Friends, this article is nine days old, but it should give us pause to consider how a situation like this one could ignite the unthinkable, WWIII.

Keep in mind what Einstein prophetically remarked:  I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. 

Sharon

Consortium News
August 21, 2016

US Hawks Advance a War Agenda in Syria

By Daniel Lazare

Exclusive: The U.S. government, having illegally sent American troops into Syria, is now threatening to attack the Syrian military if it endangers those troops, an Orwellian twist that marks a dangerous escalation, explains Daniel Lazare.

By Daniel Lazare

War, like politics, is filled with surprises. While the focus in Syria has been on a U.S.-backed rebel offensive in Aleppo that has succeeded in turning tables on Bashar al-Assad’s government, a new and unexpected flashpoint has developed 200-plus miles to the east where U.S. jets are engaged in a dangerous showdown with Syrian warplanes near the city of Hasakah.

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CounterPunch
August 25, 2016

by Mike Whitney

The main architect of Washington’s plan to rule the world has abandoned the scheme and called for the forging of ties with Russia and China. While Zbigniew Brzezinski’s article in The American Interest titled “Towards a Global Realignment” has largely been ignored by the media, it shows that powerful members of the policymaking establishment no longer believe that Washington will prevail in its quest to extent US hegemony across the Middle East and Asia. Brzezinski, who was the main proponent of this idea and who drew up the blueprint for imperial expansion in his 1997 book The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and Its Geostrategic Imperatives, has done an about-face and called for a dramatic revising of the strategy. Here’s an excerpt from the article in the AI:

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Friends, reread Tom Friedman’s eloquent interview with George Kennan, the titan of US-Russia relations….and weep.

What opportunities we have missed. Even today it’s not too late to do a course correction. But….is it possible with the current political “mice” already in place and others coming into office behind them?

Only a massive “public awareness” effort to wake up American citizens across this country will prevent more wars and global disaster. And if such a effort is possible, in the beginning it will need to be accomplished outside of mainstream media….which at this moment would not cover it.

For the future of our families, communities, country, and peoples across our world, would you be ready to give input to and to participate in a high-level, respectable “public awareness” educational campaign starting in January 2017? This would not be about protests and demonstrations (although at times these have their place). I’m more interested in activities that would be carried out by our mainstream professionals and business communities across America.

If so, please let me know.

Sharon

…. and please, please read the interview below. Thanks!

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The Intercept
August 19, 2016

By Lee Fang

The escalating anti-Russian rhetoric in the U.S. presidential campaign comes in the midst of a major push by military contractors to position Moscow as a potent enemy that must be countered with a drastic increase in military spending by NATO countries.

Weapon makers have told investors that they are relying on tensions with Russia to fuel new business in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and modest increases in its military budget.

In particular, the arms industry — both directly and through its arsenal of hired-gun, think-tank experts and lobbyists – is actively pressuring NATO member nations to hike defense spending in line with the NATO goal for member states to spend at least 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense.

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Dear Friends,

I’m pleased to share with you an exceptional analytical piece concerning Putin and Russia. John Pepper, the author, has served in numerous notable positions and roles, including former CEO and Board Chairman of Procter & Gamble. John’s decision to take P&G to Russia (to both sell and manufacture there) has been a huge success story.

While introducing P&G to Russia, John immersed himself in the country’s history and culture, as well as in the worlds and lives of his Russian managers and staff. He is widely known as a noble American businessman who exudes ethics, integrity and the spirit of “giving back” to the countries in which his businesses have operated.

While John was working in St.Petersburg, he led an initiative to develop a high quality School of Business. He began a funding campaign and obtained the support of the academic leadership at St. Petersburg State University. Thanks largely to his efforts, the city gave the University two all-but-destroyed 19th century palaces for the first buildings of the new School of Management. It was here that my life intersected with John’s work. The project needed a respected US-based 501C3 organization through which to receive donations and pay bills for renovating the two palaces. I was delighted by the concept and invited to sit on the board. CCI became the U.S. NGO for this amazing project––giving me the opportunity to begin a long-term friendship with this remarkable man.

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