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US to start training Ukraine extremist forces on Hitler’s birthday

In case anyone doubts the exquisitely-refined sense of timing and symbolism of the Empire’s war machine, this insight from Adam Johnson, at AlterNet, may help ease the doubt. Emphasis added.


On Tuesday, The Associated Press reported The United States plans to send soldiers to Ukraine later this month to train the country’s national guard, which includes groups expressly espousing support for far-right and Nazi ideology.

Ukraine’s Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said in a Facebook post on Sunday that the units to be trained include the Azov Battalion, a volunteer force that has attracted criticism for its far-right sentiments including brandishing an emblem widely used in Nazi Germany.

As the BBC would describe the Azov Battalion last December:

The volunteer Azov Battalion is a case in point.

Run by the extremist Patriot of Ukraine organisation, which considers Jews and other minorities “sub-human” and calls for a white, Christian crusade against them, it sports three Nazi symbols on its insignia: a modified Wolf’s Hook, a black sun (or “Hakensonne”) and the title Black Corps, which was used by the Waffen SS. Azov is just one of more than 50 volunteer groups fighting in the east, the vast majority of which are not extremist, yet it seems to enjoy special backing from some top officials.

That the United States is supporting neo-Nazi factions is nothing particularly new. Indeed, Alternet’s Max Blumenthal (as well as other outlets) have documented this fact for well over a year. What is of note is that (A) the United States military is now doing so openly and seemingly without much shame and (B) deciding, in a perverse irony, to begin this latest partnership on Hitler’s Birthday. As the AP would explain:

Avakov said the training will begin April 20 at a base in western Ukraine near the Polish border and would involve about 290 American paratroopers and some 900 Ukrainian guardsmen.

Surely, someone in either the Ukrainian or American chain of command or in the Pentagon’s PR department could see why this was a bad idea, no?

Original at AlterNet

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Filed under: conflict zones, featured, Ukraine
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Marek Wojciech Ługowski
Marek Wojciech Ługowski
Apr 4, 2015 1:08 PM

Only 366 possible dates to bin the entire herstory of the universe into, to tangle a preposition atcha.

Dear Michael You So Rite. 😐

BlackCatte
BlackCatte
Apr 4, 2015 2:36 PM

We note you and Michael share not only an opinion but a similar dearth of basic comprehension skills.

😀

Michael
Michael
Apr 5, 2015 6:02 AM
Reply to  BlackCatte

I’m sure the Ukrainian command as well as the U.S. don’t like the idea of using irregular and potentially uncontrolled forces. But they don’t have much alternatives, do they? It’s back to the Cold War and just like then, both sides are using the forces they can find without much regard to their credentials. Keeping in mind Hitlers birthday is really not a priority, and I think it shouldn’t be either.

Both sides in the conflict in Ukraine accuse each other of being “an agent of the Jews”. It’s just that on the Ukrainian side there is a government that at the very least is uncomfortable about its dirty allies, so my sympathies are with them, rather than the gold-toilet owning dictator. Now that I have explained my position and demonstrated comprehension and conversation skills I will leave you to it, as you clearly wish.

BlackCatte
BlackCatte
Apr 5, 2015 12:56 PM
Reply to  Michael

Michael,you should have paid more attention during Misdirection Class. This was a poor effort. I give you an F.

Vaska
Vaska
Apr 4, 2015 12:34 AM

I doubt that any of the historical events listed by Michael as possible alternate referents to the April 20 date were in anyone’s mind in Washington or Kiev: after all, the U.S.A. will now openly start training neo-Nazis in Ukraine, i.e. people not likely to celebrate the granting of the freedom of religion to Jews anywhere at all, including in New Amsterdam in 1657.

Michael
Michael
Apr 4, 2015 12:22 PM
Reply to  Vaska

I guess my irony eludes you.

I doubt Hitler’s birthday was on their mind. First of all, it would require actually knowing when Hitler’s birthday is. The Pentagon PR department knowing such dates? Unlikely. These are Americans, you know – they need help finding Ukraine on the map to begin with. Secondly, if indeed there is a massive conspiracy to put Neo-Nazis to power in Ukraine or elsewhere, surely people who can mastermind such conspiracies would take precautions and avoid the “coincidence” of Hitler’s birthday as a date for a significant event.

But hey – if it makes you happy, I’m sure you can find hints at this event happening in the Bible if you look carefully.

BlackCatte
BlackCatte
Apr 4, 2015 12:54 PM
Reply to  Michael

HI Michael – why would we need a “massive conspiracy” to put nazis in power? They managed without one in 1934, and are doing pretty well again right now all on their ownsome – plus a bit of NATO hardware – both in Ukraine and elsewhere.

I find it charming that you think this article is suggesting the US targeted Hitler’s birthday on purpose. It tells us so much about the sort of sites you spend most of your time reading. 🙂 Let me assure you no such suggestion is being made. The article is just rather subtly pointing out the hubristic stupidity and entire absence of awareness that you correctly claim underpins so much US foreign policy.

But we are supporting neo nazis in Ukraine Michael. I wish it was just a conspiracy theory – but sadly it really isn’t.

Michael
Michael
Apr 4, 2015 3:35 PM
Reply to  BlackCatte

I think disregarding Hitler’s birthday in all considerations is the best one can do.

By the way, it was 1933, not 1934, and yes, it was a conspiracy. Without Soviet aid the Nazi’s would not be in power.

BlackCatte
BlackCatte
Apr 4, 2015 8:05 PM
Reply to  Michael

I think disregarding Hitler’s birthday in all considerations is the best one can do.

I agree, but sadly many do not. Including those neo-nazis in Ukraine we are currently planning to train and arm.

By the way, it was 1933, not 1934, and yes, it was a conspiracy. Without Soviet aid the Nazi’s would not be in power.

Oh, I see you’re a troll. I thought you had something genuine to say. My mistake. 🙂

Doug Salzmann
Doug Salzmann
Apr 3, 2015 10:40 PM

You’re right that any date selected would have some negative connotation for someone, somewhere, Michael. On the other hand, it’s a bit difficult to imagine a worse choice, considering the specifics here.

Of course, our Western governments could choose not to train neo-Nazis on any date . . .

Michael
Michael
Apr 3, 2015 8:10 PM

Who knows, maybe they were timing the occasion to the dissolution of the League of Nations on April 20th 1946? Or the Bay of Pigs invasion on April 20th 1961? Or maybe to celebrate the granting of the freedom of religion to the Jews of New Amsterdam (later New York City), on April 20th back in 1657?

I do hope they take your advice and check the calendars next time. There is a problem though – any date you pick, bad stuff happened on that day. So we’ll all end up doing nothing, I guess.