Spiegel — Dangerous Propaganda: Network Close To NATO Military Leader Fueled Ukraine Conflict

Insubordination and disinformation.

General Breedlove's departure from his NATO post in May has done little to placate anyone in the German government. After all, the man Breedlove regarded as an obstacle, President Obama, is nearing the end of his second term. His possible successor, the Democrat Hillary Clinton, is considered a hardliner vis-a-vis Russia.

What's more: Nuland, a diplomat who shares many of the same views as Breedlove, could move into an even more important role after the November election -- she's considered a potential candidate for secretary of state.

Spiegel Online International
Dangerous Propaganda: Network Close To NATO Military Leader Fueled Ukraine Conflict
Christoph Schult and Klaus Wiegrefe

Lee Fang and Zaid Jilani — Hacked Emails Reveal NATO General Plotting Against Obama on Russia Policy

Retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, until recently the supreme commander of NATO forces in Europe, plotted in private to overcome President Barack Obama’s reluctance to escalate military tensions with Russia over the war in Ukraine in 2014, according to apparently hacked emails from Breedlove’s Gmail account that were posted on a new website called DC Leaks.…

Yep, looks like Breedlove did go rogue. It's called insubordination.

The Intercept
Hacked Emails Reveal NATO General Plotting Against Obama on Russia Policy

Lee Fang and Zaid Milani

See also

Consortium News
Is Trump Really the Anti-Neocon?

Chuck Spinney

Gilbert Doctorow — Russia as the existential threat: General Philip Breedlove campaigns for office in the Hillary Clinton administration

The recently retired Gen. Breedlove is stumping for Secretary of Defense. As Gilbert Doctorow notes, this man is dangerous.

Une parole franche
Russia as the existential threat: General Philip Breedlove campaigns for office in the Hillary Clinton administration

Gilbert Doctorow | European Coordinator of The American Committee for East West Accord Ltd.

Interfax.ru — Russian Deputy PM Calls NATO Commander "A Specialist in Bombing Afghan Weddings"

Getting personal. The US military and deep state are already seething over Russian success in Syria. Now it appears that the Russians have decided to respond in kind to the US personal attacks on Putin, ratcheting the rancor up a notch.  Until now, the Russian have been pretty reserved in the face of insults and lies. Looks like the gloves are coming off.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin responded to the accusations against Russia from NATO commander in Europe, General Philip Breedlove, who talked about the inaccuracy of Russian airstrikes in Syria.

"From a sick head to a healthy one [Russian idiom - FR] - a specialist in bombing Afghan weddings talks aboutthe accuracy of our bombing," - he wrote, with a link to Breedlove's statement. 

NATO commander in Europe had earlier said in the Senate that Russia is using weapons in Syria, "which are not of high accuracy", which creates panic among the local population and leads to increased flow of migrants.'….

Breedlove omits the detail that the refugees were already in Turkey in refugee camps before Russia entered Syria, and the refugee crisis began with refugees from Libya.  It was exacerbated when Erdogan turned the refugees from the Turkish camps toward Europe.

Fort Russ
Russian Deputy PM Calls NATO Commander "A Specialist in Bombing Afghan Weddings"
Interfax.ru
Translated by Kristina Kharlova

See also

Moon of Alabama
Kerry's "Plan B" - Attack Syria From Lebanon - With Saudi and Turkish Help

Seems that this scenario would bring in Iran.

Slouching (or rushing) toward Armageddon? The end-timers must be getting excited.

RIA — Breedlove: US Ready To "Fight and Defeat" Russia in Europe

The U.S is ready "to fight and defeat" Russia in Europe, if necessary, said the commander of European command U.S. General Philip Breedlove.

"We are ready, if necessary, to fight and win," — said Breedlove at a hearing of the Committee on armed services of the U.S. house of representatives, to discuss measures to counter "Russian aggression" in Europe.

Fort Russ
Breedlove: US Ready To "Fight and Defeat" Russia in Europe
RIA
Translated by Ollie Richardson for Fort Russ

Putin has already warned that Russia will use nuclear weapons if NATO crosses its red lines.

Ultimately, in pursuing Russia’s goals, Putin is a pragmatist, and we should be too. In figuring out how to deter the United States and NATO, Russia does not have the military or economic resources for the 20th century mass-army, total mobilization approach to defending its interests. As Clifford Gaddy and I outlined in the Coda of our book (in the appendices), Putin has to combine conventional, nuclear, and non-conventional, non-military—so-called “hybrid” methods—to secure an advantage. Putin and his security team aim to intimidate us. They have to demonstrate that Russia has the capacity to act, and is willing to escalate on all fronts to deter the United States and NATO from considering taking any military action against Russia—in Ukraine, Syria, or elsewhere.

