Washington is hostile to world peace, stability, and cooperative relations with other countries—seeking global dominance for unchallenged control over planet earth, its resources, and populations.
The Open Skies Treaty (OST) became effective on January 1, 2002, 34 European states, America, and Russia supporting it. Others can join if they wish.
The treaty permits unarmed aerial surveillance over the entire territory of signatory countries—a confidence-building measure promoting openness, letting treaty members get information on military forces and activities for national security reasons.
Washington’s FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) suspended funding related to OST cooperation with Russia, the measure stating: “None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act . . . may be obligated or expended to carry out any activities to modify any United States aircraft for purposes of implementing the Open Skies Treaty” with Russia—until the president certifies to Congress that penalties have been imposed on the Kremlin for alleged treaty violations.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry denied the false accusation, stressing the Kremlin is in fully compliance with its treaty obligations—international breaches a US specialty, not Moscow’s.
The NDAA also prohibits US military cooperation with Russia indefinitely, falsely accusing the Kremlin of annexing Crimea and failing to the implement Minsk I and II, ceasefire agreements to end US-supported Ukraine aggression against its own Donbass citizens.
Low-level conflict continues because Washington rejects resolution, defenseless civilians harmed most, scores killed or injured in 2018 alone—US-orchestrated war in its 5th year.
The NDAA authorizes “robust security sector assistance for Ukraine, including defensive lethal assistance”—used for naked aggression against Donbass and internal repression. Kiev faces no foreign threats.
The Trump regime requested $250 million in military aid for Ukraine in FY 2019 to counter nonexistent “Russian aggression.”
Washington intends provocatively “increas[ing] the frequency and scale of military drills in the Black Sea in collaboration with Ukraine and Georgia,” the NDAA states.
It requires quarterly reports to Congress on individuals involved in activities with Russia’s defense or intelligence sectors.
Annual NDAA measures have nothing to do with protecting the nation from threats to its security. There are none.
They have everything to do with waging endless preemptive wars of aggression, along with targeting Russia, China, Iran, and other sovereign independent countries for regime change.
Suspending US/Russia Open Skies Treaty cooperation is part of unjustifiably fueling hostility toward the Kremlin.
Moscow threatens no one. Washington threatens all nations unwilling to bend to its will.
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Trump regime suspends Open Skies Treaty
Posted on August 20, 2018 by Stephen Lendman
Washington is hostile to world peace, stability, and cooperative relations with other countries—seeking global dominance for unchallenged control over planet earth, its resources, and populations.
The Open Skies Treaty (OST) became effective on January 1, 2002, 34 European states, America, and Russia supporting it. Others can join if they wish.
The treaty permits unarmed aerial surveillance over the entire territory of signatory countries—a confidence-building measure promoting openness, letting treaty members get information on military forces and activities for national security reasons.
Washington’s FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) suspended funding related to OST cooperation with Russia, the measure stating: “None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act . . . may be obligated or expended to carry out any activities to modify any United States aircraft for purposes of implementing the Open Skies Treaty” with Russia—until the president certifies to Congress that penalties have been imposed on the Kremlin for alleged treaty violations.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry denied the false accusation, stressing the Kremlin is in fully compliance with its treaty obligations—international breaches a US specialty, not Moscow’s.
The NDAA also prohibits US military cooperation with Russia indefinitely, falsely accusing the Kremlin of annexing Crimea and failing to the implement Minsk I and II, ceasefire agreements to end US-supported Ukraine aggression against its own Donbass citizens.
Low-level conflict continues because Washington rejects resolution, defenseless civilians harmed most, scores killed or injured in 2018 alone—US-orchestrated war in its 5th year.
The NDAA authorizes “robust security sector assistance for Ukraine, including defensive lethal assistance”—used for naked aggression against Donbass and internal repression. Kiev faces no foreign threats.
The Trump regime requested $250 million in military aid for Ukraine in FY 2019 to counter nonexistent “Russian aggression.”
Washington intends provocatively “increas[ing] the frequency and scale of military drills in the Black Sea in collaboration with Ukraine and Georgia,” the NDAA states.
It requires quarterly reports to Congress on individuals involved in activities with Russia’s defense or intelligence sectors.
Annual NDAA measures have nothing to do with protecting the nation from threats to its security. There are none.
They have everything to do with waging endless preemptive wars of aggression, along with targeting Russia, China, Iran, and other sovereign independent countries for regime change.
Suspending US/Russia Open Skies Treaty cooperation is part of unjustifiably fueling hostility toward the Kremlin.
Moscow threatens no one. Washington threatens all nations unwilling to bend to its will.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.” Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.