The Last Nuclear War
It only takes one nuclear world war to end the human species. Everything people have ever built would be turned to rubble, crops would no longer grow, and we would all die.
It sounds like an impossible scenario, but our Democratic President, Joe Biden (the good one) seems hell-bent on bringing the dreams of generals and psychopaths to fruition.
Not long ago, in the past century, the US struggled mightily with its perceived enemy, the Soviet Union. For 45 years, new bombs were built, faster war planes, and larger and more powerful ships were the order of the day. There was no money left over for early childhood education for our kids, or their teachers salaries, no money for health care or decent lives, but only for the military.
Now Uncle Joe has two enemies; Russia and China. This calls for double the military budget, more bases, and even a “Space Force,” or farce.
After the Soviet Union (and socialism) went away in 1991, capitalist Russia was warmly embraced. “I’ll drink to that,” said President Boris Yeltsin. Meanwhile, NATO crept closer and closer to the Russian border.
In December 2013, Obama’s Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland was recorded as bragging about the $5 billion dollars to bring down the legally elected president of the Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, in a bloody coup. How was this much money spent? Unfortunately, we don’t have an accounting. I would guess much of it went to bribes of prominent Ukrainians, perhaps buses for western Ukraine right-wingers were rented, snipers on the roof had to be well-dressed and well-armed, and expense bills from US spooks operating in the country had to be paid. Oh, I forgot corruption, which is probably the biggest piece of the pie.
Five billion US dollars will go a long ways in a relatively poor country. The plot succeeded in breaking the 400 years of solidarity between the two barely distinguishable countries. Now the Ukraine has a stronger and more active base of fascists than any country in Europe.
Not only that, but eastern Ukraine wasn’t buying it and the two most industrialized provinces seceded and created their own countries, the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic. The chosen countries names would indicate that the two new countries are more socialistically-oriented than either Russia or Ukraine.
It’s doubtful that Russia would stand for the Ukraine becoming part of NATO. For one thing, James Baker, in 1990, allegedly promised Gorbachev that NATO would not extend its territory east of its current boundaries. He was quoted as saying “not one inch eastward.” At the time, Baker was George H.W. Bush’s right-hand man and was speaking with the authority of the president. Others who made similar statements were Bush, himself, and top German officials. But the Ukraine is very far east.
The Russians also believe, with good reason, that the West, particularly the US, were behind the coup that brought the anti-Russian regime into power (see above).
If the Ukrainians, egged on by the neocons in Washington, are foolish enough to join NATO, the Russians may see it as the straw that broke the camel’s back, and move troops into their former allies’ territory. NATO would then have a few options: 1) do nothing; 2) launch a conventional war; or 3) use battlefield nukes and begin a spiral into all-out war.
If Russia wasn’t enough, let’s take on China at the same time!
As if this wasn’t enough to occupy the Pentagon war-plotters, there is China. The US military has been provoking China in the South China Sea ever since Obama announced the “pivot to Asia.” This may have meant other things to the American Enterprise Institute and the Brookings Institute, which framed the pivot, but in reality it has meant a transfer of military weapons and supplies from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
In addition, the CIA may have poured millions into the Hong Kong riots last year, according to numerous sources. Other dubious smears have accused China of racism, kidnapping, and other anti-democratic acts. Has China really gotten so bad in the last couple of years? How do they perform as the production center of the entire world, and still have time for the new misdeeds?
There may be two schools of thought on China in the US ruling class. The military wants a violent engagement with China before it gets any stronger (see John Pilger’s excellent documentary, “War on China,” which is now free on YouTube).
The other side of this “gentlemen’s argument” about China comes from Wall Street. The Super Rich, like Apple and Tesla, have no problems contracting with Chinese firms and even buying into plants (GM) or building their own (Tesla). Not only the rich have a vested interest in China keeping the supply chain going.
Nearly all consumers have Chinese products in their homes, from iPhones to furniture and food. Small businesses, likewise, depend on China for parts to fix your refrigerator or automobile. What would happen if our military started a war that cutoff all the good stuff we use in our everyday lives? If that happened, our whole country would slide back to the 1950s.
A war with China would be a losing affair. It would be fought on their territory and we would be the invaders. One billion Chinese are not likely to take kindly to invaders who can’t even speak their language. When China was much weaker, back in 1900, the British, French, United States and other countries invaded China. The western army and mercenaries got millions of Chinese hooked on opium and then controlled the supply of the drug (a slight reprise occurred when the CIA poured crack cocaine into Black neighborhood South Central Los Angeles to make money to fund the Contra war against Nicaragua).
What would we do to the Chinese this time? Push opiates on them? Or just leave it to the nukes?
No empire lasts forever. Not the Roman Empire, not the British Empire. The Brits did have the good graces to turn the empire into a commonwealth, or just free their colonies. Maybe it’s time for the US to reconsider its angry path to self-destruction. Without a huge military budget that pays for up to 1,000 military bases around the world, we might be able to make something of this country. Perhaps we need a new slogan. How about, “Make America Live Up to Its Great Rhetoric.” You know, all that stuff about equality and anybody can be president. There have been enough wars. Let’s try giving the rest of the world a peaceful, helping hand, for once, for real.
Notes:
Snowfall - an authentic TV series on the CIA and crack cocaine in South Central L.A.
The Coming War on China - Documentary Film by John Pilger
Thank you for the education. I will share.