Max Blumenthal and Ben Norton discuss the Democratic Party’s obsession with Russia, how this fixation is used to prevent progressive change, the lack of evidence for ambiguous accusations of “Russian interference,” and how the neoliberal Resistance actively cheers on Trump when he is bombing the Middle East.
Syria’s ‘moderates’ have disappeared… and there are no good guys
The Independent’s Robert Fisk notes that the “rubbish has reached its crescendo in the on-again off-again saga of the Syrian “moderates”. These men were originally military defectors to the FSA, which America and European countries regarded as a possible pro-Western force to be used against the Syrian government army. But the FSA fell to pieces, corrupted, and the “moderates” defected all over again, this time to the Islamist Nusrah Front or to Isis, selling their American-supplied weapons to the highest bidder…”
Sanctions as Feckless Disapproval (Paul Pillar)
… the bill is consistent with, and puts in stark relief, a larger problem of Congress habitually using economic sanctions against foreign states as an expression of disapproval that is poorly designed to achieve any U.S. foreign policy objectives.
‘The Washington Post’ Finally Finds a War It Won’t Cheer
We are informed via the Washington Post that “continued airstrikes Friday suggested that Russia’s main priority remains the anti-Assad rebellion in northern and western Syria, which poses a greater threat to the regime’s control over Damascus, the capital, than the forces of the Islamic State, concentrated in the far north and east of the country.”
This is a rather masterful insinuation of Russian malfeasance where none exists.
Unveiling the Reagan-Gorbachev Statue in Moscow (Robert Zapesochny)
“Dialogue based on mutual respect” could improve U.S.-Russia relations
Western spin machines functioning at full capacity on Syria
Well the ‘US good, Russia bad’ propaganda drive has reached full-blown hysteria mode this week. My sincerest compliments to the usual suspects, you are absolutely playing a blinder.
I’m especially impressed by how quickly you all became such staunch humanitarians and tallied up the civilian casualties from the handful of Russian strikes mere moments after the bombs were dropped. That’s dedication.
Russians See Sanctions Regime as a Blessing in Disguise (The Real News, feat. Richard Sakwa)
German exports to Russia have increased by twenty percent despite the existing sanctions against Russia, says University of Kent professor Richard Sakwa.
Winter Is Coming. And So Is Ukraine’s Far Right.
There’s a reason most revolutions in Eastern Europe begin in the winter, from Russia in 1905 to Ukraine’s Maidan in 2013. Once the cold settles in, a government’s empty promises are laid bare. Over the next several days, forecasters are predicting, the temperature in Ukraine will plunge to freezing. When President Petro Poroshenko looks at the thermometer, he should be worried.
We Need to Stop Using Russia as a Political Football (Vadim Nikitin)
From Nixon to Trump, there have always been long-term risks in exploiting foreign policy for domestic political gain.
EU must improve Russia ties, says Commission chief Juncker
The EU must restore a “practical relationship” with Russia and not let the US “dictate” that policy, the European Commission chief has said.
Jean-Claude Juncker criticised US President Barack Obama’s description of Russia as merely “a regional power”.
Pentagon Plan to Arm Ukraine Means Escalation with Russia (The Real News, feat. Nicolai Petro)
As U.S. and Russian relations hit a new low, the Pentagon and State Department have drafted a plan to arm Ukraine’s fight against Russian-backed rebels, a move that would escalate the country’s three-year war.
Putin’s plan for Syria: Only Russia has a clear goal—we should join it or stay out
According Rachel Polonsky, a Fellow of Murray Edwards College at the University of Cambridge and author of Molotov’s Magic Lantern: A Journey in Russian History: “If we cannot support Russia in its mission now, or even define our own, we should stand aside. No good has come from our policy of regime change. The UK government’s position on Syria is neither logical nor honest
One thing that both IS and Russia understand is that control of territory is everything. Palmyra is territory, and territory has meaning, which it takes knowledge-—of geography, history, languages, religions, cultures and the nature of one’s enemies—to understand. John McCain calls Russia a “gas station masquerading as a country.” He should read War and Peace.”
A Blacklisted Film and the New Cold War (Robert Parry)
As Congress still swoons over the anti-Kremlin Magnitsky narrative, Western political and media leaders refuse to let their people view a documentary that debunks the fable, reports Robert Parry.
Prof. Stephen F. Cohen Talks With John Batchelor
Earlier in the week ACEWA Board Member Dr. Stephen F. Cohen continued his weekly conversation with radio host John Batchelor. The conversation helped to shed much need light on recent developments in the Donbas, and the discussants delved into the wide ranging implications of Russia’s recent intervention into the Syrian civil war.
The Russia Mess Sucks in Democrats, Too (John Batchelor)
Two modest Russiagate puzzles that do not fit easily into any case for or against President Trump, took new turns in recent days…
Ukraine leader says he hopes ‘fragile truce’ will hold
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko struck a conciliatory tone on Friday in his comments on Russia and Moscow-backed rebels during his visit to Kazakhstan, the Kremlin’s ally in Central Asia.
“Few had believed this (but) we did our best and, as a result of our efforts, guns have been silent for more than two weeks and this gives grounds for cautious optimism with regard to the implementation of other parts of the Minsk agreements,” Poroshenko said at a meeting with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, referring to a ceasefire in Ukraine’s east.
Sending ‘Defensive’ Arms to Ukraine Would Be Deadly (Leonid Bershidsky)
Both Russian and U.S. generals have an interest in testing their newer weapons against each other.
Syria air strikes: US and Russia expected to hold talks over risk of planes clashing
The Pentagon has said it expects to hold new talks with Russia’s military on pilot safety in Syria’s war as soon as this weekend as the US and the Kremlin seek to avoid accidental clashes as they carry out separate bombing campaigns.
Russia’s entry into Syria’s civil war has complicated America’s more than year-old campaign of air strikes against Islamic State. At least one US jet had to change course to avoid an incident.
Russia Signals Tough Pragmatism toward the United States (George Beebe)
Beyond foreshadowing what they might do in response to U.S. retaliation, the Russians are also signaling the depth of their resolve to oppose U.S. actions that they believe threaten Russian security.
How Russia outplayed America in the Middle East’s great game
The cliché of the Russian chessmaster strategist might be a cliché for a reason. The regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin might have feet of clay, but the man is smart.
By going all-in on the side of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the war in Syria, he has put Russia at the center of the great game in the Middle East.