HR 758

U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher interviewed on RT, September 21

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An interview of Congressman Dana Rohrabacher by  Sophie Shevardnadze is scheduled to air September 21 on RT. The interview will be on the program SophieCo.

Congressman Rohrabacher was one of 10 representatives who voted against House Resolution 758 in December.

H.Res.758 – Strongly condemning the actions of the Russian Federation, under President Vladimir Putin, which has carried out a policy of aggression against neighboring countries aimed at political and economic domination.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-resolution/758
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2014/roll548.xml

He has also been willing to question US policy toward Russia and Ukraine.

Dana Rohrabacher is a member of the US House of Representatives, a Republican, and represents the 46th District (in the Los Angeles area) in California

For the schedule, see http://www.rt.com.

Also, http://www.rt.com/shows/sophieco/

Inside the “Ukraine Freedom Support Act”

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From Sputnik, December 16, 2014
By Andrew Korybko

The latest anti-Russian bill to come out of Washington does a lot more than simply arm Ukraine, although that’s destabilizing enough as it is. Contained within the Act are powerful provisions that expand NATO’s influence in Russia’s backyard and continue the War on Syria.

The Ukrainian Freedom Support Act (UFSA) is essentially the actionable successor to the recently passed House Resolution 758, which itself has been referred to as the declaration of the New Cold War. It’s exceptionally noteworthy for fulfilling John McCain’s threat to arm Ukraine, but it’s the other decrees within it that have gone unnoticed by the mainstream media, although they’re just as troubling, if not more so. And unsurprisingly, Congress somehow found a way to group its War on Syria into the UFSA, showing that it truly exploits any opportunity to push through its agenda of regime change there even if it has absolutely nothing to do with the bill at hand.

The Three Amigos
The UFSA is just as much about Moldova and Georgia as it is about Ukraine, as all three countries are collectively grouped together except for when it comes to assisting with internally displaced persons. For example, when it comes to ‘the three amigos’, UFSA says that sanctions will be imposed if:

  • Russia (or any actor affiliated with it) sends “defense articles” to those countries without the consent of its government’
  • And Russia “withholds significant natural gas supplies from countries such as Ukraine, Georgia, or Moldova” and NATO members.

And that the three are to be ‘rewarded’ with:

  • Major non-NATO ally status (which allows them to purchase weapons only reserved for NATO allies);
  • And a prioritized information campaign run by Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, where these countries are given a greater focus than the other former Soviet states.

Putting it all together, it is clear that the US has strategically incorporated Moldova and Georgia into its legislation about Ukraine, providing proof that it is Washington and not Moscow which is ‘widening the battlefield’ of the New Cold War. This isn’t the first time either, as all the amigos were first lumped together in May when the so-called Russian Aggression Prevention Act of 2014 was unveiled, which served as the predecessor of House Resolution 758.

The reasoning for this is rather simple, actually. The US wants to coordinate its push against the former Soviet periphery and is pulling out all the stops along the way. The primary objective is NATO expansion all the way to the Russian border, as well as the destabilization of Russian interests in or near these countries. Russia has a military base in the de-facto independent Transnistrian region of Moldova, while the historic reunification of Crimea and Russia’s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia’s independence from Georgia are well known. It is these precise interests and territories that the US wants to threaten with the Act.

The Big Tent
Another observation that’s lost on the mainstream media is that the Act creates a ‘big tent’ of American interests in Eurasia. When addressing the non-consented transfer of Russian defense articles to “specified countries”, other than the three amigos, it describes these as being “any other country of significant concern for purposes of this Act, such as Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and the Central Asia republics.” It’s obvious that the US would place its NATO allies under this designation, but to spread the umbrella over the Central Asian republics is a strategy that has more to it than originally meets the eye.

Russia in no way supports separatism in Central Asia, and aside from neutral Turkmenistan, it actually has constructive military and anti-terror relations with all of the regional states as a result of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). This group has explicitly stated its opposition to terrorism, separatism, and extremism, and all of its members are now watching the violent situation in Afghanistan with the trepidation that it may move northward next year.

Within this context, the US is sending smoke signals to those governments that it is open for cooperating with them, but with the implicit understanding that they have to abandon their alliance with Russia and accuse it of the fantasy-driven treachery of arming separatist groups. The purpose here is to expand the reach of NATO’s 12,000 or so troops that will stay behind in Afghanistan and use them to push Russian influence (no matter how beneficial to anti-terrorist operations and regional stability) out of Central Asia.

