The puppet master.
Posted on 09/11/2022 3:43:25 AM PDT by jacknhoo
Pope Francis has been steadfast in his opposition to the war in Ukraine, decrying the violence that it has wrought on innocent civilians. At the same time, the pope suggested there was blame for the war to go around beyond Russia and Vladimir Putin.
On Tuesday, an Italian newspaper published an interview with Francis where he declined to state what he believed was Putin’s exact motivations for launching the war against Ukraine on Feb. 24. However, the pope suggested that the West could bear some responsibility for what he says may have been its provocation of Putin.
"Maybe it was NATO barking at Russia’s gate that compelled Putin to unleash the invasion of Ukraine," Francis speculated in the interview with Corriere Della Sera. He repeated that he had "no way of telling whether his [Putin's] rage" had been provoked, but added it was his suspicion the war was "maybe facilitated by the West's attitude."
He added: “You cannot think that a free state can wage war on another free state...In Ukraine, it seems that it was others who created the conflict."
Francis’ remarks may come as a surprise given his own critiques of the war. After it began, Francis himself made his way to the Russian embassy at the Vatican to “register his concerns” and he had made repeated overtures to Moscow to facilitate either a truce or humanitarian efforts. All of these were left unanswered by Russian officials. On April 13, Francis also lamented the killing of civilians in the war, something he said left the faithful troubled because it was "marked by the forces of evil."
The pope’s comments in a broad sense echoed recriminations made by Putin in the run-up of the war. During his address that announced the start of the “special military operation” against Ukraine, Putin accused NATO of moving only closer to Russian borders and argued it could "no longer just watch what is happening".
Asked by his interviewers whether a trip to Ukraine was in the cards, Francis declined to commit to one, insisting that it would be more appropriate to visit Russia first. However, Francis caveated this by insisting he is uncertain about whether any meeting with Putin will translate into progress towards ending the war.
He also declined to endorse the West’s supply of military weapons to Kyiv before accusing both sides of engaging in an immoral arms race. The United States and its European allies have been transferring heavier, more advanced weaponry to Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s retreat from around Kyiv. Francis said that the flow of weapons into Ukraine was a “disgrace”.
"What seems indisputable is that in that country both sides are trying out new weapons," Francis said. "The production and the sale of armaments is a disgrace, but few are bold enough to stand up against it."
Thanks for the assist joma89.
BroJoe, If Russia truly brought the wall down and truly wanted an authentic East meets West reconciliation, then truth be told, the multi-billion dollar monstrosity known as NATO would technically no longer be relevant from it’s stated mission purpose.
Once the wall fell, NATO should have been shrunk down in stages. There was simply no need for NATO to get involved politically or humanitarily around the globe. But when BILLIONS upon billions of dollars are concerned in the world called NATO, you’ll never see the funding dry up,
As far as the ruskies are concerned, they brought down the wall, dissolved their Union and were open for business, yet NATO kept expanding into their backyard. Why?
It’s pretty good at destroying Libya and wasting my tax dollars but Europeans are adults. They can take care of themselves
“Ukraine did not join NATO and was not threatening to join NATO. It’s last request was rejected in 2008 by France and Germany.”
Cool, thanks. So they did want to join NATO and they were working very closely with NATO, as shown here.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_19547.htm
Seems the Pope (finally) has a good point.
“I am asking again: Why such a huge benefit of the doubt for Russia? They didn’t even try to de-communize. The Lenin Mausoleum is sill in the Red Square. There are thousands of Lenin statues in public places in Russia. In my country and in other former Communist countries we removed the statues of our Commie criminals. The Russians still worship them.”
Give them a break - after all, it took the US well over 100 years to finally remove all the Confederate statues.
The Pope is exactly right. There was no need for NATO to start courting Ukraine.
“Even asking that question shows you are unable to connect the strategic dots that caused russia to respond with its military in 2022.”
Just playing dumb...they all know, by now at least.
That’s kind of a childish meme.
A more appropriate comparison would be NATO and CIS Collective Security Treaty. An intergovernmental military alliance between Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
But there’s no getting through to you.
“So now, the Pope is blaming the girl for getting raped? I missed that part of theology.“
_____________
I missed that part in Bergoglio’s statement. Because it wasn’t there.
Some people lie to themselves to make themselves feel good about themselves. It is much easier than doing good. Just so you know, that’s false economy.
Protect Western Europe from whom (NATO having watched the Soviet Union collapse under its own weight)?
Someone else here already made the reference to the financial size of NATO commitments. If Russia was no longer a threat to Western Europe, there was certainly enough money at stake to make her one.
“I missed that part in Bergoglio’s statement. Because it wasn’t there.”
My answer to the rape analogy is that if the woman walks in a bad area wearing a tee shirt that says “Rape Me Please”, then she shouldn’t complain about being raped.
Every former east European captive nation has asked for or joined EU/NATO for good reason, not some pathetic asian Russian/Bananas-tan economic group. Too bad, you can't seem to understand their reasons.
The Commie Pope once again sticks his foot in his mouth. When China attacks Taiwan, expect the Pope to blame the Taiwanese and the U.S.
The puppet master.
I'll help you.
Francis is absolving Russia of invading a sovereign nation, because Putin the snowflake was triggered.
That's the equivalent of absolving the rapist because he was triggered.
Putin's faux Christianity and "defense of tradition" is cute. And I understand the magnetism of his castle made of sand. But a REAL man of morality wouldn't have his political opponents executed or divorce his wife.
There will always be false prophets, spouting off lies laced with honey. Putin is the latest in a long string of such actors starting with the serpent. Thankfully, Jesus taught us how to not get ensnared. All we need is reason and open eyes.
for once I agree with Pope.
I agree with both of your comments. I’ll bet he’s been chastised for both his stances there.
The Putler fan club is barking at the moon by caring what Pope Marx thinks about anything.
We will learn in November, was 2020 was a "one-of" freak event or does it mean permanently stolen elections from now on?
Let's hope it was the former and that our constitutional republic can be restored, before it descends irrevocably into just another "Socialist People's Democratic Republic", with one-party top-down rule.
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