Again, as with a look at his 2013 interview about the problems with the no-fly zone and regime change ideas for Syria, I found Secretary Mattis' press conference today reassuring.
The Russian President announced that Russia will officially turn to the UN in the Hague for an investigation of the chemical weapons' use in Idlib. Moscow has dismissed suggestions that the Syrian government that it backs could be behind the attack in Idlib province.
Trump's missile strike hasn't made a lot of sense as something directed at Russia or Syria, minimally damaging as it was. Or as a message worth the blowback, to placate the neocons - they'll never be satisfied until we've annihilated ourselves.
So here's another interpretation, from Ilargi:
https://www.theautomaticearth.com/2017/04/symbols-of-strength/
One airstrike does not make a war.
For instance, President Clinton bombed Iraq every week for eight years, but it took Bush to lead us into a disastrous war.
So are we going to war with the Assad regime? The rhetoric is unclear at this point, but it is alarming.
The Center for Citizen Initiatives trains people like us to be Citizen Ambassadors for the American People. They then arrange our trips to nations where we can act as authentic Ambassadors — modifying the message of the corporate tools and Neocon bullies that the US State Department sends to spread chaos, weapons, fear, and aggression abroad. We will have an opportunity to represent a broader spectrum of the hearts and minds of the American People.
There are open positions for Ambassadors to Russia beginning later this spring. You've been invited to apply and to help prevent a war that neither the people of Russia nor the people of the United States want.
Due to a nationwide outbreak of Russian Agents hiding under America's beds the CDC has issued these guidelines.
1) Resist the urge to reach under your bed and grab him. Remember he's just as scared of you as you are of him. He'll likely try to bite you.
2) Talk in a calm voice. Preferably a Russian lullaby. Then draw him out with food.
3) Let him smell your hand before trying to pet him. Be gentle.
The key to the charge that the Russian government hacked the DNC server "to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency" has always been based on the findings of the private firm Crowdstrike.
Read any western news media outlet and you'll find the Baltic nations trembling in fear of the Russian Bear. For example:
Lithuania prepares for a feared Russian invasion
Latvians ready to defend their country in the underground if necessary
Some in the media are reporting that Trump handed Merkel a "bill" for 300 billion for U.S./NATO war and imperialism spending. The White House is saying that is not true but it doesn't matter, the narrative is out there and the people are swallowing it.
The first I had heard about this Montenegrin Coup was when Senator McCain accused Senator Paul of "working for Vladimir Putin.” Naturally the questions from Democrats and the news media was a) when did Paul become a traitor, and b) how high should we hang him?
No on asked the more obvious question: what Montenegrin Coup?
