Below is my column in The Hill on the latest development in the investigation of the environmental crimes committed in the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in the waters near Denmark and Sweden in 2022. The German court issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian in a move that could prove an embarrassment for not just Volodymyr Zelensky but Joe Biden. The truth is still unknown with allegations against both Russia and Ukraine. There are “false flags” flying on both sides that dismiss clues pointing to one country or the other. However, the Germans appear to be zeroing in on key Ukrainian figures.
Here is the column:
It is often said that “the first casualty when war comes is truth.” A criminal warrant just issued in Germany shows that war continues to claim its victims. However, this warrant could prove to be as great an indictment not just of the government of Volodymyr Zelensky, but also of former President Joe Biden.
This week, a German court issued an arrest warrant for Ukrainian Serhii Kuznietsov, which may finally confirm what was long suspected: that Ukraine was responsible for the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in the waters near Denmark and Sweden.
The Biden administration may have been given prior warning. It was allegedly told years ago by a Ukrainian whistleblower that a six-person team of Ukrainian special forces was planning to rent a boat, dive to the sea floor and blow up the Nord Stream project. The operation was reportedly led by Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces.
Nevertheless, after the attack, the Biden administration and many in the media fueled speculation that Russia had destroyed its own pipeline, despite evidence and logic to the contrary. It was another convenient claim of a Russian false-flag operation that allowed the Biden administration to ignore the possibility that Ukraine had not only engaged in environmental crimes but had also knowingly lied to its allies.
For years, some of us have questioned the official account from the Biden administration about the available evidence of those responsible.
The suggestion of a Russian attack on a Russian pipeline never seemed logical. However, the administration was funneling billions in support for Ukraine, funding that now exceeds an estimated $180 billion. Having Ukraine sabotage pipelines to our allies would hardly be opportune when many were questioning the costs to U.S. citizens.
The Biden administration was not alone in running interference for Ukraine, as Zelensky denied responsibility despite mounting evidence to the contrary. When another alleged Ukrainian saboteur was found in Poland, a Polish court blocked the extradition to Germany and ordered his release. The reason? The judge did not base the decision on Ukrainian denials. Instead, he declared that the act had been committed in the name of a just war. (Poland remains the frontline against Russian aggression in Europe).
An Italian court did not engage in such rationalization. It ordered the extradition of Kuznietsov, believed to be a key figure in the conspiracy. The attack involved leasing a yacht in the German port of Rostock, using forged IDs and a screen of intermediaries. Kuznietsov insists that he was an army captain serving in Ukraine at the time.
If the investigators are correct, it was not just the Ukrainian government that was lying to us. Biden was also presumably informed by the intelligence agencies of this evidence. Yet Biden kept suggesting anyway that the Russians were covering up the truth. He told the public, “The Russians are pumping out disinformation and lies. We will work with our allies to get to the bottom [of precisely what happened] Just don’t listen to what Putin’s saying. What he’s saying we know is not true.”
Ironically, even if we were told about this evidence, the public might still have supported the commitment to Ukraine. After all, Ukraine is the victim of a horrendous invasion that has involved repeated charges of war crimes against the Russian forces. However, the public has a legitimate expectation that a country that is receiving billions in support will not engage in environmental attacks on our allies. These pipelines were in the economic zone of two NATO countries.
As the Germans work to find the truth, the question is whether the American public will ever be given transparency on our own government’s alleged complicity or knowledge. The public was asked to pump billions into a war while the administration allegedly covered up an attack by Ukraine on a Western pipeline — and then may have misled the public.
The public also has a right to know if the CIA was told in advance that this attack was coming and either gave tacit approval or said nothing to our allies.
While Hiram Johnson is often quoted on his 1929 line about truth in war, the line following was equally poignant: “this mode of propaganda whereby … people become war hungry in their patriotism and are lied into a desire to fight. We have seen it in the past; it will happen again in the future.”
It may have happened in the U.S., and truth was not the only casualty. The American people were treated as chumps who could not handle the truth.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of the best-selling book “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”
From the stand point of America and our foreign policy, in my view, the war in the Ukraine is a complex mess. It was started by Putin who is a vicious hunk of cheap tyrannical scum and in that context, I tend to favor the Ukrainians even though what I read about their leaders suggests that there is a lot of corruption. But America did commit to helping the Ukraine even if there has been significant opposition to doing so. All that said, since we are helping the Ukraine, we should recognize the fact that they are at war defending themselves against a foreign invasion. In that context, they should do anything which hurts Russia. If they cut the cable so what? It’s war and in war you do everything you can to defeat the enemy. Either don’t help them or do help them but in my view, we should definitely not help them while tying their hands as far as what they can do.
Why are we continuing to prop up the Nazi regime of Ukraine, Which is Biden’s money laundering partner, and which serves as the CIA’s playground for bio-weapons development and international torture operations. US out of Ukraine, out of NATO, out of the UN, out of Europe, which is finished.
