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The Pentagon Unleashed |
By
Stephen Lendman |
| Trump delegated warmaking to hawkish generals in charge of defense and
national security - James Mattis and HR McMaster respectively. The Clintons, Bush/Cheney and Obama militarized US foreign policy, a disastrous agenda pursued by Trump - in some war theaters escalating conflicts, not resolving and ending them. Generals and admirals pursue wars, not peace, why defense policy should be run by civilians, not longtime warriors. So far, Secretary of State Tillerson is more marginalized on foreign policymaking than in-the-loop, generals running things. Trump wants more funding budgeted for militarism and warmaking, less for diplomacy - good news for the military/industrial/scoundrel media complex, bad news for world peace, stability and security. Mattis and HR McMaster were key figures in Bush/Cheney/Obama’s disastrous war on Iraq and aftermath - endless devastation and loss of life, continuing under Trump, pursuing war without mercy in Mosul, massacring thousands of civilians indiscriminately. As CENTCOM commander, Mattis lied, calling Iran America’s main threat. He’s now shaping US policy on the Islamic Republic. Does he have another war in mind? If launched, it would be far more regionally devastating than any US aggression so far. Russia could intervene if requested by Tehran, risking possible nuclear war. Earlier, Iran expert Ali Vaez warned against attacking the country, saying it “would make the Afghan and Iraqi conflicts look like a walk in the park.” Generals in charge of US warmaking know the risks. It doesn’t mean they’re shy about taking them. On April 1, AP News headlined “With Trump approval, Pentagon expands warfighting authority,” saying: “Week by week, country by country, the Pentagon is quietly seizing more control over warfighting decisions, sending hundreds more troops to war with little public debate and seeking greater authority to battle extremists across the Middle East and Africa.” Earlier, it was Iraq and Syria with more US troops likely coming. Thousands more may be heading for Afghanistan, perhaps more special forces for Yemen. Trump authorized escalated drone war and terror-bombing in Somalia. AP said his agenda “underscore(s) his willingness to let the Pentagon manage” warmaking. Escalated terror-bombing assures greater carnage, civilians harmed most. Military operations “divorced from overall foreign policy” could result in “(p)olitical leaders…los(ing) control” of things in war theaters, according to Center for Strategic and International Studies senior fellow Alice Friend. Decisions are being made with no public awareness, outside the White House. Endless wars in multiple theaters are escalating instead of prioritizing world peace and stability. Intense Russia bashing risks direct confrontation if hawkish generals in charge of warmaking and congressional neocons want things pushed in this direction. Humanity’s fate hangs in the balance. 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." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. |