Putin Prepares, For Russia To Win A Nuclear War

[Life]

I wonder could all this pufuffel be covering the final act in the script called the European Union? Which from November gets it's final seal of approval by a queen of the corporate empire that also happens to command the entire raft of perogatives afforded to the British Realm......

[Life]

Reuters:

“Ukraine’s parliament approved a law on Thursday to allow gas transit facilities to be leased on a joint venture basis with participation from firms in the European Union or United States….The government has said the joint venture will bring in investment and remove the need for the South Stream pipeline, which Russia’s Gazprom is building to take gas to southeastern Europe across the Black Sea, avoiding Ukraine.

If South Stream is built, it threatens to deprive Ukraine’s badly strained budget of the transit fees that it currently receives from Russia for gas heading towards Europe.

The EU imports 30 percent of its natural gas needs from Russia, and about half of that comes via Ukraine, with some already having been diverted through the Nord Stream pipeline under the Baltic Sea.” (“Ukrainian parliament backs bill to open gas pipelines to EU, U.S. firms”, The Star)

You can see that the bloody, fratricidal conflict in Ukraine has nothing to do with democracy, sovereignty or even “evil” Putin. It’s all about gas and pipelines. It’s all part of Washington’s grand plan to put a wedge between Russia and the EU, control the flow of vital resources, and establish NATO bases on Russia’s western flank. The fact that the article mentions South Stream is particularly revealing. The Obama administration is doing everything in its power to sabotage South Stream so that Russia will be unable to bypass troublemaking Ukraine and sell its gas directly to countries across Europe. (Here’s a map of South Stream.)

Washington doesn’t want free trade between neighbors. Washington wants every drop of Russian gas to pass through its tollbooth so it can maintain a stranglehold on Europe’s economy and on Moscow’s revenues. Here’s more on South Stream from Bloomberg:

“The $46 billion South Stream project, spearheaded by OAO Gazprom, is on hold and will probably remain in limbo for years as Russia continues to foment armed conflict in eastern Ukraine and the EU retaliates with bans, Eurasia Group said.

That means the war-torn country will remain a key transit point for about half of Gazprom’s shipments to Europe, according to the New York-based risk research group. The EU previously had mixed positions on South Stream. With Russian troops massing near the Ukraine border, the bloc now has little choice but to stand united in opposition.

“There’s no way Europe is going to put South Stream negotiations back on the table now, given the larger geopolitical context of the Ukraine crisis,” Emily Stromquist, a Eurasia analyst in London, said in an interview.

The proposed 2,446-kilometer (1,520-mile) pipeline would run under the Black Sea and enter the EU in Bulgaria. That would end Gazprom’s dependence on the Ukrainian gas-transit system.” (“Putin’s Pipeline Bypassing Ukraine Is at Risk Amid Conflict”, Bloomberg)

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article39446.htm

[TonyGosling]

Haven't seen this news on the BB effin' C Have you?
Largest ever military drills with Russia, China & other SCO nations

Link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-NThtA606o
So these are the people NATO & Israel want a nuclear war with
http://www.sectsco.org/EN123/show.asp?id=539

[Life]

Keep your eyes and ears open to what goes on under the mantra :


" The Reset."

[Whitehall_Bin_Men]

NATO Plans 'Spearhead' Force To Face Russia
http://t.co/ZdTQjwM2sq

[Whitehall_Bin_Men]

THE UNDECLARED "ECONOMIC" WAR ON RUSSIA

September 12, 2014

SOURCE: MIKE MISH SHEDLOCK
http://www.blacklistednews.com/The_Undeclared_"Economic"_War_on_Russia  /37902/0/38/38/Y/M.html

Sanctions or War?

It's long overdue we label sanctions for what they really are: war. If you prefer, call them "economic war".

Today, president Obama took the undeclared war another step forward by targeting Lukoil, a private Russian company.

Please consider Gazprom, Lukoil Hit in New Round of Sanctions.

The US dramatically expanded its sanctions against Russia on Friday by adding Gazprom, Europe’s leading energy provider, to the list of targeted companies, as it sought to ratchet up pressure on Moscow to step back from the war in Ukraine.

The latest measures targeting energy, financial services and defence industries also included Lukoil, the privately owned oil group, and Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank.

In addition to blocking most major state-owned groups from western capital markets, the US has also tightened restrictions on some of Russia’s largest energy projects, a key engine of its future economic growth.

One in particular – ExxonMobil’s high-profile exploration partnership with the state-controlled Russian oil group Rosneft in the Russian arctic – is looking increasingly under threat. The two companies began drilling in the Kara Sea last month, but industry analysts question whether their joint venture can survive under the intensifying sanctions regime.

There was also surprise that the US had decided to sanction Lukoil, the first private Russian company to be penalised in this way. The oil producer is not tied to President Putin and has played no role in the Ukraine conflict.

“It sends a message that any Russian firm is now conceivably a fair target instead of solely targeting firms that are state-owned or owned by people believed to be associated with President Putin,” said Andrew Weiss, vice-president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

A senior administration official said that the latest round of sanctions could be lifted immediately if Russia observed the ceasefire agreement signed with Ukraine in Minsk last week.
Ceasefire Nonsense

Notice how the US is only interested that the rebels not not violate the ceasefire.

Moreover, the fact is the ceasefire has largely held, and it has been broken by both sides. It's not even clear who broke the ceasefire first.

But if it was the rebels who broke the ceasefire in every instance, one would have expected the US state department to be all over the story with bullhorns.

Solidarity by Force

President Obama says We will join EU in intensifying sanctions on Russia.

Yeah right. We twist the EU's arm till they "cry uncle" then we claim we join them.

Unless the intent is to provoke a military war with Russia, this new round of sanctions is stupider than any of its predecessors.

If Exxon cannot partner with Rosneft in the Russian arctic, guess who will? Try China.

Ruble Falls to Record Low vs. Dollar



Sanctions may be hurting the Ruble, but so are falling energy prices.

Reflections on the Global Economy

The price of oil has been falling in spite of this mess. That's a big hint that the global economy is in a huge slowdown.

And that drop in oil price likely hurts Russia more than any of these sanctions.

Like oil, copper says the same thing: World Growth vs. Copper with 3-Month Lag; Iron Sinks to 5-Year Low; US Will Not Decouple.

For a wrapup on sanction madness, please consider Fishing for Trout With Rope and Mashed Potatoes; Mentality of Jackasses; Gas Pains.

Expect a big "surprise" to the downside for global GDP as sanctions can only compound the already evident weakness.

Read more at http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/09/undeclared-war-on-r ussia-solidarity-by.html

[TonyGosling]

Moscow says U.S. working on military 'scenarios' at Russia's borders
MOSCOW Thu Oct 16, 2014 6:00pm EDT
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/16/us-usa-russia-military-idUSK CN0I52C520141016

Putin accuses US of 'blackmail'
http://www.dw.de/putin-accuses-us-of-blackmail/a-17998607
Ahead of high-level talks with European leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of meddling in his nation's affairs. Putin warned the US against attempts to 'blackmail' Russia.
Wladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned United States President Barack Obama against "attempts to blackmail" Moscow, while accusing the American President of harboring a hostile attitude toward Russia.
Putin took issue with Obama's comments at the United Nations last month, where the US leader listed Russian "aggression" in eastern Ukraine as a top threat to global peace, alongside "Islamic State" jihadists and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
"Together with the limits introduced against entire sectors of our economy it is hard to call such approach anything but hostile," Putin told the Serbian daily Politika.
"We are hoping that our partners will understand the recklessness of attempts to blackmail Russia, (and) remember what discord between large nuclear powers can do to strategic stability," Putin said in comments released by the Kremlin late on Wednesday.
The Russian President's comments come a day before he is scheduled to hold high-level talks with EU leaders at a summit in Milan, Italy. Before the summit, Putin will make a brief stopover in Serbia where he will be the guest of honor at a military parade commemorating the Red Army's liberation of Belgrade from the Nazis 70 years ago.
Putin accused the United States of meddling in Russia's affairs, blaming Washington for in Putin's view, provoking a "civil war" in Ukraine.
"What has been happening since the start of the year is even more dispiriting," Putin said. "Washington actively supported the Maidan (protests) and began to blame Russia for provoking a crisis when its protégés in Kyiv through their rabid nationalism turned a significant part of Ukraine against it and threw the country into civil war."
The situation in Ukraine is expected to dominate the meetings as Putin is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Milan. On Friday, the Russian President will have a breakfast meeting with the leaders of Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Ukraine and the European Union that will focus on Ukraine.
Russia's relations with the West have been on ice ever since Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in March. Bitter fighting broke out shortly afterward between Ukrainian security forces and pro-Russian separatists. The West has accused Moscow of sending regular Russian army soldiers into Ukraine to support separatist fighters, a claim Putin denies.
A shaky ceasefire has been holding in eastern Ukraine since September 5. Thus far over 3600 people have been killed in the conflict, according to the United Nations.

[outsider]

America is on a “Hot War Footing”: House Legislation Paves the Way for War with Russia?:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article40384.htm

'December 05, 2014 "ICH" - "GR" - America is on a war footing. While, a World War Three Scenario has been on the drawing board of the Pentagon for more than ten years, military action against Russia is now contemplated at an “operational level”. Similarly, both the Senate and the House have introduced enabling legislation which provides legitimacy to the conduct of a war against Russia.
We are not dealing with a “Cold War”. None of the safeguards of the Cold War era prevail.

There has been a breakdown in East-West diplomacy coupled with extensive war propaganda. In turn the United Nations has turned a blind eye to extensive war crimes committed by the Western military alliance.

