US polarization, disunity belie self-appointed image as laboratory of democracy: CounterPunch

NEW YORK - US diplomats have been unsuccessful in recruiting key countries in the Global South, particularly India and Brazil, to support Ukraine in its war with Russia, reported online magazine CounterPunch on Monday.

"Nations of the Global South don't want to be part of the Cold War between the West and Russia; don't accept the Western view of Russia's invasion of Ukraine as 'unprovoked'; and charge the United States and key European countries with hypocrisy in trying to isolate authoritarian countries," said the report.

The United States has been particularly critical of African countries for not taking a strong stand against Russia's war against Ukraine, and for ignoring the Western sanctions regime against Russia, according to the report. The United States can't even get long-term partners such as Israel and Jordan to take sides between Washington and Moscow.

"US charges of human rights violations against Russia and China also fall on deaf ears in the Global South because of the increased gun violence in the United States; the increased wealth gap between the rich and poor; and of course the systemic racism in US society," it said.

"The insurrection in Washington on January 6, 2021, raised additional questions regarding the strength and longevity of US democracy and US governance," it added. "The polarization and disunity in the United States belie its self-appointed image as a laboratory of democracy. US efforts at regime change over the past seventy years sustain the cynicism of Third World leaders."