[medo-bear]

The US, a sole world leader in the 1990s-2000s, had the responsibility and opportunity to uphold international law. Instead they chose to function as an imperialist power. Today they claim to protect international law.

EDIT: RESPONSE TO BELLOW

> Russia was already violating the human rights chapters in ‘95

Correction, Russia was already violating rights of its own citizens in 1993 [0] with full US blessings

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_Russian_constitutional_cr...

[JumpCrisscross]

> US, a sole world leader in the 1990s-2000s, had the responsibility and opportunity to uphold international law

That’s a hell of a punt there. You said “the US set the precedent” for disregarding international law, starting by citing the bombing of Yugoslavia in ‘99. Russia was already violating the human rights chapters in ‘95, and the Soviet Union (alongside America) was violating the foreign-intervention chapters since basically they were penned.

So no, there was no precedent. America continued with the status quo. You’re arguing Washington failed to create a new precedent, as it did when it had global nuclear hegemony in the aftermath of WWII. That’s a legitimate argument. But a different one from that which you’re making.

[meepmorp]

> Russia was already violating rights of its own citizens in 1993 [0] with full US blessings

Why are the Americans (or NATO) always responsible for the awful things the Russian government does?

[medo-bear]

Because Yeltsin was heavily supported by the US. He bombed elected officials not favourable to the US. Similar thing happened when the US supported Saddam and Pinochet

[thodin]

BTW, US embassy staff was trying to negotiate peaceful meeting between opposition and Eltsin's team. But "elected officials" tried to seize TV building with military force instead of discussions.

I don't see how US could be blamed for this.

[medo-bear]

im not really interested in blaming the US. but the fact is he would never had gotten away with it had the US not stood by him. at that time in Russia there was a real prospect of communists returning to power ... through elections. mainly im interested in pointing out that the US is a hypocrite when it comes to its own values and that it too should be seen as an imperialist power. same as Russia. only once people see both entities as bad a proper thesis about a better more just world can be made. i have no problem saying f*ck putin or f*ck biden (or f*ck trump) as long as it is in the same sentence

[chrysler]

>> only once people see both entities as bad a proper thesis about a better more just world can be made.

You're putting a loser mentality on full display. As much as cynical smartass Russians like to mock "fat stupid Americans", in the end of the day it comes down to what kind of life do governments provide for their citizens. Americans live far longer, healthier, happier, more peaceful and more prosperous lives than you do. They have allies all over the world who willingly engage in commerce, cultural exchange, political and military cooperation, and many other things without coersion because of the mutual benefits it brings.

Russia is a cargo cult version of this. Tries to imitate American influence in the world, but fails, because Russians bring very little of any value to the this world. Mostly things that are in the ground anyway, and not products of their ingenuity and determined work.

No, you are not equals. America is a vast incredibly rich empire, but you're just a gas station with nukes. No amount of whataboutism changes the simple fact that everyone envies the Americans and sees you as losers.

[medo-bear]

Im not Russian and I have no Russian herritage. Never even been to Russia (or US). Im from Europe (from a country with a consistently higher life expectancy than that in the US) and like a LOT of other Europeans I find the very many Americans with this kind of obnoxious attitude (which you might call cultural exchange) pretty revolting. Maybe your walled garden information sources wont tell you this but your allies are getting pretty tiered of your Anglo "superiority" attitude. Touch ground

[lisasays]

i have no problem saying f*ck putin or f*ck biden (or f*ck trump) as long as it is in the same sentence

Some folks are caught in purity spirals. Your basic problem (or at least one of them, anyway -- from the content of your postings here, you seem to have many) is that you're caught in a Whataboutism spiral. Which is just as debilitating, but you don't seem to realize this yet.

[medo-bear]

It's not purity about purity, it's about blatant hypocrisy

[thodin]

So you think that US had to invade Russia to remove Eltsin?! He was elected in 1991 (even before USSR collapsed) and had very strong support in Moscow and major cities.

And elections in 1993 (after the dissolution of parliament) were won by Zhirinovsky's party, communists were only 3rd. US never supported Zhirinovsky and he wasn't a communist.

I don't see how US could be blamed for anything that happened in 1993 because they were really trying to stop the crisis, but far-right nationalists (like Barkashov and Makashov) started military actions, like mayor's office assault and TV building attack.

This is not a "returning to power ... through elections" for sure.

[medo-bear]

> So you think that US had to invade Russia to remove Eltsin?!

You should practice reading plain English.

> This is not a "returning to power ... through elections" for sure.

Communists returning to power in Russia was an actual concern for the US foreign policy. For example it is unclear if Yeltsin fairly won against Zyuganov in 1996. Even today the Communist Party of the Russian Federation polls around 20%. They are the largest opposition party. Although it is pretty obvious they are a fake Communist Party

[chrysler]

If you want Americans to run your country and be responsible for everything that happens there, then start by flying Stars and Stripes over the Kremlin.

[meepmorp]

Yeah, ok, so just the basic "America bad," view of things.

[medo-bear]

Just goes to show there are useful idiots on every side :)

[meepmorp]

That's not a nice thing to say about yourself.

[medo-bear]

its not about me ... uncle sam needs YOU ;)