The adoption of a major piece of legislation by the US House of Representatives on December 4th (H. Res. 758) would provide (pending a vote in the Senate) a de facto green light to the US president and commander in chief to initiate –without congressional approval– a process of military confrontation with Russia.

Global security is at stake. This historic vote –which potentially could affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people Worldwide– has received virtually no media coverage. A total media blackout prevails.

The World is at a dangerous crossroads. Moscow has responded to US-NATO threats. Its borders are threatened.

On December 3, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation announced the inauguration of a new military-political entity which would take over in the case of war.


Russia is launching a new national defense facility, which is meant to monitor threats to national security in peacetime, but would take control of the entire country in case of war. (RT, December 3, 2014)

Timeline of War Preparations

In May 2014, the Russian Aggression Prevention Act (RAPA) was introduced in the US Senate (S 2277), calling for the militarization of Eastern Europe and the Baltic States and the stationing of US and NATO troops on Russia’s doorstep:

S.2277 – Russian Aggression Prevention Act of 2014

Directs the President to: (1) implement a plan for increasing U.S. and NATO support for the armed forces of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, and other NATO member-states; and (2) direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO to seek consideration for permanently basing NATO forces in such countries.

Directs the President to submit a plan to Congress for accelerating NATO and European missile defense efforts.

While The S 2277 resolution was sent to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for review, its essential premises are already in the process of being implemented. In mid-July, NATO’s Europe commander General Philip Breedlove in consultation with the Pentagon and Britain’s Ministry of Defence, called for:


“stockpiling a base in Poland with enough weapons, ammunition and other supplies to support a rapid deployment of thousands of troops against Russia”.(RT, July 24, 2014).

According to General Breedlove, NATO needs “pre-positioned supplies, pre-positioned capabilities and a basing area ready to rapidly accept follow-on forces”:


“He plans to recommend placing supplies — weapons, ammunition and ration packs — at the headquarters to enable a sudden influx of thousands of Nato troops” (Times, August 22, 2014, emphasis added)

Breedlove’s “Blitzkrieg scenario” –which could potentially lead to military escalation– was reaffirmed at the September NATO Summit in Wales. A so-called NATO action plan directed against the Russian Federation was decided upon. The Wales Summit had given the “green light”.

Barely a month later, in October, US-NATO military drills were held in the Baltic States. In early November, a second round of drills was held in both the Baltic States and Eastern Europe.

As part of this broader endeavour, NATO’s Iron Sword 2014 military exercises –involving the participation of nine member countries of the Atlantic Alliance– were launched in Lithuania in early November:


”US tanks rolled in to Lithuania earlier this month is a show of force to Russia that it’s not welcome in the region.”

The military exercises were explicitly directed against Russia. According to Moscow, they consisted in “increasing operation readiness” as well the transfer of NATO “military infrastructure to the Russian borders”.

In response to NATO deployments on Russia’s borders, the Russian Federation also conducted in early November extensive war games in the sea of Barent. The Russian drills consisted in testing “its entire nuclear triad consisting of strategic bombers; submarines” and the “silo-based Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile launched from Plesetsk in Arkhangelsk Oblast” on November 1st.

The US House of Representatives H.Res. 758 Resolution

On 18 November, a major resolution H. Res. 758 was introduced in the House of Representatives. Its main thrust consists in portraying Russia as an “Aggressor Nation”, which has invaded Ukraine and calling for military action directed against Russia:

H.RES.758 — Whereas upon entering office in 2009, President Barack Obama announced his intention to `reset’ relations with the Russian Federation, which was described by former United States Ambassador… (Introduced in House – IH)

HRES 758 IH

113th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. RES. 758

Strongly condemning the actions of the Russian Federation, under President Vladimir Putin, which has carried out a policy of aggression against neighboring countries aimed at political and economic domination.

(The full text of H. RES. 758 is contained in annex to this article)

H. Res. 758 not only accuses Russia of having invaded Ukraine, it also invokes article 5 of the Washington Treaty, namely NATO’s doctrine of collective security.


An attack on one member of the Atlantic alliance is an attack on all members of the Alliance.

The underlying narrative is supported by a string of baseless accusations directed against the Russian Federation. It accuses Russia of having invaded Ukraine. It states without evidence that Russia was behind the downing of Malaysian Airlines MH17, it accuses Russia of military aggression.

Ironically, it also accuses the Russian Federation of having imposed economic sanctions not only on Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova but also on several unnamed member states of the European Union. The resolution accuses the Russian Federation of having used “the supply of energy for political and economic coercion.”

In essence, House Resolution 758 were it to become law would provide a de facto green light to the President of the United States to declare war on the Russian Federation, without the formal permission of the US Congress.

In this regard, it could be interpreted as “mildly unconstitutional” in that it contravenes the substance of Article 1, Section 8, of the US Constitution which vests in the Congress “the Power to declare war…”

The resolution urges the President of the United States in consultation with the US Congress to:


“conduct a review of the force posture, readiness, and responsibilities of the United States Armed Forces and the forces of other members of NATO to determine if the contributions and actions of each is sufficient to meet the obligations of collective self defence under article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty and to specify the measures needed to remedy any deficiencies” .

What the above paragraph suggests is that the US is contemplating the use of NATO’s collective security doctrine under article 5 with a views to triggering a process of military confrontation with the Russian Federation.

The structure of military alliances is of crucial significance. Washington’s intent is to isolate Russia. Article 5 is a convenient mechanism imposed by the US on Western Europe. It forces NATO member states, most of which are members of the European Union, to act wage war on Washington’s behalf.

Moreover, a referendum on Ukraine’s membership in NATO is contemplated. In case Ukraine becomes a member of NATO and/or redefines its security agreement with NATO, article 5 could be invoked as a justification to wage a NATO sponsored war on Russia.

“Fast Legislation”

Click image below to order Michel Chossudovsky’s book

The speed at which this legislation was adopted is unusual in US Congressional history. House resolution 758 was introduced on November 18th, it was rushed off to the Foreign Affairs Committee and rushed back to the plenary of the House for debate and adoption.

Two weeks (16 days) after it was first introduced by Rep. Kinzinger (Illinois) on November 18, it was adopted by 411-10 in an almost unanimous vote on the morning of December 4th.

Members of Congress are puppets. Their vote is controlled by Washington’s lobby groups. For the defence contractors, Wall Street and the Texas oil giants, “war is good for business”.

In the words of Dennis Kucinich in an open letter published on December 2:


The resolution demands Russia to be isolated … In other words, ‘let’s get ready for war with Russia.’

This is exactly the type of sabre rattling which led to the initiation and escalation of the Cold War. It is time we demanded that the US employ diplomacy, not more military expenditures, in the quest for international order.

Media Blackout

One would expect that this historic decision would has been the object of extensive news coverage.

In fact what happened was a total news blackout.

The nation’s media failed to provide coverage of the debate in House of Representatives and the adoption of H Res 758 on December 4.

The mainstream media had been instructed not to cover the Congressional decision.

Nobody dared to raise its dramatic implications. its impacts on “global security”. ”World War III is not front page news.”

And without mainstream news concerning US-NATO war preparations, the broader public remains unaware of the importance of the Congressional decision. .



In Annex to this article is the google news feed for H. Rep. 758 (7pm ET prior to the publication of this article). We suggest that readers check the news feed on online search engines as well as print media.

Spread the word. Reverse the tide of war.

Break the mainstream media blackout.

Google News Feed 7pm ET, December 4, 2014. Last 24 hours.

The Vote in the House of Representatives took place in the morning of December 4th, ET.

More....'

last 24 hours (image icons removed)

Search Results
1. Ukraine’s Finance Minister: “Made in the USA”: Kiev Government …
Center for Research on Globalization-4 hours ago

Bearing that in mind, a bill known as H.Res.758 was recently introduced in the U.S. Congress. … The danger of this bill was highlighted by former U.S. Rep.

2. Rep. Kinzinger Blasts Russia: ‘This Aggression Will Not Stand’
Washington Free Beacon-7 hours ago

Kinzinger is the sponsor of H. Res. 758, which formally condemns Russia for its military aggression and calls for the Russian Federation to remove its troops …

Kinzinger resolution condemns Russian aggression
The Rock River Times-1 hour ago

[outsider]

I put this up on a new thread earlier, but it should have gone here:

'America is on a “Hot War Footing”: House Legislation Paves the Way for War with Russia?:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article40384.htm

'December 05, 2014 "ICH" - "GR" - America is on a war footing. While, a World War Three Scenario has been on the drawing board of the Pentagon for more than ten years, military action against Russia is now contemplated at an “operational level”. Similarly, both the Senate and the House have introduced enabling legislation which provides legitimacy to the conduct of a war against Russia.
We are not dealing with a “Cold War”. None of the safeguards of the Cold War era prevail.

There has been a breakdown in East-West diplomacy coupled with extensive war propaganda. In turn the United Nations has turned a blind eye to extensive war crimes committed by the Western military alliance.

The adoption of a major piece of legislation by the US House of Representatives on December 4th (H. Res. 758) would provide (pending a vote in the Senate) a de facto green light to the US president and commander in chief to initiate –without congressional approval– a process of military confrontation with Russia.

Global security is at stake. This historic vote –which potentially could affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people Worldwide– has received virtually no media coverage. A total media blackout prevails.

The World is at a dangerous crossroads. Moscow has responded to US-NATO threats. Its borders are threatened.

On December 3, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation announced the inauguration of a new military-political entity which would take over in the case of war.


