(2021-10-22). The US Empire: Coercion and Consent. counterpunch.org The U.S. military has nearly 800 military bases scattered over 70 countries. China, its most recent competitor, has one. Spending for the U.S. military is about three times the amount Chinese government spends, and is more than the military budgets of Russia, India, the U.K., Saudi Arabia, France, Japan, Germany and China combined. "The U.S.
(2021-10-22). Do You Want a New Cold War? The AUKUS Alliance Takes the World to the Brink. counterpunch.org Before it's too late, we need to ask ourselves a crucial question: Do we really — I mean truly — want a new Cold War with China? Because that's just where the Biden administration is clearly taking us. If you need proof, check out last month's announcement of an "AUKUS" (Australia, United Kingdom, U.S.) military
(2021-10-22). Kidnapped Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab speaks in court. workers.org 
Saab made the following statement in U.S. Federal Court in Miami on Oct. 16. The statement is lightly edited. My name is Alex Nain Saab Moran, with Venezuelan diplomatic passport number 045778720. I am a special envoy with diplomatic immunity to the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran . . . |
(2021-10-22). Do You Want a New Cold War? globalresearch.ca
(2021-10-22). NATO, Not Russia, Perpetuates Cold War Logic… It is a Relic Best Ignored. strategic-culture.org NATO is a relic of Cold War hostility that belongs in a war museum not in a modern forum for diplomacy. | It was the end of an era this week when Russia announced that it was severing diplomatic links with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. For the past 30 years since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation has engaged with the US-led military bloc in a bid to establish partnership and secure peace. | The incipient detente culminated in the NATO-Russia Founding Act in 1997 which demarcated certain boundaries for peaceful coexistence. Those boundaries were subsequently flouted as NATO dou…
(2021-10-22). Russian Foreign Ministry forced to acknowledge massive NATO military, including strategic, buildup on Russia's borders. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Moscow aware of NATO deploying weapons near Russian borders, diplomat says Moscow is aware of the ongoing process of the deployment of armaments by NATO countries near Russia's borders, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Alexander Grushko said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV Channel on Friday. *** NATO has decided to expel eight Russian …
(2021-10-22). From Russia, with (Taliban) Love. globalresearch.ca
(2021-10-22). Putin Speaks Of Taliban, Ukraine, Values And Energy At The Valdai Club. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On October 21st, Russian President Vladimir Putin held discussions with members of the Valdai club, after giving an address. | Notably, Putin said that the world was moving towards recognizing the Taliban movement and that Washington and Moscow were on the right track following the Geneva summit. | He also thanked Europe for the sanctions."A thank you goes to the Europeans for sanctions in the field of agriculture." They triggered retaliatory steps and encouraged investment in import subst…
(2021-10-22). China Rejects US And EU Meddling In Taiwan Issue. telesurenglish.net On Friday, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin called on the United States to act and speak out cautiously when addressing the issue of the Chinese province of Taiwan. | RELATED: | The Chinese diplomat's remarks came in response to the words of President Joe Biden who said on Thursday that the United States would intervene if China invaded Taiwan. He also dared to affirm that China, Russia and the rest of the w…
(2021-10-22). NATO Agrees On "New Master Plan" To Deter And Defend Against Russian Attacks. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On October 21st, NATO's defense ministers reportedly agreed on "a new master plan" to deter and defend against any potential Russian attack on multiple fronts. | This, again, reinforces the idea that the entire bloc is formed against Russia, despite any threats that China allegedly poses. | The confidential strategy aims to prepare for any simultaneous attack in the Baltic and Black Sea regions that could include nuclear weapons, hacking of computer networks and assaults from space…
(2021-10-22). Lingering Topics: Ukraine and Russiagate. strategic-culture.org The West should move closer to Russia. Russia has repeatedly sought better relations with the West — only to be met with arrogant, ignorant and hypocritical responses. | RT columnist and University of Ottawa Professor A loose analogy considers the wait and see approach concerning cancer. In a nu…
(2021-10-22). At Least 16 Killed In Fire At Explosive Factory In Russia. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On October 22, a fire broke out in the workshop of the company "Razryad", which produces explosives n Russian region of Ryazan. According to the preliminary data, 16 people were killed as a result of the incident. | According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, an explosion took place in the workshop where gunpowder was stored, in the village of Lesnoye. It was localized on an area of 160 sq. m. The workshop buildings have been completely destroyed. | There were 17 people in the workshop at the time of the incident. According to the Ministry of Health, 16 people were killed. Th…
(2021-10-22). Australian, British, and U.S. Communists jointly condemn AUKUS nuke sub deal. peoplesworld.org 
NEW YORK—The Communist Parties of Australia, Britain, and the United States have come together to condemn the nuclear submarine pact recently concluded by the leaders of their nations, denouncing the purchase deal as the basis for an anti-China military alliance. Representatives of the three parties met this month to discuss the implications of the agreement …
(2021-10-22). Iranian press review: Politicians question Tehran's nuclear talks strategy. middleeasteye.net 
