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We’re Headed Toward Armageddon

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“Ukraine is already a de facto member of NATO.” — Oleksii Reznikov, Defense Minister of Ukraine

If reports are correct that modern Western weapon systems are slated to pour into Ukraine–the latest US and German tanks, Patriot missile systems, and other current weaponry–Minister Reznikov is correct.

These weapons imply that Ukraine has enough soldiers left to use them. It will require months to prepare Ukraine for these weapons. A logistical system is necessary for the delivery, maintenance, and protection of the weaponry from Russian air and missile attack. This will require US/NATO personnel on the ground in Ukraine if the weapons are to be effectively used.

In other words, the “limited military operation” has widened into a war between the US/NATO/Ukraine and Russia.

Apparently, it is going to be a war without a NATO declaration of war. The reason is that if all the weaponry promised is delivered, NATO and the US will be without fighting ability except in Ukraine where the weapons will be located. Russia could, if she had the leadership, simply sweep through weapons-depleted Baltics and Finland around Germany into France and circle back to Serbia, leaving East and West Europe cut off and surrounded. But this would make the war officially one with NATO, and the US would have to use its only means–nuclear weapons.

So it looks as if Russia will continue to pretend that there is only a limited military operation, and US/NATO will continue to pretend that the weapons are just aid to Ukraine.

A Russian military operation that the Kremlin should have completed in a few days eight years ago has now, once belatedly begun, extended another year. The consequence of the Kremlin’s unpreparedness and endless delay is a full-fledged involvement of US/NATO in the war with the aim of retaking Donbass and Crimea from Russia. The increased Ukrainian firepower means far more Russian casualties, and Washington’s involvement has passed the threshold at which Washington can accept a Russian victory.

It short, the Kremlin has blown its opportunity, and we are headed toward Armageddon.

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Paul Craig Roberts, a former Assistant Secretary of the US Treasury and former associate editor of the Wall Street Journal, has been reporting shocking cases of prosecutorial abuse for two decades. A new edition of his book, The Tyranny of Good Intentions, co-authored with Lawrence Stratton, a documented account of how Americans lost the protection of law, has been released by Random House. Visit his website.

Permission to reprint Dr. Roberts’ columns does not imply that Dr. Roberts endorses the websites or media organizations that republish his columns or that he approves of the content of the websites, media outlets or books that republish his columns.

Copyright © Paul Craig Roberts

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China and NATO Agree: Dangerous to Depend on Each Other

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China is vulnerable to international restrictions on its ability to import vital supplies “once the international situation changes,” a senior official fears.

“China has a high degree of foreign dependence on some important mineral resources, and once the international situation changes, it will certainly affect economic security or even national security,” Chinese Natural Resources Minister Wang Guanghua told state media, per a South China Morning Post translation.

The widespread sentiment has emerged as a paradoxical point of consensus between Beijing and Western capitals, in part due to Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping’s high-profile alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the days before Russia launched the campaign to overthrow the Ukrainian government.

“It is dangerous to depend on authoritarian regimes. It was not long ago that many believed that buying gas from Russia was purely a commercial matter,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday at a Norwegian business conference. “We must not repeat this mistake with other authoritarian regimes, not least China.” (Read more from “China and NATO Agree: Dangerous to Depend on Each Other” HERE)

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NATO Facing ‘Very Real’ Arms Shortage Due to Ukraine War

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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) arms stockpile is dwindling due to the Russia-Ukraine war, according to a U.S. ambassador.

Ambassador Julianne Smith, permanent U.S. representative to NATO, made the comments during an interview Tuesday with Dr. Kathleen McInnis, a senior fellow in the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ International Security Program.

“This is a very serious challenge, both for NATO allies that are giving serious commitment, significant military assistance/lethal assistance to the Ukrainian military forces, but it is a significant challenge for the Ukrainian military forces themselves that are facing shortfalls and declining stockpiles,” said Smith, who was appointed in November 2021.

She said there are efforts taking place among myriad entities and organizations to increase stockpiles. (Read more from “NATO Facing ‘Very Real’ Arms Shortage Due to Ukraine War” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

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War Could ‘Spin Out of Control’, NATO Chief Warns – As Zelenskyy Says Russians Have ‘Destroyed’ Bakhmut, Nuclear Risks Skyrocket

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By Sky News. Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of the military alliance, today warned that fighting in Ukraine could spin out of control – and become a war between Russia and NATO. . .

