Stephen Lendman

Russia is vilified for its sovereign independence, Putin’s multi-world polarity advocacy, his opposition to imperial wars, refusal to be subservient to US interests, and support for mutual cooperation among all nations.

Conservative senior Weekly Standard editor Christopher Caldwell said “he rescued (Russia), and gave it coherence and purpose.”

He “refused…to accept…a subservient role in an American-run world system drawn up by foreign politicians and business leaders.”

Russians “revere him.” He “restrained” oligarchs looting the country, colluding with Western interests. He “restored” Russia’s global standing, strengthened its military, saving the country from Western dominance.

He’s a national hero, an antidote to destructive Western policies, responsible for so much harm to so many for so long.

Relentless US propaganda has most Americans irrationally fearing and distrusting Russia and Putin.

His spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it regrettable, saying they’re victimized by slanderous fake news.

“We’re patient enough to wait until we understand what are the approaches of the present administration,” Peskov explained.

“We understand that they - the present administration - still needs time to be more precise in formulating their main ideas in terms of Russia. The Russian side is ready” to improve bilateral relation when the “American side is ready.”

It requires both sides respecting the other’s interests, especially with regard to national security.

On Friday at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Secretary of State Tillerson repeated the same Big Lies about “Russian agitation and Russian aggression” - saying NATO is committed to “countering” it.

His remarks sounded like Kerry and Hillary never left, expressing deplorable hostility toward Russia, risking direct confrontation.

He lied claiming US-led NATO’s “top national defense priority…is fighting terrorism” - the scourge America created and supports.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern about Tillerson falsely accusing Russia of “aggression,” maintaining the “myth of a ‘Russian threat…and necessity (for NATO) to meet (it) collectively.”

“We have a legitimate question: can we expect any constructive approaches in the Russian-NATO relations when the alliance is stubbornly sticking to its old patterns, when the United States and its allies are obsessed with building up their military presence at our borders, justifying it with the necessity of ‘containing Russia?’ “

“(W)e are being drawn into a confrontational paradigm of relations based on the logic of military confrontation.”

“Notably, no signs are seen of the alliance’s readiness to resume practical cooperation in the sphere of our common interests, to move towards addressing real security challenges, with regional terrorist threats among them.”

Last November, Russia’s ambassador to NATO Alexander Grushko said no signs suggest NATO countries are ready to abandon the so-called “Russian threat” myth.

Suspending cooperation with Moscow makes matters worse in areas of mutual interests. NATO pursues a Cold War agenda, risking it turning hot.

Russia threatens no one. US-dominated NATO threatens world peace, stability and security - Trump following the same destructive agenda as his predecessors.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at http://www.sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.