Dear friends,
The full address of President Putin to the Federal Assembly is now available online and, since this is a very long text, I will no re-post it here. What I propose to do here is to bring to your attention four verbatim excerpts from his speech with some key segments bolded out.
Most of the speech was on economic and internal matters, but I think that these four points and, especially, the expressions chosen by Putin really “tell the story” of what the Kremlin’s position vis-à-vis the West is nowadays. See for yourself:
1) Crimea is Russian forever:
It was an event of special significance for the country and the people, because Crimea is where our people live, and the peninsula is of strategic importance for Russia as the spiritual source of the development of a multifaceted but solid Russian nation and a centralised Russian state. It was in Crimea, in the ancient city of Chersonesus or Korsun, as ancient Russian chroniclers called it, that Grand Prince Vladimir was baptised before bringing Christianity to Rus.
In addition to ethnic similarity, a common language, common elements of their material culture, a common territory, even though its borders were not marked then, and a nascent common economy and government, Christianity was a powerful spiritual unifying force that helped involve various tribes and tribal unions of the vast Eastern Slavic world in the creation of a Russian nation and Russian state. It was thanks to this spiritual unity that our forefathers for the first time and forevermore saw themselves as a united nation. All of this allows us to say that Crimea, the ancient Korsun or Chersonesus, and Sevastopol have invaluable civilisational and even sacral importance for Russia, like the Temple Mount in Jerusalem for the followers of Islam and Judaism. And this is how we will always consider it.
2) Russia will never become an EU colony:
By the way, Russia has already made a major contribution to helping Ukraine. Let me reiterate that Russian banks already invested some $25 billion in Ukraine. Last year, Russia’s Finance Ministry extended a loan worth another $3 billion. Gazprom provided another $5.5 billion to Ukraine and even offered a discount that no one promised, requiring the country to pay $4.5 billion. Add it all up and you get as much as $ 32.5-33.5 billion that were provided only recently.
Of course, we have the right to ask questions. What was this Ukrainian tragedy for? Wasn’t it possible to settle all the issues, even disputed issues, through dialogue, within a legal framework and legitimately? But now we are being told that this was actually competent, balanced politics that we should comply with unquestionably and blindfolded.
This will never happen. If for some European countries national pride is a long-forgotten concept and sovereignty is too much of a luxury, true sovereignty for Russia is absolutely necessary for survival.
3) The Empire was Russia’s mortal enemy long before Crimea
We remember well how and who, almost openly, supported separatism back then and even outright terrorism in Russia, referred to murderers, whose hands were stained with blood, none other than rebels and organised high-level receptions for them. These “rebels” showed up in Chechnya again. I’m sure the local guys, the local law enforcement authorities, will take proper care of them. They are now working to eliminate another terrorist raid. Let’s support them.
Let me reiterate, we remember high-level receptions for terrorists dubbed as fighters for freedom and democracy. Back then, we realised that the more ground we give and the more excuses we make, the more our opponents become brazen and the more cynical and aggressive their demeanor becomes.
Despite our unprecedented openness back then and our willingness to cooperate in all, even the most sensitive issues, despite the fact that we considered – and all of you are aware of this and remember it – our former adversaries as close friends and even allies, the support for separatism in Russia from across the pond, including information, political and financial support and support provided by the special services – was absolutely obvious and left no doubt that they would gladly let Russia follow the Yugoslav scenario of disintegration and dismemberment. With all the tragic fallout for the people of Russia.
It didn’t work. We didn’t allow that to happen.
Just as it did not work for Hitler with his people-hating ideas, who set out to destroy Russia and push us back beyond the Urals. Everyone should remember how it ended.
4) Russia will not be bullied
No one will ever attain military superiority over Russia. We have a modern and combat ready army. As they now put it, a polite, but formidable army. We have the strength, will and courage to protect our freedom.
We will protect the diversity of the world. We will tell the truth to people abroad, so that everyone can see the real and not distorted and false image of Russia. We will actively promote business and humanitarian relations, as well as scientific, education and cultural relations. We will do this even if some governments attempt to create a new iron curtain around Russia.
We will never enter the path of self-isolation, xenophobia, suspicion and the search for enemies. All this is evidence of weakness, while we are strong and confident.
In my opinion what we are seeing a a big “coming out”. For a variety of reasons, Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov chose not to say this kind of things in the past, but for several months already we have seen a sense of utter disgust manifest itself more and more openly from the Russian. Today, it finally truly came out in the open.
It is painfully clear that Russia considers the USA a an arrogant bully which Russia can stop and that Russia considers the regimes in power in the EU as voiceless colonies. Equally clear is the fact that the Russians are fed up with trying to plead or reason with anybody in the West. The Americans are too arrogant, the Europeans too spineless.
Unlike the Americans, Russians always talk to their enemies and some form of “talking” with the West will continue. But it is rather obvious that the Kremlin has given up any hope of achieving anything through any kind of dialog. From now on, Russia will mostly rely on unilateral actions. And since Russians never threaten, these actions will always come as a shock and a surprise to the Western plutocracies.
I have said this many times: the AngloZionist Empire has launched a real war against Russia, one in which military forces are less important than the informational war, but a real war nonetheless. What the Empire probably did not realize, is that this would not be a short war, but a long one. And while the Empire has already used most of its weapons, the Russians have just begun their defensive operations. This will be a long war and it will only end when one of the two sides basically breaks down and collapses.
On March 1st of this year I wrote a piece entitled “Obama just made things much, much worse in the Ukraine – now Russia is ready for war“. Russia did not want that war, it was imposed on her at a time when Russia was not ready. Nevertheless, today Putin informed us all that Russia refuses to submit, that she accepts the challenge and that she will prevail.
The Saker
Saker said:
“Thank God I am pretty darn sure that the vast majority Tatars (or Chechens, for that matter) do not think that way.”
You never know what they may really think, or what they may be pretending to think. But there is a pretty strong historical evidence, that the way you think about is not necessarily in line with how the things actually are.
The most important thing is that the people and the nations want to decide about their destinies by themselves. You may have Tuvas or Chuvash or whoever you may bring up wanting to be a part of the “Russian civilisation”, but there are also nations which through the 19th or 20th centuries have been considered “a part of Russia” by the Russians, but have never thought so about themselves: Poles, Lithuanians, Latvians, Estonians, Georgians. And there are more, which may not have been a part of Russia, but have been a part of the eastern block during the last century, which worked pretty much the same.
You’ve mentioned the disintegration of Yugoslavia and you blame The West for that. But the truth is, that Yugoslavia was an artificial entity in which several nations didn’t coexist on equal rights, but were centrally governed by the Serbs and were considered by them as their own. The mechanism is the same.
And now you have the Ukraine which goes in exactly the same direction. In fact their own national identity has been weak, and they may even had considered themselves a part of Russian civilization; but they don’t anymore, because everything became black on white clear to them last year.
