(RINF) – Russia is vilified solely for its sovereign independence, Putin denigrated for his anti-imperial views deserving universal respect and support.

No “Russian aggression” exists, not in Ukraine or anywhere else. Putin responsibly supports peace and stability, abhors wars.

He’s gone all-out to diplomatically resolve US-instigated and supported ones in Syria and Ukraine – his good faith efforts consistently undermined by neocon infested Washington, humanity’s greatest threat.

Joint Chiefs Chairman General Joseph (“fighting Joe) Dunford, along with other retired and active duty hawkish US generals and admirals disgracefully call Russia America’s greatest threat.

It poses none to any nation. Not a shred of evidence suggests otherwise. Yet disgraceful accusations persist.

America and 11 European countries intend establishing a Helsinki, Finland center on how to respond to Russia’s nonexistent hybrid warfare threat.

Last summer, Obama called US-created and supported ISIS, Russia and Brexit Washington’s greatest threats at a time none exist except invented ones.

US Air Force Secretary Deborah James on Saturday called Russia “the number one threat to the United States.”

“We have a number of threats that we’re dealing with, but Russia could be, because of the nuclear aspect, an existential threat to the United States,” she said.

She cited what she called “very dangerous (Russian) airmanship and nonexistent cyber-attacks.” Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Frank Kendall III expressed the same nonsensical concerns.

Anti-Russia accusations repeatedly surface. None pass the smell test, Moscow often blamed for US high crimes together with rogue allies.

Last August, James called Russia “one of the handful of (countries) that could actually present an existential threat to the US. They have nuclear weapons.”

“They have been acting (in) very aggressive manners in recent years. And they are also investing and are testing military capabilities…that is very worrisome for the United States and to our allies.”

Washington has no just cause to fear Russia – Moscow clearly threatened by aggressive US behavior, including leading thousands of NATO combat troops deployed near its borders, along with provocative military exercises close to its territory, suggesting preparation for future conflict.

Russia is forced to act defensively to protect against a potential US attack it hopes won’t come. No responsible government would do less.

With Obama’s tenure ending in January, it remains to be seen if Trump intends normalizing bilateral ties, working with Putin responsibly, both leaders cooperating in combating terrorism in Syria – as he indicated while campaigning.

He’s being heavily pressured to stay hardline. Will he go his own way for the sake of world peace and stability or continue dirty business as usual?

We won’t know until he begins governing, maybe beyond his first 100 days. The agenda he announced, discussed in an earlier article , included nothing about allying with Moscow in combating terrorism, nothing about a new role for NATO, nothing about favoring diplomacy over war-making.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.