Subject: Michael - I share your pain here. There are so many stateme

Comment:

See Original Content on OpEd News in article titled "On Journalistic Integrity"

Michael - I share your pain here. There are so many statements that are factual nonsense and/or have a propaganda feel to it. It begins with the entirely senseless statement that the Bundeswehr declared Russia an enemy: I am not anymore entirely sure how it is in the US, but here in Germany the military still is part of the executive branch and does not make any decisions on its own behalf other than organizing drills and latrine cleaning schedules. The statement that the Bundeswehr made any such decision already is enough to qualify Pauls entire article for the bin.

I didn't look into the details yet, so I can just express my general observations here and now: Russia is entitled to make any kind of military drills on its own territory, and it was NATO that provoked - and keeps provoking - Russia by its eastern expansion and extensive military maneuvers at Russian borders that involve troops of nations that do not have common borders with Russia. Despite not exactly being a fan of Mr. Putin I have to admit that despite a sack full of broken western promises and ongoing provocations the Russian government remained amazingly calm. I see zero interest of Russia beyond protecting its territorial integrity and its direct sphere of influence. Turning Eastern European countries into NATO countries and missile bases along the Russian borders is akin to the Cuba Crisis on steroids. Remember the US reaction then, and compare it to the Russian reaction now!