Soviet soldiers pulled 15 American, 5 British, 8 Dutch and 33 Belgian generals out of concentration camps, as well as the former Prime Minister of France and the commander of the Norwegian army, captain I rank Valery Novikov reminds readers of the IA "Realist". Who remembers this today?
Back in December 2015, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu noted: "This year alone, in the Baltic States, Poland, Romania, the NATO contingent has increased by aircraft by 8 times, and by the number of military personnel - 13 times." Over the past 3-4 years, the NATO force grouping at the Russian borders has tripled, and at the western borders - by 8 times. Today, more than 200 nuclear bombs are deployed in Europe in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Germany.
From 2012 to 2017, the intensity of NATO air reconnaissance near the borders of the Russian Federation increased 3.5 times, and naval reconnaissance - 1.5 times. The most important feature of NATO aircraft reconnaissance flights in recent years has become their complexity and synchronization. So, on April 6, 2018, three aircraft at once carried out many hours of flights along the Russian border in the Baltic: the American strategic reconnaissance aircraft RC-135V, the French airborne early warning and control aircraft E-3F Sentry (AWACS systems) and the Swedish Gulstream 4. Only in one week in October In 2018, Russian air defense recorded 17 NATO reconnaissance aircraft overflights near Russian borders.
In the Arctic waters off the coast of Russia, the Norwegian naval reconnaissance ships Marjata and Eger, as well as the Poseidon aircraft of the US Navy base patrol aircraft, are on constant combat patrols. In 2018, for the first time, strategic US Global Hawk drones from the Italian base Sigonella and Sentinel reconnaissance aircraft of the British Air Force were involved in reconnaissance in the Barents Sea.
The same reconnaissance objectives were served by the passage of the French auxiliary vessel "Rhone" by our Northern Sea Route in September 2018, the commander of which, Captain 2nd Rank Philip Gena, upon arrival at Dutch Harbor (the US Navy base in the Aleuts), bluntly stated: “The purpose of this campaign was is to expand our knowledge of this region, in which strategic interest is growing. The Arctic zone covers an area almost 40 times larger than the territory of France, and has large reserves of minerals and hydrocarbons. " (what is it?)
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The number of exercises near our borders has doubled (in 2017 alone, there were 17 large exercises). In the Black and Baltic Seas, the number of NATO heterogeneous forces exercises increased from 282 in 2014 to 548 in 2017.
On May 12-14, 2018, the largest ever international exercise "Hedgehog-2018" was held in Estonia with the participation of 13 countries and the number of military personnel about 15 thousand people. In addition to NATO countries, neutral Sweden and Finland were involved. On the eve of the "Baltic hedgehog" NATO gave birth to a "Black Sea hedgehog" - on May 1, a detachment of warships - 4 frigates (England, Spain, France, Turkey) entered the Black Sea.
In June, NATO special forces Trojan Footprint-18 exercises were held on the territory of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, with the participation of 2,000 special forces from 13 countries. The tasks of interaction of the attracted forces in the conditions of a hybrid war and a real military conflict on the borders of Russia were worked out.
June 27 - August 20, 2018, the largest and for some reason little noticed international naval exercise "RIMPAC - 2018" with the participation of 25 countries, including Israel, Vietnam, Japan, Sri Lanka, Brazil, took place in the Pacific Ocean. Was involved 46 surface ships, 5 submarines, 200 aircraft, 25 thousand personnel. A permanent participant in these exercises, China this time was excluded from the list of participants. Previously, the purpose of the exercises (conducted since 1971) was "to practice actions to protect aircraft carrier strike groups from enemy attacks in the face of the Soviet Union."
Features of "Rimpax - 2018":
- For the first time, representatives of the Chilean, Canadian and Japanese navies performed partial command functions;
- the Japanese for the first time conducted rocket firing with coastal multifunctional complexes in off-road vehicles;
- US ships fired deck guns with hypersonic projectiles.
October 15 - November 7 in the subarctic zone (North Atlantic, Norway) and in the Baltic countries, the largest interspecific exercises "Trident Juncture 2018" ("Single trident 2018") were held. They were attended by 53 thousand military personnel from 31 countries, incl. non-NATO members Sweden and Finland. More than 120 aircraft, 70 ships (including 1 nuclear attack aircraft carrier), 10 thousand units of land equipment, 2 thousand people of the amphibious assault were involved. The task of the exercises is to repel the aggression of one of the neighboring countries, it is clear that this is Russia.
