White House Endorses Ukraine Crackdown on Protesters

White House Endorses Ukraine Crackdown on Protesters

Insists Offensive Needed for 'Law and Order'

by Jason Ditz, 

Despite several days of claiming support for negotiation, the White House quickly and loudly endorsed today’s Ukrainian military offensive against eastern protesters, insisting the operations were needed in the name of “law and order.”

White House press secretary Jay Carney insisted that force had not been the “preferred option,” but that provocations had obliged Ukraine to attack the city of Kramatorsk earlier today.

US officials also indicated that they hold Russia wholly responsible for any casualties resulting in Ukraine attacking protesters in eastern Ukraine, and threatened “additional sanctions” against Russia to punish them.

Though the narrative continues to be that the US didn’t want the offensive and Russia “forced” Ukraine into it, Russia has repeatedly called for a negotiated settlement, and condemned the use of force as unacceptable. By contrast, the US seems more or less satisfied with the idea of Ukraine conquering its eastern provinces through military force of arms, and was going to rail against Russia no matter what unfolded just on general principle.

http://news.antiwar.com/2014/04/15/white-house-endorses-ukraine-crackdown-on-protesters/