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NATO Summit Closes By Condemning Russia

by Eric Zuesse

nato-summit
The issues that were discussed at this year’s NATO Summit were mainly preparations for a possible war against Russia.
The two-day Summit in Warsaw Poland ended on Saturday July 9th, with a 139-part “Warsaw Summit Communiqué” which used the word “terrorism” 17 times, “jihad” and “jihadist” and “jihadism” 0 (zero) times, and “Russia” 58 times — never favorably, and often with overt hostility.
It also referred to “Ukraine” 34 times, and “Syria” 10 times. Ukraine, during a February 2014 coup (it has been referred to as having been a “coup” both by the leader of the private CIA firm Stratfor, and by the Establishment writer on international relations John Mearsheimer, among others) switched, immediately after the coup, from having been neutral between NATO and Russia, to being suddenly and consistently intensely hostile to Russia, and immediately applied to join NATO; Syria still remains strongly allied with Russia.
The Ukrainian government was referred to 100% favorably, and the Syrian government was referred to 100% unfavorably.
In other words: the Communiqué is 100% hostile toward Russia and its ally Syria, and is far more concerned about Russia than it is about terrorism — and not at all concerned about jihadism and jihadists.
The Communiqué is clear about “the crisis in and around Ukraine being, in current circumstances, the first topic on our agenda.” All of its references to that matter are based upon the assumption that this problem is due entirely to Russian “aggression” and that all violations of the Minsk agreements on the Ukrainian conflict are by the pro-Russian separatists, none of the violations are on the Ukrainian government side. The presumption is that the Ukrainian government side never commits aggression, and that the separatist side is never defending itself against Ukrainian aggression.
The Communiqué says, regarding the Special Monitoring Mission that is overseeing implementation of the Minsk agreements:

Impediments to the SMM’s work, which continue to occur overwhelmingly in areas under the control of the Russian-backed militants, represent a violation of the Minsk Agreements and seriously hamper the monitoring function of the SMM.”

The SMM operates in, and issues daily reports from, the separatist region (Donbass, consisting of two parts: Luhansk and Donetsk), and therefore it’s natural that almost all of those reports concern that region, not Ukraine. However, for example, the report dated 7 July 2016 does note that:

Civilians expressed their anger at continued shelling while other civilians expressed their frustration over water cuts. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure.”

Though this report was, indeed, as NATO phrases the matter, “in areas under the control of the Russian-backed militants” (i.e., of people who live in the region that rejects the coup-imposed Ukrainian government), the “violation of the Minsk agreements” there consisted actually of shelling that was fired from the Ukrainian government forces, into “areas under the control of the Russian-backed militants.”
Similarly, the Communiqué blames the war in Syria upon the Russian-allied side, which in that case happens to be the Syrian government. For example, it says:

We call on the Syrian regime to fully comply with the provisions of all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs), and to immediately take steps for a genuine political transition in accordance with UNSCR 2254 and the 30 June 2012 Geneva Communiqué.”

That conflict is between jihadists who are trying to overthrow the Syrian government, and the Syrian government. NATO blames the conflict entirely upon the Syrian government.
The Communiqué describes at some length the sharp increase in soldiers and weapons that NATO is pouring onto and near Russia’s borders, especially in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Romania. The reason that’s given for this surrounding Russia with hostile forces is:

….the ongoing illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea, which we do not and will not recognise and which we call on Russia to reverse; the violation of sovereign borders by force; the deliberate destabilisation of eastern Ukraine; large-scale snap exercises contrary to the spirit of the Vienna Document, and provocative military activities near NATO borders, including in the Baltic and Black Sea regions and the Eastern Mediterranean; its irresponsible and aggressive nuclear rhetoric, military concept and underlying posture; and its repeated violations of NATO Allied airspace. In addition, Russia’s military intervention, significant military presence and support for the regime in Syria, and its use of its military presence in the Black Sea to project power into the Eastern Mediterranean have posed further risks and challenges for the security of Allies and others.

