JRL NEWSWATCH: “An intellectual battle rages: Is the U.S. in a proxy war with Russia?” – Washington Post

“Vladimir Putin says the West is trying to ‘finish’ Russia. The Biden administration denies the accusation. But leaked documents reveal the extent of U.S. involvement in the Ukraine fight.”

“… [L]eaked documents confirm … that the United States is using its vast array of espionage and surveillance tools — including cutting-edge satellites and signals intelligence — to keep Kyiv ahead of Moscow’s war plans and help them inflict Russian casualties. But Biden officials adamantly reject the proxy label, noting that it is a defensive war Ukraine didn’t start and that Kyiv is fighting for its very survival. While the United States has a legitimate interest in the outcome, and a legal right to provide aid requested by another sovereign government, Ukraine is running operations on the ground. ‘This is a war of choice by Putin,’ … Lloyd Austin said … ‘We are not in a war with Russia, and we won’t be in a war with Russia. … It was Russia’s choice to begin with.’ … As they focus on the war … many U.S. and Western leaders … say they are convinced that workable relations with Russia can never be reestablished as long as Putin is in power. But that does not mean, they say, that Putin is correct that their goal is to ‘finish’ Russia. …”

Click here for: “An intellectual battle rages: Is the U.S. in a proxy war with Russia?” – Washington Post: Karen DeYoung