The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Authored by Peter Korzun via The Strategic Culture Foundation:
US Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison is a highly placed diplomat. Her words, whatever they may be, are official, which includes the ultimatums and threats that have become the language increasingly used by US diplomats to implement the policy of forceful persuasion or coercive diplomacy. Bellicose declarations are being used this way as a tool.
On Oct. 2, the ambassador proved it again. According to her statement, Washington is ready to use force against Russia. Actually, she presented an ultimatum — Moscow must stop the development of a missile that the US believes to be in violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty). If not, the American military will destroy it before the weapon becomes operational. “At that point, we would be looking at the capability to take out a (Russian) missile that could hit any of our countries,” Hutchison stated at a news conference. “Counter measures (by the United States) would be to take out the missiles that are in development by Russia in violation of the treaty,” she added. “They are on notice.” This is nothing other than a direct warning of a preemptive strike.
It is true that compliance with the INF Treaty is a controversial issue. Moscow has many times claimed that Washington was in violation, and that position has been substantiated. For instance, the Aegis Ashore system, which has been installed in Romania and is to be deployed in Poland, uses the Mk-41 launcher that is capable of firing intermediate-range Tomahawk missiles. This is a flagrant breach of the INF Treaty. The fact is undeniable. The US accuses Moscow of possessing and testing a ground-launched cruise missile with a range capability of 500 km to 5,500 km (310-3,417 miles), but there has never been any proof to support this claim. Russia has consistently denied the charges. It says the missile in question — the 9M729 — is in compliance with the provisions of the treaty and has never been upgraded or tested for the prohibited range.
This is a reasonable assertion. After all, there is no way to prevent such tests from being detected and monitored by satellites. The US could raise the issue with the Special Verification Commission (SVC). Instead it threatens to start a war.
This is momentous, because the ambassador’s words were not a botched statement or an offhand comment, but in fact followed another “warning” made by a US official recently.
Speaking on Sept. 28 at an industry event in Pennsylvania hosted by the Consumer Energy Alliance, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke suggested that the US Navy could be used to impose a blockade to restrict Russia’s energy trade. “The United States has that ability, with our Navy, to make sure the sea lanes are open, and, if necessary, to blockade… to make sure that their energy does not go to market,” he said, revealing that this was an option. The Interior Department has nothing to do with foreign policy, but Mr. Zinke is a high-ranking member of the administration.
Two bellicose statements made one after another and both are just short of a declaration of war! A blockade is a hostile act that would be countered with force, and the US is well aware of this. It is also well aware that Russia will defend itself. It’s important to note that no comments or explanations have come from the White House. This confirms the fact that what the officials have said reflects the administration’s position.
This brings to mind the fact that the Interdiction and Modernization of Sanctions Act has passed the House of Representatives. The legislation includes the authority to inspect Chinese, Iranian, Syrian, and Russian ports. Among the latter are the ports of Nakhodka, Vanino, and Vladivostok. This is an openly hostile act and a blatant violation of international law. If the bill becomes law, it will likely start a war with the US acting as the aggressor.
Trident Juncture, the largest training event held by NATO since 2002, kicks off on October 25 and will last until November 7, 2018. It will take place in close proximity to Russia’s borders. Russia’s Vostok-2018 exercise in September was the biggest seen there since the Cold War, but it was held in the Far East, far from NATO’s area of responsibility. It’s NATO, not Russia, who is escalating the already tense situation in Europe by holding such a large-scale exercise adjacent to Russia’s borders.
Russia is not the only country to be threatened with war. Attempts are being made to intimidate China as well. Tensions are running high in the South China Sea, where US and Chinese ships had an “unsafe” interaction with each other on Sept. 30. A collision was barely avoided. As a result, US Defense Secretary James Mattis had to suspend his visit to China when it was called off by Beijing. The security dialog between the two nations has stalled.
Perhaps the only thing left to do is to give up on having a normal relationship with the United States. Ambassador Hutchison’s statement is sending a clear message of: “forget about diplomacy, we’re back to the Stone Age,” with Washington leading the way. This is the new reality, so get used to it. Just shrug it off and try to live without the US, but be vigilant and ready to repel an attack that is very likely on the way.