No mention is made in the Communiqué of the event that sparked all of this, which was Washington’s Ukrainian coup, which Washington had been preparing starting no later than 1 March 2013 in its Ukrainian Embassy to overthrow the democratically elected President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych.
When NATO demands, regarding Crimea’s return to Russia shortly after the coup, “we do not and will not recognise and … we call on Russia to reverse”; when NATO demands Russia to abandon the 90+% of Crimeans who wanted to rejoin as being part of Russia — when NATO demands Russia to consign these people to the now failed state of Ukraine (which hates them and wants them dead) — NATO is placing itself in the position of a continuing escalation toward nuclear war against Russia, unless NATO itself disbands or else cancels its demand. NATO is now in a position where they will either cancel their demand, or else continue their escalation and surrounding-of-Russia to the point where Russia will have no alternative but to unleash (without warning) all-out nuclear war against NATO countries, and against all nations, such as Ukraine, that hate Russians so much that they are trying to join NATO — the anti-Russia club of nations.
Russia is not going to do what NATO demands. The question now is: which side will start the nuclear war — attack first. In any case, the war (assuming that NATO neither retracts its demand nor disbands, and so war results) will probably be over within less than an hour. There won’t be any winners, but the side that strikes first will be destroyed less than will the side that merely retaliates. And, in that sense, there will be a ‘winner’, even to an all-out nuclear war. Regardless, though, Vladimir Putin’s responsibility is only to the Russian people, no matter how unacceptable the two choices are that NATO has offered him. He has tried many times to discuss the matter with Barack Obama, who always refuses to discuss it with him. Obama’s refusal speaks clearer than any mere words, either from him or from (his agent) NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander, possibly could.


Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author, most recently, of They’re Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010, and of CHRIST’S VENTRILOQUISTS: The Event that Created Christianity.

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Guest
Guest
Jul 10, 2016 8:14 PM

Are there any other sources on what happened at the NATO summit
It does not seem to be covered widely in the UK.

reinertorheit
reinertorheit
Jul 10, 2016 11:15 PM
Reply to  Guest

Probably Stormfront has given it a standing ovation. But that’s not a site I would ever visit.

Seamus Padraig
Seamus Padraig
Jul 12, 2016 11:18 AM
Reply to  Guest

Both Russia Insider and The Duran have given the summit extensive coverage and commentary.

costaselgreco
costaselgreco
Jul 10, 2016 7:59 PM

NATO leaders are obviously smoking too much pot. Most of what they observe about Russian activity is a hallucination. This organisation is impotent, irrelevant, and should be the object of ridicule.

Richard Le Sarcophage
Richard Le Sarcophage
Jul 11, 2016 4:47 AM
Reply to  costaselgreco

You should read the comments of the ‘Foreign Minister’ of the Polish clerico-fascist regime. Utterly insane and beyond parody. The USA only tolerates the real dregs of the genus Homo as stooges.

Yonatan
Yonatan
Jul 10, 2016 10:58 AM

In early 1938, Roosevelt detailed the US strategy for containing Germany. Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau Jr said FDR’s ‘theory’ was that ‘England and France constitute our first line of defense’. In May 1941 Hull insisted Japan adhere to four princples 1) respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of other states 2) noninterference in the internal affairs of other states 3) equality of commercial opportunity 4) no change in the status quo in the Pacific. Later in July 1941, following advice from Stimson, Morgenthau and others, the US imposed a full blockade on trade with Japan as part of a plan to ‘drive the Japanese down to the Dutch East Indies and it would mean war in the Pacific’. Japan offered to meet US representatives in Hawaii. The US reejected this. Stimson wrote in his diary October 16 that ‘we face the delicate question of how the diplomatic fencing to be done so as to be sure that Japan was put in the wrong and made the first bad move – overt move’ and November 25 he quoted FDR ‘the question was how we should maneuver them into the position of firing the first shot without allowing too much danger to ourselves’. Bu November 27, FDR and adivsors knew from intercepted communications that the negotiations were at an end and that a Japanese attack was imminent. FDR sent a letter to the Japanese emperor dated December 6 making a final appeal for a peaceful settlement. The letter’s purpose was to mobilize domestic and international support against Japan.
The US has just one game plan and it uses it over and over again.

