Sanctions of Shame

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Overwhelming House and Senate passed sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea is another example of America's deplorable state - run by bipartisan gangsters posing as democrats.

Only five of 535 House and Senate members opposed the measure - illegal, immoral, unethical, and despicable by any standard.

Even if Trump vetoes the bill, unlikely, it won't matter. Congress will override him, making the measure the law of the land - grossly violating fundamental international and constitutional law America doesn't give a damn about.

The so-called "Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act" combined sanctions drafted against the three countries separately into one measure.

It includes sanctions imposed on Russia by Obama's executive orders - in March and December 2014, April 2015, as well as in July and December 2016.

They obstruct bilateral Russia/US military, intelligence, economic and financial cooperation, space activities excluded.

The measure targets Russia's intelligence and defense apparatus, its energy, mining, railways and shipping industries, along with Russian officials wrongfully accused of corruption and human rights abuses.

It requires congressional approval for Trump to alter hardline US policy toward Russia, impossible with near unanimous House and Senate opposition to cooperative bilateral relations on almost everything.

The measure has nothing to do with phony accusations of US election meddling and nonexistent aggression against Ukraine.

It has everything to do with wanting greater access to European markets for US natural gas producers. 

It continues longstanding efforts to contain, marginalize, weaken and isolate Russia, perhaps further hardline steps to follow, shameful Cold War politics, risking things turning hot.

Putin responded sharply to congressional action, calling it "an act of aggravation and exceptional cynicism…an obvious attempt (by Washington) to use its geopolitical advantages in the competitive struggle with the goal of ensuring its economic interests at the expense of its other allies."

It's flagrantly illegal by any standard. Putin vowed never to accept indefensible US actions against Russia.

He's lost patience with Washington's "impudence." He intends an appropriate response at a time of his choosing.

"(T)he sanctions are illegal in terms of international law. They violate the principles of international trade and the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO)," he explained.

US adversarial relations toward Russia are longstanding. No bilateral partnership exists on issues mattering most.

America's deep state wants regime change, Russian sovereignty eliminated, the country transformed into another US vassal state, balkanized for easier control, its resources looted, its people exploited.

Pretending otherwise won't change things. Outreach overtures to a rogue state wanting its own destroyed accomplish nothing.

America can't be trusted. It has interests, not allies, using other nations to further its imperial objectives, aiming for unchallenged global dominance - eliminating Russia as a key rival essential to achieving its goal.

The end game may be catastrophic nuclear war, risking mass annihilation if launched. 

Things seem headed in this direction, an appalling state of affairs.

VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

My newest 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

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.