by Stephen Lendman

Washington continues waging political and economic war on Russia. Ukraine's junta was installed to serve US interests.

Institutionalize fascist rule in Europe's heartland. Eliminate fundamental freedoms. Threaten regional security.

Serve as a US proxy against Russia. Perhaps instigate hot war. Stop NATO reports continuing Alliance help in its dirty war on Donbas.

Training its military for "Russian aggression." Washington's Ukraine ambassador, Geoffrey Pyatt saying: "As Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russian aggression, the United States will continue to send advisory teams to help improve Ukrainian combat medical care and save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers, in addition to the over $118 million in security assistance we have committed."

Pyatt left unsaid Washington and other NATO countries supplying lethal aid. Heavy weapons and munitions.

War on Donbas continues. Dangerously close to Russia's border. Stooge president Petro Poroshenko's days of silence pronouncement was fake. One of his many Big Lies.

On December 18, Voice of Sevastopol reported "Ukrainian (military) violat(ions) in the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR)."

"(H)owitzer artillery was conducted from the village Kondrashovka (Stanitsa-Luganskaya district) on the outskirts of the village Vesyolenkoye."

Mortar fire targeted militia held areas. Ukraine's military continues attacking Donbas despite Poroshenko's "day(s) of silence."

On December 19, Fort Russ reported LPR forces attacked "on many fronts. Fired on positions (include) Veselaya Gora, Prishib, Slavyanoserbsk, Valuysk, Kolesnikovo, Nizhneteploye, Olkhovoe.

Militia forces responded in self-defense. Kiev's dirty war continues. Greater escalation looms. On orders from Washington.

On December 18, Obama signed anti-Russian legislation. The so-called "Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 (UFSA)" aims to assist "in restoring Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Deter Russia "from further destabilizing and invading Ukraine and other independent countries in Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia."

Authorizes new sanctions. Targeting Russia's defense and energy sectors. Plus businesses selling products or services to sanctioned Russian companies.

On December 18, Obama said:

"My administration will continue to work closely with allies and partners in Europe and internationally to respond to developments in Ukraine and will continue to review and calibrate our sanctions to respond to Russia's actions."

"At this time, the Administration does not intend to impose sanctions under this law, but the Act gives the Administration additional authorities that could be utilized, if circumstances warranted."

Another Big Lie. On December 19, Obama targeted Russia's Republic of Crimea.

By executive order "prohibit(ing) the export of goods, technology, or services to Crimea and prohibits the import of goods, technology, or services from Crimea, as well as new investments in Crimea."

(A)uthoriz(ing) the Secretary of the Treasury to impose sanctions on individuals and entities operating in Crimea."

(I)ntend(ing) to provide clarity to US corporations doing business in the region and reaffirm that the United States will not accept Russia's occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea."

Obama "again call(ed) on Russia to end its occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea, cease its support to separatists in eastern Ukraine, and fulfill its commitments under the Minsk agreements."

"My Administration will continue to work closely with allies and partners in Europe and internationally to respond to events in Ukraine and to support Ukraine"s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well its democratic development and reform efforts."

"We will continue to review and calibrate our sanctions, in close coordination with our international partners, to respond to Russia's actions."

Fact: Crimeans joined Russia.

Fact: By near unanimous free, fair and open referendum vote.

Fact: Correcting a historic mistake.

Fact: Returning where they belong.

Fact: Russia remains neutral in Ukraine's civil war.

Fact: No evidence suggests otherwise.

Fact: Going all-out for peaceful conflict resolution.

Fact: Polar opposite Washington.

Fact: Stoking conflict.

Fact: Funding, arming, training and directing its proxy Ukrainian military.

Fact: Russia didn't invade Ukraine.

Fact: Has no involvement in ongoing conflict.

Fact: Isn't providing Donbas self-defense forces with weapons, munitions or other help.

Fact: Other than vitally needed humanitarian aid for Donbas residents.

Fact: The only nation doing so.

Fact: Despite Kiev's efforts to block it.

Fact: So ordinary people will starve.