Nuclear weapons are the ultimate deterrent. Russia’s unclassified national security strategy states that Russia will use nuclear weapons only in response to an attack with weapons of mass destruction on Russia or on a Russian ally, or in the event of an attack on Russia with conventional forces in which the existence of the Russian state is at stake. But Moscow has now put the nuclear option on the table for lesser circumstances, and Putin seeks to make us believe that he will use nuclear weapons if any of the current conflicts seem likely to draw in the United States or NATO against Russian forces. It is no good for Putin to just suggest that he might use nuclear weapons. This is the “escalate to de-escalate” contingency that so many observers are currently concerned about at the non-strategic level (See Steven Pifer’s piece in The National Interest in the appendices). Putin is clearly drawing up a contingency for deploying nuclear weapons if he feels he needs to—but his goal is to push the United States and Europe away from Russia and out of its neighborhood, not to actually engage in a nuclear exchange. Nonetheless, we are now back in a similar frame to the nuclear war scare of the 1980s, which only ended with the Reagan and Gorbachev summitry that led to the conclusion of the 1987 INF Treaty.

Understanding And Deterring Russia: U.S. Policies And Strategies
Dr. Fiona Hill, Senior Fellow,
Director, Center On The United States And Europe
Testimony To The House Armed Services Committee Wednesday, February 10, 2016 

Back to the Cold War, only this time with "the crazies" running US policy.

Update regarding "Russia does not have the military or economic resources for the 20th century mass-army, total mobilization approach to defending its interests."

FIRST GUARDS TANK ARMY. I attended many meetings with the Russian military. Always – always – we were told that the Russian army was being re-structured into brigade group formations: all-arms formations of 5-6 thousand men. Such formations are suitable for fighting in places like Chechnya and, indeed, the first two were formed about 20 years ago in the south. At the same time there were no serious forces deployed along the tradition western invasion route. The old Soviet divisions – pretty well empty of soldiers at this time – were gradually eliminated. It was clear then – the 1990s and early 2000s – that Moscow was not expecting an attack from the west and neither did it expect to attack west: it was planning for smaller operations, mostly counter-terrorist. The old Soviet structure of divisions-armies-fronts which was applicable to really big wars against first-class enemies was no longer necessary; the smaller, nimbler brigade group structure was more appropriate. But, at the same time they warned that NATO’s relentless expansion, ever closer, was a danger (опасность), although they stopped short of calling it, as they did terrorism, a threat (угроза); “dangers” require attention; “threats” a response. NATO of course didn’t listen, arrogantly assuming NATO expansion was doing Russia a favour and was an entitlement of the “exceptional nation” and its allies. Well, we have reached another stage on the road. 

The 1st Guards Tank Army is being re-created. It will likely have two or three tank divisions, plus some motorised rifle divisions, plus enormous artillery and engineering support, plus helicopters and all else. This is a formation to fight a really big war against a first class enemy; designed to deliver the decisive counter-attack (see Stalingrad, Kursk). It will be stationed in the Western Military District to defend Russia against NATO (yes defend! otherwise why didn’t they have it all along?). It will likely be the first to receive receive the new Armata family of AFVs and be staffed with professional soldiers. This is what the light-hearted decision to expand NATO has brought us to. I need hardly say that NATO’s piddling little reinforcement is below the noise level of a tank army. (And pointless, too: a brigade more-or-less is meaningless in a real war and the trip-wire already exists. But NATO is working itself up to a real case of the screaming meemies.) I will probably write more on the significant of this, which is clearer to those with a military background, but here’s something to go on from Southfront. 

Russia Observer
RUSSIAN FEDERATION SITREP 25 February 2016
Patrick Armstrong

See also

US set on regime change in Russia and will pursue this goal to the bitter end.

Sic Semper Tyrannis
Why is the US so hostile to Russia? Biil Herschel and PL

N-TV — Breedlove puts NATO crediblity at risk

US-German rift.

Fort Russ
Breedlove puts NATO crediblity at risk
Translated from German by Tom Winter

German original: Report by Christoph Herwarts, in n-tv, March 7, 2015

James Carden — Reckless: Obama’s Advisers Go Rogue

On the issue of Ukraine, the president has lost control over key administration officials.

Of course, this begs the question of whether these officials have actually gone rogue.

The National Interest
Reckless: Obama’s Advisers Go Rogue
James Carden, Contributing Editor

Der Spiegel — Breedlove's Bellicosity: Berlin Alarmed by Aggressive NATO Stance on Ukraine

General Philip Breedlove, the top NATO commander in Europe, stepped before the press in Washington. Putin, the 59-year-old said, had once again "upped the ante" in eastern Ukraine -- with "well over a thousand combat vehicles, Russian combat forces, some of their most sophisticated air defense, battalions of artillery" having been sent to the Donbass. "What is clear," Breedlove said, "is that right now, it is not getting better. It is getting worse every day." 

