Video: Moscow Challenges The Monroe Doctrine, Russia’s Military Facilities in Latin America

Video: Moscow Challenges The Monroe Doctrine, Russia’s Military Facilities in Latin America

By South Front

Global Research, July 16, 2016

South Front

Region: Latin America & Caribbean, Russia and FSU

Theme: Culture, Society & History, Militarization and WMD

One of the dogmas of US foreign policy is the so-called Monroe Doctrine dating back to, surprisingly enough, President James Monroe who in 1823 said, in an address before US Congress, that outside powers’ efforts to colonize or exploit Latin American countries would be viewed as acts of aggression by the United States. The sentence above pretty much encapsulates the average American’s understanding of the doctrine.

What is left unsaid is that the doctrine has no legal standing. It is not an international treaty or agreement, and the US Congress has not granted the Presidency a blanket authority to go to war against any external power encroaching upon the US “exclusive preserve.” What is equally left unsaid is Monroe’s quid pro quo: the US would likewise refrain from meddling in European politics, which radically changes the actual meaning of the doctrine. It is not merely an assertion of US dominance over a region, but rather a not reciprocated offer of a sphere of influence division between the US and European powers which actually came close to being codified in the form of the UN Security Council which, by granting veto power to its five permanent members, de facto divided the world into five spheres of influence.

Those days of US restraint and respect for international treaties are long gone. On the one hand, successive US administrations invoke various “open door” doctrines in order to intervene in every corner of the planet, usually with dire consequences, while at the same time seeking to preserve the Americas  for the US to exploit and colonize and deprive the sovereign states of that region the right to choose its allies and economic partners. Naturally, from the perspective of international law, such unilateral actions are untenable, and accepting them would set the precedent of recognizing the US as a privileged international actor, in effect making “American Exceptionalism” an internationally acknowledged reality.

This is the context in which Russian military installations in Latin America ought to be viewed. From the military point of view, their presence is as, if not more, important for political reasons than military ones.

Editor's choiceMilitary 11.05.2016 - 880 views

NATO IN WARSAW, 2016: LANGUAGE REGULATIONS FOR BREACHING THE RUSSIA-AGREEMENT

Photo: Reuters

Originally appeared at RT Deutsch, translated by John T. Sumner exclusively for SouthFront

The Pentagon plans to permanently deploy American troops, tanks and other armored vehicles in Eastern Europe. During his visit to Hannover, US President Barack Obama has already received an assurance by Angela Merkel, that even Germany will deploy military close to the Russian border. Further details are to be announced at the NATO summit in Warsaw. However, media in the US have already published particulars regarding the planned American troop contingents.

According to the US Department of Defense in an interview by the Wall Street Journal, those troops, additionally deployed in Eastern Europe, will also include 250 tanks, Bradley combat vehicles, Paladin howitzers and more than 1,700 other vehicles and trucks.

“We will also show and improve our skills to quickly redeploy equipment and staff to Europe, by letting personnel, officially stationed in the US, rotate with their own equipment. This will be the most advanced equipment the Army currently has to offer. In the coming year we will thereby replace the less advanced equipment, that was standard in Europe thus far”, Pentagon spokeswoman Laura Siegel told Fox News.

The language regulation, that allegedly no NATO military will be deployed “permanently” on the soil of former Warsaw Pact states, takes into account the NATO-Russia Agreement of 1997. Back then, the verbal commitment of US Secretary of State, James Baker, had been formalized, that in the time to come no NATO-troops would ever be stationed east of the former “Iron curtain”.

THE US IS VANDAL IN FOREIGN POLICY

THE US IS VANDAL IN FOREIGN POLICY

 Desislava Pateva interviews with Tenko Slavov, musician, producer and investor, who has lived in the US for 22 years, an artistic and creative person with an interest in politics, psychology and international relations.

Originally appeared at A-specto, translated by Borislav exclusively for SouthFront

Mr. Slavov you have lived in America for a long time and you have seen the attitude of the average American toward US involvement in different parts of the world. How do you see the foreign policy of America?

