The Chris Hedges Report: Ukraine and the resurgence of American militarism

The war in Ukraine, stoked in part by NATO expansion and the violation of promises made to Moscow at the end of the Cold War, now looks set to become a lengthy war of attrition-one funded and backed by the United States. What will be the consequences of the United States's commitment to long-term conflict, and where will we be when the war finally ends?
Andrew Bacevich explains in this interview how the end of the Cold War triggered a new bout of American military interventionism that has now spanned decades. Moreover, as Bacevich argues, if the fighting in Ukraine ceases without a geopolitical plan for peaceably bringing Russia back into the community of nations, we risk setting the world stage for even greater conflict.
Andrew Bacevich is a West Point graduate, retired Army Colonel, and Vietnam war veteran. He is also an emeritus professor of history and international relations at Boston University and the co-founder and president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. His books include The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism and his latest, After the Apocalypse: America’s Role in a World Transformed.
Chris Hedges interviews writers, intellectuals, and dissidents, many banished from the mainstream, in his half-hour show, The Chris Hedges Report. He gives voice to those, from Cornel West and Noam Chomsky to the leaders of groups such as Extinction Rebellion, who are on the front lines of the struggle against militarism, corporate capitalism, white supremacy, the looming ecocide, as well as the battle to wrest back our democracy from the clutches of the ruling global oligarchy.
Studio: Adam Coley, Cameron Granadino
Post-Production: Adam Coley
Watch The Chris Hedges Report live KZbin premiere on The Real News Network every Friday at 12PM ET: therealnews.com/chris-hedges-...
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[@Putinhasjoinedthetreads]

So sick of listening to Americans criticizing other countries military as enept when the US has yet to when a single war outside its borders.

[@oviss5946]

O my god you so correct.

[@kele22]

agreed.

[@cosmopessoa7195]

not designed to win , but to make Money

[@vittoriobollo3408]

Amen! At least not since World War II, and even then they needed help of the Soviets on the Eastern Front to overcome the Nazis. Unless you count the invasion of Grenada in the 1980s as a US 'victory!'

[@PAULLONDEN]

*@Putinhasjoinedthetreads* Understand your comment , but the U.S. is satisfied enough to have won the second worldwar that made her a superpower. And it destroyed enough nations during its blundering around the world which is enough for Washington State Department neo cons.

[@robvannNS]

Calling Russia a pariah state is laughable considering the legacy of US foreign policy.

[@tbozbaliol3388]

BRILLIANT! I TOTALLY AGREE!

[@olorin1710]

Two truths can exist at same time

[@joyduncan9434]

Ask what other people around the world think of Russia and the US and see which one they say is the pariah state.

[@swpolitical]

He was talking in context with current war.

[@olorin1710]

@@swpolitical too many pro war russia people and bots on this particular video. Not sure where all of the anti war no matter who went.

[@LowescC]

He won't use words like "baited" or "provoked".....really ???

[@elliotjacomo6618]

Mr. Bacevich's negative assessment of the Russian military contrasts sharply with the assessment of Scott Ritter who, as a former Marine and top military advisor in the 1st Gulf war, has studied the Russian military for 30 years. Ritter's narrative of Russian advances in Ukraine also contrast with Bacevich.

[@DennisCambly]

The guest was a foot soldier with no military experience. He's almost quoting NATO speak word by word

[@TiberiusGracchus123]

Scott is far more knowledgeable in this area, as well as fair minded. Scott would have likely challenged Chris’ rather privileged condemnation of Russia with the reality that when a nation is poised to attack, as Ukraine seemed to be, the doctrine of preemption can kick-in. A nation that marches some 60,000 soldiers to the border & commences shelling civilians is more than “provoking.” It is threatening & committing war crimes, itself.

[@susanraby-dunne8180]

I was going to say exactly this. I think Mr. Bacevich is wrong about the effectiveness and professionalism of the Russian military.

[@drakekoefoed1642]

he admitted thinking usa would not do the regime changes and all that. by 1975 i expected nothing but evil and lies from usa gov and i was right. he looked at hats and thought russia was shot. russia did, as ritter says, exactly what it wanted to do. it could have flattened kiev, but there are people in kiev whose cousins live in moscow. if usa went in on the ground in this war, the russians would beat the stuffing out of them. usa has a military that makes money off the public's money. the russian military are serious soldiers. know what they call someone who continually provokes a bear? mauled.

[@David-ro7gm]

I think many of us who have heard Ritter speak agree with you.

[@spheriscope]

I think it's a dangerous underestimation to regard the Russian military as incompetent. They're not like us.

[@babayagaforestdweller400]

I couldn’t agree more. First thought came to my head right after hearing him say that.

[@TiberiusGracchus123]

Maybe we should let Bacevich know Russia is using about 5% of its capacity. Watch what happens when this goes from “operation” to “war.”

[@robvannNS]

He reads too much western corporate media that''s obvious.

[@richardsawicki8521]

And the only war they're "losing" is the one that "Western" psy-ops spun out of whole cloth so they could claim he failed and do just like this guy just did! Putin's clearly stated goals as "advertised" far-and-wide for any with "ears to hear" at the outset seem to be being "checked-off" like clockwork!

[@spheriscope]

Yeah, it does seem like part of the narrative being pushed doesn't it?

[@robertgoehner5515]

Nice fellow, however he must have been a high ranking officer with a good pension, if he thinks the American People aren’t being hurt Economically by the War in Ukrain

[@delprice3007]

Compared to Ukrainians we're not.

[@NotAPacifist825]

Compared our "allies", esp Germany, we're not.

[@aikibaby]

Del Price You simply haven’t caught on, yet. Biden is all about killing ANYONE necessary to get what he wants. He will bankrupt the US trying to bankrupt Russia. And he has many Nazi qualities besides commanding a Nazi army.

[@kmarkburtonful]

😢😮a😮ras

[@kmarkburtonful]

​@@delprice3007 s😮res😮

[@carpediem44]

This guy doesn't mean "The Community of Nations." He means US, EU, Canada, Australia & NZ. That is NOT the WORLD. And Russia is NOT a pariah with the Global South. The US is.

