Laas Leivat: The anti-Ukraine left and right fringes (9)
Eestlased Kanadas | 22 May 2023  | Laas LeivatEesti Elu
With some exceptions, it’s evident that the far left and far right have converged in their positions on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, at least in the US. It was starkly evident with the February 19 demonstration, “Rage Against the War Machine” at the Lincoln Memorial.

The fringes’ alliance included far-right GOP politicians Tulsi Gabbard and Ron Paul, and leftist Jill Stein of the Green Party. Fox News’ Tucker Carlson promoted the event and Russian flags were seen in the crowd. Seemingly a natural fit.

It would appear that leftists are willing to make common cause with some of the most rabid pro-Trumpians, like Carlson who has said, “Has Putin ever called me a racist?”. Marjorie Taylor Greene, touted by some as a perfect running mate for Trump, is also on record: “America needs to stop pushing the war in Ukraine.”

The American far left have also embraced this narrative – the culprit for hostilities is expansionist NATO, fueled by an aggressive US foreign policy. The left, like the Kremlin, reject reality – every nation that has joined NATO did so willingly, in fact abided by the overwhelming demand of its citizenry to be part of the alliance. Every country that has joined NATO enjoys a democratically elected government. The left denies the fear of central and eastern Europeans who have always warned of Russia’s capability of invading a neighbour. The left embraced Putin’s argument that he was pushed into a corner by NATO’s move eastward.

The far left also denies the fact that not single new member of NATO from the former Soviet Bloc has shown any signs of being a threat to Russia. This is in sharp contradiction with the dictatorship-ruled countries who voted with Russia to oppose the UN resolution calling for Russian withdrawal from Ukraine – Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua, Eritrea, Syria, with Mali being the exception.

As an aside perhaps, leftists could also align with possible GOP presidential nominee Ron DeSantis, not identified with the fringe right. He has adopted a typical leftist argument that US support for Russia is not an issue of “vital national interest” and called the war a mere “territorial dispute”.

The love affair between Putin and the Western far right was flaunted by the America First Political Action Conference (AFPAC), convened in Florida just one week after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. While the world was affixed with Russia’s attack, Greene set the tone at the gathering with no mention of Russia’s full-scale assault. In fact, applause for Putin exposed his cheerleaders in the audience. Now, with over a year of Russia’s relentless attack, the far right is no longer on the fringe of Republican politics.

Just after Russia’s egregious attack, the “genteel” wing of the Republican party could not be seen as tolerating autocratic regimes. But the political damage that the far right can inflict on support for the Ukrainian cause can now be seen in recent polling of Republicans. Almost two thirds of Republican voters oppose the continuation of financial and military aid for Ukraine. This is in stark contrast with US voters in general who overwhelmingly support Ukraine.


(Pikemalt saab lugeda Eesti Elu 19. mai 2023 paber- ja digilehest)

 

Viimased kommentaarid

Kommentaarid on kirjutatud EWR lugejate poolt. Nende sisu ei pruugi ühtida EWR toimetuse seisukohtadega.
tom01 Jun 2023 08:31
Dear lõunanaaber!31 May 2023 14:31
The Laas who I know would still shake your hand and sit at the same table as you, and probably even try and engage in a meaningful discussion with you - even, maybe especially, if he knew of your political delusions. He is a class act all the way.

Myself, not so much. So please let us know who you are so that I can avoid having anything to do with the likes of you.
lõunanaaber28 May 2023 14:39
It is hard to believe that someone who passionately loves Comrade Ansip, who is/was a Soviet career communist, cares about Estonia.
Who really cares about those Ukrainian fascists who killed and are killing their own people with heavy weapons. It is no wonder that the Ukrainian topic has already become a topic of yerve sanity and insanity.
P.S. I have shaken Mr. Laas Leivat's hand and sat at the same table - no more.

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Eestlased Kanadas