And it’s not the end. You have Belarussians, you’ve got Caucasus, even the Crimea may pretty soon realise, that is not really going to be a land of eternal happiness. And you never know, soon you may even have the Kaliningrad Oblast which decides, that maybe joining the EU would not be a bad idea; or Chinese border lands wanting to be Chinese.
So far the wishful thinking has not worked at all.
Mr Putin is so paranoid…
Using the comparison to Hitler…
Most of the readers share the same paranoia, but finally there is “TRUTH” standing behind you ;-))))
Anonymous said…
“Off topic I know but of possible importance . Ive heard from a reliable source that two American special ops have been killed at the airport and they were dressed in Russian uniforms . I was also told that they had fake Russian documentation along with their true American IDs . Can anyone confirm or deny ?”
I saw a post on that too.They listed the names but I didn’t copy them.In the post I read it said they were actually killed by the Ukrainians.Who thought they were killing Russians.And that the Ukrainians were trying to cover up that they killed them.
Uncle Bob
I have not had time to read all the comments yet, so forgive me if this has already been raised. I consider it pivotal however and I’m also quite sure Putin will have had its text in mind during his address in St Georges Hall yesterday.
I have added an brief introduction of my own the Congressional House Resolution 758
I understand from the Historical standpoint where Prince Vladimir’s conversion is an important site for Russia.Though I think I might have left out the Jerusalem part and instead focused on the memory of the Crimean War and the defense of,and later the reconquest of,Crimea during WW2.Events that mean a great deal to Russians in the form of historic memory and national pride.As for the Tatars exile.They were exiled because during the nazi occupation of Crimea many of them collaborated with the Germans.Most of them didn’t,and many were soldiers in the Soviet Army fighting loyally against Hitler.But still,in such a strategic area to have many locals betray you caused Stalin to exile the entire Crimean Tatar nation.Those days are gone now.They have for years now been allowed to return.And on both sides the necessity to forgive and forget is vital.With only 13% of the population Tatar,they are a minority who must come to acceptance of their minority position.And realize they have much to gain by pledging loyalty to Russia now.Putin seems to be trying to deal with them fairly.And realizes that that is the best way to handle the situation.
Russia is fighting to thwart Chabad – Lubavitch’s new Zion in Ukraine. The plot by Kolomoyski and his US backers led by the largest and most influential Chabad community in New York. This is part of the new Khazaria unleashing all their hatred of Russia and Russians, Persian. They are talking about a revival of the Khazars, with their centre shifted to Dnepropetrovsk and, apparently, Ukraine as a contributor to the “city on a hill” – the new Jerusalem.
A propos Crimea.
I’m still wondering how nobody here picked up on the bombshell analysis published on the web on 23rd november on les-crises.fr.
http://www.les-crises.fr/l-ineptie-des-sanctions-economiques-par-arnaud-dotezac/
Written by a Swiss Lawyer.
The important revelation of that analysis shows conclusively that Crimea was illegally annexed in 1991 by the Ukraine.
There was a referendum on the 20th january 1991 to determine if Crimea was to become a Independant soviet republic within the soviet union or remain simply an oblast of a soviet republic. The referendum clearly chose the first proposition (94.3% from a participation of 81.37%). This means that legally Crimea was detached from the Ukraine that day.
It’s a long read in french but it’s absolutely fascinating.
@Saker: We are in an Informational World War 3!
If one has to read your post on “AngloZionists” (even if one can find it which I didn’t even know about until you mentioned it!), then your terminology or wording has already lost in the battle for the minds and hearts.
Picture Words are most powerful tools of propaganda for the lazy sheeple. That is why the Yankees love using words like “militants”, “international community”, “corruption”, “regime”, etc.
A simple word to the wise.
BTW, “Zionism” is a fig leaf for the “modus operandi” of Jews. And yes it is a “club” and we aren’t in it!
@Syd Walker 07:16:
“IMO bringing the tortuous and quite unique case of Jerusalem into a discussion about Crimea adds only confusion.”
It also brings things Jewish into play and, given Putin’s close personal relationship with Berl Lazar, that will have been well thought through before delivery.
I have only one question. Why we mostly see americans saying that they don’t sostaine or agree with the positioning of their government in external relations but their government keep going normally with their policy as if that opinion don’t exist? Why are the people of USA doing nothing of enough to stop this suffering of the resta of our world and in some sense their own suffering? Why????? We want to travel to places, we want peace, we want business, culture, and now we are made angry, afraid, and demotivated. Why please….
@ishamid
You are an intelligetlnt well spoken person but I think youre also smart to know youre trying to take everyone on a Putin hating ride and all your arguments are based on half truths. And your replys to Sakers response is even weaker than your initial comment.
Saker makes a strong point that there are over 180+ diverse well developed ethnic minorities living in the Russian Federation. Yes its a federation with many autonomous states.
And you come back with. Native americans still exist? You just lost all respect after that reply.
First of all MILLIONS of Native Americans were killed in the Americas, this includes north south central americas and the caribbean. Millions of native americans were massacred in order for the with anglo saxon latin western europeans coukd steal ALL their land. And whats left of the native americans today in north america? They are relegated to living in concentration camps out in the desert by the four points mainly.
Id ravage the rest of your rhetorical bs. But just this one was enough to evoke some disgust in ke so i think I dont have the stomach to wade through more of your never never land historical ” phacts “. Ie. Total crap pseudo history and a slanted world view.
Good luck with that.
ishamid: Thank you! As someone who reads The Saker for a Russian perspective, and is certainly no fan of the foreign policies of the US, EU or NATO, but has a hard time blaming, say, the Estonians for feeling resentment and snuggling up to the US after what they and other Finnic peoples suffered during their years of rule from Moscow, as sometimes happens here, I appreciate your standing up for the Crimean Tatars.
ishamid ….About Crimea. By your logic to the Crimea have the right to Scythians, and then the Turks, Tartars then. Why Tatars – the indigenous inhabitants of the Crimea? Tatars raided (attack) to the Russian Empire and Poland. Captured people into slavery and sold on the Turkish market. Devastated villages and towns. Russo-Turkish War. Russia secure its southern border. Tatars ceased to ravage the Russian land. Russia to protect themselves from varvorov.
Putin compared the Crimea and the Temple Mount in the sense – not to win. Crimea has the same value. Have value and conquer – are two different things. Have value – means “not give up.”
23 years Russia did not speak about the Crimea. Russia is not trying to take away the Crimea from Ukraine. Russia said – I’m sorry, but it is the law and the integrity of Ukraine. In 2014, people started the revolution in Ukraine. Authorities were not. Laws do not work. All have the right to express their opinion. Crimea expressed his opinion. Russia urged revolutionaries in Kiev – not to give Russia the Crimea. Russian revolutionaries have not heard. US revolutionaries following orders. Putin said – we love Crimea and if it belongs to us, we will not give up. He did not say – we love it and so won. You misunderstood.
Whistling into oblivion, just as Andersen predicted.
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/worldservice/business/business_20141205-0138a.mp3
@ Ishamid: ” If anyone has the right to claim a historical national right to the Crimean Peninsula, it is the historically oppressed Crimean Tatars.”
