Did the Biden Administration Get the War That It Had Hoped For?
The Biden administration has been beating the war drums for weeks, and it now appears that it has gotten its wish of a military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as possibly 190,000 Russian troops surround Ukrainian territory. Russia has formally recognized the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic (as of February 21, 2022), after years of refraining from it to avoid condemnation by the United States and others; deployed troops into eastern Ukraine on a “peacekeeping” mission; and authorized, through the Federal Council (upper house of the legislature, or the Federal Assembly), President Vladimir Putin’s ability to use military force for the purpose of waging war to defend the breakaway republics or combat the West. War seems more likely now than at any point during the conflict, as the Biden administration seems intent on putting Russia in its place and utilizing American resources (including weapons transfers) in a conflict thousands of miles away. This war, of course, would not benefit the American people and could have devastating impacts (especially if nuclear war erupts), but hey, why not raise the tensions for the sake of pride?
Before the “invasion” occurred, skirmishes erupted between the Ukrainian government and the separatist forces (the Minsk Protocol kept the conflict fairly quiet for a few years, but failed overall), and Russia alleged that the Ukrainian military initiated the hostilities, while Ukraine, and of course the United States, accused separatists in Luhansk of bombing a school. The separatists claimed that it was actually the Ukrainian military that was responsible, and the Donetsk People’s Republic also indicted Ukraine for attacking local highways, while the United States issued statements suggesting that Russia is simply utilizing such claims as justification to intervene (or preparing for false flag operations). The leaders of the breakaway republics have since mobilized their forces in case of more violence committed by the Ukrainian government, as well as evacuated civilians to Russia. It is difficult to know which side is telling the truth (or perhaps they are both instigating), being that public and global sentiments are at stake in a conflict where the line between good guys and bad guys have not been fully drawn. Either way, the United States has no business getting involved or supporting a unitary government that wishes to quell the rebellion of a people that no longer wishes to be included in a greater Ukraine, and the fact that the Biden administration does not take the will of the people in the Donbass seriously shows just how hypocritical the federal government really is.
After his February 16th confident prediction came and went without incident and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had to calm the American commander-in-chief down a notch about how imminent an attack actually was, President Biden insisted that Putin’s invasion was still on schedule, by stating that we have excellent intelligence on the matter (you mean like the intelligence promising Americans that Saddam Hussein had chemical weapons?). The intelligence was, of course, not articulated or transparent, as should be the case when Americans may have to be dragged into armed conflict, but the Biden administration, in conjunction with the corporate media, continued the fearmongering in order to rally Americans around the anti-Russia nationalistic position.
The president acknowledged on his Friday, February 18 press conference that he does not know exactly what is in Putin’s mind, but then he went on to say that the Russian leader was certainly going to attack Ukraine (and move straight into Kiev) without any doubt whatsoever. Besides the obvious logical flaw in his statements, even at that point, the Ukrainian presidential advisor, Mykhailo Podoliak, was uncertain about whether an invasion was imminent, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin opined that Russia would not send troops as far as Kiev to take control of the entire country. It almost seems like President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were welcoming a war, while pretending to want to avoid one, with the constant rhetoric that served to condition the American people to the inevitable conflict that would ensue. Then, the “order” from Putin to commanders on the ground to ready for an invasion came, and the “peacekeeping” force moved into the Donbass the next day.
Ukrainian officials appeared more level-headed than American ones, even though it was their country on the line, and Biden, despite saying that diplomacy was always on the table, constantly ramped up the propaganda in favor of confrontation with Russia. If diplomacy were really on the table, the United States government would, at the very least, consider halting NATO’s expansion and troop build-ups into Russia’s backyard. Diplomacy means compromising and actually hearing the concerns of others, so the fact that the Biden administration flat out rejected Russia’s proposal without hesitation suggests that peace is not something that it is interested in achieving. Biden’s diplomacy is more like: send your troops home immediately, forget your national security concerns and the will of the people of the Donbass, and deal with us moving troops and missiles closer to your borders over the next several years, or else, face the consequences.
