Is Peace or War at Hand?
By Paul Craig Roberts
At this time we do not know the outcome of the meeting in Moscow between Merkel, Hollande, and Putin.
The
meeting with Putin was initiated by Merkel and Hollande, because they
are disturbed by the aggressive position that Washington has taken
toward Russia and are fearful that Washington is pushing Europe into a
conflict that Europe does not want. However, Merkel and Hollande cannot
resolve the NATO/EU/Ukraine situation unless Merkel and Hollande are
willing to break with Washington’s foreign policy and assert the right
as sovereign states to conduct their own foreign policy.
Unless
Washington’s war-lust has finally driven Europeans to take control over
their own fate, the most likely outcome of the Putin-Merkel-Hollande
meeting will be more meetings that go nowhere. If Merkel and Hollande
are not negotiating from a position of independence, one likely outcome
after more meetings will be that Merkel and Hollande will say, in order
to appease Washington, that they tried to reason with Putin but that
Putin was unreasonable.
Based
on Lavrov’s meeting in Munich with the Europeans, the hope for any sign
of intelligence and independence in Europe seems misplaced. Russian
diplomacy relied on European independence, but as Putin has acknowledged
Europe has shown no independence from Washington. Putin has said that
negotiating with vassals is pointless. Yet, Putin continues to negotiate
with vassals.
Perhaps
Putin’s patience is finally paying off. There are reports that Germany
and France oppose Washington’s plan to send weapons to Ukraine. French
president Hollande now supports autonomy for the break-away republics in
Ukraine. His predecessor, Sarkozy, said that Crimea chose Russia and we
cannot blame them, and that the interests of Americans and Europeans
diverge when it comes to Russia. Germany’s foreign minister says that
Washington’s plan to arm Ukraine is risky and reckless. And on top of it
all, Cyprus has offered Russia an air base.
We
will see how Washington responds to the French statements that European
interests with regard to Russia diverge from Washington’s. Washington
does not recognize any valid interest except its own. Therefore, it has
been fruitless for Russia to negotiate with Washington and Washington’s
EU vassals. To come to an agreement with Washington has required
Russia’s surrender to Washington’s terms. Russia must hand over Crimea
and Russia’s warm water port, and Moscow must stand aside while the
Russian people in eastern and southern Ukraine, the “break-away”
provinces, are slaughtered. Russia must support the hostile regime in
Kiev with loans, grants, and low gas prices.
That
is the only deal Russia has been able to get from Washington, because
the EU has supported Washington’s line. With French presidents
reportedly now saying, “We are part of a common civilization with
Russia,” Europe is on the road to independence.
Can
Europe stay on this road, or can Washington bring Germany and France
back in line? A false flag attack could do it. Washington is a control
freak, and the neoconservative ideology of US hegemony has made
Washington even more of a control freak. Europe with an independent
foreign policy means a great loss of control by Washington. If
Washington retains or regains control, I see two clear options for
Russia.
One
is to disengage totally from the West. The West is a morally depraved
and economically bankrupt entity. There is no reason for a decent
country like Russia to wish to be integrated with the evil that is the
West. Russia has the option of abandoning the dollar payments system
and all financial relationships with the West.
By
trying to be part of the West, Russia made a strategic error that
endangered the independence of Russia. Russia found herself dependent
on Western financial systems that gave Washington power over Moscow and
allowed Washington to place economic sanctions on Russia.
It
was Russia’s desire to be part of the West that made possible
Washington’s sanctions and Washington’s propaganda against Russia.
It
was Russia’s desire to be accepted by the West that produced the weak
Russian response to Washington’s audacious coup in Kiev. Washington is
using Ukraine against Russia. After seizing control in Kiev, it is
unlikely that Washington will accept a peaceful solution in which the
“break-away” provinces are permitted to become autonomous republics of
Ukraine.
Is negotiation with Washington possible when Washington only wants conflict?
Russia’s
other clear option is to destroy NATO by ceasing to sell energy
resources to NATO members. The countries would choose energy over NATO
membership.
Why
should Russia empower its obvious enemies by meeting their energy
needs? Russia could also encourage Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal
to default on their loans and rely on Russia, China, and the BRICS Bank
for financing. China holds a massive amount of dollars. Why not use them
to break up Washington’s European empire?
Russia could also default on its loans to the West. Why should Russia pay an enemy that is trying to destroy her?
If
Europe cannot gain its independence, at some point Russia will either
have to surrender to Washington or demonstrate decisive action that
causes the Washington’s European vassal states to understand the cost of
vassalage to Washington and decide to abandon Washington in the
interest of their own survival.
Alternatively,
Russia can forget about the West and integrate with China and the East.
Considering Washington’s hegemonic posture, there is no counterparty
for Russia’s diplomacy.
Predictions
are difficult, because policies can have unintended consequences and
produce black swan events. For example, the Islamic State is the
unintended consequence of Washington’s wars in the Muslim world. The
Islamic State was created out of the Islamist forces that Washington
assembled against Gaddafi in Libya. These forces were then sent to
overthrow Assad in Syria. As Muslims flocked to ISIS’s banner and its
military prowess grew, ISIS realized that it was a new and independent
force consisting of radicalized Muslims.
Radicalized Muslims are
tired of Western domination and control of Muslim lands. Out of ISIS’s
self-awareness, a new state has been created, redrawing the Middle
Eastern boundaries created by the British and French.
It
is curious that Iran and Russia regard the Islamic State as a more
dangerous enemy than Washington and are supporting Washington’s moves
against the Islamic State. As the Islamic State is capable of disrupting
Washington’s policy in the Middle East, Iran and Russia have an
incentive to finance and arm the Islamic State. It is in Washington, not in the Islamic State, where Sauron resides and is gathering up the rings in order to control them all.
In
their attempts to negotiate with Europeans, Putin and Lavrov should
notice the total unwillingness of the EU to negotiate with its own
members. Right in front of our eyes we see Merkel and Hollande driving
their fellow Greek EU compatriots into the ground.
The
EU has told the new Greek government that the EU doesn’t care a whit
about Greece and its people. The Europeans only care that they don’t get
stuck with the cost of the bad loans the German and Dutch banks made to
Greek governments in the past.
As I described in my book, The Failure of Laissez Faire Capitalism,
one purpose of the “sovereign debt crisis” is to establish the
principle that private lenders are not responsible for their bad
judgment. Instead, the peoples of the country who were not parties to
the loans are responsible. The EU is using the crisis not only to
protect powerful private interests, but also to establish that
over-indebted countries lose control of their fiscal affairs to the EU.
In other words, the EU is using the crisis to centralize authority in
order to destroy country sovereignty.
As
Washington and the EU do not respect the sovereignty of Greece, one of
its own, why does the Russian government think that Washington and the
EU respect the sovereignty of Russia or Ukraine? Or of India, Brazil and
other South American countries, or China. Currently Washington is
trying to overthrow the governments of Cuba, Venezuela, Ecuador,
Bolivia, and Argentina.
Washington respects no one. Thus, talking to Washington is a waste of time. Is this a game Russia wants to play?
King World News illustrates this article with photos. If you enjoy visuals, go here:http://kingworldnews.com/paul-craig-roberts-world-now-cusp-total-war/
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