Putin’s March 1 Tour De Force Address
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
All his public remarks are important to hear – straight talk, unlike double-talk by US and other Western politicians.
His annual state of the nation addresses are widely anticipated – attended by key political, private, religious, civic, and media officials. Journalists cover it worldwide.
His remarks are always closely followed, notably this year, discussing Russia’s super-weapons, shifting the balance of power in its favor, an important development, lessening chances of catastrophic nuclear war.
Western hysteria followed his revelations of Russian military superiority over the West, its super-weapons unmatched by Washington and other NATO countries.
“Nobody wanted to listen to us,” said Putin, adding: “So listen now.” Western media accused him of fostering an arms race, initiating Cold War 2.0.
With all categories included, US military-related spending exceeds $1.5 trillion annually, including enormous black budgets and other categories besides annual defense authorization spending – compared to Russia’s $47 billion defense budget.
The White House lied, accusing Moscow of violating its treaty obligations – a US specialty, not Russia’s, adhering to its international obligations.
In 2002, the Bush/Cheney administration unilaterally withdrew from the ABM Treaty – initiating an arms race by provocatively installing missile defense systems near Russia’s borders, solely for offense, on the phony pretext of an Iranian threat, none then, none now.
US-led NATO encircled Russia with military bases. In 1990, Washington promised not to move “one inch” east toward Russian borders, then Secretary of State Jim Baker calling it an “ironclad guarantee.”
Most former Soviet republics and Warsaw Pact countries were incorporated into NATO, a killing machine alliance for offense, not defense, at a time when its only enemies are invented ones.
Bush/Cheney, Obama, and Trump Nuclear Posture Reviews assert the preemptive right in future wars to use first-strike nuclear weapons against any adversary, nuclear armed or not.
Over the next 30 years, America intends spending over $1 trillion upgrading its nuclear arsenal, likely double or more this amount instead of responsibly stepping back from the brink of possible nuclear armageddon.
Russia favors multi-world polarity – in sharp contrast to US unipolar aims, seeking unchallenged global dominance, preemptive wars of aggression its favored strategy.
In his state of the nation address, Putin said “(w)e are not threatening anyone, aren’t going to attack anyone, or take anything from anyone by threat of arms.”
“Just the opposite…Russia’s growing military power is a solid guarantee of global peace, as it preserves and will continue to preserve strategic parity and the balance of forces in the world, which, as is well-known, has been and remains a key factor of international security after WWII and up to the present day.”
Washington is the world’s leading bully, a reckless hegemon threatening world peace and security.
Russia abhors wars, related violence and chaos. It’s dedicated to world peace, stability and security.
America’s imperial agenda may kill us all. Russian super-weapons, shifting the balance of power in its favor, represent the best chance for avoiding unthinkable nuclear war.
Interviewed on NBC TV, Putin said Russia won’t ever use nuclear weapons except in response to aggression on its territory using these WMDs, or if its existence is threatened – never preemptively against any nation.
He stressed the importance of “great powers” cooperating for world peace.
Separately in response to accusations of Russian US election interference, he stressed no evidence suggests it.
No Russian meddling occurred – just “yelling and hollering” by US politicians and media, baseless accusations proving nothing.
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