The United States and its allies are determined to wage
war by other means against the Russian Federation. Ever since the fall of the
Soviet Union NATO has encroached further and further and is now on Russia’s
doorstep, surrounding it with member states. In 2014 the United States
instigated a coup against the elected government of Ukraine and in response the
Russian Federation annexed Crimea with its citizens’ support in order to
protect itself from any possible military action.
The imposition of sanctions, the expulsion of Russia
from the G8 group, attacks upon Russian allied nations such as Syria, and the
Saudi/United States connivance to lower the price of oil have all been used to
inflict the maximum amount of damage. The western corporate media have played
their obedient role and repeat every government slander against Russia. First
president Vladimir Putin is demonized, then the entire country. They now refer
to “Putin’s Russia” to insure that both the leader and his people are disregarded
and considered unworthy of any human or international rights.
In recent months NATO has announced plans to place
31,000 troops on Russia’s borders, an act which increases the danger of war.
New missiles have been located in neighboring countries and raise the risk of
nuclear confrontation.
There are no bounds in this conflict. Even athletes
are punished. The admission by several Russian athletes, coaches and doctors
that they were involved in using or concealing the use of banned substances
will result in a sparse Russian presence at the Olympic games in Rio de
Janeiro.
The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF)
banned every Russian track and field athlete from competition. None were given
an opportunity to prove their innocence. They can only compete if they
participate under a neutral Olympic flag, and not as representatives of Russia.
After much debate the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided that individual
sports federations will determine who can and cannot go to the Rio de Janeiro
games. But all Russian athletes must prove that they are “clean.”
IOC chairman Thomas Bach is himself under attack from
the western corporate media for his desire to protect as he put it “individual
rights.” He should be praised for his attempt at fairness but instead he is
vilified as if he were Vladimir Putin.
Cheating is rampant in world class athletics. Every
year athletes from all over the world are caught using banned substances. In
this instance the confessed cheaters have all left Russia and will profit personally
from their own wrong doing.
These decisions to single out Russia for punishment are
unprecedented and are undeniably political in nature. It may seem harmless to
use sports as part of the imperialist strategy, but demonization and aggression
of any kind makes it likely that an actual military attack would face little
opposition in western nations.
NATO countries have violated the letter and the spirit
of the olympics movement in order to carry out their goal of subjugating Russia by any
and every means. It is not only a tragedy for the individuals involved, but is
part of a greater danger to the entire world. The unrelenting campaign of lies
against Russia must be opposed by people of conscience.