That’s utter nonsense. The crimean Tatars are just forcefully coverted natives, who were created during the rule of the Ottoman Empire there.
Dear The Saker,
I usually ignore trolls but thought these two articles sum up the views of the majority of Crimean Tartars:
http://itar-tass.com/en/russia/765229
http://itar-tass.com/en/russia/724161
So whatever your name – check your facts before you speak.It actually could do you some good to read up your history too.
Rgds,
Veritas
@ Ishamid 05:12:
“Yes, the way Putin did it in Crimea was questionable. Yes, he was inconsistent in Novorussia.”
You are quite obviously a dirty liar and spinner.
The difference? In Crimea, 90+% of the population are ethnic russians. In Novorussia, nowhere near that.
If you don’t realize the obvious difference, you are beyond any sort of help.
And sorry, but I won’t agree with Saker here, I am 100% sure that you’re neither stupid nor misinformed – you are a propaganda shill for the Empire. Probably for some measly sum too, since you’re obviously an amateur.
Change the playground, there are too many well informed adults here.
“Russia considers the regimes in power in the EU as voiceless colonies”
As a European and French, I can confirm that it is now exactly what we are. No less, no more.
David from Normandy
More Putin about “LGBT”and Russia:
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20141205/1015532785.html
Maybe homosexuals are not penalized by authorities in Russia. However for sure they will be mistreated by single policemen because the whole climate is very homophobe in Russia. Same is true btw. for most of eastern Europe. And talking about the US and Western Europe: there are still big, big problems happening there. Just watch a soccer game and you know! The whole climate is so bad, that in all major sports like the NBA, NHL or others not one single person dares to come out.
I am NOT talking about “equal rights” and I am not talking about “gay marriage”!
I am talking about homosexuals getting hurt by idiots, morons and Nazis. That does happen in the States and in Western Europe – but the numbers seem to be dropping slowly over the past twenty years.
My problem with countries like Poland and Russia is, that they have a very bad record in protecting homosexuals from physical harm. There are many reports of gays being bashed and hunted down because they went to a bar where homosexuals meet or they were just caught holding hands.
This is what I would expect from a person like Putin: To state in a speech that EVERY violent act against a person in Russia is a crime and will be punished adding explicitly that this also includes crimes against people with different sexual orientations. I think he has to show that in Russia the law applies to everybody and that the police is instructed to hunt down those thugs.
Maybe we can disagree on “gay marriage” – I can live with that.
However we CANNOT disagree on the fact that homosexuals need the protection of the law against being physically attaked like every body else. BTW: it was the same pattern over here in the West 20-30 years ago. Formal equal protection, but the cops didn’t do anything if the victim was homosexual.
I would like to read a statement about that from you Saker…
Don’t you think homosexuals need to be protected in that sense too?
My to cents from the West.
Ron
Dale, dale russian fighters.
Adelante, vladimir putin.
As to syd, the only thing that president putin said and MEANT was to tell the american 1% , who are basically either Jews or attached to jewish values, that CRIMEA is, yes, as sacred and important to russia as
the temple to the jews.
Of course Obama got the message and
both the pentagon and CFR got it too.
It is that simple.
It must be due to the fact that I am an outsider looking in, that I don’t detect code words and blatant falsehoods.
ishamid said…
@ Penelope:
“He’s not citing Russian sacred roots”
Putin:
“invaluable civilisational and even sacral importance for Russia, like the Temple Mount in Jerusalem for the followers of Islam and Judaism.”
As Saker would say,
QED
;-)
Peace
PS. This is my last contribution to this topic. Thanks, Ann and Penelope, for your comments and criticism.
=================================
Dear ishamid, any of your semi-decent points just got invalidated by the blatant fallacy you have demonstrated with your conveniently truncated quote above.
Indeed, Penelope’s full quote was: “He’s not citing Russian sacred roots as the reason for enabling Crimea to have their referendum, you know.” And that puts everything in a different light, don’t you think?
Sorry, but all I can see is not an attempt to put forward an honest argument, but a thinly disguised hatred and propaganda. Nice try.
I read yesterday that the Obama administration is now considering sanctions against Israel for its settlement policy. Looks like the Anglo-Zionist Empire may become the Anglo-Europe empire.
Even though Putin arguments are weak on many points (ex. US containment policy over the past 20 years) at least his speech was measured in its tone and composition. Hopefully this continues as Russia’s economy worsens over the coming year.
@anonymous:all I can see is not an attempt to put forward an honest argument, but a thinly disguised hatred and propaganda.
That is also the conclusion I have come to.
I am happy that others also see that for what it is.
Cheers,
The Saker
@ Anonymous from 11:54.
“First of all MILLIONS of Native Americans were killed in the Americas, this includes north south central americas and the caribbean.”
Further to this point. We tend to refer to the Native Americans as one people when in fact there were many tribes and cultures. Most of them got exterminated. We must always remember this.
So ishamid’s so-called counter-point is way off the mark. Shame.
Anon 16:27
“First of all MILLIONS of Native Americans were killed in the Americas, this includes north south central americas and the caribbean.”
Further to this point. We tend to refer to the Native Americans as one people when in fact there were many tribes and cultures. Most of them got exterminated. We must always remember this.
Reality was a bit more complicated. Many died of diseases and many who were massacred were no better than the thugs that first visited the continent.
The Aztek and Maya empires were cruel societies that were ruled by despots and human sacrifices were common practice.
The Aztecs couldn’t even understand the invaders because these killed their enemies while Aztecs mutilated them.
Anyway as these empires were declining already and many citizens were very displeased with their leaders, many of them joined the invaders. Without their cooperation the Europeans would have been killed all.
Just a short comment that deserves far more study.
riftt said “This arrogance is bred into them so well that they cannot even stay at peace with each other.Putin wastes his time speaking to them, I would just line up all my subs and nuke the lot.”
exactly
Russia must nuke them especially england which is the main enemy of Russia . int hat the rest of non anglo world will rejoice as well.
Lidka Wozniak said…
“…But the truth is, that Yugoslavia was an artificial entity in which several nations didn’t coexist on equal rights, but were centrally governed by the Serbs and were considered by them as their own….”
No. SFR Yugoslavia was a federation of Republics. Governing was not very centralized, a lot of politics and economy was regulated on the level of Republics. Serbs didn’t have any more political power than any other ethnicity in YU. Federation was governed by collective body where each republic was equally represented. Position of the Head of the State was for one year, rotated among all Republics equally.
Anonymous said …
Putin more about “LGBT”
Gays in Russia have equal rights to all people. If a gay man was beaten, the offender go to jail. It does not matter who beat – gay and not gay. Before the law all are equal. In Russia, gays are not humiliated. Recently businessman – banker Tenkoff announced his homosexuality. In show business a lot of gay people. In many gay tv. Everyone knows about them. We must talk about the historical values, religion, and culture. Do not need one size fits all. Separate police hit gay? – Very bad and the police respond to zhakonom. How do you feel about the murder of blacks in the United States? Do you think that racism in the United States?
gallier2 said …
propos Crimea
Absolutely. In 1991 – 1992, Ukraine has violated the law and illegally made changes to the Constitution of Ukraine and Crimea annexed.