Fact: Obama calling Ukraine democratic flies in the face of hard facts.

Fact: Ukraine is a fascist dictatorship.

Fact: Illegitimately installed by Washington.

Fact: Serving US interests in Europe's heartland.

Fact: Targeting Russia for regime change.

Fact: Wanting its sovereign independence eliminated.

Fact: By color revolution or war.

Russia's Foreign Ministry responded harshly. Calling actions against Crimea "politicized discrimination" against Russia and its people.

"We would like remind (Western nations) about our lawful right to adequately respond to its so-called restrictive measures against all Russian individuals and legal entities without exception," a Ministry statement said.

Crimea is sovereign Russian territory. Russia's Ministry warned of an adequate response.

Spokesman Alexander Lukashevich on Obama's UFSA signing, saying:

"The American side is fully to blame for the consequences. We do not leave hostile actions on the part of Washington without response."

"We will be making decisions on possible response measures depending on how the United States will use the new law in practice."

"The Russian side is ready for dialogue and cooperation, but only on principles of equality, real account for our interests. Attempts to pressure us are anyway doomed to fail."

On December 19, Sputnik News reported Lavrov telling John Kerry UFSA derails US/Moscow cooperation. "(U)ndermined (it) for a long time."

During his annual marathon Q & A press conference tour de force, Putin said "Russia pays the cost of remaining a nation, a civilization and a state."

Weeks earlier he explained "the tragic consequences of the so-called color revolutions and ordeals survived by the peoples of the states that faced these irresponsible experiments of covert and sometimes even…overt interference into their lives…"

"This is a lesson and warning for us, and we will do everything possible to prevent this from happening in Russia."

Putin knows Washington's dirty game. Considers him public enemy No. 1. Targets Russia for regime change.

Wants its sovereign independence destroyed. A major rival eliminated. Replaced by vassal state subservience.

Its territory balkanized. Resources stolen. People exploited. Serving Western interests exclusively. Under horrific conditions of poverty, deprivation and despair.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded to Ukrainian stooge president Poroshenko's hostile statements.

Including ending Ukraine's nonaligned status. Joining NATO. Wanting Russia expelled from Security Council participation. Other "party of war" rhetoric.

Saying "()t is regretful because such a party exists and exactly from ranks of that ‘party of war’ calls are made to repeat in Ukraine's south-east an operation which was carried out in Serbian Krajina, when the issue was settled by force."

"All this was not only accepted, our Western partners welcomed this."

In a wide-ranging interview, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev warned of US-led NATO encroachment on Russia's borders.

Washington "is trying hard to get there…Eisenhower (warned) of the military-industrial complex.," said Gorbachev.

NATO seeks to interfere with everything and everywhere. It wants to expand beyond its designated territory."

"…America cannot live without its military-industrial complex growing, weapons sales increasing and war costs soaring…"

Its "society is sick. It needs help." It threatens world peace.

Gorbachev quoted Jack Kennedy once saying "(i)f you think that future peace should be Pax Americana you’re mistaken. It’s either peace for all people, or no peace."

America declared Cold War victory. Saying "we won. We won the Cold War. We did. Us," according to Gorbachev.

"(T)he world is at our feet. Our policy is right…America want(s) to rule the world."

"The Americans lost their way. Any attempt to create a one-sided, mono-polar world is just complete and utter nonsense."

Washington "need(s) an enemy." Its leadership "can't live without it. (They're) enslaved by their old policy."

"That's why America has to be stopped." Diplomatically. In partnership with other nations. Leadership today is only possible this way, Gorbachev stressed.

"Whenever tensions are high, whenever there's instability in a certain country or throughout the region, it's an opportunity for them to intervene."

It's "the American way." This must stop, Gorbachev stressed. Peacefully. War assures no winners.

Washington declared Russia an enemy. European countries were pressured to go along. Against their own self-interest.

No one ever brought Russia to its knees, said Gorbachev. Not Napoleon. Not Hitler. No one. "(N)obody will." Gorbachev hopes Cold War won't turn hot.

Given America's rage for war, preventing it won't be easy. Maybe impossible.

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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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