Is Russia the aggressor of our time?

When we listen to Western main-stream media (MSM) it looks like Russia, not the USA, is endangering the World peace. This is an amazing testimony to the power of MSM to manipulate our thinking and perceptions because if we look at the facts, this is a laughable representation of the situation in the World.

Of course, if we look back in history, Russia or the Soviet Union did occupy other regions or countries, but we could blame for that Russian tsars or Soviet dictators (the most notorious of whom happen to be Georgian) – not the regular Russian people. Moreover, too often Russia was actually the victim, not the aggressor.

If we look at the history since the end of the Soviet Union, there are only two cases where Russia could be called aggressor: Georgia and Ukraine. What the MSM does not say is that Russia’s aggressive actions were provoked by the NATO expansion. If we look at the Russian actions without what led to these actions, Russia looks like an aggressor, but if we look at the whole picture, it looks like Russia is defending its national security interests – something that any of the Western powers that criticize Russia, would do when their security interests are at stake.

I have not heard of single evidence that Russia wants to conquer or occupy any of the ex-Soviet states or Eastern Europe, but that’s what we are repeatedly told and the propaganda musts be working because if we conduct a survey in USA or EU, we will most likely find that most people think that "Putin’s aggressions" are motivated by his desire to re-create the Soviet Union.

If we look at Russia’s actions since the end of the Soviet Union, we see that it wanted to be part of Europe, to be part of a “common European security” (even to be a member of NATO), but the West always slammed the door in front of the Russians. Put yourself in their shoes and imagine how would you feel when you try to act friendly and are treated as an enemy! I am even amazed that Russians (and most of all Putin) could swallow so many insults and still speak fondly of Europe and the USA.

If we look from outside our Western bubble, we do not see evidence that Russia wants to occupy any of its neighbours. I have not read or heard anything in the Russian doctrines, media, and even in the attitudes of regular Russians towards their Western neighbors that supports the idea that Russia wants to conquer them. Somehow, we forget that Russia voluntarily left half of Europe and started a transition from a communist system to a democratic one. The small Baltic countries would not exist today as independent states, if Russia did not let them. Russian leadership nowadays is quite smart and knows very well that occupation is costly, while selling oil and gas is profitable...

So, let’s look at some facts:

1. Russia’s military budget is less than 10 % of that of the USA, and even smaller, if we consider the combined NATO budget. You can hear the most recent budget numbers from Putin himself, in his answer to John Simpson from BBC, but for anyone who does not believe Putin, there is plenty of information on the Internet.
2. Almost all “peace-loving” Western democracies (including the Scandinavian countries!) have larger per capita military expenditures than Russia.
3. We all know the economic might of USA, but let’s ignore that and look at the facts in Europe: Russia has an economy smaller than Italy and 140 million citizens vs. EU with 500 million.
4. USA bases are all over the World and expanding. According to the Pentagon, there were 662 overseas bases in 38 foreign countries (N.B. stated in 2011), but other sources give a larger number. In contrast, Russia (under Putin) voluntarily removed its military bases from Cuba and Vietnam, and according to Putin, Russia now has only two oversees bases, which are in countries that asked for that in order to fight terrorism. If Putin lied, I am pretty sure we would have heard about that on the MSM. Speaking of military bases, this picture says a lot:
   
5. There was an American pledge that NATO will not move eastward after the unification of Germany. Now some American pundits are denying that and others are saying that (i) it was only a verbal promise, not in writing, and thus, not binding; and others are saying that (ii) it was a promise given to the Soviet Union, which does not exists anymore. These excuses reveal the morality the US leadership, but they also explain why the Russians feel cheated. Whatever one may think of the NATO eastward expansion, there is no doubt that establishing NATO bases in East Europe violates the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. NATO is trying to go around it by saying that these are “rotational”, not permanent armed forces, but that’s a laughable excuse. 
6. USA keeps nukes in Europe (Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey) in violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In contrast, Russia does not. By the way, NPT was the treaty that was used to sanction Iraq for its “weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program”. And the same was used to justify the sanctions against Iran for its “nuclear program”. I have no doubt the same treaty will be used as a "legal" justification to attack Iran some day in future, if the USA decides to do so…

It’s amazing how far from the reality the media can bring us! Considering the above facts, how can we – modern, educated, well-informed citizens of the free World, believe what the media is telling us?!? The contrast between facts and popular believe is so huge, that only brainwashing can explain it.