IPFS

US-Dominated NATO Myths v. Russian Hard Truths

Written by Subject: Imperialism

US-Dominated NATO Myths v. Russian Hard Truths

by Stephen Lendman

In late May, NATO published a propaganda report based on tired old Big Lies. It claimed a nonexistent "illegal (Russian) military intervention in Ukraine" despite no evidence whatever suggesting it - plenty debunking it.

It discussed a menu of what it called myths about NATO/Russian relations - willful Big Lies including denying:

NATO threatens Russia;

encroachment on its borders by systematically encircling its territory with hostile bases and conducting provocative military exercises;

wanting Russia marginalized, contained, isolated, destabilized, weakened, its government replaced by a pro-Western one, and balkanized for easier exploitation and control;

braking its pledge not to expand east;

wanting all former Russian republics and Warsaw Pact countries included in its Alliance;

it's so-called missile defense is for offense targeting Russia and other independent countries;

it wages one direct or proxy war of aggression after another;

planning expanding to a global military alliance - threatening humanity more than already.

NATO claims these hard facts are myths. In mid-May, Russia set the record straight - debunking NATO Big Lies, explaining hard truths.

It began saying "NATO has been publicly promoting a simplified (erroneous) 'black and white' picture of the history of complicated relations between the Alliance and Russia, accusing Russia of 'myth-making' about NATO's 'impeccable' actions."

In regular updates, it tries "persuading the public that (its actions alone strengthen) European security and stability without any critical self-evaluation…and hard lessons (explained about) the military operations in the Balkans, in Afghanistan and Libya." 

"But most importantly, perhaps, there have been no proposals about ways to promote a positive agenda…to overcome current highly risky tendencies in the military-political situation on the continent." 

"The efforts undertaken by the Russian Federation to strengthen the security architecture in the Euro-Atlantic area have been silenced" - ignored and at times ridiculed.

World peace, stability and security depend on "break(ing) the spiral of current military-political tensions…Welfare of the peoples and citizens of our countries depends on what path will be chosen."

Fact: At the end of the Cold War in 1991, Russia withdrew its troops and equipment from former Soviet republics and other Eastern European countries.

Fact: US-dominated NATO began expanding east, despite pledging not to do so.

Fact: Russian involvement in multilateral efforts strengthens European security.

Fact: Hostility toward Russia weakens it.

Fact: Russia remains committed to arms control. NATO policy encourages proliferation.

Fact: Washington's so-called missile defense violates the 1972 ABM Treaty (in force until George Bush unilaterally withdrew). 

Fact: It prohibits large-scale anti-missile systems. US policy wants them targeting Russia, China and Iran.

Fact: NATO continues expanding east aggressively adding 12  former Soviet republics and Warsaw pact countries since 1991: 

the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland in 1999;

Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia in 2004; and

Albania and Croatia in 2009.

Fact: NATO belligerence "aggravate(s) the syndrome of 'front-line states and (establishes) preconditions for a new Iron Curtain - from the side of the West."

Fact: US-dominated NATO generated military tensions on Russia's borders "weakens rather than strengthens" regional security and threatens a dangerous new arms race.

Fact: NATO's aggressive encroachment on Russia's borders threatens direct confrontation.

Fact: Systematic, irresponsible Russia bashing prevents normalizing NATO/Moscow relations.

Fact: Ukraine is Obama's war - wanting US control of its territory to be used as a dagger targeting Russia.

Fact: Moscow wants mutual cooperation with all other nations. It wants peace and stability, not war and hostile relations.

Fact: America wages endless direct and proxy wars of aggression - systematically raping one country after another to advance its imperial agenda.

Fact: Russia wants Cold War hostility ended.

Fact: US-dominated NATO policy risks WW III. The "window of opportunity for compromise (and peace) is steadily closing," Russia's report says.

Fact: America strengthening its "security" by challenging Russia irresponsibly risks potential confrontation.

Fact: Important Moscow proposals for peace, stability and security are systematically ignored.

Fact: America's obsession with militarism and endless wars threatens everyone.

Moscow hopes its "fact sheet will allow an impartial observer to understand the history of relations between Russia and NATO and (draw) conclusions based on the real facts and not" Alliance mythology.

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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