U.S.A. Foreign Policy & Defense

[oxmox 73]

Well until last year the focus was on the Pacific Pivot, but after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and their aggressive movements in Eastern Europe, the US had to also increase a bit their troops in Europe, in order to show support for their allies.

If they would not have put their nose in it there would have been not such drastic issues in Easter Europe and in other parts in the world...its simple. Like I said, others have interests aswell. They just spread often chaos around the world by themselve but point the finger at others.

[mistyronin 1181]

If they would not have put their nose in it there would have been not such drastic issues in Easter Europe and in other parts in the world...its simple. Like I said, others have interests aswell. They just spread often chaos around the world by themselve but point the finger at others.

Russia has been putting their nose in Ukraine for more than 10 years, and are the main cause of what happened there. So the US doesn't really have any direct connection. Mainly Putin's warmongering and expansionism and the fear of the European countries of a possible Russian Invasion.

[oxmox 73]

Russia has been putting their nose in Ukraine for more than 10 years, and are the main cause of what happened there. So the US doesn't really have any direct connection. Mainly Putin's warmongering and expansionism and the fear of the European countries of a possible Russian Invasion.

same counts vice versa, the US had already their fingers in the orange revolution and in other color revolutions close to Russia. If there would be no meddling into others sphere of interests there would have been not such drastic changes.

[mistyronin 1181]

same counts vice versa, the US had already their fingers in the orange revolution and in other color revolutions close to Russia. If there would be no meddling into others sphere of interests there would have been not such drastic changes.

I'm sorry, but if we start with the concept of Sphere of interests as some kind of fixed map, then it's absurd to talk about that kind of conflicts. As it has been proven, Ukraine is not property of Russia, and what's more important, Ukrainians don't want Russia to meddle around.

[oxmox 73]

I'm sorry, but if we start with the concept of Sphere of interests as some kind of fixed map, then it's absurd to talk about that kind of conflicts. As it has been proven, Ukraine is not property of Russia, and what's more important, Ukrainians don't want Russia to meddle around.

It doesnt have to be a concept, but everyone with some little interests knows about and for sure western countries including the US. Certain interests has everyone, countries aswell and some did stretch it more and others less. What is proven about the conflict doesnt matter, its the matter that it could have been avoided. The Maidan didnt represent all Ukrainians and the country was always split in east and west. Some dont want to that Russia is meddling around some say the same about the US/west.

[mistyronin 1181]

It doesnt have to be a concept, but everyone with some little interests knows about and for sure western countries including the US. Certain interests has everyone, countries aswell and some did stretch it more and others less. What is proven about the conflict doesnt matter, its the matter that it could have been avoided. The Maidan didnt represent all Ukrainians and the country was always split in east and west.

Maidan was just a protest. The ones that took decisions were the parliament and rulers elected by the Ukrainians.

Some dont want to that Russia is meddling around some say the same about the west.

How many territories has the US / West invaded and annexed in Russia? or in Russian neighbors?

[oxmox 73]

Maidan was just a protest. The ones that took decisions were the parliament and rulers elected by the Ukrainians.

How many territories has the US / West invaded and annexed in Russia? or in Russian neighbors?

Ecactly, Maidan was just a protest with the aim later to topple the government.

How many territories has the west invaded ?

Point is that it has not much to do with what Iam talking about.

Edited July 8, 2015 by oxmox

[mistyronin 1181]

Point is that it has not much to do what Iam talking about.

Wasn't your point that the US considers China and Russia as their main security threats, or am I missing something?

Cuz my point was precisely that these last years the US focus was the Asian Pivot, but it all changed when Russia invaded Ukraine.

[oxmox 73]

Wasn't your point that the US considers China and Russia as their main security threats, or am I missing something?

Cuz my point was precisely that these last years the US focus was the Asian Pivot, but it all changed when Russia invaded Ukraine.

My point is about a collision of interests, its a geopolitical conflict because two powers did collide here. One who had already deeper influence, the other player with the aim to weaken and push them out. And such a game does not only happen in Europe. What I want to say is that the situation we have nowadays could have been avoided.

Edited July 8, 2015 by oxmox

[mistyronin 1181]

What I want to say is that the situation we have nowadays could have been avoided.

On that I agree.

- - -

(Defense One) Pentagon Moves Money to Counter Russia

The Pentagon, through a number of largely classified actions, is quickly working to beef up military equipment to counter the Russian military, U.S. Defense Department documents show.

Although Russia is not mentioned in either document, one of 74 pages and the other of 21 pages, several of the requested moves would affect U.S. military commands that defend U.S. territory or would be vulnerable to an attack by Moscow. For instance, the Army wants to spend $160 million to put “increased lethality†30mm cannons on its Stryker armored vehicles based in Europe. The new weapons “support an urgent Operational Needs Statement … to fill a capability gap,†one document says.

Other requests would improve communications for detecting and launching nuclear strikes, including $42 million for upgrades at Cheyenne Mountain, the Pentagon’s nuclear command center in Colorado. And there’s $10 million to modernize the red phones inside ICBM silos.

