Stephen Lendman

America is more recklessly belligerent than any other nation in history - at war at home and abroad perpetually from inception.

A culture of violence like no other persists. The nation is permanently at war, rejects peace, risks possible nuclear denouement if the madness doesn’t stop.

Trump is America’s latest warrior president, perhaps intending to outdo his predecessors, escalating Bush/Cheney/Obama wars, threatening North Korea and Iran.

Are Russia and China next? Is unthinkable nuclear war likely? On Easter Sunday, he tweeted “(o)ur military is building and is rapidly becoming stronger than ever before. Frankly, we have no choice!”

America’s only enemies are ones it invents - pretexts for endless wars of aggression against countries threatening no one.

The nation’s resources are squandered on warmaking in multiple theaters - while vital homeland needs go begging.

In three short months, the “swamp” Trump pledged to drain is larger, more dangerous, and more in control of policymaking on his watch - filled with neocons, generals, billionaires, lobbyists and other scoundrels.

Humanity’s greatest threat is what team Trump intends ahead geopolitically. Signs are hugely worrisome.

On ABC News This Week Sunday, National Security Advisor HR McMaster urged “tough” talk with Russia, saying:

“…Russia’s support for that kind of horrible regime (meaning Syria), that is a party to that kind of a conflict, is something that has to be drawn into question as well as Russia’s subversive actions in Europe. And so I think it’s time though, now, to have those tough discussions Russia.”

On North Korea, he said “(w)hile it’s unclear, and we do not want to telegraph in any way how we’ll respond to certain incidents, it’s clear that the president is determined not to allow this kind of capability to threaten the United States.”

“Our president will take action that is in the best interest of the American people” - calling Pyongyang “provocative…destabilizing and threatening…”

“(T)his is a situation that just can’t continue. And the president has made clear that he will not accept the United States and its allies and partners in the region being under threat from this hostile regime with nuclear weapons.”

McMaster said Washington and its allies are developing a range of options to deal with North Korea.

“(T)his problem is coming to a head,” he blustered, adding “it’s time for us to undertake all actions we can…”

Asked if he’s confident China will pressure Pyongyang effectively, he said “(w)e’ll see what happens.”

Trump’s aggression on Syria’s Shayrat airbase and using its GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast Mother of All Bombs on Afghanistan perhaps signaled escalated warmaking ahead.

He indicated his intention to eliminate the North Korea “menace,” with no further elaboration.

At the DMZ in South Korea on Sunday, Vice President Pence said the US “era of strategic patience” with Pyongyang is over - repeating Trump’s warning about US unilateral action without China, if necessary.

“Either China will deal with this problem or the United States and its allies will,” he blustered.

For now, team Trump is focusing on tougher economic sanctions, a possible oil embargo requiring China to go along, punishing its banks for doing business with Pyongyang, intercepting North Korean cargo ships in international waters, cyberwar, and other covert actions.

Military force remains the other option if other measures don’t achieve US objectives.

On Sunday, China’s State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Secretary of State Tillerson spoke by phone, according to Beijing’s Foreign Ministry - providing no details of their conversation.

Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences Border Studies Institute director Lu Chao believes Pyongyang’s Sunday ballistic missile test indicated no change in its military posture.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry called Pyongyang’s Saturday military parade and missile test “a show of force that threatens the whole world.”

Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS) analyst Liu Ming said Beijing won’t likely take further action against the DPRK unless it carries out another nuclear and long-range ballistic missile test.

SASS Russian expert Li Lifan said China, Russia and Pyongyang “have taken measures to respond to any possible conflict on the Korean peninsula” - believing a military option “remains low.”

Former South China Morning Post editor-in-chief Wang Xiangwei said the worst outcome on the Korean peninsula is the status quo without resolution.

“(I)t will give Washington the perfect excuse to strengthen its military capabilities in the Pacific, or put tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea to guard against the North,” he said.

Washington rejects the obvious solution to the “Korean problem” - outreach and diplomacy with Pyongyang, recognizing its government, and waging East Asia peace.

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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.

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