Stephen Lendman

US war games increasingly take place near Russian and Chinese borders - reckless provocations risking direct confrontations.

The latest ones are ongoing in Romania, days after Washington activated its offensive missile system in the country targeting Russia.

In a May 12 ceremony, US-installed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ludicrously said the Alliance “is committed to Romania’s security” - despite it facing no threats. Stoltenberg claiming “missile threats from outside the Euro-Atlantic area” recklessly perverts truth, a phony pretext for acting aggressively against Russia.

Around 350 combat troops from America, Britain, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Serbia took part in Platinum Eagle 16.1, ending May 16.

Claiming it’s to “promote regional stability” is polar opposite its intent. According to US Marine Lt. Col. Justin Ansel:

“The 1st Battalion Marines is spread out over Eastern Europe, and the fact that we are to come here, in Romania, and train with five other nations, that really promotes regional stability.”

“Training together in peace time, those who train together will fight well together.” He failed to explain why so many US-led military exercises take place, preparing for future combat when no threats exist - other than from America and its rogue allies.

Tired old canards about nonexistent “Russian aggression” lost credibility long ago. In late April, the Pentagon deployed two F-22 stealth fighters to Mihail Kogalniceanu air base in southeast Romania.

General Timothy Ray said their mission is to “defeat any possible threat,” turning truth on its head, adding they increase “the defense of Europe, the defense of the North-Atlantic Alliance, to improve the security in South Eastern-Europe…as a result of the aggression by Russia that has brought so much instability to this part of the world over the past two or three years.”

Anti-Russian accusations are never supported by credible evidence. Moscow has plenty to back its claims of US-led NATO provocations.

In February, NATO defense ministers agreed to strengthen the Alliance’s eastern flank near Russia’s borders. Asked what threat Moscow poses, Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz’s explanation fell flat.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and 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 World War III".

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

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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