Slick Talking About Syria
Congress understood that the current anti-Russian climate meant that the UFSA was surely bound to pass, so it added a completely irrelevant clause relating to Syria in order to strengthen the war effort against it. Specifically, the Act mandates that sanctions be imposed against any Russian company or related individual that sells defense articles to Syria. This is the complete opposite standard that it is applying to the ‘big tent’ countries. Congress says that Russia can’t transfer such units to the ‘big tent’ without the consent of their governments, but such transfers are prohibited to Syria when its government consents to it.

So what’s going on here?
The US and its allies don’t recognize the legitimacy of the Syrian government, despite President Assad having been democratically re-elected with 88.7% of the vote back in June, and the fact that they support regime change within the country. They’d rather give weapons to the insurgents fighting to overthrow the government (even if such arms sometimes end up in the hands of terrorists) than approve of Russia’s continued support for the government’s anti-terrorist war. The Syrian Arab Army is once more on the upswing (backed by Russian support), so it’s not coincidental that such a provision was made at this time. Nonetheless, such bullying by the US will never result in Russia abandoning its support for Syria, especially at this critical time, and should be seen as nothing more than the naked intimidation tactic that it is.

Andrew Korybko is the political analyst and journalist for Sputnik who currently lives and studies in Moscow.

Posted at

http://us.sputniknews.com/opinion/20141215/1013320024.html

http://orientalreview.org/2014/12/16/the-devils-in-the-details-inside-the-ukrainian-freedom-support-act/

http://www.globalresearch.ca/more-legislation-in-support-of-war-with-russia-inside-the-ukrainian-freedom-support-act/5420287

BREAKING: U.S. Representatives approve resolution condemning Russia, with update

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This is truly one of the lowest points ever taken in American conduct. The shocking vote of 411 in favor, 10 against, 13 not voting, took place this morning http://www.c-span.org/video/?323075-1/us-house-legislative-business — at approximately 2:02 on the video; includes transcript.

The vote roll-call is here: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2014/roll548.xml

The 10 “No” votes were:

Justin Amash  (MI) Rep
John Duncan  (TN) Rep
Alan Grayson  (FL) Dem
Alcee Hastings  (FL) Dem
Walter Jones   (NC) Rep
Thomas Massie  (KY) Rep
Jim McDermott  (WA) Dem
George Miller  (CA) Dem
Beto O’Rourke  (TX) Dem
Dana Rohrabacher (CA) Rep

Reputed peace advocates including John Conyers, Barbara Lee, Maxine Waters, Raul Grijalva, Jim McGovern voted for the resolution. The large Progressive Caucus http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/caucus-members/ approved the resolution, except for three members, and one who abstained.

Last night, there was this discussion.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?323042-3/us-house-legislative-business — at approximately 3:21 on the video.
No one in the House advocated for wisdom and truth. No one presented arguments against this resolution.  No one asked for proof for these accusations.

“,,,PUTIN’S CONTINUING MILITARY, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL AGGRESSION AGAINST UKRAINE AND OTHERS IS ON FULL DISPLAY. OF COURSE HIS MOST DRAMATIC ACTION WAS THE FORCIBLE OCCUPATION AND ANNEXATION OF CRIMEA EARLIER THIS YEAR. TODAY, AS WE CONSIDER THIS RESOLUTION, RUSSIAN FORCES ARE OPERATING ON UKRAINIAN SOIL

…UKRAINE IS CLEARLY IN NEED OF URGENT MILITARY ASSISTANCE. THE ADMINISTRATION MUST ACT QUICKLY TO EQUIP IT WITH THE MEANS, NOT JUST TO CLOTHE ITS SOLDIERS, BUT TO STOP TANKS AS WELL.

…THE UNITED STATES AND OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES IN EUROPE AND AROUND THE WORLD ARE TAKING ACTION TO ENSURE THAT HE AND HIS REGIME PAY A HEAVY PRICE FOR THIS AGGRESSION. 

…WE CAN DEMONSTRATE TO PUTIN AND THE WORLD THAT WE WILL DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT UKRAINE AND OTHER COUNTRIES THAT ARE THREATENED BY HIS IMPERIAL AMBITIONS AND ENSURE THAT THEY CAN LIVE IN PEACE AND SECURITY.”  (Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen)

I left these in caps, because they are truly rantings. And there is more, including very dangerous and foolish statements by Congressman Eliot Engel of New York who, because he is Jewish, should be opposing this resolution and by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.  The accusations and statements actually describe US actions, not Russian ones.

