Posted on 04/06/2022 9:20:26 AM PDT by Kaslin
Is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war spreading beyond Ukraine? On Saturday, tensions flared in the South Caucasus in Nagorno-Karabakh, the location of a Russian-backed separatist state a thousand miles to the south. Internationally recognized as Azerbaijan, long-standing Russian ally Armenia has occupied the territory since the 1990s. As of 2020, so have Russian “peacekeepers.”
Last weekend, Russia accused Azerbaijan of breaking a ceasefire agreement. A new front? Perhaps. But there is little doubt these events are tied to The unfortunate answer is that when it comes to the Caucasus many Western officials seem not to know where they stand. When they do pick a side, it is often that of Armenia – a country that invaded Azerbaijan’s territory thirty years ago to establish an ethnic Armenian pseudo state in Karabakh they call “Artsakh,” a contested area Russia now helps “defend.” To be clear, the West’s support of Yerevan is largely a function of the sizable Christian Armenian Diaspora. There are more Armenians living in Western countries than in Armenia itself and they constitute a vocal– if not confrontational – lobby, particularly in France and the US.Putin’s expansionism.
Moscow is now drawing down some of their Karabakh-stationed “peacekeepers” for redeployment to the Ukrainian battlefront. The move creates a propitious moment for Azerbaijan to reclaim its internationally recognized sovereign territory. One would think Western powers would be supportive of a nation's restoration of what was legally theirs – particularly if it involved ending Russian occupation. After all, the West’s support of Ukraine – whether through expressions of solidarity, intelligence coordination, or arms shipments – is intended to achieve the same end. But Azerbaijan seems not to be granted the same special dispensation to liberate itself from a revanchist Russia. Why?
The unfortunate answer is that when it comes to the Caucasus many Western officials seem not to know where they stand. When they do pick a side, it is often that of Armenia – a country that invaded Azerbaijan’s territory thirty years ago to establish an ethnic Armenian pseudo state in Karabakh they call “Artsakh,” a contested area Russia now helps “defend.” To be clear, the West’s support of Yerevan is largely a function of the sizable Christian Armenian Diaspora. There are more Armenians living in Western countries than in Armenia itself and they constitute a vocal– if not confrontational – lobby, particularly in France and the US.
The diaspora propagates a compelling story of how “Artsakh” – in today’s Azerbaijan – is the ancestral lands of the first Christian people of the Caucasus, and the cradle of the modern nation, culture, and people of Armenia. If this sounds familiar, it should. Moscow spins a similar tale of Kievan Rus – today’s Ukraine –as the medieval precursor to the Russian Federation.
Both Armenia in “Artsakh” and Russia in the Donbas claim to be protecting people and heritage in their ancient lands. It comes as little surprise then that the justification for Russian peacekeepers occupying “Artsakh” involves a claim that they are protecting its Christian and cultural heritage.
Even if these dubious claims were true, the world cannot reasonably expect to operate with ninth century borders, nor should contemporary geopolitical decisions hinge on ancient history. It is entirely possible to recognize Russia’s great culture while rejecting Moscow’s territorial claims to bygone lands. So too can Armenia’s claims to “Artsakh” be dismissed.
The diaspora propagates a compelling story of how “Artsakh” – in today’s Azerbaijan – is the ancestral lands of the first Christian people of the Caucasus, and the cradle of the modern nation, culture, and people of Armenia. If this sounds familiar, it should. Moscow spins a similar tale of Kievan Rus – today’s Ukraine –as the medieval precursor to the Russian Federation.
Both Armenia in “Artsakh” and Russia in the Donbas claim to be protecting people and heritage in their ancient lands. It comes as little surprise then that the justification for Russian peacekeepers occupying “Artsakh” involves a claim that they are protecting its Christian and cultural heritage.
Even if these dubious claims were true, the world cannot reasonably expect to operate with ninth century borders, nor should contemporary geopolitical decisions hinge on ancient history. It is entirely possible to recognize Russia’s great culture while rejecting Moscow’s territorial claims to bygone lands. So too can Armenia’s claims to “Artsakh” be dismissed.
But many US and European authorities seem inclined to contort themselves into repudiating Russian occupation while supporting Armenian belligerence.In Congress, Rep. Adam Schiff rightly deemed Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” but also demanded $50 million for Artsakh. That Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan had voiced support for Putin’s unilateral recognition of the self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine and Armenia had adopted a neutral position on Russia’s invasion seemed not to matter.
Americans would be right to be confused bythe House Intelligence Committee chairman's opposition to the Russian offensive alongside his support of Moscow’s ally– an accomplice noted for supporting breakaway states unrecognized by virtually every Western power. Similar rhetorical gymnastics have taken place in the EU parliament where a resolution was recently passed condemning Russia’s actions in the Ukraine, and then another condemning Azerbaijan for trying to reclaim its own territory from Kremlin-backed separatists.
But why now? It is hardly a coincidence that US monies and EU resolutions to protect Armenian heritage are being pushed at this time. The West’s gaze must be diverted from Armenia’s membership in Russia’s Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) – a NATO-style security pact – and its six-country EU-copycat trade and customs zone, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). That Armenia opened its arms to Russian business and oligarchs just as Western sanctions kicked in speaks for itself.
