World War Three Thread....

[American Patriot]

It appears that there is a lot more to the Russia-vs-US nonsense than we even thought in the beginning.

Apparently the Senate is planning on funding a war.

Senate Bill Preps for War With Russia

Tuesday, 05 August 2014 10:07 By Renee Parsons, CounterPunch | News Analysis

If there was an anti-war movement in the US, the Russian Aggression Prevention Act of 2014 (S.2277) which will cost American taxpayers $117 billion, might be at the top of the list for defeat as a totally provocative, irrational piece of legislation that can only be viewed as paving the road for a preemptive first strike on Russia.


But as the Obama foreign policy has crossed the threshold of madness in its prevarications of geopolitical crises into costly wars and escalations of US global domination; amazingly alas, there is no anti war movement. The most militarized, most blatantly pro-war country on the planet, perhaps in the history of the world, has not one prominent voice for peace – except the American people who, in every poll, are consistently opposed to more war.


In what is destined to be a lose-lose for world peace, 23 Senate Republicans have co-sponsored Sen. Bob Corker’s legislation that seeks to prevent “further Russian aggression toward Ukraine and other sovereign states in Europe and Eurasia.” If there is any reader who believes that Russia has been the aggressor in Ukraine or elsewhere, this graphic video of civilian atrocities committed by Ukraine’s neo nazi National Guard ought to be enough to shake even the most apathetic population out of their indifference.


To date, no Democrat has co-sponsored the bill but that is not to say that neither will they object to its intent. With Congressional recess tentatively scheduled for Labor Day weekend until after the midterm elections, the odds are that S.2277 may not be adopted any time soon.


But what its existence does do is to provide political cover for the Obama Administration which has already moved to adopt a number of its provisions as it follows the bill’s outline that sets the stage for a direct military conflict with Russia – with no Senate presence to object to the ominous rumblings that S 2277 evokes – not the liberal darling du jour Elizabeth Warren nor any other Senator with enough inner grit or integrity to dare challenge Obama’s narcissistic abuse of power.


Here are some disturbing reasons for concern:


* Directs the President to submit a plan to Congress for accelerating NATO and European missile defense efforts.



“Accelerating …missile defense efforts” confirms that additional anti-ballistic missiles (ABMs), already in Poland and the Czech Republic, will be deployed elsewhere in eastern Europe as a provision to block retaliation from Russia after a US first strike.


As if NATO needs any accelerating, on a recent European trip, the globe-trotting president assured Poland and other eastern European countries of an extra $1 billion to pay for an increased US military presence. It is no secret that eastern European leaders see Uncle Sam handouts as the gift that keeps on giving, a gravy train of empowerment – more jobs, more influence and greater prestige. While Obama softly chastised its members to “do its fair share” and “step up,” each NATO country is required to contribute 2% of its GDP to defense, most have reduced rather than increased their payment. The largesse of the US taxpayer carries 75% of the NATO budget load.


* Directs the President to impose significantly increased sanctions if Russian armed forces have not withdrawn from the eastern border of Ukraine, or if agents of the Russian Federation do not cease actions to destabilize the control of the government of Ukraine over eastern Ukraine, and if Russian armed forces have not withdrawn from Crimea– all within seven days after enactment.


Here we have a deliriously myopic cock-eyed view of reality that Russia is on the doorstep of NATO rather than NATO being the interloper. On that same European trip, the president threatened additional sanctions in an effort to weaken the ruble and destabilize the Russian economy, if Russia continued ‘actively destabilizing its neighbors” again predating Corker’s legislation.


The requirement that Russia withdraw from Crimea, a tenet of the Neanderthal School of Foreign Policy, reveals a pitiful ignorance of the 200 year history of the Crimea as part of Russia and that the Donbas in east Ukraine has been a dominant Russian-speaking industrial epicenter since the 1930’s. The US has informed the Putin government that it would not accept the legitimacy of the Crimea vote for secession to Russia with the time-honored concept of self-determination now verboten at the US State Department.


Speaking of efforts at destabilizing Ukraine, the currently-in-shambles Kiev government is doing a pretty good job of destabilizing itself with the resignation of prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and the recent upheaval in the Ukraine parliament including a series of fistfights over its failure to agree on the war in east Ukraine and allowing western control of the country’s pipeline infrastructure.


* Directs the President to halt all redeployments of combat forces from Europe, and develop a plan to correct any deficiencies in the Armed Forces’ ability to respond to contingencies in Europe and Eurasia and


* Directs DOD to assess the capabilities and needs of the Ukrainian armed forces and authorizes the President to provide military assistance to Ukraine.


* Provides non-NATO ally status for Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova for purposes of the transfer of defense articles or services as well as to increase U.S. armed forces interactions with the armed forces of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.


In toto, the above three points all reflect the preliminary bureaucratic process necessary to prepare for war. Once formal ‘ally’ status has been conferred, the US can then justify its own and NATO military action coming to the aid of an ‘ally’ under a specious attack from Russia. The addition of nine other countries for increased military assistance is a worrisome signal that the coming conflict is expected to be more widespread than just Ukraine. On July 29, CNN reported that Ukraine military initiated firing short range ballistic missiles capable of carrying up to 1000 pound warheads; and yet if Russia retaliated, a momentous perhaps irreversible confrontation would be inevitable.


* Secretary of State shall increase efforts, directly or through nongovernmental organizations, to improve democratic governance, transparency, accountability, rule of law, and anti-corruption efforts in the Russian Federation; strengthen democratic institutions and political and civil society organizations in the Russian Federation; expand uncensored Internet access in Russia; and expand free and unfettered access to independent media of all kinds in Russia, including through increasing United States Government-supported broadcasting activities, and to assist with the protection of journalists and civil society activists who have been targeted for free speech activities.
All of the above would be hilarious if it were not so pathetically hypocritical. Every element of ‘improving democratic governance” is sorely needed in the US but then the American government excels at pointing the finger at others and laying blame when the US itself has been guilty of exactly what it accuses others of.


* Amends the Natural Gas Act for expedited application and approval process for export to World Trade Organization members as well as urge the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Trade and Development Agency, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the World Bank Group, and the European Bank for Reconstruction for “promotion of US private sector participation in energy developmentin Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova” for exploitation of natural gas and oil reserves.


So herein lies the real nub of the matter: that is, in what the Pentagon calls ‘full spectrum dominance,” the US pursues ultimate control of the entire world’s supply of petroleum resources and production facilities. It is intriguing to note that the Natural Gas Act section includes not just energy development in Ukraine but Georgia which has a mere 35 billion barrels of crude oil reserves ranking 81^st on the list of countries with proved oil reserves and that Moldova has virtually no petroleum reserves, imports all of its energy from Russia and ranks 141 according to the CIA World Factbook. The goal here, of course, is to eliminate any dependency on Russia’s export of oil as well as to draw Georgia and Moldova into the fight.


This June, 2014 video of Sergei Glazyev, economic assistant to Russian President Vladimir Putin, provides rare insight into Russia’s interpretation of current geopolitical realities in east Ukraine with an alarming prediction of the US response. His view is that Ukraine should be considered a US ‘occupied’ state with significant CIA and military advisors in key positions as they direct the war and the likelihood that after the Donbass and its courageous rebellion has been totally extinguished, there will be an invasion of the Crimea. The equally alarming news that the US Star Wars (aka ABM’s designed to intercept ICBM’s but may also be used as an offensive weapon), was tested ten days ago and deployed to the Romanian Russian border is further indicative of President Obama’s apocalyptic plans.


But the truly mind-numbing possibility is that an inexperienced, ineffectual President will be easily swayed to believe that the US can prevail in a limited nuclear first strike.

[American Patriot]

Text of the Russian Aggression Prevention Act of 2014

This bill was assigned to a congressional committee on May 1, 2014, which will consider it before possibly sending it on to the House or Senate as a whole. The text of the bill below is as of May 01, 2014 (Introduced).
Download PDF
Source: GPO and Cato Institute Deepbills

II
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2277
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 1, 2014
Mr. Corker (for himself, Mr. McConnell, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Rubio, Mr. McCain, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Graham, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Risch, Mr. Coats, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Portman, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Thune, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Flake, Mr. Johnson of Wisconsin, and Mr. Burr) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

A BILL
To prevent further Russian aggression toward Ukraine and other sovereign states in Europe and Eurasia, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents

(a) Short title
This Act may be cited as the Russian Aggression Prevention Act of 2014 .

(b) Table of contents

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I—Reinvigorating the NATO alliance
Sec. 101. Strengthening United States assistance and force posture in Europe and Eurasia.
Sec. 102. United States efforts to strengthen the NATO alliance.
Sec. 103. Expanded support for Poland and the Baltic states.
Sec. 104. Accelerating implementation of European and NATO missile defense efforts.
Sec. 105. Strengthened United States-German cooperation on global and European security issues.
TITLE II—Deterring further Russian aggression in Europe
Sec. 201. United States policy toward Russian aggression in Europe.
Sec. 202. Sanctions to address continuing aggression of the Russian Federation toward Ukraine.
Sec. 203. Additional sanctions in the event of increased aggression by the Russian Federation toward Ukraine or other countries.
Sec. 204. Limitation on Russian access to United States oil and gas technology.
Sec. 205. Diplomatic measures with respect to the Russian Federation.
Sec. 206. Support for Russian democracy and civil society organizations.
TITLE III—Hardening Ukraine and other European and Eurasian states against Russian aggression
Sec. 301. Military assistance for Ukraine.
Sec. 302. Sense of Congress on intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
Sec. 303. Major non-NATO ally status for Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova.
Sec. 304. Expanded security force training, assistance and defense cooperation with key non-NATO states.
Sec. 305. Expediting natural gas exports.
Sec. 306. European and Eurasian energy independence.
Sec. 307. Crimea annexation nonrecognition.
Sec. 308. Support for democracy and civil society organizations in countries of the former Soviet Union.
Sec. 309. Expanded broadcasting in countries of the former Soviet Union.

2. Definitions
In this Act:

(1) Alien
The term alien has the meaning given that term in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)).

(2) Appropriate congressional committees
The term appropriate congressional committees means—

(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and

(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.

(3) Correspondent account; payable-through account
The terms correspondent account and payable-through account have the meanings given those terms in section 5318A of title 31, United States Code.

(4) Domestic financial institution
The term domestic financial institution means a financial institution that is a United States person.

(5) Financial institution
The term financial institution means a financial institution specified in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H), (I), (J), (K), (M), (N), (R), or (Y) of section 5312(a)(2) of title 31, United States Code.

(6) NATO
The term NATO means the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

(7) Russian financial institution
The term Russian financial institution means—

(A) a financial institution organized under the laws of the Russian Federation or any jurisdiction within the Russian Federation, including a foreign branch of such an institution;

(B) a financial institution substantially owned or controlled by one or more citizens of the Russian Federation; and

(C) a financial institution owned, in whole or in part, or controlled by the Government of the Russian Federation.

