Russia Bashing at NATO Changing of the Guard Ceremony

by Stephen Lendman

NATO is a US-dominated instrument of war, a killing machine for offense, not defense, at a time world threats are only ones Washington and its allies invent.

From Brussels, US-appointed NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg praised retiring US alliance commander General Philip Breedlove and US General Curtis Scaparrotti replacing him.

He lied, saying Alliance members "face challenges to the east and to our south." He turned truth on its head, claiming NATO "exist(s) for one reason - to keep our people safe."

Saying "NATO is ready and up to the challenge" is code language for endless planned wars of aggression.

Scaparotti distorted truth, claiming the Alliance is "committed to the principles of democracy, individual liberty and rule of law." Its mandate is polar opposite - a killing machine serving US imperial interests.

He said he'll continue where his predecessor left off, adapting to security challenges - despite no threats warranting the NATO's existence. 

It should have been disbanded a generation ago when Soviet Russia dissolved. Instead it provocatively expanded east to its Federation borders. 

Its planned greater military presence requires a Moscow response, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, saying "a number of measures (are being taken) to respond to" NATO's threat.

By yearend, "two new divisions will be formed in the Western Military District and one in the Southern Military District."

Military training and preparedness are increasing, along with production of advanced weapons. Russia threatens no one. Unlike America, it seeks world peace and stability.

Scaparrotti's claim about a "resurgent Russia striving to project itself as a (menacing) world power" is disproved by cold, hard facts.

Calling terrorism a threat ignores its US creation, support and use against sovereign governments Washington wants toppled.

Scaparrotti urged greater militarization "in the spirit of being able to fight tonight if deterrence fails."

Russia's lower house State Duma International Affairs Committee chairman Alexey Pushkov said Scaparrotti's remarks "surpassed his predecessor's in war-mongering."

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained "a resurgent Russia" threatens no other nation, adding Moscow can't ignore any potential threats to its national security. It will continue defending its interests responsibly.

America is the greatest threat to world peace, Russia the best hope to preserve it. The things most people don't know are the most important ones.

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: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

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

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. 

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