[@IDIOCRACY-1984]

You can understand how this dude having served his whole life in the military would say the Russians are *'not so tough'.* One wonders what scale he uses to make that statement. The US hasn't won a war *'by themselves'* since.....well, the war of independence. Unless that is, when they pick on vastly inferior opponents. Cubans and Puerto Ricans in the so-called Spanish American war. The next *HUGE* victory that they won singlehandedly was.....uh, against engineers and cooks in Grenada followed by a nighttime treacherous sucker punch to an unsuspecting ally, Panama. If I missed any, someone please feel free to amend it. That stated it would be fair to say that despite the trillions and trillions of dollars they steal from us to give to the military industrial complex, *'the US ain't so tough'.* Now if Russian decided to fight this war the way the US and NATO do, to *bomb the FK out of those Stepan Bandera worshipping MFing Nazis* and all the civilians along with them, scorched earth and *depleted uranium shells* on Kiev like the US did in Kuwait and Baghdad I doubt that it would take them 20+ yrs to bring Ukraine to their knees. They could probably have done it in a week and this fool would admire them and say. Wow. Those Russians *'are tough'*

[@astriddececco3005]

We need help from the French to get our independence.

[@bertanelson8062]

Well said.

[@AbtinX]

You nailed. It takes Adolf Hitlers invasion of Poland to impress a US imperialist

[@IDIOCRACY-1984]

@@AbtinX The world has been so dumbed down that I wonder if I'm living in an alternate idiocracy-like reality. Even Poland who was a victim of Ukrainian Nazi atrocities in WW2 is now incestuously in love with them. I always thought Polish jokes about how FKG dumb they are were a stereotype but seeing that they're stupid enough, even eager to want to start shit *'militarily'* with Russia I may have been wrong

[@SteveB-nx2uo]

Russia barely has any diversity equity or inclusion policy or officers - how could they hope to stand against Millys Transgender parapeople or Austins Mostly Male Marines?

[@FoxyCAMTV]

The reason this general thinks Russians aren't that good is because Russians actually cared about not hurting civilians which America has failed to do in all the wars they "fought". Also his story about Russian trinkets for 30 years ago is hilarious, i will only talk one trinket, hyper sonic missiles and Americas inability to make them.

[@olorin1710]

sounds like your feelings hurt. You are clearly unable to critically respond when you try to compare trinkets to icbm. The people of russia cannot eat missiles. Poverty and lack of opportunity is a real thing i. Russia around fall of soviet union. Their lower and middle class are currently struggling far more than usa.

[@mikec4845]

I've been to Berlin and Check Point Charlie after the disintegration of the Soviet State. Those so called trinkets were not toys but real medals, uniforms etc. that people in East Berlin were selling to put food on the table and a roof over their heads and is nothing to denigrate. If I was into Cold War Memorabilia that would have been the place to buy it. I just settled for a piece of the wall that was given to me by a stranger on the subway. Oh, they were selling those pieces too which were wrapped in barbed wire in a small wooden framed glass case.

[@alexv1269]

@@olorin1710 Really, where did you find that info, on TV ?

[@szymborska]

Russia isn't the mass shooting prison capitol of Earth with no healthcare or infrastructure. Their currency isn't hyper inflating. Their allies aren't ditching them. The US is in the middle of a rapid decline as military spending becomes more than HALF of all federal spending.

[@olorin1710]

@@alexv1269 from Chris Hedges. I think he knows more about Eastern Europe more than you. If not, Can you please link the channel or website for your on the ground journalistic input during soviet and post era .

[@davidpollock4060]

Does this man actually know what he is talking about? I disagree with his analysis of Russia but that aside when he says the war in Ukraine does not affect the American people he sounds delusional,$56 billion in aid which could be used to help Americans in economic or healthcare crises.

[@alemayehusolomon941]

Really well said. That's a huge sum of money.

[@kjmax1068]

Absolutely agree

[@dbarker7794]

People like Bacevich and other "experts" are very well off. They have nice houses in the DC suburbs and vacation houses and nice investments. They know nothing about everyday life. Just like most people you see on tv or in media.

[@annoloki]

"which could be used to help Americans" -- could be, but wouldn't be. There's actually enough money to do both. Not defending the war spending, I'm just saying. Poor people are worth a lot more - in the economics of short term and private interests - locked up in prisons, or trapped in debt cycles. Lifting people out of poverty helps the country, while the war industry and the prison industry lifts up the rich and powerful. Any money saved would just be given to corporations in even bigger tax exemptions before it was used to look after the sick or the hungry.

[@bryanemmel6516]

I think about this every time some so-called progressive asks me for a campaign contribution. They are phonies and liars because they stumble over each other to go and vote for every war spending measure that comes along which literally assures that there will never be funds for the priorities they claim to have. Their actual priorities are just to keep fooling the public and get reelected.

[@joem1070]

In a nation of hyper-nationalism, in a nation whose only sacred are corporate profits and greed, and where humility and empathy are seen as weaknesses, we are headed for a horrible collapse. Add in a crumbling empire and nukes, humanity’s survival is in doubt.

[@timsimpson5129]

Well said :)

[@lavendereucalyptus3225]

US/NATO is the biggest terrorist institute and biggest threat to world peace, NATO = Never A Truce Organization.

[@nassimghrayeb2005]

Concisely put. Just as we were thinking it would global warming that would get us, the guys with the nukes stepped up and said, hold my beer. It would be funny if it wasn't so devastating to so many people everywhere.

[@rezakarampour6286]

" Ukraine General Reveals Zionist Control of Ukraine '

[@BassPhat]

I assume you're talking about Russia when you talk about a nation of ultra-nationalism? And you're talking about Putin and his klepto-fascists when you talk about only profits being sacred? And I KNOW you're talking about Russia when you mention a "crumbling empire".

[@Abbittibbi]

When Mr. Andrew Bacevich is making the description of the russian army, it sounds like he's also making the description of US military, who was in Afghanistan(or Vietnam, or Korea) for 20 years and left with their tail between their legs.