The multinational NATO Air Force exercise Clear Sky 2018 was held almost simultaneously in Ukraine on October 8-19. 8 countries, 700 people, 40 aircraft took part, incl. … Global transporters “S-130” (!?), Dozens of anti-aircraft missile systems and MQ-9 strike drones. All NATO servicemen involved in the exercises received the status of … diplomats, i.e. immunity from Ukrainian laws. Russia is designated as the enemy.
In total, Washington allocated $ 4.6 billion to “protect” the European allies of the United States from “Russian aggression” in 2018, mainly to modernize the military infrastructure of the Eastern European members of NATO. And the US spent another $ 66 billion on supporting military operations abroad, i.e. to “defend freedom and democracy” with Tomahawks, F-16s and marines in the Middle East deserts and mountains of Afghanistan?
On April 23-27, 2018, the most interesting NATO exercises "Closed Shields" took place quietly and unnoticed. About 1000 specialists from 30 countries in the Estonian Center of Excellence for Joint Protection against Russia practiced the tasks of cyber war against Russia under the long-boring slogan "Fight Russian hackers". In fact, the techniques of information attacks on power grid management systems, security services and other important infrastructure components were tested.
In 2019, military provocations against Russia continued with increasing intensity. In January, URO destroyers Donald Cook, Carney and the landing ship Fort McHenry entered the Black Sea to demonstrate the power of the United States. In April, the large-scale naval exercises of NATO and Ukraine "Sea Shield - 2019" were held on the Black Sea. International shipping was “protected” by 20 ships and boats, more than 2 thousand servicemen from Canada, Spain, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Turkey and Greece. Of course, from "aggressive" Russia.
According to independent media reports, the navies of NATO candidates in Ukraine and Georgia were represented by liaison officers and port infrastructure. During the exercise, the flagship of the NATO squadron, the frigate Eversten, was visited by Romanian President K. Iohannis and Chief of General Staff N. Chuke. At the end of these multinational exercises, the United States and Turkey held their own, with the participation of the American destroyer Ross and a group of Turkish ships led by the frigate Tigertrisi.
The alliance showed unprecedented activity in military preparations against Russia in the western direction in April-May 2019. In February, the NATO Winter Camp training exercise was held in Estonia with the participation of only 1,000 troops from the United States, Great Britain and Belgium. In the beginning, NATO members “played” the Lockheed Shield 2019 cybersecurity exercise and the Ramstein Ellow air force.
The peak of NATO's spring offensive against "aggressive Russia" was the Spring Storm 2019 multinational exercise. During the exercises on the territory of Estonia "three versts" from Russia, 10,000 servicemen from 17 NATO countries, Ukraine and Georgia were practicing defense tasks. More than 200 units of armored vehicles were involved, multi-purpose helicopters of Great Britain and the USA AW159 and attack "Apache", as well as special forces of the British Special Airborne Service (SAS). The most important feature of the past exercises was the geography of their conduct. Namely! Where in the summer of 1944 the Red Army defeated the Germans in the forests near Narva and in the Sinimäe hills. Including selected SS formations: 1st Estonian SS Division, SS Panzer-Grenadier Division "Nordland" (Danes, Norwegians and Dutch), SS brigades "Netherlands" and "Wallonia" (all from the same Northern European Aryans).
Another geographic feature of the exercises looked especially provocative. The tactics of the actions of the alliance troops were practiced in the areas of predominantly Russian-speaking population. Apparently inspired by the graves and monuments of their SS ancestors, the current European defenders of democracy decided to intimidate the Russians in Latvia. In the course of repelling the “Russian aggression”, 2 Albanian officers were blown up on their own ammunition, but they could not be saved.
At the same time, the Baltic Sea was very "stormy", on May 2 a NATO naval mine-sweeping group (7 ships - Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark), led by the Danish frigate "Tethys" entered the Baltic waters. This group has become a reinforcement of the permanent NATO forces in the Baltic Sea, which since April 18 has already been practicing the tasks of containing "aggressive Russia" in the Baltic. Taking into account the shallow waters and small size of the Baltic Sea, the Americans did not send aircraft carriers, they limited themselves to the Gravely missile destroyer (it can carry 96 Tomahawks). This strike group included frigates from Great Britain, Poland, Spain and Turkey.
