While the atrocious videos of ISIS killing civilians show the worst of human extremism in action [3], it seems the US wants to keep the message alive and well that Putin is still a very bad man (thanks to YouTube). Claiming "internet video" evidence, NY Times reports [4], the US State Department confirmed on Friday that Russia has sent tanks and other heavy weapons to separatists in Ukraine. "This is unacceptable," Marie Harf exclaimed, "Russia will claim these tanks were taken from Ukrainian forces...we are confident that these tanks came from Russia." There will be "additional costs," she added.
Via NY Times, [4]
The State Department confirmed on Friday that Russia has sent tanks and other heavy weapons to separatists in Ukraine.
A convoy of three T-64 tanks, several BM-21 “Grad” multiple rocket launchers and other military vehicles crossed the border near the Ukrainian town of Snizhne, State Department officials said. Reports and images of the weapons’ presence circulated on Thursday, but there were conflicting claims about where they had come from.
“This is unacceptable,” said Marie Harf, the deputy State Department spokeswoman. “A failure by Russia to de-escalate this situation will lead to additional costs.”
...
“Russia will claim these tanks were taken from Ukrainian forces, but no Ukrainian tank units have been operating in that area,” the State Department said Friday afternoon. “We are confident that these tanks came from Russia.”
“We also have information that Russia has accumulated multiple rocket launchers at this same deployment site in southwest Russia, and these rocket launchers also recently departed,” the State Department added. “Internet video has shown what we believe to be these same rocket launchers traveling through Luhansk.”
Distract... focus on what is really important...
[5]
"costs"
