Russia is the only country in the world with the nuclear capability to destroy the United States, which makes it an existential threat, Milley told the audience at the Defense One summit in Washington, DC on Monday. Moscow's recent behavior suggested that Russia would be willing to use such weapons, the general added, saying that Russia has been violating "the Westphalian order" since about 2008 by "invading sovereign nations."
Based on capability and intent Russia is the greatest threat to the US
@GENMarkMilley #DefOneSummit2015 pic.twitter.com/KmssXQeRUJโ Lovisa (@LovisaInserra) November 2, 2015
If that sounds familiar, that's because Milley used the exact same phrases during his confirmation hearing before the US Senate this July. The only difference is that he wore a blue service uniform then, and chose a camouflage combat uniform (ACU) for his conference appearance Monday.
What's more, the phrasing most likely was not even his own: Two weeks prior to Milley's confirmation hearing, General James Dunford used the exact same language at his own Senate confirmation hearing for the post of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Dunford previously commanded the US Marine Corps.
"I would say that Russia's recent behavior is adversarial to the interests of the United States," Milley said, citing "aggressive" exercises and patrols by Russian aircraft, submarines and troops - inside Russia - for the past "four-five-six-seven" years.
Comment: In contrast to what NATO is doing with "aggressive" exercises in Europe. How else should a country like Russia respond to that?
"Russia bears close watching," the general added.
how come Russia is putting its border right beside our NATO bases? Are they trying to start WW3? #AskPOTUS pic.twitter.com/91NlutrCI0 โ Mr. (@Tarshatha) July 2, 2015
When asked whether this means Russia should be treated like a foe and not a partner, Milley executed a fighting retreat, urging a "strength and balance sort of approach, which is our current policy."
Diplomacy is a "bit more nuanced" than a binary calculation, he noted. While Russian "aggression" should be fought with sanctions and NATO posturing, the US should work with Moscow on matters of mutual interest and convenience, such as the Iran nuclear deal.
This just happens to be the official party line of the Obama administration, as espoused by Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, and President Barack Obama himself on a number of occasions.
Between the talking points and clichรฉs, such as "Freedom isn't free," Milley leavened his presentation with references to the army's favorite book on military philosophy, On War, which was written almost two centuries ago by Prussian officer Carl von Clausewitz. The unfinished book was published in 1832, following Clausewitz's death during a cholera outbreak.
Though many of his observations have been questioned since, and others grown into truisms from overuse, Clausewitz at least knew a thing or two about Russians, having fought alongside them against Bonaparte in the Napoleonic wars.
Instead of honoring the Pentagon tradition of treating his audience to a PowerPoint presentation, Milley offered canned responses to questions from Fox News defense analyst Jennifer Griffin.
One of Griffin's remarkably insightful inquiries was whether the US could defeat Russia in a ground war.
"Our capabilities today are plenty good enough to deal with anything that Russia has," Milley retorted, ignoring his own words about Russia's nuclear capabilities.
Comment: For a ground war to even start, NATO would have to invade Russia. As history has shown, that will not turn out too well for the aggressor. Russia has no interest in invading other countries. But Russia will help countries from invaders if legally asked. Again contrast that to the illegal invasions of the US since WWII.
Milley had the unenviable job of arguing that the US Army was not "hollow" and could do everything asked of it, while at the same time pleading for more funding, troops and gear.
"To maintain our way of life, to maintain a military that protects that way of life, is a very expensive endeavor," he said.
US chief of staff of the Army and US Ambassador @GeoffPyatt visit #FearlessGuardian training site in #Yavoriv pic.twitter.com/zEyOjneXm8 โ U.S. Embassy Kyiv (@USEmbassyKyiv) October 30, 2015
We, the people of Earth, are all "adversarial to the interests of the United States".
You see, the problem is that "the interests of the United States" seem to be to fuck us all over, steal all our money and turn us into obedient slaves and cheap labour for the glory of the US. Strangely enough, we're not very interested in that.
"Russia is the only country in the world with the nuclear capability to destroy the United States"
That may be true, but maybe a more important point is that the US is the only country in the world (well, except Israel maybe) stupid enough to drop nukes on oher countries. Russia may have the capability (which is a necessity in response to a fact you may have missed - that the US has the nuclear capability to destroy Russia), but capability has little to do with intentions. Russia has shown no signs of wanting to nuke or attack any country, while the US attacks new countries all the time.
If you see somebody's strength as a "threat", then clearly your view of the world is that you should be the dictator of the whole world and nobody should have anything that might threaten you in any way. This tells me you are either: 1. twelve years old or so, or 2. very scared of everything, or 3. a complete idiot.
Based on the picture, I'd say 1 is out.
If it's 2, then you should seek some help. I would suggest seeking it outside of the US because all you'll get in the US is a ton of drugs that will fuck you up even more.
If it's 3, then please somebody remove this idiot from any high government office.
Thank you.