On COI #259, Kyle Anzalone and Connor Freeman cover the NATO hawks’ desire for a protracted war in Ukraine, the American people’s support for war with Russia, and the latest news on the Iran deal talks.
Kyle discusses new revelations in the Washington Post that some NATO member states’ governments actually prefer to see Ukrainians “fighting, and dying, than to achieve a peace that comes too early.” There is further indication that the U.S. led, Western sanctions imposed on Russia will not be lifted even in the event of future diplomatic breakthroughs with Kiev and Moscow or if there is a ceasefire. Sanctions relief is either being presented as off the table or tied to concessions Russia and President Vladimir Putin cannot possibly make. This is all pointing toward proving that President Joe Biden was not incorrect when he appeared to declare recently that regime change in Moscow is Washington’s true policy.
Connor breaks down his new column at the Libertarian Institute on the enthusiastic willingness of Americans to support Biden’s policies which already threaten to start a shooting war with Russia. Worse, polling data keeps coming in showing majorities of Americans support No-Fly Zones, stronger anti-Russian sanctions regardless of economic blowback, and even outright war with the Russians. Connor outlines how he believes this is due to incessant propaganda that obfuscates the origins of the war. The simplified TV narrative conveniently allows Americans to project all their guilt, shame, fear, and insecurities, as well as their complicity in their rulers’ mass murder onto the Russian people and make them pay.
Connor talks about how the major remaining sticking point in the Iran nuclear deal talks appears to be Tehran’s “red line” that the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps must be delisted from Washington’s Foreign Terrorist Organization blacklist. This would be part of a side deal apart from the official nuclear agreement negotiated in Vienna. However, the issue would also need to be resolved in concert for the former to succeed to finalization and implementation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is asking Tel Aviv for input on how to contain Iran’s supposedly dangerous nuclear ambitions. Of course, Israel’s answer is more sanctions and a general ramping up of tensions and pressure. America’s ambassador to Israel has green lit any future Israeli attacks on Iran whether there ultimately is a deal or not. Blinken is now saying he doesn’t believe there will be a return to the JCPOA and that window of opportunity to do so is closing fast.
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Indeed. I’d like to see how many people in Western Europe support “no-fly zones,” especially when they have it explained to them that it means U.S. planes firing at Russian planes, i.e. war between the two largest nuclear powers.
It takes a special kind of stupidity to support that because of this war over the most corrupt country in Europe – stretching the definition of Europe to its limit. It is a stupidity that comes from seeing war as entertainment on your teevee, where you get to cheer your flag and your uniforms and see missiles fly away and hit people who can never fire back. The view of war that Americans have gotten used to.
I’d like to see if the support for such a war is as high among veterans as among the general population. I recall they supported Ron Paul more than others, back in the day, and also supported Trump more as he promised to negotiate an end to the Afghanistan war. They understand that people can actually die in war. Even from your side.
There is a scene in the Sopranos where Tony sends a man to threaten a woman who has become obsessed with him after he slept with her. She seems to relish the escalating drama. Until this man makes her see the reality of the violence that could befall her. He tells her that “the last thing you’ll see won’t be him, it will be me. And it won’t be cinematic.”
Tough talkers should learn what it actually means when the war can hit you, not just the characters on your TV screen. It won’t be cinematic.
good comment. I remember that scene. A fitting parallel
Apr 11, 2022 Ukraine War: No sign of a ‘pause’ from Russian forces in Ukraine
Russia’s Foreign Minister says their will be no pause in operations in Ukraine, as Austria’s Chancellor makes the first visit of any EU leader since the war began.
https://youtu.be/mHyn2cEikEw