Russian President Vladimir Putin says a new "hypersonic" mid-range ballistic missile was used in an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

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President Ronald Reagan says “Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall”

James Baker, U.S. Secretary of State under Reagan, proposed to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that NATO would not expand "one inch eastward" if Germany unified

This verbal assurance, given after the fall of the Berlin Wall,

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Russia deploying new Hypersonic missiles

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Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, has made serious statements regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and NATO's role in it.

He has warned that if Ukraine were to attack Russian territory with Western missiles, it would justify Russia's use of nuclear weapons. Medvedev stated, “These are direct and obvious grounds for us to use nuclear weapons against such a state.”

Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during an attack on Dnipro, marking the first known use of such a weapon in the ongoing conflict. The missile was reportedly fired from the Astrakhan region, but the Kremlin has not confirmed these allegations.

The Ukrainian military indicated that the missile targeted critical infrastructure, resulting in damage to an industrial facility and injuries to two individuals. Alongside the ICBM, Russia also deployed a Kinzhal hypersonic missile and several Kh-101 cruise missiles, with six of those being intercepted by Ukrainian defenses.

Concerns were raised about whether the United States had prior knowledge of the missile launch, as such notifications are crucial for preventing miscalculations that could escalate into further military responses.

The ongoing conflict between NATO and Russia has drawn significant attention, particularly regarding the assertion by Professor John Mearsheimer that NATO's expansion has provoked Russia into aggressive actions. Mearsheimer argues that since the end of the Cold War, NATO's eastward expansion has been perceived by Russia as a direct threat to its national security.

This perspective is rooted in historical agreements, notably between U.S. Secretary of State James Baker and Mikhail Gorbachev, which suggested that NATO would not expand into Eastern Europe.

However, this promise was not upheld, leading to a series of new member states joining NATO and pushing closer to Russia's borders.

The ramifications of this expansion are evident in the current crisis in Ukraine. Mearsheimer contends that the West's support for Ukraine, including substantial military aid—reportedly around $200 billion—has exacerbated tensions.

By backing Ukraine against Russian interests, NATO has inadvertently fueled a conflict that could have been avoided through diplomatic engagement.

The U.S. experience in Afghanistan raises questions about its foreign policy objectives. The use of Federal Reserve debt notes to fund endless wars is a clear sign of kleptocracy. Both sides of the aisle attend classified intelligence briefings and then use this insider information to profit from war on the stock exchange, a disturbing form of insider trading. After two decades of involvement, the U.S. left behind an alarming amount of military equipment, a staggering waste, while ultimately seeing the Taliban regain control. This pattern suggests a troubling tendency to engage in conflicts without clear objectives or exit strategies. Anyone can research the list of military equipment left in Afghanistan and now multiply that by wars also in Iraq, Vietnam, Korea, Somalia, Libya, and the 250 other conflicts since 9-11. Also, anyone can visit Brown University’s Cost of War Project, which the Watson Institute funds. Brown University is an Ivy League School, Yes, we are talking that Brown University (the one founded in 1764) - Jon Forrest Little

In light of these factors, it is crucial to reassess NATO's role and approach towards Russia.

Rather than continuing down a path of confrontation, there must be an emphasis on dialogue and understanding to prevent further escalation and promote stability in Europe.

The U.S. military left behind a significant amount of military hardware during its withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. The following is a summary of key items abandoned:

List of Military Hardware Left Behind in Afghanistan

• Vehicles:

  • Humvees: Approximately 23,825 Humvees, including armored variants.

  • Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles: Around 70 MRAPs, designed to withstand explosive blasts.

  • Armored Vehicles: Nearly 900 armored vehicles.

• Aircraft:

  • Fixed-Wing Aircraft: Up to 80 aircraft, including A-29 light attack planes and MD-530 helicopters.

  • Helicopters: At least 33 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and other transport helicopters.

• Weapons:

  • Assault Rifles: Over 250,000 automatic rifles.

  • Machine Guns: Approximately 64,363 machine guns.

  • Pistols: Nearly 126,295 pistols.

• Ammunition:

  • Over a million rounds of small arms ammunition and various types of munitions.

• Drones and Surveillance Equipment:

  • Nearly 95 drones and extensive surveillance equipment.

• Medical Equipment:

  • Various medical supplies and equipment used by Afghan forces.

• Other Equipment:

  • Night vision goggles (around 16,000 units).

  • Communications equipment, including radios and encrypted devices.

  • Counter-rocket artillery systems and other defensive equipment.