[@bryanemmel6516]

Yeah, the U.S. sunk trillions of dollars and 20 years into Afghanistan and was driven out by medieval tribesmen. Bacevich believes the U.S. military is a model of competence? What a joke!

[@Abbittibbi]

@@bryanemmel6516 -War is a racket. S. Butler, U.S.M.C.

[@JohmScriv]

That's probably what it is, projection.

[@johnchristopher3032]

@@bryanemmel6516 The civilian commanders are responsible for those failures. Failure is very profitable, after all.

[@joeows6537]

Perhaps Andrew should study on the Doctrine of Discovery as well as the Monroe Doctrine. Both will give him a unique perspective as to why the United States is stuck on colonization and Empire.

[@joeows6537]

Michael Parenti did a decent presentation, it's on KZbin...

[@joeows6537]

@JC Gible incrementalism has gotten us absolutely nowhere. The independent voter outnumbers the Democrat and the Republican votor combined. A majority of people I know will not be supporting either party in fact they will be voting independent and or green and they will vote local.

[@helgaweber6852]

@@joeows6537 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKiwgqaZeql5fsU

[@crzyking6821]

@@joeows6537 That's Why we NEED BERNIE To Run Again in 2024 us Progressives have Grown in Number by Many Multiples I believe he has a Great Shot at Actually Winning. #BERNIE2024

[@joeows6537]

@@crzyking6821 the Democratic party would never ever allow Bernie Sanders to become president and even if they did he would be a lame duck as the Democratic and Republican parties would oppose everything he did. Besides Bernie will just tell you to vote for the Democratic party anyway once again sheepherding people back in to the dnc. Myself I'll be voting third party on state and federal elections as neither party deserves my vote. Hasn't the last two election Cycles taught you anything?

[@amanderik]

12:10 and 21:20 A number of former US military analysts have a diametrically opposite assessment of Russia's prosecution of this war than Bacevich. Scott Ritter and Douglas McGregor being the most prominent.

[@jimmytimmy3680]

As soon as he said the Russians aren't competent, he lost me. What can you expect from a boomer with the red scare propaganda? And cold war mentality.

[@uncomfortabletruth3831]

@@jimmytimmy3680 Do you not feel Russian imperialism, is a threat to US interests? If Russia wanted to dominate the Ukraine, it could be acting on its own interests, economically, not Unlike how China had gained supremacy on the continent of Africa. Other than costs, which will be offset by US hegemony, how is supporting a pro US Ukraine, not advantageous to America?

[@jimmytimmy3680]

@@uncomfortabletruth3831 At the moment, there is only American Imperialism around the world. I didn't understand everything else you said. Try using complete sentences and correct grammar, please.

[@amanderik]

@@jimmytimmy3680 Agreed. But indeed China has achieved influence globally through its belt and road initiatives, basically investing directly in foreign development. Compare this to the US imperialism project, rooted in neoliberalism that seeks to extract wealth from foreign nations while leaving them debt ridden and impoverished. If the latter is the precious US interests other commeneters insist we support, you can count me out.

[@jimmytimmy3680]

@@amanderik I am against US Imperialism and its 800 terrorist bases. There's a reason US/EU are "developed" and the Global South is "developing" and it is because of centuries of genocide, slavery, and exploitation of resources to enrich the US and EU 1% richest people. Hence the CIA coups of legitimate governments who don't agree with the Neoliberal Plutocracy. China presents an interesting opportunity on an economic model and their claims of mutual cooperation. But I am afraid they turn into another US empire, they certainly are very authoritarian and have raised 800 million out of poverty, but by having people work 16 hours a day 6 days a week. We still have to see how China behaves once they become the world super power in the coming decades. Hopefully they don't follow the US policies.

[@charleskesner1302]

Good to have Chris back, and have his critical thinking on US Imperialism.

[@BassPhat]

Critical thinking? He thinks that helping Ukraine defend herself from genocide is "fuelling the conflict". That's like saying you're fuelling a rape in an alleyway if you step in to defend the victim.

[@franklinwilkerson2061]

not much push back though. totally different vitriol.

[@37Dionysos]

America wants to spread capitalist democracy! What a horrible joke

[@mousiebrown1747]

That’s not Chris. That, like Joe Biden, is a Disney Animatronic.

[@37Dionysos]

@@mousiebrown1747 Huh? Does that leave us with Jabba The Chump as "reality"? I'm gonna hurl.

[@shyman3000]

i love that Chris Hedges just low-key refuses to go away.

[@mikec4845]

This man shows his age. Still stuck in his youth and mindset that the 12% should still dictate to the 88% that are not the collective west. Russia is not the isolated country. It's the US and the EU that plays the servant.

[@lavendereucalyptus3225]

Correct, the minority of the world US and EU are isolating themselves, while the rest of the world embracing multipolar new world order.

[@web-angel]

That's the most gallling thing he said and it makes me sad that Chris didn't push back on that. Is he afraid of being labeled a Russian puppet? 🤔

[@AG-dk5kf]

This guest watch too much mainstream media.

[@maladetts]

And has too many Cold-War russophobic stereotypical carryovers.

[@galleon1968]

"The Russians are not tough" i turned off then, no respect for a nation of people who have had it tougher than YOU.

[@Blobby192]

yes i ended the video when he said ukraine is more damaged than iraq

[@elsonck2523]

Not the piercing interview we usually get from Chris Hedges... though I expect it was because Bacevitch's perspective was vague and rather dull.

[@patrickcarney9177]

This guest has a great many blind spots which invalidates most points he makes.

[@web-angel]

Which the host should've checked him on but didn't.... 🤔

[@zima3181]

@@web-angel I think, Chris was fighting the cognitive dissonance listening to so much insanity coming out of his guest. 🤣

[@DennisCambly]

Any talk about finding a peaceful resolution can be found in Minsk 1 and Minsk 2 peace agreements agreed upon in 2014 and 2015. The moment the US got involved between Ukraine and Russia Zelensky said he did not sign them therefore they were of no importance. European countries also signed the agreements with Macron constantly trying to get the US attention about them. Peace can happen once the US gets out of the conflict between the two nations.