(8) Senior Russian official
The term senior Russian official means—

(A) the President of the Russian Federation;

(B) any immediate advisor of the President of the Russian Federation;

(C) any other senior official of the Government of the Russian Federation, including the Prime Minister, any deputy prime minister, and any federal minister; and

(D) any immediate advisor to such an official.

(9) Senior executive
The term senior executive means a member of the board, chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, secretary, treasurer, general counsel, or chief information officer, or the functional equivalent thereof, of an entity.

(10) United States person
The term United States person means—

(A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States; or

(B) an entity organized under the laws of the United States or of any jurisdiction within the United States, including a foreign branch of such an entity.

I Reinvigorating the NATO alliance

101. Strengthening United States assistance and force posture in Europe and Eurasia

(a) Strategic framework

(1) In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, with concurrence by the Secretary of State, shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategic framework for United States security assistance and cooperation in Europe and Eurasia.

(2) Elements
The strategic framework required by paragraph (1) shall include—

(A) an evaluation of the extent to which the threat to security and stability in Europe and Eurasia is a threat to the national security of the United States and the security interests of the NATO alliance;

(B) an identification of the primary objectives, priorities, and desired end-states of United States security assistance and cooperation programs in Europe and Eurasia and an assessment of the resources required to achieve such objectives, priorities, and end-states;

(C) a methodology for assessing the effectiveness of United States security assistance and cooperation programs in such regions in making progress towards such objectives, priorities, and end-states, including an identification of key measures for such progress; and

(D) criteria for bilateral and multilateral partnerships in such regions.

(b) Immediate halt to current and planned redeployments from Europe
The President, consistent with the President's responsibilities as Commander in Chief, including ensuring the readiness of the United States Armed Forces, shall immediately halt, for a 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, all current and planned redeployments of combat forces from Europe, other than redeployments of forces for which replacement forces are already in place or are planned to be in place, with the intent to maintain force numbers at current levels for the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c) Plan for enhancing the ability of the United States military To respond to crises in Europe and Eurasia
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President, consistent with the President's responsibilities as Commander in Chief, including ensuring the readiness of the United States Armed Forces, shall identify, and develop a plan to correct, any deficiencies in the ability of the Armed Forces to rapidly and fully respond, in coordination with other NATO allies, to foreseeable contingencies in Europe and Eurasia, including the ability to execute current United States European Command contingency plans.

(d) Report
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing the specific deficiencies identified, the plan for correcting such deficiencies, including a cost estimate, and the status of corrective actions being undertaken pursuant to the plan required by subsection (c).

102. United States efforts to strengthen the NATO alliance

(a) In general
The President shall direct the United States Permanent Representative on the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (in this Act referred to as the United States Permanent Representative to NATO ), to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to—

(1) reaffirm the United States commitment to the NATO Alliance, including its Article V commitment to all NATO member-states, regardless of size or duration of membership;

(2) strengthen NATO’s capabilities to deter and, as needed, to rapidly and appropriately respond, including through the use of military force as necessary, to security crises, including any crisis in Europe and Eurasia created by efforts of any state to undermine the territorial, economic, or political sovereignty or integrity of any NATO member-state;

(3) call on all NATO member-states to make substantial progress towards meeting the Alliance’s defense spending requirements and national capability targets and seek to ensure that such progress is in fact made; and

(4) encourage NATO member-states to work together to achieve energy independence for NATO member-states and other NATO partners in Europe and Eurasia.

(b) Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that the NATO Alliance represents the single most successful collective security agreement of the modern era and that a strong and revitalized NATO is critical to maintaining peace and security in Europe and Eurasia and ensuring that the Russian Federation plays an appropriate role in the region.

103. Expanded support for Poland and the Baltic states

(a) Plan

(1) In general
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a plan, including a cost estimate, for substantially increasing United States and NATO support for the armed forces of the Republics of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, and other NATO member-states as determined by the President, including substantially increasing—

(A) the complement of forward-based NATO forces in those states, through appropriate bilateral agreements; and

(B) security assistance, including the provision of defense articles, services, and training by the United States and NATO in those states.

(2) Implementation
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall begin implementation of the plan required under paragraph (1).

(b) Report
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing the specific efforts being undertaken and planned to be undertaken by the United States Government to implement the plan required by subsection (a).

(c) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2017 to carry out the activities described under subsection (a) .

(d) Authority for use of funds
Funds authorized to be appropriated pursuant to subsection (c) for the provision of defense articles, services, and training may be used to procure such assistance from the United States Government or other appropriate sources.

(e) Permanent basing of NATO forces in Poland and the Baltic states
The President shall direct the United States Permanent Representative to NATO to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to seek consideration by NATO of the wisdom and efficacy of permanently basing NATO forces on a rotational basis in the Republics of Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and other NATO member-states as determined by the President.

104. Accelerating implementation of European and NATO missile defense efforts

(a) Plan

(1) In general
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a plan, including a cost estimate, for—

(A) accelerating the implementation of phase three of the European Phased Adaptive Approach for Europe-based missile defense, in order to complete such implementation of phase three by no later than the end of calendar year 2016, or providing alternative capabilities to protect key NATO allies in Europe and Eurasia, including, as appropriate, provision of PATRIOT, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or other missile defense systems; and

(B) accelerating NATO’s development of an alliance missile defense capability and its expansion of current missile defense command, control, and communications capabilities to protect NATO European and Eurasian populations, territory, and forces against increasing missile threats.

(2) Implementation
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall begin implementation of the plan under paragraph (1).

(b) Report
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing the specific efforts being undertaken and planned to be undertaken by the United States to implement the plan required by subsection (a).

105. Strengthened United States-German cooperation on global and European security issues

(a) Policy
It is the policy of the United States Government to work closely with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany on issues related to global and European security, particularly in light of ongoing events in Europe and Eurasia.

(b) United States-German Global and European Security Working Group
The President shall establish a United States-German Global and European Security Working Group to focus on areas of mutual concern, including addressing the ongoing situation in Ukraine and to increase the political, economic, and military cooperation between the two states, including additional intelligence sharing between the two states.

(c) Regular meetings
The working group required to be established under subsection (b) shall meet not less than annually at the Secretary level or above, semi-annually at the Deputy Secretary level or above, and quarterly at the Assistant Secretary level or above.

(d) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2017 to carry out the activities described under subsections (b) and (c).

(e) Report
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the meetings of the working group required to be established under subsection (b), including a description of the specific issues discussed and decisions made by the working group, and its efforts to improve, expand, and deepen the relationship between the United States Government and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

II Deterring further Russian aggression in Europe

201. United States policy toward Russian aggression in Europe
It is the policy of the United States—

(1) to use all appropriate elements of United States national power, in coordination with United States allies, to protect the independence, sovereignty, and territorial and economic integrity of Ukraine and other sovereign states in Europe and Eurasia from Russian aggression;

(2) to actively work to deter further Russian aggression toward Ukraine and other sovereign states in Europe and Eurasia by imposing costs on the Russia Federation for its ongoing activities, as well as to make clear the consequences for further aggressive activities;

(3) to work with United States partners in the European Union, NATO, and at the United Nations to ensure that all states, including the Russian Federation, recognize and not undermine, nor seek to undermine, the independence, sovereignty, or territorial or economic integrity of Ukraine and other sovereign states in Europe and Eurasia;

(4) to condemn the continuing and long-standing pattern and practice by the Government of the Russian Federation of physical and economic aggression toward various countries in Europe and Eurasia;

(5) to condemn the unjustified military intervention of the Russian Federation in the Crimea region of Ukraine and its concurrent occupation of that region, as well as any other form of political, economic, or military aggression toward Ukraine and other sovereign states in Europe and Eurasia, including the unnecessary and destabilizing presence of tens of thousands of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border;

(6) to condemn economic extortion by the Government of the Russian Federation against the governments and people of Ukraine, Moldova, Lithuania, Georgia, and other countries in the region designed to obstruct closer ties between the European Union and the countries of the Eastern Partnership and to reduce the harmful consequences of such extortion;

(7) to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to, and to remind Russia of its ongoing obligations under, and commitment to, the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, which was executed jointly with the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom and explicitly secures the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and borders of Ukraine;

(8) to not recognize the unlawful referendum that took place in Crimea on March 16, 2014, or the Russian Federation’s illegal annexation of Crimea, including to not recognize any de jure or de facto sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters, and to call for the immediate reversal of the Russian Federation’s illegal annexation of Crimea;

(9) to condemn the unjustified activities of agents of the Russian Federation in eastern Ukraine seeking to foment civil unrest and disturbance;

(10) to support the people of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia in their desire to forge closer ties with Europe, including signing an Association Agreement with the European Union as a means to address endemic corruption, consolidate democracy, and achieve sustained prosperity;

(11) to enhance and extend United States security cooperation with, security assistance to, and military exercises conducted with, states in Europe and Eurasia, including NATO member countries, NATO aspirants, and appropriate Eastern Partnership countries;

(12) to reaffirm United States defense commitments to its treaty allies under Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty;

(13) that the continued participation of the Russian Federation in the Group of Eight (G–8) states and its receipt of assistance from the World Bank Group should be conditioned on the Government of the Russian Federation respecting the territorial integrity of its neighbors and accepting and adhering to the norms and standards of free, democratic societies;

(14) to support the people of Ukraine and Moldova in their efforts to conduct free and fair elections, including the Presidential elections in Ukraine in May 2014 and the parliamentary elections in Moldova in November 2014, as well as any subsequent elections;

(15) to support the May 2012 NATO Chicago Summit Declaration’s statement that [i]n accordance with Article 10 of the Washington Treaty, NATO’s door will remain open to all European democracies which share the values of our Alliance, which are willing and able to assume the responsibilities and obligations of membership, which are in a position to further the principles of the Treaty, and whose inclusion can contribute to security in the North Atlantic area, particularly those cases where the aspirant is able to meet appropriate defense spending commitments and prepared to contribute to ongoing and future contingency operations; and

(16) to explore ways for the United States Government to assist the countries of Europe and Eurasia to diversify their energy sources and achieve energy security, including through the development of a transatlantic energy strategy.