US foreign policy is different from that of all other countries. It is forged at least 30-40 years in advance. What is happening now has been discussed and planned many years ago. Their foreign policy is based on the way they are built as human beings, and they are sworn egoists and conformists. For them the world is a means to an end and they take it, conquer it and force it to obey. Any one who does not obey will be penalized. If he is stronger, they sanction. If he is not, they kill him. We saw what happened in Afghanistan and Libya. These are countries that refused to comply with American wishes.

The USA literally rip off Hitler’s doctrine, implementing it in a very veiled way. They seem to be a democracy, but are actually a dictatorship. I have a term for their political system – corporate fascism. Money rules over there, as they say in English, money talks. Nothing else. The Federal Reserve and Wall Street are the ones who pull the strings. Everyone else is at their service. And presidents are placed to be representatives of this kind of American doctrine, which is politico-economic. Based on the motto: “We excel in everything. Well, maybe our culture is a little cowboy, but that helps to beat others when negotiations are not going so expeditiously as we would like.” And they do.

They try to treat Russia in the same way but were highly surprised by the amazing progress of the Russians, even in the economy. Russia advanced so quickly, especially since Putin took over the country and raised the national spirit. As a professional intelligence officer, he very well knows the Western system and NATO. Russia quickly realized that America is simply there to liquidate the Russian state. Because of resources, because Russia is a competitor. You asked what the US foreign policy is, here it is – America must destroy everything,that competes with it. If there are any resources, as the Russian example, they must be under American, western, Anglo-Saxon jurisdiction. If not entirely, at least partially, but enough for the Americans to exist easily and to provide funds with which to maintain their ultra expensive war machine. They found long ago that only those countries which are based on military power are successful. There’s no dispute.

Why do you think Russia is a threat to American establishment figures? We often hear this in the speeches of American politicians.

Russia is an obstruction, and lately I have the suspicion that Russia is threatening them, but we do not know with what. We do not know how they talk, it is not known to anyone. I’m pretty sure that there are very serious ultimatums. Many of us thought that America is the greatest military power. They actually have the largest amount of bases, but at the moment Russia has the most effective army. In the war with Syria, they demonstrated great professionalism, and modern and precise weapons. Not to mention their electronic defence that is unique and no one else has one.

International Military Review - Syria-Iraq

    

INTERNATIONAL MILITARY REVIEW – SYRIA, APRIL 25, 2016

Syria battlespace, April 25, 2016

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On April 24, Syrian forces launched a military operation in the Bala Farms located in rural Damascus to liberate the area controlled by the Jaysh Al-Islam militant group. Bala Kadimah became the first target of the advance covered by artillery units and warplanes. This operation is a part of wider strategy aimed to cut the militants’ supply routes to the East Ghouta.

At least 100 militants were killed in the army offensives on their military positions in al-Rashidin region of the Aleppo city. The fierce clashes came after the militants attacked the government forces’ positions in al-Rashidin 4 neighborhood and Al-Assad Suburb.

South Front -- NAGORNO-KARABAKH TWENTY DAYS LATER

NAGORNO-KARABAKH TWENTY DAYS LATER

Originally appeared at A-specto, translated by Borislav exclusively for SouthFront

On the night of 1st to the 2nd of April, the entire line of contact of the Karabakho-Azerbaijani forces on the Azerbaijani side proceed toward active offensive actions. This event can not be looked at in a vacuum. It is part of a series of events in which Turkey plays a role. Parallel to the confrontation between the Azerbaijani and Karabakh armed formations, the General Staff of the Turkish army stated that it “is not planning a coup d’etat”. Alpaslan Celik was arrested, as the representative of the “Grey Wolves” who cowardly shot Oleg Peshkov, the Russian Su-24 pilot downed by a Turkish fighter aircraft. And after the jihadist gave interviews to a number of Turkish media.

