NATO risks World War III in Ukraine — while lining the defense industry's pockets
By: Douglas MacKinnon (The Hill)
Ukraine cannot win this war against Russia -- without nuclear weapons. All the advanced technology in the US arsenal will not win against Russia. That is the unspoken truth of the situation. These prognostications about a Russian nuclear threat are as much wishful thinking as warning. Europe doesn't want to support a prolonged, pointless war. That's the lesson learned from Afghanistan, isn't it?
Joe Biden has to commit to a prolonged quagmire to avoid admitting that he reneged on security assurances made to Ukraine in exchange for nuclear disarmament. Biden deliberately broke Clinton's promise to Ukraine. That's the why that needs an answer. Did Biden really lead the country into another quagmire just to score political points?
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
First, the truly alarming news next to no one seems to care about: Day by day, the war in Ukraine is tipping ever closer to triggering a nuclear strike.
Earlier this week, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. once again waved the warning flag on this pending cataclysm, posting: "The situation in Ukraine is on the brink of calamitous escalation. Do the military imperialists in Washington and their lackeys in Europe have any idea the danger they are courting? They are conducting foreign policy as if it were a game of 'chicken.'"
Kennedy is nightmarishly correct. It is a point I have stressed several times on this site. Be it the actions of the Biden administration, the United Kingdom, France or others, some in the West seem intent in daring Vladimir Putin and the Russians to do the unthinkable. Why?
Leaving aside the ever-malleable arguments that: "We have to stand as one against Putin," "We have to save the people of Ukraine" or "We have to protect NATO," there are also other forces at work here. First among them: money.
Before we get there, for those trying to "save the people and infrastructure of Ukraine," I am truly sad to report that you have failed. While most in the media seem averse to reporting certain facts in the country, this much is true: Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children have been killed or wounded; much of the infrastructure of the country has been reduced to rubble; and over 6 million Ukrainians have fled their nation. Those encouraging Ukraine to fight to its last citizen from the comfort and safety of their offices thousands of miles from the battlefield need to come up with a more convincing rationale.
Now, back to the money. Toward the end of April, President Biden signed yet another aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, this one to the tune of $95 billion. But, as they used to say in the late-night commercials, "Wait, there's more." As reported last month: "Ukraine and US working on long-term security agreement."
How long is "long term"? According to venture capitalist and podcast host David Sacks — as well as others — "long term" would equal approximately 10 years and cost upwards of $1 trillion.
Clearly, for a number of defense contractors in our nation and in Europe, Ukraine has become the gift that keeps on giving. But when does a never-ending supply of taxpayer money begin to resemble "fraud, waste and abuse"? Some would certainly say now, as hundreds of millions of dollars have already disappeared down various rat holes in Ukraine with no accountability.
Next, at what point do the billions and billions of aid pouring into Ukraine begin to resemble the world's largest Ponzi scheme? One definition of that age-old scam is a form of fraud that pays profits to earlier investors with funds from more recent investors. Except in this case, the "earlier" and "more recent" investors are not doing so of their own volition. Their various governments are deciding for them, as they take their hard-earned money and turn it over by the billions to Ukraine or, quite possibly, criminal enterprises.
The grift in this case can sound very much like this: "We have to prop up Ukraine now by sending hundreds of billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars, so we won't have to send in U.S. troops later." Gee, and just who would be ordering those troops into combat in Ukraine?
Going back to Kennedy's warning, we now seem to be — without anyone asking for our approval — engaging in a game of nuclear "chicken" with Putin and Russia over Ukraine. Insane hubris at the least.
As RFK Jr. posted: "British Foreign Secretary David Cameron recently stated that Ukraine has the right to use British weapons to strike Russia. In return, Moscow warned the British ambassador that that would provoke Russian retaliation against London." The New York Times reported last week that the U.S. secretly shipped ATACM missiles to Ukraine that can strike deep into Russian territory; not by coincidence, Russia announced training maneuvers using tactical nuclear weapons.
Does any of that make your blood run cold? It should.
None of the experts I have spoken with over the course of the last two years believe Ukraine can win this war. It's long past the time to blow the whistle on the Ponzi scheme, end the game of nuclear "chicken" and enter into a negotiated settlement.
At some point, Putin is sure to tire of the game and drive straight into the oncoming vehicle. What then will be the literal fallout from that explosion?
Douglas MacKinnon, a political and communications consultant, was a writer in the White House for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, and former special assistant for policy and communications at the Pentagon during the last three years of the Bush administration.