[@olorin1710]

Peace can happen if Russia decides to not copy USA imperialism. While USA stops imperialism. Doubtful. Until we get big and dark money out of politics. The levers of power are entirely in the hands of Oligarchs like putin and Obiden

[@thierrynolevaux9268]

As usual, the US plays the role of shit disturber.

[@thierrynolevaux9268]

@Micheal Woods He has no control and the west will pump arms into Ukraine and when it gets out of control, the US will clean it up. That's the business model, supply tons of arms and then destroy it all.

[@DennisCambly]

@Micheal Woods the world should do the same

[@delprice3007]

Correct

[@collybeans586]

Not a military expert indeed and utterly out of the loop politically.. He was somewhat on point in terms of the American neo cons in Washington but thats about it.

[@lavendereucalyptus3225]

I also agree with his suggestion to bring Russia back in western nations’ community. Though before Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, Russia and Putin have stated that Russia would not seek out for unreliable US led western alliance anymore, Russia welcomes a new world order with multipolarity, Russia is determined to go EASTward.

[@one4320]

@@lavendereucalyptus3225 Putin attempted to join NATO in the 90s and was told by Clinton to take a hike.

[@zima3181]

@@one4320 because Putin put an end to the USA looting Russia, the way they did after interfering in the Russian democratic elections in 1996 and installing Yeltsin for the second term, because they knew they wouldn't be able to manipulate the winning party. 6 millions of Russian citizens died as the result - the courtesy of the Clintons.

[@Joo-go8ks]

He acts like the neocons simply vanished. They simply passed the baton to the neo-libs.

[@bushrodlake2751]

"Why we do what we do" => We do for world hegemony. No one is allowed to challenge it.

[@interovic]

I was tolerant of his views and opinions until he said this war has probably already caused more damage than the Iraq war. I'm willing to put money on there being less people dead 2 months into this war, than in the first 2 weeks of the US's thuggish behavior during Iraq

[@atester2001]

There is nothing in the way of destruction on the level of Mosul, Fallujah, etc A really poor comparison by him.

[@puhelimentili805]

It's said around 1 million deaths caused directly or indirectly by the Iraq war. If I had to make a guess, the amount of deaths caused by the Ukraine war will be around 60k, most of which are military losses from both sides

[@moneypromusic4419]

In Iraq the US bomb indiscriminately there's videos on KZbin with US tank running over civilians in Vietnam, Russia are not trying killed civilians in Ukraine even though killed quite a few but nothing like the US does in its wars.

[@quantumdecoherence1289]

100%

[@mousiebrown1747]

I seem to disagree with everything he says. First, he expresses no understanding of “9/11,” but I’m certain he understands it thoroughly.

[@robertcox14]

Hmmm...West Point Graduate, I guess "very patriotic," having pledged allegiance to a flag many times. The usual story about Great Power Competition I saw incited by Graham Allison's (another USA Patriot) book on "Thucydides Trap." That's NOT "unavoidable" if you just simply ignore the remarks from "USA patriots." Bacevich goes Number One! Number One! I am so NUMB of USA wild domination over the material world. Mr. Bacevich, retire your ARMS, fall on your sword!!! SHUT DOWN the American Madmen and their crazy Global Domination!!! Are you Fourth Reich, Bacevich??????????

[@jimmytimmy3680]

He is deluded with American Exceptionalism. He has no clue on Russia and much less their military operations in war. He probably thinks the US defeated Germany in WW2. Lol

[@stephena.sheehan9959]

I've had real admiration for that fact that, in the past, Andrew was one of the very few conservatives (not a hard rightist, a real conservative) and intellectuals willing to tell the truth to the public. Have both he and Chris lost that in this march to Total War with Russia? I hope not.

[@tbozbaliol3388]

BRILLIANT!

[@robertcox14]

I'm signing out.

[@suhnoonibrahim1686]

He spoke of Russian military being really weak but supplies no examples. Russian turn the tide in Syria's war with Isis, and they are pretty much accomplishing their goals in Ukraine, so how is that incompetence? What are you judging their actions on?

[@astriddececco3005]

Old ideas of the USSR. All these neocons and idiots, are going to will slip up one day and call Russia the USSR.

[@JuliusGalacki]

I thought the exact same thing and in one of my comments criticized Chris for not asking follow-up questions about exactly that.

[@maladetts]

With all due respect, in just 14 minutes, I've heard "climate change", "cheap trinkets", "non-meddling USA prior to WWII", "Soviet expansionism into NATO", "inexcusable act of aggression on NATO and valiant Ukrainian Nazis" - thank you, that's enough. Expected this to be a valid truthful analysis, but it turned out to be something else. Disliking this inadequate effort, sorry.

[@AbtinX]

This was awful. Chris seems confused listening to this

[@mousiebrown1747]

I agree. In the vernacular, he’s full of 💩.

[@MrTimeless101]

"abyssmal performance of the russian military in ukraine". Mr Bacevich must've gotten that from the NYTimes.

[@ireneroth8252]

And it's especially funny, listening to him say that in August 2923.

[@maladetts]

Prior to WWII, the U.S. empire was not global of course and did not control Europe, but it was by no means non-interventionist "normal country" that "did not meddle". Its meddling was enormous and was declared in the early 19th century by Monroe doctrine that claimed the entire hemisphere under the U.S. control already. The meddling only ramped up after that, spreading to foreign territories and the Pacific region.

[@PAULLONDEN]

Both world wars were very beneficial to the U.S. and most likely cooked up by the 1918 allied conglomerate . The Nazis sure could count on them to look the other way during Germany's unprecedented rearmament . The Nazis sure made no secret of what their plans were. Which was fine by Washington , who knew no matter how long or bloody , the outcome of a next war was a sure thing. They baited the Nazis by acting undecided and ready for the pluck. The Nazis goosestepped into the most crafty trap in history that made Germany (and in effect most of western Europe) a U.S. vassal state.

