test
just testing ubuntu screen cap ability
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/21/highlights-of-russian-president-putins-speech
Highlights of Russian President Putin’s speech
On recognition of pro-Russian separatists
I deem it necessary to make a decision that should have been made a long time ago – to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic.
On Ukraine’s NATO membership
If Ukraine was to join NATO it would serve as a direct threat to the security of Russia.
On origins of modern Ukraine
Modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia, more precisely, Bolshevik, communist Russia. This process began immediately after the revolution of 1917…
As a result of Bolshevik policy, Soviet Ukraine arose, which even today can with good reason be called “Vladimir Ilyich Lenin’s Ukraine”. He is its author and architect. This is fully confirmed by archive documents… And now grateful descendants have demolished monuments to Lenin in Ukraine. This is what they call decommunisation. Do you want decommunisation? Well, that suits us just fine. But it is unnecessary, as they say, to stop halfway. We are ready to show you what real decommunisation means for Ukraine.
On Ukrainian statehood
Ukraine never had a tradition of genuine statehood.
On break-up of USSR
Russia assumed obligations to repay the entire Soviet debt in return for the newly independent states giving up part of their foreign assets. In 1994, such agreements were reached with Ukraine, but they were not ratified by Ukraine…
[Ukraine] preferred to act in such a way that in relations with Russia they had all the rights and advantages, but did not bear any obligations…
From the very first steps they began to build their statehood on the denial of everything that unites us. They tried to distort the consciousness, the historical memory of millions of people, entire generations living in Ukraine.
On NATO’s 2008 membership promise to Ukraine and Georgia
Many European allies of the United States already perfectly understood all the risks of such a prospect, but were forced to come to terms with the will of their senior partner. The Americans simply used them to carry out a pronounced anti-Russian policy.
A number of member states of the alliance are still very sceptical about the appearance of Ukraine in NATO. At the same time, we are receiving a signal from some European capitals, saying what are you worried about, this will not happen literally tomorrow. Yes, in fact, our American partners are also talking about this.
Well, we answer, if not tomorrow, so the day after tomorrow. What does this change in a historical perspective? Basically, nothing. Moreover, we know the position and words of the US leadership that active hostilities in eastern Ukraine do not exclude the possibility of this country joining NATO if it can meet the criteria of the North Atlantic alliance and defeat corruption.
At the same time, they try to convince us over and over again that NATO is a peace-loving and purely defensive alliance, saying that there are no threats to Russia. Again they propose that we take them at their word. But we know the real value of such words.
On a threat to Russia
We clearly understand that under such a scenario, the level of military threats to Russia will dramatically increase many times over. I pay special attention to the fact that the danger of a sudden strike against our country will increase many times over.
Let me explain that US strategic planning documents contain the possibility of a so-called preemptive strike against enemy missile systems. And who is the main enemy for the US and NATO? We know that too. It’s Russia. In NATO documents, our country is officially and directly declared the main threat to North Atlantic security. And Ukraine will serve as a forward springboard for the strike. If our ancestors had heard about it, they probably would simply not have believed it. And today we don’t want to believe it, but it’s true.
On sanctions
They are trying to blackmail us again. They are threatening us again with sanctions, which, by the way, I think they will introduce anyway as Russia’s sovereignty strengthens and the power of our armed forces grows. And a pretext for another sanctions attack will always be found or fabricated. Regardless of the situation in Ukraine.
There is only one goal – to restrain the development of Russia. And they will do it, as they did before. Even without any formal pretext at all. Just because we exist, and we will never compromise our sovereignty, national interests and our values. I want to say clearly and directly that in the current situation, when our proposals for an equal dialogue on fundamental issues have actually remained unanswered by the United States and NATO, when the level of threats to our country is increasing significantly, Russia has every right to take retaliatory measures to ensure its own security. That is exactly what we will do.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/ukraine-crisis-now-has-its-version-iraq-wmd-putin-send-lgbtqi-persons-prison-camps
Ukraine Crisis Version Of Iraq WMD: Putin To Send "LGBTQI+ Persons" To "Camps"
Washington has seriously ramped up its media demonization campaign targeting Vladimir Putin and Russia amid the intensifying conflict in Donbas. At this point it's reaching levels not seen since before the US wars waged to overthrow Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein.
On Monday morning US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC that Putin is planning an “extremely violent” invasion of Ukraine. He cited intelligence - though without providing details - which "suggests" Russia will unleash "an even greater form of brutality" against Ukrainians in order "to repress them, to crush them, to harm them."
This follows on the heels of a Sunday report in The Washington Post that the Biden administration is warning international allies the Kremlin has compiled compiled a list of Ukrainians "to be killed or sent to camps following a military occupation."
The allegations were spelled out in a letter the US sent to the United Nations authored by Ambassador Bathsheba Crocker. It included highly sensational claims that Russia will round up "LGBTQI+ persons" to be put in camps or persecuted by other means:
"I would like to bring to your attention disturbing information recently obtained by the United States that indicates that human rights violations and abuses in the aftermath of a further invasion are being planned," Crocker wrote. "These acts, which in past Russian operations have included targeted killings, kidnappings/forced disappearances, unjust detentions, and the use of torture, would likely target those who oppose Russian actions, including Russian and Belarusian dissidents in exile in Ukraine, journalists and anti-corruption activists, and vulnerable populations such as religious and ethnic minorities and LGBTQI+ persons."
These "minorities" and "LGBTQI+" individuals will be "killed or sent to camps following a military occupation," Crocker warned in the letter.
The letter included talk of a "kill or capture" list. But the fresh claims should invoke the same level of skepticism which the prior "imminent" Russian invasion claims did. The tactic the White House has long relied on is to smear anyone expressing doubts or demanding evidence of the typical "anonymous officials say.." assertions as a Kremlin stooge, or as "amplifying" Russian propaganda.
Crocker's letter addressing the UN continued, "Specifically, we have credible information that indicates Russian forces are creating lists of identified Ukrainians to be killed or sent to camps following a military occupation," she wrote. "We also have credible information that Russian forces will likely use lethal measures to disperse peaceful protests or otherwise counter peaceful exercises of perceived resistance from civilian populations."
We are now firmly in that phase of an "information war" where any and all maximalist claims and allegations are made against a foreign leader to depict them as a cartoon villain. Evidence then vanishes, as the most outlandish claims such as "Gaddafi Viagra mass rape" or "Saddam al-Qaeda links" or "incubator babies" are made and spread in the mainstream media - all without evidence of course. As one online commentator noted, these new Russian "capture or kill" explosive allegations against Russia are but the "Latest and improved version of WMD!!"
Recent analysis in the online journal Passage points out that this is typically the precursor to US military action against a foreign leader that's been simplistically vilified as a "demon" and blood-thirsty "monster" carrying out purposeless and random atrocities. "These leaders aren’t treated as rational actors that, in turn with other members of their government, act based on strategy. They are portrayed as being motivated merely by destruction," the report emphasizes. And more:
Today, the media portrays the good hegemons as democratic actors that solve their problems with level-headed strategy. Their enemies, meanwhile, are portrayed as erratic, hostile and rogue figures that will unexpectedly unleash violence simply because they can. As such, they can be portrayed as animals that need to be “tamed” or put down.
This of course leads to flawed analysis, disastrous foreign policy "mistakes", and military interventions based on lies. It serves the purpose of propagandizing the domestic masses, as new regime change foreign adventures are cooked up in Washington.