

US military convoy rolling through Europe ‘aggressive, provocative’ step

US military convoy rolling through Europe ‘aggressive, provocative’ step
The American military convoy called the Dragoon Ride is traveling through Europe is clearly a provocation by NATO and particularly the US, Richard Becker of the anti-war Answer Coalition told RT.

NATO tanks and other army vehicles, which are part of the so-called Dragoon Ride military parade, reached Prague on Sunday. Dozens of anti-war protesters met the convoy as it rolled into the city. The Dragoon Ride march is touring six European countries. The final destination is a military base in Germany.

READ MORE: Breakdown: Czech spectators give up waiting for US Army convoy after 7hr wait

RT:Some people protesting the NATO parade have labeled it a provocation. What do you think about this assessment?

Richard Becker: Yes, I think it is clearly a provocation. I have just recently seen a YouTube video showing that A-10 Warthog planes were flying over one part of this convoy that is going through Eastern Europe. This is an aggressive step, another aggressive step by the US and by NATO, but particularly by the US. That was the US Army General [Ben] Hodges who is in charge of the US Army in Europe, who came up with this plan. It’s not Russia that has been the aggressor in this situation, it’s the US and NATO trying to absorb Ukraine to move closer and closer right up to the critical border of Russia that has created the crisis that we’re seeing.

RT:We have seen clear anti-NATO signs connected to this parade shown by people in Eastern Europe. But what about the governments of these countries? Is there a disconnect between the people and the governments?

RB: I think that is the case that the governments are very much tied to the US, very much under the domination of the US. Back when Germany was reunited there were assurances that were given by the US leaders at that time that they would not attempt to move NATO further eastward after the reunification of Germany. All the Baltic states, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, eventually all the countries in Europe have joined NATO, have been pulled into NATO and are under the tutelage and domination of the US.

RT:The Czech Republic has seen both pro- and anti-NATO sentiments during this military parade. Do you think this issue could cause a significant split in the country?

RB: I think it is very hard to tell how wide this split is, or who is on which side in terms of proportions. But there is clearly a split; there is clearly a division in the Czech Republic. Perhaps more so than in any other countries that the convoy is going through, between those who are opposing this new aggressive step by the US and by NATO and those who are in support of it.