[mistyronin 1181]

Seems that maybe that Obama's Pacific Pivot will have to rollback a bit, at least until the Kremlin people abandons the warmongery.

(CNN) Joint Chiefs nominee: Russia greatest threat to U.S.

Russia currently poses the greatest global threat to the United States, according to the man slated to be President Barack Obama's top military adviser.

"Russia presents the greatest threat to our national security," Gen. Joseph Dunford told the Senate Armed Services committee during his confirmation hearing to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

With its large nuclear arsenal, destabilizing role in Ukraine and threat to NATO nations on its borders, Russia presents a significant challenge to the U.S., even as it faces threats like that of ISIS.

"If you want to talk about a nation that could pose an existential threat to the United States, I would have to point to Russia," Dunford said. "And if you look at their behavior, it's nothing short of alarming,"

[drebin052 323]

Seems that maybe that Obama's Pacific Pivot will have to rollback a bit, at least until the Kremlin people abandons the warmongery.

Which is essentially giving the green light to Beijing to freely continue building its 'holiday' islands.

Ignoring the region's territorial disputes for the past 10 or so years is what allowed the tensions in the SCS to become heightened in the first place. Continuing to ignore it will only make things worse later down the track...

[spooky lynx 73]

Pentagon Concludes America Not Safe Unless It Conquers The World — Paul Craig Roberts

[mistyronin 1181]

Pentagon Concludes America Not Safe Unless It Conquers The World — Paul Craig Roberts

Paul Craig Roberts is overtly exaggerating the Pentagon's report.

[...]

Most states today — led by the United States, its allies, and partners — support the established institutions and processes dedicated to preventing conflict, respecting sovereignty, and furthering human rights. Some states, however, are attempting to revise key aspects of the international order and are acting in a manner that threatens our national security interests.

While Russia has contributed in select security areas, such as counternarcotics and counterterrorism, it also has repeatedly demonstrated that it does not respect the sovereignty of its neighbors and it is willing to use force to achieve its goals. Russia’s military actions are undermining regional security directly and through proxy forces. These actions violate numerous agreements that Russia has signed in which it committed to act in accordance with international norms, including the UN Charter, Helsinki Accords, Russia-NATO Founding Act, Budapest Memorandum, and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Iran also poses strategic challenges to the international community. It is pursuing nuclear and missile delivery technologies despite repeated United Nations Security Council resolutions demanding that it cease such efforts. It is a state-sponsor of terrorism that has undermined stability in many nations, including Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Iran’s actions have destabilized the region and brought misery to countless people while denying the Iranian people the prospect of a prosperous future.

North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technologies also contradicts repeated demands by the international community to cease such efforts. These capabilities directly threaten its neighbors, especially the Republic of Korea and Japan. In time, they will threaten the U.S. homeland as well. North Korea also has conducted cyber attacks, including causing major damage to a U.S. corporation.

We support China’s rise and encourage it to become a partner for greater international security. However, China’s actions are adding tension to the Asia-Pacific region. For example, its claims to nearly the entire South China Sea are inconsistent with international law. The international community continues to call on China to settle such issues cooperatively and without coercion. China has responded with aggressive land reclamation efforts that will allow it to position military forces astride vital international sea lanes.

None of these nations are believed to be seeking direct military conflict with the United States or our allies. Nonetheless, they each pose serious security concerns which the international community is working to collectively address by way of common policies, shared messages, and coordinated action.

As part of that effort, we remain committed to engagement with all nations to communicate our values, promote transparency, and reduce the potential for miscalculation. Accordingly, we continue to invest in a substantial military-to-military relationship with China and we remain ready to engage Russia in areas of common interest, while urging both nations to settle their disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law.

[oxmox 73]

US General: Putin more dangerous than Islamic State

US General Joseph Dunford has named the greatest threats to the United States.

He considers the nuclear power of Russia more dangerous than the terrorist militia "Islamic State".

Even China and North Korea could be for the United States dangerously.

Russia and China are in the US general's opinion an even greater threat to the US than the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) . " Russia represents the biggest threat is to our national security ", the designated Chief of Staff Joseph Dunford said Thursday at a congressional hearing.

The nuclear power could violate the sovereignty of US allies and was an "existential threat to the United States". The behavior of Moscow was "nothing short of alarming."

Dunford: China and North Korea are threats

Second follows China because of its military capabilities and its presence in the Pacific. But reason is also the local conflict of interest with the United States. "It does not mean that we consider China as an enemy." The third biggest threat is North Korea because its missiles could hit even the American mainland.

FOCUS

The biggest threat for the US is probably themselves....

Seems like the US cant live without a threat and their $600 billion army...

In 2002 the Iraq under Saddam Hussein is a threat to the US security,

in 2003 Terrorism may be the biggest threat the US have ever faced,

in 2007 China spying 'biggest US threat'

in 2009 Obama says al Qaeda still greatest threat to U.S.

