Things
are looking bad in the global geopolitical scenery as the new cold
war escalates
globinfo
freexchange
Most
serious:
"A
think tank connected to Zbigniew Brzezinski and Henry Kissinger, the
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), is calling for
retooling the U.S. military in preparation of a 'great power
conflict' with 'a newly aggressive Russia and rapidly modernizing
China,' ..."
"Within
24 hours from the tragic MH-17 flight, US officials rushed to align
with the Ukrainian government, based on 'evidence' that came out
remarkably fast. While in other cases, the Western hypocrites
'recommend sangfroid' and suggest to every direction not to rush to
make conclusions, this is a case where they completely violate their
own 'calm down' policy as advice to others."
“A
British cross-party commission has voted in favor of keeping the
Trident nuclear missile system, saying nuclear weapons could deter
threats to UK's security. The report highlighted the re-emergence of
Russia as a potential threat.”
“The
Japanese government says it will push ahead with plans to ease
restrictions on its military, which have kept it from fighting abroad
since World War II. Under the constitution’s Article 9, Japan’s
military is banned from taking any military action except when the
country is under attack. But the new plan will increase the country’s
military options and allow its armed forces to fight on behalf of
Tokyo’s allies.”
“US
lawmakers in the House of Representatives have approved $220 million
in funding to help the Pentagon replace the Russian rocket engines
used in its satellite launches. The measure, which faces opposition
from the Obama administration, calls on the US military to use an
American-built engine for launching military satellites into orbit.
The US relies on Russian-made RD-180 and NK-33 engines to launch
military and civilian satellites into space.”
"On
Wednesday, June 11th, CNN headlined 'U.S. Sends B-2 Stealth Bombers
to Europe,' and reported that 'they arrived in Europe this week for
training.' Wikipedia notes that B-2s were 'originally designed
primarily as a nuclear bomber,' and that 'The B-2 is the only
aircraft that can carry large air-to-surface standoff weapons in a
stealth configuration.'"
"The
United States military’s top commander said during a security
summit this week that the ongoing crisis in eastern Ukraine has
prompted the Pentagon to revisit old contingency plans unused since
the days of the Cold War. Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday at the Aspen Security Forum that
the US Department of Defense has been 'looking inside of our own
readiness models to look at things we haven’t had to look at for 20
years.'”
"The
United States has concluded that Russia violated a landmark arms
control treaty by testing a prohibited ground-launched cruise
missile, according to senior American officials, a finding that was
conveyed by President Obama to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia
in a letter on Monday."
"The
Chinese military is increasing efforts to beef up its nuclear
capabilities and its nuclear missile technology, according to a new
report. Stars and Stripes reported on Tuesday that China was
developing the Dong Feng-41 missile, which is next-generation
intercontinental ballistic missile capable of launching multiple
nuclear warheads."
"Under
the pretext of an 'overt' Russian threat, NATO is pushing for a
‘readiness action plan’ that will bring the Cold War military
bloc closer to Russian borders than ever - despite objections from
some NATO members. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said
the 28-nation military bloc, which meets next week in Cardiff, Wales,
would attempt to overcome internal opposition and agree to the
deployment of military bases near the Russian border."
Other:
“The
Foreign Ministry said on Friday that Japan's unilateral decision to
name China's Diaoyu Islands was 'invalid' as it persisted in fueling
lingering territorial tensions. Japan infuriated China and damaged
ties two years ago when it said it was 'nationalizing' the islands in
the East China Sea, which have been part of China's traditional
territory and an important fishery for centuries.”
"The
German government has cancelled an arms contract with Russia over the
ongoing crisis in Ukraine, a new report says. Germany’s Economy
Ministry revoked a permission to provide a fully equipped training
camp to Russian forces, the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on
Monday."
"Japan
has imposed additional sanctions against Russia for what it described
as Moscow’s failure to defuse the crisis in Ukraine and its support
for pro-Russian forces following the downing of a Malaysia Airlines
passenger plane ..."
"President
Vladimir Putin on Wednesday signed a decree on countermeasures to
Western sanctions. [...] A list of goods the import of which may be
restricted in response to the Western sanctions is being prepared and
will be approved by the Russian government, its spokeswoman Natalya
Timakova said on Wednesday."
"David
Cohen, a top US Treasury Department official, said on Thursday that
the US has warned Russia about a reported oil-for-goods swap with
Iran, and that such a deal would be exposed to additional US
sanctions."
"Russian
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday that Russia is
considering an overflight ban for European and U.S. airlines to the
Asia-Pacific region in retaliation for their sanctions targeting
Russia's low-cost airline Dobrolet. A number of retaliatory steps are
'on the table,' such as a ban on European and American airlines using
Russian airspace for transit flights to Southeast Asia or the
Asia-Pacific region, Medvedev said at a government session."
Comments
Post a Comment