SHAPE, Belgium (March 30, 2020) – Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Tod D. Wolters speaks during a flag raising ceremony at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). (NATO photo by SSGT Ross Fernie)
Paul Craig Roberts warns in LewRockwell.com of the harsh rhetoric being employed by General Tod. D. Wolters toward U.S.-Russian relations. He writes (abridged):
On February 24, General Tod D. Wolters, who leads the US European Command, gave a speech that should disturb everyone on earth.
There are a number of reasons we should be disturbed.
General Wolters claims that the projection of American force abroad “is about generating peace” and that the US must take on Russia in order to deliver world peace.
We are locked in a struggle with Moscow, and if Russia continues to resist US hegemony, General Wolters says we are prepared to respond “primarily through NATO.”
General Wolters goes on to blame all destabilizing activities across the globe on Russia: “Despite widespread international condemnation and continued economic sanctions, Russia engages in destabilizing and malign activities across the globe, with many of those activities happening close to home.” He declares: “Russia remains an enduring existential threat to the United States and our European allies.”
We could dismiss the general’s speech as propaganda. Unfortunately it is worse. It reflects the self-righteous, self-serving, and therefore blind American foreign policy position, a position highly likely to lead to war.
The Kremlin has made it clear over and over that Russia is not a threat to the US and Europe and only desires normal business-like relations.
The Kremiln has responded to endless provocations in non-provocative ways. But now the Russian attitude shows signs of hardening. Putin and Lavrov cannot forever turn the other cheek to Washington and European hostility without eventually being seen inside Russia as American agents.
Putin and Lavrov are ideal Russian leaders with whom the West could arrange friendly and profitable economic and political relationships, removing the specter of nuclear war and unnecessary military expense.
Paul Craig Roberts, a former Assistant Secretary of the US Treasury and former associate editor of the Wall Street Journal.
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