According to the Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation M. Popov, "… over the past two years, the number of NATO's primary engagement forces has reached (in Eastern Europe) 40,000 people, that is, increased 1.6 times." According to the American military program "3 to 30", it is supposed to use 30 warships, 30 air squadrons and 30 mechanized battalions of NATO countries within 30 days.
On April 23, the United States concentrated in the Mediterranean two aircraft carrier strike groups (AUG) with the nuclear-powered aircraft carriers D. Stennis and A. Lincoln. A total of 10 ships, 130 aircraft, 9 thousand sailors and marines. US Ambassador to Russia John Huntsman considered the displacement of American aircraft carriers as "200 thousand tons of diplomacy", which demonstrate to Russia the need to "stop destabilizing the world."
Despite various summits-forums promising the lifting of sanctions, the development of economic cooperation with the EEC countries, the military preparations of the united Europe against Russia continue with unrelenting force. In June of this year. in the Baltic, NATO conducted the exercise BALTOPS-2019 with the participation of 44 ships and submarines, 40 aircraft and helicopters, 12 thousand personnel (including 3 thousand British marines) from 18 countries (including Sweden and Finland). During the exercise, the Spanish landing aircraft carrier Juan Carlos I was unable to land troops on the Lithuanian coast, and the Polish landing ship Gniezno ran aground, breaking through the bottom.
In July, NATO exercises Cea Breeze-2019 were held on the Black Sea, in which 32 ships and boats, 30 aircraft, over 3 thousand servicemen from 19 states (including Bulgaria, Georgia and Moldova) took part. For the first time, the tasks of "unblocking the Danube" were worked out - with the participation of the special forces of the Royal Navy of Great Britain. In the same year, 4 more multinational maneuvers will go on the territory of Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reaffirmed the US intention "to use low-yield nuclear weapons in a possible war in Europe." The readiness of the NATO Joint Armed Forces on the western borders of Russia has been increased from 45 to 30 days.
Today NATO is stepping up its efforts to develop a theory of hybrid warfare, improve the forms and methods of its preparation and conduct. In 2017, a NATO-EU Center of Excellence on Hybrid Threats was established in Finland. The theoretical developments of the Center have already been worked out at the command and staff exercise SMX-17. A Cyber Operations Center has been established at the NATO Headquarters in Europe, which will allow the cyber capabilities of each member state to be used in NATO operations according to a single concept and plan.
On the topic of the fight against international terrorism, NATO, within the framework of Operation Resolute Support, is increasing the number of its contingent from 13 to 16 thousand troops, incl. the personnel of the armies of 39 partner states. Under the Defense Skills Development Program, NATO plans to continue funding the training of the Afghan security forces until 2020. 12 states participate in this Program, incl. Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine.
Formally, both the Program and the training center operate under the slogan of combating terrorism and ensuring the sovereign development of partner states. However, the experience of similar initiatives of the USA and NATO repeatedly testifies that behind the screen of “aid” there is nothing else but training of personnel and conditions for the next color revolutions. Including, and first of all, in the states adjacent to the Russian Federation.
Today, NATO is taking large-scale steps to adapt its system of command bodies in order to increase the offensive capabilities of the alliance's Joint Armed Forces by transferring reinforcement forces from the United States and Canada to Europe, ensuring an operational build-up of armed forces near Russia's borders, and coordinating the use of rapid deployment forces.
The 2018 Pentagon budget included payments for acquired land and the construction of Air Force facilities outside the United States. In total, $ 214 million was allocated for the construction of its facilities in Iceland, Norway and most of the countries of Eastern Europe.
The NATO leadership itself admitted the buildup of aggressive preparations in the final press release of the alliance: 106 military exercises in 2018, 45 of which were exercises of the ground forces, 12 were exercises of the Air Force, and 15 were attended by naval forces. In addition to these multinational exercises, the armies of the participating countries have conducted 180 of their national exercises. At the same time, the commandant of the US Marine Corps, General R. Kneller, said in December 2018 that “the NATO countries intend to conduct large-scale exercises precisely at the borders of Russia” (!).
