The fact that Putin is trying to justify the unjustifiable in Ukraine does not mean we must ignore the U.S. actions that fuel his narrative.
By Jeremy Scahill, The Intercept
There are no excuses or justifications for what Vladimir Putin is doing in Ukraine. His brutal invasion is a bald-faced act of aggression, replete with war crimes, and is rightly being condemned as such by large numbers of people and nations across the globe. The targeting of civilian populations and infrastructure is a heinous act that belongs in the annals of major nation state crimes alongside the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Many governments of the world have denounced Putin’s actions. But when it comes to the U.S. and its NATO allies, these condemnations demand greater scrutiny. While many statements from Western leaders may be accurate regarding the nature of Russia’s actions, the U.S. and other NATO nations are in a dubious position to take a moralistic stance in condemning Russia. That they do so with zero recognition of their own hypocrisy, provocative actions, and history of unbridled militarism — particularly in the case of the U.S. — is deeply problematic. From the beginning of this crisis, Putin has exploited the militarism and past bombing campaigns of the U.S. and NATO to frame his own warped justification for his murderous campaign in Ukraine. But the fact that Putin is trying to justify the unjustifiable does not mean that we must ignore the U.S. actions that fuel his narrative.
In recent days, U.S. and NATO officials have highlighted Russia’s use of banned weapons, including cluster munitions, and have said their use constitutes violations of international law. This is indisputably true. What goes virtually unmentioned in much of the reporting on this topic is that the U.S., like both Russia and Ukraine, refuses to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Recent Posts
Student Loan Payments To ICE Agents: Unpacking Trump’s “Big, Disastrous Bill”
August 1, 2025
Take Action Now Two activists arrested in the fight against Trump’s landmark legislation discuss the bill’s consequences, from student debt to…
Kamala Harris Should Not Run For President In 2028
August 1, 2025
Take Action Now A Harris 2028 campaign would remind Democratic voters of her undue loyalty to Biden, whose brand is now badly tarnished in his own…
Columbia University’s Capitulation To Trump Endangers Students
August 1, 2025
Take Action Now As Columbia pursues a second investigation into a May library protest, the university adopts a sweeping definition of antisemitism…
States Take Lead In Reining In Private Equity’s Investment In Healthcare
July 31, 2025
Take Action Now A proliferation of bad outcomes is prompting lawmakers to act.By Glenn Daigon, The Progressive The 2010 purchase of Prospect…