by Stephen Lendman

Stephen Lendman

Borrowing a line from Dickens, 2014 was the best and worst of times. Multiple illnesses slowed me down. Stopped me for a while. At age 80, the flesh doesn't always respond to the spirit's willingness. Or as easily as years earlier. When healthy, I manage to do what I love best.

Daily articles. Media work. Another book or two ahead. This year my 4th. Hopefully not my last.

My edited and contributed to book on Ukraine. Titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

The definitive work on the topic, I believe. Because of the distinguished contributors. An honor for me to include my content with theirs.

Ukraine a topic I revisit regularly. Because of its importance. A tinderbox in Europe's heartland. US-installed fascists in charge.

Heavily armed and dangerous. Waging dirty war on Donbas freedom fighters. Rejecting fascist rule. Wanting real democracy.

Putting their lives on the line to achieve it. Deserving universal support. Facing long odds with US-led NATO backing Kiev's killing machine.

Confronting Russia. Jointly with Washington and rogue NATO partners.

Making anything ahead possible. Likely escalated civil war. Potential central European conflict. Perhaps setting the continent ablaze.

For the first time since WW II. US-led Balkan wars aside. Culminating with Yugoslavia's 1999 rape. Clinton's war. One of many countries Washington destroyed.

Expect many more articles on Ukraine ahead. Lots on Obama's war on Syria. Allied with rogue NATO partners.

Israel very much involved. Supporting Islamic State death squads. Partnered with Washington against Assad.

Wanting pro-Western stooge leadership replacing him. Despite his overwhelming popularity. Reelected in June by a nearly 90% majority.

An election independent monitors called open, free and fair. Polar opposite America's sham process.

One-party rule. With two wings. Controlled by monied interests. Business as usual winning every time. Voters having no say whatever.

Iraq war III rages. Obama's war. US combat troops directly involved. Despite his promise otherwise.

On December 19, RT International cited Kurdish media reporting US forces "c(oming) to the aid of tribal fighters and the Iraqi Army battling Islamic State militants in the Al-Dolab area, 10 km (6.2 miles) from the Ain Al-Assad base, which is about 90 km (56 miles) west of Anbar's capital, Ramadi."

" 'US forces intervened because…ISIS started to come near the base, which they are stationed in so out of self-defense, they responded,' said Sheikh Mahmud Nimrawi, a tribal leader in the area…"

"The base hosts about 100 US military advisers, the report claimed."

Pentagon officials said nothing about escalating US intervention. Nor media scoundrels. John Kerry said US policy leaves open the option of US combat troops involvement.

Calling it the "soundest policy." Saying Obama "has been crystal clear" in not wanting US combat forces excluded from operations on the ground.

Polar opposite his August 7 announcement. On targeted US airstrikes. Saying:

"As Commander-in-Chief, I will not allow the United States to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq."

"And so even as we support Iraqis as they take the fight to these terrorists, American combat troops will not be returning to fight in Iraq, because there’s no American military solution to the larger crisis in Iraq."

"The only lasting solution is reconciliation among Iraqi communities and stronger Iraqi security forces."

Another promise made. Another broken. Every major pledge made violated. None observed. Implemented policies polar opposite what he said.

Including on ending Washington's Afghanistan war. Its longest ever. Most expensive. America came to stay.

Claims otherwise are Big Lies. Thousands of combat troops remain. Drone attacks continue.

Mostly killing noncombatant men, women and children. Rarely striking so-called "high-value" targets.

How many more wars does Obama intend to wage? Against what new adversaries? Enough is enough.

Humanity's fate hangs in the balance. A comment I repeat often is saying either we end wars or they'll end us.

I've been writing and doing media work in retirement for nearly a decade. Entirely pro bono. Something I never planned or imagined.

What I look forward to daily. My reason for being. Staying alive.

I've made wonderful friends worldwide. I get marvelous supportive emails. At age 80, I don't know how many more good years I have left.

This year's health issues were a wakeup call. Telling me I'm getting old. Not young like I used to me. Needing to adjust accordingly.

Borrowing a line from John Lennon's "Yesterday." A shadow hangs over me. Not about to stop me. From confronting US-led imperial dark forces.

Not as long as I draw breath. Believe a better world is possible. Intend working every day for what everyone deserves.

Peace, equity and justice. For everyone everywhere. Every day of the year.

My sincere thanks to my readers and listeners. Web editors posting my articles. Your support means everything. More than I have words to say.

Hopefully I'll stick around a good while longer. Doing my best daily. Grappling with dark forces. Ruthless ones vital to defeat.

Making a small contribution toward something better. A new dawn. Societies fit to live in worldwide.

At peace. Free from war. Banished to history's dustbin. "Imagine," said Lennon. "And the world will live as one."

-###-

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.

It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.