Seamus Padraig
Seamus Padraig
Jul 10, 2016 6:20 PM
Reply to  Yonatan

You are very perceptive, Yonatan. The AngloZionists just recycle the same strategies and tactics over and over.

Richard Le Sarcophage
Richard Le Sarcophage
Jul 11, 2016 4:49 AM
Reply to  Seamus Padraig

They’ve worked pretty well for 3500 years, so why change now when ‘Full Spectrum Dominance’, forever, is so close at hand?

falcemartello
falcemartello
Jul 10, 2016 8:14 AM

The Washington consensus is showing signs of Alzheimers. They have been warned many times by Xi,Putin and, and Rohani. It appears more theatre of tragic proportions. Their speech writers straight out of Hollywood. Fascism is here and very obvious in the western sphere of countries its only that we in the west r still harking on the past. Moscow,Damascus,Tehran, Beijing will no longer fall prey to this blatant extortion that the anglo-zionist still insist on perpetrating on the rest of the world. Gee just look at Libya,Iraq and Ukraine today. C the anglo-zionist like rebranding terms. The Yugoslavian crisis we got the rebranding of the term genocide as ethnic cleansing. Then all freedom fighters r terrorist, The Warhawks get branded as liberal interventionist. Fascism gets labeled liberal democracy, fellow fascists that call themselves liberal democrats call Trump fascist. Its all hasbra and we the sheeple just sit their and take it. Hell the greatest financial fraud/ponzi scheme in the 21st century (the financial crisis of 2008) not one arrest not one prosecution and we the tax payers of the west bail them out and they r doin it again. Hence the term YESTERDAYS NEWS GETS WRAPPED IN TODAYS FISH. Ignorance is bliss but after Hitlery Rodham Clinton gets elected( heaven forbid) the nuclear winter will be upon us but if we the 99% will let them ? How long will this deception prevail ? AS LONG AS WE LET THEM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

reinertorheit
reinertorheit
Jul 10, 2016 12:50 PM
Reply to  falcemartello

But God help you if you make any attempt to act independently of Shitlery or the EU. You will be branded ‘racists’, ‘fascists’, and all the epithets the neocon federation hurled at the Brexiters for daring to have their own opinions.

Oddlots
Oddlots
Jul 10, 2016 5:39 AM

In the mood to stand back and squint a bit…
How much credibility can the West burn up in one go?
As far as I can see any sense of propriety or fair dealing has been completely trashed. Every IMF rule has been trashed in the case of the EU-confection and the Ukraine. The OSCE seems totally in the the tank for the neo-con agenda. NATO emits delusional shit like this. All the government funded NGOs – giggle – are obviously totally in the tank for western interests and would obviously sell out their own family for a €£¥ or dollar if they were on offer. My fave: the white helmets.
What makes it exquisite: all this is done in the name of human rights, western values etc.
What this means: females from religious minorities in Syria are being put in cages and burned because they refuse to accept their status as slaves by people receiving material support both directly from the West and mostly from our “cut-outs” – SA and the Gulf States…
And people want to bring up “Western Values” in this context…
Are you fucking kidding me?

susannapanevin
susannapanevin
Jul 10, 2016 2:17 AM

Reblogged this on Susanna Panevin.

joekano76
joekano76
Jul 10, 2016 12:56 AM

Reblogged this on TheFlippinTruth.

Peace is what counts
Peace is what counts
Jul 9, 2016 11:44 PM

A bunch of ruthless people playing stupid games with the lives of hundreds of millions of people :/

Richard Le Sarcophage
Richard Le Sarcophage
Jul 11, 2016 4:52 AM

Billions, peace. Billions.