It should be noted that Moscow has never threatened the US with military action. It has never deployed military forces in proximity to America’s shores. It did not start all those unending sanctions and trade wars. When exposing the US violations of international agreements, it has never claimed that the use of force was an option. It has tried hard to revive the dialog on arms control and to coordinate operations in Syria. But it has also had to issue warnings about consequences, in case it were provoked to respond to a hostile act. If the worst happens, we’ll all know who is to blame. Washington bears the responsibility for pushing the world to the brink of war.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
It does seem odd, to say the least, for the US government to threaten war against Russia in the very same year that Russia announced a sheaf of weapons against which the USA has no defence.
Unless, of course, the US government believes that it has weapons against which Russia has no defence…? Which would presumably be biological.
Nice one. Or of course the Yankers have thrown their dummies out of the pram and are venting their pathetic anger.
If the dicks in the US use bio weapons the Russians, will I would suggest, respond with nukes.
“US Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison is a highly placed diplomat”. She may be highly placed, or not – I honestly don’t know and care even less. Traditionally the US government has appointed “ambassadors” from the ranks of wealthy and influential campaign donors, with no concern for qualifications or skill. But she is obviously NOT “a diplomat”, because the USA does not have any diplomats. Why would it want them, when its only tools are violence and threats of violence? Mr Lavrov is a consummate diplomat. Mr Shoigu is not a diplomat, but the Russian minister of defence. It… Read more »
Isn’t that Angelina Jolie an ambassador for something ?.
Unfortunately this excuse for a woman is a psychotic imbecile, with the mental capacity of a handicapped slug.
She is a perfectly demonstration of the current state of Amazian political, social and moral ineptitude, barbarism, beastly behaviour.
As a Christian, we have no concern about the coming war, which will be the one to end All Wars, and, of course,there will be no survivors on this planet.
What is a tragic way for the supposedly humane race to vanish, as there will also be no history of our ever having been here.
“At that point, we would be looking at the capability to take out a (Russian) missile that could hit any of our countries,” Hutchison stated at a news conference.
The use of the possessive pronoun is most revealing.
Hutchinson’s complaint is laughable. The U.S. has never met a treaty it wouldn’t violate, abrogate, or ignore.
Perfidious to the core.
The US has learned well from their mentor .Rhetoric and bluff is not part of the diplomatic model.So be it.They will reap what they sow .
can you imagine the howling in the US if Russia
would pass a law that gives them
the authority to inspect US ports.
Because over the last couple of decades , the US has made up these scheming little laws unto itself , do they fully expect the rest of the world will adhere to those bullish insults or face the consequences ? ( All out war!!)Also , what of their population ? do they just nod their heads in agreement like the trained dummies they are ? Whatever happened to ” accountability ” from a Politician , they didn`t get voted into power only to turn into Slavemasters , or did they?
Which nations are, accoding to this wenches statement, the United Slaves of Enslavia, ‘theirs’?
“At that point, we would be looking at the capability to take out a (Russian) missile that could hit any of our countries,”
This world is galloping toward global self annihilation, Amazia is the the most dangerous rogue state in history, the Mother of all Wars of Mass Destruction, who are now totally dememnted, power and terror crazed lunatics, psychotic killers, intent on total global dominiance, and good luck to any who survive their initial global onslaught!
America is always breaking international laws and agreements but they believe the rules only apply to other countries not them anyway I doubt they have the courage to take on Russia.
It appears USA and NATO are desperate for war and are trying to provoke it with anyone and everyone. All I can say is: I hope USA and NATO are prepared for a bloody good hiding because that’s what they’ll get if they go to war with Russia or China!.
And the snowflakes say women should be given more responsibility??????? Hope they don’t mean American women like this idiot or Clinton – C Rice – S Rice – Haley – Nuland – Jolie – plus many many more.
It is not necessary to respond to every dumb Washington official spouting nonsense. Let the US military handle those idiots.
Russia did attempt to place missiles near the American cost during the Cuban missile crisis and the US went bananas. How do they expect to do that to the Russians and not get the full force of an extremely defensive orientated military reaction.
I think you should add the UK to that list of countries Russia should just give up on until they grow up. After seeing this in the UK Daily Mail “https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6254859/Putin-planting-troops-missiles-eastern-Libya-anti-western-stronghold.html” Whadaya know. They really HAVE found a way of blaming Russia for the tide of MENA refugees in Europe. They truly have gone totally insane, to do this to a nuclear armed country, and one never beaten when attacked. God knows what else to do with them but just give up on them. Shut down the Embassy in London, recall ALL diplomatic Corps and stop direct UK to Russia… Read more »
Hmmm…
https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/nov/15/valery-gerasimov-russian-general-reveals-nuclear