| Trump’s threat to Russia has raised the stakes for a new world war, experts warn | | | Agencies
DONALD Trump’s tweet about Russia and Syria could spark a third World War.
Says who? Well, the US President himself less than two years ago.
In the days before the November 2016 election, the then-presidential candidate said Hillary Clinton’s plan for Syria would “lead to World War III”, criticising his Democratic rival for being too tough on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We’re spending $6 trillion dollars on wars in the Middle East, while our own country falls into total disrepair,” he said during a speech in Ohio.
“Now Hillary wants to start a shooting war in Syria, conflict with a nuclear power — Russia — which could very well lead to World War III.
“The way she talks about Putin. She’s always said she has no idea, but she’s always saying — WikiLeaks, it’s Russia, and Donald Trump — I have nothing to do with Russia. She said maybe Donald Trump is involved in projects with the Russians. The answer’s no.”It’s ironic, then, that Mr Trump has just publicly warned Russia to “get ready” for missile strikes in Syria as he slammed Moscow for backing “gas-killing animal” Bashar al-Assad, the country’s President.
In an extraordinarily provocative post, the President tweeted that US air strikes would be coming “nice and new and smart” in Syria.
So what’s going to happen if the US carries out its threat?A series of exchanges between Mr Trump and Moscow have raised the stakes for a serious clash between Russia and the United States.
Last night, the President fired off a tweet telling Russia to “Get ready” for missiles fired at Syria, saying they will be “coming, nice and new and ‘smart!’”The tweet, which sent shockwaves around the world, appeared to be a reaction to a quote by a Russian diplomat in Lebanon, who said any US missiles fired at Syria would be shot down and the launch sites targeted.
“If there is a strike by the Americans, then ... the missiles will be downed and even the sources from which the missiles were fired,” Russian Ambassador Alexander Zasypkin told Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV on Tuesday evening.
It went further than the Russian line put down by Valery Gerasimov, head of Russia’s General Staff, who last month said Moscow had information a fake chemical attack was being staged against civilians to justify US intervention.
“In the event of a threat to the lives of our servicemen, Russia’s armed forces will take retaliatory measures against the missiles and launchers used,” Gerasimov said in a statement on March 13. |
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