The U.S. Supports Self-Determination- Except When It Doesn't. Like Now in Eastern Ukraine.

The Noble U.S. stands in solidarity with people's rights. That's why they signed treaties banning torture, and passed domestic legislation criminalizing it. (So don't torture anyone or the U.S. will come after you!) And the U.S. is for human rights, free speech, freedom of assembly. (“As long as you're not dumb enough to actually TRY it!” as The Clash sang in “Know Your Rights.”)

Propagandists (like U.S. government propagandist Corey Flintoff of NPR just this morning)  habitually refer to the “self-proclaimed Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.” Well of COURSE they're self-proclaimed! That's how nations historically have started out- by self-creation! What exactly was YOUR nation, Corey? The United States was completely self-proclaimed! It was a rebellion (treason) against the British crown, in British crown territories. Of course no one in the U.S. ever refers to the U.S. as having been “self-proclaimed.” A war was fought to make it stick- as a war is being fought in the newly declared eastern Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. Legitimacy is in the eye of the beholder.

Russia recognizes these new Republics. The U.S. and its bloc of lackey nations does not. The U.S. and its stooges call the elections in the east “illegal.” Oh? What law are they breaking? Certainly not international law. What was “legal” about the U.S—EU-backed putsch in Kiev in the spring, and the subsequent “elections” staged by those who overthrew the government? Legal is in the eye of the beholder, and the eye of he who makes the laws.

There's always an excuse to obfuscate the hypocrisy, the double standard, the blatant cynical opportunism of professed “American ideals,” the Big Lie that the U.S. isn't just another repressive empire but a Guiding Light For Humanity, a Shining City On The Hill. Self-determination becomes “insurrection,” “rebellion,” “foreign subversion/intervention/interference” Unwanted speech and assembly is “riot,” “disorder,” subversion,” “agitation,” even “terrorism.” (And I mean right here in the U.S., where the FBI habitually brands non-violent protest movements they don't like “terrorist” and instructs local police to treat them accordingly.)