by Stephen Lendman

Cold War 2.0 rages. It's heading dangerously toward East/West confrontation.

Putin and Obama are geopolitical opposites. They represent conflicting values.

Putin supports multi-world polarity. He believes national sovereignty is inviolable. He opposes imperial lawlessness. He believes no nation has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of others.

Obama claims a divine right to wage war on humanity. To invent enemies when none exist.

To ravage one country after another. To control their resources. To exploit their people.

To achieve unchallenged global dominance. To risk humanity's survival in the process.

Propaganda wars rage. They precede hot ones. Big Lies launch them. Washington bashes Russia irresponsibly.

US-led NATO marches in lockstep. On August 29, Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen issued a statementhttp://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_112104.htm following "an extraordinary meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission."

It's a decision-making body. It's responsible for developing NATO-Ukraine relations. It was established in July 1997.

Big Lies followed Friday's meeting. According to Rasmussen,"it is now clear that Russian troops and equipment have illegally crossed the border into eastern and south-eastern Ukraine."

"This is not an isolated action, but part of a dangerous pattern over many months to destabilize Ukraine as a sovereign nation."

"Russian forces are engaged in direct military operations inside Ukraine. Russia continues to supply the separatists with tanks, armored vehicles, artillery and rocket launchers."

"Russia has fired on Ukraine from both Russian territory and within Ukraine itself. Moreover, Russia continues to maintain thousands of combat-ready troops close to Ukraine's borders."

"This is a blatant violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It defies all diplomatic efforts for a peaceful solution."

"Today, we expressed strong solidarity with Ukraine. At the Wales Summit next week, we will meet President Poroshenko to make clear NATO's unwavering support for Ukraine."

"We condemn in the strongest terms Russia's continued disregard of its international obligations."

"We urge Russia to cease its illegal military actions, stop its support to armed separatists, and take immediate and verifiable steps towards de-escalation of this grave crisis."

It bears repeating. Russia didn't invade Ukraine. It's not waging war on its sovereignty. It has no revanchanist aims.

It's not supplying "separatists with tanks, armored vehicles, artillery and rocket launchers."

It hasn't fired on Ukraine cross border or from within its territory. It doesn't threaten Kiev with thousands of combat-ready troops near its border.

It doesn't interfere in its internal affairs. It goes all-out for peaceful conflict resolution. Don't expect Rasmussen to explain.

US-led NATO is an imperial tool. It's for offense, not defense. It's a global killing machine. It prioritizes war. It deplores peace.

It's heading for direct confrontation with Russia. It's creating a so-called expeditionary force. It'll include 10,000 troops.

According to the Financial Times, "Britain and six other states (Denmark, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Norway and the Netherlands) (will) create a fully functioning, division-sized force for rapid deployment and regular, frequent exercises."

Increasing its size may follow. British commanders will lead air, naval and ground forces. Canada may become involved.

According to Rasmussen, at issue is establishing "a more visible (Eastern European) presence…to counter Russia."

Putin's NATO envoy, Aleksandr Grushko, said any attempt to encroach closer to Russia's borders will impact Moscow's own security planning.

Until the 1990s, Norway alone adjoined Russia. According toStop NATO's Rick Rozoff:

In 1999, NATO expansion began. Four new members were added "directly up to Russian territory: Estonia and Latvia to northwestern Russia proper and Poland and Lithuania to the non-contiguous Kaliningrad Oblast."

Ukraine is a NATO partner. It's heading toward full membership status. Most likely with Finland.

Together they'll "cover (Russia's) entire western flank," said Rozoff.

It extends "from the Arctic Ocean and Barents Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south…"

Plans include "NATO air bases, naval docking facilities, firing ranges and training grounds, airfields, radar installations, storage compounds, cyber warfare centers, interceptor missile batteries, armored vehicles, troops and tactical nuclear weapons."

Washington and its NATO allies see Ukraine "as the decisive linchpin in (their) plans to (establish) a military cordon sanitaire severing Russia from Europe."

In 1995, Ukraine became the first post-Commonwealth of Independent States member to join NATO's Partnership of Peace.

It aims to include all European countries "and the rest of former Soviet space not already in the bloc," Rozoff explained.

It's to marginalize, contain and isolate Russia. In December 2008, Washington initiated the US/Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership.

Its objectives include:

"Deepening Ukraine's integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions…" Doing so is called "a mutual priority."

Planning will "undertake a program of enhanced security cooperation intended to increase Ukrainian capabilities and to strengthen Ukraine's candidacy for NATO membership."

It will be "(g)uided by the April 3, 2008 Bucharest Summit Declaration of the NATO North Atlantic Council and the April 4, 2008 Joint Statement of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, which affirmed that Ukraine will become a member of NATO."

"Recognizing the persistence of threats to global peace and stability, the United States and Ukraine intend to expand the scope of their ongoing programs of cooperation and assistance on defense and security issues to defeat these threats and to promote peace and stability."

"A defense and security cooperation partnership between the United States and Ukraine is of benefit to both nations and the region."

"Working within the framework of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, our goal is to gain agreement on a structured plan to increase interoperability and coordination of capabilities between NATO and Ukraine, including via enhanced training and equipment for Ukrainian armed forces."

Before crisis conditions erupted last November, NATO sought four partners for its global Response Force, Rozoff explained. They include Ukraine, Georgia, Finland and Sweden.

