by Stephen Lendman

Washington relies heavily on allies and proxies to advance its imperial agenda. It actively supports and encourages Kiev's aggression on Donbas.

Funding and arming its military. Supplying heavy weapons and munitions covertly. Assuming a local guerrilla force could easily be defeated. Hoped for victory became rout. Earlier last spring and summer. Again a few days after Kiev launched its new offensive last Sunday. More on this below.

A previous article discussed Pentagon plans to deploy US combat troops to Ukraine. For a so-called "training operation." A "first step." Mission creep suggests much more to come.

On January 23, Rick Rozoff's Stop NATO web site reported US Army Europe commanding Lt. General Ben Hodges in Ukraine meeting with its military/defense officials.

"(A)head of a robust schedule of bilateral and multilateral military partnership exercises and training missions planned for 2015."

Perhaps part of Washington's plan for direct US involvement in Kiev's war on Donbas. Maybe controlling it entirely going forward.

"Everything that happens in this part of the world the US Army in Europe is part of that," said Hodges.

"Its exercises, its relationships, its capabilities, networks and allies, and it is what enables our president to assure allies and deter potential threats."

Hodges called US Army Europe "uniquely positioned…to advance American strategic interests in Europe and Eurasia."

Code language for advancing America's imperium. Through coups and wars of aggression.

Pentagon officials lied claiming Russia directly supports Donbas "separatists."

Air Force spokesman Col. Ed Thomas said Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey is "closely following" reports of (nonexistent) Russian involvement.

"Among the most pressing issues for the group is NATO's planning and readiness to secure its eastern flank," said Thomas.

"It's been a dominant factor for the alliance since Russian forces entered Crimea."

"Since the September 5th Minsk ceasefire, Russia has funneled hundreds of pieces of Russian military equipment and materiel to Russia-backed separatists, including tanks, armored personnel carriers, and heavy artillery pieces," Thomas claimed.

Despite no evidence whatever proving it. Plenty showing US supplied lethal aid for Ukraine.

"Russian military forces still operate in eastern Ukraine, where they play a coordinating role and provide command and control support to pro-Russian separatists," Thomas added.

Again citing no verifiable evidence. None exists. At the same time, US-dominated NATO heads precariously closer to direct confrontation with Russia.

NATO's Readiness Action Plan is worrisome. So is its Very High Readiness Joint Task Force.

Increased US-dominated NATO's Eastern European land, air and sea presence. Inventing threats to justify increased aggressiveness.

With considerable scoundrel media support. The New York Times lied claiming "increasing evidence that Russian troops and Russian equipment have been pouring into the region again."

Propaganda substituting for hard evidence. The Times wrongfully blamed Putin for US-instigated Kiev crimes. Accusing him of "doubling down rather than backing down."

"…Russian troops in unmarked uniforms apparently join(ed) the separatists in the assaults on Ukrainian positions," claimed The Times. Citing Kiev and NATO as its source. Known serial liars.

Washington Post editors repeated America's Big Lie. Accusing "Russian forces (of) launch(ing) a new offensive in eastern Ukraine."

Ignoring hard evidence of Kiev's aggression. Donbas freedom fighters respond in self-defense. Nothing suggestsU Moscow's involvement.

Post editors cited Kiev and US ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt claiming "fresh Russian army units were crossing the border and attacking Ukrainian positions north of the city of Luhansk and at the Donetsk airport."

Big Lies substitute for hard truths. Post editors irresponsibly bashed Putin. Calling his agenda "fundamentally at odds with Europe's security interests and its values."

Ignored are his all out peace and stability efforts throughout months of conflict. Proposals to end fighting. Resolve things diplomatically.

America and rogue EU allies prioritize naked aggression. Mass slaughter and destruction. Against one country after another.

Ukraine very much in the eye of the storm. Washington bears full responsibility for ongoing conflict.

So does what Sergey Lavrov calls Kiev's "party of war." Putin gets no credit for trying to resolve things diplomatically. Irresponsible bashing substitutes.

Wall Street Journal editors irresponsibly accused him of "aggression" in Donbas.

Citing "a Ukrainian military spokesman" falsely claiming "Russian forces…opened fire on Ukrainian positions in the rebel-controlled Luhansk region…"

An unnamed OSCE official accused Russia of supplying Donbas self-defense forces with "sophisticated logistic support."