Serious concerns are caused by the attempts of the United States to draw into its orbit the so-called neutral countries of Europe. In 2018, the number of international NATO exercises with Finland's participation reached 81! The intelligence center of the Finnish Defense Forces in Tikkakoski in 2010 had 150 specialists working in various fields of electronic espionage, in 2018 their number was increased by another 150 people. The goal is to increase the efficiency of intelligence on the state and actions of the Russian armed forces in the northwestern theater of operations For reference: the armed forces of Finland - 34,700 people, 250 thousand people - a trained reserve, a mob resource - 1 million people, a military budget - $ 2.5 billion per 5.5 million people, in 2015 a rapid response. Border with Russia: 1,325.8 km, including 60.3 km. river, 119.8 km. lake, 54.0 km. marine.
The list of conducted exercises, their geography and topics, the composition of the countries involved, forces and means says:
- on the systematic study and development of the proposed theater of operations in the Russian direction;
- on the development of the organization of management of multinational heterogeneous groupings during the preparation of aggression (deployment of forces) in the Eastern European and Pacific theater of operations;
- on a systematic study of the capabilities of Russian forces (electronic warfare, intelligence, air defense missile defense, navy, etc.) to suppress creeping or large-scale aggression;
- about constant psychological pressure on the Russian leadership, the personnel of the Armed Forces and the population of the Russian Federation;
- the desire of the United States to force its allies and satellites to take part in direct or indirect support of the efforts of the American leadership to maintain its leadership in the world. And, of course, make them fork out for the purchase of American weapons.
Of course, this is not a complete list of the goals and objectives of NATO's military-political actions against Russia, especially since each of the participants in the provocative maneuvers has a set of their own interests.
Observing the fussy rushing of the leaders of European states, their two-faced policy, it is appropriate to recall the words of the former commander of the 6th Guards Tank Army of the GSVG Colonel-General L. P. Shevtsov: “The Europeans have forgotten that some of them would not be on the map. They were destined to be the protectorates of Germany, some were honored to have an additional word in the name of the protectorate indicating nationality, for example, French, Belgian … (Czech Republic and Moravia - V. N.). Poland was completely different. It was subject to Germanization. The general knows firsthand the mentality of today's Europeans, 9 years of service in Germany and almost 3 years as a representative of Russia at the headquarters of the NATO General Command in Europe (Brussels), looked at them both in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995 - 1997 biennium
In the East, cooperation continues to intensify between NATO and the ASEAN countries - Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Pakistan and Japan. The NATO leadership agreed with the proposals of Japan and South Korea to create "partnership cells" at the headquarters of the alliance for permanent participation in the work of centers of excellence on the problems of hybrid threats.
Today, near the borders of Russia in the Far East, the United States has a different grouping of armed forces (Air Force, Navy, and Land Forces): in Japan - 60 thousand servicemen, in South Korea - 30 thousand people.
Until now, Russia has not ratified the Baker-Shevardnadze Agreement of June 1, 1990, according to which the USSR transferred 87.7 thousand square meters to the United States. km. water area of the Bering Sea.
To this day, Japan has consistently and resolutely demanded the "return" of the group of islands of the Kuril ridge (Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, the Habomai archipelago), illegally "occupied" by the Soviet Union in 1945, with a total area of 5,042.8 square meters. km.
Since 2010, Vietnam has joined the joint US-Japanese-South Korean exercises.
Since 2015, the Japanese armed forces have received from their parliament the legal right to participate in foreign military (peacekeeping ?!) operations.
In 2018, Japan's military budget increased to $ 46-47 billion, up from $ 44.64 billion in 2017. The military budget of the Russian Federation for 2018 is $ 46 billion. In 2018, the joint US-South Korean exercises Toksuri-Fole Eagle, Sanyon and Keu Resolve were held with a total strength of about 300 thousand people, including 12 thousand American military personnel (in 2017 - 50 thousand South Koreans and 25 thousand Americans).
In most exercises in the Asia-Pacific region, the armed forces of Australia and New Zealand are participating along with the United States, Japan and South Korea.