SOUTH FRONT -- WEST’S FAILED RUSSIA TAKE-OVER

WEST’S FAILED RUSSIA TAKE-OVER

 

Original by Krakauer published by Obserwator Polityczny; translation by J.Hawk

The West has a sense of strange and wholly unjustified superiority over Russia and the Russians. Unfortunately it can also be found among a sizable portion of Poland’s elites which, due to their inability to think independently, are susceptible to propaganda and emotions and infect the society with malevolent stereotypes and hatred. Unfortunately, contemporary Russophobia is rooted in the fertile soil of historical past which is heavily represented in contemporary culture and official rhetoric. But even in 1812, more Poles fought under Kutuzov’s leadership than under Napoleon’s and Poniatowski’s. There are many more such instances in Polish history, which are not being studied by historians or are being actively concealed.

The West’s opinion of own cultural and civilizational superiority over Russia is based on a total lack of knowledge of the Russian World and on primitive stereotypes which imagine Moscow overrun by drunk bears swilling moonshine from glass jars, even on a hot summer day! Alas, propaganda is effective, and contemporary Russia has inherited the ballast of Cold War propaganda which tended to present issues in stark contrast. Back then the USSR was officially referred to as the Evil Empire, while today Mr. Vladimir Putin is described by the industry of contempt as “the Satan of the North”, and Russians as 140 million devils.

SUSPECTED SUICIDE BOMBERS MAY BE KIDNAPPED SCHOOLGIRLS- NIGERIA

SUSPECTED SUICIDE BOMBERS MAY BE KIDNAPPED SCHOOLGIRLS- NIGERIA

Suspected suicide bomber claims to be one of the Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram. Parents of the 270 schoolgirls seized by Islamic militants two years ago will travel to Cameroon to verify her identity.

NTA reported that the parents of the 270 schoolgirls will travel to Cameroon in order to find out whether the two girls arrested before they could detonate suicide bombs are the same Nigerian schoolgirls, kidnapped by Boko Haram two years ago.

On Friday, three girls were caught, planning to carry out an attack in the northern part of the Cameroon village of Limani, CRTV reported.

One of the girls managed to escape, and the other claimed to be part of the group of the 276 teenage girls kidnapped by Boko Haram from Chibok, Nigeria in April 2014.

SOUTH FRONT:: “CONTROLLED CHAOS” AS A TOOL OF GEOPOLITICAL STRUGGLE

 Clandestine Warfare of the 21th Century

23.03.2016 - 708 views

    

 “CONTROLLED CHAOS” AS A TOOL OFGEOPOLITICAL STRUGGLE

SouthFront: Analysis & Intelligence is offering a new exclusive analytical series “Clandestine Warfare of the 21th Century”.  Previous texts:

• Attacking National Leaders Through ‘Psychological Pincers’
• Color Revolutions as an Element of Net-Centric Warfare

Written by Prof.Dr. Vladimir Prav exclusively for SouthFront

Nowadays, a variety of means are being used in order to implement and extend the “controlled chaos” in the national economies and societies in the geopolitical struggle. The actor, who is using the tool, is maintaining the “controlled chaos” within the opposing country.

Steven Mann, the US foreign policy expert, who took part in the developing of many of the current “controlled chaos” hotspots in various parts of the world, speaks openly of the need to use “increased level strongly-worded criticism”, and causing “controlled chaos” to secure and promote the US national interests.

SOUTH FRONT -- INTERNATIONAL MILITARY REVIEW – DONBASS, MAR. 24, 2016

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The situation is detonating at the contact line between the Ukrainian Armed Forces and local militias in Donbass.

Heavy clashes are ongoing between the Ukrainian military and the DPR militia over the Donetsk-Gorlovka road. Recently, the Kiev forces seized the industrial area of Avdeevka, which allowed them to set a fire control of the road. Battle tanks and motorised artillery systems are reportedly used there.

According to DPR officials, the Kiev forces have also shelled Zaytsevo, Zhabichevo, Vesyoloye, Dokuchaevsk, Kominternovo, Yasinovataya, Staromarievka, the area of the airport, the Volvo Centre and the Petrovsky district of the Donetsk city.

Works on the equipment of the territory in engineering terms being carried out by the Kiev’s side in the area of the Novoluganskoye settlement.

In turn, Ukrainian media report that the militia of Donbass is violating the ceasefire by shelling Kiev military units at Avdeevka, Peski and Opytnoe.