202. Sanctions to address continuing aggression of the Russian Federation toward Ukraine

(a) Imposition of sanctions

(1) Imposition of sanctions if Russian forces do not withdraw from Crimea
If the armed forces of the Russian Federation have not withdrawn from Crimea (other than military forces present on military bases subject to agreements in force between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Ukraine) by not later than the date that is 7 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (b) with respect to—

(A) any official or agent of the Government of the Russian Federation, and any close associate or family member of an official of the Government of the Russian Federation, that the President determines is responsible for, participating in, complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing—

(i) violations of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine beginning in February 2014; or

(ii) acts of significant corruption in the Russian Federation, including the expropriation of private or public assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, bribery, or the facilitation or transfer of the proceeds of corruption to foreign jurisdictions;

(B) any individual that the President determines sponsored or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, the commission of acts described in subparagraph (A);

(C) any individual or entity with respect to which sanctions were imposed before the date of the enactment of this Act pursuant to—

(i) authority provided under any Executive order relating to violations of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine beginning in February 2014; or

(ii) authority provided under section 8 or 9 of the Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014 ( Public Law 113–95 );

(D) any entity owned or controlled by an entity described in subparagraph (C) that is owned or controlled by a citizen of the Russian Federation; and

(E) any senior executive of an entity described in subparagraph (C) or (D) who is a citizen of the Russian Federation.

(2) Imposition of sanctions if Russian forces do not withdraw from eastern border of Ukraine or do not cease destabilizing activities
If the Government of the Russian Federation has not withdrawn substantially all of the armed forces of the Russian Federation from the immediate vicinity of the eastern border of Ukraine by not later than the date that is 7 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, or agents of the Russian Federation do not cease taking active measures to destabilize the control of the Government of Ukraine over eastern Ukraine on or after that date (including through active support of efforts to unlawfully occupy facilities of the Government of Ukraine), the President shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (b) with respect to—

(A) Sberbank;

(B) VTB Bank;

(C) Vnesheconombank;

(D) Gazprombank;

(E) Gazprom;

(F) Novatek;

(G) Rosneft;

(H) Rosoboronexport;

(I) any entity owned or controlled by an entity specified in any of subparagraphs (A) through (H) that is owned or controlled by a citizen of the Russian Federation; and

(J) any senior executive of an entity specified in any of subparagraphs (A) through (I) who is a citizen of the Russian Federation.

(b) Sanctions described

(1) In general
The sanctions described in this subsection are the following:

(A) Asset blocking
The exercise of all powers granted to the President by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. ) to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of a person determined by the President to be subject to subsection (a) if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or come within the possession or control of a United States person.

(B) Exclusion from the United States and revocation of visa or other documentation
In the case of an alien determined by the President to be subject to subsection (a), denial of a visa to, and exclusion from the United States of, the alien, and revocation in accordance with section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1201(i) ), of any visa or other documentation of the alien.

(2) Penalties
A person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of paragraph (1)(A) or any regulation, license, or order issued to carry out paragraph (1)(A) shall be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1705 ) to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in subsection (a) of that section.

(3) Exception relating to the importation of goods

(A) In general
The requirement to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property under paragraph (1)(A) shall not include the authority to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.

(B) Good defined
In this paragraph, the term good has the meaning given that term in section 16 of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2415) (as continued in effect pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. )).

(4) Exception to comply with United Nations Headquarters agreement
Sanctions under paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply to an alien if admitting the alien into the United States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United States, or other applicable international obligations.

(c) Waiver
The President may waive the application of sanctions under this section with respect to a person or a transaction if the President—

(1) determines that such a waiver is in the national security interests of the United States; and

(2) on or before the date on which the waiver takes effect, submits a notice of and a justification for the waiver to—

(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and

(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives.

(d) Publication of list of sanctioned persons
Not later than 7 days after the imposition of sanctions pursuant to subsection (a), the President shall publish a list of the persons with respect to which sanctions were imposed pursuant to that subsection.

(e) Regulatory authority
The President shall issue such regulations, licenses, and orders as are necessary to carry out this section.

203. Additional sanctions in the event of increased aggression by the Russian Federation toward Ukraine or other countries

(a) In general
If the armed forces of the Russian Federation expand further into, or the Government of the Russian Federation annexes, the sovereign territory of Ukraine or any other country in Europe or Eurasia after the date of the enactment of this Act without the consent of the legally recognized government of that country—

(1) all of the sanctions described in subsection (b) shall be imposed the following business day by action of law with respect to—

(A) any senior Russian official;

(B) any entity owned or controlled by a senior Russian official; and

(C) any close associate of a senior Russian official that provides significant support or resources to that senior Russian official;

(2) the sanctions described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1) shall be imposed the following business day by action of law on—

(A) any entity—

(i) organized under the laws of the Russian Federation or any jurisdiction within the Russian Federation;

(ii) that is owned, in whole or in part, or controlled by—

(I) the Government of the Russian Federation;

(II) any person with respect to which sanctions are imposed under section 202;

(III) any person with respect to which sanctions are imposed under paragraph (1); or

(IV) any person with respect to which sanctions are imposed pursuant to an Executive order or any other provision of law in relation to violations of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine beginning in February 2014; and

(iii) that operates in the arms, defense, energy, financial services, metals, or mining sectors of the Russian Federation; and

(B) any senior executive of an entity described in subparagraph (A) who is a citizen of the Russian Federation; and

(3) the President shall exercise all powers granted to the President pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. ) to the extent necessary to prohibit any transaction by a domestic financial institution with a Russian financial institution or with respect to an account held by a Russian financial institution, other than routine interest and service fees.

(b) Sanctions described

(1) In general
The sanctions described in this subsection are the following:

(A) Asset blocking
The exercise of all powers granted to the President by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. ) to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of a person determined by the President to be subject to subsection (a) if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or come within the possession or control of a United States person.

(B) Exclusion from the United States and revocation of visa or other documentation
In the case of an alien determined by the President to be subject to subsection (a), denial of a visa to, and exclusion from the United States of, the alien, and revocation in accordance with section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1201(i) ), of any visa or other documentation of the alien.

(C) Sanctions with respect to foreign financial institutions
A prohibition on the opening, and a prohibition or the imposition of strict conditions on the maintaining, in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account by a foreign financial institution that the President determines has knowingly conducted, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, transactions with a person determined by the President to be subject to subsection (a).

(2) Penalties
A person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of subparagraph (A) or (C) of paragraph (1) or any regulation, license, or order issued to carry out either such subparagraph shall be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1705 ) to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in subsection (a) of that section.

(3) Exception relating to the importation of goods

(A) In general
The requirement to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property under paragraph (1)(A) shall not include the authority to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.

(B) Good defined
In this paragraph, the term good has the meaning given that term in section 16 of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2415) (as continued in effect pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. )).

(4) Exception to comply with United Nations Headquarters agreement
Sanctions under paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply to an alien if admitting the alien into the United States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United States, or other applicable international obligations.

(c) Waiver
The President may waive the application of sanctions under subsection (b) with respect to a person or transaction if the President—

(1) determines that such a waiver is in the vital national security interests of the United States; and

(2) on or before the date on which the waiver takes effect, submits a notice of and a justification for the waiver to—

(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and

(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives.

(d) Publication of list of sanctioned persons
Not later than 7 days after the imposition of sanctions pursuant to subsection (a), the President shall publish a list of the persons with respect to which sanctions were imposed pursuant to that subsection.

(e) Regulatory authority
The President shall issue such regulations, licenses, and orders as are necessary to carry out this section.

204. Limitation on Russian access to United States oil and gas technology

(a) In general
If the Government of the Russian Federation has not withdrawn substantially all of the armed forces of the Russian Federation from the immediate vicinity of the eastern border of Ukraine by not later than the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, or agents of the Russian Federation do not cease taking active measures to destabilize the control of the Government of Ukraine over eastern Ukraine on or after that date (including through active support of efforts to unlawfully occupy facilities of the Government of Ukraine), the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall revise the Export Administration Regulations under subchapter C of chapter VII of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, to strictly limit the transfer or export by any United States person of any advanced technology described in subsection (b) to any person in the Russian Federation or any citizen of the Russian Federation.

(b) Advanced technology described
Advanced technology described in this subsection is advanced technology that—

(1) is developed or controlled by a United States person and is not available from a person that is not a United States person; and

(2) relates to the discovery, exploration, or extraction of onshore or offshore oil or natural gas deposits, including the discovery, exploration, or extraction of oil or natural gas deposits in shale.

(c) Limited exception
The President may authorize a transaction for the transfer or export by a United States person of an advanced technology described in subsection (b) if the President determines that such authorization is in the national security interests of the United States.

(d) Duration of regulations
The prohibition under subsection (a) shall remain in effect until such time as the President—

(1) determines that such regulations are no longer warranted or appropriate; and

(2) submits a notification of and justification for that determination to—

(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and

(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.

(e) Regulatory authority
The President shall issue such regulations, licenses, and orders as are necessary to carry out this section.

205. Diplomatic measures with respect to the Russian Federation

(a) Limiting defense sales and defense industrial cooperation
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Commerce, shall work with United States allies in Europe and around the world to strictly limit—

(1) the sales of defense articles and services to the Government of the Russian Federation; and

(2) the cooperation of the United States and its allies with the Government of the Russian Federation on matters related to the production of defense articles and services by Russian entities.

(b) Duration of limits
The diplomatic measures required to be instituted pursuant to subsection (a) shall remain in effect until such time as the President determines in writing to the appropriate congressional committees that such diplomatic measures are no longer warranted or appropriate, including a justification for such determination.

(c) Nuclear force reduction agreements

(1) Policy
It is the policy of the United States to not engage in further negotiations with the Russian Federation to reduce nuclear forces until the Russian Federation is in full compliance with all existing bilateral nuclear agreements with the United States, including the Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles, signed at Washington December 8, 1987, and entered into force June 1, 1988.

(2) Restriction
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President shall not enter into any agreement with the Government of the Russian Federation with respect to the reduction of nuclear forces except with the advice and consent of the Senate pursuant to article II, section 2, clause 2 of the United States Constitution.

(d) Restriction on force posture adjustments pursuant to the new START Treaty
The President shall not take any steps to reduce the number of accountable deployed or non-deployed launchers under the Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed at Prague April 8, 2010, and entered into force February 5, 2011 (commonly referred to as the New START Treaty), while the armed forces of the Russian Federation remain prepositioned to strike Ukraine or are threatening the territorial integrity or sovereignty of Ukraine or another European or Eurasian state.

(e) Limitations on missile defense cooperation

(1) In general
The President shall not permit any sharing of sensitive United States missile defense information with the Government of the Russian Federation.

(2) Spending limitation
No amounts may be obligated or expended to integrate into any United States or NATO common-funded missile defense system, including the NATO Air Defense Ground Environment, any standalone radar or missile defense system manufactured, sold, or exported by a Russian entity or by any person or entity currently sanctioned or designated under United States law for missile technology proliferation.

(f) Report on Russian violations of international agreements
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing any and all violations of international or bilateral arms control or other agreements by the Russian Federation since the entry into force of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, including any suspected or confirmed violations of that treaty and the implications of the Russian suspension of the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe, as well as any steps taken by the President to hold the Russian Federation accountable for any such violations.