[@robertmyers6488]

He's right he is no battlefield expert.

[@astriddececco3005]

It shows

[@zima3181]

Savage! 🤣❤️

[@dee5331]

WOW! So wonderful to see Chris Hedges is back! Thank You Chris and all that support him!

[@musiqal333]

I have to admit, I disagree with the guest speaker on his analysis about the Russian military. For starters, already members of the Azov battalion at that steel plant in Mariupol have surrendered to Russian forces, with more battalion members to surrender later. Plus, these unilateral coercive measures en bloc against Russia are really hurting the US, UK, and the EU economically. And, Russia is just a "pariah state" to the West, not the entire international community, which the West likes to portray itself to the world as "the entire international community."

[@captain_context9991]

OFCOURSE the US military industrial complex had to find a way to turn this mini war into huge profits.

[@jimmytimmy3680]

2 Trillions from Afghanistan was not enough.

[@olorin1710]

Putin personally profits from war a lot more than other individuals in the world . Russia has major military industrial complex as well.

[@robvannNS]

one giant Ponzi scheme to move money from the 99% to the 1%.

[@lavendereucalyptus3225]

US/NATO is the biggest terrorist institute and biggest threat to world peace, NATO = Never A Truce Organization.

[@plugnut4713]

Well I bet their nuclear weapons are good enough and can inflict some serious hurt. So don't be so cocky about how Russia is a second rate military.

[@stl1321]

They can definitely make missiles fly, they have fired over 1,500 already. Definitely, a nuclear threat to life on Earth even if half of their ~4,500 weapons don't work.

[@Katya_Lastochka]

Americans cant admit to Russia's superiority because their arms industry is the whole purpose of NATO's existence. Russian weapons manufacturers make products that the military requests. America's military makes use for the products that are created even if it's out of date. Russian tech can be modernized, American's new toys have to be built from scratch. Other countries are waking up and buying Russian weapons.

[@moanahughes3593]

Oh, another US arms deal instead of feed/house/heal their own people 🙄

[@blip9999999999999999]

Let’s talk about the unanimous vote from all of the House Democrats for the $40 billion “aid” package.

[@mericanignoranc3551]

Let's talk about how Americans are so obedient to the fascist state they gave up freedom of speech and due process without a fight. ZERO PROTEST FOR ASSANGE! Mericans have embraced fascism . Wag your finger all you want, you're COMPLICIT, A SUBMISSIVE PEOPLE AND YOU'RE DOING NOTHING LIKE 99.9% OF MERICANS!!

[@mericanignoranc3551]

I guarantee mericans don't want to talk how they're complicit and all they want to do is point at others while they themselves remain OBEDIENT ! Am I wrong? Are YOU doing ANYTHING besides pointing at others?...lol

[@jimmytimmy3680]

Democrats and Republicans are all 2 sides of the same coin. They are all bought by corporations, in this case the MIC is making BILLIONS. It is truly hilarious and quite pathetic people that think that Democrats and Republicans are different.

[@BjtheLawyer_]

We give out money like it’s candy. US gone print some money!!

[@barbarabartleson8950]

When that guest says Ukrainian resistance does he mean AZOV nazi backed military or Donbas Russian speaking civilian's ❓🤔

[@jacintochua6885]

I would like to know how the Soviets destroyed the much vaunted Nazi German armies in WWII. If they're so incompetent and poorly led, how come they managed to destroy the entire Wehrmarch all the way to Berlin? Just wondering.

[@cricketycrickets3141]

Russia and Ukraine fought against Germany together, as a Soviet army.

[@maladetts]

@@cricketycrickets3141 Not "Russia AND Ukraine". Ukraine was the part OF RUSSIA. Up until 1991.

[@maladetts]

@Santiago Torralba You're hilarious, Santiago. First of all, the entire Ukraine was occupied and under the Nazi rule until 1943 when it was finally liberated. Secondly, the invasion into USSR started in the summer of 1941, in June. Thirdly, the war continued for FOUR YEARS, from 1941 to 1945, throughout all seasons times four. Lastly, the brutal winters affect all, the defenders as much as the aggressors, but even more so, the poor civilian population who was starving under the Nazi rule or died in millions under siege in brutal winters, as in Leningrad. Now what Russia had was its ethnic and geographic entirety, not just Ukrainians; and the powerful allies - the British empire and the United States, with the massive economic and military help from the latter in the form of Lend-Lease.

[@cricketycrickets3141]

@@maladetts Ukraine was never part of Russia. Ukraine was part of USSR. And Russia was also part - the largest part- of USSR. Ignorant schmucks keep using words Russia and USSR interchangeably. That's like saying that California is USA and USA is California. That leads to Michigan is part of California. Real smart.

[@maladetts]

@@cricketycrickets3141 By the way, it wasn't just Germany (that also had East Prussia back then and massive territories that are now in Poland). The Reich itself expanded outside Germany by annexing Austria, parts of Czechoslovakia, then by invading Poland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Yugoslavia, Greece, Denmark, Norway. The direct fascist allies of the Reich in Europe were Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Finland. The Reich used the entire might of the conquered Europe and its allies to invade the USSR. The Italians, Hungarians, Romanians, Finns and Slovaks were fighting alongside Germans as invading armies, but German Nazis also brought endless Nazi divisions that were formed in the conquered nations like France, Norway, Netherlands, and later formed with collaborators within the occupied Soviet territory. There was also a Spanish division, although Spain was considered officially neutral in WWII. So in reality, what invaded the USSR was very much a precursor to today's NATO and European Union.

[@RezOz9916]

Bacevich re Russia's military:"they're just not that good, they're incompetent", from someone who's country gave us Iraq n Afganistan!! The hubris n lack of humility is astounding.

[@mousiebrown1747]

He obviously believes strongly that God chose America to be God, Jr. I disagree.

[@zima3181]

He was a boot soldier it seems in Viet.... projecting, I guess?

[@gfg0094]

good to see you back on KZbin Mr. Hedges.

