An Important Presentation by Professor Barry Lituchy on the Present Crisis in Ukraine by Norman Markowitz

by: Tuesday 17 March 2015

I have known Barry Lituchy for a generation.  We both were involved in the 1990s in the struggle against  those propagandists of the U.S..NAT0 bloc who celebrated Croatian fascists and Bosnian and Albanian chauvinists and criminals as "freedom fighters" while demonizing the predominantly Serbian forces who sought to defend Yugoslavia as "neo Nazis."  NAT0 which had been established to  fight against the Soviet Union and its allies(which Yugoslavia never was) engaged in its first direct major military operation against Yugoslavia and tragically got away with it, achieving the dismemberment of Yugoslavia as a country.

Such action was not necessary in the USSR, thanks to Gorbachev and his "successor" Yeltsin.  But the dismemberment of the USSR has created similar problems albeit on a much larger scale.  While the present President of Russia, Putin, is not committed to restoring the Soviet  Union as Slobodan Milosevic, the Serbian leader, was committed to saving Yugoslavia(nor is he the leader of a Socialist party, as Milosevic was) he is being demonized in high cold war terms as a Hitler=Stalin=Putin in U,S,, and the conflict in Ukraine, where in the post Soviet period, millions of ethnic Russians found themselves  considered foreigners in what was previously their one country, much like Yugoslavia, has produced corruption, poverty, and the poison of national chauvinism feeding of the corruption and the poverty.  Just as Hitler's allies were sanitized and hailed in Croatia, today Hitler's allies are part of the government in Kiev that the U.S. NATO bloc is supporting.  These are not merely "ordinary fascists" but Nazi fascists and their are not simply a part of the past but a force seeking to restore the past in the present,

Professor Lituchy organized the Jasanovac Institute, which has sought to  preserve the historical truth of the Holocaust in Yugoslavia against people of Serbian nationality(the great majority of the victims) people of the Jewish religion, and people of Roma(Gypsy) nationality.  I have been proud to be a Board Member of the Institute for many years.  Below, I have cut and pasted  an uncorrected article(a version of which was published in Serbian media)  on a presentation that Professor Lituchy gave on the historical background of the crisis in Ukraine, a background  that is largely  invisible in "mainstream" U.S. media which has been content to recycle old cold war formulas against Russia, even though this Russia has nothing to do with the Soviet Union

Norman Makrowitz

 
(Uncorrected draft)
 
On the evening of March 12, 2015 the Political Science Honors Society of Utica College in Utica, NY sponsored a political forum on the crisis in the Ukraine entitled "Double Standards in United States Foreign Policy." 
The forum was part of a continuing series of public political events organized by the college. This particular event was controversial and almost canceled by the college when they discovered that the guest lecturer, Barry Lituchy, a history professor at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn was a known critic of US foreign policy and a defender of former
Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. After considerable
debate the event was allowed to proceed, despite grumbling by some college faculty. In the end about 45 students, professors and members of the public attended, including a group from the local Russian Orthodox Church.
 
Professor Lituchy began with a synopsis of his
presentation: the facts surrounding the US backing
of the coup against the democratically elected
government in Kiev; a review of the 2500 year
history of the Russian and Ukrainian peoples, who 
for most of that time  lived as one people with one
language, one religion, one state, one culture and
history until quite recently; and the historical events
that led to the splitting off of Galicia, Volynia and
Bukovina from the rest of Russia and ultimately
the sponsoring in Galicia of a Uniate church that
served as a platform for dividing and conquering the
Russian and Ukrainian peoples and then using it
to subvert the Orthodox church and ultimately
using it as a springboard for projecting German
imperialist interests in Ukraine and Russia -
such as territorial expansion - beginning with the
third annexation of Poland in 1792 and
continuing into the twentieth century with
World Wars one and two.
 
This, Professor Lituchy explained, was the blueprint
for the later policy of US imperialist policies against
Russia and Ukraine by which western ukrainian
nationalists would be used to take over the Ukraine
and then to establish a military threat against Russia.
 
Lituchy also gave a detailed account of the origins and
history of the Ukrainian fascist movement beginning with
Semyon Petliura and continuing with Bandera and the OUN
and the forces used by the Nazis in the Holocaust including the SS Division Galizia blessed by the Uniate
Bishop and Pope Pius XII, and then up to today,
with special reference to Right Sektor, Svoboda,
and the Azov Battalion and other paramilitary units
committing atrocities against people in the Ukraine.
Today's atrocities are replication of the atrocities of
the past.
 