He added: “It is a terrible war in Ukraine. It is also a war that can become a full-fledged war that spreads into a major war between NATO and Russia.

“We are working on that every day to avoid that.”

Mr Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway, added that “there is no doubt that a full-fledged war is a possibility,” saying it is important to avoid a conflict “that involves more countries in Europe and becomes a full-fledged war in Europe.”

The Kremlin has accused NATO allies of effectively becoming a party to the conflict by providing Ukraine with weapons, training its troops and feeding military intelligence to attack Russian forces. (Read more from “Ukraine War Latest: War Could ‘Spin Out of Control’, NATO Chief Warns – As Zelenskyy Says Russians Have ‘Destroyed’ Bakhmut” HERE)

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After U.S. Approves Ukrainian Drone Strikes Deep Into Russia, Putin Officials Warn of Nuclear War Risk

By Will Stewart and Abul Taher. Vladimir Putin’s henchmen warned last night that the fighting in Ukraine could escalate into an ‘all-out nuclear war’ after America gave Ukraine the green light to launch drone strikes deep inside Russia.

The Russian officials were responding to reports that the Pentagon had told Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky that he can launch the attacks within Russia, which the US previously advised against, fearing an all-out war between Russia and Nato.

One source in Putin’s circle said last night: ‘This is playing with fire, risking full-scale war which could easily go nuclear.’

Another said: ‘Who will now give Moscow the green light for strikes against Ukrainian decision-making centres?’ (Read more about the Ukraine war going nuclear HERE).

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U.S. Defense Secretary Announces that Russia is Rapidly Modernizing, Expanding its Nuclear Arsenal

By Christine Fernando. Russia is “modernizing and expanding its nuclear arsenal,” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned in remarks Friday.

“As the Kremlin continues its cruel and unprovoked war of choice against Ukraine, the whole world has seen Putin engage in deeply irresponsible nuclear saber-rattling,” Austin said at a ceremony for the new commander of the U.S. Strategic Command.

With close to 6,000 warheads, Russia has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world, according to Reuters. The U.S. and Russia together hold about 90% of the world’s nuclear warheads, the news wire reported.

Russia has previously said it will prioritize building its nuclear infrastructure in 2023. But this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed concerns he would use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. He said his reminders about Russia’s nuclear weapon arsenal are a “factor of deterrence” rather than one of escalation. (Read more about the risk of the Ukraine war going nuclear HERE)

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Iran Is Now Putin’s ‘Top Military Backer’, US and UK Warn

By Independent UK. The British defence ministry today reiterated the Biden administration’s claims that Iran has become one of Russia’s ‘top military backers’ since Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

It warned that Tehran’s support to the Russian military is likely to “grow in the coming months”.

(Read more from “Iran Is Now Putin’s ‘Top Military Backer’, US and UK Warn” HERE)

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Zelensky Almost Plunged Us All Into World War III — Again. Enough Already.; Zelensky Insists Missile That Hit Poland Was Not Ukrainian; NATO Row Breaks Out as Zelensky Savaged for ‘Destructive Lies’

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By Daily Wire. On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sounded the alarm and called upon NATO allies to finally, directly, enter the war after an alleged Russian missile hit a Polish town, killing two people and causing destruction.

It turns out that Zelensky — who has bilked billions of dollars from the West, especially the U.S. — was wrong in his assessment. Authorities now say that it looks likely that it wasn’t a Russian weapon at all, but a Ukrainian one fired in self-defense that accidentally landed over the border. Regardless, Zelensky was quick to jump the gun and conclude that it was indeed Russia.

The question, then, is why do we trust this nutcase banging the war drums anymore? . . .

Since Poland is a NATO country, measures could be triggered that would have forced all NATO allies to defend Poland against Russia — thus starting World War III. . .

This isn’t the first time the Ukrainian president has acted wildly. Zelensky has also called upon the U.S. and other nations to establish a “no-fly zone” over Ukraine — which would have required Western nations to shoot down Russian aircraft, thus escalating the conflict even more. (Read more from “Zelensky Almost Plunged Us All Into World War III — Again. Enough Already.” HERE)

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NATO Row Breaks Out as Zelensky Savaged for ‘Destructive Lies’

By Express UK. NATO and Ukraine found themselves at odds at an urgent meeting on Wednesday, it has been revealed, as Volodymyr Zelensky said he had “no doubt” a missile that killed two people after landing in Poland near the Ukrainian border was not of Ukrainian origin. NATO, Warsaw and the US all said they believed the missile was “likely” fired by Ukraine in order to defend themselves against Russian missiles, with the alliance’s secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg making clear that it was “not Ukraine’s fault”, as the firing of the missile was “the direct result” of Putin’s invasion of the country. . .