[@jamesklueh7962]

baited and provoked I believe are appropriate terms

[@hazelwray4184]

Gauded

[@ciara5867]

Fascinating discussion. Thank you Mr. Bacevich and Mr. Hedges. ❤🇮🇪🍀🇵🇸🕊 Just ordered Andrew Bacevich's book from my library in the west of Ireland.🇮🇪♥️🍀🇵🇸

[@MariDutton]

Fk'n Bush era War Hawk.

[@maladetts]

Carried over right from the Cold-War era.

[@nomigomezmolina2806]

Chris, what the hell? Does this guy believe this ridiculous rhetoric? I just can’t believe this!!! Be well Chris 🙏🙏

[@web-angel]

More importantly, does Chris believe it?

[@JohnAllenRoyce]

Honestly this guest is a disappointment, I would rather just hear Hedges. Bacevich strikes me as a neolib, why listen?

[@jimmytimmy3680]

Hedges should have Scott Ritter. He is a true patriot and a true military analyst. Unlike this boomer with red scare mentality.

[@drakekoefoed1642]

really. he thinks the russians are incompetent. would he last ten seconds against a spetsnaz? of course not.

[@RobertWilliams-us4kw]

In all due respect John Royce, but you obviously haven't listened or read much of Bacevich. Please don't let this one snippet of an interview cloud your judgement of Bacevich, until you listen and read more of him. I myself have been following him for over ten years now and he's been on the money Respectfully Rob

[@frankieboy2417]

This whole situation was planned and carried out from a Rand essay in 2019, all advice and projects have been and are currently carried out. It is backfiring.

[@guapodesperado2822]

This guy is the embodiment of Dunning-Kruger Effect in geo-political commentary.

[@Girthon1]

I could not agree more.

[@alexv1269]

US should democratize itself fist before trying to preach democracy to others. Andrew sounds too naive about the subject. I don't think Andrew is with you at all Chris, through out this interview.

[@Vodichka9]

Great to see you, Chris. Please have Scott Ritter on the program

[@jacintochua6885]

I can't believe all the claims made about Russian military. Maybe not tops, but wouldn't bet the house against it. At the start of WWII, it was laughed at. But the results tell a different story.

[@whowhywherewhatwhen]

I thought I was watching CNN for a while there Chris. I’m surprised that you shared your platform with this guy.

[@cheri238]

Don't forget Iraq 1 and 2 and Afghanistan.

[@schlangenbiss1]

Bacevich will be eating his words about the incompitent Russians when the finish destroying what is left of the Ukranian military. Austin went begging for a cease fire. What does that say about the defanged Russian Bear.

[@hollyw9566]

Chris, you should have Scott Ritter on. He's got a much different view on the situation in Ukraine.

[@hazelwray4184]

Talk of having to deal with Russia when this conflict is over fails to take on board the West's objective via Ukraine, which is to debilitate or eradicate Russia as a regional and geopolitical player.

[@bertanelson8062]

Yes, and steal the huge natural resources of natural gas, oil and ore of all kinds, including gold.

[@musiqal333]

YES. that was the entire idea. The RAND corporation spelled it all out in 2019.

[@BigMikeMcBastard]

Given that Russia is engaged in a genocidal, imperialist war against Ukraine it's very appropriate they should be decimated as a military power. You people are either amoral or enabling of an even worse imperialism than anything the USA has engaged in over the past century, which makes you either morally reprehensible or hypocrites.

[@ianwinter100]

I have to ask why Andrew thinks the Russian military has performed very very badly? Does he know what Russia's operation objectives are?

[@lisashottalkfromthewildsof9993]

At least this guy is more enlightened about this mess we're in than ninety percent of the American public with their blue and yellow flags.

[@alexv1269]

Sad but true

[@robert9ish]

Some hard-hitting truths spoken here, Chris. That said, the conversation from your guest's military perspective can't seem to escape from the usual American chauvinism. Modern Russia is nowhere near the incompetent strategist that he attempts to assert. Again, this perspective seems to equate enormous amounts of money spent on machinery and the lack of American 'Blitzkrieg' as Russian incompetence. Does this man even know what a strategic withdrawal means in terms of not tipping your hand and revealing actual military objectives? A learned guest to be sure, but he's trapped in old thinking in terms of what's happening today.

[@RobertWilliams-us4kw]

‘A bunch of Russian soldiers selling Russian Military trinkets. But what struck me at the time was it was junk, it was cheap....it was my first hint that the Russian bear really wasn’t ten feet tall!’ Bacevich makes a really important point here, which is either ignorantly or naively overlooked in the West - the West itself began engineering propaganda, deliberately exaggerated the true and practical capabilities of the Soviet military even before the Second World War concluded. One need only look at U.S. Administration publications like ‘Soviet Military Power’ by the Pentagon, during the Reagan era. For as Tom Gervasi (1987) correctly stated: “To sell its military programs, the [Reagan] Administration waged an intensive propaganda battle. News conferences, press briefings, and addresses by maor administration officials were only a few of the platforms used to disseminate the lies. But the most effective tool was a new device of the Reagan administration’s own invention, the publication of Soviet Military Power, which refined the techniques of selective emphasis and omission to focus almost exclusively on the Soviet military threat to the West without giving any but the most insignificant detail of the much larger military threat the West continues to pose to the Soviet Union.” I think it’s safe to say, that although the Soviet Union collapsed, Russia in itself never capitulated fully to the U.S. and as a consequence, the U.S. has never and will never forgive it for not being subservient or more importantly, not opening up it's economy to U.S. business/corporations. (P.S. this doesn’t mean I condone Putin for his actions against Ukraine, but I understand why he has.) Regards Rob

[@bertanelson8062]

Yes, USA wants all subservient--and access to all world resources...

[@chrisdennis2571]

How do you have this discussion and not mention Brzezinski's book The Grand Chessboard!?!?

[@James-Campbell]

Sweeping statements referring the Russian army as incompetent because they fail to do a "shock & awe" on a neighbour who they'll have to live with is poor in my view, this adversary is on the other side of the garden fence & Russia has no intention in making Ukraine the European Afghanistan!

