Stephen Lendman

Early in his administration, Trump is guilty of horrendous crimes of war and against humanity in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere - governing lawlessly like his predecessors, escalating aggression, not ending it.

Delegating authority for military operations to Defense Secretary Mattis, National Security Advisor McMaster, Joint Chiefs chairman Dunford and other Pentagon commanders doesn’t shift responsibility of the buck stopping with him on all administration policies, none more serious than waging war.

Civilians in harm’s way pay the greatest price in all US war theaters. Pentagon terror-bombing massacres them indiscriminately in Syria and Iraq, all targets considered legitimate ones, including residential neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, mosques with worshipers at prayer, and others.

Pentagon claims about taking great care to avoid or minimize civilian casualties are bald-faced lies. High crimes are either denied or blamed on others. So-called investigations when conducted are whitewashed to absolve US forces of accountability.

Most Americans have no idea about high crimes committed in their name, with their tax dollars, in all US war theaters because media scoundrels are part of the cover-up - either reporting nothing or sanitizing what’s ongoing.

A lengthy New York Times report on Mosul carnage focused largely on tactics, not accountability - no explanation of US war crimes, nothing about indiscriminate terror-bombing, silence on the rape and destruction of the city.

Liberation isn’t the objective. Iraqi ground forces are as vicious as ISIS, shelling and killing their own people indiscriminately.

Nothing from The Times about the disturbing reality on the ground, including America’s responsibility for creating and supporting ISIS, along with other terrorist groups.

Addressing the March 17 Mosul attack, The Times understated the carnage - at least 237 civilians slaughtered in cold-blood, likely many more once bodies are pulled from rubble, in some cases entire families.

The Times cited US military officials, “insist(ing) there have been no changes to its rules of engagement that lessen the risk for civilians.”

It quoted Defense Secretary James (“mad dog”) Mattis’ Big Lie, claiming “(w)e go out of our way to always do everything humanly possible to reduce loss of life or injury among innocent people.”

In all US war theaters, the truth is polar opposite. Overwhelming evidence, from WW II, Korea, Southeast Asia, Yugoslavia, and all post-9/11 wars of aggression, proves Washington’s culpability for horrendous mass slaughter and destruction, affecting civilians and combatants alike.

America is the most vicious, unaccountable aggressor in world history, responsible for millions of casualties, civilians harmed most of all - directly from war, related violence, preventable diseases, starvation, displacement, along with overall deprivation and desperation.

Government and military officials ignore responsibility for the appalling human toll in all US wars. Nuremberg-level high crimes are committed in all theaters - accountability never forthcoming.

Discussing military operations in Mosul, neocon/CIA-connected Washington Post editors lied, accusing Russian and Syrian forces of “deliberate(ly) bombing…civilian targets, including hospitals, food stores and aid convoys, at the cost of thousands of lives,” claiming:

“In Mosul…Iraqi counterterrorism forces…limit(ed) the use of artillery and airstrikes to avoid civilian deaths, winning praise from humanitarian groups,” adding:

“A (March 17) US airstrike (on) Mosul may now tarnish that record…Confusion still surrounds the incident.

“Iraqi military authorities” were cited, claiming ISIS booby traps or car-bombing responsibility for what happened.

Fact: Russian and Syrian forces scrupulous try avoiding civilian casualties - why liberating Aleppo entirely from US-supported al-Nusra terrorists took so long.

Fact: No Russian or Syrian airstrikes targeted hospitals, aid convoys or other nonmilitary sites. Claims otherwise are Big Lies.

Fact: US terror-bombing was responsible for devastating carnage in Mosul. It was no isolated incident.

Fact: Since US-led Iraq and Syria terror-bombing began in 2014, thousands of civilians in harm’s way were massacred in cold-blood.

Fact: Coverup and/or denial follow all reported incidents of US-led airstrikes, killing civilians in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere.

The vast majority of attacks go unreported - responsible for millions of post-9/11 casualties, an incomprehensible human toll.

US rules of engagement ignore international law. Washington rules override them. Claims otherwise are Big Lies.

GW Bush bragged about being a wartime president. So did Obama throughout every day of his tenure.

So far, Trump is following the same pattern, responsible for devastating carnage on his watch on the phony pretext of combating terrorism Washington supports - likely continuing without letup, perhaps new wars planned against other nations.

America’s permanent war agenda threatens humanity’s survival. Is catastrophic thermonuclear confrontation just a matter of time?

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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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