 President Biden and Congress are continuing their provocations against Russia, in the name of “defending” Ukraine. Biden has put 8,500 troops on heightened alert for deployment to Ukraine and surrounding areas of Eastern Europe. This means they are prepared to deploy within five days. They are part of a 20,000 troop NATO Rapid Deployment force that could also be deployed. Biden commented on January 28 that he will send troops to Eastern Europe “in the near term”. In addition, sanctions have been increased and Biden said he would increase them further, including targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin. While many dismissed this, given financial sanctions would not impact Putin, it is also the case that it is a direct threat in conditions where the US is known for its assassinations.Militarily the US and NATO already have troops, planes and battleships in the region and are increasing use of their spy planes. Multiple types of military planes are being used to listen in on communications signals and gather high-altitude images and other data about Russia. A Reaper drone also went into Crimea on January 21. At the same time, the US Congress is fast-tracking a bill providing $500 million more for weapons. This is on top of the $200 million that has already been allocated, including four shipments of tons of lethal weapons, including hundreds of Lockheed Martin shoulder-fired Javelin anti-tank missiles, launchers and other supplies, already delivered. The bill is being moved directly to the House floor, barring debate, committee hearings, etc. The bill, along with the many provocations, is a means to block any debate and discourse even in Congress, let alone among the people. The bill greatly increases weaponry and provides funding for “anti-Russian propaganda and intelligence”. This no doubt means pro-war disinformation and false US claims, as was done in Iraq with weapons of mass destruction, to justify US/NATO aggression. The bill also authorises Biden to impose yet more sanctions. Russian financial institutions, energy producers, and those involved in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project bringing natural gas to Europe, something the US strongly opposes, could also be targeted. The Nord Stream project is a source of tensions between the US, Germany and the European Union generally. The State Department, part of Biden’s executive, has emphasised that anything the US deems to be a “Russian incursion” would be met with “a swift, severe, and united response” from the US and its allies. Following behind the position taken by the US, allies are also taking a belligerent and provocative stance. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the deployment of more British forces to the region, including jets, warships and military specialists, is sending “a clear message to the Kremlin — we will not tolerate their destabilising activity”. This indicates that US and NATO forces could act even without an “incursion”. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss spoke of increased sanctions, saying “we are strengthening our sanctions regime” and will be “introducing new legislation so that we can hit targets including those who are key to the Kremlin’s continuation and the continuation of the Russian regime”. Not only is regime change on the US/NATO agenda, but she concluded by saying “nothing is off the table”. This is a common US threat to imply that the use of nuclear weapons is not off the table. In his press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 1, Boris Johnson declared, "Since 2015 the UK has trained over 22,000 Ukrainian military personnel and provided £2.2 million worth of non-lethal military equipment to Ukraine. Two weeks ago we sent anti-tank weaponry to strengthen Ukraine’s defences further. Today I have announced a further £88 million of UK funding to support good governance and energy independence in Ukraine. This will bolster your efforts Volodmyr [Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine], and those of others to build a free and prosperous Ukrainian society, free of malign influences." The "malign influences" are anything that does not accord with the submission of Ukraine to the US/NATO agenda. Despite the US and its ally Britain painting the fantastical picture of a threat to Ukraine's "sovereignty", and 100,000 Russian troops ready to "invade" Ukraine, Russia has repeatedly stated that it does not want war and is not planning to send troops into Ukraine. It does have troops on the border. But, of course, so do the US/NATO forces as well and have long been manoeuvring to encircle Russia. The US-led imperialists have no means to predict how Russia, China or others may respond, nor how people in the US with their strong anti-war sentiment will respond. The provocations are a means to test the waters and gauge response. It is a highly dangerous war game being played and one rightly being opposed by the peoples in the US, Britain and worldwide. |