Some background, opinions, truth, and Agitprop

‘Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that Russia's "playbook" for an invasion of Ukraine is moving forward, though he said there still is a chance for diplomacy to avert a war, CNN.com, Feb.20

“Still, Blinken said the US would continue to try to find a last-ditch diplomatic path. He said that President Joe Biden is willing to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin "at any time, in any format" if it will help prevent a war, saying the Biden administration will continue to take whatever steps it can to try to convince Moscow not to invade Ukraine.

When you think of NATO you probably think of this.

When you see how NATO has moved rapidly easterward you may be incline to say, "Well, those nations are scared of Russia."
I have to respond, "Then why didn't Finland ever feel compelled to join NATO?"

As Americans we are insular, and we forget that the problem isn't just the warmongers in Washington. There are governments in Eastern Europe that are at least as bad.

A week ago Russian gas giant Gazprom offered a 50% tariff discount for an additional gas transit to Europe. It was a modest gesture for dialogue and peace.
Washington promptly freaked out and made a wild accusation that resembles the Saddam WMD lies.

‘NATO summit threatens China, at US instigation’, Andre Damon, June 14, 2021 (w/ permission; my bolds)

(US tanks are unloaded in Antwerp, Belgium to take part in the Atlantic Resolve military exercises. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

“Members of the 30-nation NATO alliance concluded their summit Monday with a communique targeting China, declaring that it poses “systemic challenges” to the military alliance.

The wording of the document marked a significant new stage in the efforts of the United States to, in the words of US President Biden, “organize the world to take on China,” as part of a massive escalation of tensions by Washington against Beijing.

Suddenly it appears that the hyperbolic, Russophobia warmongering that has been coming out of Washington for the past four years is in danger of having consequences.

After a five month delay, Russia is ready to complete the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

It looks like Turkey and NATO are about to undergo an ugly divorce.
First up is VP Mike Pence.

(sub-titled either ‘Greeks bearing gifts to NATO, or ‘Everything you never wanted to learn about the Macedonian name change’ .)