During this historical review Lituchy ponted out
that in 1919 Petliura's forces captured the city
of Zhashkovo in the Ukraine and carried out
one of the worst pogroms in all of Jewish history.
Lituchy's great-grandfather and family (except
for 2 members who were shot) survived the
pogrom in Zhashkovo, but most of the city's
Jews were burned alive in the synagogue by Petluira. Altogether petluira's forces carried out 1200 pogroms between 1917 and 1921 and killed 200,000 Jews.
 
Lituchy then spoke about how the Ukrainian fascists
were never punished but in fact were saved by British
and US intelligence to serve in the Cold War as agents
against the USSR and other Communist countries. Their  escape through the Vatican ratlines was facilitated
by the Ustashe priest Kruneslav Dragonovic, but was
overseen by British and US intelligence agencies.
A number of Ukrainian Nazis later held highly
influential positions in the US and were even advisors to
Presidents Reagan and Bush (the elder). At least 12,000
Ukrainian Nazis fled to North America and got to live out
their "American dream" after butchering millions of
Jews and Russians including children.
 
In his conclusion, Lituchy called on his fellow Americans
to condemn US intervention in the Ukrainian crisis,
oppose all further military aid to Kiev, and, above all, to
support the partition of the Ukraine through a peaceful
divorce so that the Western Ukrainians can pursue their
national aspirations and the eastern Ukrainians can pursue their national aspirations which would inevitably involve
rejoining Russia. Lituchy emphasized that the US position on
borders is not only a case of double standards but also preposterous. Ukraine's borders are artificial and were created during Soviet times, and artificial borders have
throughout history led to wars and violent conflicts
between peoples. But worst still, President Obama and
the US media have falsely claimed that the main reason
to sanction Russia is because we do not permit the violent change of borders. Obviously the destruction of Yugoslavia
and the violent bombing that led to Kosovo's separation from Serbia in 1999 proves the perfidious nature and lies behind US and EU policy toward the Ukraine and Russia.
 
Following Lituchy's 45 minute presentation, a group of
critics organized by Utica College Professor Theodore Orlin,
a professor of international relations at the college and the head of the Human Rights Advocacy Program based there, along with his students, took issue with Lituchy and his presentation. Also in the audience was a group of Russian Orthodox clergy and seminarians from the nearby Holy Trinity Monastary in Jordansville, NY, who joined the debate in defense of Lituchy's presentation. Seeing they were outdebated on the issue of Ukrainian and Russian issues,  Professor Orlin and his group started a rearguard action by switching the topic to the Serbs and the war crimes of Milosevic, etc. Lituchy rebutted these and other criticisms brought against the Serbs by Professor Orlin and some of his Albanian students. In the end Professor Orlin was somewhat angered by criticism of his work in Kosovo, particularly by the argument that US and EU policy in the Balkans has resulted in the destruction of living standards and economic opportunity for everyone in the region, even the Albanians of Kosovo. This final outcome of US-EU-NATO policy destroying the living standards in every region it intervenes in, Lituchy argued, is clear enough evidence that US-EU policies for the Ukrainian and Russian people will only have harmful effects and this  intervention must be opposed. If the US is allowed to continue to intervene it will only lead to ever greater human suffering and catastrophe, said Lituchy.
 
 
 
In a message dated 3/13/2015 5:34:31 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, nada954@gmail.com writes:
Can you write short report I am going to translate and publish here in Belgrade: 

On Fri, Mar 13, 2015 at 10:16 PM, <KCCHistory31@aol.com> wrote:
Xenia informed me that there were 45 in
attendance and that her batteries ran out
so she only videotaped the first 15 minutes
of the event.
 
In a message dated 3/13/2015 3:05:07 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,KCCHistory31@aol.com writes:
The event had about 30 people in the audience. It
went very well. The drive was a little under 4 hours
each way. About half of the audience was in agreement,
the other half opposed, but no violence ensued.
One professor brought his coterie of Albanian and
other right wing poli sci students. The opposition
was soundly defeated by facts and good argumentation. Facing total defeat the opposition 
opened a rearguard action by switching the debate
to Milosevic and Serbian war crimes. I think we
tamped that one down too. There was even an
attempt to open up a debate on the question of
whether people were better off under socialism.
All in all, lots of good debate and, I believe, a win
for the truth on all fronts. I hope Xenia Williams
will be able to post a video of it soon.
 