(g) Limitations on Open Skies Treaty flights
The President shall not authorize any overflights of the territory of the United States or United States Government facilities or installations by aircraft of the Russian Federation pursuant to the Treaty on Open Skies, signed at Helsinki March 24, 1992, and entered into force January 1, 2002, that employ any surveillance devices beyond those employed on such aircraft prior to January 1, 2014.

(h) Report on alternatives to Russian rocket engines
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on alternatives to the use of RD–180 rocket engines produced in the Russian Federation for national security launches and a recommendation on whether any domestic alternatives to the use of such engines should be pursued in the next two fiscal years.

(i) Additional consular activities
The Secretary of State shall prioritize and undertake efforts to identify and provide access to appropriate consular resources, including prioritized access to applications for refugee and other appropriate immigration or travel status to the United States, for journalists and political and civil society activists and dissidents in the Russian Federation.

(j) Report on significant corruption in the Russian Federation and the effects of such corruption

(1) In general
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on significant corruption in the Russian Federation and the extent to which such corruption undermines political and economic development in the independent countries of the former Soviet Union.

(2) Required elements
The report required by paragraph (1) may contain a classified annex, but shall include in unclassified form the following elements:

(A) A detailed description of corruption among senior officials of the Government of the Russian Federation and the connections between such corruption and business leaders in the Russian Federation.

(B) A detailed description of how the Government of the Russian Federation uses corruption to sustain the power of specific individuals in government and business.

(C) An estimate in United States dollars of the personal net wealth of any senior Russian official, or a family member or close associate of such official, who is responsible for, or complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, acts of significant corruption in Russia, including the expropriation of private or state assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, bribery, or the facilitation or transfer of the proceeds of corruption to foreign jurisdictions.

(D) An estimate in United States dollars of the amount of money derived from acts of significant corruption in the Russian Federation that has been invested, laundered, or otherwise transferred into the sovereign jurisdiction of each of the independent countries of the former Soviet Union.

(E) Detailed descriptions of specific instances of significant corruption in the Russian Federation.

(F) A detailed description of how the Government of the Russian Federation uses corruption in other states in order to create and maintain a dependence on the Russian Federation and on specific Russian government officials, entities, and business leaders.

(G) A detailed description of the extent to which the flow of money described in subparagraph (D) contributes to public or private corruption, non-transparent or unaccountable government or private sector decisionmaking, or the weakening, subversion, or undermining of sovereignty, democratic institutions, rule of law, or economic or financial systems in each of the independent countries of the former Soviet Union.

(H) A detailed description of the political and financial networks and other mechanisms through which the money described in subparagraph (D) contributes to the malign effects in the independent countries of the former Soviet Union as described in subparagraph (G).

(3) Interagency working group
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall convene an interagency working group, including representatives of the United States intelligence community, to coordinate the production of the report required by this subsection, prioritize the collection and analysis of intelligence and financial information required for such report, and support efforts to address the effects of corruption in the Russian Federation on Russian citizens, the United States, and United States allies and partners in Europe and Eurasia, including increasing public awareness of such issues in the Russian Federation and other countries.

(4) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor $2,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2017 to support the efforts of the interagency working group described in paragraph (3), including the hiring of staff as appropriate, and to produce the report required by paragraph (1) .

(k) Report on russian economy
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter, the Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and make publically available a report on the state of economic activity and government-owned enterprises in the Russian Federation. The report shall analyze relevant economic indicators, including gross domestic product (GDP) and the amount of GDP derived from government spending, money supply, inflation, unemployment, capital flows, and foreign direct investment.

206. Support for Russian democracy and civil society organizations

(a) In general
The Secretary of State shall increase efforts, directly or through nongovernmental organizations, to—

(1) improve democratic governance, transparency, accountability, rule of law, and anti-corruption efforts in the Russian Federation;

(2) strengthen democratic institutions and political and civil society organizations in the Russian Federation;

(3) expand uncensored Internet access in Russia; and

(4) expand free and unfettered access to independent media of all kinds in Russia, including through increasing United States Government-supported broadcasting activities, and to assist with the protection of journalists and civil society activists who have been targeted for free speech activities.

(b) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2017 to carry out the activities set forth in subsection (a) .

(c) Strategy requirement
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy to carry out the activities set forth in subsection (a).

(d) Notification requirement

(1) In general
Funds appropriated or otherwise made available pursuant to subsection (b) may not be obligated until 15 days after the date on which the President has provided notice of intent to obligate such funds to the appropriate congressional committees.

(2) Waiver
The President may waive the notification requirement under paragraph (1) if the President determines that failure to do so would pose a substantial risk to human health or welfare, in which case notification shall be provided as early as practicable, but in no event later than three days after taking the action to which such notification requirement was applicable in the context of the circumstances necessitating such waiver.

III Hardening Ukraine and other European and Eurasian states against Russian aggression

301. Military assistance for Ukraine

(a) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law limiting the assistance to be provided under this section, beginning on the date following the date of completion of the assessment required by subsection (b), the President is authorized to provide to the Government of Ukraine upon that Government's request, as appropriate and in a manner consistent with the capabilities and needs of the armed forces of Ukraine identified in such assessment, the following defense articles, services, and training:

(1) Anti-tank weapons and ammunition.

(2) Anti-aircraft weapons and ammunition.

(3) Crew weapons and ammunition.

(4) Small arms and ammunition, including pistols, submachine guns, assault rifles, grenade launchers, machine guns, and sniper rifles.

(5) Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.

(6) High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles.

(7) Inflatable boats.

(8) Body armor.

(9) Fire control, range finder, optical and guidance and control equipment.

(10) Explosive disposal and improvised explosive device detection equipment.

(11) Mine detection equipment.

(12) Chemical, biological, radiation, and nuclear detection, testing, and protection equipment.

(13) Communications, logistic, combat support, medical equipment, rations, specialized equipment, and other defense articles, services, and training requested by the Government of Ukraine that the President determines to be appropriate.

(b) Required assessment
No later than 15 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct an assessment, or complete any ongoing assessment, of the capabilities and needs of the armed forces of Ukraine and shall ensure that it includes—

(1) an assessment of the releasability of the equipment set forth in subsection (a), equipment requested by the Government of Ukraine, or equipment that may foreseeably be requested based on the current state of the armed forces of Ukraine; and

(2) an assessment of the need for, appropriateness of, and force protection concerns of any United States military advisors to be made available to the armed forces of Ukraine.

(c) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 to carry out the activities set forth in subsection (a) .

(d) Authority for use of funds
The funds made available pursuant to subsection (c) for the provision of defense articles, services, and training may be used to procure such assistance from the United States Government or other appropriate sources.

(e) Provision of assessment to Congress
Not later than 7 days following the completion of the assessment required by subsection (b), the President shall provide such assessment to the appropriate congressional committees.

302. Sense of Congress on intelligence sharing with Ukraine
It is the sense of Congress that the President, subject to the discretion of the President protect sources and methods of intelligence collection and to protect the capabilities of the intelligence community and the United States Armed Forces, should—

(1) provide the Government of Ukraine with appropriate intelligence and other information to assist the Government of Ukraine—

(A) to determine the location, strength, and capabilities of the military and intelligence forces of the Russian Federation located on the eastern border of Ukraine and within the territorial borders of Ukraine, including Crimea; and

(B) to respond effectively to further aggression by military and intelligence forces of the Russian Federation; and

(2) take steps to ensure that such intelligence information is fully and appropriately protected from further disclosure, including limiting, as appropriate, the provision and nature of such intelligence information.

303. Major non-NATO ally status for Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova

(a) In general
During the period in which Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova meet the criteria set forth in subsection (b), notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of the transfer or possible transfer of defense articles or defense services under the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq. ), the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq. ), or any other provision of law, Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia shall be treated as though each were designated a major non-NATO ally (as defined in section 644(q) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2403(q) )).

(b) Criteria for treatment as a major non-NATO ally
In order to be treated as a major non-NATO ally pursuant to subsection (a), a country must—

(1) have a democratically elected government that came to power pursuant to free and fair elections;

(2) cooperate fully with the United States on matters of mutual security concern, including counterterrorism matters; and

(3) respect the political and legal rights of its citizens, including maintaining the right of its citizens to democratically elect their government.

(c) Report
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a report assessing whether Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova should continue to be treated, for purposes of the transfer or possible transfer of defense articles or defense services, as major non-NATO allies and whether the treatment should be expanded or reduced.

304. Expanded security force training, assistance and defense cooperation with key non-NATO states

(a) Expanded training and assistance
The President shall take steps, consistent with the President's responsibility as Commander in Chief, to substantially increase, within one year after the date of the enactment of this Act—

(1) the military-to-military interactions of the United States Armed Forces with the armed forces of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia, including specifically increasing the current tempo of military exercises and training efforts and exchanges with such armed forces; and

(2) United States and NATO security assistance to such states.

(b) NATO European Partners Security Fund
The President shall direct the United States Permanent Representative to NATO to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to encourage NATO to create a European Partners Security Fund with appropriate contributions from all member-states to support the provision of expanded NATO training, exercises, assistance to, and exchanges with, the armed forces of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.

(c) Bilateral and multilateral defense cooperation agreements
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall seek to enter into negotiations with Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia to establish new, or strengthen existing, bilateral and multilateral defense cooperation agreements, including agreements related to cyber defense cooperation.

(d) Report
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a country-by-country report detailing the specific efforts being undertaken and planned to be undertaken by the United States Government to implement the increased military-to-military interactions and security assistance required by subsection (a) and to undertake the negotiations required by subsection (c).

305. Expediting natural gas exports

(a) In general
Section 3(c) of the Natural Gas Act ( 15 U.S.C. 717b ) is amended—

(1) by striking (c) For purposes and inserting the following:

(c) Expedited application and approval

(1) Definition of World Trade Organization member nation
In this subsection, the term World Trade Organization member nation means a country described in section 2(10) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3501(10)).

(2) Expedited application and approval process
For purposes

; and

(2) in paragraph (2) (as so designated), by striking a nation with which there is in effect a free trade agreement requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas and inserting a World Trade Organization member nation.

(b) Pending applications
The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to applications for authorization to export natural gas under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act ( 15 U.S.C. 717b ) that are pending on, or filed on or after, the date of enactment of this Act.

306. European and Eurasian energy independence

(a) Assistance from the United States Agency for International Development
The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development should prioritize—

(1) loan, lease, and bond guarantees to appropriate financial institutions and other eligible borrowers through the Development Credit Authority to facilitate the involvement of such institutions and borrowers in financing efforts in Ukraine to help exploit existing natural gas reserves, to conduct additional exploration for oil and gas, to develop alternative sources of energy, including oil and gas, and to encourage energy efficiency, for Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, including the development of associated transportation, storage, and refinement facilities; and

(2) direct assistance to expand efforts in Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova to help exploit existing natural gas reserves, to conduct additional exploration for oil and gas, and to develop alternative sources of energy, including oil and gas, and to encourage energy efficiency, for Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, including the development of associated transportation, storage, and refinement facilities.