The situation in the area of LPR remains stable tense. The Kiev’s side is reportedly continuing military buildup in the area. However, there are no firefights observed, recently.

SOUTH FRONT -- INTERNATIONAL MILITARY REVIEW – SYRIA, MAR. 1, 2016

SOUTHFRONT -- INTERNATIONAL MILITARY REVIEW – SYRIA, MAR. 1, 2016

 

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On Feb.29, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) took control of the village of Al-Fadiyaya near the Marj Al-Sultan military airport in the East Ghouta region of Greater Damascus. Al-Nusra and Jaysh Al-Islam had operated in the area. Securing Al-Fadiyaya north of the Marj Al-Sultan Military Airport, the SAA is able to defend the air base’s helicopter airfields.

The East Ghouta has the highest concentration of Al-Nusra militants in Greater Damascus. Thus, the SAA’s actions can’t be recignized as a violation of the ceasefire which doesn’t expand on Al Nusra, ISIS and linked terrorist groups.

SOUTH FRONT -- RUSSIA DEFENSE REPORT – FEB. 27, 2016: RUSSIAN MILITARY ADVISERS IN SYRIA

HotRussia 27.02.2016 - 3,028 views

    

RUSSIA DEFENSE REPORT – FEB. 27, 2016: RUSSIAN MILITARY ADVISERS IN SYRIA

Russian Military Advisers in Syria

Written and produced by SF Team: J.Hawk, Daniel Deiss, Edwin Watson

When asked about Russian operations in Syria, most people would immediately mention the Russian fighter-bombers, attack aircraft, combat helicopters, and cruise missile volleys. Few would mention the quiet work behind the scenes that was performed by a large group of highly dedicated professionals who helped transform the Syrian military that was on the brink of defeat, into a force that could once again begin liberating Syria’s territory. Without denying the importance of the air campaign, the air strikes alone would not have turned the tide of the war.

Prof.Dr. Vladimir Prav -- COLOR REVOLUTIONS AS AN ELEMENT OF NET-CENTRIC WARFARE

COLOR REVOLUTIONS AS AN ELEMENT OF NET-CENTRIC WARFARE

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SouthFront: Analysis & Intelligence is offering a new exclusive analytical series “Clandestine Warfare of the 21th Century”.

Written by Prof.Dr. Vladimir Prav exclusively for SouthFront 

Contemporary geopolitical struggle concepts invariably include provisions concerning the creation and functioning of “networks.” The sense of a “net” or a “network principle” lies in the exchange of information, the maximum possible expansion of information production, access, distribution, and feedback. 

The “net” is the main element of information space, in which information operations are carried out with the aim of achieving political, economic, informational, technical, and military objectives. “Network” as a system in the global understanding of the term includes several elements which earlier used to be viewed as strictly separate phenomena.

The basic principle of conducting modern geopolitical struggle is “net-centrism.” This principle based on three postulates.

1. The modern world is defined not only by transport corridors with associated flows of goods and services, but also informational and communications networks, which form the skeleton of the global information space.

2. The global historical process is a unified, global process of conflict, mutual help, or neutral coexistence of human societies organized along hierarchical (vertical) and also network (horizontal) principles, with the net-centric (horizontal) possibly becoming dominant in the future. Vertical and horizontal network structures, with varying origin, purpose, numerical strength, geographic and temporal boundaries, and legal status, are both the objects and subjects of the global historical process whose interaction facilitates the emergence of new structures and connections.

3. The dynamically developing of artificial (electronic) networks which intertwine and interact with psycho-social networks and amount to a qualitatively new social phenomenon, are a unique feature of the informational network skeleton of the future global society. That phenomenon is identified within the net-centric information war concept as SPIN—Segmented, Polycentric, Ideologically integrated Network. We should note that Microsoft offered a more precise definition of this phenomenon, namely “electronic nervous system,” or ENS.

The main global actor systematically using the net-centric principle in geopolitical struggle is the USA. Its executive actors are the mutually intertwined state agencies, corporations, and international network structures.