From The Column:
However, the (Biden) administration was funneling billions in support for Ukraine, funding that now exceeds an estimated $180 billion.
………………………………….
If one adjusts for inflation, that $180 billion is just a pittance compared to what we used to spend on the Cold War. And if Trump succeeds in bringing Russia back as a superpower, that $180 billion will look a chump change.
“. . . chump change.”
That “chump change” was looted from the paychecks of *Americans*.
Forgive me, but I must note an error: The Johnson gentleman Prof. Turley referenced was not referenced in full. Hiram Johnson is the one who famously said “the first casualty when war comes is truth.” Turley references him again with the surname in the next to last paragraph but never told us his first name. The editor needs to wake up a bit.
I’m glad this is all coming out because Putin is a good Christian Nationalist who had a perfect right to invade Ukraine. And it’s wonderful that Trump is openly siding with Putin with regards to this peace deal. So what if NATO balks? Russia and North Korea are the only allies we need.
Among heads of state Trump considers Xi, Putin and Kim to be his closest friends.
BS, not even remotely true.
^ Paid military-industrial complex troll. Ignore. ^
Thanks for agreeing.
Or not.
What the …. does North Korea have to do with anything here. Nothing.
“The Biden administration was not alone in running interference for Ukraine,…” -JT
The CIA was “running interference”, Biden couldn’t even tie his own shoelaces. This is what covert-warfare is.
“The public also has a right to know if the CIA was told in advance that this attack was coming and either gave tacit approval or said nothing to our allies. …” -JT
The CIA provided the underwater explosives and demolition technical support – expertise.
(a CIA backed: group of six people – five men and one woman)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/investigates/nord-stream-pipeline-explosion-ukraine-diver-1.7296527
What does it matter? (Who Done It) The Cat is out of the Bag. Everyone knows the EU/US neo-con warmongers want a war to bloom (and still do).
If what History tells us: Would you want to be Zelensky?
(He knows the ending of his mortality)
Zelensky is a modern-day Noriega.
Re.: Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno was a Panamanian dictator and military officer who was the de facto ruler of Panama from 1983 to 1989. He never officially served as president of Panama, instead ruling as an unelected military dictator through puppet presidents. (Wikipedia)
https://www.rrojasdatabank.info/dictatrs.htm
(Data up to 1990)
The United States and its Friendly Dictators
Many of the world’s most repressive dictators have been friends of America. Tyrants, torturers, killers, and sundry dictators and corrupt puppet-presidents have been aided, supported, and rewarded handsomely for their loyalty to US interests. Traditional dictators seize control through force, while constitutional dictators hold office through voting fraud or severely restricted elections, and are frequently puppets and apologists for the military juntas which control the ballot boxes. In any case, none have been democratically elected by the majority of their people in fair and open elections.
They are democratic America’s undemocratic allies. They may rise to power through bloody ClA-backed coups and rule by terror and torture. Their troops may receive training or advice from the CIA and other US agencies. US military aid and weapons sales often strengthen their armies and guarantee their hold on power. Unwavering “anti-communism” and a willingness to provide unhampered access for American business interests to exploit their countries’ natural resources and cheap labor are the excuses for their repression, and the primary reason the US government supports them. They may be linked internationality to extreme right-wing groups such as the World Anti-Communist League, and some have had strong Nazi affiliations and have offered sanctuary to WWII Nazi war criminals.
They usually grow rich, while their countries’ economies deteriorate and the majority of their people live in poverty. US tax dollars and US-backed loans have made billionaires of some, while others are international drug dealers who also collect CIA paychecks. Rarely are they called to account for their crimes. And rarely still, is the US government held responsible for supporting and protecting some of the worst human rights violators in the world.
