Editor’s Note: This feature separates Ukraine’s friends from its enemies The Order of Yaroslav the Wise has been given since 1995 for distinguished service to the nation. It is named after the Kyivan Rus leader from 1019-1054, when the medieval empire reached its zenith. The Order of Lenin was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union, whose demise Russian President Vladimir Putin mourns. It is named after Vladimir Lenin, whose corpse still rots on the Kremlin’s Red Square, 100 years after the October Revolution he led.
Rob Portman – the Order of Yaroslav the Wise
U. S. Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican of Ohio, is a champion for Ukraine. He’s a co-founder of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee.
He represents a statewith a significant population of Ukrainian-Americans who are engaged in events in their ancestral homeland.
On April 6, Portman spoke at an Atlantic Council conference on “Ukraine: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities.”
He also was instrumental in supporting a new law to help Ukraine counter propaganda from Russia, through the U. S. State Department’s new Global Engagement Center. He keeps pushing for America to supply Ukraine with lethal weapons.
“There is a bipartisan agreement on the policy tools that the U.S. should utilize as part of its comprehensive U.S. strategy to support Ukraine, deter future aggression against our allies and interests, and uphold the fundamental principles of the U.S.-led international system that Russia’s actions ultimately threaten. These policies include continued enforcement of joint U.S.-European Union sanctions,” Portman said. “ We also have continued increased discussion on lethal and non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine. I believe it is fair to say that there is a bipartisan majority in Congress that supports not just non-lethal but also lethal assistance so Ukraine can better defend itself.”
He said that U. S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has “expressed his agreement with that approach.”
He said members of Congress are “talking about an enhanced U.S. military presence in the region, more robust and coordinated efforts to counter Russian propaganda and disinformation in Ukraine and, for that matter, throughout Europe, including with the elections in France and Germany upcoming, and the unity of action between the U.S. and the E.U. on holding Russia accountable for its violations of the Minsk agreements, the Budapest Memorandum for that matter, and other international norms and agreements.”
He also expressed confidence in the security team assembled by U. S. President Donald J. Trump — in particular, Tillerson, U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, U.S. National Security Adviser Lt. General H. R. McMaster and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.
He also said that “no one understands the consequences of Russia’s disinformation war than the people of Ukraine.” Amen.
— Brian Bonner
King Abdullah – the Order of Lenin
This tyrant has been king too long, just like his papa. He thinks he rules not only Jordan, but the rest of the world – at least the parts he cares nothing about, such as Ukraine.
He gave an April 6 interview to the Washington Post’s Lally Weymouth in which he suggested that the United States trade acceptance of Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in exchange for Kremlin cooperation in Syria.
Note to dictator: Ukraine is not for sale, nor will it compromise its sovereignty and territorial integrity – this is a principle that the civilized world supports.
You want to compromise, king?
How about this? Let’s turn Jordan into the official Palestinian state, run on democratic principles and free elections, not on a hereditary claim to the throne? After all, is Jordan even a real country, with only 6 million people? How does it feel when people talk about surrendering your sovereignty?
Here’s the dictator’s exact quote:
“From the Russian point of view, they play what I describe as a three-dimensional chess game. To them, Crimea is important, Syria is important, Ukraine, and we see them in Libya. The Americans and Europeans must deal with the Russians on all these issues simultaneously…Then you horse-trade. For the Russians I think the most important thing is Crimea. If you come to an understanding on Crimea, I think you will see much more flexibility on Syria, and I think Ukraine then becomes the least problematic…Crimea is Putin’s No. 1 issue, and I think that you say, ‘Let’s discuss Crimea, but when it comes to Syria, you have to move.’”
Abdullah misrules a pauper kingdom. He wants more U.S. aid to “allow us to increase growth and be able to wean ourselves off aid more quickly…The U.S. is our biggest supporter. We received $1.275 billion last year.”
From this U.S. taxpayer’s point of view, the money is better spent on Ukraine rather than this jackass.
To summarize the U.S. State Department’s latest human rights on Jordan: Citizens can’t choose their government. They have no freedom of expression. They cannot criticize the king. Prisoners are tortured. Arrests are arbitrary. Due process is denied. Discrimination is rife. Impunity and nepotism are widespread. Violence against women is prevalent. Foreign travel bans are imposed on citizens.
Is this a kingdom or a prison, your lowness? I call for an immediate cutoff of U.S. aid. You need to go.
— Brian Bonner