In 1992, Ukraine ugrazhala war in the Crimea. Prior to 1998, Crimea actively fought with Ukraine and legitimate means trying to gain independence. Ukraine illegally abolished the post of “president” in the Crimea.
Its history as a part of Ukraine, Crimea tried to join Russia.
In 2014, Ukraine has provided such an opportunity. There was a revolution. People in Kiev have chosen the way of development. People in the Crimea have chosen the way of development. People in the East of Ukraine tried to choose their own path of development …. but Ukraine has sent the army. East of Ukraine did not want to be disconnected from the Ukraine …. he wanted federation.
Ishamid,
If someone has already said this, disregard it.
Being an opportunist, merely means seizing a chance that presents itself to you and using it to your advantage. A head of state who is not an opportunist, will not be able to take his state very far, especially in our current environment.
Life teaches that if you can be eaten, there is something out there that will eat you.
That being said, anyone who cares for his people, and is in a position to influence their destiny, must be an opportunist, and must need be a predator at times.
The matrix of life cannot function with out predators.
Predators are opportunists, not all opportunists are predators, a politician who is not an opportunist, is a submarine in the desert, a possible occurence, but highly improbable, well nigh impossible unless an event occurs that leads to a submarine being moored in the desert.
Signed rambler
Saker, you have an outstanding website and provide objective, in-depth analyses of international situations and issues of vital importance. The reader comments are generally interesting, but often the logic is weak. There will always be differences of opinion due to varying values, beliefs and backgrounds, but I am alluding to something more than that. In particular, if one scans the comments made in response to this post and other posts at your site, I see two persistent problems: 1) the overuse or misuse of demeaning “labels” for people, parties, groups and nations; and 2) the “reductionist fallacy” that riddles many of the arguments and statements made. I am not going to give examples of these, but merely leave my statements for others to consider and investigate (e.g., what is the “reductionist fallacy”?).
No more “partners”, that’s refrashing. Coming to the senses finally. It’s about the time.
Russia haven’t been having any partners or friends in the corrupt West. They shouldn’t fool themselves and others.
It’s to be or not to be for Russia.
Hopefully it’ll be “to be”. Russia and China are only, I mean ONLY hopes for the free world to survive of the Human race.
In regard to Yugoslavia and NATO’s aggression there, I recently read Michael Parenti’s book “To Kill A Nation: the Attack on Yugoslavia.” In the introduction he makes an extremely important observation in regard to the difficulty in assigning motives based on observed behaviors/events. I think it applies across the board, not just to Yugoslavia. I quote him:
“I am not one of those critics who think that Western policy vis-a-vis Yugoslavia has been misdirected or confused. Top policy makers are intelligent, resourceful, and generally more aware of what they are doing than those who see them as foolish and bungling. US policy is not filled with contradictions and inconsistencies. It has performed brilliantly and steadily in the service of those who own most of the world and who want to own it all. That some critics may not know what policy makers are doing does not mean that the policy makers themselves do not know what they are doing. That Western leaders make misleading statements about their goals and intentions does not denote confusion on their part but a desire to confuse their publics as to what interests they are really serving. That they are misleading others does not mean that they are themselves misled, although of course there are times when they make mistakes and suffer bafflement in regard to tactics and timing.
“But seldom are they confused about their opposition to socialism, and their dedication to free-market globalization and what they euphemistically call democratic reforms. In the last decade or so,they have become more open about the powerful economic interests behind their pursuit of “democracy.” And whenever democracy actually begins to work too well, whenever it begins to thwart or limit the neoliberal free-market agenda rather than act as its legitimating cloak, their dedication readily shifts from free-market democracy to free-market autocracy.”
The best we can do in ascribing motives to leaders is speculate, because none of us here are in the room when the leaders’ options and decisions are discussed and made. What we can know with some certainty is this, that Pres. Putin says what he means and means what he says, and acts accordingly, a rare example of great integrity among world leaders today. And we know with certainty that Western leaders, and in particular US leaders, in a gross display of contempt and perhaps self-deception, mix truth and lies and deceptions so frequently (but no longer very skillfully) that one should doubt and question everything they say, if not dismiss it all outright. They have lost all grounds for respect.
It’s rather interesting to note that this very important post about an extremely important talk given by President Putin is bogged or blogged down by a Putin-bashing troll and the subject of gays!
I wonder why???
@xalexey:
” If a gay man was beaten, the offender go to jail.”
Are you sure? I was from St. Petersburg and the police did nothing.
“Before the law all are equal.”
Yes before the law but not in reality.
I was able to move to Berlin, thanks to a german guy. It is not a nice place for people that have feelings for each other, but at least the police is doing something. The situation in Russia is bad for us.
“How do you feel about the murder of blacks in the United States? Do you think that racism in the United States?”
Oh yes, very much so. It is not good for gay people in Russia or the Ukraine. Its also bad for black people in America! Both need support!
When wreaking armchair justice one can be perfect. But politics is the art of the possible and usually demands weighing costs against benefits.
In Crimea, the cost of NOT acting, said many experts, was to allow Russia to become militarily indefensible. It was great that the necessity to act coincided w the moral (as disclosed by the referendum) and very small cost (given the geographical ease of defense).
In Novorossiya the calculus was far otherwise. The insistence that justice be achieved for Novorossiya would almost certainly have brought about a year sooner the perilous Western actions we now see occurring & perhaps to an even greater degree. I think the idea that one must obtain justice for Novorossiya can be upheld only if one considers it as a floating abstraction, without context or consequences. Further, one could not be certain in advance that the peacemaking efforts would not be successful. That said, w another Ukie attack the calculus may change.
Anonymous said…
“I read yesterday that the Obama administration is now considering sanctions against Israel for its settlement policy. Looks like the Anglo-Zionist Empire may become the Anglo-Europe empire.”
I’ll, believe it when it happens, anonymous. They are constantly pretending that the US is trying to make peace in the middle east. They pretend that the Saudis aren’t totally allied to Israel. They pretend that Turkey had a break w Israel over the Achille Louro (spelling?), when actually Turkey was in on it. Turkey put two men on the aid-for-Palestinians boat at the last minute; their job was to finger those who were to be assassinated.
Looks like Congress is going to pass that bill for even more military buildup at Russia’s border. It passed the House.
Russia and Putin are not angels but its pretty obvious to most people that Russia is generally in the right while the US and Europe have gone completely fascist with their desire of global domination.
Russia is lucky that they inherited such a huge soviet legacy in nuclear weaponry otherwise they would have been a prime target of “democracy.”
That big red button of doom basically makes the whole western military aggression unviable and its why you have economic sanctions and color revolutions bs.
The thing people ignore is how Western countries always go on foreign looting operations when their financial systems start to implode. They blame Germany and Japan but ignore that France, United Kingdom, Italy, and the US were all engaging in foreign looting operations.
