Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most recent speech justifying his actions in Crimea have one journalist finding striking resemblances to Adolf Hitler’s excuses for doing some annexing and invading himself:
Putin's amazing speech today welter of contradix: says problem is lack of buffer states — but also Russians forced to live outside nation
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Says he has no designs on more Ukr territory but also says that the current state is artificial
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Putin speech dealt with expulsion of Tatars, starvation of Ukr in "mistakes" were made terms — all that's in the past
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
This “mistake” by former Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin caused the starvation of millions of Ukrainians in 1932 and 1933.
If Russia itself was complicit in Crimea's alienation from mother land, as Putin said, what gives him the right to be so indignant now?
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
In his entire State of the Union address on Dec 13 — just three months ago — Putin devoted not a word to supposed vital issue of Crimea
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Scariest part of Putin speech: maybe part where accuses Ukr of attempting "forced assimilation" of Russian-speakers rob "historical memory"
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Breathtaking hypocrisy in Putin speech. Celebrates Crimea self-determ. Accuse West of contradiction re Kosovo — but Chechnya? Dagestan?
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
The principle of self-determination by referendum declared by Putin today would, if consistently applied in Russia, lead to its break-up
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Putin professes his outrage, disbelief at bombing of Euro capital, Belgrade, by NATO. Leaves out shelling, siege of Sarajevo by Belgrade.
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Putin digs at Merkel: says Fr & Br did not support unification, while USSR did, "sincerely." Leaves out fact USSR divided it in 1st place!
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Entire Putin speech is angry, self-justifying, illogical rant. And he controls nuclear weapons.
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Putin 3/18/14 Those who opposed the coup were immediately threatened with repression. Naturally, the first in line here was Crimea (1)
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
the Russian-speaking Crimea. In view of this, the residents of Crimea and Sevastopol turned to Russia for help (2)
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Hitler 3/12/38 The German Reich will not tolerate persecution of Germans in this region because they belong to our country or because (1)
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
hold certain opinions. I have therefore decided to help the millions of Germans in Austria with the resources of the Reich. (2)
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Putin 3/18/14 we could not abandon Crimea and its residents in distress. This would have been betrayal on our part.
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Hitler 3/12/38 German people in Austria have been seized by a soulful joy and see that their rescuing brothers have come to their aid
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Putin 3/18/14 They keep talking of some Russian intervention in Crimea, some sort of aggression.
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Hitler 3/25/38 Certain foreign newspapers have said that we fell on Austria with brutal methods.
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Putin 3/18/14 This is strange to hear. I cannot recall a single case in history of an intervention without a single shot being fired (1)
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
and with no human casualties. (2)
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Hitler 3/25/38 Not as tyrants have we come, as liberators: an entire people rejoiced. Here not brutal violence but our Swastika conquered
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Putin: They are constantly trying to corner us in retaliation for our having an independent position. (1)
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Everything has its limits, and in Ukraine our western partners crossed the red line. (2)
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Hitler: I let the forces march! And I did this firstly in order to show the world that I was now in bitter earnest (1)
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
that the time for any further oppression of Germany was past. (2)
— Charles Lane (@ChuckLane1) March 19, 2014
Frightening, huh?
The eerie similarities between Putin and Hitler being displayed on @ChuckLane1's TL can send chills down your back. #Russia
— Alec Richardson (@AlecRich21) March 19, 2014
When keeping it rhetoric goes wrong: @ChuckLane1's timeline is a pretty chilling side-by-side of Crimea and Anschluss justifications
— Jethro (@humdoin) March 19, 2014
No one is accusing Putin of having the same kind of genocidal evil intent that Hitler had, but it’s rather disconcerting to see the same justifications used while he extends his sphere of influence.
Related:
Hillary Clinton’s Putin-Hitler comments draw rebukes as she wades into Ukraine conflict
Unidentified gunmen take control of airport in Crimea’s capital [photos]
Ted Cruz slams Harry Reid over Ukraine aid bill, demonization of Koch brothers
Sen. John McCain on Ukraine bill delay: ‘Reagan would never tolerate this’