Russia is launching a new national defense facility, which is meant to monitor threats to national security in peacetime, but would take control of the entire country in case of war. (RT, December 3, 2014)

Timeline of War Preparations

In May 2014, the Russian Aggression Prevention Act (RAPA) was introduced in the US Senate (S 2277), calling for the militarization of Eastern Europe and the Baltic States and the stationing of US and NATO troops on Russia’s doorstep:

S.2277 – Russian Aggression Prevention Act of 2014

Directs the President to: (1) implement a plan for increasing U.S. and NATO support for the armed forces of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, and other NATO member-states; and (2) direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO to seek consideration for permanently basing NATO forces in such countries.

Directs the President to submit a plan to Congress for accelerating NATO and European missile defense efforts.

While The S 2277 resolution was sent to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for review, its essential premises are already in the process of being implemented. In mid-July, NATO’s Europe commander General Philip Breedlove in consultation with the Pentagon and Britain’s Ministry of Defence, called for:


“stockpiling a base in Poland with enough weapons, ammunition and other supplies to support a rapid deployment of thousands of troops against Russia”.(RT, July 24, 2014).

According to General Breedlove, NATO needs “pre-positioned supplies, pre-positioned capabilities and a basing area ready to rapidly accept follow-on forces”:


“He plans to recommend placing supplies — weapons, ammunition and ration packs — at the headquarters to enable a sudden influx of thousands of Nato troops” (Times, August 22, 2014, emphasis added)

Breedlove’s “Blitzkrieg scenario” –which could potentially lead to military escalation– was reaffirmed at the September NATO Summit in Wales. A so-called NATO action plan directed against the Russian Federation was decided upon. The Wales Summit had given the “green light”.

Barely a month later, in October, US-NATO military drills were held in the Baltic States. In early November, a second round of drills was held in both the Baltic States and Eastern Europe.

As part of this broader endeavour, NATO’s Iron Sword 2014 military exercises –involving the participation of nine member countries of the Atlantic Alliance– were launched in Lithuania in early November:


”US tanks rolled in to Lithuania earlier this month is a show of force to Russia that it’s not welcome in the region.”

The military exercises were explicitly directed against Russia. According to Moscow, they consisted in “increasing operation readiness” as well the transfer of NATO “military infrastructure to the Russian borders”.

In response to NATO deployments on Russia’s borders, the Russian Federation also conducted in early November extensive war games in the sea of Barent. The Russian drills consisted in testing “its entire nuclear triad consisting of strategic bombers; submarines” and the “silo-based Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile launched from Plesetsk in Arkhangelsk Oblast” on November 1st.

The US House of Representatives H.Res. 758 Resolution

On 18 November, a major resolution H. Res. 758 was introduced in the House of Representatives. Its main thrust consists in portraying Russia as an “Aggressor Nation”, which has invaded Ukraine and calling for military action directed against Russia:

H.RES.758 — Whereas upon entering office in 2009, President Barack Obama announced his intention to `reset’ relations with the Russian Federation, which was described by former United States Ambassador… (Introduced in House – IH)

HRES 758 IH

113th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. RES. 758

Strongly condemning the actions of the Russian Federation, under President Vladimir Putin, which has carried out a policy of aggression against neighboring countries aimed at political and economic domination.

(The full text of H. RES. 758 is contained in annex to this article)

H. Res. 758 not only accuses Russia of having invaded Ukraine, it also invokes article 5 of the Washington Treaty, namely NATO’s doctrine of collective security.


An attack on one member of the Atlantic alliance is an attack on all members of the Alliance.

The underlying narrative is supported by a string of baseless accusations directed against the Russian Federation. It accuses Russia of having invaded Ukraine. It states without evidence that Russia was behind the downing of Malaysian Airlines MH17, it accuses Russia of military aggression.

Ironically, it also accuses the Russian Federation of having imposed economic sanctions not only on Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova but also on several unnamed member states of the European Union. The resolution accuses the Russian Federation of having used “the supply of energy for political and economic coercion.”

In essence, House Resolution 758 were it to become law would provide a de facto green light to the President of the United States to declare war on the Russian Federation, without the formal permission of the US Congress.

In this regard, it could be interpreted as “mildly unconstitutional” in that it contravenes the substance of Article 1, Section 8, of the US Constitution which vests in the Congress “the Power to declare war…”

The resolution urges the President of the United States in consultation with the US Congress to:


“conduct a review of the force posture, readiness, and responsibilities of the United States Armed Forces and the forces of other members of NATO to determine if the contributions and actions of each is sufficient to meet the obligations of collective self defence under article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty and to specify the measures needed to remedy any deficiencies” .

What the above paragraph suggests is that the US is contemplating the use of NATO’s collective security doctrine under article 5 with a views to triggering a process of military confrontation with the Russian Federation.

The structure of military alliances is of crucial significance. Washington’s intent is to isolate Russia. Article 5 is a convenient mechanism imposed by the US on Western Europe. It forces NATO member states, most of which are members of the European Union, to act wage war on Washington’s behalf.

Moreover, a referendum on Ukraine’s membership in NATO is contemplated. In case Ukraine becomes a member of NATO and/or redefines its security agreement with NATO, article 5 could be invoked as a justification to wage a NATO sponsored war on Russia.

“Fast Legislation”

Click image below to order Michel Chossudovsky’s book

The speed at which this legislation was adopted is unusual in US Congressional history. House resolution 758 was introduced on November 18th, it was rushed off to the Foreign Affairs Committee and rushed back to the plenary of the House for debate and adoption.

Two weeks (16 days) after it was first introduced by Rep. Kinzinger (Illinois) on November 18, it was adopted by 411-10 in an almost unanimous vote on the morning of December 4th.

Members of Congress are puppets. Their vote is controlled by Washington’s lobby groups. For the defence contractors, Wall Street and the Texas oil giants, “war is good for business”.

In the words of Dennis Kucinich in an open letter published on December 2:


The resolution demands Russia to be isolated … In other words, ‘let’s get ready for war with Russia.’

This is exactly the type of sabre rattling which led to the initiation and escalation of the Cold War. It is time we demanded that the US employ diplomacy, not more military expenditures, in the quest for international order.

Media Blackout

One would expect that this historic decision would has been the object of extensive news coverage.

In fact what happened was a total news blackout.

The nation’s media failed to provide coverage of the debate in House of Representatives and the adoption of H Res 758 on December 4.

The mainstream media had been instructed not to cover the Congressional decision.

Nobody dared to raise its dramatic implications. its impacts on “global security”. ”World War III is not front page news.”

And without mainstream news concerning US-NATO war preparations, the broader public remains unaware of the importance of the Congressional decision. .



In Annex to this article is the google news feed for H. Rep. 758 (7pm ET prior to the publication of this article). We suggest that readers check the news feed on online search engines as well as print media.

Spread the word. Reverse the tide of war.

Break the mainstream media blackout.

Google News Feed 7pm ET, December 4, 2014. Last 24 hours.

The Vote in the House of Representatives took place in the morning of December 4th, ET.

More....'

last 24 hours (image icons removed)

Search Results
1. Ukraine’s Finance Minister: “Made in the USA”: Kiev Government …
Center for Research on Globalization-4 hours ago

Bearing that in mind, a bill known as H.Res.758 was recently introduced in the U.S. Congress. … The danger of this bill was highlighted by former U.S. Rep.

2. Rep. Kinzinger Blasts Russia: ‘This Aggression Will Not Stand’
Washington Free Beacon-7 hours ago

Kinzinger is the sponsor of H. Res. 758, which formally condemns Russia for its military aggression and calls for the Russian Federation to remove its troops …

Kinzinger resolution condemns Russian aggression
The Rock River Times-1 hour ago

[outsider]

No to War, Hot or Cold, with Russia:
http://diy.rootsaction.org/petitions/no-to-war-hot-or-cold-with-russia

'Reverse the steps taken in the recently passed resolution H. Res. 758, which distorts facts and hypocritically condemns actions the United States is itself guilty of in order to antagonize Russia, effectively declaring a new Cold War. The resolution demands that Russia be isolated and that the U.S. and NATO be prepared for war. This approach should be unacceptable in a new head of the Pentagon, and Congress should replace militarism with diplomacy toward Moscow.

Why is this important?
NATO encirclement, the U.S.-backed coup in Ukraine, an attempt to use an agreement with the European Union to bring NATO into Ukraine at the Russian border, a U.S. nuclear first-strike policy, are all policies which attempt to substitute force for diplomacy.

Tensions between Russia and the U.S. are being fueled every day by players who would benefit financially from a resumption of the Cold War which, from 1948 to 1991 cost U.S. taxpayers $20 TRILLION dollars (in 2014 dollars), an amount exceeding our $18 trillion National Debt.

The resolution just passed by the House calls for “the President, in consultation with Congress, to conduct a review of the force posture, readiness and responsibilities of United States Armed Forces and the forces of other members of NATO to determine if the contributions and actions of each are sufficient to meet the obligations of collective self-defense under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, and to specify the measures needed to remedy any deficiencies...” In other words, "let’s get ready for war with Russia."

This is a dangerous and costly direction. Using diplomacy, rather than poor substitutes for it, would save dollars and lives, while allowing us to prioritize useful projects and collaborate with our international allies. This is a moment in which we all must raise our voices to make that change.'

This petition to Congress was started by Former Congressman Dennis Kucinich; he is one of the few decent politicians/ex-politicians in the States, and has 'form' for speaking out.

[TonyGosling]

And here's why...

