June 25, 2024 (EIRNS)—Anyone paying attention to the string of events in and around Ukraine will see the dangerous escalation which it represents. Western countries, previously more restrained, have increasingly supplied heavier and longer-range weapons to Ukraine to fight—and kill—Russians. At each step of the way, Russia’s leaders have raised concerns, sounded alarm bells, and emphasized that Washington and others are crossing deep, dark, red lines in an overt war against their nation. However, at each step, these same Western countries have feigned indifference, and continued their escalations.
When a U.S.-supplied ATACMS missile, armed with cluster munitions, hit a densely-populated beach in Crimea on Sunday, June 23, killing 4 and wounding over 150, a new level of crisis arrived. Russia was quick to denounce the actions and promise a swift retaliation, pointing the finger directly at the United States. As Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said June 24: “The fact that the U.S. is directly involved in this crime is beyond any doubt.”
Indeed, it’s well known that ATACMS use American programming for targeting, and no missile launches without direct U.S. involvement. Therefore, when the State Department and Pentagon spokesmen on Monday, June 24, dismissed questions regarding Russia’s claims, and turned the question around, to in effect blame Russia for causing the terrorist attacks on its own people, it was an open admission that the U.S. intends for these attacks to continue.
What is Russia to conclude? Are they supposed to recoil in fear, and pull back from the current operations on the frontline? Or will they rather conclude that this is another, more flagrant attempt to “boil the Russian frog?” Perhaps they would imagine this is what Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director General of Britain’s Royal United Services Institute, proposed as a “Crimea Missile Crisis,” complete with a nuclear showdown when Ukraine pushes forward into the Crimean peninsula, which “could make it easier for leaders to make difficult compromises.” Only fools would see it otherwise.
The report coming out of Austria makes this reality even clearer. From June 10-21, Austria’s Armed Forces rehearsed for the forceful suppression of an army of domestic insurgents. In one of the largest military drills in recent years, including three other European nationalities, Austria used the hypothetical scenario of armed citizens who “sympathize with the aggressor” in a clear reference to Russia vs. Ukraine, and who have taken control of portions of their country. Whether or not Austria’s government believes their own narrative or not, this certainly indicates preparations for a much harsher crackdown against any dissidents within Western countries as their governments continue headlong toward a world war.
Meanwhile, discussions are increasing around not only a peaceful alternative to this mad drive to war, but to an entirely new security architecture for Eurasia and beyond. The June 14 address by Russian President Putin is clearly indicative of a multiply-connected process now sweeping through the region, evidenced most recently by yesterday’s meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Belarus Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik. The two leaders signed a joint statement Monday, solidifying the cooperation on their joint “Union State” in all fields—economic, political, and strategic. As part of this, they emphasized the need for “a new sustainable architecture of international security” underpinned by the principle of “mandatory mutual consideration of the interests of all parties involved.” In addition, they emphasized the need to further integrate the Greater Eurasian Partnership with the CSTO, EAEU, SCO, ASEAN, CIS, BRICS, and China’s Belt and Road Initiative—creating a common vision of economic development and collaboration across the Eurasian continent.
The task ahead of us all is to interrupt the galloping race to war. Currently, there is no one qualified running for President in the United States; therefore, there is no one for whom to simply hold out your hope. Rather, change is dependent upon a cadre of motivated and passionate citizens who decide to take it upon themselves to shift the current trajectory. Toward that end, the International Peace Coalition’s decision to endorse the German OKV declaration of support of Putin’s Peace Initiative can be a rallying point around which to mobilize. The press release is now published and available for widespread circulation.
