heap Russia, are good at doing what they always have done, sending working-class people to fight their wars! Remember less than forty years ago the Russian and Ukrainian troops were part of the same armed forces! The formidable Soviet Red Army comprised of Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian in fact troops from all fifteen former Soviet states so little wonder the Ukrainians are putting up such a fight.
Through bad planning, low morale, bad officers, terrible political leadership Russia are not winning this war. At very best a stalemate in Eastern Ukraine could be claimed with only the Crimea safely in Russian hands. It is my belief the peninsula should remain Russian with the sovereignty of the regions in the east being points of a negotiated ceasefire. One major question Ukraine must ask in the event of talks taking place; who will control the power supply in East Ukraine if the Russians are given these areas? Perhaps for this reason Zelensky must hold out for regions which provide power supplies for his country! The Ukrainians have their faults at the front but compared with the barbarism meted out by Russian officers on their young soldiers, soldiers who should be nurtured and guided, the Ukrainians appear the better option. Remember this documentary was shown on BBC2 perhaps with a Western bias so must be regarded as pro-Ukraine. Any progressive aspects within the Russian command, if there are any, may have been airbrushed out possibly on British government orders.
The Western media and governments have made no secret of their support for Ukraine against Russia. They are not reporting objectively and the BBC2 documentary may be regarded as the best of a bad bunch by the standards of reporting this war. This does not make the BBC neutral and it should be noted the programme did not show any of the faults in the Ukrainian military or government. They are conspicuous by their silence about the presence of the self-confessed neo-Nazis, the Azov regiment. Not a word! They are also very quiet on the issue of Ukraine joining NATO, something Putin is adamant will not happen. From his point of view it is easy to understand why Russia cannot afford any further incursions eastwards by NATO. Would Trump, or any other US President, allow Mexico to join a military alliance hostile to the US? Of course not, they would at very least threaten Mexico and, at worst, invade and occupy the country militarily!
The problem here is and as bad as Azov are, the Russians are certainly no better. They bully their own men into fighting a war they do not want to be in. The officers are very bad at earning respect in commanding their troops and strategically appear clueless! The treatment of civilians is very bad. One girl in Russia who dared to protest against the war and Putin was thrown in prison, similar to the USA when demonstrators protested against Vietnam, protestors were even shot in the US! The documentary, using secret footage, showed Russian soldiers at the front line stripped naked and humiliated for showing signs of cowardice in the eyes of their officers. The Russian officers do not lead by example - they send men into battles they themselves will never have to fight in. This is very bad officering of the worst order, a bit like the British in WW1 giving orders from thirty miles behind the lines. I suppose the British could argue some officers did go ‘over the top’ but not good old Dougie Hague!! However, I’m deviating, the Russian troops at the front are regularly bullied and humiliated according to the documentary, filmed in areas not internationally recognised as Russian with men who had deserted or gone long-term AWOL. They painted a very grim picture of tortured Russian troops whose only wish is to be home with their wives and girlfriends.
As for the Ukrainian forces, much smaller but appear dedicated on the surface, they are not much better off. They too are forced into situations they have no wish to be in but at least they can say they’re defending their homeland. Could this be the reason so many young men of fighting age are leaving Ukraine at their first opportunity? The documentary did not show the state of Ukrainian forces but with the exodus of young males from the country we may assume it is not great. The global ruling-classes, including modern shit heap Russia, are good at doing what they always have done, sending working-class people to fight their wars! Remember less than forty years ago the Russian and Ukrainian troops were part of the same armed forces! The formidable Soviet Red Army comprised of Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian in fact troops from all fifteen former Soviet states so little wonder the Ukrainians are putting up such a fight.
Through bad planning, low morale, bad officers, terrible political leadership Russia are not winning this war. At very best a stalemate in Eastern Ukraine could be claimed with only the Crimea safely in Russian hands. It is my belief the peninsula should remain Russian with the sovereignty of the regions in the east being points of a negotiated ceasefire. One major question Ukraine must ask in the event of talks taking place; who will control the power supply in East Ukraine if the Russians are given these areas? Perhaps for this reason Zelensky must hold out for regions which provide power supplies for his country! The Ukrainians have their faults at the front but compared with the barbarism meted out by Russian officers on their young soldiers, soldiers who should be nurtured and guided, the Ukrainians appear the better option. Remember this documentary was shown on BBC2 perhaps with a Western bias so must be regarded as pro-Ukraine. Any progressive aspects within the Russian command, if there are any, may have been airbrushed out possibly on British government orders.
The Western media and governments have made no secret of their support for Ukraine against Russia. They are not reporting objectively and the BBC2 documentary may be regarded as the best of a bad bunch by the standards of reporting this war. This does not make the BBC neutral and it should be noted the programme did not show any of the faults in the Ukrainian military or government. They are conspicuous by their silence about the presence of the self-confessed neo-Nazis, the Azov regiment. Not a word! They are also very quiet on the issue of Ukraine joining NATO, something Putin is adamant will not happen. From his point of view it is easy to understand why Russia cannot afford any further incursions eastwards by NATO. Would Trump, or any other US President, allow Mexico to join a military alliance hostile to the US? Of course not, they would at very least threaten Mexico and, at worst, invade and occupy the country militarily!
All things considered and given the slow progress Russia are making in Ukraine it might be time for Putin to cut his losses while still in a comparatively stronger position than Zelensky and sit round the negotiating table. He might not hold the eastern provinces for ever! It might be time for Putin to call a ceasefire and give negotiations a chance with a view to pulling out!! Call in your chips Vladimir, roulette is a funny game especially ‘Russian Roulette!!
* Trump maybe wary of Putin because although the Russian ground forces have not exactly set a blaze of glory in Ukraine, the last time the US were up against a credible enemy was Vietnam and they lost to the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong. The US troops were very good at fighting in Iraq against a militarily weaker armed force and with the help of the original ‘coalition of the willing’ but the Iraqis were not a credible enemy. Perhaps Trump, mad as he may be, does not want another humiliating defeat at Putin’s hands? Another factor dictating why Trump may be weary of Putin is the Russian has the largest nuclear arsenal on earth of any single country at his disposal and he, like Trump, being deranged, may just use them should ‘Mad Dog’ Donald Trump upset him!
* Trump maybe wary of Putin because although the Russian ground forces have not exactly set a blaze of glory in Ukraine, the last time the US were up against a credible enemy was Vietnam and they lost to the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong. The US troops were very good at fighting in Iraq against a militarily weaker armed force and with the help of the original ‘coalition of the willing’ but the Iraqis were not a credible enemy. Perhaps Trump, mad as he may be, does not want another humiliating defeat at Putin’s hands? Another factor dictating why Trump may be weary of Putin is the Russian has the largest nuclear arsenal on earth of any single country at his disposal and he, like Trump, being deranged, may just use them should ‘Mad Dog’ Donald Trump upset him!
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| Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist. |
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