Friendly dictators
Abacha, General Sani —————————-Nigeria
Amin, Idi———————————————Uganda
Banzer, Colonel Hugo —————————-Bolivia
Batista , Fulgencio———————————Cuba
Bolkiah, Sir Hassanal —————————-Brunei
Botha, P.W. —————————————South Africa
Branco, General Humberto ———————Brazil
Cedras, Raoul ————————————-Haiti
Cerezo, Vinicio ———————————–Guatemala
Chiang Kai-Shek ———————————Taiwan
Cordova, Roberto Suazo ————————Honduras
Cristiani, Alfredo ——————————-El Salvador
Diem, Ngo Dihn ———————————Vietnam
Doe, General Samuel —————————-Liberia
Duvalier, Francois ——————————–Haiti
Duvalier, Jean Claude—————————–Haiti
Fahd bin’Abdul-‘Aziz, King ———————Saudi Arabia
Franco, General Francisco ———————–Spain
Hitler, Adolf —————————————Germany
Hussan II——————————————-Morocco
Marcos, Ferdinand ——————————-Philippines
Martinez, General Maximiliano Hernandez —El Salvador
Mobutu Sese Seko ——————————-Zaire
Noriega, General Manuel ————————Panama
Ozal, Turgut ————————————–Turkey
Pahlevi, Shah Mohammed Reza —————Iran
Papadopoulos, George ————————–Greece
Park Chung Hee ———————————South Korea
Pinochet, General Augusto ———————Chile
Pol Pot———————————————Cambodia
Rabuka, General Sitiveni ————————Fiji
Montt, General Efrain Rios ———————Guatemala
Selassie, Halie ————————————Ethiopia
Salazar, Antonio de Oliveira ——————–Portugal
Somoza, Anastasio Jr. ————————–Nicaragua
Somoza, Anastasio, Sr. ————————-Nicaragua
Smith, Ian —————————————-Rhodesia
Stroessner, Alfredo —————————–Paraguay
Suharto, General ———————————Indonesia
Trujillo, Rafael Leonidas ———————–Dominican Republic
Videla, General Jorge Rafael ——————Argentina
Zia Ul-Haq, Mohammed ———————-Pakistan
“Friendly dictators
If you intended your list to include those who were friendly puppets at one time, then either tried to assert some independence, or became expendable, you should not have omitted Saddam Hussein and Muammar Ghaddafi…
Turley is incapable of comprehending the big picture. To that point, he omits the fact of Hunter Biden toting bags of millions of dollars back into the US for the Biden crime family, from Ukraine.
It’s only a crime if they change policy. Since Joe Biden was not in office at the time, that would be tough to do.
There is no crime in letting a sucker give you cash to pass along a good word to a well connected person who is not involved in accepting the money. Soliciting a bribe? Accepting a bribe in exchange for consideration? Those are generally illegal but, at worst, Hunter defrauded the corrupt Ukraine government and that seems acceptable.
Anonymous – Your list ignores the greatest of the “friendly” Dictators: Josef Stalin.
Biden lied!
Bot that’s an understatement…
President Biden is beyond reach. The Supreme Court has recently established that if the President does it, it isn’t illegal. In turn anyone acting under his direction would also be covered because, as Trump made clear, he can do so simply by thinking of it. Unless one can prove that President Biden did not ever think of some such thing, then it is clearly OK.
There is also the practical matter that President Biden’s mental capacity has suffered a precipitous drop and would not be found competent for trial.
^ Idiotic DNC troll typing from his mother’s basement ^
Why identify yourself?
^ Oooooh, soooo clever, who could have come up with that amazing retort other than a verified genius!!! ^
Far more clever than any thought you’ve ever had.
^ Oh my gosh, you are the cleverest put-down artist I have ever seen. I’m just so astounded. Your IQ must be 180! ^
^^Russian paid actor hunkering down in a Moscow bunker waiting for the next drone attack
^ Is that you, Joe McCarthy? ^
Ukraine certainly would view the relationship between Europe and Russia as that of an addict and a drug dealer.
At this time, Trump is going after the transports for drugs; Ukraine appears to have done the same thing.
It seems to me that Turley should get on a plane and take his arguments to Putin in person. He would be so persuasive the war would end that day. Or not, as the arguments are terrible.
There is logic to Russian destruction of the pipelines. One had not been put into use and the other had been stopped prior to the war. Russia still had contracts to deliver natural gas and would be in default. Destroying the pipelines would remove that obligation.
Was it the government of Ukraine or was it a rogue group doing what they saw as necessary?
The professor should be honest and plainly say that Russia should have been allowed to slaughter every Ukrainian and rename the territory as New Russia. His implication that no funding should be made available because the circumstances might revolve around a hidden plan to save Ukraine is a suggestion a death sentence is appropriate for everyone living there.
“….environmental attacks….. “. Uh, could this also be an attack on an energy pipeline?
Presuming that the Biden administration allowed this after they chose (like Obama before them) to allow Russia to invade Ukraine a second time… what is so new about this relating to America and international conflict????? What’s different???
America in conflicts past (ours as well of those of our allies) has launched both paramilitary/military and espionage attacks on assets belonging to nations who are our allies. We have done that repeatedly in the past to achieve our global strategic goals and political objectives at home. So this is nothing new.
We’ve never stopped doing that under any American president, and most rational Americans understand no free country’s government can tell their citizens and the adversarial nations they are faced exactly what we’re doing. Like the Constitution, government transparency should not be a means of committing national suicide.
The same is true of many of our allied nations who do the exact same thing for exactly the same reasons. And often we have been the hidden hand that helped them do it, even if our other allies weren’t already helping them do so.
What’s engaging is what Professor Turley carefully chooses to deflect to spending his time drilling down on. In this article, a whistleblower, and the German courts in the EU that took a break from jailing German citizens for exercising their free speech rights to try this.