On the Brink of War and Economic Collapse — Paul Craig Roberts
December 12, 2014 | Categories: Articles & Columns | Tags: | Print This Article Print This Article
On the Brink of War and Economic Collapse
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/12/12/brink-war-economic-collapse -paul-craig-roberts/

Paul Craig Roberts

On occasion a reader will ask if I can give readers some good news. The answer is: not unless I lie to you like “your” government and the mainstream media do. If you want faked “good news,” you need to retreat into The Matrix. In exchange for less stress and worry, you will be led unknowingly into financial ruin and nuclear armageddon.

If you want to be forewarned, and possibly prepared, for what “your” government is bringing you, and have some small chance of redirecting the course of events, read and support this site. It is your site. I already know these things. I write for you.

The neoconservatives, a small group of warmongers strongly allied with the military/industrial complex and Israel, gave us Granada and the Contras affair in Nicaragua. President Reagan fired them, and they were prosecuted, but subsequently pardoned by Reagan’s successor, George H.W. Bush.

Ensconced in think tanks and protected by Israeli and military/security complex money, the neoconservatives reemerged in the Clinton administration and engineered the breakup of Yugoslavia, the war against Serbia, and the expansion of NATO to Russia’s borders.

Neoconservatives dominated the George W. Bush regime. They controlled the Pentagon, the National Security Council, the Office of the Vice President, and much else. Neoconservatives gave us 9/11 and its coverup, the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, the beginning of the destabilizations of Pakistan and Yemen, the U.S. Africa Command, the invasion of South Ossetia by Georgia, the demise of the anti-ABM Treaty, unconstitutional and illegal spying on American citizens without warrants, loss of constitutional protections, torture, and the unaccountability of the executive branch to law, Congress, and the judiciary. In short, the neoconservatives laid the foundation for dictatorship and for WW III.

The Obama regime held no one accountable for the crimes of the Bush regime, thus creating the precedent that the executive branch is above the law. Instead, the Obama regime prosecuted whistleblowers who told the truth about government crimes.

Neoconservatives remain very influential in the Obama regime. As examples, Obama appointed neoconservative Susan Rice as his National Security Advisor. Obama appointed neoconservative Samantha Power as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Obama appointed neoconservative Victoria Nuland as Assistant Secretary of State. Nuland’s office, working with the CIA and Washington-financed NGOs, organized the U.S. coup in Ukraine.

Neoconservatism is the only extant political ideology. The ideology is “America uber alles.” Neoconservatives believe that History has chosen the United States to exercise hegemony over the world, thereby making the U.S. “exceptional” and “indispensable.” Obama himself has declared as much. This ideology gives neoconservatives tremendous confidence and drive, just as Karl Marx’s conclusion that history had chosen the workers to be the ruling class gave early communists confidence and drive.

This confidence and drive makes the neoconservatives reckless.

To advance their agenda neoconservatives propagandize the populations of the U.S. and Washington’s vassal states. The presstitutes deliver the neoconservatives’ lies to the unsuspecting public: Russia has invaded and annexed Ukrainian provinces; Putin intends to reconstitute the Soviet Empire; Russia is a gangster state without democracy; Russia is a threat to the Baltics, Poland, and all of Europe, necessitating a U.S./NATO military buildup on Russia’s borders; China, a Russian ally, must be militarily contained with new U.S. naval and air bases surrounding China and controlling Chinese sea lanes.

The neoconservatives and President Obama have made it completely clear that the U.S. will not accept Russia and China as sovereign countries with economic and foreign policies independent of the interests of Washington. Russia and China are acceptable only as vassal states, like the UK, Europe, Japan, Canada, and Australia.

Clearly, the neoconservative formula is a formula for the final war.

All of humanity is endangered by a handful of evil men and women ensconced in positions of power in Washington.

Anti-Russia propaganda has gone into high gear. Putin is the “new Hitler.”
Daniel Zubov reports on a joint conference held by three U.S. think tanks.
The conference blamed Russia for the failures of Washington’s foreign policy. Read this article: http://sputniknews.com/columnists/20141205/1015538604.html to see how neoconservatives operate in order to control the explanations. Even Henry Kissinger is under attack for stating the obvious truth that Russia has a legitimate interest in Ukraine, a land long part of Russia and located in Russia’s legitimate sphere of influence.

Since the Clinton regime, Washington has been acting against Russian interests. In his forthcoming book, The Globalization of War: America’s Long War against Humanity, Professor Michel Chossudovsky presents a realistic appraisal of how close Washington has brought the world to its demise in nuclear war. This passage is from the Preface:

“The ‘globalization of war’ is a hegemonic project. Major military
and covert intelligence operations are being undertaken
simultaneously in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan
Africa, Central Asia and the Far East. The US military agenda
combines both major theater operations as well as covert actions
geared towards destabilizing sovereign states.

“Under a global military agenda, the actions undertaken by the
Western military alliance (US-NATO-Israel) in Afghanistan, Pakistan,
Palestine, Ukraine, Syria and Iraq are coordinated at the highest
levels of the military hierarchy. We are not dealing with
piecemeal military and intelligence operations. The July-August
2014 attack on Gaza by Israeli forces was undertaken in close consultation
with the United States and NATO. In turn, the actions in
Ukraine and their timing coincided with the onslaught of the attack
on Gaza.

“In turn, military undertakings are closely coordinated with a
process of economic warfare which consists not only in imposing
sanctions on sovereign countries but also in deliberate acts of destabilization
of financial and currency markets, with a view to undermining
the enemies’ national economies.

“The United States and its allies have launched a military adventure
which threatens the future of humanity. As we go to press, US
and NATO forces have been deployed in Eastern Europe. US military
intervention under a humanitarian mandate is proceeding in sub-Saharan
Africa. The US and its allies are threatening China under President Obama’s
‘Pivot to Asia’.

“In turn, military maneuvers are being conducted at Russia’s
doorstep which could lead to escalation.

“The US airstrikes initiated in September 2014 directed against
Iraq and Syria under the pretext of going after the Islamic State are
part of a scenario of military escalation extending from North Africa
and the Eastern Mediterranean to Central and South Asia.
The Western military alliance is in an advanced state of readiness.

“And so is Russia.”

As I have often remarked, Americans are an insouciant people. They are simply unaware. Suppose they were aware, suppose that the entire population understood the peril, could anything be done, or have the insouciant Americans fallen under the control of the police state that Washington has created?

I don’t think there is much hope from the American people. The American people cannot tell genuine from fake leadership, and the ruling private elites will not permit real leaders to emerge. Moreover, there is no organized movement in opposition to the neoconservatives.

The hope comes from outside the political system. The hope is that the House of Cards and rigged markets erected by policymakers for the benefit of the One Percent collapses. David Stockman regards this outcome as a highly likely one. The collapse that Stockman sees as being on its way is the same collapse about which I have warned. Moreover, the number of Black Swans which can originate collapse are even more numerous than the ones Stockman correctly identifies. Some financial organizations are worried about a lack of liquidity in the fixed income (bonds) and derivatives markets. Barbara Novack, co-chair of Black Rock, is lobbying hard for a derivatives bailout mechanism.

David Stockman’s article is important. Read it until you understand it, and you will know more than most everyone. http://www.lewrockwell.com/2014/12/david-stockman/duck-and-cover%E2%80 %A8/

Many will ask: If the wealth of the One Percent is vulnerable to economic collapse, will war be initiated to protect this wealth and to blame the Russians or Chinese for the hardships that engulf the American population? My answer is that the kind of collapse that I expect, and that David Stockman and no doubt others expect, presents government with such social, political, and economic insecurity that organizing for a major war becomes impossible.

Whereas the political impotence of the American people and the vassalage of the Western World impose no constraints on Washington, economic collapse brings revolutions and the demise of the existing order.

As hard as collapse would make it for people to survive, the chances for survival are higher than in the event of nuclear war.

[outsider]

War Drums Beat Louder and Faster Between the U.S. and Russia:
By Eric Zuesse http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article40465.htm

'On Saturday, December 13th, Russian media reported that U.S. President Obama evidently can’t wait to sign the congressional authorization for war against Russia (which has already been passed in draft form by 98% of U.S. House members and 100% of U.S. Senate members), and that he is already shipping military supplies into Ukraine for use against Ukraine’s ethnic Russians that the Ukrainian Government is trying to eliminate.

Mikhail Emelyanov, a leading Russian parliamentarian, was quoted as saying on Saturday, Russia “cannot calmly watch as the US arms Ukraine with the most modern lethal weapons. In this regard, we should not appear weak. The situation is very alarming. Judging by US intentions, they want to turn Ukraine into a fighting platform against Russia.”

The popular Russian website “Colonel Cassad” reports that the reason why Ukraine’s airports in Zaporozyhe, Kharkov and Dnepropetrovsk mysteriously shut down for other traffic on Saturday was to unload weapons-shipments from the U.S. Specifically, it said that, at Zaporozyhe,


“one of the airport workers replied that the airport has to be prepared to accept military aircraft with equipment, including Kharkov and Dnepropetrovsk. The equipment is expected from the United States.”

For the time being, civilian traffic at all three of those airports is being reduced during the next few days, in order to unload that U.S. freight.

Also reported Saturday at fortruss.blogspot was that,


“Right now at Zaporozhye airport they are unloading two transport planes from USA. Cargo is in boxes. According to additional information two more planes are expected to arrive.”

Just one day prior, Foreign Policy had bannered on Friday, “Who Will Foot the Bill in Ukraine?” and their reporter naively claimed that, “little aid is forthcoming for Ukraine as its government faces a shortfall.”

