Stewart Battle

Nov. 26, 2024 (EIRNS)—When Russia fired its new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile on Nov. 21, decimating a Ukrainian weapons depot in Dnipro, it was effectively a message to the West that Russia was not playing around. The attack came after the United States no later than Nov. 17 had lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles to strike Russia—and Ukraine’s ensuing use of such missiles—crossing a red line which put the U.S. in direct, open conflict with Russia. The message should have been clear: further escalation means all options are now on the table.

Nov. 20, 2024 (EIRNS)—Over the past 48 hours, the strategy has become clear. After the Biden Administration refused to comment on the explosive revelations over the weekend that the United States has given Ukraine permission to use American missiles to strike targets deep inside internationally-recognized Russian territory—an acknowledged act of war—Ukraine unleashed a volley of missiles on Nov. 19 into Russia’s Bryansk Region. That on the same day that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order updating its nuclear weapons doctrine, which includes the qualification that “an aggression against Russia from any non-nuclear state but involving or supported by any nuclear state as their joint attack.”

ov. 15, 2024 (EIRNS)—It’s been hardly a week since the election of President-elect Donald Trump in the U.S., and it’s already clear that big changes are afoot. The hysteria about some of Trump’s cabinet picks continues, in particular around the role of Tulsi Gabbard as the future Director of National Intelligence—a decision that could potentially transform the U.S. Presidency’s relationship to the intelligence community for the first time since the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy. There are, of course, plenty of other cabinet picks which are horrible. But the fact remains that a potential sea-change exists, and it is precisely for this reason that there is such a clamoring among the neoliberal establishment.

Nov. 5, 2024 (EIRNS)—At the time of the writing of this briefing, the results of the Nov. 5 presidential elections are still uncertain. However, whatever the result turns out to be, neither candidate’s victory could in itself bring about the decisive changes needed to address the fundamental crises facing the U.S. and the world. Now, more than ever, the main factor which will determine future events will be the role played by a committed minority in bringing to fruition a new dynamic within the bankrupt and imperialistic Western world—a potential which is increasingly obvious to those with eyes to see, though not reflected in the presidential campaigns.

Oct. 31, 2024 (EIRNS)—While we are now less than one week away from the U.S. elections, the truly consequential events that will shape the future of the world are taking place on an entirely different stage. To the extent that citizens work to bring these substantive issues to the surface within their nations—rather than succumb to what seems possible given the available options—will the fate of not only the Collective West, but of the entire world be determined.

Oct. 19, 2024 (EIRNS)—Russian President Vladimir Putin made it perfectly clear Friday, Oct. 18. what the stakes are over the conflict in Ukraine. When asked about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement that Ukraine demands either NATO membership or nuclear weapons, Putin replied, with a look of conviction and animus that almost needs no words: “Under no circumstances will Russia allow this to happen.”

Oct. 14, 2024 (EIRNS)—As the U.S. Congress is busy campaigning in their districts, and the media bombard people with emotion-laden news in the leadup to the Nov. 5 U.S. elections, the world is operating on a distinctly different timeline. Southwest Asia sits on a razor’s edge of exploding, as Israel expands its barbaric actions into Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, and threatens to launch a full-blown attack on Iran. Iran’s President and Foreign Minister are engaging in a flurry of diplomatic activity to attempt to stave this off—President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Iraq after having visited Beirut, Damascus, Riyadh and Doha in a little over a week.

Oct. 7, 2024 (EIRNS)—The world is sitting on an absolute powder keg, as there are now two major conflicts which could erupt at any moment into a global war. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is scheduled to visit Washington this week where he will be discussing a potential response to Iran’s missile attack last week, and at the same time working to bring the U.S. fully into Israel’s war against Iran. Despite the echo chamber that exists in Washington, there are even some voices across the trans-Atlantic that recognize that nothing good will come if this policy is continued—as French President Emmanuel Macron has most recently exhibited in calling for an end to weapons shipments to Israel.

Oct. 5, 2024 (EIRNS)—On Friday, Oct. 4, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov made the apt point that, “We are navigating uncharted military-political territory.” While his comments referred to the growing hostility between NATO and Russia, along with the utter collapse in diplomatic relations, the comment could also be applied to the world as a whole.

Sept. 27, 2024 (EIRNS)—As has become painfully obvious over the recent period, Western leaders who have traded their souls for a place at the table of the Anglo-American imperium are standing in opposition to peace. On Friday, Sept. 27, a group of 20 nations founded the “Friends of Peace” group on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Headed by China and Brazil, and centered around their “six common understandings” to end the Ukraine-Russia conflict, these nations insisted that more fighting and weapons is not the pathway to peace. As China’s top diplomat Wang Yi said at the event: “It took time for other people to understand that other paths don’t lead to peace.” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian claimed that fully 110 nations are supportive of their initiative.