The immediate condemnation from the Biden administration was followed by prohibitions against Americans conducting business with separatists in Ukraine, potential economic sanctions by the Department of Treasury against anyone in Donetsk or Luhansk (for any reason), a severance of Western finance to Russia, direct targeting and freezing of assets against Russian oligarchs and two large banks (VEB and Promsvyazbank, which both finance Russia’s defense capabilities), and an attack against Russia’s “sovereign debt.” All of these actions were taken through executive edict and outside of the legislative process, but as we have become conditioned to accept as Americans, the concept of separation of powers is merely a suggestion in today’s “democracy.”
More sanctions and actions are on the table with any further Russian aggression. From the perspective of American citizens, what could go wrong? President Franklin Roosevelt only cut off Japan’s oil supply prior to the Pearl Harbor attack. Iraq was sanctioned heavily before the invasion there. The Biden administration is itching for a war, and he may just get it. He just has to convince the American people that it is our patriotic duty to hate Russia and intervene in a non-NATO country. Most Americans will fall for just about anything, so this will not be a difficult feat.
Although an invasion of Ukraine is still not likely, a miscalculated move by either the United States or Russia, like what was seen with Russian jets intercepting American aircraft and a Russian warship chasing an American submarine that breached Russian territorial waters, can escalate a fragile situation into a conventional or nuclear war between two superpowers. Neither is beneficial to the American, Russian, or Ukrainian people, but remember that American officials, members of the corporate media, and the military-industrial complex do not have the average person’s best interests at heart. Domination and profit are strong motivators.
As we grip for what comes next in the Ukraine crisis, let us be mindful that war is not inevitable, and cooler heads can prevail. However, in order for war to be avoided, American officials need to take diplomacy seriously and actually attempt to negotiate with Russia and not bully and corner the bear. The United States already convinced its puppet state of Germany to abandon (perhaps only temporarily) its Nord Stream 2 pipeline deal with Russia because it would mean European reliance on Russian oil and peaceful business transactions with an American enemy, and that is something that is not acceptable. The German and European people be damned in favor of furthering the American elites’ interests.
The corporate media has been pumping out the anti-Russia propaganda, in accordance with Biden’s interests, and there has been no consideration for how the Obama administration’s 2014 coup against the democratically-elected government of Ukraine, the referendum of overwhelming support among Crimeans to join Russia, and negative treatment by the Ukrainian government towards the people of Donetsk and Luhansk, who would prefer a less centralized government that can better address their concerns. Since most of the people of both breakaway republics are either ethnic Russians or Russian-speaking, the will of the people should be considered, but it is not. Therefore, Putin will defend his allies and continue to press the importance of Ukraine not being annexed by NATO. The ball is now in Biden’s court. How will he respond?
Thank you for reading, and please check out my book, The Global Bully, and website for more information on the Ukraine crisis and American conflict with Russia.
Before the “invasion” occurred, skirmishes erupted between the Ukrainian government and the separatist forces (the Minsk Protocol kept the conflict fairly quiet for a few years, but failed overall), and Russia alleged that the Ukrainian military initiated the hostilities, while Ukraine, and of course the United States, accused separatists in Luhansk of bombing a school. The separatists claimed that it was actually the Ukrainian military that was responsible, and the Donetsk People’s Republic also indicted Ukraine for attacking local highways, while the United States issued statements suggesting that Russia is simply utilizing such claims as justification to intervene (or preparing for false flag operations). The leaders of the breakaway republics have since mobilized their forces in case of more violence committed by the Ukrainian government, as well as evacuated civilians to Russia. It is difficult to know which side is telling the truth (or perhaps they are both instigating), being that public and global sentiments are at stake in a conflict where the line between good guys and bad guys have not been fully drawn. Either way, the United States has no business getting involved or supporting a unitary government that wishes to quell the rebellion of a people that no longer wishes to be included in a greater Ukraine, and the fact that the Biden administration does not take the will of the people in the Donbass seriously shows just how hypocritical the federal government really is.
After his February 16th confident prediction came and went without incident and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had to calm the American commander-in-chief down a notch about how imminent an attack actually was, President Biden insisted that Putin’s invasion was still on schedule, by stating that we have excellent intelligence on the matter (you mean like the intelligence promising Americans that Saddam Hussein had chemical weapons?). The intelligence was, of course, not articulated or transparent, as should be the case when Americans may have to be dragged into armed conflict, but the Biden administration, in conjunction with the corporate media, continued the fearmongering in order to rally Americans around the anti-Russia nationalistic position.
