Russia’s Aussie fanboys take to the airwaves and defend thuggish Putin from UK critics
A “re-elected” Vladimir Putin on the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter near a British high street. Moscow, yesterday:
I think any sensible person would understand that it would be rubbish, drivel, nonsense, for Russia to embark on such an escapade on the eve of a presidential election.
The British Prime Minister disagrees. Theresa May speaking in Salisbury, last Thursday:
We do hold Russia culpable for this brazen, brazen act and this despicable act that has taken place on the streets.
Putin has Tom Switzer backing him up. The Centre for Independent Studies boss, ABC’s Q&A, Monday:
The May government has released no evidence to support these claims.
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show, Sunday:
We actually have evidence (from MI6) within the last 10 years that Russia has not only been investigating the delivery of nerve agents for the purposes of assassination but has also been stockpiling Novichok (the nerve agent used in Salisbury)
But we mustn’t believe Western intelligence agencies. Switzer speaks about Russia’s meddling in US elections, Q&A, Monday:
Presenter Tony Jones: Virtually every intelligence agency in the world has acknowledged it and stated that it’s a fact.
Switzer: This week actually marks the 15th anniversary of the Iraq invasion, which was based on an intelligence failure.
Switzer is sounding like that Putin shill Seumas Milne. The UK Labour spokesman’s statement on Russia’s attack, March 14:
There is a history between (Iraqi) WMDs and intelligence which is problematic … the breakup of the Soviet state led to all sorts of material ending up in random hands.
Why is a smart guy like Switzer defending Russia? The CIS chief on Q&A, continued:
I am struck that so many Western media outlets blame Russia for everything … Why would Putin jeopardise his already strained relations with the West?
Putin doesn’t care about his relations with the West. The Washington Post, March 1:
Deploying … an animation of a cruise missile streaking toward North America, Putin used an annual speech … to claim Russia was developing new nuclear weapons that he said could overcome any US missile …
Sky News’ Putin chat also was odd. Paul Murray Live, Monday:
Janine Perrett: Yes, welcome to (former Liberal MP) Ross Cameron’s I’ve-Never-Met-a-Dictator-I-Didn’t-Like segment …
Ross Cameron: My fundamental thesis is not that I love Putin.
He does love him. Cameron in The Sydney Morning Herald, January 11, 2010:
Putin is Russia’s finest leader since Peter the Great … It is distressing and disturbing that several Russian journalists have been murdered … I can only accept Putin’s own logic that their deaths have caused him more damage than anything …
Putin and Ross, sitting in a tree. Cameron on Sky News, Monday:
I am totally dismissive of the idea that the poisoning of (Sergei) Skripal was a Russian state-sponsored attack.
A few seconds later on Sky News:
Perrett: But we can be clear it wasn’t Vlad, your mate?
Cameron: Yeah, you can be clear.