When my partner examined Vladimir Putin’s demeanor at the meetings with US President Donald Trump in Hamburg, her body language assessment troubled me. A former journalist for the Romanian Ministry of Defense, she was trained in the science of evaluating what gamblers often call “tells”. When she looked at Putin and exclaimed “He’s absolutely disgusted and disheartened”, I knew US-Russia relation were not going to improve anytime soon. What I did not suspect though, was that the man elected American president on a platform of reconciliation and peace, would fish-flop to declare Russia our enemy. Here is the gist of the new globalist front on Russia and the East, aided and abetted by Donald J. Trump.
H.R. 3364 – An American Infamy
Before I lay out what this new sanctions law means, let me frame such declarations in an historic context. It was back in July 1941, when then President Franklin D. Roosevelt seized all Japanese assets in the United States in retaliation for the Japanese occupation of French Indo-China. The net effect of those sanctions was that Japan was forced to either break ties with Germany and the Axis and leave China, or to attack the United States of America at Pearl Harbor. When F.D.R. enfored those sanctions, Japan lost access to three-fourths of its overseas trade and 88 percent of its imported oil. Given that the Japanese oil reserves at the time could only last three years, Emperor Hirohito was forced into a very predictable situation.
Fast forward to 2017 and the United States has become much more proactive and aggressive, for Russia has not as of yet invaded anybody. No civilized citizen of Earth is under any Russian gun. But the narrative goes forward so that the ill-informed will fear Russia. What you witness taking place is a redux of a prelude to war. Whether or not we see a new Cold War with the incumbent arms race, or a hot war where Russia and allies embattle NATO and allies is wholly depended on circumstances we cannot know. What is readily seen in the hostile wording of the law is the intent to create more distance in between America and Russia. The Russia component of the law also aimed at Iran and North Korea, “Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act of 2017” contains wording that coincides with the Fake News narrative inciting Russophobia. Let me demonstrate by quoting from the section following that which decrees the US State Department will work with Ukraine to increase that country’s energy security. With regard to terrorism, the law attempts to codify Russia in with states perceived to be rogues. But more importantly, the law insinuates it is Russia that has been funding terrorism. Turning to the rough wording:
“The bill directs the Department of the Treasury to develop a national strategy for combating the financing of terrorism, and includes the Secretary of the Treasury on the National Security Council.”
Breaking this down, it has been the belief of many of my colleagues that war with Russia has been a primary or secondary goal of the globalists since the effort to subdivide Russia’s wealth failed. When Vladimir Putin banished corrupt oligarchs who were in collusion with western industrialists, the new liberal order launched immediately into a “plan B”, a redux of the Cold War. If this is successful, America and her allies will have set humanity back sixty years or more. The end result will be decades more conflict, trillions that could have been used wisely lost, and no telling how many innocents dead or displaced. The signing of this bill may truly be labeled “An American Infamy” if the future tells the truth.
Too Fast and Too Furiously Stupid
While I searched for the various parts of this law to convey to you, I ran across the basis for the Russian section, “S.1221 – Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act of 2017”, which outlines the thinking and actions to be leveled against Russia. I found it curious that this section did not even have a summary of the texts drafted yet. I wonder now at the speed with which these American lawmakers built this legislation. But more importantly, the inaccuracies and outright lies spewed out in this law mimic the worst kind of tabloid journalism. As an analyst and journalist, I cannot help noticing the similarities in tone and accusatory framing in congressional lingo and the linguistics employed by the Washington Post, New York Times, and the rest of the western media. See if you can recognize a narrative in the “Findings” section:
“(1) The Government of the Russian Federation has sought to exert influence throughout Europe and Eurasia, including in the former states of the Soviet Union, by providing resources to political parties, think tanks, and civil society groups that sow distrust in democratic institutions and actors, promote xenophobic and illiberal views, and otherwise undermine European unity. The Government of the Russian Federation has also engaged in well-documented corruption practices as a means toward undermining and buying influence in European and Eurasian countries.”
For keen observers who are reading, I know I do not need to remind you of the hundreds of think tanks, NGOs, and political activism the Americans, British, and Europeans have set against Russia. By comparison, the administration of Vladimir Putin has meager resources indeed. But rather than mince words, let me just deal with each section of the Senate bill here.
In subsection (2) the Washington policymakers content that; “The Government of the Russian Federation has largely eliminated a once-vibrant Russian-language independent media sector and severely curtails free and independent media within the borders of the Russian Federation.”
Whether this is true, or not, the point of law is that what Russia does within its own borders is of no legal concern to the people of the United States of America. Putting sanctions on Russia under the questionable legal premise here is ludicrous.