Rather than the American whistleblowers, right here here in America, who Professor Turley and we in his audience have watched repeatedly coming forward to provide first-person evidence of the widespread criminality of key administration officials in both the Obama and Biden administration. Felonies committed right here in America against American citizens – not “environmental crimes” in the seas off the shores of Russia.
Two examples of those felonies that are being ignored are AGs Louis Lerner and Sally Yates 2016 Obama “Crossfire Hurricane” and AG Merrick Garland’s 2020 Biden “Arctic Frost”. Felonies that stripped THOUSANDS of Americans of their 1st and 4th Amendment rights that are Professor Turley’s meal ticket in his media career being seen as the protector those rights.
Turley and we watched and continue to watch whistleblowers provide evidence of the Obama/Biden Democrat presidential administrations that spent YEARS playing the American population as chumps while they lied to conceal the crimes they engaged in, depriving Americans of their civil rights by color of law.
Columns about European pipelines and environmental crimes are merely a sideline appetizer. Widespread felonies committed by Obama and Biden here in America are the main course. In fact, there is so much there that they are a buffet.
What are the chances Professor Turley is going to really dig into the felonies and massive, nation wide, deceit of the Democrat administrations’ main Democrat lawyers and their mainstream media in that actual American crime, right here at home in America? Rather than on alleged environmental crimes in international waters offshore from Germany?
We are to believe Professor Turley is unable to multitask? He can only address one subject rather than both at the same time?
That’s a rhetorical question of course: he won’t dig into American whistleblowers providing first-person evidence of Obama/Biden administration felonies.
Instead, he will attempt to save the felons who are his fellow Democrat lawyers in the Obama and Biden administrations with faint criticism. And diverting to alleged environmental crimes in international waters off the coastline of Russia and the EU.
Don’t want to sour personal relationships with dear friends like Merrick Garland and get disinvited from the felons’ parties thrown by the Washington DC Democrat cocktails and canapes party circuit.
So we, his audience, are the chumps he has decided to play. We don’t need to know the full truth of the felonies that were committed repeatedly by his Washington DC Democrat friends. Instead, we chumps in the audience need to know about environmental crimes in international waters off the shores of Russia.
Meanwhile, other lawyers who like Professor Turley are also members of the Washington DC bar association and have practiced law in Washington DC for years, also have legal blogs. They regularly write long and detailed incisive legal analysis of these unindicted felon Democrat lawyers and the felonies they regularly committed while being Obama and Biden’s criminal police state fascists. Shipwrecked Crew being one of them.
Turley’s concern is undermining support Ukraine in favor of giving Putin a win and a genocide for Ukrainians.
Turley’s probably not going after D.C. lawyers because he doesn’t have actual evidence. It makes me wonder if another reason is that they have evidence against him.
Ugh, the word “genocide” has been watered down to be meaningless at this point, and nit-wits like you are at fault.
Wait. When do we get to the important stuff? The nullification of the Constitution is approaching completion, and the communist juristocracy, whose sole criterion for programs comprising the welfare state is its new motto, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs,” rather than the individual discipline of the credo of freedom and self-reliance, in the absence of even a scintilla of executive power, is on the precipice of total dictatorship, causing America to appear to be in the final phase of a slide into civil war, and we’re focused on a kerfuffle that was always, from the outset, a European concern.
After Obama’s second term I pretty much took anything any dem politician said to be carefully crafted propaganda in service of their own self-perceived power and ‘superiority’; additionally, the deep state runs deep on the left, so does the aristocracy, so does the globalist alliance. Anyone that still thinks the DNC is an American, Constitutional party is either whistling in the dark or privileged enough to not be impacted, or stupid. Even privilege does not last forever and you can only lie to yourself for so long.
And anyone that still holds onto the shreds of JFK’s party really needs to grow up – it is as dead as he is, and the forces currently at work on ‘your side’ are the ones that killed both it and him. Further, the utter failure to raise children with anything resembling awareness – good luck, dems. The rest of us do not want your bubble or your insanity. You are the keepers of ancient history and a subsequent status quo (designed for your own personal comfort, of course) – not us.
And anyone that still holds onto the shreds of JFK’s party really needs to grow up – it is as dead as he is . . .
Not everyone agrees he’s dead. Gigi, George/Svelaz, and Dennis McInliar all claim to have ridden on a UFO with both JFK and Elvis within the last two weeks.
Hilarious. And you think nationwide tariffs are good economic policy. Trump could tell you your poo is delicious chocolate and you’d enjoy every lick.
Tariffs made the US an international power in the 19th century. We need to get rid of the Income Tax & use tariffs to fund Washington.
“Tariffs made the US an international power in the 19th century.”
BS.
American industrialists (Carnegie, Morgan, Rockefeller) did that.