What we all are witnessing is nothing new but the age old declining imperial powers attempting to prolong their rule by plundering weaker nations. Russia and China are both huge road blocks that Western nations thought that they had subverted to their machinations.
Putin and Russia are a huge shock that the western elite are having trouble coming to grips with.
Europe and the US are finding it difficult to bribe and control all their subject nations now that Russia and China are openly defying the imperial elite.
Look at how the US attempt to plunder Mexico is unraveling. Privatizing Pemex has basically exposed the US stooges to mass discontent that they are have trouble subverting. Mexico controls the best type of geology for fracking that is right next door to all the Texas Oil infrastructure (Has gas with large amounts of high quality oil).
Its obvious that the US controlled Mexican elite are so corrupt and incompetent that they won’t be able to successfully privatize anything. Its a product of how the US demands of imperial looting destroy subject nations government capacity to do anything. Nations have to have some social legitimacy otherwise you get chaos and failing states that can’t provide sufficient plunder to foreign imperial elites.
The US, Europe, and Japan have learned nothing from how imploding and plundering nations with debt always leads to nationalist leaders coming to power after people get sick and tired of all the chaos.
look at how Argentina and Russia both have become hated once nationalist came to power and halted the plundering.
Its a sign of desperation how Mexico, Venezuela, and Russia are all being assaulted due to the US and Europe wanting to control their natural resources. Most people don’t realize but Mexico is clearly now fair game due to the US wanting to bolster its failing economic position.
The Mexican elite are pro US but public opinion is hostile now that immigration to the US is no longer possible due to a collapsed US job market. Mexico has an extensive history of getting shafted by the US and the Population is quite aware of it but was lured to sleep by the ability to jump ship and work for dollars. Now that immigration is no longer and option desperation will force people to demand change against a groveling and subservient Mexican elite.
From my vantage point its obvious that the Imperial elite are desperate to plunder weaker vassal but are having trouble containing the fallout once the target states start to implode.
I wish the various “anonymouses”– anonymousae?– would please take a nickname. Since there is more than one of you it wd be convenient.
Please just make up a nickname and where it says ‘Name/URL’ below, enter it. You do NOT have to enter a URL.
Thanks
@Wikispooks and anonymous
I suspect you’re correct. Putin’s “Temple Mount” comment was probably aimed at eliciting support from Jews; he added the comment about Islam to forestall outrage from Muslims.
The problem is, he’s trying to say Crimea is unquestionably Russian, whereas the Jerusalem religious site is the quintessence of a heavily contested site. So it’s a lousy metaphor.
But my comment on this was not just to nitpick about a minor lapse in rhetoric. My concern is Putin might be deliberately signalling to NuttyYahoo that if Jewry backs Russia on Crimea, Russia might shift its stance on the future of Jerusalem towards support for the Zionist position.
This is playing with very deadly fire.
Regarding whether the Isle of Wight or Alaska are better metaphors.. well, I agree any exact comparison doesn’t work. Crimea and its relationship with Russia has no close parallel – not that I’m aware of.
To provide some context for my comments, I’ll add that I’ve been a staunch supporter of the Russian case in the Ukraine and of Russia’s courageous and correct position in backing the Assad Government against a rabble of foreign-backed insurgents. I wish Putin had been President in 2011; he might have also blocked the West’s murderous assault on independent Libya.
RE: Romandière said…
“Reality was a bit more complicated. Many died of diseases and many who were massacred were no better than the thugs that first visited the continent.
The Aztek and Maya empires were cruel societies that were ruled by despots and human sacrifices were common practice.
The Aztecs couldn’t even understand the invaders because these killed their enemies while Aztecs mutilated them.”
This is basically nothing but European slander against foreign nations being assaulted by European pirates and conquerors. Europeans are nothing but plunderers that hide behind human rights and all that nonsense. Like they give a shit about anything but plundering and then moralizing how superior they are to those savages.
Its the whole, “those none europeans are thugs that brutalize their populations and its justifies europeans liberating and plundering those societies. Responsibility to protect bs spouted from self righteous European supremacist.
Mexico was a land with multiple civilizations that built pyramids, aqueducts, domesticated maize, legumes, chile peppers, Chocolate, Vanilla, Squash, etc. Europeans like to pretend that Mexico was nothing but apocalypto and that white people civilized and saved the natives.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalypto
Like the Euopeans were motivated by something other than human greed in conquering the Americas, Africa, and most of Asia (hiding behind religion and human rights is a european speciality).
Europeans have been shameless in shouting how their gangsterism is nothing of the sort due to them being such humanist concerned with saving foreign populations form their wealth and self rule.
Say what you will about Russia and China they conquered or made surrounding nations tributary states but they didn’t pretend that they were motivated by anything but a desire to stabilize their neighborhoods. You don’t see Russia and China pretending that they care about human right. Everything they do they justify overtly as national security that has nothing to do with being superior to their neighbors.
Europeans like to blame the United States for being gangsters but ignore how they are the spiritual birth place of plundering weaker nations and then moralizing how they are such nice people bringing civilization and democracy to the savages.
@Ishamid
Sick and tired of endlessly repeated hysterical arguments
I just scanned this whole thread. I was reading it yesterday and came back today to catch up. Trolls and diversions indeed.
Saker, once you asked us not to attack commenters as trolls, and so I believe many people don’t, in respect for your wishes.
It would be nice if the anons took names as a mark of respect for their own comments, as a gesture of respect for others who would like to reply and build consensus, and simply to show they understand how much they lack dignity without a name.
But it doesn’t matter too much. In the new site it will be better because we can have nested discussions with individuals. Then we’ll hold some of these people to some rigor. And those who don’t care for the topic can skip over it far more easily. This format here has always made it too easy to hide in the crowd and confuse the issue.
Meanwhile Putin speaks only what he means to say, and means what he says. And signs his name to it and stands by it and takes any heat for it. All is well.
Sad to be a troll and live in a world of fear. Best not to feed trolls. Better to pray for them I suppose.
Re Narciso
Why don’t you start to read a good book written by a historian.
I advice you “The Wealth and Poverty of Nations. Why some are so rich and some are so poor”, from the author David S. Landes who is professor at Harvard University in Cambridge USA.
That’s was my source of knowledge and he’s no European. What filth are you going to spit now?
An important section of the American media pivots yet again…
New York Times propagandists exposed: Finally, the truth about Ukraine and Putin emerges
NATO was the aggressor and got Ukraine wrong. Many months later, the media has eventually figured out the truth
Patrick L. Smith
http://www.salon.com/2014/12/04/new_york_times_propagandists_exposed_finally_the_truth_about_ukraine_and_putin_emerges/
Before annyone loses their lunch, Salon, a well known ‘progressive’ e-zine with a strong leftist/cultural Marxist bent, is now siding openly with Russia (no more Rioting Pussies) over the debacle in Ukraine and against the Neocon controlled mainstream media and their related interests in energy, armaments, security, etc.
