Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Retired Swiss Military-Intelligence Officer: 'Is it Possible to Actually Know What Has Been And is Going on in Ukraine?'
The Unz Review ^ | Sat, 02 Apr 2022 | Jacques Baud

Posted on 04/15/2022 4:27:56 PM PDT by kabar

For years, from Mali to Afghanistan, I have worked for peace and risked my life for it. It is therefore not a question of justifying war, but of understanding what led us to it.

Let's try to examine the roots of the Ukrainian conflict. It starts with those who for the last eight years have been talking about "separatists" or "independentists" from Donbass. This is a misnomer. The referendums conducted by the two self-proclaimed Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk in May 2014, were not referendums of "independence" (независимость), as some unscrupulous journalists have claimed, but referendums of "self-determination" or "autonomy" (самостоятельность). The qualifier "pro-Russian" suggests that Russia was a party to the conflict, which was not the case, and the term "Russian speakers" would have been more honest. Moreover, these referendums were conducted against the advice of Vladimir Putin.

(Excerpt) Read more at sott.net ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ukraine
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-86 next last
To: Prince of Space
They’re being documented by many different international human rights groups, except it’s the Ukrainians

This is not what the witnesses or victims are saying.

You chose to take the side of Ukraine months ago

I have been following this conflict closely for 8 years, and have been reading about the threat Russia represents for more than 20 years. My posts are on record 8 years ago fighting with the 2 or 3 Putinists that were on the forum back then who were spreading lies on behalf of the Russian regime.

Since that time, their numbers have obviously multiplied by a much larger amount.

61 posted on 04/15/2022 6:35:38 PM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

Who cares where it was posted! Examine the qualifications of the author and then explain to the class how and why he’s wrong. Be sure to cite your sources. 🤣


62 posted on 04/15/2022 6:35:57 PM PDT by Prince of Space ( Let’s go, Brandon! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: throwthebumsout

Link, please.


63 posted on 04/15/2022 6:36:25 PM PDT by Prince of Space ( Let’s go, Brandon! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: kabar

Putin’s Sudetenland.


64 posted on 04/15/2022 6:38:29 PM PDT by Hiddigeigei ("Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish," said Dionysus - Euripides)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Prince of Space
Examine the qualifications of the author

Why would I examine his qualifications and not the substance of what he wrote to see if it is true or not?

You debunk people by disproving their arguments or alleged facts. You do not debunk people by determining whether they have the authority to give an opinion.

65 posted on 04/15/2022 6:39:06 PM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: kabar

very good historical summary and perspective


66 posted on 04/15/2022 6:44:19 PM PDT by PGR88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kabar

Thank you


67 posted on 04/15/2022 6:45:01 PM PDT by sopo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Prince of Space

It’s the Guardian link you complained about. The Guardian published an English translation of the interview.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/25/russia-ukraine-soldier

If you prefer a more academic, detailed analysis of Russian interference in Ukraine, try this one:

https://www.academia.edu/11853815


68 posted on 04/15/2022 6:48:59 PM PDT by throwthebumsout
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: Greetings_Puny_Humans
What is the use of posting this? Implying that Zelensky believed that Russia had completely fulfilled its role in Minsk?

Russia wasn't a signatory to the Minsk Agreements. Russia, France, Germany, and Ukraine issued resolutions endorsing the package of measures including a ceasefire and "a Resolution of the Parliament of Ukraine specifying the area enjoying a special regime, under the Law of Ukraine “On interim self government order in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions”, based on the line of the Minsk Memorandum of September 19, 2014." The party that did not comply with the Minsk agreements was Ukraine. The Parliament never passed the autonomy measure.

Zelensky making moves to encourage change/peace in the Donbas rather works against you, since you have just claimed that Ukraine was bombarding the Donbass in February, forcing Russia to invade.

Zelensky changed his position in 2019 due to pressure from the Militias. UK article about Azov & other nationalist forces telling President Zelensky that they would not permit him to pull back from the Donbass war. They promised to bring in 10,000 new fighters for every 1,000 he tried to withdraw. Extremists control Ukraine.

Under no circumstances am I going to waste my life reviewing the Pandora papers and coming to the conclusion of whether or not Zelenskyy had an offshore account somewhere in the Cayman islands.

