Putin's Straight Talk UN Address

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

In stark contrast to duplicitous Western politicians, notable US ones, especially its White House incumbent, Putin's remarks feature straight talk, saying what he means and meaning what he says.

Always refreshingly straightforward, what he says is important to hear.

On Tuesday, during the UN's 75th anniversary year, he delivered a pre-recorded address to the General Assembly, some of its highlights below.

Noting the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 at an enormous cost in vast destruction, loss of human lives and suffering, Putin stressed that the post-war world order was built on the UN Charter's foundation.

Representing core post-WW II international law, it's repeatedly breached by the US, its imperial partners, and Israel in pursuit of their imperial agendas.

Russia operates by a higher standard, supporting world peace, stability, cooperation among all nations, and confrontation with none — differences and disagreements when exist resolved diplomatically.

Putin stressed that UN Charter principles "include the equality of sovereign states, non-interference with their domestic affairs, the right of peoples to determine their own future, non-use of force or the threat of force, and political settlement of disputes."

Russia under his leadership observes the letter and spirit of the above principles — polar operates how US-dominated NATO states operate, breaching the rule of law, smashing nations to control them, a force of pure evil, not good.

Established in 1945 to prevent the scourge of another devastating global war, the world body was largely co-opted to serve US-led Western interests.

Its secretary general and other key officials are installed by Washington with input from its imperial partners.

Instead of pursuing a new era of world peace and stability, endless wars by hot and other means raged with no end of them in prospect since establishment of the world body.

Instead of adhering to UN Charter principles, its secretariat, other organs, and key departments consistently breach them.

Instead of opposing US-led aggression, key UN officials support it by failing to denounce what no one should be silent about.

Instead of supporting victims of aggression, they tacitly back perpetrators by failing to demand accountability for their high crimes.

Instead of demanding respect for the sovereign rights of all nations,  free from foreign interference according to international law, the UN secretary general and other key officials ignore US/NATO/Israeli aggression, state terror, and other high crimes of war and against humanity — tacitly supporting what demands condemnation.

My views above differ from Putin's, saying "the UN has been ably fulfilling its mission of protecting peace, promoting sustainable development of the peoples and continents, and providing assistance in mitigating local crises."

If only it was so. It hasn't been throughout most of the post-WW II period because of US use of the world body to pursue its hegemonic aims, its secretaries general and other key officials operating as US imperial tools.

Putin also stressed that like other organizations and entities, the UN should evolve to meet new challenges in a "complicated, multipolar and multidimensional" world.

Conditions today are vastly different from 75 years ago.

Putin called for the Security Council to be "more inclusive of the interests of all countries, as well as the diversity of their positions, base its work on the principle of the broadest possible consensus among states and, at the same time, continue to serve as the cornerstone of global governance, which cannot be achieved unless the permanent members of the Security Council retain their veto power."

It's a vital check on US/NATO imperial overreach, assuring it's denied world body blessing.

While veto power of the Security Council's five permanent members doesn't deter aggression or other high crimes, it stands against them by expressing opposition.

US drive for hegemony prevents world peace and stability. The latter "face(s) serious challenges," said Putin.

US rage for military might caused "the arms control system (to break) down."

US responsibility for "regional conflicts continu(e) unabated," including its state-sponsored terror.

Made-in-the-USA Covid-19 and economic collapse created the hardest of hard times in the US and many other countries.

Indeed, "it will take a really, really long time to restore the global economy" to a more prosperous, stabile earlier time, perhaps a decade or longer.

Mutual cooperation for "innovative solutions" is needed, said Putin.

He called attention to what he proposed before — creation of " 'green corridors,' free from trade wars and sanctions, primarily for essential goods, food, medicine and personal protective equipment needed to fight the pandemic."

He also called for "freeing the world trade from barriers, bans, restrictions and illegitimate sanctions (to) revitaliz(e) global growth and reduc(e) unemployment."

Hundreds of millions of lost jobs this year caused an "acute global social problem" that's essential to turn around.

Omitted from his comments is that money power in private hands — notably in the West — and democracy can't co-exist.

It lets unelected, unaccountable elements loot economies for their own self-interest.

In the US, it caused soaring national debt, record-high unemployment and underemployment.

Easy money, market manipulation, deregulation, reckless speculation, counterproductive fixes, and unsustainable debt contributed greatly to economic collapse — made-in-the USA COVID-19 pushing things over the edge, immiserating countless millions of US households.

Money power in private hands combined with financialization at the expense of industrial America produced policies wrecking the country and futures of ordinary people.

Instead of making better things for better living, America's financialized economy proliferates unbridled greed, fueled by limitless amounts of privately created money that benefits privileged interests exclusively at the expense of the general welfare.

If money power returned to public hands where it belongs, sustained prosperity could follow.

It's how colonial America prospered for a generation — federal tax and inflation-free.

It works the same way everywhere. How things were in the US long ago can happen again.

Political will alone prevents it. As long as politicians are beholden to monied interest under a one-party system with two right wings in the US, today's dismal state may worsen ahead, not improve.

People power can change things. Tinkering around the edges won't work.

Radical change is needed. The alternative is neo-serfdom under police state rule, a nation more unsafe and unfit to live in than already.

A Final Comment

Putin covered much more important ground in his notable address, polar opposite how Trump uses the world stage to serve privileged interests and himself over the public welfare he disdains.

I yield the last word to Russia's president, saying the following:

"I would like to underline again that Russia will make every effort to contribute to peaceful political and diplomatic resolution of regional crises and conflicts, as well as to ensuring strategic stability," adding:

"(W)e will consistently advance constructive, uniting initiatives, (including toward achieving) arms control and strengthening the treaty regimes."

"In the current challenging environment, it is important for all countries to show political will, wisdom and foresight."

"(W)e need to work together drawing on the principles and norms of international law enshrined in the UN Charter." 

"This is the only way for us to carry out the paramount mission of our organization and provide a decent life for the present and future generations."

He wished everyone everywhere "peace and well-being."

His thoughtful remarks stand in sharp contrast to Trump's truth-twisting mass deception and indifference toward ordinary people everywhere.

VISIT MY WEBSITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

My two Wall Street books are timely reading:

"How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion, and Class War"

https://www.claritypress.com/product/how-wall-street-fleeces-america/

"Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity"

https://www.claritypress.com/product/banker-occupation-waging-financial-war-on-humanity/