by Stephen Lendman

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg- "Washington's man at NATO"

New NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg mimics his predecessor. A convenient US stooge. A CIA asset.

Beholden to America's imperial interests. Mindless of rule of law principles. Repeating one Big Lie after another.

Wrongfully claiming Donbas democratic elections were unlawful. Shamelessly accusing Russia of threatening Ukraine's border.

Groundlessly saying it "continues to support, train and equip" Donbas self-defense forces. Ludicrously "call(ing) on Russia to make genuine efforts toward a peaceful solution."

No country anywhere did more for it responsibly since conflict erupted in Ukraine. None exerted more genuine efforts tirelessly.

Polar opposite Washington's rage for war. Along with its rogue NATO partners.

What Stoltenberg didn't explain. Washington's man at NATO. A convenient US stooge. Chosen for that reason. For sure not for world peace.

NATO is a US-led killing machine. Operating globally. Prioritizing war. Deploring peace.

Comprised of nearly one-third of world nations. Including members and partners. Planning exponential expansion.

Usurping world policeman powers. Threatening humanity's survival.

On November 3, Stars and Stripes headlined "Breedlove: More rotational forces needed in Europe."

US European Commander/NATO head General Philip Breedlove citied nonexistent "security challenges." Invented ones for US geopolitical interests. Targeting Russia irresponsibly.

Holding provocative nine NATO member states Iron Sword military exercises in Lithuania. Near Russia's border. In response to US-caused Ukrainian crisis conditions.

Continuing them through November 14. Training for "interoperability in NATO units, co-ordination of actions and readiness to complete defensive and offensive operations," according to Lithuania's DELFI news agency.

Conducted largely in Parbrade's Silvestras Zukauskas training range, as well as at Lithuania's Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion's Rukla training area.

Part of an effort to boost US-led NATO's presence near Russia's borders. Irresponsibly doing so. Risking potential East/West confrontation.

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel claims Washington "must deal with a revisionist Russia - with its modern and capable army - on NATO's doorstep."

Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu countered saying Washington "stubbornly approach(es)…closer to our doors."

Provocatively. Belligerently. Without just cause. Hagel's "thesis on the necessity for the American army to 'deal' with 'modern and capable' Russian armed forces on NATO's doorstep is of grave concern," he added.

"This testifies to the fact that the Pentagon is working on scenarios for operations at the borders of our country" irresponsibly.

Weeks earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov voiced similar concerns. Saying NATO's Eastern expansion undermines European security.

"I believe (it's) a mistake…a provocation," said Lavrov. (A)n irresponsible policy that (sabotages) commitments to build a common security system in Europe, based on equality of rights for all, regardless of alignment or non-alignment with any military-political bloc."

Breedlove is Washington's anti-Russian point man. Lying about additional Eastern rotational forces needed.

To counter a (nonexistent) revanchist Russia and (US-supported) Islamic State insurgency.

"Because of the increased pressure that we feel in Eastern Europe now, and because of the assurance measures that we are taking in the Baltics, in Poland and in Romania, we require additional rotational presence," he said.

"What we are doing is working with the Army and other services to use their regionally aligned forces to get them forward, to get their experience forward, to bring that capability to interact with our partners and allies."

He stopped short of explaining how added rotational forces will be used.

In October, Fort Hood-based 1st Brigade Combat Team/1st Cavalry Division troops were sent to Eastern Europe in response to nonexistent Russian operations in Ukraine.

According to Breedlove, smaller numbers of Russian forces remain active near Ukraine's border.

He's looking for ways to enhance potential Eastern European operational logistics.

"Additionally I'm having discussions with the service chiefs about the possibility of forward-based equipment and supplies - as the Army calls, them 'activity sets' - in order to give us a more responsive capability if we were to need it in the future," he said.

Looking for ways to use thousands of US forces effectively. Without force level cuts.

"My first budgetary priority is to not further decrease forces in Europe, because I believe we're sized just right," he said.

"As I said before, I think we have infrastructure that can be divested but not force structure."

Washington's provocative Eastern European presence threatens Russia. Ludicrously citing a significant provocative rise in its fighter and bomber incursions into European airspace.

Moscow threatens no one. It champions world peace, stability and security. Working tirelessly for it. Claims otherwise are Big Lies.

In contrast, Washington wages permanent wars. Ravaging and destroying one country after another.

Planning more mass slaughter and destruction. Threatening world peace in the process.

Weeks earlier, Russia's NATO Ambassador Alexander Grusho accused NATO of encroaching on its borders. Using Ukrainian crisis conditions as a pretext to do it.

To "flex (its) muscles" irresponsibly. "NATO is weakening its own position as a player with global ambitions after it shunned cooperation with Russia on Afghanistan and on struggle with terrorism and piracy," he said.

It won't "solve anything by itself and moreover, efforts taken by NATO alone only negatively affect the situation."

"The problem with NATO is that when it pumps its infrastructure up or when it pumps up its muscles, the alliance does not think about the European security."

"We are ready to cooperate with the Alliance under the condition that it will pay due regard to our national interests," Grushko stressed.

"Cooperation is possible only on these conditions." Russia prioritizes cooperative relations with all countries.

Washington provocatively seeksw confrontations. World peace hangs in the balance.

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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.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

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