Russia

Russia’s envoy to NATO has warned that the alliance’s increased military buildup in the Black Sea region could lead to a cold war situation. Alexander Grushko made his comments after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg promised to fortify its military presence in the region, to counter so-called ‘Russian aggression.’ Grushko said that Moscow will take “all necessary measures” to protect its national interests in the Black Sea. MSN reports: “All these decisions will be subject of thorough analysis.

Submitted by Howard Kunstler via Kunstler.com,

The gaslighting of the American public continues, with Gaslighter-in-Chief, The New York Times, whipping up a frenzy of Russia paranoia.*

It reminds me of an old gambit in fly fishing called the “artificial hatch.” Trout like to gorge on mayfly nymphs as they rise out of a stream and shuck their nymphal shells to fly away as winged adults. The bugs do this in bunches, at a particular time of day, according to sub-species. This “hatch” drives the trout into a feeding frenzy.

Authored by Pepe Escobar, originally posted at SputnikNews.com,

The tawdry Michael Flynn soap opera boils down to the CIA hemorrhaging leaks to the company town newspaper, leading to the desired endgame: a resounding victory for hardcore neocon/neoliberalcon US Deep State factions in one particular battle. But the war is not over; in fact it’s just beginning.

Former liberal congressman and presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich said Tuesday:

What’s at the core of this is an effort by some in the intelligence community to upend any positive relationship between the U.S. and Russia. And I tell you there’s a marching band and Chowder Society out there. There’s gold in them there hills. There are people trying to separate the U.S. and Russia so that this military industrial intel axis can cash in.

 

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President Trump’s defense secretary has said that he did not see possible military collaboration with Russia. “We are not in a position right now to collaborate on a military level” James Mattis told reporters on Thursday after talks at the NATO headquarters in Brussels. He accused Russia of violating international law, labeling their actions as “aggressive” and “destabilizing.” His comment are perhaps the strongest indication yet from the Trump administration that prospects for any significant cooperation between the U.S. and Russia against ISIS in Syria is unlikely anytime soon.