Np one becomes President of Ukraine without being corrupt. Ukraine is the 4th most corrupt country on the planet. Lionizing Zelensky by the MSM will not end well. Zelensky will get his percentage of the massive aid that is being poured into Ukraine now and in the future. The West will rebuild Ukraine. The losers are the taxpayers in the US and the West. The military-industrial complex wikll do just fine along with the corrupt leaders and officials in Ukraine. Ukrainian Embassy confirms DNC contractor solicited Trump dirt in 2016

69 posted on 04/15/2022 7:00:48 PM PDT by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: kabar

informative, thanks for posting


70 posted on 04/15/2022 7:05:17 PM PDT by SteveH (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Greetings_Puny_Humans
Ukraine is not a totalitarian regime, although you have attempted to paint it in the worst light possible.

The jury is out on that one. Zelensky jailed his primary opponent and shut down non-compliant media. He is not a Jeffersonian democrat nor is his corrupt government.

Clearly you are not against the invasion of "sovereign countries," so why are you offended?

As a general rule, I am against the invasion of sovereign countries. It usually doesn't work and is counterproductive.

My only point is that Iraq/Afghanistan were objectively evil, so your attempt to paint the USA as a villain is false.

So why not send our troops to Ukraine to address this evil? We sent them to Kuwait to oust Saddam who invaded a sovereign country. We sent them to Korea to push back the North Koreans who had invaded a sovereign country. Ditto Vietnam.

71 posted on 04/15/2022 7:11:03 PM PDT by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: Greetings_Puny_Humans
About the author

Jacques Baud is a former colonel of the General Staff, ex-member of the Swiss strategic intelligence, specialist on Eastern countries. He was trained in the American and British intelligence services. He has served as Policy Chief for United Nations Peace Operations. As a UN expert on rule of law and security institutions, he designed and led the first multidimensional UN intelligence unit in the Sudan. He has worked for the African Union and was for 5 years responsible for the fight, at NATO, against the proliferation of small arms. He was involved in discussions with the highest Russian military and intelligence officials just after the fall of the USSR. Within NATO, he followed the 2014 Ukrainian crisis and later participated in programs to assist the Ukraine. He is the author of several books on intelligence, war and terrorism, in particular Le Détournement published by SIGEST, Gouverner par les fake news, L'affaire Navalny. His latest book is Poutine, maître du jeu? published by Max Milo.

This article appears through the gracious courtesy of Centre Français de Recherche sur le Renseignement, Paris.

72 posted on 04/15/2022 7:12:50 PM PDT by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: Hiddigeigei

So what’s the answer? Send in US troops to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine?


73 posted on 04/15/2022 7:14:04 PM PDT by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

That sounds like censorship the good old fashioned way, guilt by association.


74 posted on 04/15/2022 7:21:28 PM PDT by sopo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: aMorePerfectUnion

Indeed, there’s that — unfortunately.


75 posted on 04/15/2022 7:29:15 PM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: kabar

>> I didn’t know that Ukraine stepped up the shelling of Dombass Feb 16 prior to the Russian invasion

The most sickening aspect of this historical moment is the braindead cheerleading for the MSM’s exalted protagonist. To Hell with the details.


76 posted on 04/15/2022 7:36:26 PM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: kabar

Interesting article. Will read later...


77 posted on 04/15/2022 8:32:19 PM PDT by The_Media_never_lie ( "The media is the enemy of the American people." Democrat Pat Caddell.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: McGruff
Ukraine has been shelling Donbas ever since 2014. Why haven’t they indicted for war crimes.

Lots of war crime trials upcoming...in the Donetsk People's Republic.

DPR has had a warrant out against the commander of the 36th Marine Brigade in Marupol Col. Andrey Gnatov for crimes against civilians, since 2018. Gnatov was recently captured at Azovstal and will stand trial in Donetsk.

Russia is also planning to try the NATO fighters it has captured, and there will be others. Zelenski himself would likely be put on trial if he is unlucky enough to get captured.

78 posted on 04/15/2022 8:36:01 PM PDT by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: kabar

Opinion similar to this scenario by other research.


79 posted on 04/15/2022 11:59:10 PM PDT by Norski (Revelation 22:20)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: misanthrope

.


80 posted on 04/16/2022 1:49:48 AM PDT by misanthrope (Deranged, sinister, deplorable troll)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-86 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson