US: 'Acceptable' use of nuclear weapons

 

‘The US is ready to use nuclear weapons if necessary but would only do so on terms “acceptable” for the country and its interests, US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) spokesman Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan has said.  

Speaking at the Project Atom 2024 event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Buchanan noted that such conditions imply that the US will “continue to lead the world.”  

“If we have to have an exchange then we want to do it in terms that are most acceptable to the United States,” which are namely to maintain a position where the US is largely viewed as a world leader, Buchanan said.  

The admiral noted that in the event of a potential nuclear exchange, the US would seek to maintain a portion of its arsenal for continued deterrence.   

“We’d have to have reserve capacity. You wouldn’t expend all of your resources to gain winning, right? Because then you would have nothing to deter from at that point,” Buchanan said.  

At the same time, he stressed that the US “would not like to be in an environment that would follow the exchange of nuclear strikes,” and seeks to avoid any such scenario. The admiral urged ongoing dialogue with Russia, China, and North Korea to reduce the risk of a nuclear conflict, adding that “nuclear weapons are political weapons.”  

His remarks come days after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new national nuclear doctrine that outlines the scenarios in which Moscow would be authorized to deploy its nuclear arsenal.  

The new doctrine states that Moscow will have the right to consider the nuclear option if Russia or Belarus come under attack by conventional arms, and if such aggression creates a “critical threat” to their sovereignty or territorial integrity.  

Commenting on the updated nuclear doctrine, a number of political experts pointed out that it could force the US and other Western nations to reconsider their military support for Ukraine.  

Following the publication of the revised rules, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained that the new doctrine effectively gives Russia the right to consider a nuclear response to the use of Western-supplied non-nuclear missiles by Kiev against Russian territory.’

What lies beneath....

 If you’ve being paying attention recently, you will have heard Labour ministers claiming that they are “fixing the foundations” of the economy. Convinced? Neither are we. Because the foundations (actually, foundation singular) of the current system is profit-seeking, which works best when it is able to screw the maximum possible amount of unpaid labour from the workers.

Like the previous lot (who were going to Build Back Better, remember?), Starmer, Reeves et al love a construction analogy, but daren’t let on that the capitalist edifice, foundation included, was built for the benefit of the capitalists, and that the role of government is to try to ensure continuing ‘peaceful enjoyment’ of said edifice for the minority class.

https://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/

US call for more meatgrinder victims in its proxy war.

 

‘A shortage of American weapons is not the problem, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has argued

Ukraine should ramp up military mobilization and send more troops to fight Russia, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has suggested in an interview with PBS News on Monday. Sullivan also rejected the argument that more American weapons could turn the tide on the frontlines.

“Have we seen a marked difference since we have provided tanks to Ukraine in terms of the battlefield? Similarly, on F-16s, have we seen a marked difference?” he asked host Nick Schifrin, referring to the firepower donated by the US and its allies to Kiev.

“It’s about manpower, and Ukraine needs to do more, in our view, to firm up its lines in terms of the number of forces it has on the front lines,” he said. “Where is the straightest line between Ukrainian performance and inputs? It’s on mobilization and manpower.”

Moscow has long stated that no amount of Western military aid could change the outcome of the conflict. Instead of chasing a military victory, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky should have compromised and agreed to the terms of the draft truce which the two sides negotiated in Istanbul in 2022, Russian officials have argued.

Zelensky’s decision to abandon the talks, following intervention from then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, suggests that he is complicit in a Western ploy to inflict maximum damage to Russia while fighting “to the last Ukrainian,” Moscow has alleged.

Sullivan claimed that Russia had deployed thousands of North Korean troops to the frontline in Kursk Region. Moscow and Pyongyang have neither confirmed nor denied this, while Zelensky has claimed that his forces could face as many as 100,000 North Korean soldiers unless the West ramps up support.

Zelensky ordered the incursion into Russian territory in August in what many military experts called a dangerous gamble aimed at slowing down Russian advances. Moscow’s Défense Ministry estimates Ukrainian losses in the operation at almost 34,000 casualties, over 200 tanks and thousands of other pieces of heavy weaponry.’

Has the Doomsday Clock just jumped forward?

‘On Monday, millions of Swedes will start receiving copies of a pamphlet advising the population how to prepare and cope in the event of war or another unexpected crisis.

“In case of crisis or war” has been updated from six years ago because of what the government in Stockholm calls the worsening security situation, by which it means Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The booklet is also twice the size.

Neighbouring Finland has also just published its own fresh advice online on “preparing for incidents and crises”.

And Norwegians have also recently received a pamphlet urging them to be prepared to manage on their own for a week in the event of extreme weather, war and other threats.’

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjr4zwj2lgdo

Shades of the UK’s Protect and Survive.

A report on social media, sourcing the Financial Times, (paywalled) says that Estonia’s Foreign Minister has said that if the President Elect of the USA makes a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, one of the terms is that Ukraine does not join NATO, then a European coalition, led by Britain and Poland should step in to fihght on Ukraine’s side. This apparently will stop Russian aggression.

A Sun ‘journalist’ writes that the USA should have provided Ukraine with the missiles it may now have access to at the beginning of the conflict. The latest decision to provide these weapons will not lead to WW3 he asserts. He opines that, ‘Ukraine is maybe Europe’s front line but its soldiers are fighting for more than their homes. They are defending the world as we know it. ‘

What world might that be? Shades of Billy Bragg’s fighting to keep the world safe for capitalism.

‘US President Joe Biden has reportedly authorized Ukraine to use long-range American missiles to strike targets inside Russia’s pre-2014 borders, according to a New York Times reporting anonymous American officials.

The decision, if accurately conveyed by the newspaper, marks a major shift in Washington’s policy and will raise the stakes in the conflict between Moscow and Kiev. The White House has yet to comment publicly on the matter.

The report states that Ukraine is expected to deploy the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) against Russian forces and alleged North Korean troops in Russia’s Kursk Region, where fierce fighting is ongoing. The supposed presence of North Korean forces has been used as part of the justification for the policy change, though there is no verified proof of Pyongyang’s troops operating in Russia.

ATACMS missiles can be fired from HIMARS launchers, which Ukraine has had in its arsenal since 2022. Kiev's forces have had ATACMS missiles since April, but have until now been limited to using them on land considered Ukrainian by Washington. ATACMS missiles travel at supersonic speed and have a range of 300 kilometers (190 miles).

“The move is a significant escalation and may provoke a direct response from Moscow,” the report notes. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that any attacks on Russia’s internationally recognized territory with American-supplied weaponry would be viewed as NATO entering the conflict directly. Such actions, he has suggested, could lead to severe repercussions, including retaliation against Western interests.

The reported US policy shift has also divided Biden’s advisers, the newspaper claims. While some argue the change is necessary to counter Moscow’s supposed  military moves, others fear it could further escalate tensions and risk a broader conflict.

Supporters of arming Ukraine more aggressively believe that previous hesitation by the US has emboldened Moscow, while critics warn of potential Russian retaliation against American and Western European assets.

The Times report also highlights that while the Ukrainian military may first target Russian and alleged North Korean forces in Kursk, the strikes could potentially be expanded to other regions.

The long-range capabilities of ATACMS would allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory, potentially disrupting supply lines and troop concentrations.

Kiev’s desire for long-range capabilities has been a longstanding request. With Biden’s reported authorization, the geopolitical dynamics of the conflict could now shift dramatically.’

The cost of capitalist destruction

‘The US Congress has allocated $182.99 billion to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s military operation in February 2022, according to a report from the Pentagon’s Inspector General.

Of the total amount, around $131.36 billion has been directed towards security-related activities. This includes $46.51 billion earmarked for an increased US military presence in Europe and $45.78 billion for replacing weaponry supplied to Ukraine. In addition, $43.84 billion has been allocated for governance programs, which include salaries for Ukrainian public servants, while $4.08 billion has been designated for humanitarian assistance.

The US has provided a range of military equipment to Ukraine, including vehicles, ammunition, weapons, artillery, and demolition equipment. The aid packages have specifically included Bradley fighting vehicles, which Ukrainian troops have come to prefer over Abrams tanks due to their speed and agility on the battlefield, the report says, adding that American maintenance experts continue to offer remote support for this equipment through secure communication channels.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has allocated $3.9 billion in additional direct budget support to Ukraine, part of a larger $7.84 billion supplemental appropriation approved in April 2024. This budget support facilitates ongoing government operations and the provision of essential services in Ukraine. The funding covers salaries for civil servants and school employees, assistance for internally displaced persons, support for low-income families, as well as subsidies for housing and utilities.

While the administration of US President Joe Biden has maintained its commitment to providing financial and military support to Ukraine “for as long as it takes” amid the conflict with Russia, concerns have arisen regarding the potential impact of President-elect Donald Trump’s election victory on future military assistance.

Trump (has) stated that his administration will work diligently to resolve the conflict, stressing the need to prevent further bloodshed.’

Estonian equates poverty and crime: Someone explain Capitalism to them.

 

‘Poverty is to blame for rising crime rates in Estonia, the country’s justice and digital minister, Liisa Pakosta, has claimed. The comments came ahead of a European Commission report partially attributing Tallinn’s recent economic woes to severing trade ties with Russia.  

After a decade of decline, crime levels started to grow in 2023, Pakosta told a press conference, as quoted by the ERR public broadcaster. The upward trend has continued this year, with overall crime rates up 4% year-on-year. Scams have seen the most notable jump of 25%, the minister said.

The figures are part of a “wider European trend” of growing crime rates, which analysts blame on the deteriorating socio-economic situation, she added.

“Unfortunately, the number of people who say that they steal because they otherwise do not have money to buy food and basic necessities has also increased,” Pakosta said.

Around 20% of Estonia’s population of 1.37 million people is at risk of poverty, while the absolute poverty rate stands at 2.7%, according to official statistics. Inflation rose by 4.1% in October year-on-year.

Estonia's gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 3% in 2023, and the country is expected to remain in recession in 2024 amid weak domestic demand, according to the European Commission.

The latest economic forecast released by the Commission’s Economic and Financial Affairs department on Friday projects the Estonian economy growing by 1.1% in 2025. However, growth will remain weak in the coming years “as a result of several factors, including the permanent loss of cheap inputs from Russia.” 

Among other factors are “weak growth in the country’s main trading partners,” which in 2023 were the EU member states, and “lingering geopolitical concerns,” the report states.

SPGB Meeting TONIGHT 15 November 1930 (GMT) ZOOM

 

YET MORE WAYS THAT SOCIALISM CAN HEAL THE WORLD (Zoom)

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Event Details

• Date: November 15, 2024 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

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Speaker: Paddy Shannon

To connect to a Zoom meeting, click https://zoom.us/j/7421974305