The Pentagon called war between Russia and the USA a hypothetic scenario, according to its spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Michelle Baldanza speaking to Izvestia. But American and Russian experts queried by Izvestia are certain that despite the generals' prognosis, real armed conflict between the two nuclear powers is possible.
American political expert and senior fellow at New York University and former Senior Advisor to the US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Barnett Rubin, told
Izvestia that generals do not push for war between Russia and the USA, but they plan for the unexpected.
"The main thing they said is that if there was a new world war, it would be devastating beyond imagination. That's why the only solution is that Russia and the USA cooperate to solve problems" — Rubin said.
Discussions of war between the USA and Russia began after American generals spoke at a Pentagon meeting on October 4, saying that war would be "quick and lethal". Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley said that armed conflict between Washington and Moscow was "almost guaranteed".
Moreover,
Major General William Hicks said war would begin "in the very near future", and the Pentagon has begun to prepare for combat on a scale that the US has not seen since the Korean War. Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Joseph Anderson, pointed out that "modern nation states behaving aggressively in the context of military rivalry" are a real threat to US security. "What does this remind us of? Russia", - Anderson replied to his own question.
Russian military in turn, do not give credence to the statements by American generals. For example, according to Colonel General President of the Academy of Geopolitical Issues, Leonid Ivashov, the Pentagon is bluffing, trying to intimidate Russia.
"The US understands that in the event of war, it would not escape strikes on its territory. The Pentagon says one thing, the State Department - another. One thing is clear: this statement was made to intimidate Russia and stall action in Syria," he said to Izvestia.
Comment: Sure seems Lavrov was in no mood to mince words in the CNN interview. He also stated that, while he doesn't want to suggest the US is supporting terrorism, Russia got the impression that the US wants to spare Al-Nusra and keep them around in case the US decides to enact Plan B in Syria. Lavrov is being diplomatic, but it's clear that the US has no intention of getting rid of its proxy army Al-Nusra in Syria.