Journal editors ludicrously claimed Putin "wants to re-create Kremlin dominance over Russia's near abroad…"

No evidence whatever suggests it. Repeating Big Lies often enough gets most people to believe them.

Are Pentagon officials directing Kiev's aggression? Is America calling the shots? Will US forces be involved?

Fort Russ cited a source close to Ukraine's general staff reporting "chaos in Kiev and the turmoil in the country's administration and the army.

Donbas self-defense forces consistently rout Kiev's military. Decisively since last Sunday.

Despite Ukraine's military mobilizing 1,500 tanks and other armored vehicles. Over 50 warplanes and attack helicopters.

Artillery, radar, communications equipment and other supplies. Much of it US-dominated NATO supplied.

Deploying its war machine along the entire front line over the past few months.

In preparation for full-scale premeditated naked aggression. Using the false flag Volnovakha bus attack as pretext to launch it.

Putin accused Kiev of issuing "criminal orders…to start large-scale military operations practically throughout the whole line of contact."

"The results of this are many people have died and have been wounded."

"This has happened not only amongst soldiers from both sides, but even more tragically, amongst innocent civilians, which includes children, pensioners and women."

Peace talks and "political will" alone can end conflict, he stressed. Impossible given Washington's rage for war.

Fort Russ said Ukraine's Colonel-General Muzhenko Muzhenko general staff chief directs ongoing operations. Calling him a "certified dimwit."

Ignoring expert military advice. Relying "on the whims and views" of Ukraine's security service (SBU) head Valentin Nalyvaychenko and others around him.

Under Muzhenko's direction, Kiev forces were routed. Sustaining heavy losses. Men and equipment.

Fort Russ reported Kiev in "full-fledged panic." Suggesting a possible desperation declaration of war on Russia to enlist NATO support.

Novorossiya armed forces (NAF) are "advancing simultaneously in a dozen directions, and control of many parts of the UAF (Ukrainian armed forces) is already lost."

Fort Russ suggests a Kiev "military disaster in the making. The question is not whether or not (its) front will collapse…(it's) where it will happen first."

SBU head Nalyvaychenko suggested Washington "is preparing to take strategic control of UAF divisions…"

National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine secretary Aleksandr Turchynov said war with Russia is inevitable.

Warned about declaring martial law. Doing so would end any pretense of rule of law governance.

None whatever exists. Ruling fascists tolerate none. Former defense minister Valeriy Geletey promised an attack on Russia.

Followed by a Ukrainian "victory parade" in Crimea and Sevastopol. Political analyst Yuri Solozobov called these threats propaganda. Bluffs.

Saying "(m)artial law cannot be applied to a part of a country. (Only) across the entire country…"

Automatically dissolving parliament if instituted, he added. Military power replacing it. Civil authority entirely abolished.

Attacking Russia is madness. Even through false flag deception. Putin will be free to respond full-force. Defending Russia responsibly against aggression.

Will US-dominated NATO intervene? Washington is already heavily involved. Perhaps preparing to take charge of Ukraine's military.

Suggesting greater escalation of fighting than already. Will America risk war with Russia?

Doing so risks nuclear confrontation. Obama wants new congressional Authorization of the Use of Military Force (AUMF).

Ostensibly to combat IS. De facto US allies. Armed, funded, trained and directed proxy forces. Used against Assad's Syria.

Does Obama want more expansive AUMF authority? Congress hasn't yet acted.

Awaiting White House direction. Draft legislative language. Outlining its intentions.

Will Obama seek authority for direct US intervention in Ukraine? Congressional permission to respond to alleged Russian aggression?

Perhaps intending a major false as justification to act. A modern-day Gulf of Tonkin. A Ukrainian 9/11.

A mass atrocity greater than recent Volnovakha and Donetsk bus attacks. Something major enough to enlist widespread popular support.

Obama wants authority to wage war on any nation or group opposing America's imperial agenda.

Will he dangerously escalate Kiev's aggression on Donbas? Will he involve US forces? Will he risk war with Russia?

It bears repeating what other articles stressed. Lunatics in Washington make anything possible. Even WW III. Perhaps only a major false flag away.

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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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