The “aid” is actually already coming, in the form of U.S. military cargo shipments, gratis from U.S. taxpayers (though hardly gratis from the U.S. armaments-makers, whose business is booming from this). And the Ukraine “government faces a shortfall” thing is actually far worse than that: as Forbes’s Mark Adomanis headlined on April 15th, “Ukraine’s Economy Is Nearing Collapse.” He reported, “The central bank was forced to take such desperate measures because the currency has been in free fall, losing more than 35% of its value against the dollar this year. The Hryvnia has been the world’s worst performing currency in 2014.” And:


“The only reason that things haven’t totally imploded is because of the $18 billion package of assistance from the IMF and the $9 billion in additional assistance pledged by the United States and the European Union. This financial assistance is desperately needed and will obviously help the Ukrainian government keep the lights on. The problem is that Ukraine’s funding needs aren’t a static target but are directly influenced by changes in its economic outlook. Since that economic outlook is darkening, Ukraine’s already large funding needs have grown commensurately.”

Forbes’s Kenneth Rapoza then noted on November 12th, “The nation’s currency, the hryvnia, has lost 91.5% of its value so far this year.”

On December 11th, Ukraine’s new Minister of Economic Development admitted, “By and large, the state is bankrupt.”...'

[TonyGosling]

Putin speech: President says Russian bear 'won't be chained' by the West as he warns of tough two years ahead

Vladimir Putin’s annual press extravaganza held out hopes for a thawing of relations, but his colourful use of a Cold War stereotype risks eclipsing his conciliatory signals on Ukraine and regional security

Mary Dejevsky

Thursday, 18 December 2014
President Putin did his best today to reassure Russians – and the markets – about the underlying stability of the tumbling rouble, while warning his countrymen of a tough two years ahead. For his Western critics he held out carrots as well as sticks, sounding a conciliatory note when he reiterated his calls for a diplomatic solution to the conflict in the east of Ukraine.


But he brooked no compromise on the annexation of Crimea, and renewed his lambasting of the West’s policies since the fall of the Berlin Wall, accusing it of putting up new “virtual walls” and wanting to “chain” the Russian bear. He said that even if the bear were to “sit tight… supping berries and honey” and “abandon its hunting instincts”, the West would still “seek to chain us… then rip out our teeth and claws”. The bear, he said, had no intention of being turned into a “soft toy”. It would defend its sovereignty.

Mr Putin was speaking at his now-traditional marathon of an annual press conference, which came in this year at a relatively modest three and a half hours. And the format – the moustachioed Dmitry Peskov playing compère; the massed journalists from the furthest reaches of Russia, competing for attention by holding up placards advertising their region; and the ponderous nature of so many of the questions – was by now so familiar that it was easy to forget the extraordinary circumstances in which this encounter was being held.

Yet rarely can a long-scheduled event have taken place at a time at once so opportune and so perilous. This year’s press conference came in a week when the value of the rouble had plummeted, the viability of the country’s economy had been called into question, and many outside Russia had sensed the first hints of Vladimir Putin’s political mortality.

Mr Putin himself appeared entirely untroubled by such presentiments; he strode in and answered each question with his customary incisiveness and air of command. And the rouble, it was observed, strengthened after he began speaking. Of the two distinct messages he sought to hammer home, one concerned the essential soundness of the Russian economy – and he used his preamble to reel off figures as the heads of the Soviet-era Gosplan once did.

The other, primarily for his Western critics, was that while there would be no going back on the status of Crimea, the conflict in eastern Ukraine was different and – he strongly implied – unsought by Moscow. He claimed part-authorship of the first Minsk ceasefire agreement last September and spoke of Ukraine’s President, Petro Poroshenko, as a man he could do business with, adding that talks were in progress on a deal to exchange all prisoners of war in time for Christmas and New Year.

At one point Mr Putin linked the two themes, suggesting that Russia’s rouble troubles were the price it had to pay for defending its sovereignty (the euphemism Russia appears to have adopted for its annexation of Crimea).

For the West there were pluses and minuses. The first plus would be that the Russian leadership in its present composition has not – quite – given up on a westward orientation. Yes, Mr Putin made much of the interests Russia shared with China, both in bilateral trade and in international forums, such as the regional Shanghai Co-operation Organisation and the United Nations. But his list of common interests lacked the zero-sum threat such statements sometimes hold: if Europe spurns us, we’ll turn east.

At times, Mr Putin seemed almost to be pleading with the West, and with Europe in particular, to try another co-ordinated review of regional security. Any new European security opening to Russia would draw opposition. Poland and the Baltic states would resist such moves from their perches within the EU and Nato. The majority Republican US Congress is even now mooting arms shipments to the Ukrainian government in Kiev. But Russia has not yet burnt its European boats.

A second plus was contained in Mr Putin’s response to questions about a looming economic crisis in Russia. He almost repeated what was memorably said of the US banking crisis: “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.” And he made the point, repeated for a decade or more by Western economists, that high energy prices had allowed successive Russian governments to raise living standards while leaving the economy essentially unreformed. Today, he said the hardship caused by lower oil prices gave Russia its chance – finally – to diversify from commodities towards modern manufacturing. How far this will be possible, while Western sanctions and post-Crimea distrust persist, is another question. At least, there could now be the requisite political will.

The third positive lies in the relatively conciliatory signals Mr Putin conveyed on eastern Ukraine, coupled with some quite harsh criticism of the waywardness, as he saw it, of the anti-Kiev rebel fighters. As he presented it, the rebels, not Russia, were the main obstacle to a settlement that would leave Ukraine as a united, but more federal, country.

And therein lies the first minus. If the rebels are such a problem, not just for Kiev, but also for Moscow, why is Russia (it seems) still giving them supplies? The extent of Russia’s control may always have been exaggerated, and there is a fine line between calling on Russia to use its influence and appearing to encourage military intervention. But Mr Putin offered no blueprint for the united and independent Ukraine he said he wanted to see.

A second minus would be the exclusive blame he attaches to the West for, as he put it, erecting “new walls” after the Soviet collapse. Since then, the West has made overtures to Russia – not least President Obama’s much trumpeted “re-set”. It takes two to preserve a Cold War mentality.

The third minus, which may reflect deeper misunderstandings, was his colourful talk of the bear. Russians have spent decades, perhaps centuries, complaining to foreigners about this stereotype and the picture of unpredictable savagery it conveys. Yet here was the Russian President reclaiming the bear and its wild hunting habits for Russia. Regrettably, there is a risk that this vivid imagery could eclipse the more conciliatory tone he adopted elsewhere.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/putin-speech-president- says-russian-bear-wont-be-chained-by-the-west-as-he-warns-of-tough-two -years-ahead-9934532.html?printService=print

[outsider]

Typical MSM 'balance'!

[TonyGosling]

'The bear never asks permission': Russian TV runs tub-thumping trailer for Vladimir Putin press conference
Hollywood-style trailer released for Vladimir Putin’s annual press conference on Thursday
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/vladimir-putin/11298684/The- bear-never-asks-permission-Russian-TV-runs-tub-thumping-trailer-for-Vl adimir-Putin-press-conference.html

[TonyGosling]

PUTIN SIGNS NEW MILITARY DOCTRINE: NAMES NATO, US AS MAIN FOREIGN THREAT; TEST FIRES NEW ICBM
Published: December 26, 2014
http://www.blacklistednews.com/Putin_Signs_New_Military_Doctrine%3A_Na mes_NATO%2C_US_As_Main_Foreign_Threat%3B_Test_Fires_New_ICBM/40308/0/3 8/38/Y/M.html

Kratom For Cheap - KratomForCheap.com
SOURCE: ZERO HEDGE
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-12-26/putin-signs-new-military-doct rine-names-nato-us-main-foreign-threat-test-fires-yars-

Last week, after the unanimous passage of the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 in Congress, which made legal the provision of US “lethal aid” to Kiev and which Russia blasted as an act of aggression and promised that it would merely accelerate the deterioration of relations between Russia and the west, we wrote that “World Awaits Russian Response As Obama Makes “Lethal Aid” To Ukraine Legal.” We didn’t have long to wait: one short hour ago, Putin adopted an updated version of its military doctrine, which “reflects the emergence of new threats against its national security” and which names both the NATO military buildup on Russia’s borders, as well as the US and the destabilized situation in some regions (read Ukraine) as the main foreign threats to Russian security. The doctrine update also, for the first time, put protection of Russian national interest in the Arctic (read oil and nat gas) among the key priorities for Russia’s armed forces.
In other words, Putin is not only not backing down, but has once again explicitly warned NATO that any western action, either in Ukraine or elsewhere, will have a proportional response.

Among the highlights of the new doctrine:

Russia’s military doctrine names NATO military buildup, destabilized situation in some regions among main external threats to security
Russia’s new military doctrine puts protection of national interests in Arctic among priorities for Armed Forces for the first time
Territorial claims to Russia and its allies, intervening in domestic policy main military threats
Likelihood of large-scale war against Russia decreased, but some security threats continue to grow
Anti-missile shields, ‘global strike’ concept, plans of placing weapons in space are external military threats to Russia
Attempts to destabilize situation in Russia, terrorist activities are country’s main internal threats
More from RT:

The new doctrine was approved on Friday by President Vladimir Putin. Its core remains unchanged from the previous version. The Russian military remains a defensive tool which the country pledges to use only as a last resort. Also unchanged are the principles of the use of nuclear weapons which Russia adheres to. Their primary goal is to deter potential enemies from attacking Russia, but it would use them to protect itself from a military attack – either nuclear or conventional – threatening its existence.
The new sections of the doctrine outline the threat Russia sees in NATO’s expansion and military buildup and the fact that the alliance is taking upon itself “global functions realized with violation of international law.” The doctrine lists among major foreign military threats “the creation and deployment of global strategic antiballistic missile systems that undermines the established global stability and balance of power in nuclear missile capabilities, the implementation of the ‘prompt strike’ concept, intent to deploy weapons in space and deployment of strategic conventional precision weapons.”

