Video: “They do what they want,”Putin slams US hypocrisy
Abdullateef Fowewe
A resurfaced video clip of Russian President Vladimir Putin has gone viral, with the leader delivering a fiery critique of United States military interventions abroad, accusing Washington of flouting international law at will.
Speaking at meeting with military and government officials, Putin highlights NATO’s 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia, the 2003 Iraq invasion, and U.S. actions in Syria as prime examples of unchecked power.
In the clip, Putin questions the legitimacy of these operations with pointed rhetorical jabs.
“They bombed Yugoslavia. Under what pretext? Was it under the Security Council sanctions, or something like that? Where is Yugoslavia and where are the United States? The country was destroyed,” he says, emphasising that no one granted permission to strike a European capital amid its internal conflicts.
He then turns to Iraq, mocking the justification of nonexistent weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).
“Under what pretext did they enter Iraq? The development of weapons for mass destruction in Iraq. They came, destroyed the country, and created a wave of international terrorism. But then it turned out that we were mistaken. Then they said intelligence had led us there. Wow! They destroyed the country but intelligence has led them to do so,” Putin exclaims, noting how Iraq had already destroyed its WMDs under international obligations.
Putin wraps up by referencing Syria, underscoring a pattern of unilateral action.
“And how did people enter Syria? Was that under Security Council sanctions or not? They are doing what they want and why,” he declares, his tone laced with frustration through emphatic gestures and rising inflection.
The video gained fresh traction on social media following the US invasion of Venezuela that led to the capture of Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
“Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country,” US President Donald Trump confirmed in a statement on Saturday.
Following the attack Trump announced plans for the United States to maintain oversight in Venezuela, ensuring a stable transition away from decades of “dictatorship”.
He further announced strong U.S involvement in Venezuela’s oil industry.