Since 2006, NATO has dramatically increased its presence in the Arctic. Almost every year, exercises are held to repel Russia's aggression "Cold Response" with the participation of the Air Force, Navy, Ground Force and Special Operations Forces. Since 2007, Canada has been conducting its Polar Bear exercises, deploying a group of reserve forces in the village of Yellowknife and building an Arctic submarine base. On an ongoing basis, he uses 15 surface combat ships and 4 submarines of the "Upholder" type for patrolling, as well as ships and aircraft of the security guard, incl. 6 icebreakers. "Neutral" Sweden has conducted the largest Arctic exercise "True Arrow" with the participation of 10 NATO states.
In 2013, US President Barack Obama signed the fundamental document "US National Strategy for the Arctic Region." Today, the United States has 1 Stryker mechanized brigade and 1 airborne brigade in Alaska, 1 army aviation brigade, 1 logistic support brigade, the 11th Air Force, and a missile defense base with 44 GBI interceptor missiles at Fort Greeley. The port of Nome is capable and ready to receive American destroyer-class ships ("Arleigh Burke") and cruisers ("Tikanderoga") with Aegis missile defense systems. The US Navy has about 50 nuclear-powered submarines of various classes capable of solving problems in Arctic waters. Today, 3-4 boats are constantly on alert in the Arctic.
In order to improve the military infrastructure in the Arctic theater of operations, NATO countries continue to restore the Sachs-Ward early warning radar post in the Shetland Islands by Great Britain.
The United States has begun modernizing a stationary nuclear missile strike warning system at the Thule airbase in Greenland.
In 2009, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg announced the so-called Nordic Pact, which involves the creation of a kind of mini-NATO in the Arctic region. And immediately Norway moved the headquarters of its operational command to the polar city of Reitan, thus becoming the first country in the world, whose main military command is located in the Arctic. And most likely - the infrastructure foundation of the headquarters of this very Arctic NATO.
Scope of NATO's military preparations in the Arctic:
- Exercise "Cold Answer 2012" - 15 NATO countries, 16 thousand people, 100 aircraft and helicopters, 40 warships and auxiliary vessels, 1200 units of wheeled and tracked vehicles;
- Exercise "Arctic Challenge Exesize 2015" - 17 NATO countries, "neutral" Sweden and Finland, 4 thousand people, 100 aircraft, 40 warships.
Denmark - as an Arctic power in 2011 adopted its "strategy" regarding the Arctic right up to 2020. For constant patrolling of the Baltic Sea and the waters around Greenland, the Danish Navy uses 4 state-of-the-art frigates and 3 ice-class corvettes, 3 patrol aircraft and even F-16 fighters. The Danish Arctic Rapid Response Force has been established.
Today in Norway:
- underground base for submarines and surface ships;
- 7 underground storage facilities for armored vehicles, fuels and lubricants, ammunition, uniforms and food for the US Marine brigade (3 thousand people);
- 2 airbases beyond the Arctic Circle capable of receiving almost all types of modern aircraft, incl. the latest F-35, fifty-two of which the kingdom plans to buy from the United States;
- 2 over-the-horizon missile defense radars of the Globus-2 system;
- Operational control center of NATO air defense "North";
- 4 lightly armed icebreakers (with helicopters on board) as part of the Coast Guard and 4 heavy ice-class frigates, combat icebreaker "Svalbad";
- on the island of Vardø, since May 2017, the Americans have been building the Globus-3 early warning radar (part of the global missile defense);
- the accelerated modernization of the airfields of Bardufoss, Evenes, Banak, Erlani, Ryugge continues;
- the port terminal of Grotsund is being expanded to ensure the reception of US nuclear submarines.
On April 5, 2018, NATO Secretary General J. Stoltenberg, after a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister J. Trudeau, announced "the continuation of work on the creation of a special command in the North Atlantic." He added that "at the first stage in the Arctic region, NATO should increase the number of warships."
The United States decided to get serious about space - for military purposes. On June 18, 2018, US President Donald Trump signed an order on the creation of the space forces, which will be the sixth "separate but equivalent" branch of the American armed forces. He said the US "must not let China, Russia and other countries overtake itself." Today, there is already a Space Command with 35 thousand personnel. In 2019, it is planned to spend 8.5 billion dollars on the construction and equipping of this new type of aircraft on “regular” budget items, and another 12.5 billion on secret programs.
Today, 136 of 300 foreign military satellites are conducting reconnaissance for Russia. The United States has about 200 military satellites.