 
 

Utica College to Host Community

Forum on  Ukraine

Interested Persons are Called to Attend A Public Forum on:

Double Standards in United States Foreign Policy

Sponsored by

UTICA COLLEGE’s Pi Sigma Alpha “Conversation Series”

Utica College’s Pi Sigma Alpha will sponsor a forum on “Double Standards in U.S. Foreign Policy:  Case Study Ukraine.”    The event will take place on Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m. at Utica College in the Willard Conference Room, DePerno Hall.  It is a part of Pi Sigma Alpha “Conversation Series” which allows students, faculty and the community to discuss and exchange ideas about important public policy issues. It is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.  The keynote speaker will be Barry Lituchy who will talk about recent events in Ukraine and its implications for foreign policy and international human rights.

Mr. Lituchy  currently teaches European, US and World history at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY and has taught at the City University of New York for 25 years.  He is the editor and co-author of the book, “ Jasenovac and the Holocaust in Yugoslavia:  Analyses and Survivor Testimonies.”  He has also written on the politics and history of the Balkans.

 

He testified at The Hague Tribunal (ICTY) in regard to human rights abuses in Kosovo in 2005. He served as the Assistant Coordinator of the First International Conference and Exhibition on the Jasenovac Concentration Camps held at Kingsborough in 1997.   Mr. Lituchy is the founder of the Jasenovac Research Institute and currently serves as its Executive Director. He also serves as a Vice President of the Holocaust Memorial Committee in Brooklyn, NY.  Most recently, he presented papers on the conflict in the Ukraine at the Left Forum in 2014 and appeared on US and Russian media to discuss the history of Ukrainian fascism. His grandfather's family were victims of a notorious Ukrainian pogrom in 1919.

 


 

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  • Is there any way you can put Prof. Lituchy's presentation in a PDF document, or publish it somewhere, in its entirety?

    Posted by Ola, 06/14/2015 5:43pm (10 years ago)

  • First of all, I would like to thank Prof. Norman Markowitz for his tireless work fighting
    fascism and imperialism on all fronts, and I
    am very proud that we have been comrades
    in this struggle for a long time already.

    In regard to Ms. Xenia Williams comments,
    I must respond because it is simply ridiculous
    to suggest that there is any misrepresentation
    in my remarks. Let me just give you a few facts
    that will put Ms. Williams comments in prespective
    and reveal that her claims are utterly baseless.

    Fact #1: In the days leading up to the
    lecture, Ms. Williams herself told me that
    the event might be canceled because at least
    one professor named Perry (and I suspect it
    was more than one because the professor
    who showed up to disagree with me was
    a different one named Orlin) had concerns
    about the content of the presentation I was
    going to give. The event was either to be
    canceled or moved off campus. Ms. Williams
    was herself the original source of this
    information.

    Fact #2: Ms. Williams also told me that Prof.
    Perry was going to call me to "go over my
    presentation" and make sure it was suitable
    for the young minds at Utica College.
    Ms. Williams was herself very worried about
    this, and said so to me. Is this a normal
    precondition for invited lecturers? Of course
    not, unless you are less than "happy" with
    the presenter's views.

    Fact #3: While I was teaching a class one day,
    a conference call was made to me by the
    aforementioned Prof Perry. Also on the
    conference call was John Furman (another
    organizer) and Ms. Williams. It went to voice
    mail and I listened to it after my class. I was
    going to another class so I listened to it only
    once. But as I recall there was some sharp
    discussion about the need to make sure that
    the faculty knew ahead of time what I was
    going to say (and I assume not say). It was
    not exactly a friendly discussion. And I did
    not feel that it was very welcoming. I am
    pretty sure that the speakers did not know
    that they were being recorded on my voice
    mail. As I recall, the call ended without a
    clear resolution of the matter except that
    Perry again stated he needed to know exactly
    what I was going to say and everyone said
    at the end "OK. OK."

    Fact#4: When I was introduced by the Honors
    Society president (prior to the introduction by
    John Furman) she referred to my lecture not
    as my lecture or presentation, but rather as
    me giving "his views." Maybe I am too sensitive,
    but this indelicate use of the English language
    suggested rather strongly to me that she had been
    forewarned that this was at the very least
    controversial, if not downright unacceptable.
    Perhaps she did not mean that, but I have never
    heard a lecturer introduced so rudely since
    a CUNY professor introduced a speaker at the
    1997 Jasenovac (Holocaust) Conference by
    attacking him and saying he was not wanted
    there. You just don't introduce a guest lecturer
    by diminishing their views before they even
    have a chance to offer them, unless there is
    a hidden agenda behind the scenes to do so.

