by Stephen Lendman

is one of many Western government and military officials unjustifiably criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin. He's a leader deserving praise for championing peace and opposing imperial wars.

The Wall Street Journal recently interviewed Dempsey about so-called "strategic challenge(s)" posed by Russia. On June 6, it published excerpts from his remarks.

He affirms the same anti-Russian sentiment most others in Washington assert, knowing full well Putin’s only geopolitical difference from Western leaders is his forthright opposition to endless wars for imperial dominance.

When Dempsey advises US or foreign officials, he "talk(s) in terms of…what could threaten our interests," he said.

He called threats a "combination of capability and intent" - the "doctrinal definition," he explained.

He lied claiming Putin "demonstrated some behaviors outside the international order that clearly indicate (he's) willing to push beyond what most of the nations with whom we deal consider to be international norms."

He ignored Washington's longstanding imperial agenda - waging endless wars against one nation after another threatening no one, for sure not America.

He named what he called Russian capabilities able to threaten European security, including:

• an alleged "ability" to use surrogates;


• the "ability" to use "instruments" other than military, such as "propaganda, leading to subversion;"


• "us(ing) their special forces to train, advise and in many cases assist the surrogate networks;"


• "the ability to conduct snap exercises with conventional forces that can coerce or at least threaten borders;"


• they have "advantages of time and geography;"


• their long-range aviation and nuclear forces "signal…their willingness to consider all the instruments of military power."

And there's more, Dempsey added. Missing was corroborating evidence supporting his claim of Russia threatening Europe, America or other nations anywhere worldwide.

Plenty of evidence proves otherwise. Russia is a consummate peacemaker. It deplores war.

It continues going all-out trying to resolve Ukrainian crisis conditions diplomatically. It faces long odds with fascist lunatics in Kiev and America's rage for war.

Claims of Russian capabilities Dempsey suggested indicate possible intent are baseless. He called Chinese capabilities similar to Russia's.

He ludicrously called a so-called Russian nuclear threat "extraordinarily reckless." Moscow threatens no one with nuclear or conventional weapons.

America threatens humanity. In his 2015 National Security Strategy, Obama declared permanent war saying "(w)e will lead with purpose - code language for demanding all nations obey Washington rules.

"We will lead with strength," he said - meaning obey US policy or else.

"We will lead by example." Some example: endless wars against nations threatening no others.

"We will lead with all instruments of US power" - a declaration of war against humanity asserting might makes right.

Perhaps Dempsey wasn't listening. Asked if NATO intends challenging Russia, he said it's mostly about strategic planning.

"(O)ur approach has been to harden our NATO allies against (undemonstrated and unproved) subversive activities Russia has (shown) its willingness to use. We have the conventional threat posed by Russia’s conventional forces."

He called provocative NATO military exercises close to Russia's borders a strategy "to harden our allies through training, equipping rotational exercises." He stopped short admitting it's preparation for possible war on Russia - naked aggression if launched.

He outrageously claimed Putin intends "look(ing) for opportunities to discredit and eventually undermine" NATO.

US forces are working with Alliance non-member partner states, Dempsey explained - notably Ukraine, aggressively readying it for escalated war perhaps already begun given heavy junta shelling of Donbass areas in recent days.

Dempsey calls this strategy "hardening" allies "before the crisis occurs" without admitting Washington bears full responsibility for most worldwide eruptions - notably in the Middle East, the Pacific rim, other Eurasian areas and North Africa.

Dempsey isn't a hothead like many in Washington, including some of his top subordinates. At the same time, he's a warrior when working for world peace is more important than ever.

Otherwise, potential nuclear war with Russia and/or China could be the last - the end of human life on earth.

-###-

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