[@beeamendola]

TY TRN FOR HAVING MR. HEDGES ON!!!

[@JohmScriv]

Resurgence?! Resurgence implies something coming back in a surge after having retreated somewhat. US militarism hasn't ever retreated, not one iota.

[@macanoodough]

The only way you can say Biden did not bait Putin is if he wasn't in government for 40 years, and educated thoroughly on what the effects certain foreign policies would mean to Russia. Even if he was blind to what exactly Putin would do, he knew he was going further and further in finding out where the line not to cross was. Something you can only do by crossing it...

[@jimmytimmy3680]

Read William Burns' memo when he was an Ambassador. They knew decades ago that Ukraine was a red line for Russia, but the US kept pushing and expanding NATO. They did a coup in Ukraine in 2014 and kept providing military advisors to continue bombing the Donbass for 8 years killing 14,000 civilians. Of course they knew what they were doing. The Military Industrial Complex always plans to create new wars so they can profit. After Russia, it is China's turn with Taiwan.

[@TiberiusGracchus123]

Right. And, it was more than bait. It was a threat, warranting a preemptive strike that could be deemed legal if we had an honest functional UN.

[@alexv1269]

Agree. The process was started a long time ago and to anybody with a few brain cells it was absolutely clear how it will end. But that was the point!

[@hazelwray4184]

The accusation of "baiting" is about decades of US policy towards Russia. That includes successive Presidents and political actors.

[@macanoodough]

@@hazelwray4184 That's my point. All the while Biden has been there as a Senator or more, heading committees, etc. He is well versed on Putin as a result and crossed line after line until Putin bit. FYI, the death toll of this war to date is nowhere near the Iraq invasion of 2003. That death toll is 6 figures worth of Iraqi civilians alone...

[@nooneno12]

Chris Hedges, thank you for staying in your work! Mr. Andrew Bacevich interview is welcome discourse. I do find the he has a strong self reference bias in regard to Russia's military - but it does demand my respect. The "family visit" did not impress me to support a canvas wide opinion of their military, and biases, leads a prior experience to mislead. For attacking the Ukraine military and not Ukraine as a nation I believe they have done quite well - a fourth Reich is not good for the world, anywhere - and should not be supported for any reason even as a proxy vs. our bellicose stance to Russia. Very interesting how Washington's hubris continues to this day un-hindered. Elliot Abrams is a true parasite to humanity, being referred to as just a neo conservatives member, is disappointing to see in this talk only being referenced as only "being wrong". "Russia as not in the community of nations" is only from a point of view of the EU and the US, over 80% of the world ( the entire global south and Asia mostly) do not agree with US/UK/EU hostility to Russia. This will damage permanently the US/NATO relations (political & monetary) to the rest of the world. Very informative this talk, thank you.

[@AbtinX]

Please pass me whatever you smoked watching this it must be legendary

[@chrisdennis2571]

Blaming the war on the MIC avoids the actual culprit: capital.

[@web-angel]

That's still an inanimate object. The war was caused by people and they, and only they, are to be blamed for it.

[@NomadicLiving]

I agree with most of what he says but he is wrong about caring about seeing the pentagon budget go sky high and yet there is no money for healthcare or education; and or concerns about the Ukraine war because Americans aren't getting killed; this is a true example of being out of touch with average Americans, just like the two parties are; they have no idea what most Americans are concerned about; they basically blow it off.

[@calvinmackey239]

We will support every countries before we help black americans

[@jimmytimmy3680]

Or the rest of the working class.

[@dawna1214]

If the American people even though that congress would give over 40 Billion for black Americans decedents of the enslaved, this country would be on fire. Every government building from Seattle to DC would be a blazed! But not a mumbling word when that money goes to white Nazis in Ukraine 🤔

[@uncleshamus3451]

The rich get rich the poor get poor

[@REwing]

Andrew may have to eat his words when this is all over!!!!!!!

[@ryancouture1436]

I appreciate that the guest highlights the deeper approach to "great power" ploticis in driving US policymakers. Unfortunately I get the impression that his world view is just as affected by this deeper hegemony as our misguided policy makers. To assert that Russia is not a great power is to reinforce the notion that we should conceive of geopolitics as a competition between great powers. I completely refute this notion, and urge others to confront this confused logic. Just becasue we can consider life and society as a battle of titans doesn't mean we should. It is a poisonous mentality that ultimately benefits those titans and thier ability to exact carnage. Instead, let's try to speak about humanity and our shared experience as a struggle to find peace and recognizing the beauty and brilliance of all beings, not just the imperial tians. They are really not as cool as they want you to think.

[@crestbay]

Beavo, Chris Hedges. Nicely presented.

[@nondelusional]

✌🏾, thanks for not being biased in the truth of journalism,♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@arnoldstang7997]

I have been enlightened by Andrew's opinions for many years! He would never compromise his opinions for media bucks , as so many american military historians have done.

[@noricd]

What is said about US imperial tendencies, its war and invasion track record before and after 1991, and it's ramping up of wars in the 21st century in East Europe, has for months been self-evident, obvious and repetitively in non-West regions. Can we rise above mere news? Can we instead turn to history and reflect on long-term trends to envisage directions trends head towards? Only then can there be a focus on blocking or changing the course of the US race towards increasing madness and the counter-response of madness payback by Russia or whoever else the US (or others) seek to subjugate.

[@dougcane4059]

Correction for the guest speaker - the "Russian bear" is not something that IS, it is something that BECOMES - it is a disastrous mistake to underestimate the Russian military - especially considering the fact of hypersonic nuclear missiles.

[@mariohatz3317]

I do acknowledge though that i have watched many vdos by both of you and you are both very honest where you have full knowledge. Bless you both and plz continue the great service you fantastic people do.

