Tension With Russia Could Lead To War

By Branco Marcetic, Jacobin

A little over thirty years after the end of the Cold War, it seems we’re right back where we started. Over the past few weeks, tensions between Russia and the United States have reached their closest point to hostilities in a generation, after Moscow amassed troops at the Ukrainian border, prompting fears of an impending Russian invasion.

It’s not clear what happens next. President Joe Biden is threatening severe sanctions and possibly supplying anti-Russian insurgents in case of such a scenario, but has so far held back on sending military aid to Ukraine and ruled out sending US troops. Still, the presence of American soldiers in the country makes the situation combustible, and threatens to lead to wider conflict should a Russian attack come.

Already, voices are clamoring for war, warning that US “credibility” is on the line if Biden fails to deter Russian president Vladimir Putin, and we’re seeing the usual accusations of “appeasement,” complete with references to Neville Chamberlain and Munich as hawks push for a more aggressive US response. As the crisis continues unfolding, you’re going to hear a lot of the same things from the narrow spectrum of opinion allowed in the mainstream press and within the halls of Congress. What you won’t hear are these crucial points.