Russia's Veto Of The MH17 UN Criminal Tribunal Is An Admission Of Guilt

Putin cannot afford to let the Russian people know that it was Russian equipment and likely trained Russian experts which killed some 300 innocent victims. He must keep the MH17 investigation out of a legitimate court of law and continue to fight this as a propaganda war that he can win–at least at home where it counts.

go to Forbes.com

Why Putin Cannot Confess, Deny, Or Allow A Credible Investigation of MH17

A Google search for “Who Shot Down Malaysian Airlines 17?” elicits a plethora of innocuous-sounding Kremlin sites (Globalnews, Express, Storyleak) claiming that either a Ukrainian fighter or a Ukrainian missile shot down MH17 to cast blame on Russia. Western media, in contrast, still write in cautious tones. After all, they say, the matter is under investigation.  BBC cautions that getting to the truth is a “Herculean task” and that “alternative scenarios” must be disproved. The New York Times leads with the headline “Little Certainty 1 Year after Airliner Shot Down in Ukraine.” Such hemming and hawing raises the doubts for which Russian propaganda strives.

go to Forbes.com

The Madeleine Albright Declaration: Origins Of A Kremlin Lie

The Kremlin uses a venerable explanation for American perfidy: The U.S. covets the natural wealth of Siberia and believes the world’s natural resources should be distributed more evenly under its supervision. How does the Kremlin know America’s evil intentions? It can look inside the mind of its No. 1 enemy. The Protocols of the Elders of Zion forgery, which circulated in imperial Russia, blamed a world Zionist conspiracy for mounting troubles and unleashed pogroms. Putin’s regime has its equivalent—the Madeleine Albright Declaration.

go to Forbes.com

Europe's Harsh Deal Puts Greece Into Receivership And Avoids Contagion

The EU has wisely made the Greece deal so unpalatable that other countries with tottering public finances in similar need of reform are not tempted by contagion to follow in Greece’s footsteps. After seeing Greece’s terms, it is doubtful that Cyprus, Portugal or Spain will wish to do what Greece did.

By my count, Greece’s outstanding debt will soon rise to more than $350 billion. The EU meanwhile resists making available, by comparison, tiny funds for embattled Ukraine to survive economically despite its fighting a hot war on Europe’s behalf.

go to Forbes.com