Tags
Who is online
443 visitors
Defense contractors (especially retired generals) have been grifting on war since before the Roman Empire ruled Europe. This is ancient news that really only serves as a distraction.
Biden screwed the pooch; either through ignorance, incompetence, or narcissism. Biden was warning about a Russian invasion of Ukraine for months and them promptly fell down and couldn't get up. Biden intentionally broke promises, deployed worthless neoliberal financial weapons, and deliberately undermined any possibility of managing the situation diplomatically. Biden led the country into another quagmire but, as usual, the burden falls onto the backs of taxpayers.
Biden's written blank checks just to score political points so we can't even guess how much this is going to cost the country. Thanks, Joe, you've done a botched up job.
Anyone who can't immediately be able to answer that question should go back to school (but not in the USA).
But who remembers the Prague Spring and Leonid Brezhnev's invasion of Czechoslovakia? 1968 was a long time ago for most but not for Joe Biden. The American electorate was distracted by southeast Asia. The Cold War was a little too hot in 1968 and the US was dealing with the consequences of another weak President whose competence was being questioned. That President led the US down the path of political stunt policymaking.
Czechoslovakia allowed Europe to politically compete with southeast Asia for access to the US treasury. There were demands for the United States to strengthen NATO -- with nukes. Europe peed it's pants and demanded protection until Czechoslovakia finally partitioned itself in a spate of genocidal bigotry for which Europe is historically renowned.
So, what future can we expect for Ukraine?
Thanks for the reminder, although my comment was more inspired by Biden's history of doing whatever it takes to elicit votes, no matter how disgusting and corrupt.
And yet our campuses are strangely silent on this. Maybe because no Jews are involved.
That isn't a 100% accurate, they are silent because the country being destroyed is led by someone of the Jewish faith and a terrorist country is doing the destroying, so it actually fits perfectly with their messaging.
Thanks, I forgot.
Israel is being destroyed?
Since when?
For a country that is being destroyed they are doing a damn good job of fighting a three front war; and opening a fourth front in Syria.
Quick someone tell the Palestinians is the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria they are winning and are about to destroy Israel.
Stop sounding like the Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.
No need to tell them that-- that've been believing that for years!
Maybe because the US government is throwing billions, upon billions, upon billions, upon billions at Ukraine already.
Outside of deploying US troops and starting WWIII what else can be done?
Meanwhile the billions in financial and military aid continue to flow to Israel.
Are we financing Russia? No, we (and all of our allies) have countless sanctions on individuals in Russia, as well as embargos that are destroying their economy.
For the record I don't agree with the "protests" on the college campuses- because they aren't of any help to the Palestinians. Screaming "from the river to the sea"; "we are all Hamas", and "death to Israel and the US" is about as stupid as it gets. Blocking students from classes, taking over buildings, attacking LEO's, blocking traffic- all it does is piss off those affected and turns them against the Palestinians.
A pre-emptive strike....that could be done!
We could nuke Putin before he (and his numerous other allies in this eponymous "World War") before they nuke us first!
(That'll teach 'em!!!
)
And Vladimir Putin is such a nice young man! Why are we so unfairly being such meanies?
I think the American people began to learn on December 7, 1941, that the US cannot remain an isolationist and detached world unto itself. The burden of government stupidity has always fallen on the backs of the taxpayers and ordinary citizens, regardless of which party is in power. A wistful longing and nostalgia for the peaceful 50's simply doesn't work in today's world.
You mean the peaceful 1950s of the Korean War that killed 36,000 conscripted American troops? That peaceful decade? The threat of nuclear weapons played a large part in selling the Korean War, too.
Joe Biden was born 11 months after Pearl Harbor. Joe Biden is older than the Korean War, too. So, why is Biden trying to start a new one? Ignorance, incompetence, wishful thinking, or just plain 'don't give a shit'? Your pick.
Money from Ukraine that flowed to his family members didn't hurt either.
Link?
Two pounds of sausage comin' up. Joe Biden's birthdate in 1942 is indisputable; it's on his birth certificate. (There ya go, a chance to sling birther hash.)
In the case of the Korean War, an ally that wasn't was invaded by the evil empire and the United States jumped in to defend democracy and the American Way of Life in a country that knew neither. Bombs were dropped, shells were fired, property was destroyed, people were killed, and lots of money was spent. Neither side won and neither side lost. And the United States is still defending a red line on the map 70 years later. Thank the American taxpayer.
The war in Ukraine started in 2014 when a puppet government began a civil war. Yes, Russia had annexed Crimea but the response of the puppet government in Kiev was to promptly send tanks into eastern Ukraine to kill Ukrainians. If there had been new elections without dividing the country then the puppet government might not have survived democracy. Obama couldn't have that; he needed a revolution to succeed after the failed Syrian Arab Spring. The puppet government in Kiev fought the people of Ukraine to a standstill over the next eight years.
