As I was driving in to work this morning, I heard an NPR interview in which were made what struck me as the most delusional comments I’ve heard from an American politician or military figure in some time. They were from Gen. Philip Breedlove, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
The first statement that I questioned was his assertion that Russian President Putin has stepped up Russia’s activities in Syria for the express purpose of distracting Western attention from what’s going on in Ukraine. I’m not making this up. That’s what he said.
Here’s why I question it. Russia’s relationship with Syria goes much farther back than Russia’s annexing the Crimean peninsula or backing anti-government rebels in Ukraine. Russia has interests in Syria—following the ouster of Moammar Qaddaffi in Libya, Syria was Russia’s sole remaining client in MENA.
His second remark that astonished me was his assertion that for twenty years the U. S. has been trying to cultivate Russia as a partner. How do
- Recruiting Warsaw Pact countries into NATO
- Recruiting former Soviet republics into NATO
- Encouraging countries that were historically part of Russia (Ukraine) into NATO
- The European Interceptor Shield that was planned to be installed in Poland
- Aiding Libyan rebels in overthrowing Russian client Moammar Qaddaffi
- Supporting rebels who oppose the Syrian government
figure in that cultivation? I find the Russian view on this much more credible: for the last twenty years we’ve been going out of our way to snub, antagonize, and counter Russia.
I realize that Gen Breedlove is privy to many more intelligence sources than I am but really.
First, you need to check your health insurance to see if ear wax removal is covered. Maybe it is just me, but this seems tame compared to some of the nonsense they spout.
In Libya, existing Russian contracts and agreements were torn-up, and the Europeans excluded Russia from any future activity in their new colony. The Russians were determined to not allow a repeat of their Libyan mistake.
In Ukraine, the democratically elected leader was overthrown and replaced. This was a coup, and the US is backing an illegal junta.
In Syria, there was an attempt to overthrow the democratically elected leader. This coup failed, and the US is backing the illegal insurgents in the civil war, and to increase the insanity, the US is arming the same terrorists that attacked the US on 9/11. The reason is because they changed their name, and they swear they like the US. (I am sure they would never lie to further the jihad. These are the good terrorists.)
What I find really amazing is that nobody has a problem with the Germans being within the wire. Of the Europeans, the Germans are the last group you want to allow access into your secure areas. The Germans are batshit crazy – always have been and always will be. They are the bi-polar country of Europe, and it is just a matter of time before they go into their mania phase, again.
When Germany goes batshit crazy again, Russia controlling the Balkan States will not seem such a bad thing, and unless the EU adds lithium to the drinking water, the Germans cannot help themselves. (This pre-dates the 20th century.)
Russia has an inferiority complex, but they are not that good at building things. The Germans have a superiority complex, and they are good at building things. They are also ruthless. Those who think the Greeks got what they deserved might want to reconsider allowing the Germans to be judge, jury, and executioner.
Breedlove is literally insane. He lives in a fantasy land where up is down and black is white. That he is top NATO commander is an indictment of our military. He and his Pentagon colleagues are an extreme threat to our survival.
The first statement that I questioned was his assertion that Russian President Putin has stepped up Russia’s activities in Syria for the express purpose of distracting Western attention from what’s going on in Ukraine.
I’ve heard many people make this statement. I think it’s nonsense, but it’s a bit of popular nonsense at the moment.
Breedlove’s second assertion above sounds more like propaganda. They’ll point to stuff like all the Harvard guys helping the Russians with their economy in the 1990s (you know, the Harvard guys that helped the first set of oligarchs rob Russia blind), the program to help the Russians get rid of a lot of their old nukes & missiles, and the ongoing operations around the space station (the other ISIS). Any good lie has some elements of truth in it.
TB wrote: In Syria, there was an attempt to overthrow the democratically elected leader.
Okay, calling Assad democratically elected is a bit much.
Sykes wrote: That he is top NATO commander is an indictment of our military. He and his Pentagon colleagues are an extreme threat to our survival.
He’s merely spouting the company line at this point. Obama has been in office almost seven years now, and has the commanders he wants and is comfortable with. And given what has come out recently about intel analysts having their reports doctored so that the White House can be told what it wants to hear, you can be certain that the top military brass has views similar to those of the President. They know where their bread and butter comes from.
@Icepick
Syria had an election. Syrians voted. Assad won.
What the Syrians consider democracy is not my concern. As long as they leave me alone, I have no problem leaving them alone.
The same people who want to get Russia out of Syria at all costs are the same people that wanted to get Russia out of Afghanistan at all costs. The cost in Afghanistan was al-Qaeda, 9/11, the Twin Towers, and 3,000 civilian lives.
They play games with words to twist concepts to their purposes. Many of them do this unintentionally and unknowingly, but that is not my problem. When you play games with words to twist concepts to your purposes, you should know what you are doing.
They are petulant brats who throw a temper tantrum whenever they cannot get their way. I am just poking them with a stick. When they do get their way, they refuse to take responsibility for the ensuing disasters.
A longstanding conceit of NATO and Atlanticists, generally, is that, since we’re the good guys, no one should consider anything we do threatening. Encroaching further into Russia’s Near Abroad isn’t antagonistic to Russia, you see, it’s just making Europe Whole, Free, and at Peace.
The main goal of US foreign policy for several past generations is, prevent an alliance between Germany and Russia/USSR.
This in itself demonstrates that beginning at latest in 1933, the US government effectively was “un-American” the victim of a Revolution.
Authentic Euro-American geopolitical imperatives do not rule out the formation of an Empire, but it would have gone south, not across the ocean to dominate, vitiate and now all but destroy, replacing Beethoven with Bieber and Mozart with Macklemore what was our mother spiritual Civilization.