It turns out, according to an Amnesty International report issued Thursday, that Ukraine is using human shields as part of its conflict with Russia. So when errant Russian shells kill civilians, that “proves” that the Russians are genocidal maniacs and that we need to enter the conflict and start World War III. Truth is the first casualty in war.
These acts do not justify Russia’s indiscriminate attacks. And Amnesty notes that there are cases where Russia shelled civilian targets without evidence that there were Ukrainian forces located there. But it does undermine Joe Biden’s claim that escalating the conflict there is necessary to protect freedom. This is part of a systematic pattern of the US supporting dictatorial regimes because the ends somehow justify the means. This has happened over a period of 120+ years.
Yes, the US allied with the Soviet Union during World War II. But our national existence was in danger. In general, the US should not be in the business of supporting foreign dictators. The US should ally with nations that share its values, like the UK, Japan, or Canada, for instance. We should trade with other countries; we should open up markets for our farmers; we should maintain good diplomatic relations with them. But Ukraine is listed as “Partly Free” by Freedom House, another human rights group. They are on a par with Hungary’s Orban and Marcos’ Philippines.
The Amnesty International report found a systematic pattern of Ukrainian forces launching strikes from within populated residential areas, frequently miles away from front lines, and even when there were viable alternatives that would not endanger civilians. And the Ukrainian military never asked or assisted civilians in evacuating, which is a basic precaution.
If the Biden Administration is so concerned about human rights and about its “Rules Based International Order,” then why are they not insisting that Ukraine follow international law? International law, according to Amnesty, requires all parties to a conflict to avoid locating, to the maximum extent feasible, military objectives within or near densely populated areas, removing civilians from the vicinity of military objectives, and giving warning of attacks which may affect the civilian population. This is evidence that Joe Biden’s escalation of the conflict is not based on concern for human rights, but based on a personal vendetta against Russia.
The Amnesty report describes specific examples, such as a 50 year old man whose body was ripped to shreds when a rocket hit the area. There were soldiers next door. In Lysychansk, where some of the heaviest fighting is taking place, Amnesty interviewed two people who witnessed Ukrainian forces firing from residential neighborhoods. Amnesty researchers observed Ukrainian forces using a residential building 60 feet from where a shelter was located. Researchers observed this in other cities as well.
Ukrainian forces are also using hospitals and schools. For instance, in two places, Amnesty researchers observed Ukrainian forces stationed in hospitals and firing from a hospital in another. They went to schools and found that in 22 out of 29 schools visited, Ukrainian forces had been using them for bases.
None of this justifies the indiscriminate Russian strikes, including the use of cluster munitions, or the “Special Military Operation.” There were plenty of diplomatic alternatives available. But two wrongs do not make a right. And the Biden Administration’s escalation of the conflict is not based on any concern for human rights, but to pursue a personal vendetta by Joe Biden against Putin.
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