Sunday, February 5, 2017

Better Russia Ties "impossible" under Trump says Steven Lendman



Democracy and Class Struggle's view is same as Stephen Lendman on the question of Russia and Trump - it is a line that is beginning to get more favour and less hostility.

If Trump and US insists that Iran is single biggest state sponsor of terrorism rather than Saudi Princes and Gulf States we can hardly see Russia and US fighting together - both have different definitions of terrorism as well as different strategic objectives.

The United States, NATO and Israel are true sponsors of terrorism not Iran, says an American author and radio host.

Stephen Lendman made the comments in regard to remarks by hawkish US Defense Secretary James Mattis, describing Iran as “the single biggest state sponsor of terrorism in the world.”

Mattis is on a tour to Asia as the first secretary in the administration of President Donald Trump to take an international trip.

Speaking in Tokyo on Saturday, the Pentagon chief suggested that Washington was indifferent towards the matter and did not “see any need to increase the number of [US] forces” in the region.

Lendman told Press TV in a Saturday interview that Washington, Tel Aviv, and member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are the ones holding the “dubious distinction” of sponsoring terrorism.

“No other nations have risen to the level of horrors that they commit,” said the Chicago-based analyst, noting, “Iran supports peace and mutual cooperation with all nations not war. Calling Iran a great sponsor of terrorism is absolutely outrageous.”

The Trump administration, however, is apparently sticking to the rhetoric because Tehran is helping “beleaguered” Syria, suffering from an “aggressive war” by the US, via its “terrorist foot soldiers.”

The political commentator further speculated that Trump could “back terrorism the way he said he would, allied with Russia.”

The new administration’s anti-Iran rhetoric is “very concerning,” Lendman argued, as it may become “belligerent” at some point.

“Russia, China and Iran are close allies. Trump says he wants better relations with Russia but what sense does it make if he’s acting hostile to China and hostile to Iran? 

That would make better relations with Russia impossible.”

He further described the Trump administration’s extreme hostility towards Tehran “unnerving and worrisome,” voicing hope that the world can get away with this “absolute madness.”


SOURCE: http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2017/02/04/509150/Better-Russia-ties-impossible-under-Trump