Then along came 2022, an incompetent American President, and Russia invading Ukraine. (Playing the same part the US played in Korea, btw.) And Russia has rescued the Ukrainians under attack by the puppet government in Kiev. Now we're waiting for the red lines on the map to show where the demilitarized zone will be. Again, thank the American taxpayer.
Ah yes-- all that nostalgia, all those memories of peace and brotherhood of the peaceful 1950s-- we remember it well!
And especially the wistful longing and nostalgia for the extremely peaceful 50's!
(Oh-- did I forget to mention-- the extreme peaceful wistfulness and nostalgia for the peacefullness of it all!)
The Korean War was fought between North Korea and South Korea from 1950 to 1953.
Pyongyang launched an invasion of South Korea on 25 June 1950.
T he United Nations Security Council denounced the attack and recommended countries to repel the North Korean army (KPA) under the United Nations Command. [
UN forces comprised twenty-one countries, with the United States providing around 90% of the military personnel.
The conflict displaced milions of people, inflicted around 3 million fatalities and a larger proportion of civilian deaths than World War II or the Vietnam War.
Alleged war crimes include the killing of suspected communists by the South Korean government and the torture and starvation of prisoners of war by the North Koreans.
Ah yes, the piece of shit United Nations chooses its heroes to defend now with Gaza just as it did back then with SK. To think that 71 years ago I toured the Manhattan UN building, watched the iconic Krishna Menon speak, and dreamed that it was an organization delivered by God to end all wars and bring peace to the world. Oh, how much wiser I am now that I am older - never mind that Bob Dylan wrote and sang "But I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now" because in fact I'm a lot smarter than that now. It would be no loss to the world today if that same UN building were to be bulldozed into the East River while occupied by the UN executives and staff and representatives of the 140 nations that favour terrorists over the peaceful.
(JAYSUS CHRIST) Why should any generation born after 1964 listen to any of the silent pre WW2 ,war baby's 41-45, early boomer 46- 55, or boomer 2.0 55-65, when those generations pretty much ran shit into the ground while they had control?
Even though I fall into the boomer 2.0 I am so glad to actually have been born in the last 2 yrs so I'm more of a trans generational proto gen x, because that's who I identify more with. Not a boomer and not a gen x.
So to the above generations , sit down , pet your pussies , talk to your parakeets, and drink your metamusile, those that came after you , don't care what you of the me generations have to say, you already fucked things up enough with the choices you have made.
Yeah but it’s no mow May man …… it’s all good.
Fook tha, I'm mowin anyway. And stay off muh grass.
lol ….. twice so far fer me
Hi Ho, Hi Ho,
Its off to work we go.
Ninety-nine bottle of beer on the wall!
Link?
NATO and the U.S. need to decide if they actually "stand with the Ukraine" or not
As the U.S. learned in Vietnam and elsewhere in order to be successful in a combat/war situation like this you must be "all in" or "not in at all"
jmo
It's long past time for the US to lift its ban on using U.S.-made weapons to strike inside Russia.
You are another one that wants to find out if the Fallout series can occur in real life.
Hard pass for me. Liked the Fallout tv series. Was an avid player of the Fallout game series.
But really don't want to find out if humanity can survive nuclear holocaust. I am betting it doesn't.
I'm not talking about striking Moscow.
The Russians had a free pass at marshalling supplies and massing forces just across the border before launching their major march toward Kharkiv.
Ukraine and we saw them getting ready but Ukraine had no weapons that they were allowed to use that could reach the Russians. Russia of course operates without any such restrictions.
Way I heard, that restriction was lifted Weds 5/15/24.
It is now for Ukraine to decide when and where to strike.
What's the point in betting?
Even if you win-- we will all be dead, LOL!
You are another one that wants to find out if the Fallout series can occur in real life.
Actually aren't you both?
I think you entirely & completely missed the point-- he wasn't advocating the use of nuclear weapons!
I haven’t seen that.
Germany could provide Ukraine with the Taurus middle with its longer range.
In any case Russia doesn’t warrant troop sanctuary near their border.
European countries are already out. They cannot even meet the obligations of what they have promised. They will saber rattle and talk tough; then call Brandon screaming asking why the US let it get to this point; and what we are planning to do about it?
Russia's military was degraded long ago. Tanks are being taken out of moth balls and sent to the front lines; the number 2 arms dealer in the world being reduce to buying munitions, missiles, and drones from North Korea, China, and Iran. Their troops demoralized and surrendering. Yet now they are winning?