Another new point in the doctrine is that one of the Russian military’s goals is to protect national interests in the Arctic region.

The document also points to the threat of destabilization countries bordering Russia or its allies and deployment of foreign troops such nations as a threat to national security.
There was a token segment focusing on domestic threats to peace and stability:

Domestically, Russia faces threats of “actions aimed at violent change of the Russian constitutional order, destabilization of the political and social environment, disorganization of the functioning of governmental bodies, crucial civilian and military facilities and informational infrastructure of Russia,” the doctrine says. Moscow sees international cooperation with countries sharing its effort to increase security, particularly members of BRICS, the OSCE, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and others as the key to preventing military conflicts, the doctrine states.

But the gist of the message was clearly focused on external developments because while the doctrine explicitly stated that “Prevention of nuclear war and any other type of conflict core to Russia’s military policies” and that “Moscow reserves right to use nuclear weapons if Moscow, its allies are under nuclear or non-nuclear attack”, just a few hours prior to the doctrine announcement, Russia’s intercontinental ballistic missile RS-24 Yars was test fired from the Plesetsk military cosmodrome in the country’s northwest, Russian Defense Ministry’s spokesman for the Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) Colonel Igor Yegorovtold TASS on Friday.

The missile’s dummy warheads with given accuracy hit a target at the Kura range in Kamchatka in the Russian Far East.
“On December 26, 2014 at 11:02 am, Moscow time, the solid-propellant RS-24 Yars mobile ground ICBM with a multiple warhead was test fired from the Plesetsk state test cosmodrome by a combined combat crew of the RVSN and Aerospace Defense Forces,” the official said.
Putin Signs New Military Doctrine: Names NATO, US As Main Foreign Threat; Test Fires New ICBM yars 0

Clear enough. Then again, now that Ukraine’s gold has been pillaged and the country’s economy in freefall, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if Kiev’s “allies” let the nation fend for itself and push it right back into the hands of Russia. After all, the plunging oil prices are causing enough hurt to the Kremlin where events in Ukraine are now largely irrelevant.

[TonyGosling]

Russia must keep USA at gunpoint
http://english.pravda.ru/russia/politics/12-01-2015/129505-russia_usa_ war-0/
12.01.2015

Russia's military doctrine can be updated and altered against the changing nature of threats. Pravda.Ru interviewed President of the International Center for Geopolitical Analysis, Doctor of Historical Sciences Leonid Ivashov, about the current state of affairs in the military doctrine of the Russian Federation.

"The concluding part of the military doctrine from 2010 states that its provisions can be adjusted in accordance with the changing nature of military dangers and threats. Who and what is now a threat to Russia?"

"The military doctrine is neither an order, nor a directive. This is just an action plan, a body of views to military security of a state. Of course, views change as the military-political situation changes. The doctrine is then used as a basis for the creation of rules about the use of armed forces, appropriate orders, directives and so on. The doctrine, which was approved in 2010, was based on more or less quiet conditions for Russia in military-political and military-strategic terms. Russia's military and political leadership believed that our relations with the West were generally friendly. We were only concerned about the expansion of NATO. This aspect was gently designated in the doctrine. The doctrine is clearly defensive in nature. The text of the Russian doctrine from 2010 does not contain such a word as "offensive", let alone "counter battle.

"It contains a purely defensive stance, but if something suddenly happens, we're ready. Our nuclear capabilities serve as the guarantee of Russia's security. This made it possible to destroy forces of ordinary purpose and carry out the reforms that Serdyukov (former defense minister of Russia - ed.) was conducting, destroying the army and the navy of Russia as a military organization system. Everything was guaranteed by the fact that we have nuclear weapons. Our nuclear shield is the primary factor of nuclear deterrence. However, this deterrence does not guarantee safety, because we do not see a situation when we can push the button even for a retaliatory attack.

"The Americans radically changed both their military strategy and nuclear doctrine in the early 2000s. They pushed nuclear weaponsinto the background. They have not upgraded one single ballistic missile, and they do not build new ones either. What they do is they create a new strike force that will decide the outcome of future battles. On December 18, 2003, they signed a directive on the concept of prompt global strike. Under the directive, they will attack by launching thousands of high-precision vehicles from different strategic directions. These include idea and air based cruise missiles, strategic missiles, drones.

"With the first strike, they plan to incapacitate our submarine-based ballistic missiles and even silo-based missiles. In this situation, if Russia strikes back, they will use the missile defense system, the main component of which is not the European missile defense, but the marine component. The United States has 93 ships equipped with AEGIS systems. It was AEGIS that removed an American defunct satellite from orbit in 2008 at an altitude of 247 km.

"Thus, the Americans plan to destroy our remaining ballistic missiles in the boost phase of their flight. For these purposes, the Americans create this missile defense. Afterwards, AEGIS systems will disable the warheads of the missiles that have been launched. The Americans do their best to devalue the Russian nuclear missile potential. And they can succeed.

"If this happens, and we can already see this, we will see a completely different behavior of the United States. Having neutralized strategic nuclear forces of Russia, the Americans can declare that they do not recognize neither the Northern Sea Route, nor the Mendeleev and Lomonosov Ridge as Russian waters. The USA will pronounce them their own or international, and for the Americans, 'international' stands for 'American.' We may face such a situation, and what will Russia do? Launch nuclear ballistic missiles? No, of course not.

"The military doctrine contains another fairly precarious position, which I call a move of despair. It says that should non-nuclear powers show aggression against Russia, threatening the existence and the territorial integrity of Russia, then we will preemptively use nuclear weapons. Sounds correct, but let's see: against whom of our neighbors can we use tactical nuclear weapons, weapons of the battlefield? Against NATO? They are all under the American nuclear umbrella. Japan is also under this umbrella.

"It just so happens that it is only Mongolia and Finland that can be the countries against which we can use nuclear weapons, if they threaten us. The situation has changed dramatically, and we are standing on the brink of a war - not a cold, but a hot war. Therefore, today Russia hastily takes efforts to rebuild the defensive capacity of the armed forces and change the military doctrine.

"The Russian style of development is slow - a step forward, a step or two back. After all, space forcesexisted in the times of the Soviet Union. However, it was then thought that we have no enemies in space, and the troops were disbanded. Today we are working on this wasteland. According to the plan of the likely enemy, navigation and reconnaissance satellites that ensure the use of our cruise and ballistic missiles should be destroyed first.

"The first phase of the possible attack will target the space group, so that we do not see anything. It will be hard for aviation to reach targets without the GLONASS system. Today, Russia takes measures to correct this mistake as well."

"The Russian strategic long-range aviation celebrates 100 years since the establishment. What is the role of the long-range aviation today?"

"Any normal state creates a complex system of arms. We still live in the remains of Ustinov's system, when all would be interconnected by problems, when all would work in concert. When we were building the triad of sea, land and air components, there were many disputes, but the place for long-range aviation was found. This place is unique, because ground missiles are attached to a certain base. A submarine travels in oceans, but it still remains a base, the actions and movement of which are trackable.

"Aviation is much more mobile, it can change direction and altitude. Today, when the Americans have built the missile defense system against Russian ballistic missiles, aviation should come to the forefront in this triad. To make matters worse, using such bulky missiles as Bulava, Topol and Voevoda in a nuclear-free version is meaningless, because costs are enormous, but the effect can be minimal.

"Yet, Russian long-range strategic aircraft can use precision cruise missiles in a nuclear-free version. It can even change the capacity of warheads. I think it has been forgotten unfairly. Long-range aircraft needs to be revived urgently. Our "White Swans" can fly and land somewhere at an intermediate distance from the United States, perhaps in Latin America. Bingo - they have the US territory at gunpoint, and this is what the Americans fear most. They invest a lot of money in missile defense not to wage wars on their own territory. They will be happy to stage wars anywhere, but not on their own territory. We need to find some power to create a group that could, in case of aggression against Russia, act on the territory of the United States. Now that would be a factor of deterrence. They say that the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Russian Ministry of Defence work on that already."

"What methods of non-nuclear deterrence can be most effective at the moment?"

"One should keep the US territory at gunpoint to be able to immediately act on the territory. The group should target the Federal Reserve, but I'm joking here, of course. Yet, there is some truth in this joke, because, as a rule, it is financial oligarchs, who need to start wars. Non-nuclear deterrence factors should include powerful government agencies, particularly the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Economic agencies should be involved as well to cause damage with the use of economic methods. This should be considered as a combat mission. Planning the supplies of hydrocarbons and other strategic goods must necessarily envisage a possibility for a special period in wartime."

Pravda.Ru

[Disco_Destroyer]

2 contradicting stories going round 1 harsh sanctions must stay. 2 NASA to buy 60 Russian built rocket engines lol

Also from Alex Jones Russia to cut EU gas supplies, but then knew that was coming just surprised its not been sooner.

[outsider]

Duck & Cover? Old hat!! Here's what you have to do if the Russkis invade:

Paranoia? Lithuania issues 'Russian invasion' survival manual:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIoUjwD8nVc

Bon chance!!

[outsider]

[outsider]

Russian "Elite" Warns Of War With The U.S.:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article40790.htm

'
“If there is no banking relationship, it means the countries are on the verge of war.”

