NATO Picks a New Fight with Russia

A map showing stages of NATO’s expansion. Dark blue showing original members; lighter blue the “round one” members; aqua the “round two” members; yellow represents neutral states; and brown and red (including Ukraine), otherwise aligned. On the map, Montenegro is one of the tiny brown spots on the eastern Adriatic.

NATO’s eastward expansion following the purported end of the Cold War lies at the heart of Russia’s chilly reaction to Washington’s attempts to build a uni-polar world. Many authorities agree that in 1989, Secretary of State James Baker and West German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher explicitly promised Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that NATO would not “take advantage” of upheaval in Eastern Europe by expanding toward Russia.

But it didn’t take long for the Western allies to break that promise and flex their muscles against a radically weakened Russia that had been stripped of most of its empire after the fall of the Soviet Union. In 1999, against Russian opposition, NATO absorbed the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. In 2004, it added Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Albania and Croatia joined next in 2009.

The latest move to incorporate tiny Montenegro followed a 2011 decision by NATO to formally recognize several aspiring members, including also Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Macedonia.

Insightful comments from New York Times readers to an article on the topic, such as:

“I am completely lost. Why are we going to any and every length to alienate and threaten Russia when Russia is the staunchest ally we have in fighting against wildly violent insurgents in the Middle East who are a threat to us all? The way in which we have vilified Russia, as though only wishing another Cold War, is beyond all my understanding. Russia should be our partner now.” – Nancy, Great Neck

“I’m also no fan of Russia, but the US and the West seems a lot more concerned with weakening Russia and expanding their political agendas than truly fighting ISIS and radical Islam. The world will greatly suffer for this self-centered myopia.” – Peisinoe, New York

DYI Comments:  The cold war has been replaced by The Hydrocarbon Cold War. The U.S. is actively attempting to break up Russia by eliminating her control over the Caucasus, the Laplands, and the political subdivisions east of the Ural Mountains.  By establishing pro U.S. governments our oil and gas corporations will extract hydrocarbons for American consumers and industry(and denying China).  If successful would eliminate Russia's naval access to the Black Sea and the Pacific.   

China opposes Montenegro's accession to NATO

The U.S. State Department is making their Asian pivot through two routes, by land through Russia and uncontested naval power.  The reason China opposes such a small and insignificant country located on the Adriatic Sea accession to NATO they recognize America's pivot to Asia.

DYI