World War III Has Begun

Paul Craig Roberts

The Third World War is currently being fought. How long before it moves into its
hot stage?

Washington is currently conducting economic and propaganda warfare against four
members of the five bloc group of countries known as BRICS—Brazil, Russia,
India, China, and South Africa. Brazil and South Africa are being destabilized
with fabricated political scandals. Both countries are rife with
Washington-financed politicians and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
Washington concocts a scandal, sends its political agents into action demanding
action against the government and its NGOs into the streets in protests.

Washington tried this against China with the orchestrated Hong Kong “student
protest.” Washington hoped that the protest would spread into China, but the
scheme failed. Washington tried this against Russia with the orchestrated
protests against Putin’s reelection and failed again.

To destablilze Russia, Washington needs a firmer hold inside Russia. In order to
gain a firmer hold, Washington worked with the New York mega-banks and the
Saudis to drive down the oil price from over $100 per barrel to $30. This has
put pressure on Russian finances and the ruble. In response to Russia’s
budgetary needs, Washington’s allies inside Russia are pushing President Putin
to privatize important Russian economic sectors in order to raise foreign
capital to cover the budget deficit and support the ruble. If Putin gives in,
important Russian assets will move from Russian control to Washington’s control.

In my opinion, those who are pushing privatization are either traitors or
completely stupid. Whichever it is, they are a danger to Russia’s independence.

Eric Draitser provides some details of Washington’s assault on Russia:
http://www.mintpressnews.com/brics-attack-western-banks-governments-launch-full-spectrum-assault-russia-part/215761/g


of Washington’s attack on South Africa:
http://www.mintpressnews.com/brics-attack-empires-destabilizing-hand-reaches-south-africa/215126/o


and of Washington’s attack on Brazil:
http://www.mintpressnews.com/brics-attack-empire-strikes-back-brazil/214943/

For my column on Washington’s attack on Latin American independence, see:
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2016/04/22/washington-launches-its-attack-against-brics-paul-craig-roberts/n


As I have often pointed out, the neoconservatives have been driven insane by
their arrogance and hubris. In their pursuit of American hegemony over the
world, they have cast aside all caution in their determination to destabilize
Russia and China.

By implementing neoliberal economic policies urged on them by their economists
trained in the Western neoliberal tradition, the Russian and Chinese governments
are setting themselves up for Washington. By swallowing the “globalism” line,
using the US dollar, participating in the Western payments system, opening
themselves to destabilization by foreign capital inflows and outflows, hosting
American banks, and permitting foreign ownership, the Russian and Chinese
governments have made themselves ripe for destabilization.

If Russia and China do not disengage from the Western system and exile their
neoliberal economists, they will have to go to war in order to defend their
sovereignty.

In
Paul Craig Roberts
Institute for Political Economy
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2016/04/25/world-war-iii-has-begun-paul-craig-roberts/
April, 25, 2016.