Salon is controlled by certain ‘moderate’ Anglo-Zionist and NY finacial interests — as in, the fiat paper wielding banksters. They are pitted against the cannon wielding soldiers of ZATO who’ve been dropping like flies since before Patreus was unceremoiniously dumped by Obama.
They (the finance guys) are the same people who brought you Occupy and the 99 versus 1% meme via another one of their ‘alternative’ publications, Vancouver based Adbusters magazine, which set off that controlled opposition revolt several years back with a single ad announcing plans to occupy Zucotti Park. Many of you will remember that ad featuring a bull and ballerina inspiring the supposedly spontaneous uprising (against Wall Street?) while the Arab Spring raged simultaneously.
To make a long story short, the faultline within Anglo-Zionist ranks, between finance on one side and Neocons on the other, appears to be on full public display. Again, this appears to be an open fight between Bilderbergers (finance) and Bohemian Grovesters (big oil/arms/mainstream media) on the other with the former now siding openly with Putin and Russia.
If this is not just an elaborate show meant to set the stage for the full seizure of power by combined oligarch interests (finance AND big oil together — a very real possibility), then it appears as though with regards to Russia and the banksters, they have judged the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I am not necessarily saying Putin has sided with the banksters and against the Neocon/NATO/Nazi alliance although this seems a strong possibility and very much in the interests of both parties and possibly all of mankind — unless of course you’re rootin’ for armageddon and the First/Second Coming. Either way Putin and the banksters have common interests, specifically the destruction of the NATO/Nazi/Ziocon agenda and a stable transition into a…
Tripolar New World Order.
Saker and most of his community fit into this category btw.
Those of you who would prefer none of the above don’t count for shit, same as the Third Estate of the French Revolution.
The lowering of oil prices might actually be seen as a tactical Neocon response since it not only harms Russia, it also hurts the US petrodollar which is dependent on a certain minimum level price for oil without which the bankster financial ponzi scheme could easily collapse.
In the event of a total economic collapse, the people with the guns might use the ensuing crisis to seize direct power in a coup d’etat of the US and certain other EU governments. Merkel and Germany would be prime targets in the event of such an occurrence since they appear to be playing footsie with the Russians, at least from the Neocon perspective. Note the recent spike in anti German rhetoric (calling them unresolved Nazis) by the pro Israel Zio-nazis themselves.
Oh what a tangled web they weave.
These are the stakes ladies and gentlemen. Gold bugs should figure out how they’re gonna eat their precious metals horde should the just in time food distribution system suddenly break down, a distinct possibility in the event of a complete financial collapse and subsequent coup.
Now back to your regularly scheduled bread and circuses programming.
GRIEVED: What a great comment. Thank you.
Paying educated people to post disruptive comments on websites is a cheap way of neutralising the output.
I’ve also noticed a tendency from here and other sites for many trolls to have an ‘English’ perspective. As if MI6 etc is actively pursuing disruption of anglophone alternative blogs.
Ishamid is clearly a Middle class UK, humanities graduate….desperate for a job. Many other troll input is from retired police intelligence types. Basically yobs who think themselves as smart, but just use bullying Instead of reason as per their career.
The author of the blog might want to adopt a more hardboiled approach to this.
Cheers
is ishamid a muslim tartar overrun by his narrow tribal views?
FYI rus was in crimea centuries before the arrival of the tartars
a character:
]ishamid said…
I think anyone reading the entirety of my words will see that, if anything, I am appalled at what I consider to be Putin’s treatment of the *Russians* of *Novorussia* and Odessa! My comments clearly show that I think the Novorussian/Russian narrative — on the whole — is more persuasive than the Ukrainian nationalist one and the Western one. I even said that I prefer Putin to both Western and Ukrainian leaders…
So how does that make me hostile to Russians?!?
Yes, I am very, perhaps severely, critical of Putin and what appears to be his blatant opportunism.’
1. what do u expect Russia to do? invade ukraine to ‘save’ novorossiya? any analyst will tell u thats what US wants on the Brzeinski Afghan model.
2.Putin an opportunist? every independent leader is smeared by those who find him too independent.
Putin is no opportunist…a canny tactician? yes
A Natoist newspaper writes the following propaganda:
On the part of the Kremlin’s rejection of the “South Stream” means the desire to raise the stakes in the confrontation with the West.
Natoists are expert to turn everythng upside down
@Syd
I agree that Putin is playing with fire by bringing things Jewish into this; but he has no option other than to deal with (accommodate) the Jews. And by ‘the Jews’ I mean the Global Jewish hierarchy, for such most certainly exists and has powerful branches in Russia as well as the Anglo-US-NATO world. My guess is that his reference to the Temple Mount was carefully agreed – if not even prompted by – those very same Russian Jews who – as always and as part of a their global system – will continue to play their very own game.
Anonymous Anonymous said…@ 06 December, 2014 13:56
“
Natoists are expert to turn everythng upside down”
No – they apparently don’t know how to turn maps upside down.
The west has declared war on Russia – but I’d just like to say to anyone Russian reading this – The vast majority of us ordinary people in the west are sick and appaled by our bastard leaders and we have no argument with the Russian people. We should get off our lazy western arses and revolt.
Yosser said…@ 06 December, 2014 11:23
” As if MI6 etc is actively pursuing disruption of anglophone alternative blogs.”
They always did/do but why restrict it to 6, why not include GCHQ and friends.
A datastream is a datastream.
Regards to Degsy – good to see you found a job.
Re Crimea, developing story:
http://tinyurl.com/mk7pmt9
I don’t find Putin’s claim unreasonable, but the problem with all historical claims is: where do you draw the line? or: which century counts more than any other?
To me the plebiscite is more relevant, and also was convincing in both turnout and percentage in favour.
But as the article by Madsen in the link above suggests, Crimea is part of a possible new development involving another peoples with historical claims in the region….
president putin is the leader of the free world and the christian world.
no leader, no nation wanting to be free, independent should ever trust amurderka, should never trust ersatz israel.
Re: QED, quod erat demonstrandum or “that which needed to be proven”.
The translation isn’t very helpful, but typical.
Erat: “in principia erat verbum”, in the Bible, translated as ‘in the beginning was the word’, i.e. ‘erat’ can simply mean ‘was’.
The quod (‘which’) is that which preceded (as in an argument, list of facts, formula etc.), so it could be translated more like:
The preceding (quod) has demonstrated itself as true/fact, or rather: the preceding facts/lists/ arguments have demonstrated that they are correct.
Or ‘issue over’, ‘argument resolved’or
‘no need for further discussion.’
Because the Baltic Sea comprises a body of water, QED if you bathe in it, you will get wet!
RE: Romandière said…
“Why don’t you start to read a good book written by a historian.
I advice you “The Wealth and Poverty of Nations. Why some are so rich and some are so poor”, from the author David S. Landes who is professor at Harvard University in Cambridge USA.
That’s was my source of knowledge and he’s no European. What filth are you going to spit now?”