Catte
Catte
Jul 9, 2016 11:26 PM

Though apparently Francois Hollande did – surprisingly – break ranks enough to say France “saw Russia as a partner, ‘not a threat’ and that Nato had no role in determining what Europe’s relations with Moscow should be.” The Guardian buries it a bit mid-article, but it’s there. Signs of cracks beneath the surface?

reinertorheit
reinertorheit
Jul 9, 2016 11:51 PM
Reply to  Catte

Signs of cracks beneath the surface?

Or gutless mewling? Once M Hollande saw there was no chance the rest of the assembled bigots might rally behind it, he took the opportunity to appear magnanimous without the slightest intention of actually doing anything.
We remember how much Hollande’s honneur was worth when it came to honouring the Mistral contract France had signed.
Hollande has consistently voted for extending sanctions against Russia. Meanwhile he cheerfully sat in the smiling “Quincey Episode” group photograph at the conference with international war criminal Poroshenko.

Jen
Jen
Jul 9, 2016 11:56 PM
Reply to  reinertorheit

Hollande did participate in the Minsk talks with Russia and Ukraine even if he did so as Merkel’s junior partner so there is some self-interest involved.

reinertorheit
reinertorheit
Jul 10, 2016 12:35 PM
Reply to  Jen

The Minsk Talks were a Catch-22. They set a bar for Russia that cannot be hit – since they rely on reporting by the OSCE which simply closes its eyes to the daily shelling of Donestk, Lugansk and their surrounding areas by Ukrainian vigilante forces. They are the simulacrum of international justice.

falcemartello
falcemartello
Jul 10, 2016 8:25 AM
Reply to  Catte

Rumours have it coming from my european sources is great cracks are appearing and most of them r being initiated by various corporate interest. . The Lombardy and Venetian commerce organisations r lobbying the RENZI regime as we speak and same is happening in Germany and France. For example in Germany their is a great split between Steinmeir and other elements of the government with the present regimes statements and HASBRA. France is going thru self infliction of death by a thousand statutes with regards to them passing right wing labor laws and many backbenchers in the so called socialist regime is getting very nervous. The whole western narrative is falling apart the vast majority of the population are having a difficult time accepting the lies of the Donbas ,Syria, Libya,Russian aggression, Iranian bombs and DOCIUS in FUNDUM last but not least AUSTERITY FOR THE 99% and non for the 1%. Time will tell if this is the beginning of a western awakening.

reinertorheit
reinertorheit
Jul 10, 2016 12:46 PM
Reply to  falcemartello

Well, and this week Cyprus also voted to end the sanctions. But the vote means nothing. Because the decision was taken at EU level – and unless Brussels decides to lift the sanctions, no individual EU member has the right to lift any sanction unilaterally. This is why the EU is fascist piss and Brexit was right. The EU is simply a smokescreen for NATO warmongering, and nothing else.

Richard Le Sarcophage
Richard Le Sarcophage
Jul 11, 2016 4:56 AM
Reply to  falcemartello

Which is why the Masters are planning a nice war to shut the plebs up. Syria and Iran must be odds-on, if only to please the Israel Lobby that controls the EU. Russia is a very big risk. If the Masters are so mad as to think that they can destroy Russia with a sneak first-strike, then we are all history.

Brian Harry, Australia
Brian Harry, Australia
Jul 9, 2016 11:18 PM

NATO condemns Russia. Gee, what a surprise. Mr Putin has already warned the warmongers in NATO, ‘not to forget that Russia still has a Nuclear defence arsenal’, and Putin is not someone who will let others push him around.
NATO, or the people who run it, need to ‘pull their heads in’, and keep their mouths shut.

brankabrankov
brankabrankov
Jul 9, 2016 10:47 PM

Satanists, murderess and psychopaths in NATO can kiss Russia and Russians ass.

Roger
Roger
Jul 10, 2016 12:25 AM
Reply to  brankabrankov

Nato can suck some Russian cock.