By Miriam Elder

January 23, 2015 "ICH" - "Buzzfeed" - DAVOS, Switzerland — The head of a leading Kremlin-owned bank warned on Friday that further banking sanctions would lead Russia and the U.S. to the “brink of war.”

Andrei Kostin, the head of VTB, reacted angrily when asked what the consequences would be if Russia were excluded from the Swift banking system, a secure means of moving money across borders.

If it were to happen, Kostin told a session on the Russian economy at the World Economic Forum in Davos, “ambassadors can leave capitals. It means Russia and America might have no relationship after that.”

“If there is no banking relationship, it means the countries are on the verge of war, or definitely in the cold war,” he said in English, growing increasingly red in the face. “It will be a very dangerous situation.”

He said that if Russia were excluded from the Swift system, it would make the U.S.–Russia relationship akin to the U.S.–Iran one. He made the comments after noting that Russia had recently created its own alternative to Swift.

The U.S. and EU have imposed numerous sanctions on Russia, including against VTB. (Kostin is not on the sanctions list, and recently spoke to the Wall Street Journal about vacationing in Aspen, Colorado.)

Igor Shuvalov, a deputy prime minister and the head of Russia’s delegation to Davos, issued a stern warning to those who would imagine Russia without President Vladimir Putin.

“I support my president 100%,” Shuvalov said. “When people ask that, they don’t understand the Russian character, they don’t know Russian history.”

“If we think someone from the outside wants to change our leader, to go against our will … we will be united like never before.”

He brushed off questions about Ukraine and warned the West that it must treat Russia like an equal partner rather than having the country “sit in the corner.” If it failed to treat Russia equally, Shuvalov warned, Ukraine “will be a huge wound for the next 10 years.”

Both Kostin and Shuvalov lamented the current economic situation, which has seen Russia burn through its reserves as the ruble plummets. The ruble has lost almost 50% of its value in the past few months and Russia is facing recession following years of oil-fueled growth.

“There is nothing good in the current situation,” Shuvalov said. “It’s very difficult. I think it will get worse.”

He said the key now was to “teach people — from state corporations to citizens — to live differently.”

Miriam Elder is the Foreign Editor for BuzzFeed News and is based in New York. - Contact Miriam Elder at miriam.elder@buzzfeed.com

See also -

Propaganda alert: Brzezinski: US Should Deploy Troops to Baltics: The United States and its allies should deploy troops to Baltic states to deter Russia from staging a possible incursion in those countries, former presidential national security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski, told lawmakers Wednesday.'

Brzezinski (who 'discovered' and mentored Obomba) seems to want to see his dream of war come about before he pops his clogs; he may want another feather in his cap before he faces his 'Master', Lucifer.

[TonyGosling]

Andrei Kostin, Kremlin-owned bank VTB chief “If there is no banking relationship, countries are on the verge of war”
http://www.4thmedia.org/2015/01/russian-elite-warns-of-war-with-the-us  /

[TonyGosling]

interesting propaganda game just out from the US

Visegrad: The Coming War in Eastern Europe covers a hypothetical conflict between the forces of the Eastern NATO and Russia. With the US in retreat in the world, and the Russians getting overly aggressive, it could be that a resurgent Russia could make an attempt to take back its classic sphere of influence. This, factored in with the fact that Russia is the primary energy source for much of Europe, has made them overly powerful. The biggest threat to the Russian energy dominance is amazingly the country of Poland. Recent technological breakthrough in ‘Fracking’ has made the Polish shale resources the number one competitor to Russian energy domination. So, once again, the two nations may well be on a collision course to destiny.

https://shop.strategyandtacticspress.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCod e=MW16M

The other assumption made for the background of the game is that Germany, caught in the grips of an isolationist government, and not willing to risk rocking the boat with its primary source of energy, declares Poland the aggressor and that it will be neutral in the NATO “violation”. The US, already weakened from its own internal problems, is unable to force them to honor their commitments. The resulting chaos and confusion will delay the entry of much of the NATO forces and force Poland and its neighbors to go it alone.

The game includes one map (22"x34”) and 176 counters.


Other Articles:
Putin as Warlord – Alt Newsstand Cover Article: A warlord is a supreme leader who exercises military and civil control over a large geographic area due to the presence of armed forces loyal to him rather than to any other authority.
French Foreign Legion's 13th Demi-Brigade: This unit has spearheaded many of France's military operations.
AirSea Battle: On 12 May 2013 the US Department of Defense officially announced the establishment of the “AirSea Battle concept.”
Focus On The Iraqi Army: In the first week of January 2014, Al Qaeda seized two major cities in Iraq's Anbar province: Fallujah and Ramadi.
Matthew Bunker Ridgway – The First Cold War General: In Korea, Gen. Matthew Ridgway not only exhibited a new style of personal leadership, he also adapted to the demands made on generals in the Cold War era by showing he was able to plan and fight a “limited war.”
Russian Attack Helicopters: Attack Helicopters have become an integral part of modern military tactics.
Sigma 64: Ignored Vietnam Wargames: Trying to predict the future of military operations was a major concern of President Lyndon Johnson.

[TonyGosling]

BY EMAIL


Interesting Timing, indeed.

And also - it is of course 'Get Putin' week.

At the risk of instilling a little discord - have you noticed some more new terminology slipping into public use.

'An act of NUCLEAR TERRORISM.'

This is how mass opinions are manipulated. Some journo ought to keep an eye on this.

Back in the day we had 'guided missiles,' then - as the technology advanced, they became Ballistic Missiles. (For brevity ICBMs and IRBMs).

But then a war is needed - so the word boys think up -

WEAPONS! of MASS!! DESTRUCTION!!!
How s-c-a-r-y is that??

That was deliberate design - and that is how you manipulate mass opinion.

Words.

In contrast, they dreamed up,

not State Security (ooo-er NO!), but

HOMELAND (Awwhhh...)
Homeland logo

SECURITY (How Safe is that...?)

They must think we are a right load of wallies over here.

Its like calling theft,
Mis-Selling

RGDS
A


BTW
Polonium is simply radio-active - not fissionable - not 'nuclear' as the word is commonly understood.

[outsider]

Russia prepares for war:
http://www.hangthebankers.com/russia-prepares-for-war/

''Russian media has announced the government is preparing for war.

Russia Today reports the country now has a new fortified national defense facility located in Moscow that “would take control of the entire country in case of war.” The cost of the project is estimated at several billion dollars.

“The creation of NDCC [National Defense Control Center] was one of the biggest military projects of the past few years. The closest analogy in the past in terms of functions and tasks was the Commander-in-Chief HQ in 1941-45, which centralized all controls of both the military machine and the economy of the nation in the interests of the war,” Lt. General Mikhail Mizintsev, the NDCC chief, said during an interview.

The National Defense Control Center replaces an old facility that monitored nuclear weapons deployment by the West. It is compared to the U.S. National Military Command Center located deep inside the Pentagon that provides the Joint Chiefs with worldwide situation monitoring and crisis management.

In addition to a number of large war rooms and an underground complex, the facility hosts a state-of-the-art supercomputer, RT reports. Described as “very robust,” the computer network features data encryption and numerous backup sites located around the country that will keep the center functional even if its main facility in Moscow is damaged by an enemy attack or sabotage.

In 2013 Russia reported a Stuxnet attack on one of its nuclear power plants. Stuxnet is malware designed by the United States and Israel and was used to attack Iran’s nuclear program.

The West has accused Russia of launching cyber attacks against NATO, EU ministries and Wall Street. In November, the Department of Homeland Security accused the Russians of inserting trojan horse malware in critical U.S. infrastructure computers. It said the malware “is poised to cause an economic catastrophe,” ABC News reported.

In 2001 the Pentagon declared a cyber attack on U.S. networks would be considered an act of war. The U.S. considers Russia and China as primary adversaries.

Russian president Putin has accused the United States of rekindling the so-called Cold War in the wake of developments in Ukraine. In October he said his country will resist any attack by using all means at its disposal, including the nuclear option.

“The US is now seen in Moscow as irredeemable and determined to destroy Russia, which must resist by reinforcing and rearming its military, investing in technological independence (the so-called import replacement or ‘importozamescheniye’), and by building a world-wide anti-US alliance,” the globalist Jamestown Foundation reports.'

Source: http://www.infowars.com/russia-prepares-for-war/


This actually gives 'us' a big opportunity, if you think about it (as well as big-time worries, which we already have anyway, like WWIII, which Webster Tarpley has been forecasting for yonks). I won't say what that 'big opportunity' is, at present, for tactical reasons, but I will revisit this area before too long.

(see also Fukushima thread:
http://www.911forum.org.uk/board/viewtopic.php?p=169327#169327 )

[fish5133]

Very troubling news item --Pentagon saying Putin has a mental illness.. Mind you there's enough psychos at the Pentagon to be able to spot one.

[outsider]

[outsider]

Ukraine Military Expert -No Russian Invasion or Regular Troops- Kiev Possible Crimes Against Humanity:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Ukraine-Military-Expert-N-by-George-E liason-CRIMINAL-CONSPIRACY_Crimes-Against-Humanity_Crimes-Against-Huma nity_Criminal-Cover-Up-150209-786.html

'In an interview with Ukrainian Espesso TV, Ukrainian military expert Major Aleksander Taran confirmed what General Muzenko head of the Ukrainian Armed Forces had to say on the subject.

During a briefing with General Muzenko he announced that "To date, we have only the involvement of some members of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and Russian citizens that are part of illegal armed groups involved in the fighting. We are not fighting with the regular Russian Army. We have enough forces and means in order to inflict a final defeat even with illegal armed formation present. "- he said.