(b) Promotion of United States private sector participation in energy development in Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova
The Director of the Trade and Development Agency should promote United States private sector efforts to help exploit existing natural gas reserves, to conduct additional exploration for oil and gas, and to develop alternative sources of energy, including oil and gas, for Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, including the development of associated transportation, storage, and refinement facilities, by conducting and funding project preparation activities for projects in Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, including feasibility studies, technical assistance, pilot projects, reverse trade missions, conferences, and workshops.

(c) Support from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation—

(1) should prioritize support for investments to help exploit existing natural gas reserves, to conduct additional exploration for oil and gas, to develop alternative sources of energy, including oil and gas, and to encourage energy efficiency, for Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, including the development of associated transportation, storage, and refinement facilities; and

(2) shall implement procedures for expedited review of and, where appropriate, approval of, applications by eligible investors (as defined in section 238 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2198 )) for loans, loan guarantees, and insurance for such investments.

(d) Prioritization of energy projects in Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova by the World Bank Group and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
The President shall direct the United States Executive Directors of the World Bank Group and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to encourage the World Bank Group and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to invest in, and increase their efforts to promote investment in, efforts to help exploit existing natural gas reserves, to conduct additional exploration for oil and gas, to develop alternative sources of energy, including oil and gas, and to encourage energy efficiency, for Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, including the development of associated transportation, storage, and refinement facilities, and to stimulate private investment in such projects.

(e) Effectiveness measurement
In providing loan guarantees, assistance, and support as described in this section and in prioritizing the projects as described in this section, the President and the heads and other appropriate officials of the United States Agency for International Development, the Trade and Development Agency, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation shall ensure that the effectiveness of such guarantees, assistance, support, and projects is measured through the use of clear, accountable, and metric-based targets aimed at achieving energy independence for Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova.

(f) Report on additional European gas pipeline
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the costs, benefits, and economic viability of a gas pipeline extending from the border of Turkey into Eastern Europe and interconnected to the proposed Trans-Anatolian pipeline.

(g) Report and plan on nuclear power in Ukraine
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report—

(1) identifying the nuclear fuel requirements of the power sector of Ukraine; and

(2) including a plan for—

(A) supporting commercial production capabilities to provide alternative nuclear fuel supplies for Ukraine; and

(B) providing such support as the Secretary of the Energy deems appropriate for Ukraine to maintain the safe, secure, and sustainable operation of nuclear reactors in Ukraine.

307. Crimea annexation nonrecognition

(a) In general
No Federal department or agency may take any action that recognizes sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters or otherwise endorses the Russian Federation’s illegal annexation of Crimea.

308. Support for democracy and civil society organizations in countries of the former Soviet Union

(a) Democratic governance support

(1) In general
The Secretary of State shall increase efforts, directly or through nongovernmental organizations, to—

(A) improve democratic governance, transparency, accountability, rule of law, and anti-corruption efforts in countries of the former Soviet Union;

(B) strengthen democratic institutions and political and civil society organizations in countries of the former Soviet Union;

(C) expand uncensored Internet access in countries of the former Soviet Union; and

(D) expand free and unfettered access to independent media of all kinds in countries of the former Soviet Union, including through increasing United States Government-supported broadcasting activities, and to assist with the protection of journalists and civil society activists who have been targeted for free speech activities.

(2) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2017 to carry out the activities set forth in paragraph (1) .

(b) Increased support for exchanges and public affairs
The Secretary of State shall substantially increase—

(1) educational and cultural exchanges with countries of the former Soviet Union; and

(2) public affairs grants and activities in countries of the former Soviet Union.

(c) Strategy requirement
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy to carry out the activities set forth in subsections (a) and (b).

(d) Notification requirement

(1) In general
Funds appropriated or otherwise made available pursuant to subsection (a) may not be obligated until 15 days after the date on which the President has provided notice of intent to obligate such funds to the appropriate congressional committees.

(2) Waiver
The President may waive the notification requirement under paragraph (1) if the President determines that failure to do so would pose a substantial risk to human health or welfare, in which case notification shall be provided as early as practicable, but in no event later than three days after taking the action to which such notification requirement was applicable in the context of the circumstances necessitating such waiver.

309. Expanded broadcasting in countries of the former Soviet Union

(a) In general
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors and the Director of Voice of America shall provide Congress with a plan, including a cost estimate, for immediately and substantially increasing and maintaining through fiscal year 2017 the quantity of United States-funded Russian-language broadcasting into countries of the former Soviet Union.

(b) Prioritization and focus of programming
The plan required by subsection (a) shall prioritize broadcasting into Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova and shall ensure that the increased broadcasting content required by subsection (a) is focused on conveying the perspective of the United States Government and public regarding ongoing events in those states to Russian language audiences.

(c) Additional priorities
The plan required by subsection (a) should also consider—

(1) near-term increases in Russian-language broadcasting in other priority countries including Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia;

(2) increases in broadcasting in other critical languages, including Ukrainian and Romanian languages; and

(3) prioritizing work by the Broadcasting Board of Governors and the Voice of America with European and Eurasian allies to increase their broadcasting and communications content directed into countries of the former Soviet Union.

(d) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State $7,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2017 to carry out the activities required by subsections (a) through (c) .

[American Patriot]

US Missile-Cruiser Returns To Black Sea To "Promote Peace And Stability"


Submitted by Tyler Durden on 08/06/2014 16:29 -0400

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The last time the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) crossed the Bosphorus was three weeks ago to depart the Black Sea, following the end of the Bulgaria-led NATO exercise Breeze 2014. Back then, the departure of the cruiser left no American ship in the Black Sea but the numbers of NATO ships have been on the rise since March. Ahead of Vella Gulf’s departure, there were nine NATO ships in the Black Sea on July 9, according to Russian state news service RIA Novosti.

The reason for the departure: all warships from countries without a coast on the Black Sea operate under the 1936 Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits, whose rules call for foreign warships to depart the Black Sea after 21 days.
It's time to reboot the Montreux 21 day countdown, and following a rest in the Mediterranean and as a result of the most recent deterioration in second Cold War, the USS Vella Gulf has re-entered the Black Sea, the ship's third trip to the Black Sea. The reason: "to promote peace and stability in the region."

A better shot of USS Vella Gulf on her 3. trip to the Black Sea YTD. @NAVEUR_NAVAF She's escorted by Turkish CG boat pic.twitter.com/LLrjQd9izQ
— Bosphorus Naval News (@Saturn5_) August 6, 2014

Cruiser USS Vella Gulf making her 3. northbound passage through Bosphorus YTD. @USNavy @NAVEUR_NAVAF pic.twitter.com/EKOGQR2xM0
— Bosphorus Naval News (@Saturn5_) August 6, 2014

As US cruiser Vella Gulf entered the Black Sea, Russian warship Yamal went 2 the opposite direction. @NAVEUR_NAVAF pic.twitter.com/P493OBLFzl
— Bosphorus Naval News (@Saturn5_) August 6, 2014

Here is how Vella crew was killing time before its re-repeat entry into the Black Sea.

From the US Navy:

Vella Gulf’s mission is to improve interoperability and work toward mutual goals, demonstrating the United States’ commitment to strengthening the collective security of NATO allies and partners in the region.

The U.S. Navy’s forward presence in Europe allows us to work with our allies and partners to develop and improve ready maritime forces capable of maintaining regional security.

Vella Gulf, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is deployed in a multi-mission role in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to contribute to regional maritime security, conduct bilateral and multilateral training missions, and to support NATO operations and deployments throughout the region.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

Meanwhile, considering the rest of the world is as much a powder keg as it was a hundred years ago, here is the full breakdown of the US fleet around the globe courtesy of Stratfor.
Carrier Strike Groups

• The USS George H.W. Bush CSG with CVW 8 embarked is underway for a deployment in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR supporting maritime security operations and conducting theater security cooperation efforts.
• The USS Ronald Reagan with CVW 2 embarked is underway in the Pacific Ocean participating in the Rim of the Pacific 2014 naval exercises.
• The USS George Washington CSG with CVW 5 embarked is underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet AOR for its summer patrol.
• The USS Nimitz is on a scheduled port visit to Naval Magazine Indian Island in Port Townsend, Wash., for ammunition offload.

Amphibious Ready Groups/Marine Expeditionary Units

• The USS Bataan ARG with the 22nd MEU embarked is underway for a deployment in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR supporting maritime security operations and conducting theater security cooperation efforts.
• The USS Peleliu is underway in the Pacific Ocean participating in the Rim of the Pacific 2014 naval exercises.
• The USS Essex is on a scheduled port visit to Seattle, Wash., for Seattle Seafair Fleet Week.
• The USS Kearsarge is underway in the Atlantic Ocean for routine training.
• The USS Iwo Jima is underway in the Atlantic Ocean for routine training.
• The USS Makin Island is underway in the Pacific Ocean for a scheduled deployment.

[American Patriot]

Russian Strategic Bombers Conduct More Than 16 Incursions of U.S. Air Defense Zones

‘Spike’ in Bear H flights over past week seen as test of U.S. air defenses


Russia's Air Force strategic bombers, Tu-95, fly over Red Square / AP



BY: Bill Gertz Follow @BillGertz

August 7, 2014 5:00 am


Russian strategic nuclear bombers conducted at least 16 incursions into northwestern U.S. air defense identification zones over the past 10 days, an unusually sharp increase in aerial penetrations, according to U.S. defense officials.


The numerous flight encounters by Tu-95 Russian Bear H bombers prompted the scrambling of U.S. jet fighters on several occasions, and come amid heightened U.S.-Russia tensions over Ukraine.


Also, during one bomber incursion near Alaska, a Russian intelligence-gathering jet was detected along with the bombers.


“Over the past week, NORAD has visually identified Russian aircraft operating in and around the U.S. air defense identification zones,” said Maj. Beth Smith, spokeswoman for U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).


Smith called the Russian flights “a spike in activity” but sought to play down the threat, stating the flights were assessed as routine training missions and exercises.


The bomber flights took place mainly along the Alaskan air defense identification zone that covers the Aleutian Islands and the continental part of the state, and one incursion involved entry into Canada’s air defense zone, Smith said.


The Russian strategic aircraft included a mix of Tu-95 Bear H heavy bombers and Tu-142 Bear F maritime reconnaissance aircraft, she said, adding that one IL-20 intelligence collection aircraft was detected during the flight incursions over the past week to 10 days.


The bomber flights are the latest case of nuclear saber rattling by the Russians.


However, other defense officials said the large number of aerial incursions is very unusual and harkens back to the Cold War, when Soviet bombers frequently sought to trigger air defenses along the periphery of U.S. territory as preparation for a nuclear conflict.


Moscow, under strongman President Vladimir Putin, is engaged in a major buildup of its strategic nuclear forces. The modernization includes new missiles of several ranges, new strategic missile submarines, and new long-range bombers.


