Phony US Travel Warning on Russia and China
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
US actions against both countries are all about wanting them marginalized, weakened, contained and isolated politically, economically, financially, and militarily - a harebrained objective risking nuclear war.
Republicans and undemocratic Dems consider Russia and China America’s main adversaries - despite neither country posing a threat to any other others, Taiwan an exception because Beijing considers it sovereign Chinese territory, wanting it reunited with the mainland.
Commenting on Taiwan, China’s Xi Jinping said the territory “must and will be” reunited with the mainland, calling for formal reunification, stressing the “one China principle” - coming by force if diplomatic efforts fail.
Russia and China, especially united, pose the only challenge to Washington’s drive for global hegemony - why they’re targeted for regime change.
War plans against both countries were drawn long ago, including use of nuclear weapons for the first time in earnest by the US against other countries.
What’s unthinkable is possible and maybe likely, despite more advanced Russian super-weapons than anything in the Pentagon’s arsenal, despite US nuclear or conventional war on these countries assures losers, not winners, despite attacking either one would mean America’s mainland struck for the first time since its civil war - this time almost certainly with devastating WMDs.
US nuclear madness poses an unparalleled threat to humanity. Einstein once said that splitting the atom “changed everything save our modes of thinking, and thus we drift toward unparalleled catastrophe.”
Bush/Cheney’s December 2001 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), asserted the preemptive US right to unilaterally declare and wage future wars using first strike nuclear weapons.
Obama’s 2010 and 2015 National Security Strategies pledged US first-strike use of nuclear weapons against any adversary, nuclear armed or not.
Trump’s National Security Strategy focuses on “great power competition.” His National Defense Strategy is all about waging endless wars of aggression, targeting all sovereign independent countries for regime change, wanting US control over planet earth, its resources and populations - partnering with NATO, Israel, and other nations to achieve these objectives.
Obama and Trump both approved spending over a trillion dollars to upgrade America’s nuclear arsenal over the next 30 years, assuring other nuclear powers will follow suit.
A nuclear arms race increases the risk of these weapons being used, especially given Washington’s permanent war policy against invented enemies.
Instead of stepping back from the brink, Trump earlier said the US “must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.”
Washington is on a path toward belligerent confrontation with Russia, China and Iran - the danger far outweighing other issues, why these countries are enhancing their military capabilities to deal with a hostile US.
Flashpoints exist in Syria, Ukraine, the South China Sea, Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait, the Black Sea’s Kerch Strait, North Korea, Yemen, Iraq, and elsewhere.
US political, economic, financial, and sanctions wars rage against Russia, China, Iran and other countries.
On December 10, the State Department issued a Russia travel advisory, saying the following:
“Exercise Increased Caution due to terrorism, harassment, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws (sic).
Do not travel to:
The north Caucasus, including Chechnya and Mount Elbrus, due to terrorism and risk of civil unrest (sic) (or to) Crimea due to Russia’s occupation of the Ukrainian territory (sic) and abuses by its occupying authorities (sic).
US citizens visiting or residing in Russia have been arbitrarily interrogated or detained by Russian officials and may become victims of harassment, mistreatment, and extortion. Russian officials may unreasonably delay US consular assistance to detained US citizens.”
There’s more but you get the picture - Trump regime hardliners falsely claiming travel to Russia is hazardous, polar opposite reality.
A similar State Department travel warning was issued on China, advising US visitors to act with caution, falsely warning about “arbitrary enforcement of local laws as well as special restrictions on dual US-Chinese nationals,” adding:
“Chinese authorities have asserted broad authority to prohibit US citizens from leaving China by using ‘exit bans,’ sometimes keeping US citizens in China for years.”
What’s going on reflects US hostility toward both countries. Hyping fear against adversaries is longstanding Washington policy.
Repeated enough gets most people to believe the grand deception, including about becoming a terrorist attack victim.
In America, Russia, China, and most other countries, the chance of being struck by lightning is greater - other than from a US/NATO false flag.
A previous article explained that death by auto accident, preventable diseases, violence at home by one family member against another, alcoholism or excessive use of harmful legal drugs is infinitely higher than possible harm from homeland terrorism.
Looking ahead in the new year, things are more likely to worsen than improve domestically and abroad compared to Trump’s first two years in office.
Escalated wars are more likely than stepping back from the brink - whether US forces stay, leave, or are partially withdrawn from Syria, Afghanistan, or elsewhere.
Most threatening of all is possible confrontation with Russia and/or China. If US belligerence against either country is launched by accident or design, unthinkable nuclear war could follow - a doomsday scenario affecting everyone if things go this far.
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My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
