Almost every single news outlet in America, especially on the Democratic side, is beating the drums of war. Now that warmonger John Bolton is in the Trump Administration, the White House appears to be on-board too.



The Trump administration has not done enough to respond to Russia’s attack on the United States and our democratic institutions, Bolton said, and Putin must pay a heavy price for his actions.

It's enough to make one think that everyone in the world is lining up for a military showdown with a nuclear superpower.

Looks can be deceiving.



But Matteo Salvini, leader of the pro-Russian, nativist Northern League and a potential prime minister, angrily criticized this decision, as did the leader of a smaller far-right party, another possible member of a future coalition, who declared it “unacceptable that a caretaker government has expelled two staffers at the Russian embassy.”

In Greece, where both the far-left ruling party and its far-right coalition partners (yes, it’s an odd combination) have deep links to Russia, no diplomats have been expelled. The same is true in Austria, where the ruling coalition includes the far-right Freedom Party, which — of course — has Russian links, as well.

Serbia and Bulgaria will not be expelling diplomats.

However, the BIG break with our anti-Russia policy is a little further south, and it can't be understated.



As U.S. and European allies form a diplomatic front against Russia, Turkey’s coziness with the Kremlin is testing its crucial defense ties with the U.S. and its military alliance with NATO...

“At the moment, there is a positive and good relationship between Turkey and Russia,” Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said late Monday. “Turkey isn’t considering taking any decisions against Russia.

Our NATO ally, Turkey, has gone completely the other way when it comes to relations with Russia. This includes their plans to purchase weapons from Russia in defiance of economic sanctions. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut has calls for lifting all trade restrictions against Russia.

Yet Turkey isn’t alone in its decision to avoid rebuking Russia. Half of the EU’s member nations have not expelled Russian officials over the March 4 attack.

Without Turkey a key piece in isolating Russia is missing.

The further you go into Asia, the less enthusiasm for war.



Israel did not follow the lead from London and Washington, even declining to name “Russia” while issuing a general condemnation of the alleged Russian action...

Gallant told The Jerusalem Post that Israel’s relationship with the Russians is not at all what it was before the collapse of the Soviet Union. “We talk to them, they talk to us. There is a mechanism on the military side [in Syria] that everyone can see. We respect the Russians. The Russians are not our enemies, and we should use the upside of their presence [in Syria] and try to avoid the downside of their presence.”

Non-NATO allies like Armenia, are looking to get sanctioned for more than just being friends with Russia.



Officially, the Armenian government follows a policy of “complementarity” that balances good relations with Russia and the West. In reality, however, more than 5,000 Russian troops are bivouacked on Armenian soil, and Russia has been a vital source of military equipment for the country.

Armenia also has defense ties with Iran.

Outside of Turkey, the biggest break with the anti-Russia push is India, which seems to be taking an "I dare you" attitude.

All of this is outside of the fact that Russia has "enemy of my enemy" allies in China and Iran.

When it comes to sanctions and ending diplomacy, it appears that we've played our last card.

Our allies, with just a few exceptions, have gone as far as they are going to go.

Russia's economy is growing again, so the sanctions have largely failed.

All that is left is shooting, and I don't believe anyone outside of Washington, Wall Street, and the American news media wants that.