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September 1, 2008 at 05:24:13

Stoking Tensions, Risking Confrontation: A High Stakes US Gamble with Russia

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By Stephen Lendman (about the author) Page 6 of 6 page(s)

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Counterterrorism and security measures are also mentioned - "to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel or weapons." Clearly Iran is the focus. It follows "Operation Brimstone" in the North Atlantic. Can also apply to Russia, and may be repeated at a future time in the Black Sea - "to increase the security and prosperity of the region by working together for a better future," according to US Naval Forces Central Command. Quite a different way than Iran and Russia see it.

But not Arthur Herman in an August 29 Wall Street Journal op-ed titled: "Russia and the New Axis of Evil." He claims "Russian tanks (are) now presiding over the dismemberment of....Georgia" and asks can the Bush administration "rise to the challenge Russia has chosen to pose to the Free World?" He refers to "democratic governments" in Iraq and Georgia "sandwiched between Iran and Russia, two of the most authoritarian governments in the world" and for good measure adds "Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez" that Russia is "arming" along with Iran.

He calls Iran "the principal threat to peace in Iraq (and) Mr. Chavez's links to the terrorist group FARC (threatening) neighboring Colombia." Iran, Georgia and Colombia "are battlegrounds in a new kind of international conflict that will define our geopolitical future. (It) pits the US and the West against an emerging axis of oil-rich dictatorships....working together to push back against the liberalizing trends of globalization (with) their prime objective (of) toppling or undermining neighboring, pro-Western democracies."

Russia is number one in his sights and allied with "Tehran's mullahs clearly aim to control access to every major source of fossil energy from the western end of the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea." Then add Chavez "hop(ing) for an oil and natural gas monopoly over (his) neighbors like pro-Chavez satellites Bolivia and Ecuador."

Herman puts this kind of material in books and here says "The West has to confront the oil-rich dictatorships, flush with cash, and bent on regional domination." What can the US and a new president do, he asks? He proposes a "broad strategy of targeted economic sanctions and multilateral diplomacy, backed by US military power...." Most important is "to secure democracy's vital new flanks (in) Iraq, Georgia and Colombia (to send) a clear signal that liberty, not tyranny, is the wave of the globalizing future." And for readers who believe that, consider moving to (or even visiting) one of his three favored countries.

Herman is typical of writers getting Wall Street Journal and other hard right op-ed space. He taught history at George Mason University. Also Georgetown and Catholic University and contributes to right wing publications like National Review and Commentary. As well as the Wall Street Journal. He also wrote a revisionist history of Joe McCarthy entitled: "Joseph McCarthy: Reexamining the Life and Legacy of America's Most Hated Senator." In it he claims that given the "communist threat" he got a bum rap even though he vilified innocent people, was a pathological liar, a consummate demagogue, and, according to David Halberstam knew how "to humiliate vulnerable, scared people (and) in the end produced little beyond fear and headlines."

Precisely what Herman and other hawkish writers now do to Russia, Iran, Venezuela and other independent countries unwilling to roll over for Washington. Even at the risk of a catastrophic global conflict no side can win and that all sides will end up paying for dearly.

Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization. He lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Global Research News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Mondays from 11AM - 1PM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests. All programs are archived for easy listening.

http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=10016

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I am a 72 year old, retired, progressive small businessman concerned about all the major national and world issues, committed to speak out and write about them.

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3 comments

francine

Military counselors

I read a lot of German, Brit and French mags every week; according to one of those mags, known to have first hand info not found elsewhere, American military counselors were directly involved in the rocket shelling of Southern Ossetia.

by francine (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 385 comments) on Monday, Sep 1, 2008 at 7:09:58 AM

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Harold Smith

It may be a Neocon psyop to coerce Russia to sell out Iran.

The USraeli Empire's increasing belligerence toward Russia lately may be a case of the Empire posturing itself to offer the Russians a package deal; e.g., we'll back-off if you turn your head while we attack Iran.

And if this is the case, I hope the Russians are smart enough to not take the bait. Selling out Iran now for a little extra safety and security, will merely delay, not prevent, the day the Empire will ultimately come for Russia.

by Harold Smith (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 556 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Sep 1, 2008 at 8:18:36 AM

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Hubert Steed

US-Georgia/Russia War Crimes and State Sponsored Terrorism

Very disappointed in McCain/Obama positions on state sponsored terrorism.

See click here for a more in depth discussion of the US-Georgia/Russia positions on this matter.

From my point of view, just as some are appalled of what Russia has wrought upon Georgia, I'm appalled with what Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili and the Bush/Cheney state terrorists wrought on South Ossetia and the civilized world by attacking and killing South Ossetian civilian populations in the in middle of the night without U.N. sanctions and triggering another war. They precipitated this terrible state of affairs throughout a major part of our world. They should be tried for war crimes.

by Hubert Steed (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 92 comments [15 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Sep 1, 2008 at 4:22:06 PM

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