As for its long-range aviation flights near U.S. coasts, Russia has been sharply increasing the activities, especially in the Pacific Northwest near Alaska, Canada, and the West Coast.


The Washington Free Beacon first reported that two Bear bombers flew within 50 miles of the California coast on June 9—the closest the Russians have flown their nuclear-capable bombers since the days of the Cold War. A U.S. F-15 intercepted the bombers.


A defense official disagreed with the spokeswoman on the increased bomber forays. Russian strategic nuclear forces appear to be “trying to test our air defense reactions, or our command and control systems,” said an official familiar with reports of the incursions.


“These are not just training missions,” the official added.


Northern Command and NORAD in the past frequently sought to dismiss the Russian bomber incursions as non-threatening as part of the Obama administration’s conciliatory “reset” policy of seeking closer ties with Moscow.


The Pentagon and other commands, however, have toughened rhetoric toward Russia and its activities after the Russian military annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea in June.


Relations between Washington and Moscow have soured. The State Department last month accused Moscow of violating the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty by developing a new cruise missile.


Moscow dismissed the charges as untrue.


Adm. Cecil Haney, commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, expressed concerns about the increase in Russian strategic nuclear activities during a speech in Washington June 18.


Haney said Russian nuclear activities coincided with recent tensions over Ukraine and included the test launch of six air-launched cruise missiles in a show of force.
A Russian Defense Ministry statement on the cruise missile test launches said a Tu-95 bomber “is capable of destroying the critical stationary assets of an enemy with cruise missiles, in daytime and nighttime, in any weather and in any part of the globe.”


Moscow also conducted several large-scale nuclear war games in May, Haney said.


“Additionally, we have seen significant Russian strategic aircraft deployments in the vicinity of places like Japan, Korea, and even our West Coast,” Haney said at a defense industry breakfast.


“Russia continues to modernize its strategic capabilities across all legs of its triad, and open source [reporting] has recently cited the sea trials of its latest [missile submarine], testing of its newest air-launched cruise missile and modernization of its intercontinental ballistic force to include its mobile capability in that area,” he said.


Russia’s recent Cold War-level aerial encounters over the Pacific near Alaska followed an earlier U.S.-Russian aerial duel in Europe.


U.S. officials confirmed that an RC-135 Rivet Joint electronic intelligence gathering aircraft was forced into violating Swedish airspace by a Russian fighter jet July 18. The U.S. jet was seeking to evade the Russian interceptor jet at the time.


That encounter took place a day after Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down by a missile over eastern Ukraine.

[American Patriot]

Classic escalation.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/u...ions/13710147/

Russia retaliates against U.S., EU with import ban

Moscow moved Thursday to impose a ban on imports of meat, fish, milk and fruit from the United States, European Union, Australia, Canada and Norway. The ban follows the latest round of sanctions by the U.S. and EU that targeted the Russian economy.

Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY 8:43 a.m. EDT August 7, 2014

(Photo: AFP/Getty)

159 CONNECT 74 TWEETLINKEDIN 86 COMMENTEMAILMORE

Moscow formally moved Thursday to impose a ban on imports of meat, fish, milk and fruit from the United States, European Union, Australia, Canada and Norway.
The ban, effective immediately, is expected to last for one year.
The diplomatic move, following a decree signed Wednesday by Russian President Vladimir Putin to "protect Russia's security," follows the latest round of sanctions by the U.S. and EU that targeted entire sectors of the Russian economy.
The U.S. and the EU have accused Russia, which annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March, of fomenting tensions in eastern Ukraine.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Russia was also ready to introduce protective measures in aviation, car building and other industries.
Speaking live on Russian TV, he said Russia is considering banning the transit of flights from U.S. and EU commercial airlines.
"Until the last moment, we hoped that our foreign colleagues would understand that sanctions lead to a deadlock and no one needs them," he said. "But they didn't and the situation now requires us to take retaliatory measures."

Moscow hopes that economic pragmatism will prevail over bad politicized ideas - Medvedev pic.twitter.com/Hvnybm8C2y
— RIA Novosti (@ria_novosti) August 7, 2014

Russia is the second-largest agricultural importer after China, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department. Its imports rose from $7 billion in 2000 to $33 billion in 2008.
Separately, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen is traveling to Kiev Thursday as fears of a potential Russian invasion hung over eastern Ukraine.
NATO says some 20,000 Russian combat forces have massed on the border for war games and could intervene under the pretext of helping ethnic Russian civilians caught up in what Moscow calls a "humanitarian catastrophe."

USATODAY
Russian war games raise fear of Ukraine invasion



In a further unrelated development out of Russia on Thursday, a lawyer for former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden said the American has been granted permission to remain in Russia for three more years.
Last year, Snowden was given temporary asylum but that ran out on Aug. 1.

[American Patriot]

Folks, this is getting sticky.

Russia-Ukraine
US-Iraq
Russia-US
NATO-Russia
ISIS-everyone else
Muslims- Christians

If this isn't a tinderbox ready to ignite - man, I don't know what is.

[American Patriot]

CNN: FAA bans passenger flights over Iraq...Breaking News: They weren't already banned??
—
Jeremy Hobson (@jeremyhobson) August 08, 2014

[vector7]

World War on Russia’s Mind When U.S. Duels Over Ukraine

By Olga Tanas Aug 9, 2014 2:31 AM ET

Aug. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Bloomberg's Alan Bjerga reports on the Russian ban on food imports from the United States, EU, Canada, Australia and Norway as President Vladimir Putin retaliates against sanctions levied on the nation. (Source: Bloomberg)
Related

EU, Russia Have Little Appetite for More Sanctions

From his perch as Vladimir Putin’s adviser for building ties with fellow former Soviet republics, Sergei Glazyev perceives the world shifting to a war footing.

There’s a war waged against Russia with economic sanctions and military conflicts roiling Ukraine to Iraq, according to Glazyev, 53, an academician and a native of Ukraine who for the past two years has advised Putin on integration with Belarus and Kazakhstan. Putin struck back this week with a ban on U.S. and European food imports that may benefit the former Soviet allies.

Setting the world ablaze is the U.S., where “hawks” are provoking a global conflict “with the aim of establishing control not only in Europe, but also in Russia, Ukraine,” Glazyev said in an interview in Moscow on Staraya Ploshchad, where the presidential staff has its headquarters. On his office’s walls are a picture of Putin and an updated map of Russia that marks the annexed Crimea peninsula as its territory.

Months of a slow boil of European and U.S. sanctions against Russia over Ukraine have done little more than harden a siege mentality in the Kremlin, thrusting controversial advisers like Glazyev to the forefront in Putin’s showdown against erstwhile Cold War foes. With the country’s richest businessmen shaken by the deepening rift, Glazyev’s flair for provocation is needed to “intimidate the elites,” according to Mikhail Vinogradov, head of the St. Petersburg Politics Foundation.
Photographer: Olga Maltseva/AFP via Getty Images

Presidential Adviser Sergei Glazyev, a Soviet-educated economist, has been sanctioned... Read More
Russia’s Answer

The retaliatory measures “weren’t our choice, but we won’t leave an escalation of sanctions unanswered,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told Vygaudas Usackas, head of the European Union delegation in Moscow, according to a statement issued today.

Glazyev, a Soviet-educated economist, has been sanctioned by both the EU and the U.S. for allegedly meddling in Ukraine’s sovereign affairs. A former State Duma deputy and co-founder of the nationalist Rodina party, he ran against Putin for president in 2004.

In 1992-1993, he was the minister for external economic relations, and later served as a senior official at the Eurasian Economic Community and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Last year he was considered as a candidate to replace Sergey Ignatiev at the helm of Russia’s central bank, according to Reuters. The job went to Elvira Nabiullina, a former economy minister and aide to Putin.
Crimean Takeover

While some of Glazyev’s proposals have been rebuffed by the government, such as his list of 15 countermeasures against countries that penalize Russia and calls for the central bank to lower interest rates, his denunciation of outside meddling in Ukraine’s internal affairs in January and a defense of then-President Viktor Yanukovych highlighted the turn taken by Kremlin during the crisis, which culminated in the seizure of Crimea in March.

Putin, who’s repeatedly denied any involvement in the pro-Russian insurrection raging in eastern Ukraine, said last month that “ultimatums” made by the U.S. and the EU are aiming to destabilize his country. He also accused the U.S. and its allies of exploiting the crash of Malaysian Air Flight 17 to force him to renounce support for people of Russian heritage in Ukraine.

These arguments resonate with Glazyev, who said the U.S. is trying to grow stronger at the expense of others, thwarting integration across Eurasia and checking China’s clout.
Kazakhstan, Belarus

In May, Putin signed a treaty with his counterparts from Kazakhstan and Belarus to create a trading bloc of more than 170 million people. Kyrgyzstan and Armenia are seeking to join by the end of the year. The union, effective from the start of 2015, is intended to yield a free flow of goods, capital and workers, and will level tariff and non-tariff regulations.

Putin has sought to lure Ukraine and its more than 40 million people into the alliance to build a trading bloc to rival the EU. Yanukovych pursued closer ties with the customs union and pulled out of an association agreement with the EU before his ouster in February. His successor, President Petro Poroshenko, signed the free-trade accord with the 28-nation bloc in June.

Russia can’t go it alone against the U.S. and must create an “anti-war coalition” to check the “aggressor,” Glazyev said.
Countering China

“The point of a series of regional wars organized by the Americans, especially today’s catastrophe in Ukraine, centers on the U.S. securing control over all of north Eurasia” to bolster “its position against China,” Glazyev said. “That’s how the U.S. military and oligarchs are trying to maintain leadership in the global competition with China.”

The effort will backfire, said Glazyev, who spoke before a round of retaliatory steps announced by Russia yesterday banning food and agricultural products for one year from the U.S., the EU, Norway, Canada and Australia. The U.S.-led “economic war” against Russia will ricochet, leaving the EU to pay the steepest costs in the conflict, he said.

The trading bloc stands to lose about 1 trillion euros ($1.3 trillion), an estimate he says includes the possible bankruptcy of several European banks and companies toppled after the cutoff in financial and economic ties. An energy crisis in Europe will bring a sharp spike in prices and a loss of competitiveness for European producers. Meanwhile, Turkish, Chinese and east Asian nations will fill the void left by the departure of their European rivals from the Russian market.
Germany, Estonia

The fallout will cost 250 billion euros for Germany alone while pushing the three Baltic states to the brink of an “economic catastrophe,” he said. Lithuania and Latvia will lose the equivalent of half of their entire economic output, and the cost for Estonia will reach 50 percent more than its gross domestic product, Glazyev said.

Where does that leave Russia?

“Task no. 1 is to block those threats to economic security that are now coming from the U.S., neutralize them by reducing the dependence of our external economic activity on the mercy of American politicians, whose aggressiveness threatens the entire world,” he said.