Its laughable how you pretend that white supremacy isn’t reeking from your slander against the savage none white world. Lol, Landes is a racist and white supremacist (white people in the US are European and pretending otherwise is pitiful) and even wiki points out how he embraces the superiority of European civilization (especially the protestant variant).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Landes
your entire post is nothing but a personal attack implying i’m ignorant (read a book) and that i spout nothing but filth (exactly what filth). Not a single rebuttal of any specifics that i wrote.
France, UK, Spain, Italy, And the rest of the European pirates and conquerors have a bloody history of plundering none white societies while hiding behind humanism and a self appointed cultural and biological superiority. Is this the filth that you are complaining about? History is quite clear about European brutality and gangsterism. Europeans pretty it up by calling it imperialism but we all know that its naked aggression motivated by a desire to plunder weaker nations and peoples.
France and UK both engage in colonial wars and Libya is a French crime with England and the US being enablers. Is this fact more filth?
Civilizations in the Americas were not savages and thugs mutilating people. That’s called projection because it was Europeans that mutilated the savages for not meeting their quotas assigned to them (silver, gold, rubber, spices, etc).
Those thugs and savages in the Americas domesticated Maize, potatoes, peanuts, chile pepper, legumes, squash, Vanilla, Chocolate. They built cities, roads, aqueducts and were highly complex civilizations that were exterminated by disease and violence brought from Europe by self serving conquerors. Is this more filth?
Islamic societies are barbaric, China and Russia are Barbaric, Mexico is barbaric, i.e none white countries are savages in need of European “civilizing.”
They are all barbaric because they don’t sufficiently grovel to the superior European civilization and worst of all they have the gall to point out your dirty laundry.
How many Africans had their arms chopped off when they didn’t make their rubber, spice and cacoa quotas? How many Asian peasants were bombed when they demanded that Europeans leave? How many inferior slavs died at the hand of the superior aryans?
Exactly how much wealth was extracted during European colonialism? How much misery did European cause in their bloody quest to enrich themselves at the expense of weak people?
Russia and China are lucky they have that big button of doom because Europe and the US both want to liberate their Nation’s resources for the “greater good”
Its not just the US, UK, and Zionist but all the European elite that are trying to plunder the rest of the world to cover up the bankruptcy of their banks and economies.
Its always amazing how Europeans lack any self awareness of their own gangsterism.
Anglo Zionist is not completely accurate because it ignores how Western Europe and Japan are part of the system extracting tribute from the weaker nations and people.
Russia probably thought that since they are have the right pigmentation that they would get to join up with the “Western Powers” and live it up. Too bad for them that Russia is just too big and self sufficient to be allowed into the Western looting club.
I wonder if Saker can shed some light about how Russians drank the kool-aid due to them being so obviously white.
Are all Russians finally coming to the realization that despite their lack of skin pigmentation they are not welcome in the “western club?”
Its the same thing with a lot of the eastern europeans thinking that all they needed to do was break out their swastikas and that they would be be rewarded with loot. Lol, they are peasants that were deluded into thinking that their skin color made them part of the club.
The erosion of economic power of the G7 and the rest of Western europe has them scared shitless because it could mean an end to living off the sweat of foreign peasants. Its obvious that economic trading routes are shifting away from the G7 ability to skim off profits by being middlemen.
Ishamid’s favorite word seems to be “opportunism”. He brandishes the word as an insult.
Now, saying that a politician engages in “political opportunism” is a kind of pleonasm. Saying it over and over again does not help. I suppose it simply means that you play your cards the best way you can at any given time. If you consistently fail to do that, you won’t last as a politician. Politicians who engage in “political non-opportunism” as a guiding principle go extint very quickly.
@Narciso
“Europe” is too diverse to simply paint with one broad-stroke or to characterize it in only one way. I think its pretty clear Mediterranean Europe is separate from Atlantic or Northwestern Europe. Northwestern Europe is likewise separate from Eastern Europe. These areas are simply natural and they have their own geopolitical outlook. No matter how much Northwestern Europeans want to have a united Europe or how much elaborate bullshit they will invent to create some stupid tie between them and Greco-Roman(Mediterranean) culture they will always fail, its just simple geography which inevitably creates its own geopolitics.
Likewise your attempts to just paint ALL Europeans in a bad light is foolish without taking into account the influence that a certain civilization situated in a certain geographic area(Core Europe is just the continuation of Carolingian culture which was/is situated in Northwestern Europe). You mentioned Italy and Spain as if though these countries are entirely “Western” aka Carolingian but that is not the case in certain geographic areas two cultures can reside and often clash with each other. Spain is more or less divided along a Northwestern and Southeastern axis, the former leaning more towards Northwestern European Culture and the latter leaning more towards Mediterranean Europe. Likewise can be said of Italy the north leans towards Northwestern Europe the south obviously towards the Mediterranean and the center is sort of in between but more towards the Mediterranean.
These divisions are not necessarily recent but they go back centuries. Look at maps of Europe and you will constantly see this old tripartite division appear again and again; I would go so far as to say that its not just three but four actually, Scandinavia, Northern Britain, Iceland being the fourth division.
Well I hope this can clear up a lot because simply just saying European hides more than it reveals instead of that more specific terms must be used to describe these geographic areas and their civilizations.
@Wikispooks
Once again, I think your comment is very perceptive.
Incidentally, assuming it’s you behind wikispooks.com, I’d like to complement you on a very useful website.
Russia is facing an economic war from the NWO and Russia has no allies (with the exception of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Venezuela, Cuba, and Tajikistan etc ).
The BRics are merely business and trade partners, not allies (like the Warsaw Pact was).
NWO has a clear plan to subjugate Russia through economic warfare (trade embargo, fall in oil price etc ). Even the Ukraine coup was carefully planned many years ago in order to further pressure Russia.
Russia under Yeltsin became a pathetic colony of the West and the result was the destruction of Russian economy and the suffering of the Russian people.
Putin reversed a lot of these and increased Russian sovereignty and power. Putin’s Russia is the only truly independent country in the globalised world.
But still Russia is boxed in the corner. It doesnt have the sovereignty and self sufficiency of Ussr. It doesn’t have the military capabilities of Ussr. It doesn’t have allies. Parts of the economy are still controlled by corrupted mafia oligarchs who plundered the soviet state enterprises.
Russia is vulnerable as long as it is partially integrated into neoliberal globalization ( full integration means Russian subjugation and is not a choice – it is defeat ).
Russia should gradually disconnect from globalization. Russia has to increase self sufficiency and to create a new alliance of sovereign nations, in the form of the Eurasian union. An alternative bloc to the unipolar system of neoliberal globalisation.
If that is successful, people’s will rise up in many countries and there could be more nations to join a future “Eurasian union”.
The answer is not a return to a soviet form of government, but to learn from these mistakes and successes and to build something new which will confront the globalised system of NWO.
If Russia fails, then we will end up slaves of the NWO. There is no other country like Russia. China is more and more integrated to NWO and it’s economic and political system is grotesque ( slave capitalism for the masses with “communist” dictatorship of the party elites who also are profiting with lucrative business deals with Multinational corporations)
Thanks Syd
But we need more good editors/authors.
