Robert Parry — The Whys Behind the Ukraine Crisis

Given the very high stakes of a nuclear confrontation with Russia, some analysts wonder what’s the real motive for taking this extraordinary risk over Ukraine. Is it about natural gas, protection of the U.S. dollar’s dominance, or an outgrowth of neocon extremism, asks Robert Parry.

Or a combination of the above.

What is clear that the US has no overriding national security interest in this.

Parry:

A senior U.S. diplomat told me recently that if Russia were to occupy all of Ukraine and even neighboring Belarus that there would be zero impact on U.S. national interests. The diplomat wasn’t advocating that, of course, but was noting the curious reality that Official Washington’s current war hysteria over Ukraine doesn’t connect to genuine security concerns.

So what's up with this?

My sense is that while the above reasons are factors, the overarching reason in the desire on the part of the US Establishment for regime change in Russia from Putin's "authoritarianism" back to the pliant oligarchs who were put in economic power under Yeltsin and gladly joined in the plunder of their country when the US was advising Russia on how to convert its communistic society to a capitalistic "democracy" that would be controlled by wealth. The US assumption that the Russian wealthy who were in control politically would join the global neoliberal elite in supporting globalization on neoliberal principles under US leadership. That is still the goal, so Putin, who threw out the oligarchs and took control, must be thrown out or otherwise removed. In fact, I'd say that this is quite transparent beneath the bluster of propaganda.

Consortium News
The Whys Behind the Ukraine Crisis
Robert Parry