To further insulate its economy, Russia should abandon the use of the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency, according to Glazyev. Russia, which international reserves are the world’s fifth-biggest, needs to diversify its holdings to include China’s yuan, India’s rupee and Brazil’s real.
‘Behave Properly’

“If a country aspires to reserve status for its currency, it should behave properly, and that isn’t the case today,” Glazyev said.

Still, turning Russia into a ringed-off economic fortress isn’t at the heart of Glazyev’s prescriptions. Faced with a souring climate abroad, the country should promote import substitution and policies aimed at reversing the brain drain that’s sapped Russia’s scientific prowess.

“What could serve as our chief response is the implementation of a plan for fast-track development of the Russian economy on the basis of a new technological order,” he said. “This plan includes a transition to a sovereign monetary system underpinned by internal sources of credit, an active policy of innovation and support for progress in science and technology.”

Glazyev is at pains to emphasize that Russia, a “victim of aggression,” must build bridges with the international community to rein in America’s “aggressive, paranoid political leadership.” Penalizing European or U.S. companies is “counterproductive” because they can serve as allies in a conflict that doesn’t serve their interest, according to Glazyev.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-0...r-ukraine.html

[vector7]

Russian Nuclear Bombers Keep Roaming Closer to U.S. Airspace

The Atlantic Wire
By Polly Mosendz 6 hours ago

Russian nuclear bombers were spotted flying near Alaska this week. The bombers were escorted by fighter jets, floating just outside of U.S. and Canadian airspace. This is the second such sighting since June, sparking the attention of American military jets. Major Beth Smith, of the U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), has said "Over the past week, NORAD has visually identified Russian aircraft operating in and around the U.S. air defense identification zones."

There have been about 16 Russian forays in the Alaskan and north Canadian area in the last 10 days.

It is not entirely uncommon to see Russian planes in this airspace, however, the increased number of such planes seems to be triggering some concern amongst the aviation military community, particularly given the increased tension in Ukraine. Smith referred to this number of forays as "a spike in activity."

Smith noted that these were training missions, though a spy plane and anti-submarine plane were spotted among the bombers. However, another defense official told the Washington Free Beacon they believe this is more than just a training flight. The official stated "[Russian strategic nuclear forces appear to be] trying to test our air defense reactions, or our command and control systems. These are not just training missions."

The Russian military has admitted they have flown in that area. They told ITAR-TASS, "all flights were scheduled in advance and were made in strict compliance with the international rules of using airspace without trespassing the borders of other countries." [/INDENT]

[American Patriot]

Russia Forces US Submarine Out of Boundary Waters

August 9, 2014

Russia's Northern Fleet's anti-submarine forces have detected and forced out a US submarine from Russian boundary waters, a high-ranking source in Russia's Navy told RIA Novosti Saturday.

"On August 7, 2014, the patrol forces of the Northern Fleet detected a foreign submarine, supposedly a US Navy Virginia-class one, in the Barents Sea. A seaborne anti-submarine group, as well as an anti-submarine airplane Il-38, was sent to the region to search and track it down," the source said.

The Russian navy forced the submarine out of Russian waters after a 27-minute contact.

"This is far from being a single incident of finding foreign submarines in the Barents Sea lately. Similar behavior of NATO countries' submarines in the Barents Sea has caused dangerous navigational incidents many times," the source said.

In 1992, a US Baton-Rouge submarine clashed with the Northern Fleet's K-276 submarine in the Kolsky Bay. In 1986, UK's Splendid submarine clashed with the Northern Fleet's Typhoon.

[Phil Fiord]

According to an article a few weeks ago a military analyst/leader was quoted as roughly saying, the next war with Russia and or China will be aided greatly by our submarine forces as they are not detectable until after they fire weapons. Then we see the above article. Odd.

[American Patriot]

I apologize to Ryan but I stole his article from another thread - one that he created specifically for that particular post.

I did so because basically its one more thing in this US-Russia crisis that is leading us directly to some kind of face off.

Both countries, Russia and the US have very good Navies - according to the Russians anyway, but while they are increasing their speeds, capabilities, ships and weapons systems, we're doing precisely the opposite in our country if the news media is to be believed.

In 1992 we had a run in with the Russians (as stated in the article above) and at the TIME we were CLEARLY superior in both the equipment and likely the confrontation as well... I don't remember the specific incident and I couldn't locate anything related to it directly but in the past before 2000 any time we encountered the Russians under the sea or on top of it, or locked horns in the air, we almost ALWAYS superior in force, weapons, tactics or science.

Now - not so much.

[American Patriot]

August 22, 2014
Do we know that we are at war? ^Reply

By Tom Quiner

We’ve been in the midst of World War III for decades and don’t even know it.


The war has been waged by Islam against the rest of the non Islamic world. Attacks take place on a daily basis throughout the world. People die by the thousands at the hands of people who say they kill in the name of Allah.


Muslim apologists (liberals) find it necessary to construct moral equivalencies between Islam and Christianity. Sure, Christians do bad things. I don’t know one that isn’t a sinner. That’s why we need Christ. But Christians don’t kill in the name of Christ, because that wouldn’t be true to Christianity.


The risk the United States faces is a denial of the threat of Islamic terrorism. President Obama has bent over backwards to avoid using the words Islamic and terrorism in the same sentence. That’s why the Fort Hood Massacre was labeled as “workplace violence,” despite the fact that the killer screamed “Allahu Akbar” as a prelude to his murderous rampage.


What an insult to the intelligence of the American people and the memories of the victims.


Dramatic developments are waking up Americans that this country is truly at war. ISIS has made it clear that they are at war with us and that they are coming for us.


I hope someone tells President Obama when he gets back from his vacation.


The grotesque beheading of American journalist, James Foley, has impressed upon most Americans, the president excepted, of the danger Islam presents to our nation.


Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, seemed almost shaken when he described ISIS as “beyond anything that we’ve seen.”


He didn’t pull punches:

“ISIL [also known as ISIS] is as sophisticated and well-funded as any group that we have seen. They’re beyond just a terrorist group. They marry ideology, a sophistication of strategic and tactical military prowess. They are tremendously well-funded. Oh, this is beyond anything that we’ve seen. So we must prepare for everything.”

A Catholic Archbishop has experienced firsthand the unrelenting savagery of Islam in Iraq. Archbishop Amel Shimoun Nona and his entire apostolate were driven out (if not killed) by ISIS. He warned America:

Archbishop Amel Shimoun Nona



“Please, try to understand us. Your liberal and democratic principles are worth nothing here.


You must consider again our reality in the Middle East, because you are welcoming in your countries an ever growing number of Muslims. Also you are in danger.

You must take strong and courageous decisions, even at the cost of contradicting your principles.


You think all men are equal, but that is not true: Islam does not say that all men are equal. Your values are not their values. Our sufferings today are the prelude of those you, Europeans and Western Christians, will also suffer in the near future.”

Archbishop Nona’s advice:

“If you do not understand this soon enough, you will become the victims of the enemy you have welcomed in your home.”

Secretary Hagel’s advice:

“Get ready.”

President Obama’s reaction:

“Fore!”

[American Patriot]

‘Or what?’ Pentagon calls on Russia to remove vehicles from Ukraine ‘immediately’

Posted at 2:08 pm on August 22, 2014 by Twitchy Staff | View Comments

@CharlieKayeCBS We've moved from "very concerned" past "unacceptable" all the way to "ever so cross". Look out, Vlad. POTUS is cheesed.
—
George Tobin (@ga_tobin) August 22, 2014

The Pentagon has called on Russia to withdraw all vehicles that have crossed into Ukraine:

BREAKING. Pentagon: "Russia must remove its vehicles from the territory of Ukraine immediately."—
Charlie Kaye (@CharlieKayeCBS) August 22, 2014

Breaking: Pentagon calls on Russia to remove convoy vehicles from Ukraine immediately. wsj.com—
Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) August 22, 2014

That news was followed by a relevant question:

Or else…what? “@WSJeurope: Breaking: Pentagon calls on Russia to remove convoy vehicles from Ukraine immediately. bit.ly/1pmjZqy”—
Kaj Leers (@kajleers) August 22, 2014

Or what? RT @CharlieKayeCBS: BREAKING. Pentagon: "Russia must remove its vehicles from the territory of Ukraine immediately."—
Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) August 22, 2014

“@WSJ: Breaking: Pentagon calls on Russia to remove convoy vehicles from Ukraine immediately. wsj.com” or what?—
Leighton Copley (@LeightonCopley) August 22, 2014

Or….. what? twitter.com/CharlieKayeCBS…—
John Ekdahl (@JohnEkdahl) August 22, 2014

@CharlieKayeCBS @EastOfBrussels Or else what ?—
Duncan MacKinnon (@Becksbridge) August 22, 2014

@CharlieKayeCBS @EastOfBrussels Or what, more sanctions?—
Kevin Barwell (@KevinBarwell) August 22, 2014

@WSJ or what? Putin's response …. I'll soon vacation and play golf in #Ukraine.—
(@CerebrumFloss) August 22, 2014

@WSJ or what? #Obama will open his mouth pull out another lie to not follow through with it! poor #leadership—
tyler charlton (@profitoverwages) August 22, 2014

Or else what? There’s always this possibility for a response from the Obama administration:

Strongly worded hashtags. RT @JohnEkdahl: Or….. what? twitter.com/CharlieKayeCBS…—
Matthew (@Matthops82) August 22, 2014

Or we'll hashtag your ass “@CharlieKayeCBS: BREAKING. Pentagon:"Russia must remove its vehicles from the territory of Ukraine immediately."”—
Mr. LostEmailDude (@Anewhomestar) August 22, 2014

So far the Pentagon says Russia’s refusal to leave Ukraine will lead to “additional costs and isolation”:

Pentagon demands withdrawal immediately of Russian aid convoy. Warns of additional costs for Russia if doesn't respect #Ukraine sovereignty—
Jonathan Beale (@bealejonathan) August 22, 2014

"Russia must remove its vehicles and personnel from Ukraine immediately. Failure will result in additional costs and isolation." Pentagon—
Alexander (@avaza1972) August 22, 2014

So it begins…again | Pentagon promises "additional costs" & "isolation" for #Russia. uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUKL2… via @isaacdwebb #Ukraine—
Matthew Kupfer (@Matthew_Kupfer) August 22, 2014

***
Related:

[American Patriot]

ISIS threatens to destroy Chicago and Americans shrug

Posted by DNW on 2014/08/22

[COLOR=#]Rate This[/COLOR]

“E Pluribus Unum” no more.
WGNtv Chicago posts the alarming “news” that ISIS has the destruction of Chicago in its sights.
And Americans fed up with the totalitarian collectivists and moral nihilist appetite entities of the left who have already eaten away at not only our civilization but at our heritage of liberties, react with a shrug at the notion of the mayor of chicago trapped in the flaming ruins of the ecological niche his leftist ambition fouls and undermines.
We recall of course that some 13 years ago progressive propagandist and cherished celebrity, His Rotundity Michael Moore, infamously set the stage for the spread of this attitude, when he asked in dismay why the Muslims had to attack New York, a liberal metropolis, rather than some conservative heartland site.
Gee, if the terrorists had just murdered conservative Christians, then Michael Moore could have understood, and maybe even sympathized.
Yeah Michael you submoral dog. So much for E Pluribus Unum, eh?
Well, thirteen years into it, those Americans who still value liberty and self-direction have gotten so used to the homicidal malice of the collectivist class, that they now, in turn, shrug at the thought of the collectivists themselves being destroyed by morally alien forces.
The underlying question is: What do you actually lose, when a malevolent parasite which has attached itself to you through your own long suffering tolerance and forbearance, is swept away by another?
Many have noticed that modern liberalism and Islamism are both anti-liberty of conscience, socially fascistic, and legally totalitarian ideologies. Many freedom loving Americans, less naive than their parents and grandparents, are apparently now prepared to stand back and watch “Hitler “and “Stalin” destroy each other; even if the war takes place on our own soil.
The question of whether the destruction would have unstoppably catastrophic side effects aside, it’s hard to blame a free man for shrugging at the destruction of those emotionalists who are, and have been, working for decades to destroy his freedom and ultimately his life.
What has a free man got to lose, when one flavor of collectivist is killed by another?