November 6 th In an interview with Gromadske.TV, Markian Lubkivsky, the adviser to the head of the SBU (the Ukrainian version of the CIA) stated there are NO RUSSIAN TROOPS ON UKRANIAN SOIL! This unexpected announcement came as he fumbled with reporters' questions on the subject. According to his statement, he said the SBU counted about 5000 Russian nationals, but not Russian soldiers in Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics.

All of these statements add weight to the otherwise untrustworthy comments of Alexander Torchynov back in June of 2014.
According to speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Alexander Turchynov, representatives of security agencies deliberately whipped up the situation systematically misinforming the country's leadership about Russia's possible military intervention, which had never happened.
"Our intelligence agencies have about ten times a month reported that the time of a military attack on the part of the Russian Federation was defined - usually it was at three or four in the morning. And we sat in combat readiness at the command post... and the rest of the army was preparing for an open war with the Eastern neighbor. But it did not happen," Alexander Turchinov said in an interview with Novoye Vremya, which is to be released tomorrow .

It would seem we have a long and illustrious history of Russian NOT attacking Ukraine in 2014.

Who is attacking then, that's the question.

This morning NAF scouts spotted NATO tanks inside the encirclement(Cauldron) at Debaltseve. According to their information the possibility is strong that up to 25% of the trapped army may be NATO. Shell remnants marked clearly with US identifying numbers from 155mm shells, shot by the Paladin artillery system have been recovered from areas the Ukrainian army have attacked civilian targets. If the NATO troops are there, and who else would be running the complicated military equipment, the possibility that they won't make it home is in the same government's hands that brought the world a non-existent Russian invasion and is pushing the world to the brink.

This would explain both the US and EU trying to push a new peace initiative. If NATO troops are taken captive, what then? If hundreds of NATO troops are fighting for Ukraine in a war that even John McCain says is using prohibited weapons, what are the liabilities after? American troops in this case and just based on McCain's admission are by any definition War Criminals for participating.

What will Russia's Reaction Be?

Until this point Russia has been the only country to show restraint and a desire to stop the conflict. The US and EU have wholeheartedly helped Kiev go forward knowing it was committing war crimes; terrorist bombings of buses, rockets and missiles at cities, and phosphorus bombs. The west knows the volunteer battalions are committing mass war crimes. It is against the law for citizens in the US to support war crimes, never mind crowd fund them.

If NATO soldiers are captured or their remains recovered and confirmed it will certainly change the nature of the war. The Russian weapons that the entire MSM have insisted are here will no doubt show up. If NATO pushes back, where ever isn't far enough. It will be the brink of WWIII.'

[outsider]

Kiev’s Bloody War Is Backfiring:
http://www.veteransnewsnow.com/2015/02/10/515341kievs-bloody-war-is-ba ckfiring/

'by Justin Raimondo

Antiwar.com

When Ukrainian army officers came to the Ukrainian village of Velikaya Znamenka to tell the men to prepare to be drafted, they weren’t prepared for what happened next.

As the commanding officer was speaking, a woman seized the microphone and proceeded to tell him off:

“We’re sick of this war! Our husbands and sons aren’t going anywhere!”

She then launched into a passionate speech, denouncing the war, and the coup leaders in Kiev, to the cheers of the crowd.

What she did is now a crime in Ukraine: the only reason she wasn’t arrested on the spot is that the villagers wouldn’t have permitted it.

But in Ukrainian Transcarpathia, well-known journalist for Ukrainian Channel 112 Ruslan Kotsaba has been arrested and charged with “treason” and “espionage” for making a video in which he declared:

[b]“I would rather sit in jail for three to five years than go to the east to kill my Ukrainian brothers. This fear-mongering must be stopped.”

Kotsaba may sit in jail for twenty-three years, the prescribed term for the charges filed against him.
[/b]
Kotsaba’s arrest is part of a desperate effort by the Ukrainian government to intimidate the growing antiwar and anti-draft movement, which threatens to upend Kiev’s dreams of conquering the rebellious eastern provinces. Kotsaba’s particular crime, according to prosecutors, was in describing the conflict as a civil war rather than a Russian “invasion.” This is a point the authorities cannot tolerate: the same meme being relentlessly broadcast by the Western media – that an indigenous rebellion with substantial support is really aRussian plot to “subvert” Ukraine and reestablish the Warsaw Pact – now has the force of law in Ukraine. Anyone who contradicts it is subject to arrest.

Also subject to arrest, and worse: the thousands who are fleeing the country in order to avoid being conscripted into the military. In a Facebook post that was quickly deleted, Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak wrote:

“According to unofficial sources, hostels and motels in border regions of neighboring Romania are completely filled with draft dodgers.”

President Petro Poroshenko, the Chocolate Oligarch, is readying a decree imposing possible restrictions on foreign travel for those of draft age – which means anyone from age 25 to 60. Ukrainians may soon be prisoners in their own country – but they aren’t taking it lying down.

Draft resistance is at an all-time high: a mere 6 percent of those called up have reported voluntarily. This has forced the Kiev authorities to go knocking on doors – where they are met either with a mass of angry villagers, who refuse to let them take anyone, or else ghost towns where virtually everyone has fled. In the Transcarpathia region of western Ukraine, entire villages have been emptied, the inhabitants fleeing to Russia to wait out the war – or the fall of the Kiev regime, whichever comes first. “It may seem a paradox,” says Transcarpathia’s chief recruitment officer, “but from the western Ukrainian region of Ternopyl people have fled to Russia in order to escape army conscription.” The frantic Ukrainian regime is now contemplating conscripting women over 20.

Poroshenko’s military mobilization is due not only to numerous setbacks in the east – Ukrainian troops are being pushed back on all fronts by highly motivated rebels defending their own towns and villages – but also because thousands are deserting, throwing down their arms and fleeing to Russia. In response, the Ukrainian parliament has passed a law authorizing local commanders to shoot deserters on the spot....'

'...Meanwhile, on the sidelines, McCain was telling reporters:

“If we had provided Ukraine with weapons they wouldn’t have had to use cluster bombs.”

They don’t call him “Mad John” for nothing...'

'...The case of the above-mentioned Ruslan Kotsaba is being reported exactly nowhere in the Western major media. I repeat: nowhere. The German media has picked up on it, and theJapan Times has a story about it. This somewhat obscure news service, which seems to be centered on overseas news, is carrying a brief story. A very teeny tiny itemmentions it on Radio Free Europe, the US government funded propaganda mill, but naturally gives zero details. And that’s about it. You probably won’t read much about it in the “mainstream” media – even though Kotsaba is himself a journalist, and you’d expect other journalists to pay attention.

Except when we’re in the midst of a new cold war with Russia and the propaganda mill is furiously turning.

You’ll only read about it right here, at Antiwar.com – and that, I’m afraid, is the horrible truth. Yes, it’s depressing, especially if you read the transcript of the “court” hearing, which has all the judicial credibility of a Stalinist show trial. A government that we are giving billions to, and which may shortly be armed by our rotten government, is jailing journalists for the “crime” of engaging in forbidden speech. And it’s being done in the dark, behind a curtain of silence – a silence maintained by the English-speaking “Fourth Estate.”

Help us keep the truth in front of the American people – don’t let Antiwar.com go. Because it’s needed now more than ever. Make that tax-deductible donation right now. Because the truth matters....'


'Transcript of Court Ruling against Ruslan Kotsaba'
Ukraine anti-war Journalist :
http://mondbasis.com/kotsaba.html

[TonyGosling]

Russia ready to repel any nuke strike, retaliate – missile forces command chief
Published time: March 01, 2015 14:09 Get short URL
http://rt.com/news/236573-russia-repel-nuclear-strike/

Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces are ready to react to any nuclear strike even if it is lightning fast, SMF Central Command chief said. A retaliatory strike would take place in all circumstances, “without hesitation,” he added.

“If there’s a challenge to repel a lightning-fast nuclear in any given conditions – it will be done in fixed time, that’s dead true,” the Strategic Missile Forces Central Command’s chief, Major-General Andrey Burbin, told Russian News Service on Saturday.

Russia’s strategic missile forces are positioned geographically in such a way that no global strike can knock them out completely, Burbin said.

In case an order is given to carry out a nuclear strike, Russian nuclear weapons operators will fulfill it, he added.

“There would be no hesitation, the task would be executed,” he said.


The unavoidability of a retaliatory nuclear strike from Russia is also guaranteed by the fully automatic and constantly modernized ‘Perimeter’ system, also known as “Dead hand.”

The system collects data from various sources, such as radioactivity and seismic sensors scattered throughout Russia, by scanning radio frequencies and communication activities.

READ MORE: Military dominance over Russia impossible, nuclear deterrent top priority – Defense Ministry

If pooled data indicates that Russia has suffered a nuclear strike, the system launches special missiles that travel through national airspace, sending launch signals to all surviving strategic nuclear missile complexes. In this case a retaliatory missile strike is launched without human input.

Burbin also told RSN that rearmament of the Strategic Missile Forces is ongoing as planned and by 2020 up to 98 percent of Russia’s nuclear deterrent forces will be armed with brand new weapons.

READ MORE: Russian 'ABM killer' intercontinental missile to enter service in 2016

Nationwide war games of Strategic Nuclear Missile Forces were conducted in February, with 30 missile regiments training in 12 regions of Russia.

Missilemen performed ultimate combat operational readiness, counteraction to subversive groups and perfected defenses against airborne precision weapons.

On any given day, over 6,000 servicemen are maintaining the operational readiness of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces.