Putin and Assad Address Western Imperialism

by Stephen Lendman

US-dominated NATO is humanity's greatest threat. Its rage for war may kill us all.

Last November, Putin told Tass "(w)e are strong because we are right."

Russia alone continues going all-out for regional peace and stability. Washington recklessly pursues endless conflicts.

Yemen exploding in war is the latest example. Obama bears full responsibility for what's happening.

US-deployed Red Sea warships may join Saudi and other Gulf states' naked aggression, according to CENTCOM.

Ukraine remains in the eye of the storm. Low intensity war could explode full-force any time at Obama's discretion.

Continental Europe is threatened. America's rage for dominance risks nuclear war.

Never in human history has humanity's fate been more up for grabs than now.

Putin's commitment for world peace is humanity's best defense against neocon lunatics infesting Washington.

On March 26, he addressed a Federal Security Service (FSB) board meeting on major issues facing Russia at a time he called "not an easy one."

"The world situation has exacerbated," he said. "We witnessed growing tensions in the Middle East and a number of other areas of the world, while a state coup provoked civil war in Ukraine."

"Russia is making significant efforts to reconcile the parties and normalise the situation."

"We have already received and continue receiving thousands, even hundreds of thousands of refugees and are doing all we can to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe."

US imperial policy is hugely destructive, destabilizing and lawless.

Russia is the world's most important counterweight against policies able to destroy life on earth.

Sovereign Russian independence and forthright efforts to help people in need "caus(ed) outright irritation on the part of those we traditionally call our colleagues and partners," said Putin.

"They are using their entire arsenal of means for the so-called deterrence of Russia: from attempts at political isolation and economic pressure to large-scale information war and special services operations."

"As it was recently stated quite openly: those who disagree will have their arms twisted periodically."

"However, this does not work with Russia; it never has and never will."

"Meanwhile, NATO is developing its rapid deployment forces and building up its infrastructure near our borders."

"Attempts are being made to violate the existing nuclear parity, European and Asia-Pacific segments of the ABM system are being created at an increased pace."

"(N)ew weapons systems" are being developed to wage war from space, he said.

Attempts to bully, pressure or otherwise push around Russia won't work, he stressed.

"We have always had and will have an adequate response to all the domestic and external threats to national security," he maintained.

"The situation cannot remain like this forever and it will change and I hope for the better, including around this country."

"It will change for the better only in case if we become stronger."

Putin thanked FSB and other Russian officials for major accomplishments in the face of great obstacles.

He applauded their courage to protect Russian security and national interests.

US-dominated NATO prepares recklessly for greater war.

Russia stands resolutely for world peace and stability. Its efforts to prevent catastrophic nuclear war deserve universal support.

Bashar al-Assad hangs on valiantly as Obama's war on Syria enters its fifth year.

It continues causing devastating mass slaughter and destruction. It aroused overwhelming popular support for Assad.

Last June, he was reelected in an independently judged free, open and fair election by a nearly 90% majority.

The vast majority of Syrians can't imagine anyone else leading them. They want America's dirty hands off their country.

Assad said US-dominated Western policy in Syria and Ukraine aims to weaken Russia.

"There is a connection between the Syrian crisis and what is happening in Ukraine," he said.

"Firstly, because both countries are important for Russia. Secondly, because there is a goal in both cases to weaken Russia and create a puppet state."

"It is clear that the duty of any state is to protect the interests of the people and the country."

"And, of course, the role of the government is to implement these interests."

Assad said he "welcome(s) the expansion of Russian presence in the eastern Mediterranean, especially near our shores and in our ports."

The Tartus facility is used for maintenance and resupplying Russian Mediterranean-based warships.

Assad awaits concrete evidence of US alleged interest in dialogue after John Kerry suggested readiness for direct talks.

"We are still listening to the comments, and we have to wait for the action, and then we'll decide," Assad said.

Longstanding US duplicity gravely harmed Syria. It'll take much more than high-sounding rhetoric to change things.

"Any international changes that come about within that framework are something positive, if they are honest and have an effect on the ground," Assad said.

Talks "on the future of the Syrian president (are) for the Syrian people and all the declarations from outside do not concern us," he stressed.

Kerry's rhetoric days earlier about negotiating with Syria rang hollow.

"We'll have to negotiate," he said - on US terms alone giving Syrians no say on who'll lead them.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki clarified Kerry's comments.

She said talks "would not be, and would never be (with) Assad himself."

Washington wants his independent government toppled. It wants pro-Western stooge governance replacing it.

It wants an Israeli rival eliminated. It wants Iran isolated. It wants perpetual war and instability.

US warplanes continue bombing Syria. IS is the pretext. Syrian infrastructure the target. Regime change the objective.

America's imperial lawless may destroy life on earth. End it or it'll end us.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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