German leaders in Berlin were stunned. They didn't understand what Breedlove was talking about. And it wasn't the first time. Once again, the German government, supported by intelligence gathered by the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), Germany's foreign intelligence agency, did not share the view of NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). 

The pattern has become a familiar one. For months, Breedlove has been commenting on Russian activities in eastern Ukraine, speaking of troop advances on the border, the amassing of munitions and alleged columns of Russian tanks. Over and over again, Breedlove's numbers have been significantly higher than those in the possession of America's NATO allies in Europe. As such, he is playing directly into the hands of the hardliners in the US Congress and in NATO. 

The German government is alarmed. Are the Americans trying to thwart European efforts at mediation led by Chancellor Angela Merkel? Sources in the Chancellery have referred to Breedlove's comments as "dangerous propaganda." Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier even found it necessary recently to bring up Breedlove's comments with NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg...

Uh oh. Dissension among the vassals. The report makes clear that Breedlove and other hawks like Vicktoria Nuland are either lying or stupid, and no one takes the latter alternative seriously.

Maybe Gen. Breedlove is a mole placed within NATO to break it up from within, as the US is complaining that Putler is trying to do.

No, it appears that President Obama is behind it, according to the article.

Indeed, US President Barack Obama seems almost isolated. He has thrown his support behind Merkel's diplomatic efforts for the time being, but he has also done little to quiet those who would seek to increase tensions with Russia and deliver weapons to Ukraine. Sources in Washington say that Breedlove's bellicose comments are first cleared with the White House and the Pentagon. The general, they say, has the role of the "super hawk," whose role is that of increasing the pressure on America's more reserved trans-Atlantic partners.

This article is about as close to a smack down as the usually circumspect Spiegel gets.

Breedlove further endears himself by doubling down  and telling them to stick it.

Breedlove sees no reason to revise his approach. "I stand by all the public statements I have made during the Ukraine crisis," he wrote to SPIEGEL in response to a request for a statement accompanied by a list of his controversial claims. He wrote that it was to be expected that assessments of NATO's intelligence center, which receives information from all 33 alliance members in addition to partner states, doesn't always match assessments made by individual nations. "It is normal that not everyone agrees with the assessments that I provide," he wrote.

Note "assessments of NATO's intelligence center, which receives information from all 33 alliance members in addition to partner states, doesn't always match assessments made by individual nations." Breedlove claims often reflect the narratives put forward by the Ukrainian government. One wonders whether they are just reading from a script they have been given.

Then comes the kicker.

He says that NATO's strategy is to "release clear, accurate and timely information regarding ongoing events." He also wrote that: "As an alliance based on the fundamental values of freedom and democracy, our response to propaganda cannot be more propaganda. It can only be the truth."

The reaction?

The German government, meanwhile, is doing what it can to influence Breedlove. Sources in Berlin say that conversations to this end have taken place in recent weeks. But there are many at NATO headquarters in Brussels who are likewise concerned about Breedlove's statements. On Tuesday of last week, Breedlove's public appearances were an official item on the agenda of the North Atlantic Council's weekly lunch meeting. Several ambassadors present criticized Breedlove and expressed their incredulity at some of the commander's statements. 

Method to the madness?

Berlin sources also say that it has become conspicuous that Breedlove's controversial statements are often made just as a step forward has been made in the difficult negotiations aimed at a political resolution. Berlin sources say that Germany should be able to depend on its allies to support its efforts at peace.

Looks like they are figuring it out.

Although President Obama has decided for the time being to give European diplomacy a chance, hawks like Breedlove or Victoria Nuland are doing what they can to pave the way for weapons deliveries. "We can fight against the Europeans, fight against them rhetorically," Nuland said during a private meeting of American officials on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference at the beginning of February....

No wonder, then, that people in Berlin have the impression that important power brokers in Washington are working against the Europeans. Berlin officials have noticed that, following the visit of American politicians or military leaders in Kiev, Ukrainian officials are much more bellicose and optimistic about the Ukrainian military's ability to win the conflict on the battlefield. "We then have to laboriously bring the Ukrainians back onto the course of negotiations," said one Berlin official.

This is a very damning report and it is certain to add fuel to the fire in Germany, which is already upset over the revelations about US spying on them. Now europeans are going to have to face up to the US and its poodle the UK are provoking a hot war in Europe with nuclear armed Russia in defiance of the Cold War principle that nuclear states don't face off militarilly.

Spiegel Online International
Breedlove's Bellicosity: Berlin Alarmed by Aggressive NATO Stance on Ukraine