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THE IMPORTANCE OF TRASPARENCY IN TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLE WAR CRIMES by Wayne Johnston

Let’s be crystal clear on this matter: I support Ukraine, and Ukrainians, in this war 100% and unapologetically. Yes, Ukraine has an Alt right political element of extremism, just as does Canada, the USA, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, Poland… The list is endless. So let’s stop treating it like we’re “shocked and appalled”.


At the same time, let’s not deny it. Folks, we can call fake, BS etc. all we wish and it may very well be. However, Russia, will exploit this to their own benefit, to deflect attention from their vile war crimes. I think some of you are missing the point here.

This war is very much an info ops campaign with both sides vying to influence the hearts, minds, support, be it financially or with arms, what have you. In the event Ukraine fails to address this video, by way of an independent body investigating its validity, Ukraine would be handing Putin ammunition in his campaign of deception and deceit, both domestically and internationally.

Cooler heads are required, not emotion, as both sides accuse each other of staging events. There is a plethora of video being peddled as truth by both sides. My personal favourite was of Ukrainian POWs captured by Russians, I thought it was an episode of Hogan’s Hero’s. I can’t imagine the abuse those poor souls are enduring as we speak.

The fly in the ointment is that the two side’s versions are very different. I tend to err on the side of Ukraine given Russia’s long history of brutality in how they prosecute war. They have a very long history of this Orc-like behaviour. By exposing Russia as peddlers of deception, deflection and falsehoods Ukraine, and Ukrainians, are far better served. Indeed, if this is true, ignoring it will hurt Ukraine.

By dealing with it as any democratic sovereign nation would, and does in the case of alleged war crimes, Ukraine maintains the moral high ground in the info ops campaign. Truth will always reveal itself, so it’s always best to confront it ASAP. Otherwise it festers and grows malignant. As they say in politics and crisis management, “Get ahead of the story”… it’s best to deal with it immediately, in a professional, transparent fashion.

Give folks credit. We all, for the most part, understand that these things happen particularly in a war where one side is practicing Genocide. I don’t believe for a second that the Ukrainian government or military command would ever sanction this behaviour. But it does happens. It’s always best to get your side of the story out first, by sticking to the truth. Folks understand this and can deal with it as a “one off” that has been dealt with in an open and professional fashion.

It’s when you start to weave a web of deceit that your credibility erodes. This is exactly what Putin wants, the public doubting, second guessing etc. This is precisely the purpose of info ops, it’s all about influencing minds and opinions.

With today’s cyber tech, and the ability to communicate instantaneously, warfare has taken on a different dimension. Many of us are participating in this info ops campaign as we speak. Today’s battle spaces in Ukraine are similar to the level of destruction seen in WWII. Frankly, Russian military behaviour and battlefield conduct mirrors that of a Nazi SS formation on the Eastern Front.

However, unlike WWII, where “propaganda” was on the radio, bill boards, print media etc. Now it comes to you in a flash in less time than it takes me to stir my tea. It’s vital for Ukraine and Ukrainians to not only win the war on the battlefield. They must also win the hearts and minds of the planet in the info war. Everything post war depends on it. Reparations to rebuild what has been destroyed, the pursuit of Justice for the war crimes committed on Ukraine and its people, as well as foreign aid on the level of the WWII, post war Marshall Plan.

Truth will always overcome lies. When it comes to war crimes, allegedly committed, it’s best to be truthful and transparent, thereby disarming your foe. Simply put, don’t give Putin, Russia and Russians the opportunity to sow doubt, deflection or deception. He has sinister, internet deceivers working overtime, not just in Russia. His enablers live amongst us, (what speaks volumes about one’s moral compass?) and speaks volumes about one’s moral compass, supporting Genocide… “Jesus wept".

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