Since Trump's election and the invention of "Russiagate" a new phrase has come into use and has eagerly been adopted by those unable to argue with logic or reason "whatabouttism". This used when an accusation is made of some offense and incredulous listeners who know history point out that even if the accusation is true, it pales to similar offenses by the US. "Shut up, that is whatabouttism. We are only discussing our accusation and no relevant history or pointing out of hypocrisy will be allowed."
On March 24,1999, the US and NATO started bombing Yugoslavia. The attacks lasted for 78 days and the civilian economy was the target: hospitals, including a children's hospital, airports, government buildings, manufacturing, infrastructure, not to mention 17th century churches and the country’s historical and cultural heritage. The US/NATO destroyed historical sites that even Nazi Germany had not destroyed in WW2. Depleted uraninum was used, leading to increased birth defects and cancer rates in Serbia to this day.
In October 2001 the US/NATO invaded Afghanistan, leading to a 20 year occupation notable for war crimes and atrocities.
On March 19, 2003, the US began an attack on, and invasion of, Iraq. A 2006 War Crimes report lays out some of the atrocities. From the introduction: "In addition to the fact that this was an illegal war to begin with, the war has been conducted in myriad ways that violate international humanitarian law, including the use of uranium munitions, chemical weapons (white phosphorus), cluster bombs, torture, the indiscriminate killing of civilians and laying waste to cities and the land." On March 19, 2011, the US and NATO attacked Libya, setting up what they called a "no-fly zone" which actually meant that US and NATO planes bombed Libya unmercifully killing and destroying infrastructure. The out-gunned Libyan military fought back for 10 months, until they were defeated, and the country that had had the highest standard of living in Africa was turned into the terrorist-infested hellhole it is now. In 2013 the US was stopped from bombing Syria by President Putin, who offered a compromise to the US that made their excuse (chemical weapons attack they accused Assad of commmitting) impossible to use.
So in 2014 a new terrorist group rolled into town, complete with a video recording team and a PR group to die for. ISIS gave the US the excuse they wanted to bomb and invade Syria. The US still occupies 30% of Syria, the part with the oil and the wheatfields. They burn the wheatfields and steal the oil. They even had the audacity to build a refinery there, on Syrian soil, in order to refine the oil they steal.
On March 23, 2022 the US State Department, under Tony Blinken, announced that they are planning to accuse Russia of war crimes in Ukraine.
I call that the most incredible example of hypocritical pyschopathic chutzpah I have seen yet. Supporters of Biden/Blinken would say that is "whataboutism" to mention that.
No comments:
Post a Comment