Ukraine fucked up; and did so on purpose. They have broadened the war by attacking Russia forces (the Wagner Group in particular) all over the world. They have launched drone and missile strikes against Russian oil refineries; hit Putin's residence; and are shelling Russian border towns with Ukraine. Seems Zelenskyy never studied history- never attack mother Russia. Napoleon and Hitler will both attest to that. Now Ukraine is losing no matter how much advanced weapons the US sends them. The Russian meat grinder is running at full force- chewing up Ukraine and Russian troops at a record setting pace. Ukraine is running out of people willing to fight; and foreigners aren't volunteering any longer.
Unless Zelenskyy forces the US to enter the war it will only be a matter of time before Ukraine loses. Guess he should have been negotiating in earnest when Ukraine was holding the upper hand and Russian troops were retreating on all fronts. That will teach him to listen to Brandon.
Only problem with your analogy is that Vietnam, North Korea, Afghanistan, etc didn't have nuclear weapons. All in on Ukraine means the end of the world. Putin isn't bluffing. He wasn't bluffing about Ukraine not joining NATO either- like so many thought. But keep poking the Russian bear and find out for sure.
Totally false> They are 100% committed.
(After all if Putin wants to conquer another country after Ukraine, his next move will be to strike another one in Europe-- and they know that!
Maybe it's time to reconsider China's 12-point diplomatic solution, since it's time to realize that as it is going, if not ended by the end of all life on Earth by the Russians, it's going to cost the western world's taxpayers lots and lots for years to come. Is that the price the western taxpayers (yes, you Americans are very much included in enabling the arms manufacturers to all buy Rolls Royces and hire chauffeurs) want to pay for the rest of your lives? Biden could threaten Zelenskyy like he is doing to Israel to cut off military aid in order to turn the trick. Maybe instead of sucking c***s it will earn him some votes.
You know China is supplying the Russian military expansion, right?
Could you remind me again of the other 10 points, for some reason, all that comes to mind is a ceasefire and the lifting of sanctions against Russia....
You can't prove that, so why say it - oh, of course, it's just part of your usual life's goal of demonizing China. Know what, you're just wasting your time because you can't prevent the inevitable.
Everything i wrote is uncontested. It's widely reported by media across the ideological spectrum.
Know what, you're just wasting your time because you can't prevent the inevitable.
china's got about ten years until their aging population and demographic collapse begins their inevitable decline. They are about to pay the piper for the one child policy with an economic fiasco. India is a much greater long term rival.
I thought I was the only one who didn't have access to Google.
Yes, you might have some success in roadblocking China's advances, but down the road, India will most likely come out the top dog. Personally, I really don't care. I'm very happy where I am and I assume you are where you are.
I think the only thing keeping Ukraine from joining NATO currently, is the ongoing conflict about its borders.
Thing is the supposed rule about not being able to join while in conflict can be waived, it just takes a unanimous vote of current member states and the process can go forward.
I don't think that would happen with current members, there are a couple pro Putin puffers in the membership.
I also think Russia is being given too much credit on what they might be able to do because of the ghost of the former USSR. Current day Russia is nothing like nor in the same position of that extinct state.
I'm not too concerned about the nuke capability because they can't use them for a number of reasons.
They use them in Ukraine , and they make the territory they are trying to grab unusable and the resources it contains , they won't even be able to repopulate it .
Weather patterns show the fall out will fall on their only ally in the area and themselves as well as other countries that won't take kindly to it themselves whom are not even involved currently.
So use of nukes is a lose, lose for them .
For those that wish to say Ukraine's going to lose, I point out they were suppose to lose 10 yrs ago, and they were suppose to lose just over 2 yrs ago and only going to last 3 days to a week.
Yet here we are with the bullshite restrictions on their use of defense lifted going into the 3rd year.
I think the little mongoloid tsar wannabe wearing the bearskin rug bit off more than he could chew.
Slava Ukraini
Exactly!
(Nice to see people here who understand the situation rather than just mimiking Putin's nasty propaganda!)
Sooo we should reward Russian aggression?
Shouldn't that have been addressed before the invasion? After all, Russia did not engage in a sneak attack. Months before Russia's aggression, Biden was sounding the alarm and promising no US troops would fight. The United States was not leading before the invasion so why should the United States be leading now?
Joe Biden wanted the war in Ukraine. Biden could have taken fairly simple steps to avoid the war. But Biden did the exact opposite by promising Russia that Ukraine would be fighting on its own.