But Mr Zelensky would not budge on the issue, insisting that a report he received from the incident left him certain that it was “not our missile or our missile strike”.

His statements have reportedly irked at least one Kyiv-based diplomat from a NATO country, who told the Financial Times: “This is getting ridiculous. The Ukrainians are destroying [our] confidence in them. Nobody is blaming Ukraine and they are openly lying. This is more destructive than the missile.”

NATO countries were called to an emergency meeting last night after a missile landed in the Polish village of Przewodów, near the Ukrainian border, during a mass air strike by Russia in which they unleashed over 100 missiles into Ukrainian cities, targeting civilian infrastructure. (Read more from “NATO Row Breaks Out as Zelensky Savaged for ‘Destructive Lies’” HERE)

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Zelensky Insists Missile That Hit Poland Was Not Ukrainian

By The Hill. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted on Wednesday that a missile believed to be fired over the Poland-Ukraine border that killed two people was not Ukrainian.

“I have no doubt that it was not our missile or our missile strike,” Zelensky told Ukrainian news outlets, adding, “I want us to be fair, and if it was the use of our air defense, then I want that evidence.”

Zelensky also said he believes Ukraine should be part of the investigation into the missile blast.

A missile strike killed two people in a Polish village near the country’s border with Ukraine on Tuesday. Initial reports suggested that the missile was Russian, raising concerns of a potential escalation of war with other countries amid the conflict in Ukraine.

However, Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Wednesday that the strike appeared to be accidental and said it was “highly probable” that it was the result of a Ukrainian air defense missile. (Read more from “Zelensky Insists Missile That Hit Poland Was Not Ukrainian” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

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Why Ukraine in NATO Could Be a Nuclear Nightmare for America

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In Washington, D.C., the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is the equivalent of a foreign policy holy sacrament. To listen to many policymakers and foreign policy commentators, you would think NATO is as essential to America as our Constitution, apple pie, or baseball.

Questioning its continued utility in the post-Cold War era — or its further expansion — elicits accusations of being everything from un-American to a Putin stooge. This has made it almost impossible to have a substantive discussion about a military alliance designed to deter the threat of the Soviet Union — a country that hasn’t existed for more than 30 years.

Look no further than the fact that only one senator, Josh Hawley, voted against the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO in June. Hawley rightly questioned whether it was wise to extend America’s security umbrella to two wealthy European welfare states that have been safe and secure as neutral nations for more than 70 years, especially considering other pressing challenges at home and abroad. The bipartisan vitriol hurled at Hawley for his reasonable stance showed that Washington is far from ready to discuss the future of the NATO alliance like adults.

This wasn’t always the case. The United States was a nation founded on a suspicion of permanent alliances, especially with Europe. George Washington in his farewell address advised “to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world…” and specifically against “interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe.” This approach to alliances guided American foreign policy for most of our history and kept us out of the chaos of 19th-century Europe.

There is good reason for our leaders to revisit the wise words of our first president. Just last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded an accelerated accession to NATO, claiming that Ukraine is already a de facto member of the alliance. Due to the collective defense obligations of NATO members spelled out in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, this could mean committing America’s sons and daughters to fight in an ongoing war with a nuclear-armed Russia. (Read more from “Why Ukraine in NATO Could Be a Nuclear Nightmare for America” HERE)

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Experts: Putin Might Be Saving Aerial Firepower for Attack on NATO

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NATO released a report Wednesday suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin might be saving his aerial firepower amid the war in Ukraine for a potential attack on NATO nations.

The NATO Defense College’s brief, “Russia’s military after Ukraine: down but not out,” outlines Russia’s resources amid losses in its current “special military operation” in Ukraine.

“Russia has not utilized its full military potential in the attack against Ukraine,” the analysis read. “It did not order general mobilization. Maintaining the ability to engage, if needed, in operations against NATO may explain some of the characteristics and ‘surprises’ of the Russian war against Ukraine, for example the limited use of airpower, gradual deployment of older and less precise weapon systems, or what appear to be subdued attacks in cyberspace.