The president acknowledged on his Friday, February 18 press conference that he does not know exactly what is in Putin’s mind, but then he went on to say that the Russian leader was certainly going to attack Ukraine (and move straight into Kiev) without any doubt whatsoever. Besides the obvious logical flaw in his statements, even at that point, the Ukrainian presidential advisor, Mykhailo Podoliak, was uncertain about whether an invasion was imminent, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin opined that Russia would not send troops as far as Kiev to take control of the entire country. It almost seems like President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were welcoming a war, while pretending to want to avoid one, with the constant rhetoric that served to condition the American people to the inevitable conflict that would ensue. Then, the “order” from Putin to commanders on the ground to ready for an invasion came, and the “peacekeeping” force moved into the Donbass the next day.
Ukrainian officials appeared more level-headed than American ones, even though it was their country on the line, and Biden, despite saying that diplomacy was always on the table, constantly ramped up the propaganda in favor of confrontation with Russia. If diplomacy were really on the table, the United States government would, at the very least, consider halting NATO’s expansion and troop build-ups into Russia’s backyard. Diplomacy means compromising and actually hearing the concerns of others, so the fact that the Biden administration flat out rejected Russia’s proposal without hesitation suggests that peace is not something that it is interested in achieving. Biden’s diplomacy is more like: send your troops home immediately, forget your national security concerns and the will of the people of the Donbass, and deal with us moving troops and missiles closer to your borders over the next several years, or else, face the consequences.
The immediate condemnation from the Biden administration was followed by prohibitions against Americans conducting business with separatists in Ukraine, potential economic sanctions by the Department of Treasury against anyone in Donetsk or Luhansk (for any reason), a severance of Western finance to Russia, direct targeting and freezing of assets against Russian oligarchs and two large banks (VEB and Promsvyazbank, which both finance Russia’s defense capabilities), and an attack against Russia’s “sovereign debt.” All of these actions were taken through executive edict and outside of the legislative process, but as we have become conditioned to accept as Americans, the concept of separation of powers is merely a suggestion in today’s “democracy.”
More sanctions and actions are on the table with any further Russian aggression. From the perspective of American citizens, what could go wrong? President Franklin Roosevelt only cut off Japan’s oil supply prior to the Pearl Harbor attack. Iraq was sanctioned heavily before the invasion there. The Biden administration is itching for a war, and he may just get it. He just has to convince the American people that it is our patriotic duty to hate Russia and intervene in a non-NATO country. Most Americans will fall for just about anything, so this will not be a difficult feat.
Although an invasion of Ukraine is still not likely, a miscalculated move by either the United States or Russia, like what was seen with Russian jets intercepting American aircraft and a Russian warship chasing an American submarine that breached Russian territorial waters, can escalate a fragile situation into a conventional or nuclear war between two superpowers. Neither is beneficial to the American, Russian, or Ukrainian people, but remember that American officials, members of the corporate media, and the military-industrial complex do not have the average person’s best interests at heart. Domination and profit are strong motivators.
As we grip for what comes next in the Ukraine crisis, let us be mindful that war is not inevitable, and cooler heads can prevail. However, in order for war to be avoided, American officials need to take diplomacy seriously and actually attempt to negotiate with Russia and not bully and corner the bear. The United States already convinced its puppet state of Germany to abandon (perhaps only temporarily) its Nord Stream 2 pipeline deal with Russia because it would mean European reliance on Russian oil and peaceful business transactions with an American enemy, and that is something that is not acceptable. The German and European people be damned in favor of furthering the American elites’ interests.
The corporate media has been pumping out the anti-Russia propaganda, in accordance with Biden’s interests, and there has been no consideration for how the Obama administration’s 2014 coup against the democratically-elected government of Ukraine, the referendum of overwhelming support among Crimeans to join Russia, and negative treatment by the Ukrainian government towards the people of Donetsk and Luhansk, who would prefer a less centralized government that can better address their concerns. Since most of the people of both breakaway republics are either ethnic Russians or Russian-speaking, the will of the people should be considered, but it is not. Therefore, Putin will defend his allies and continue to press the importance of Ukraine not being annexed by NATO. The ball is now in Biden’s court. How will he respond?
Thank you for reading, and please check out my book, The Global Bully, and website for more information on the Ukraine crisis and American conflict with Russia.
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