Stephen Lendman

America’s rage for endless wars is the greatest threat to world peace, stability and security.

Russia justifiably fears possible preemptive US nuclear attack on its territory.

According to its General Staff deputy head of operations Gen. Viktor Poznikhir, “(t)he presence of American ABM sites in Europe and ABM-capable ships in the seas and oceans close to Russia’s territory creates a powerful clandestine potential for delivering a surprise nuclear missile strike against Russia.”

“The presence of the global ABM system lowers the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, because it gives the US the illusion of impunity for using strategic offensive weapons from under the protection of the ABM ‘umbrella.’ “

“The ABM shield is a symbol of the build-up of rocket forces in the world and a trigger for a new arms race.”

Since the onset of Western-instigated Cold War in the late 1940s, lunatics in Washington and at the Pentagon believed nuclear war on Russia was winnable.

Madness, yet the notion persists, undermining global security, threatening humanity more than ever with neocons in charge of US militarism and war-making.

Intense US hostility toward Russia negates the chance for nuclear sanity, increases the unthinkable - mass annihilation from possible nuclear war.

In testimony before House Armed Services Committee members, CENTCOM commander General Joseph Votel lied about Iran, calling the Islamic Republic “the greatest longterm threat to (Middle East) stability.”

America and Israel earned that dubious distinction long ago - threatening the region and world peace.

Votel: Iran seeks regional “hegemon(y).”

Fact: Iran seeks mutual cooperation among all nations. It seeks world peace, forthrightly opposing US-led imperial wars.

Votel: “(H)umanitarian cris(es) are exploited by violent extremist organizations and terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS.”

“These groups have clearly indicated their desire and intent to attack the US homeland, our interests abroad and the interests of our partners and allies.”

Fact: America bears full responsibility for creating humanitarian crises in the Middle East, North Africa and central Asia. NATO, Israel and their rogue allies share blame.

Fact: America created and supports al-Qaeda, ISIS and other terrorist groups. Chances of them attacking the US homeland are virtually nil. Votel lied claiming otherwise.

Votel: “(T)he central region has come to represent the nexus for many of the security challenges our nation faces.”

Fact: America’s only threats are invented ones, no others. They’re used to enlist public and congressional support for out-of-control defense spending - funds used for militarism and endless wars of aggression against nations threatening no one.

Votel: An investigation will be conducted on the March 17 Mosul airstrike killing hundreds of civilians - “to establish what happened, establish what the facts are, identify accountability, and…lessons learned…”

Fact: America indiscriminately massacres civilians in all its wars. Investigations when conducted are systematically whitewashed to avoid accountability for Nuremberg-level high crimes.

Fact: Eyewitness survivors blamed US-led warplanes for the March 17 massacre. Facts don’t need to be “establish(ed).” They’re indisputable.

Mass Pentagon-led slaughter of civilians will continue in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere. US war criminals remain unaccountable for high crimes of war and against humanity.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He 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 WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at http://www.sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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