“The official Russian narrative is almost always defensive, but the essence of Moscow’s approach is to change the status quo. In this context, an attack against a NATO country remains a possibility.”

Military experts have long warned that Putin’s designs on Ukraine might extend to other former Soviet Union nations, including those that have already been given defense assurances through NATO. (Read more from “Experts: Putin Might Be Saving Aerial Firepower for Attack on NATO” HERE)

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NATO Gets a Big New Border With Russia in Major Expansion

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Sweden and Finland took another step toward joining NATO on Tuesday after the 30-country alliance formally signed off on their membership bids and set the stage to bring the long-neutral Nordic nations into the fold within a matter of months.

NATO’s rapid decision to welcome two more members — a move driven by Moscow’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February and fears that war could spread throughout Europe — also carries a host of unanswered questions, including the financial tab that the U.S. will be expected to pick up to secure Finland’s 833-mile border with Russia. It’s also not clear when or whether Finland or Sweden would contribute troops to missions outside their borders as part of a forward-deployed NATO force in Poland, the Baltics or other areas at greatest risk of a Russian attack.

Those questions will be debated in the capitals of NATO nations over the coming weeks. All 30 countries must formally sign off on the membership approval process, though that is expected to be little more than a formality for the vast majority of countries. Denmark and Canada reportedly endorsed the moves on Tuesday, just hours after NATO offered its stamp of approval in Brussels.

The expansion effort could hit a roadblock with Turkey, which has misgivings about Sweden’s and Finland’s commitments to crack down on Kurdish rebel groups that Ankara considers to be terrorists.

NATO leaders mostly brushed aside those questions Tuesday in favor of celebrating the alliance’s most significant expansion initiative in two decades. (Read more from “NATO Gets a Big New Border With Russia in Major Expansion” HERE)

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Biden Doesn’t Even Know Which Country He’s Talking About in Latest Gaffe

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. . .President Biden announced Thursday that he had called the leader of Switzerland to discuss abandoning two centuries of neutrality to join NATO — before quickly correcting himself to say he actually meant Sweden.

“Some of the American press will remember when I got a phone call from the leader of Finland saying could he come and see me, then he came the next day and said, ‘Will you support my joining — my country joining NATO?’ We got the telephone. He suggested we call the leader of Switzerland,” Biden said.

The president immediately fixed his mistake, adding, “Switzerland, my goodness, I’m getting really anxious here about expanding NATO — of Sweden.”

Biden was speaking at a press conference in Madrid following a NATO summit at which Finland and Sweden were officially invited to join the military alliance in response to the more than four-month-old Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Sweden had been neutral in Europe’s various military engagements since the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s, during which it had lost control of Finland to Russia. (Read more from “Biden Doesn’t Even Know Which Country He’s Talking About in Latest Gaffe” HERE)

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Pope Francis Says NATO Started War in Ukraine by ‘Barking at Putin’s Door’

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Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Pope Francis has floated the idea that he wants to take a trip to Kyiv to try to broker a ceasefire. But now he says he would prefer to go to Moscow to try to talk some sense into Vladimir Putin, who he has not outwardly condemned in the now nearly three-month-old war and only did so lightly in a lengthy interview with an Italian newspaper.

“I feel that before going to Kyiv, I must go to Moscow,” he told Corriere Della Sera in an interview that ran Tuesday. But the meeting would not exactly be to condemn Putin, based on what he told the paper. He said that the real “scandal” of Putin’s war is “NATO barking at Russia’s door,” which he said caused the Kremlin to “react badly and unleash the conflict.” . . .

“I don’t know how to answer—I’m too far away—the question of whether it is right to supply the Ukrainians,” he told the paper. “The clear thing is that weapons are being tested there. The Russians now know that tanks are of little use and are thinking of other things. This is why wars are waged: to test the weapons we have produced. Few people are fighting this trade, but more should be done.” . . .

Francis veered toward conspiracy theory as he blamed the international community for instigating the war. “You cannot think that a free state can make war on another free state,” he said. “In Ukraine, it seems that it was others who created the conflict. I am pessimistic but we must do everything possible to stop the war.” The pope then said that in a state visit to Rome by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, he was told “the Russians have a plan, that everything will end on May 9” without giving any further explanation. May 9 is the day Russia celebrates its liberation and the end of World War II. (Read more from “Pope Francis Says NATO Started War in Ukraine by ‘Barking at Putin’s Door’” HERE)

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