Live in peace and security? I cannot imagine how the people of East Ukraine can live in peace with the attacks by the Kiev regime. This resolution is a very dangerous and arrogant step taken by United States leaders who are destroying the lives of many as well as peace and harmony.

Where are the people who will stand up for truth? Where are the people who will expose this charade by the US and NATO?

Breaking: Adoption of House of Representatives Resolution: Provides De Facto “Green Light” to Obama to “Declare War on Russia”
From Russia Today, December 4, 2014
Reposted by Global Research

The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved a document which strongly condemns Moscow’s actions against its neighbors, calling them a policy of aggression.

Passed with 411-10 votes, the resolution slams Russia’s “continuing political, economic, and military aggression” against Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova and the “continuing violation of their sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.”

“The US, Europe and our allies must aggressively keep the pressure on Mr. Putin to encourage him to change his behavior,” Rep. Adam Kinzinger, the resolution’s sponsor, said.

The resolution calls for Russia to stop supporting local militias in eastern Ukraine and for the cancellation of Crimea’s decision to join Russia. In addition, it calls on Moscow to withdraw its troops which the US claims are in Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

The House calls on President Barack Obama to provide Ukraine with defense equipment and training.

“Ukraine is clearly in need of urgent military assistance,” Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said as quoted by The Hill.

Previously Obama declined Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s plea for lethal military aid. During his visit to Washington in September, Poroshenko addressed Congress calling to provide Kiev with “more military equipment, lethal and non-lethal” drawing applause from the audience.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko addresses a joint session of the US Congress at the Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 18, 2014. (AFP Photo/Nicholas Kamm)
[ED: Congress’ effusive response to Poroshenko was very alarming. His speech can be seen on YouTube]

Thursday’s  resolution also urges NATO members and US allies to suspend military cooperation with Russia. Addressing Obama, the House urged him to review the readiness of US and NATO armed forces under the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE).

The lawmakers agreed that the president and State Department should also find a way to “distribute news and information” in Russian to countries with Russian-speaking populations.

The lawmakers specified that the resolution was targeting Putin and his policy, but not all Russian people.

The resolution follows Putin’s speech to Federal Assembly made on Thursday, where he criticized the “deterrence policy” conducted against Russia by other states.

“The deterrence policy was not invented yesterday, it has been always conducted towards our country, for decades, if not centuries,” Putin noted. “Every time somebody considers Russia is becoming too powerful and independent, such instruments are turned on immediately.”

He mentioned that the US has been manipulating foreign relations of Russia’s neighbors, adding that “sometimes you don’t even know to whom it is better to talk to: the governments of certain countries or directly with their American patrons.”

READ MORE: ‘House of Representatives’ resolution declares Cold War’

The relations between the two states have got colder in the past decade and will deteriorate even more following the adoption of the H. Res. 758, warns former Republican Dennis Kucinich.

“NATO encirclement, the US-backed coup in Ukraine, an attempt to use an agreement with the European Union to bring NATO into Ukraine at the Russian border, a US nuclear first-strike policy, are all policies which attempt to substitute force for diplomacy,” he said as quoted by Truthdig.

READ MORE: ‘NATO’s disastrous expansion at the core of the Ukraine conflict’

Kucinich explained that Russia had only responded to an appeal by the local population in Ukraine to protect them from the violence when Moscow agreed to Crimea joining the Russian Federation. It was “a reaffirmation of an historic relationship,” Kucinich said.

“The Western press begins its narrative on the Crimea situation with the annexation, but completely ignores the provocations by the West and other causal factors… This distortion of reality is artificially creating an hysteria about Russian aggressiveness,” he said, adding that the US Congress “is responding to the distortions, not to the reality.”

Kucinich also criticized US rhetoric, calling it “saber-rattling, which led to the initiation and escalation of the Cold War” and urged Washington to “employ diplomacy, not more military expenditures, in the quest for international order.”

