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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy It Matters that We Call the Russian Invasion What It Is: Genocide, Not War
Posted on Sat, Mar 19th, 2022 by Tim Libretti
Opinion: Why It Matters that We Call the Russian Invasion What It Is: Genocide, Not War
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A war suggests there are two aggressors trying to resolve a disagreement through force, through armed conflict.
There was no disagreement here to be resolved. The whole world understands that Ukraine is a sovereign nation. Putin simply doesnt like that fact and has made up his own rules, denying that sovereignty and objecting to the Ukrainian peoples right to self-determination.
Plus, Putin is actually going after civilian populations more than he is engaging military targets. Thats not war.
If someone just starts shooting at me because they dont want me to exist or because they want what I have, thats not really war. Thats attempted homicide.
On the world stage, among nations, I dont think we call that war either. Its genocideespecially, to repeat, when Putin is targeting civilians more than he is engaging the Ukrainian military forces.
more...
https://www.politicususa.com/2022/03/19/why-it-matters-that-we-call-the-russian-invasion-what-it-is-genocide-not-war.html
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)Crunchy Frog
(26,548 posts)and he's taking steps to make that non-existence a practical reality.
Our leaders need to start calling him out on it, and tighten sanctions to the point of blocking shipments of food and medicine into Russia.
We should not be helping Russians to eat while they're starving Ukrainians.
Jack-o-Lantern
(965 posts)NQAS
(10,749 posts)Well
NATO
WWIII
Nuclear threat
Vs
Genocide
Looks like genocide is winning. Just lets not act all shocked down the road.
Dont get me wrong. What the collective we are doing is great. Amazing, actually. Incredibly impressive.
And I understand Bidens WWIII comments.
But, still, Putins goal is the eradication of the Ukrainian people. And he doesnt care about the rubble that remains.
BigmanPigman
(51,430 posts)that's what Putin is forcing his countrymen to say under threat of prosecution. When younger Russians are interviewed they say "special operation" and roll their eyes since they know it is BS.
Zeitghost
(3,796 posts)My family (tragically few of them) survived a genocide by the Turks. The current conflict is a horrible tragedy, but it is not genocide.
Fiendish Thingy
(15,361 posts)bluewater
(5,376 posts)That's the predominant ethnic group that close to the Russian border and shows how insane Putin actually is.
Putin is slaughtering the very people he claims he's trying to "protect".
These ethnic Russians, all loyal Ukrainian citizens, are fighting the hardest against the Russian invasion and suffering the most.
Fiendish Thingy
(15,361 posts)Who are targeted because of their race, religion, or nationality.
The removal of civilians to camps in Russia is itself a form of cultural genocide.
bluewater
(5,376 posts)I have always thought of genocide as being ethnically based, probably because there are so many examples of that, but thanks for the broader definition.
Zeitghost
(3,796 posts)When you consider that Russia/Putin is not targeting them for their nationality or ethnicity. It's a war of conquest and territorial expansion for economic gain and geopolitical control.
It's a horrible war and an attack on a sovereign nation, there is no need to water down the term genocide.
Fiendish Thingy
(15,361 posts)But since thats completely fallen apart, Putin has changed his goal and decided to settle for genocide.
Zeitghost
(3,796 posts)As I really don't want to be drawn into anything that even appears to be minimizing the atrocities committed by Putin/Russia.
That said, the targeting of civilians, while horrible, does not equal genocide. If Ukraine capitulated tonight the slaughter would stop. Putin wants Ukraine and he's willing to terrorize the civilian population in order to make that happen, but his aim is not now and never has been removal of the Ukrainian people from the face of the earth.
I know that doesn't mean much to those who families have been slaughtered, but as someone who's family and people almost were erased, it's an important distinction.
uponit7771
(90,225 posts)... children and the elderly of Ukraine and bomb buildings.
LITERALLY
If this was a conventional war the RA would've surrendered already but all they have now is killing civilians as much as possible.
I don't see how that's not genocide
Cha
(295,899 posts)Sugarcoating this Shit.
💙💛
ck4829
(34,971 posts)uponit7771
(90,225 posts)... and children and the elderly now including blowing up buildings.
The RA is now a mechanized terrorist organization cause UA regulars have whooped their asses
Azathoth
(4,603 posts)It's war, revanchism, violent nationalism, war crimes. But it's not genocide.
A lot of people just don't seem to get that Russia could have done a lot worse things than what they did. The whole reason Putin got bogged down and lost is because he *isn't* trying to genocide the Ukrainians, but rather conquer and annex them into greater Russia. Likewise, the escalating war crimes are not some shift into genocide, but rather a cynical strategy to increase the pressure on Zelenzky to accept some kind of deal that will allow Russia to get the hell out of its mistake while claiming victory. Many of the victims of this vicious stupidity are ethnic Russians in the east.
Calling this genocide does a terrible disservice to those peoples who really did suffer from attempted genocide.
Irish_Dem
(45,617 posts)Democracy is his sworn enemy and he will destroy it to gain world dominance, along with China who feels the same way.
So we are seeing a battle between autocracy and democracy.
calimary
(80,693 posts)Im starting to hear more references to war crimes and the name Vladimir Putin in the same sentence. Which troubles me NOT at all.
Glad to see and hear it. Pretty soon, War-Crimes will be little Vladdys middle name.
If it isnt, already.
I bet hes always wanted to be big. And he thinks he get get that way, at least figuratively. Big and feared.
Napoleon Complex much?