The US National Security Strategy (NSS), approved in early 2018 by D. Trump, identifies Russia and China as the main military adversaries of the United States. At the same time, the United States views nuclear war as a kind of option in a possible confrontation with the aforementioned rivals in the struggle for world leadership. That is why they are betting on building up the power of their Strategic Offensive Forces (SNS): in 2025 they plan to adopt a nuclear warhead for sea-based cruise missiles, in 2026 - to start serial production of the newest bomber "B-21", in 2028 - a new silo-based intercontinental ballistic missile. High-precision nuclear bombs B61-12 with switchable TNT equivalent are being developed, while the strategic B-63 bombs remain in service. In 2031, it is planned to commission the new generation Columbia SSBN with the upgraded Trident D-5 missile. Hypersonic weapons are being created at an accelerated pace.
Relying on space and nuclear weapons in the war with Russia does not exhaust the dreams of American generals. The so-called "Trojan Horse" strategy became a definite innovation. Its essence was announced in February of this year. Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, General David Goldfine, namely - covert penetration deep into the territory of the enemy (Russia) using strikes not on the strong, but on the weak sides of the enemy. Simultaneously with the actions of the "fifth column" nurtured within Russia, it is planned to use all branches of the US Army. The newest F-35 fighters will become the main strike means. The American authorities have set aside about a year to develop this strategy and are planning to spend about $ 135 billion. This "column" itself has long been known to all Russians,all these bulk-bull-street people, together with the listeners of Dozhd and the readers of Novaya Gazeta, may not wait for the arrival of the thirty-fifths. The Russian air defense will take care of the planes, and the departments of Bortnikov and Bastrykin will take care of the "fifth column".
Historical experience shows that there is nothing new in American strategy. At one time, Hitler also counted on the "fifth column", and the Luftwaffe, and the Panzerwaffe. What came of this, the world learned in May 1945.
Even these largely fragmentary data allow us to draw a conclusion about the growing provocative activity of the NATO bloc against the Russian Federation. Accusations against Russia of violating international law when returning Crimea and protecting the civilian population of Donbass, as well as accusations of poisoning the Skripals, are just a verbal fog behind which lies a real centuries-old goal - the destruction of a geopolitical rival.
The task of veteran organizations is to give a decisive rebuff to the slanderers, to demonstrate to their fellow citizens the growing danger of NATO's policy towards Russia - as the core of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the guarantor of their independence and sovereign development.
During the aggressive war in Vietnam (1961-1975), American troops poured 72 million liters of Agent Orange defoliant on South Vietnam, and at the same time went to the jungles of Laos and Cambodia. In total, 500 thousand hectares of mangrove forests, 1 million hectares of jungle, more than 100 thousand hectares of plain forests were affected. Vietnam has lost 70% of coconut plantations, 60% of hevea, 40 to 100% of crops of bananas, rice, papaya, tomatoes, sweet potatoes. Napalm and vacuum bombs were also used there. Tens of thousands of civilians have died, while in Vietnam there are about 4.8 million victims of the "orange rain". On March 10, 2005, a federal judge in Brooklyn (USA) dismissed the claim of the victims of the dioxin bombing against the American companies that manufacture toxic chemicals.
In the 21st century, Americans continued to establish American-style democracy, but this time in the Middle East. During the Iraqi war 2003 - 2011. American soldiers have repeatedly used napalm, phosphorus bombs and depleted uranium artillery shells.
According to independent Western media, since 2000, the United States has very often used prohibited weapons of mass destruction in its military operations in Afghanistan, incl. against civilians: napalm, cluster bombs, missiles with depleted uranium, superbombs such as "Tsar Bomba", phosphorus munitions and even … microwave irradiation. It is reported that in 2016 alone 11,418 civilians died at the hands of American "peacekeepers" in Afghanistan. In March 2019, US Secretary of State M. Pompeo announced that the US authorities would refuse entry to the US to any representatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC - headquarters in The Hague) who try to investigate US war crimes in Afghanistan. On April 12 of the same year, the ICC representative announced thatthat the court will not investigate alleged cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity that have been committed in Afghanistan by various parties to the conflict that has been ongoing since 2000.
Author: Valery Novikov - captain of the 1st rank, retired