Dear CCI Friends and Colleagues,
One must marvel at the level of wild, threatening language being tossed around these days; is it childishly irresponsible or deadly serious – or both?
Recently, Americans were shaken to learn that one of our top generals sees American troops on the ground in Europe fighting Russians if Congress fails to send more money to Ukraine. Would anyone seriously contemplate such a thing? Apparently so.
Stephen Bryen analyses the threat and the underlying assumption – that Russia must be stopped before it overtakes Europe. It is a compelling piece based on a sober, and sane, assessment of what is really happening ‘over there,’ and it is not what either General Austin or the Biden administration seem to believe. A link to Mr. Bryen’s biography and professional experience is included so that you can make your own determination on the plausibility of his perspective.
We are also providing a link to Edward Lozansky’s recent piece in New Kontinent. Mr. Lozansky, President and Founder of the American University in Moscow, brings his own unique perspective on the crisis, not just in Ukraine but in the whole of Western civilization, evidenced by these wildly irrational threats.
I hope you will consider these arguments carefully and let us know your thoughts on the matter.
And thank you for joining us in the ongoing attempt to make sense of our world!
Paula Day
Center for Citizen Initiatives
General Austin Threatens Congress – General Milley Threatens Russians
December 6, 2023
By Stephen Byren
Lloyd Austin, the US Defense Secretary, threatened Congress over aid for Ukraine. Austin said that if Congress does not appropriate $61 billion in aid for Ukraine it is “very likely” US troops on the ground in Europe will be fighting Russia.
Republican Senators walked out of the briefing after twenty minutes.
What is behind this threat is the notion that Russia, after it finishes with Ukraine, will launch attacks in Europe.
Objectively there is no evidence that Russia threatens anyone in Europe even though a lot of Russians think they should. After all, Europe is providing massive military aid, intelligence and technical help to Ukraine in the war with Russia, along with training Ukrainian troops and helping Ukraine develop its war plans. Stocks of European weapons, meant for NATO defense, have been shipped to Kiev. Most of them won’t be replaced for decades, if ever.
From Russia’s point of view the real land grabber is NATO. After all, despite Russia’s warnings and promises made to Russia that were blatantly violated, NATO expanded in the Balkans and in Eastern Europe. (The Russians were frequently assured, starting with former President Bill Clinton, that NATO would not expand.)
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Stephen Bryen, Senior Fellow – Yorktown Institute (Bio)
War in Ukraine as an indicator of the gravest crisis of Western civilization – New Kontinent