November 20, 2015

All is not forgotten

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Now that Russian President Vladimir Putin is becoming the West’s ally in fighting ISIS (a.k.a. ISIL and Daesh), there is palpable fear in Ukraine, and among supporters of Ukraine, that this newfound “cooperation” will mean Mr. Putin’s actions in Ukraine will be forgotten, or even forgiven.

Back on September 25, former U.S. Ambassador John Herbst wrote on the Atlantic Council website, that “Syria may be Putin’s rest stop – if not off-ramp – from the Ukraine crisis.” At that point, Moscow had sent troops to prop up the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, provided military hardware, set up an air base and begun bombing operations against rebel groups. As Mr. Herbst observed, “What better way to disguise a retreat, or at least a pause, in the Ukraine war than to trumpet a new offensive elsewhere?” Numerous other commentators also noted that Russia was hoping cooperation with the U.S. and the West on Syria would restore relations that went sour over Russia’s takeover of Crimea and invasion of eastern Ukraine.

Now, in the wake of the horrendous terrorist attacks in Paris, Mr. Putin is just itching for Russia to play the role of a great power and world leader in defeating terrorism. Surreal, isn’t it? A state sponsor of terrorism wants to lead the fight on terrorism.

Indeed, Aaron Korewa, a former political adviser to former Foreign Minister of Sweden Carl Bildt, quite correctly noted on the Atlantic Council site: “The separatist groups Moscow is supporting in the Donbas would no doubt be labeled terrorists had they tried to separate from some Russian province.” Furthermore, such terrorist acts continue. Kremlin-supported groups are active in Kharkiv, Odesa and other places, Mr. Korewa goes on to say, explaining that it isn’t clear “if these organizations are real terrorist groups, or if they are just a cover for Russian intelligence or their proxies in Ukraine.”

We must underscore, however, that “real” terrorists or under-cover terrorists – the end result is the same. And the West had better take note.

Meanwhile, a pertinent headline on a Russian-language story by Radio Liberty asks: “Putin: Once again a partner of the West?” Paul Goble’s account of the roundtable discussion that appears below that November 16 headline reports that one of the discussants, Moscow sociologist Igor Eidman warned: “…the West will not get anything out of this. …Putin yet again will deceive Western politicians and wrap them around his fingers.” The major reason cited by Mr. Eidman is that “as the history of the Ukrainian conflict shows, any agreements that can be reached with Putin, he will violate at will and try to use any situation not for solving declared goals such as the struggle with ISIS or Islamism, but rather for solving his own specific tactical expansionist tasks.” What’s more, he says, those who would support the idea of some sort of anti-terrorist coalition with the Russian president should consider what Mr. Putin’s main goal in the Middle East is: “to create chaos, boost the price of oil, and thus improve his situation at home.”

In a word: beware.

As if that weren’t enough, on November 19 there was news from Moscow that clarified Mr. Putin’s goals in this battle against terrorism. Mr. Goble reported that Russia’s Federation Council, while calling for the creation of an international coalition against terrorism, stated at the end of its appeal to the world: “The policy of double standards and unilateral sanctions weakens the chances for international cooperation in opposing terrorism.” In plain English: the West must lift sanctions against Russia imposed because of actions in Ukraine or else Moscow won’t join the fight.

Dare we hope the West won’t fall for this?

We cannot forget the Putin regime’s aggression against Ukraine. We cannot forgive a state sponsor of terrorism because it is now, ostensibly, on our side. Sanctions must remain in place until Russian forces leave Ukrainian territory, until Ukraine’s border is secured, until all hostages are released and until all the commitments of the Minsk agreements are fulfilled.

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