With a US-installed "proxy regime" in Kiev, Ukraine is heading toward becoming "a veritable gargantuan forward base for the Pentagon’s and NATO’s inexorable, now generation-long, drive to the east…"

It's "overrun with Western military advisers and intelligence agents…" It "host(s) warplanes, warships, armor, troops and missiles..."

It courts "Western leaders with a degree of ambitiousness and recklessness surpassing anything hitherto contemplated."

It's a dagger pointed at Russia's heartland. It threatens to escalate crisis conditions into full-blown East/West confrontation.

On August 29, Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers submitted legislation repealing the country's non-bloc status. According to putschist prime minister Arseniy Yansenyuk:

"In accordance with the decision adopted by the National Security and Defense Council, the government of Ukraine has submitted a bill that repeals the Ukrainian state's non-bloc status and re-establishes Ukraine's course towards membership in NATO to parliament for consideration."

The law lets Ukraine belong to any other economic, political and military units as long as they don't interfere with its EU membership plans.

If adopted, Ukraine will be banned from Customs Union, Eurasian Union and similar organization memberships.

Yatsenyuk calls them "the Soviet Union under the name of the Russian Federation."

He urged Ukraine's parliament to consider the bill urgent. Passage is rubber-stamp.

Ukraine and Russia share a near-1,500 mile land and sea border. Expect Washington to take full advantage.

Expect NATO bases threatening Moscow’s security. East/West confrontation looms.

Propaganda wars hasten the possibility. They rage irresponsibly. They threaten world peace.

They turn truth on its head. They blame Russia for US orchestrated crimes. Ukraine is its newest imperial tool committing them.

They risk the unthinkable - possible nuclear confrontation able to end life on earth if launched.

Imperial madness defines Washington's agenda. Permanent war is official policy.

All US wars are based on Big Lies. Truth is suppressed to wage them. Propaganda wars precede them.

They rage to enlist public support. They stoke fear. They generate misinformation. At issue is advancing America's imperium.

It's making the world safe for monied interests. it's turning ordinary people into low-wage slaves. It's cracking down hard on non-believers.

It's creating full-blown tyranny. It's making America and other countries unfit to live in.

Washington's imperial war machine is humanity's greatest threat. Presidents use it at their own discretion.

International, constitutional and US statute lars don't matter. World peace hangs by a thread.

Washington created Ukrainian crisis conditions. They're the most serious since WW II.

Obama's new friends are reckless neo-Nazi infested fascists. They ignore rule of law principles. Their human rights record is appalling.

They're in the eye of the storm. They're waging war on their own people.

In league with Washington and other rogue NATO states, they recklessly challenge Russia.

Possible global war looms. Today is the most perilous time in world history. Daily events should scare everyone.

Today's upside down reality threatens everyone.Criminality is rewarded. Warmakers win peace prizes. Peacemakers are vilified.

On Friday, a Russian-sponsored Security Council Southeastern Ukraine peacemaking initiative was blocked. According to Moscow's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin:

"The Russian delegation's proposal on declaration of a ceasefire was blocked under a frivolous pretext."

"The Security Council as a result of destructive efforts of a number of its members was unable to play its role in resolving the Ukrainian crisis."

Washington's dirty hands bear full responsibility. Britain and France are imperial partners. Other nations are pressured to go along.

Moscow's text expressed serious concerns about Southeastern Ukrainian crisis conditions. It called for "immediate and unconditional ceasefire."

It urged dialogue "based on the Geneva Declaration of 17 April 2014 and the Joint Berlin Declaration of July 2, 2014."

In Geneva, US, Russian, EU and Ukrainian foreign ministers agreed all parties must refrain from "violence, intimidation, or provocative acts."

They "call(ed) for an immediate commencement of a broad national dialogue which must be inclusive, transparent and accountable."

It must be "within the framework of the constitutional process, which must be inclusive and accountable."

It "must be resolved by the Ukrainians themselves concerning an end to the conflict."

Other conflict ending provisions were agreed on. Kiev committed violations straightaway. Washington supports and encourages its crimes.

In July, German, French, Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers met in Berlin. They reaffirmed their commitment to Southeastern Ukrainian peace and stability.

They agreed on the necessity of halting conflict. It rages daily out-of-control.

Russia has gone all-out to resolve things diplomatically. Its proposed August 29 Security Council resolution is its latest effort.

Its text included "multiply(ing) efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the population of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions…"

Churkin was clear, unequivocal and correct. He called Southeastern Ukrainian conflict a "direct consequence of a wreckers policy of Kiev which is conducting a war against its own people."

He called on Washington to "curb their geopolitical ambitions." Stop interfering in the affairs of other states, he urged.

"Then not only Russia's neighbors, but also many other countries around the world will breathe a sigh of relief," he added.

Kiev aggression continues "(w)ith support from and under the influence of a number of well-known states," Churkin explained.

He left no doubt which ones he means. Or which one is most responsible. Or how they influence Kiev to sabotage "all political agreements on settling the crisis in Ukraine."

Its oligarch president Petro Poroshenko's so-called "peace plan" promotes escalated war.

"Where is the inclusive national dialogue promised by Kiev, or the constitutional reform, or the decentralization of the authority or the special status for the Russian language," Churkin asked?

Promises made were empty. They've been systematically broken.

Dissent is criminalized. Regime opposing political parties are banned. Press freedom is nonexistent. Police state authority runs things.

Ukraine is a global flashpoint. Conflict conditions risk the unthinkable.

Peaceful resolution is urgently needed. Washington's rage to dominate blocks it. World peace hangs by a thread.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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