Subsection (3) of the legislation before President Trump now cites the Ukraine’s Accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Congress of the United States is blaming Russia for reacting to proxy wars incited by western companies, NGOs, the CIA, and the United States State Department under Barack Obama. This contention of mine is, in fact, contestable. However, the preponderance of evidence today shows the United States and western allies engaged in regime change worldwide. The point here is, the American people have not had decisive knowledge to make any such determination… and the Congress has not shown any to them.
Subsection (4) attempts to reprimand Russia for maintaining influence in the Republic of Georgia (where everyone speaks Russian), South Ossetia, and Abkhazia. But the question at this stage is; “Why at this late date is this issue brought forward?” I think the “why” is clear.
Subsection (5) deals with the alleged non-compliance by Russia in the so-called Minsk Agreement. The fact of this matter is, civilians in the Donbass region are still subjected to indiscriminate shelling from the Kiev junta right under the noses of the OSCE. The non-compliance aspect of this law is null and devoid of any reason, and with a few resources I can prove it.
Subsection (6) accuses the Russian Federation of non-compliance in the US-Soviet Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles treaty, which the Obama administration destroyed by deploying Aegis ABM systems in Romania. Again, Russia is being chastised for the only logical countermeasures Vladimir Putin has had during these new provocations. Secondly, the truth of this matter has been kept from the American people, which is in effect an act of treason by Congresspersons.
The latter decrees and recommendations of this legislation essentially give carte blanche to the neo-cons and new liberals to continue this propaganda and subversion war on Russia and her allies. Every word of these documents is a caveat for a Cold War that will make the past one seem irrelevant. There are many reasons for my asserting this, reasons I will not enter into here. Suffice it to say Russia has no “cushion” like the Soviet Union did in Cold War I. This current crisis is a “winner take all” proposition, with extremely valuable Russian resources in the balance.
In no uncertain terms this law targets Vladimir Putin personally and politically. For the astute observer, the mere drafting of the law with this wording certifies all that we moderators have said in the past three years. There is no proof of any harm or danger to the people of the United States of America by any Russian, and especially not Vladimir Putin. Given the enormity of the media and covert war against his administration, it’s inconceivable that any proof of his wrongdoing even exists. This is evidenced by the fact NO ONE has shown anything tangible to prove his wrongdoing. Allegations, assertions, and lively rhetoric have taken the place of prima fascia evidence for Washington.
And under these pretexts our government earmarks more taxpayer dollars for the support of NGOs already proven to be in cahoots with the likes of George Soros and ousted oil oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky and the like. To cite the texts again as to “methods” for carrying out the anti-Russia initiative, the law states that:
“…nongovernmental or international organizations, such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the National Endowment for Democracy, the Black Sea Trust, the Balkan Trust for Democracy, the Prague Civil Society Centre, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, the European Endowment for Democracy, and related organizations.”
Our Duty Is to Regulate Our Government
This law is the most dangerous piece of legislation since before World War II. The legislation does not need to be overlooked, for it is damnable for a multitude of reasons. Not the least of these is a section that forces the President of the United States to provide a yearly report on the activities of media organizations like RT, Sputnik, or any media or persons connected with Russia. No one has so far discussed this, but the texts suggest a new level of censorship to be enforced.
“In General.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes a description of media organizations that are controlled and funded by the Government of the Russian Federation, and any affiliated entities, whether operating within or outside the Russian Federation, including broadcast and satellite-based television, radio, Internet, and print media organizations.”
Under this section of the law, anyone uttering a dissenting view on the globalist narrative can be put under intense scrutiny. There is also a hint at a cohesive effort in conjunction with a similar EU initiative, as well as with the so-called “Truth Ministry” of Russia. Again, the wording of these laws is too similar for any coincidence to exits. At least this is my view as an expert in media and PR.
Finally, the setting up of a so-called “countering Russian influence fund” is reflects on a form of arrogant stupidity I cannot even express. I don’t suppose anybody in Washington ever considered that funding counter-influence is in fact “illicit influencing”, when all is said and done. It is no secret by now that major media players inside Europe are already controlled by globalist interests. Bertelsmann and Axel Springer come to mind, but the ultimate list of contravening media is very long.
It’s my analysis that if President Donald Trump signs this law into effect it will certify he has rolled over on his campaign promises to mediate world affairs. In my opinion, the body language of Vladimir Putin after meeting with Trump in Hamburg signified an end to any chance of reconciliation in between Russia and America. This law will signal a new “Red Scare” aimed at the utter destruction of Russia – and with it – the utter destruction of peace and prosperity on our planet. As Americans, as citizens of the world at large, it is our duty to moderate and control these politicians. If we do not……
I only hope I am wrong.
Phil Butler, is a policy investigator and analyst, a political scientist and expert on Eastern Europe, exclusively for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”.
