NEOCONS & NEOLIBERALS

Reports have emerged that Scandinavian nations Finland and Sweden plan to break with their centuries-long tradition of neutrality to pursue membership in NATO. If the applications are successful, will this latest increase in NATO’s ranks create an increased deterrent to further war with Russia, or will it bring the world ever-closer to World War III? Jimmy and The Grayzone’s Aaron Maté (https://mate.substack.com) discuss the possibilities – and the dangers – of an ever-growing NATO on Russia’s doorstep.

CAITLIN JOHNSTONE—And this isn’t just another war. This is a proxy war being waged by one of the world’s two top nuclear forces against the world’s other top nuclear force. This is more serious than Iraq. It is more serious than Vietnam. It is more serious than any US war that has happened in the lifetime of anyone likely to be reading these words, because Russia has increasingly valid reasons to believe its very existence as a nation is being threatened. This is therefore a war that could very easily result in the death of everyone on earth.

The US Secretary of “Defense” has openly said that America’s goal is to “weaken” Russia in this war. Biden himself has made statements which can only be interpreted as calls for regime change in Moscow. US officials have been leaking to the press claims that US intelligence has directly facilitated the killing of Russian generals and the sinking of a Russian war ship.

PETER KOENIG—The tradition of gladiator games lasted for almost a thousand years, until the 6th Century AD. Their origins appear like ceremonial, but later, when the Roman Republic became the Roman Empire – they served as brutal entertainments for the masses to deviate their attention from what the empire was doing at home, or “cooking” abroad, in foreign lands, with resources – “taxes” – taken from the people. Resources of the people being diverted to causes that served only a small elite.