Excellent post Gringo. I agree entirely. If the USA and its allies had not spent billions in arming and supporting so called "muhajadin freedom fighters" in their efforts to destroy the democratic and progressive government of Afganistan (supported by the Soviet Union at the invitation of that government) we would not be now faced with the same "freedom fighters" attacking us.
Im going to upset the apple cart and admit that I actually like Putin and think he is brilliant. He has done so much for his country and his people. Are you sure you are not all being led by what is written in the MSM? It seems to me,that Putin is his own man. He can see what is going on in the west and clearly doesn't want to be part of the so called 'New World Order'. He is intelligent enough to know that the wars that the US and ourselves have started have nothing to do with WMD and everything to do with money and the control of oil. Indeed,he has told President Obama "tell your citizens that 9/11 was a was a false flag,or I will.I have the evidence to prove it". Imo warmonger Bush was far more dangerous than Putin.
Unfortunately Neil our media are so craven and complicit that the questions that should be asked by a truly free press are conspicuous by their absence.
What passes as reporting world events in our media is nothing more than a Government press release and bears little or no resemblance to actual events. Memories are as long as the news cycle because surely someone in a free press should be wondering whatever became of those jolly mujahideen that we helped overthrow and form a government in Afghanistan.
Reports from Ukraine are so lacking in balance that they come across as nothing more than the propaganda that they are. The accusations of a Russian invasion are laughable. Not one piece of evidence, pictures, satellite images are shown of any russian troops or equipment crossing into Ukraine. The Ukrainian Army plus various ragtag militia are shelling their own citizens who want nothing to do with the coup installed Kiev government.
The eastern regions are largely ethnic Russian and if they want closer ties with Russia then why should anyone say otherwise. It is a civil war in Ukraine, one in which Ukrainian government conscripted boys are shelling their own citizens. Russia hasn't invaded and if they had then I am sure that there would be lots of evidence of this Russian invasion. Our government has to pretend that Russia is being aggressive in order to have one of our "humanitarian interventions" and people are seriously still falling for it.
If the Russians were really to invade Ukraine they would be in Kiev inside 48 hours. Despite the ridiculous provocations of the US/EU Russia have in fact been the only grown ups on the world stage and have resisted responding militarily, instead choosing diplomacy, and in the process have made our supposed statesmen look like warmongering fools.
Sergey Lavrov makes Hague and Kerry look out of their depth. But Hague and Kerry are just the paid stooges of vested interests rather than servants of the publics interest, something made apparent by their appetite for war.
Tyler, I think there are many who would agree with you about Putin. Cameron, Obama, Bush, Blair et al are not a patch on Putin. Our leaders look like the weak placemen that they are in comparison. Putin serves Russia's interests and our leaders serve the interests of the corporations, bankers and rich elite.