In 2010 Obama says Nuclear terrorism is 'the single biggest threat' to U.S.

in 2011 Iran now top threat to U.S. says military official

in the same year 2011 the Director of National Intelligence calls China the "most mortal" threat to the United States,

same year again, 2011 chairman of the Joints Chief Staff declares DEBT is the most threat to national security,

In 2012 Iran poses a threat to U.S. interests and national security, according to top officials in the intelligence community.

In 2013 - US: Chemical attacks make Syria top security risk; President Barack Obama has declared Syria a national security threat

In 2014 the Islamic State militants pose 'biggest threat' to US, top US officials have warned.

In 2015 the US declares Venezuela a national security threat

Edited July 12, 2015 by oxmox

[vilas 473]

http://img5.demotywatoryfb.pl//uploads/201507/1437430109_nkal3z_600.jpg

16 states declared ban on Sharia law application

[mistyronin 1181]

(Defense One) US Marines Say F-35 is Ready for War
 

The Pentagon has declared the U.S. Marine Corps version of the F-35 joint strike fighter ready for war, seven years later than planned in 2001, when the U.S.launched its ambitious project to build a common warplane for the military and its closest allies.

[St. Jimmy 272]

A Doctors Without Borders hospital in Afghanistan was struck accidentally after Afghan forces called for air support from the American military, Gen. John Campbell, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said Monday.

Saturday's bombardment in Kunduz has sparked international outrage. It killed 12 medical staff members and at least 10 patients, three of them children, Doctors Without Borders said. Another 37 people were wounded, according to the global charity group, which works in conflict zones to help victims of war and other tragedies.

Every person who died at the hospital was Afghan, the group said.

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/05/asia/afghanistan-doctors-without-borders-hospital/

 

Well that didn't go like expected.

[drebin052 323]

Winning hearts and minds...sigh.

 

Should wait until the investigation is clear first before jumping to conclusions though. There's still too much bureaucracy over who's at fault.

[Tonci87 163]

Well, one thing can´t be denied, the bomb was an american one, so the fuckup is mostly on them....

[St. Jimmy 272]

Yes naturally the bomber just follows orders. We will hear maybe later was he given wrong information from Afghans or what went wrong but the fact still is that it was bombed by American. Doctors Without Borders isn't just a small charity group so it's big tragedy for them.

[Tonci87 163]

I wonder if the hospital had a big red cross, or half moon painted on its roof, do they do that over there?

[ProfTournesol 956]

MSF were communicating several times per day their GPS coordinates to US, Afghan and Taliban authorities.

[schadler17 36]

Both sides are at fault, Americans and the afghan government. The afghans should have confirmed their target for one, and the Americans should have done their own intelligence gathering on the target to confirm what the afghans were telling them. That is why we train them before we give them the authorization to call in such strikes, so we don't have disasters like that.

If I give you a gun and tell you to go kill someone and you go do it, I'm just as guilty as you are, because I supplied you and told you what to do and how to do it.

Simply enough, before you pull the trigger, collect your own Intel on who your firing at.otherwise, shit like this happens and the people behind you are left picking up the pieces, while both sides point fingers at eachother.

[oxmox 73]

New Edward Snowden? Whistleblower leaks documents on US drone killings

 

• Strikes carried out 'based on unreliable intel'
• 90% of those killed were not intended target
• One strike killed 219 people - only 35 were 'targets'
• Same team released Snowden documents

 

 

Classified documents, leaked to investigative news website The Intercept, have revealed the inner workings of the secret US drone program in the Middle East and Central Asia.

 

 

Additional documents on high-value kill/capture operations in Afghanistan buttress previous accounts of how the Obama administration masks the true number of civilians killed in drone strikes by categorizing unidentified people killed in a strike as enemies, even if they were not the intended targets.

 

The slides also paint a picture of a campaign in Afghanistan aimed not only at eliminating al Qaeda and Taliban operatives, but also at taking out members of other local armed groups.

 

These secret slides help provide historical context to Washington’s ongoing wars, and are especially relevant today as the U.S. military intensifies its drone strikes and covert actions against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

 

“Anyone caught in the vicinity is guilty by association,†the source said. When “a drone strike kills more than one person, there is no guarantee that those persons deserved their fate. … So it’s a phenomenal gamble.â€

 

The documents show that during a five-month stretch of the campaign, nearly nine out of 10 people who died in airstrikes were not the Americans’ direct targets.

By February 2013, Haymaker airstrikes had resulted in no more than 35 “jackpots,†a term used to signal the neutralization of a specific targeted individual, while more than 200 people were declared EKIA — “enemy killed in action.â€

 

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/drone-papers_561ed361e4b0c5a1ce61f463

 

 

 

check this out:

 

--> THE DRONE PAPERS

 

The Intercept has obtained a cache of secret documents detailing the inner workings of the U.S. military’s assassination program in Afghanistan, Yemen, and Somalia. The documents, provided by a whistleblower, offer an unprecedented glimpse into Obama’s drone wars.

 

The full report on the leaked documents and US drone program can be The DRONE PAPERS (The Intercept)