    Fact #5: Professor Orlin came with his wife
    and students and made an attempt to counter
    my presentation. A couple of his students
    verbally scoffed at a few of my remarks while
    I was speaking. That's ok. I did not mind it.
    But Ms. Williams was herself very upset with
    that student who Orlin clearly knew well.
    Do you do that unless you want to make an
    intervention at someone's talk? I don't think so.
    And by the way, that too is ok! But don't get
    bent out of shape if I comment on it.

    Fact #6: The group that came to intervene
    changed the subject to an attack on the socialist
    countries and on former Yugoslav president
    Milosevic. I like to stay on topic, but I had no
    problem educating our opponents as to
    their errors, factual and interpretive. This
    argument continued into a post-event
    discussion.

    So, Ms. Williams, I do not wish to retract or
    change anything I wrote. And I think the facts
    speak for themselves. There were worries by
    faculty which were expressed, there was talk of
    canceling the event. This continued over into
    the event itself. I heard Prof Perry on my
    voice mail. I heard you voice your concerns
    about it to me. Just who is the misrepresenter
    here? It is you.

    So, I do not for a second accept that I mis-
    resented the fact that the college faculty was
    alarmed or that there was strong opposition to
    what I came to say. And if I don't mind people
    trying to censor me, block me, or coming to
    my lecture with the clear intent to debate me,
    and if I don't mind a little heckling from
    opponents in my audience while I am speaking,
    (and I don't because compared to the time I
    was smashed in the head with a metal bar by
    Croatian and Muslim opponents at an event in
    February 1994 this was virtually a lovefest),
    I don't see why anyone should mind me calling
    them out for their attempts to block or censor
    or heckle my views. Get over it.

    Barry Lituchy

    PS: I would hope that this ends the discussion
    because it is not worth the time it takes to write
    or read it.

    Posted by Barry Lituchy, 03/21/2015 6:22pm (10 years ago)

  • I have informed Professor Barry Lituchy concerning these remarks and he disagrees with the author. I was not present at the event, but, as I said in my introduction, have known Professor Lituchy for a very long time and have enormous respect for the work that he has done. For those reasons I trust his analysis of what transpired
    Norman Markowitz

    Posted by norman markowitz, 03/21/2015 5:36pm (10 years ago)

  • Dear All Who Are Reading This Article,

    As one of the organizers of this event, i feel it impertinent that some inadvertent misrepresentations be addressed. I know Professor Barry Lituchy works very hard, and I myself am very impressed with his knowledge, the breadth and the depth of it, and was so and still am so very glad he agreed to speak at Utica College. Mr. Barry Lituchy gave a very thorough and accurate lecture on the history of the Ukraine Crisis, however, concerning the events leading up to the event, there was certainly a misrepresentation, and Im sure this was caused mostly by the short time he gave himself to write the write up, and without any editing involved or reflection due to his very full and diverse schedule and responsibilities. The actuality is that the professor Luke Perry and the Utica College and the students of Utica College were more than happy to host this talk for the the Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society Conversation Series, and we are definitely very grateful for their willingness and follow through on such short notice, as the talk was originally going to be held at a different venue. In fact we hope, perhaps in the future they would host more such events, in order to be able to have the alternative view of foreign policy concerning international events to be heard by the general public. It is such a necessity and and an obligation for those of us who try to work for conscience and love of our fellow man; thus that despite our missteps in our effort to get the word out, we are able to continue and not to harm the people or institutions who help us in that effort. In a society where the concept of free speech is an religion but rarely practiced, even distorted by mainstream media, , we are grateful that U.S. Colleges and Universities, such as Utica College allow for a different more accurate presentation of events in Ukraine and elsewhere. Professor Orlin did give a lively and fiery repartee to the facts presented, and I felt that Professor Lituchy answered him politely, respectfully, and accurately, and there was no ill feeling that i observed at all. Orthodox peoples and students were present, and did not feel offended, everyone had their say, and most importantly a very inconvenient truth was presented to the general public. We are grateful for Professor Barry Lituchy's participation, we are grateful that students and peoples from the general public were interested from all walks of life, and views, and that most importantly that it was a very civil, if slightly lively event at points. Right after the event, Professor Lituchy drove five hours back to Brooklyn as he had to attend to responsiblities of his profession. He was asked to write a report of the event, and in his exhaustion and willingness to comply right away, there was a misrepresentation. These things happen, yet when they do we must answer for them. Please forgive me a sinner, and please, please take this addendum to the above in consideration when reading about the event that took place in Utica, NY at Utica College. Thank you. xenia williams

    Posted by xenia lynn teresa williams, 03/17/2015 9:02pm (10 years ago)

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