[@kentkarlsson8277]

Thank you Chris and Andrew I wonder when or if we should talk about the main driving force of most wars and conflicts around the globe now and in the past beside of religious believes or freedom. We humans are just like a virus convinced of our believes and survival in order to expand and multiply. A pattern of American Capitalism in its simplest form. Love you both and what you both brings to the conversation and the human condition

[@Joo-go8ks]

Be more specific. You mean white European nations if you're being honest and understand what is actually going on. This grotesque unnatural system that has been forced upon the indigenous people of the earth was created by and for so-called white people. This cannot be placed at the feet of all humanity.

[@mildredmartinez8843]

If only Biden would act with the agency, determination and quickness that he's done with Ukrane to alleviate the suffering of the working class whose measely checks are eaten away by inflation. Alas... no hope for that.

[@ChooseCompassion]

I wish we would’ve given our intelligence to create a beautiful world instead of “investing“ in myriad horrific ways of killing one another over real or imagined situation’s. $300 million a day in Afghanistan alone. That could wipe out US poverty in a day. I’m the same age as Chris so I’ve seen the same things as him and I shudder at what we’ve become. The peace activist in me is beside herself. Never imagined in the 21st-century we would still be operating this way. We are so much better than this. Planet earth is dying below our feet and above our heads and everywhere in between. Not a hopeful time to be alive. I feel like an alien on this planet the longer I live. I can’t wait to go home.

[@phillipcarr3469]

Great segment. Thanks Chris.

[@oppizza1001]

It is so important to listen too, even a year later.

[@mousiebrown1747]

13 min. I don’t trust anyone who uses the phrase “international order,” because there is no such thing. Sorry, America. You made it all up.

[@alexv1269]

Andrew speaking about trinkets is funny. So, Russian war in Ukraine is incompetent and weak. Compared to what? Shock and awe? Ukraine is not some county that is thousands miles and an ocean away. Most of Ukrainians speak same language or very similar one. So to apply American war standards in this case is just ridiculous. Note that Russia didn't declare war, and neither did Ukraine.

[@astriddececco3005]

Plus, most of the fight is where most Ukrainians are considered ethnic Russians. Russia has done everything in its power to avoid civilian casualties.

[@carmenlajoie2719]

Peter Lavelle on Crosstalk, excellent history lessons on Russia. George Galloway MOATS also, thank you for all your work

[@37Dionysos]

THANK YOU----two of the best! The U.S. military industrial complex continues to resolutely invest in war and death and in the refusal to learn anything no matter what the cost

[@selu3980]

Ugh! Chris Hedges sitting on a yellow chair with a light blue screen talking with someone who assesses the Russian army as incompetent. Always have seen him as an authentic lefty to his bones. This seems compromised to me. Is this where he is going. Super, super disgusted.

[@coding7196]

The United States' reaction to the Ukraine War involves tons and tons of amnesia because there was no sympathy for the Iraqis or for the Afghanis.

[@krzysztofbaus1311]

Well, I think the Andrew Bacevich is not looking at obvious facts. Firstly, what are the objectives set by Putin, which he stated openly, right on the beginning of the operation: 1. Defend Donbas republics; 2. de-nazification of Ukraine (as pro-nazis run Ukraine); 3) demilitarisation and neutral status of Ukraine. Russia just follows that objectives. There was never an attempt to take the Kiev though the "experts" thought, forgetting that Russians sent not more than 40,000 troops while Kiev was defended by 100,000 well equiped and trained Ukrainians. It would be a suicide to attack Kiev, but the experts believed that it was Russian's objective. Clearly the purpose was different than attack Kiev. The second of the performance early in the war, is the convoy 40 miles long stationary for a week or so and no Ukrainian aircraft attacking it - obviously the Ukrainians air force was incapacitated by then, so the Russian did pretty good job by then (I suspect that the convoy also was part of Russian game - Russia was famous during II World War for their "maskarovka", fooling enemy where the action is going to be. Then comes Mariupol, for two months no rescue from the Ukrainians, obviously the winning Ukrainians weren't able to do that. Does show that the Russians were doing pretty well. Now, the Azovsteel defenders screaming to be evacuated, and no Ukrainian capacity to do that. Just a couple of days ego, we saw Secretary of Defence Mr. Austin calling Shoigu, Russian Minister of Defence, and asking for a cease fire. What? Because the Russians are loosing and Mr. Austin care about Russians? Obviously is the opposite, he earlier stated that weakening Russia is the US objective. All that is done, initially with no more than 125,000 troops against 260,000 Ukrainian standing army and counting the National Guard, it is coming to 600,000 soldiers. Ukrainians should be able to chase the Russians out without any problems. Russians, just for lasting for over two months of war says very clearly that they forces perform rather well. Now, Russia has reduced its forces to no more than 85,000. So Russia must be "loosing" and that is why is reducing forces?? Saying that Russia is a piranha state just exposes Andrew Bacevich who see the world as only the West, the reminder of the world is not important to him. He should consider, that close to 80% of the world population did not condemn Russia. And that includes China, India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey. So, the piranha state is more and more understood to be the US and the West. Mr. Andrew Bacevich clearly believes in American exceptionalism and is unable or unwilling to see beyond that.

[@platadeluna]

Would be great an interview with Scott Ritter

[@hellobarbies7762]

Hedges is really a reformist dressed up as a radical or revolutionary.

[@interovic]

hedges has never once (to my knowledge) advocated for reforming the democratic party. I'm interested to know what you mean

[@malcolmneate5852]

Who is this clown, Chris? Could he hedge his bets either way anymore? His analysis was pretty average

[@stephenbennetts6639]

This started really well and went south after 10 minutes.

[@uncleshamus3451]

And Mother Earth screems get these humans off my earth

[@spoonfulofdreams]

It's good to get Basevich's perspective but in the latter moments of the interview doubts creep in. His view of Russia as a pariah state is very western oriented and his thoughts on domestic politics feel narrow. However he pretty much agrees with Chris on the essentials; that the US doesn't want peace and that nothing good will come from a protracted war.

[@merryl55]

Why are we supporting Ukraine?

[@oscarrobert4725]

Chris Hedges is doing PHENOMENAL work now, at TRNN !!!

[@dinnerwithfranklin2451]

Thank you for this.