Contrast this with Azerbaijan who never joined the CSTO, refused to be economically subsumed into the EAEU, ended all ruble trades, cut all flights from Moscow to their capital Baku, and provided free gasoline to Ukrainian emergency services through the network of stations they own across that country. That Azerbaijan’s pipelines bypass Russia and have the capacity to increase flows to replace Europe’s critical petroleum imports is also a pragmatic consideration.
So, who should Western powers support? A country seeking to restore its legally recognized sovereign territory, or a country illegally squatting on it backed by Russian peacekeepers? A country that is part of both Russia’s military and economic zone, or a country that is a member of neither? A country that obfuscates its relations with Russia to a Western audience, or one supplying free fuel to Ukraine’s emergency services?
Western authorities have asked others to act responsibly in choosing sides in the Ukraine crisis. Americans and Europeans must also consider who they are prepared to back. With the battle lines drawn and security interests at stake, there is little that merits blind support for Armenia. US and EU officials are wise to take notice and act accordingly.
“…So, who should Western powers support?…”
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They likely WILL support the Muslims. Anything to weaken the West (including the local Arminian Christians).
Not our circus, not our monkeys. Let them settle it themselves.
You are unbelievable. Shame on you.
I’m with you and George Washington, no foreign entanglements.
Wish Trump was back. He would put Putin the mad dog killer in a cage.
“You are unbelievable. Shame on you.”
We should not be active participants in someone else’s scuffle. Had Ukraine adhered to the Minsk Agreement, Russia wouldn’t have intervened. I am no fan of Vlad’s, but if we actively support one side against the other with weapons, money, troops, whatever, then the other side is within their rights to prevent that support by any means necessary. Ukraine is the cookie jar of global governmental corruption. I want it shut down. The people that are all rah-rah Ukraine are the people at risk of being exposed for the corruptocrats they are. Remember the people who lied to us constantly for the last five years are the same people telling us what is happening over there. I no longer believe a word they say.
Anyone who has Tune-In radio app or built into their receiver should vote with their music listening.
I’m listening to a Ukranian station over the internet.
Just showing Ivan that Ukraine Ain’t dead.
If you prefer Russia, listen to an Ivan Station. The option is yours.
So the US deep-state, its puppets like Schiff, and NATO are mucking around in ethnic enclaves deep in the Caucus Mountains.
Tell me again how its a purely defensive organization.
Iran has continually bullied Azerbaijan, which opened the way for Israel to have a relationship with Azerbaijan. Ethnically, the A's are related to the Turks, so the Turks also support Azerbaijan. Turkey and Israel used to have good relations, but Erdogan changed all that. Erdo also found out the Iranians are his primary regional enemy.
Armenia should be an ally of Syria and Iraq as well, but both are pseudostates, and Syria's creaking dictatorship is propped up by the Iranians, with Russians and Turks also in-country. Also, it's not unlikely that most people in the US know someone of Armenian descent (including my favorite neighbors) and would prefer the success of Armenia. Tricky business -- but nations don't have friends and relatives, they have interests.
What's unbelievable are zombified war-mongers, who think that mucking around in distant lands, based on stupid propaganda from corrupt woke government and its cronies, somehow helps the interests of average Americans
We have no dog in that fight. We need to stay out of it.
Agree, we should stay the hell out of it.. but of course we won’t....$$$$$$
Completely agree - not our monkeys, not our circus. Just because there is a flair up between a couple of nations somewhere on the planet, does not make it our problem. We have our problems that we are not dealing with. Throwing money, time, manpower at this area of the world is a waste, this is not our issue. Watch, but do not participate, be a truly neutral broker for peace, but that is it.
Putin is not our friend, but Ukraine and the Euros poked the bear once too often. Pushing Putin together with China over this patch of land is beyond globally stupid.
Yeah... I think you got it figured out..
Completely agree but get ready for neocons (warmongers) incoming.
[What’s unbelievable are zombified war-mongers, who think that mucking around in distant lands, based on stupid propaganda from corrupt woke government and its cronies, somehow helps the interests of average Americans ]
Average Americans have an interest in Ukraine because Russia is almost the size of the NATO countries *combined*. Whether in territorial or population terms, Russia and China combined are *bigger* than the NATO countries put together. We don’t need Russia getting any bigger.
We put up with Russian imperialism and its oppression of captive nations within itself and the Warsaw Slave Pact in the post-WWII period because we were tired of war. But the fact is that for the last 1000 years, Russia has been an ever expanding empire posing a threat to the free nations of the world, pausing in its expansion only when defeated by superior force wielded by the few effective alliances against it.
We are the world's preeminent force for freedom and we have had to wade into fights all over the world to stop the forces of evil - it's that simple. We are holding the wolf by the ears and we can't let go and hope somebody else saves us.
It is sad - but always the case - that if war does come for us, it'll be "somebody else's kids" that will sign up and fight, not these clowns.
I agree with him. No foreign entanglements.
I am saddened by “conservatives” that ignore the invasion of our country.
They just want to keep re-electing Amnesty Senators until the Assistant Democrats have assisted the Democrats to a permanent majority.
There wont be any more freedom anywhere once we fall.
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