Source:
http://rt.com/usa/211527-representatives-condemn-russia-aggression/

http://www.globalresearch.ca/breaking-adoption-of-house-of-representatives-resolution-provides-de-facto-green-light-to-obama-to-declare-war-on-russia/5418022

ALERT: Congress votes this week on H. Res. 758 against Russia — Update

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Update 12-4-14

Resolution was approved today: 411 for, 10 against. See 12/4 post —

BREAKING: U.S. Representatives approve resolution condemning Russia, with update

Two more sponsors joined yesterday — John Shimkus (IL), Steve Chabot (OH)

Update 12-2-14
The House did not vote on this resolution today (December 2), according to https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-resolution/758/.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (IL) did add two more sponsors to his resolution yesterday — Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (VA) and Rep. Paul Cook (CA). Rep. Steve Stockman (TX) is an original co-sponsor.

There is still time to lobby representatives with information and ask them to oppose this bill and refuse to co-sponsor it.

Many reps may rely on mainstream news and political leaders for their knowledge of a situation. Send them the documentation about American and Ukrainian aggression and the nature of the Kiev government. That’s critical.

Only Western citizens, especially Americans, can stop this. We can also educate military personnel about the situation. Many of them joined the services to protect and defend people, not to participate in genocide.

There are also major anti-Russian provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015. That has already passed the House and is in the Senate. That bill can be found here: http://armedservices.house.gov/index.cfm/ndaa-home?p=ndaa. It is scheduled to be voted on this week or next. It’s well worth a read through the table of contents. There are many features of this bill that are troubling.

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H. Res. 758 is scheduled to be voted on December 2 in the U.S. Congress.

Call your congressional reps and tell them to vote “No”. Please tell them also to oppose American aggression in Ukraine and against Russia.

The bill begins

Strongly condemning the actions of the Russian Federation, under President Vladimir Putin, which has carried out a policy of aggression against neighboring countries aimed at political and economic domination.

Click to access a8bb3ba91389f98e95_pym6iikbh.pdf

This very dangerous bill is short on truth, and contains no mention of America interference, funding, and aggression in Ukraine and against Russia. It authorizes the President to pursue certain policies.

How many Congressional reps have done any research and asked probing questions? How many  get their information from the news media and the administration, and don’t even know about Victoria Nuland or the $5 billion in US aid to destabilize Ukraine? How many know there is no proof for any of the administration’s allegations about Russian invasion or the MH 17 crash? How  many even know about the neo-Nazis leading the government in Ukraine?

With Vice President Biden as another cheerleader of tension with Russia (and with his conflict-of-interest in Ukraine), it is easy to see how the picture can be skewed and what the pressure is to conform, especially with national leaders like Leon Panetta banging the cold war drum.

Additionally, how many are willing to go against the herd mentality in Congress to stand for truth?

Former Congressman Dennis Kucinich wrote today about this bill:

NATO encirclement, the US-backed coup in Ukraine, an attempt to use an agreement with the European Union to bring NATO into Ukraine at the Russian border, a US nuclear first-strike policy, are all policies which attempt to substitute force for diplomacy.

Russia’s response to the terror unleashed by western-backed neo-nazis in Crimea and Odessa came after the local population appealed to Russia to protect them from the violence. Russia then agreed to Crimea joining the Russian Federation, a reaffirmation of an historic relationship.

The Western press begins its narrative on the Crimea situation with the annexation, but completely ignores the provocations by the West and other causal factors which resulted in the annexation. This distortion of reality is artificially creating an hysteria about Russian aggressiveness, another distortion which could pose an exceptionally dangerous situation for the world, if acted upon by other nations. The US Congress is responding to the distortions, not to the reality. 

Similar distortions are developing now in the coverage of events in the eastern part of Ukraine, in Donetsk and Luhansk.

Tensions between Russia and the US are being fueled every day by players who would benefit financially from a resumption of the Cold War which, from 1948 to 1991 cost US taxpayers $20 TRILLION dollars (in 2014 dollars), an amount exceeding our $18 trillion National Debt.

With wars re-igniting in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Syria being a staging ground for an ongoing proxy war between the great powers, the US treasury is being drained for military adventures, our national debt is piling up, and we are demonstrably less safe. 

Tomorrow the US House will debate and vote on H. Res. 758 which is tantamount to a ‘Declaration of Cold War’ against Russia, reciting a host of grievances, old and new, against Russia which represent complaints that Russia could well make against the US, given our nation’s most recent military actions: Violating territorial integrity, violations of international law, violations of nuclear arms agreements.

Congress’ solution? Restart the Cold War!

Please take action today. Alert those you know who care about peace and creating a worldwide community of respect and good relationship.

We must stand for peace, or the forces of darkness will take us into war.