The
latest extraordinary roughshod violation of Russian diplomatic rights
by the American authorities shows that the US doesn’t want to restore
normal bilateral relations. Indeed, it has now resorted publicly to
jackboot diplomacy.
The rapid ordering of Russia to vacate three of its diplomatic properties – in a matter of hours – amid reported threats
from the American authorities that they would smash down entrance doors
if the orders were not complied with, shows a reckless disregard for
Russia’s sovereign rights. Not just Russia’s sovereign rights, but the
rights of all nations, as far as America is concerned.
There were also reports that
US secret service agents conducted inspections of the properties while
Russian officials were deprived access to the building. Such conduct
marks not only provocative contempt for Russian authorities, it also
raises concerns that US agents were attempting to plant incriminating
evidence which might be subsequently «uncovered» by the ongoing probes
into alleged Russian interference in the American presidential election
last year.
What’s more, the manhandling of Russian diplomatic rights came on the personal orders from President Donald Trump, according to press
reports. Previously, Trump had stated his desire to restore normal
bilateral relations with Russia. One has to conclude that the latest
breach of Russian sovereignty is a blunt sign that American official
policy is now fully aligned in an antagonistic agenda toward Moscow.
The
collective American amnesia is astounding. The shuttering of the three
Russian properties in San Francisco, New York and Washington was
presented by the US State Department and US media as a «retaliation» for
Russia’s expulsion of some 455 American diplomats in July. Downplayed
or omitted in the US media coverage was the fact that Russia expelled
those diplomats in response to the Obama administration expropriating
three Russian properties and ejecting 35 Russian diplomats back in
December 2016. Russia had patiently waited seven months to see if the
new Trump administration would do the decent thing and undo the Obama
violations. The Trump administration not only did not undo the damage,
it went further to impose new trade and political sanctions on Russia.
Thus,
Russia had every right to reciprocate with its expulsions in July,
which in any case brought the remaining 400 or so US diplomats down to
the same number as Russian diplomats residing in the US. Moscow also
gave the American side a month to vacate its premises. The Americans
gave the Russians 12 hours.
Trump’s
latest diplomatic infringement brings the total number of closed
Russian properties to six, and marks a dramatic escalation in the
dispute. Moscow has said it will respond appropriately.
Relations
between the two nations are deteriorating rapidly beyond the already
frayed level. But let’s be clear: it is the US side which is responsible
for the downward spiral.
Obama’s
unprecedented expulsions and expropriations were premised on lurid
accusations that the Russian government ordered an interference campaign
in the US presidential election. No evidence has yet been provided by
the US intelligence agencies to support this sensational and nebulous
claim. Yet we are in an extraordinary situation of tit-for-tat
diplomatic blows based on unproven American allegations. This is a
mockery of legal due process.
Russia
has consistently dismissed those accusations, saying that they are
motivated by anti-Russian prejudice and US political in-fighting and
scapegoating. Ironically, Trump who has lambasted the «Russia collusion»
claims as fake news put out by the pro-Democrat news media and
intelligence community is now, in effect, jumping on the anti-Russia
juggernaut with his latest order of diplomatic seizures. American folly
knows no bounds.
The
American amnesia is even more problematic. The sanctions against Russia
began in 2014 over the Ukraine crisis. That crisis was instigated by
American and European interference in the internal affairs of Ukraine
and the eventual violent coup against an elected government in Kiev. The
US-backed regime that seized power has been attacking the separatist
ethnic Russian population of eastern Ukraine for the past three years.
Meanwhile the people of Crimea voted in a referendum to join the Russian
Federation instead of recognizing the Neo-Nazi Banderite Kiev regime.
Yet it is Russia which is sanctioned by the US and its European allies
for «destabilizing Ukraine».
The US is showing itself with full
inglorious nakedness to be a petulant bully that flouts international
law. In short, an utterly shameless rogue regime that is now completely
out of control, and doesn’t even care what others think. The latest
violation of Russian sovereignty epitomizes the general high-handed
attitude of the Americans to international law and the sovereign rights
of all nations.
Amazingly,
US media made self-justifying speculative comments that the alleged
burning of documents inside the Russian consulate in San Francisco was
«evidence» of Russian subterfuge and espionage. It is every nation’s
sovereign right under international law to be afforded privacy for its
diplomats. Instead of insinuating Russian wrongdoing, the proper, more
disturbing, perspective should be that America has so little respect for
international law that other nations no longer trust the US to abide by
diplomatic legal standards.
The
violation of Russian rights is consistent with the US violation of
Ukraine which is in turn consistent with American violation of Syria,
Libya, Yemen, Pakistan, Venezuela, Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan, to
mention just a few other recent cases.
On
North Korea, what gives the US the legal and moral authority to declare
that diplomacy does not work, or that negotiations might only be
permitted if stringent preconditions are met by Pyongyang? How is that
the US arrogates the «right» to threaten war on North Korea (as well as
Iran and Venezuela and others) while glibly ruling out the obligation to
hold equal dialogue and comply with diplomatic protocols? This is the
behavior and mindset of a tyrant. A fascist state.
The
latest manhandling of Russian sovereign rights is a stark milestone in
the degeneration of the United States. It is abandoning any pretense at
civil diplomacy.
Jackboot
diplomacy is the corollary of US wars of aggression, mass murder, mass
torture, and the systematic destruction of international law. All with
the narcissistic smile of smug self-righteousness.
reprinted with the Strategic Culture Foundation's permission
Posted by ΛΕΟΝΙΔΑΣ
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