Iranian press review: Politicians question Tehran's nuclear talks strategy | Meanwhile, high death rate among labourers sparks concerns over workplace negligence, and navy reveals improved long-range cruise missiles | Fri, 10/22/2021 – 11: 10 | Iranian workers load scaffolding onto a pick-up truck at an iron market near Tehran (AFP/File) | Ambiguous strategy in nuclear talks:…
(2021-10-21). Russia Tells NATO to Shove Abusive Relationship. strategic-culture.org Russia is right to end the illusion of dialogue and partnership when the reality is the other party is cynically offering to shake hands while trying to piss down your leg. | Russia told the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization to shove its faux diplomacy, thus ending about 30 years of post-Cold War talks and delegations which have achieved little to nothing in terms of normalizing relations. | Moscow may have slammed the door, but it's not locked. Russia said that from now on it is up to NATO to take the first step in improving relations, thereby implying that sometime in the future Moscow would be open…
(2021-10-21). Putin Views Ukraine's NATO Presence as a Real Threat to Russia. telesurenglish.net Russia's President Vladimir Putin said that NATO's military presence in Ukraine poses a real threat to Russia. "The military development of the territory [of Ukraine] is already underway, and this really poses a threat to Russia. We are aware of this," Putin said at a meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club. | RELATED: | Putin added that the Pentagon chief Austin has effectively paved the way for Ukraine to j…
(2021-10-21). Pentagon chief, Turkish counterpart and Biden, Erdogan to discuss adding, upgrading 120 F-16s for Ankara. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Turkey stakes its claim over F-35 payment: Erdogan Turkey was excluded from the F-35 joint fighter program in mid-2019 after it deployed the Russian S-400 air defense systems. The U.S. seized five F-35s Turkey had paid for and did not reimburse $1.4 billion. Recently, Turkey asked for the purchase of 40 F-16 fighters and 80 …
(2021-10-21). Citing "spectre of armed conflict" in Europe, Polish president calls for strengthening NATO. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Spectre of armed conflict returns to haunt region: Polish president Polish President Andrzej Duda on Wednesday addressed the Lithuanian National Security Conference in the capital Vilnius, and said that the spectre of armed conflict had returned to the region in the wake of Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Speaking at a security conference …
(2021-10-21). Iran-Azerbaijan: Baku releases Iranian truck drivers as tensions thaw with Tehran. middleeasteye.net 
Iran-Azerbaijan: Baku releases Iranian truck drivers as tensions thaw with Tehran | Baku's customs department said the decision was guided by 'humanitarianism, mutual respect and good neighbourliness'
| Thu, 10/21/2021 – 17: 38 | In the past, Iranian hauliers had used a road connecting Armenia and Iran to reach Russia and West Asia without restrictions (AFP/File photo) | Azerbaijan rel…
(2021-10-21). 'Russia Is Not Responsible For Europe's Energy Crisis': Putin. telesurenglish.net On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin denied that Russia's Gazprom Company had any have liability with the ongoing European energy crisis, which has seen gas prices soar to US$1,500 per thousand cubic meters. | RELATED: | "The Gazprom Company impeccably fulfills its contracts with European partners. Amid the crisis, it increased gas supplies by 15 percent and liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries by 13 percent this year," Putin insisted, a…
(2021-10-21). War on all fronts: NATO-Russia rupture now complete. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com NATO's spying charges against Russian diplomats groundless — Foreign Ministry Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said NATO has no evidence indicating the expelled staffers of Russia's diplomatic mission at the organization had been involved in any malign activities. "We should be aware that NATO has systematically ruined relations with Russia to opt for …
(2021-10-21). U.S. nuclear-capable bombers "integrate" with NATO allies' warplanes in Black Sea. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Bomber Task Force Europe: B-1s thunder through Black Sea for maritime mission Two B-1B Lancer aircraft from the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron…executed a counter maritime mission in the Black Sea region today alongside European allies and partners. The B-1B strategic bomber is a versatile conventional [sic] weapons platform, which provides U.S. European Command and NATO …
(2021-10-21). Over 100 Workers Sue Top US Nuclear Weapons Lab over Coercive Vaccine Mandates. globalresearch.ca
(2021-10-21). China Warns Pacific Region of Danger From AUKUS Alliance. telesurenglish.net China on Thursday warned that the AUKUS military alliance, made up of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, will undermine regional peace and especially the nuclear-weapon-free zone pact in force in the South Pacific. | RELATED: | Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned his counterparts in the Pacific islands that this agreement would unleash an arms race and the area's stability would be at risk. | Wang called on such nations to join forces t…
(2021-10-21). Covid-Panic and Nuclear Prowess! counterpunch.org Nuclear prowess and all the diplomatic command held by the super, major and most powers have failed against the vicious virus, named Covid-19. The phase isn't over yet nor is the panic. But elementarily speaking the tiny virus has exposed far more and beyond probably envisaged by even leaders who once held themselves and their
(2021-10-21). NATO conducts nuclear strike exercise from bases hosting B-61 nuclear bombs. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com From the Aviationist. NATO's Annual Nuclear Strike Exercise Underway In Southern Europe NATO's yearly "deterrence" exercise, codenamed "Steadfast Noon", kicked off on Oct. 18, 2021. Dozens of aircraft from across the alliance are currently deployed to Italy and will carry out joint training during the 1-week drills. [T]his year's Steadfast Noon takes place alongside another …
(2021-10-21). History of World War II: 80 Years Ago, The Battle of Moscow. globalresearch.ca