American Patriot said

Your comment is awaiting moderation.
2014/08/22 at 13:34 Reblogged this on Reality Check and commented:

No one “shrugged”. Atlas shrugged. John Galt grabbed a gun. No – Veterans, us old, pissed off, pissed on, hated white dudes from the military have our guns. We have our training. We have time on our hands and we will certainly send some assholes to Allah if that’s what they want…

[American Patriot]

Dempsey: Defeating Islamic State requires strikes in Syria



Aug. 22, 2014 2:03 PM |
Comments

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• A

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel responds to a question during a news conference Aug. 21 at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. / Shawn Thew, European Pressphoto Agency

by Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY

• Filed Under

• USA Today news
• USA Today world

WASHINGTON - Defeating Islamic State militants will require elimination of their havens in Syria, Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told USA TODAY in a recent interview.
Rear Adm. John Kirby declined to comment Friday on whether the Pentagon was planning strikes in Syria.
"We don't telegraph our punches," Kirby said at a briefing.
On Thursday, when asked if bombing in Syria was being considered, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters that "we're looking at all options."
In the recent interview, Dempsey said governments in the region, backed by U.S. intelligence, logistics and occasional air power, can tackle the threat posed by the Islamic State. He expressed satisfaction with the air campaign in Iraq, which continued Friday near a strategically important dam near Mosul. The attacks destroyed two armed trucks and a machine gun emplacement. Since Aug. 8, there have been 93 airstrikes in Iraq.
Islamic State forces vaulted several notches in notoriety this week by releasing a video showing the beheading of U.S. journalist James Foley. The Pentagon and White House also announced that U.S. special operations forces failed in an attempt earlier this summer to free Foley and other hostages held by the terrorists in Syria. The hostages had been moved to another location; U.S. commandos killed several Islamic State fighters during the raid.
Dempsey noted that destroying Islamic State weapons and combat vehicles in Iraq won't be enough to dismantle the organization, which Hagel has called as sophisticated and well-funded as any terrorist organization the Pentagon has seen.
"We still haven't addressed the issue of ISIS in Syria," Dempsey said, using another abbreviation for the terror group. "That's an important part of this, and that has yet to be addressed.
"That's a piece of intellectual and diplomatic lifting that has to occur in order to truly ensure that we're addressing the ISIS threat both in Iraq and in Syria. Because you can't let them have free reign in one place, or they'll just simply continue to regroup."
The primary role for U.S. forces will be to support governments in the region doing the fighting against the Islamic State. He added, though, that U.S. military might will be needed to fill "gaps," a allusion to the bombing in Iraq.
"We can help others apply force," he said.
Asked if he anticipated deeper involvement from U.S. troops in the Middle East, Dempsey said: "Here's what the American people can count on from the military: We're not looking to take ownership of the numerous and intense security challenges and challenges of governance that exist in the Middle East. We're not looking to take ownership.
"What we are looking to do is find a way, working through partners - both regional partners and European partners - to address the threats that are evolving in a way that matches the task we've been assigned by our elected officials with the military resources to accomplish it."
The military's mission has been limited in Iraq, and limited in a way that Dempsey said was appropriate. It has been tasked with humanitarian aid, protecting U.S. personnel and vital infrastructure.
"You hear the term 'mission creep' beginning to make its way around the airwaves. What we do is mission match," Dempsey said. "What the American people should understand is that role is to match the resources to the mission we're given. Right now, the mission is limited, but I think appropriately so."

[American Patriot]

WW4 File: UKRAINE, RUSSIA AT WAR: Ukrainian forces detain 10 Russian paratroopers in Donetsk Oblast, armed invaders surrender without fight, profess to have crossed border by mistake; DM Geletey: “In reality, they are participating in military aggression against Ukraine . . . “; military spokesman Lysenko: “We think that this is not a mistake, but a special task”; capture of obvious Russian recon patrol complicates Putin-Poroshenko summit in Minsk; SE Ukrainian town of Novoazovsk under cross-border artillery barrage, scene of confrontation between Ukrainian army, rebel armoured column from Russia; NATO: 10,000s of Russian troops positioned near neighbor’s border; US ambassador to Kiev warns of possible “Russian-directed counteroffensive” by pro-Moscow separatists; Russian neo-fascists form volunteer battalion, support Ukrainian rebels: “We are all Russian imperialist nationalists, descendants of the White Guard”; Poroshenko dissolves Rada, calls snap election; SBU arrests Communist Party cell leaders on charges of financing terrorism (i.e., separatism)

Leave a comment Posted by periloustimes1 on August 26, 2014

According to recent news reports, linked here over the past few days, Russian artillery appears to be providing cross-border support for rebel offensives against the Ukrainian military.
source 1 source 2 source 3 source 4 source 5 source 6

[American Patriot]

Video at the link.


http://www.bizpacreview.com/2014/08/...a-91114-140868
Retired general’s dire warning: ‘We should go to DEFCON 1 …. We may even see a 9/11/14′

August 24, 2014 by Don Noel 192 Comments
Retired Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney thinks the United States should “go to DEFCON 1, our highest state of readiness and be prepared as we lead up to 9/11.”
McInerney made the comment Saturday in an appearance with Uma Pemmaraju on Fox News Channel’s “America’s News HQ.”


“We may even see a 9/11/14,” he added.


“There’s a narrative gap,” McInerney said in response to Pemmaraju’s questions about border security and domestic threats from Islamic State. “The president thinks everything’s OK. Al-Qaida’s dead. He killed Osama bin Laden, but he’s three years behind in the narrative.”

Photo Credit: article.wn.com

The Air Force veteran called an “unchecked” Islamic State “an existential threat to the United States.”
“I’m not talking about two or three years from now,” he said. “I’m talking very, very soon.”

[American Patriot]

Ret USAF General Warns of Possible 9/11/14 Coming

Back to Breitbart TV
General Mcinerney Warns of Possible 9/11/14...

General Mcinerney Warns of Possible 9/11/14 Coming








on Breitbart TV 23 Aug 2014 46 post a comment
Saturday on Fox News Channel's "America's News HQ," network military analyst Ret. Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney told host Uma Pemmaraju that in oder to address the current threat ISIS posses, the Untied States should "go to DEFCON 1, our highest state of readiness and be prepared as we lead up to 9/11," because he warned "we may even see a 9/11/14."

McInerney referenced the missing Malaysia Airlines jet MH370 from earlier this year and said, "On the seventh of September, a major news network and publishing network are going to put out a book. It is going to be earth shattering of what's happening and what happened. The fact is we may even see a 9/11/14 MH-370 surface again. We should go to DEFCON 1, our highest state of readiness and be prepared as we lead up to 9/11."


Pemmaraju asked, "When you say a major news organization is coming forward with a publication, what are you referring to specifically? Can you allude to that, give us more details?


McInerney continued,"I can't give you any more than what I've just said. But it is going to be extremely important and America should take notice. We are less safe today than we were six years ago."


The general again confirmed America should raise the terror level threat at this point ahead of the anniversary of 9/11.

[American Patriot]

The General is a pretty quiet guy, doesn't seem usually to go out of his way to make statements like those he's now made.

I suspect something BIG is coming to the shores of America. They are already here. Be prepared. Be ready. Keep armed. Keep a clear head.

If you or your loved ones are affected/involved by terrorists, do what you must to survive. Do NOT let them kill you if you can stop them.

Kill them first.

Folks - we as Americans are now at war. This isn't any longer about the US Government "declaring war". War HAS BEEN DECLARED on YOU.

That means - you are not an unwilling, unwitting, not-wanting-to-be-there fighter in the war on Terror. Unfortunately, innocent people always die because they aren't ready for what's coming.

Be ready, be prepared.... be safe.

I'll point out that we here at TAA have pointed out, over and over the ability of random people to walk into a mall and start shooting in a coordinated effort to terrorize and immobilize America.

Airplanes are safer now, but it could still happen again.

Schools have been attacked already here - and each time it has happened, Americans have been denied access to the facts behind the shootings, the people involved and the depth this goes. A 19 year old kid who is a loner doesn't suddenly shoot up a kindergarten class without help, without drugs, without brainwashing of some kind.

Be ALERT!




DEFCON-1 Readiness! Shocking Clear and Present Danger! Intelligence on ISIS Terror Threat on AMERICA! ISIS a Brutal and Certain Threat! (Video) VITAL Info Must, MUST See!!

Sunday, August 24, 2014 10:14

(Before It's News)



SHOCKING Intelligence on ISIS Terror Threat on AMERICA!


Aug 24 2014

Saturday on Fox News Channel’s “America’s News HQ,” network military analyst Ret. Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney told host Uma Pemmaraju that in order to address the current threat ISIS posseses, the Untied States should “go to DEFCON 1, our highest state of readiness and be prepared as we lead up to 9/11,” because he warned “we may even see a 9/11/14.” Read more

This is updated intelligence concerning a very possible terrorist attack upon the United States to happen this year, on that infamous date 9-11-14 involving:

- 103 Malls across America
- Missing Malaysia Jetliner
- ISIS
- Open Border
Ret. Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney & Dr. Jim Garrow give chilling updates to Planned Attacks on America

For MORE on this planned attack, and officials at the White House going public with it, stating that ISIS has the funding and the CAPABILITY to do precisely as threated click here; VITAL info!

Are you prepared?

Listen to the video: http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-T...9-11-14-Coming