TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) -"...Trump is a very impulsive politician with no political experience at all, though, I believe, things which resulted with no payback in Syria will not be left with no payback if happened to Pyongyang. Trump understands that should anything happen there, the chance is big that situation may get out of control and turn out as a catastrophe to the World in a blink of an eye. Trump will be trying to scare and oppress North Korea, but I believe he would not dare to start an offensive against Pyongyang," Dmitry Zolotarev from Irkutsk, Eastern Siberia, said in an interview with the Tasnim News Agency.
Zolotarev is a journalist, political analyst and commentator whose comments and interviews have appeared on air at various TV and radio news channels, including Channel News Asia, CapeTalk Radio etc.
Following is the full text of the interview:
Tasnim: Earlier this month, US warships deployed to the eastern Mediterranean launched a barrage of 59 Tomahawk missiles against Shayrat Airfield, near the western Syrian city of Homs, under the pretext of a deadly chemical incident in Khan Shaykhun which American authorities blamed on the Syrian air force without providing any evidence. What is your assessment about Trump's missile attack on Syria?
Zolotarev: Trump’s actions in question were never about Syrians, who allegedly died in the incident with a chemical attack, which has never been proven as a thing which really happened.
The real cause of US rocket attack of Syrian air base was, I believe, Trump’s attempt to boost his ratings inside the US, which ware gravely low ever since (his election). Trump exploited the idea of opposing himself to Obama, which, he claims, was much weaker and did not have what it takes to bomb Syrian government forces. He used the old method, loved among the US politicians, which has proven itself to be one of the most primitive, though the most effective for boosting poor ratings: False Flag. Find a person to blame outside the US, find the pretext, or should I say CREATE the pretext. Those 59 Tomahawk rockets really bought him some ratings among the US citizens and politicians, who have no Idea what real politics are about and what such impulsive and obtuse actions lead to.
Tasnim: Recently, Poland welcomed the first US troops in a multinational force being posted across the Baltic region to counter potential threats from Russia. More than 1,100 soldiers - 900 US troops as well as 150 British and 120 Romanians - are to be deployed in Orzysz, about 57km south of Russia's Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad, where Moscow has stationed nuclear-capable missiles and an S-400 air missile defense system. Do you believe that the US and Russia are on road to a final collision? Do you think that the US is beating the drum for World War III?
Zolotarev: US warmongering and boosting the number of the US and NATO troops near Russia’s border is nothing more than show-off, boosting illusion of Russian aggression among Europeans. It is being done to demonize Russia, make Europeans believe that the only force which can protect Europe against Russia, is the US, thus they try to keep Europe under US control; also subsequently, it helps the European pro-US politicians, who speculate on "Russian menace”. I strongly do not believe that the US and Russia are on the road of a collision. However, Russia cannot leave NATO’s moves without counter-measures and deploys different types of weapons on its western borders.
Tasnim: The situation across the world, the Middle East, in particular, is very confusing. What are your predictions regarding the future of the region and the world?
Zolotarev: The situation in the Middle East is one of the most difficult issues to discuss, and make a prognosis about. The situation around ME countries is changing rapidly. The most recent events like the referendum in Turkey very seriously change the picture. Now Erdogan has got practically absolute power and has way more opportunities to influence on what’s going on in Syria and Iraq, considering spreading its influence in the region. Good thing is that Turkey’s deteriorating relationship with EU due to results of the referendum will probably (make it) look into the partnership with Russia and Iran.
Tasnim: The USS Michigan — a guided-missile submarine — recently arrived in South Korea for what a US defense official described as a show of force amid tensions between the US and North Korea. The tensions skyrocketed after President Trump assumed office in January. The new administration has repeatedly said that it is seriously worried about North Korea’s efforts to develop a nuclear-tipped missile that could hit the US mainland. Pyongyang, however, argues that it needs to be prepared in case of an attack from Washington and its ally Seoul. Will Trump Attack North Korea?
Zolotarev: Well, Trump is a very impulsive politician with no political experience at all, though, I believe, things which resulted with no payback in Syria will not be left with no payback if happened to Pyongyang. Trump understands that should anything happen there, the chance is big that situation may get out of control and turn out as a catastrophe to the World in a blink of an eye. Trump will be trying to scare and oppress North Korea, but I believe he would not dare to start an offensive against Pyongyang.