RE: Ivan Contreras
“”Europe” is too diverse to simply paint with one broad-stroke or to characterize it in only one way.
Likewise your attempts to just paint ALL Europeans in a bad light is foolish…
You mentioned Italy and Spain as if though these countries are entirely “Western”…”
**********************************
My response was in direct response to the ridiculous idea that Europe is “civilized” while the rest of the world is barbaric and full of savages in need of “European enlightenment”
Historically Europe is the region where the self-serving plunderers hide behind bs slogans of democracy, human right, etc. History is clear that all Europeans wanted “colonies” to plunder while spouting the nonsense that it was based on charity instead of crass self-interest.
Europeans like to pin all the blame on the US but they are all wannabe conquerors and plunderers. Its very tempting to pretend that you are superior and deserving of controlling other people’s destiny and most importantly their wealth.
Its obvious throughout history that Europeans (US, Canada, Australia are overwhelmingly European) created looting coalitions to rob and despoil weaker countries.
Right now since Europe, US, Japan (i.e Western Powers) are having trouble looting enough wealth to cover up their bankruptcy. Libya, Iraq, Syria, and Ukraine are all failing plunder expeditions.
Russia and China are clearly huge threats since they are militarily untouchable and they are clearly providing diplomatic and economic support to weaker nations under assault like Syria, Iran, etc.
Not to say all Europeans are responsible, its obvious that the European peasants are finding out that their voices don’t matter.
Italy, Spain, Greece, etc are all finding out that the gravy train is no longer operating but instead its now becoming loot the weaker EU members to bail out the banks and the imperial elite.
The EU is basically the European desire to control the rest of the world by collectively banding together and hoping that it will be enough power to intimidate and force other nations to continue with the tribute that helps prop up their huge consumptive economies.
Can’t have those Africans, Asians, Middle Easterners, and Latin Americans, etc industrializing and consuming their own natural wealth. There has to be “limits” to what those weak nation are allowed to hog for themselves because how else are Europeans, Americans, Japanese supposed to consume 50+ percent of the world natural resources when they only have ~15 percent of the world population.
Its obvious that there is a hierarchy in Europe and America that has decided that Russia and China needs to be taken down to distract the human sacrifices of the European Union. Most Europeans don’t want to admit that the whole EU is nothing but a looting organization that is now targeting them. Nato, The EU, and the US are not strong enough to directly occupy the savages or intimidate Russia and china into surrendering their sovereign wealth to European and American control. So what we are witnessing is a hail mary attempt by Nato to restart the plundering of Russia and China by trying to spark those nations into disintegrating (Ukraine and Hong kong are considered the weak link in their armor).
I have been profoundly troubled for a long time, as I’m sure many of the other commentators have been here. My father was on the Russian Convoys in WWII with the Royal Navy; we lived near a port City where Russian ships often visited; and I have personally hosted Russian visitors.
Even during the Cold War there was no bitternes of which I am personally aware against Russian citizens, some of whom now reside among us. I have been prodoundly impressed by the level of statesmanship and wisdom wxpressed by Mr. Putin and his closest advisors. Some of their speeches are of such quality that they should go down in history as among the greatest of all time. I have marvelled at their self-control and restraint in the face of such childish provocations. And I have blushed at the statements and behaviour of our unworthy Western leaders.
I sincerely hope that the Russian leadership and citizenry know that my opinion, like those of others posted here, reflects complete respect for Russia. Please understand that the psychopaths have so infltrated our society at so many levals that it would be difficult to oust them. Many of these parascites are faceless and nameless; we cannot easily fight an invisible attacker.
This anti-Russian nonsense is an entirely elite phenomenon. We wish we weree blessed with leadership such as yours and that our infiltrators were as easily identified as ther were in Russia. My apologies for any offense they have offered, and my very best wishes that good people everywhere come through this gathering storm with warmest wishes for the other intact.
Jim
I’m glad I came back to this thread.
@ Narciso – these are some compelling comments you’ve made, I agree with every word. You’ve given us a concise perspective of the historical plunder of resources that continues unabated today, and that explains so much of current events and the purposes driving them. Thank you. I look forward to more comments from you in future.
I usually defer to your analysis of Putin because of your vast background knowledge and your dedication to tracking the details of ongoing events, so it was with eager anticipation that I watched Putin’s speech to the Russian Federation after reading your account of its key points. Whereas so many others of his speeches filled me with admiration for the man, this one left me with fear and trembling for his future. Putin’s delivery was awkward and wooden, not heartfelt or sincere. Far from being rapt and attentive, the Federation was bored and uninterested with only an occasional light smattering of applause – the biggest at the end because it was finally over. These men and women looked as though they had heard all this many times before, were for the most part not in agreement with it, and were calculating not what best served the good of Russia, but how their own individual interests would be affected by Putin’s grand scheme; and the vast majority of them believing that they could cut far better deals for themselves by accommodation with the West – momentary pro-Putin popular sentiment be damned. I can understand your deriving the analysis you offered if you had only a written version to analyze, or are insensitive to the emotional tonus of the entire proceeding.
This is the first time that I felt Putin’s grasp on power to be in jeopardy, and for just the reasons that you previously mocked. He does govern by consensus, and it is the consensus of battling oligarchs that he is trying to congeal into a coherent opposition to Western predation and threats on the one hand, and into domestic postures and interventions that will benefit Russian people as a whole on the other; I believe that most of his audience cares little about either issue. Putin’s problem involves appeasing oligarchs who acquired their wealth by wholesale looting from the State and who then secured it abroad; Putin explicitly gave his blessings to their theft in this talk, and now naively expects the thieves to do what is best for Russia by bringing their booty home for the benefit of those from whom it was stolen in the first place. This is the first time that I have felt so clearly that the classic contradictions of capitalism have made it so that even this master of strategic maneuvering has dealt himself a losing hand.
Philoctetes: I think you are reading rather a lot into the audience, who said not a word. These are the same people who were rapt during the accession of Crimea speech.
That said, it is true that the speech was long and covered a laundry list of desired changes internally. He was being a cheerleader for these changes. However, until the banking system is changed he simply doesn’t have the capital to do very much– especially now w the economic stresses. However, you are right that there is much corruption, some of it within the Duma.
I personally am not informed as to the balance of patriotism within it & can only hope for it.
@Philoctetes 01:25
“Putin explicitly gave his blessings to their theft in this talk, and now naively expects the thieves to do what is best for Russia by bringing their booty home for the benefit of those from whom it was stolen in the first place. This is the first time that I have felt so clearly that the classic contradictions of capitalism have made it so that even this master of strategic maneuvering has dealt himself a losing hand.”
Or, he has just played Adam Smith’s “Invisible Hand” of the Russian capitalist market place.
Now , Russia needs to cut the outside funding to NGOs. Let them continue to exist but prevent their reception of funding from non-Russian sources(aka the US State Department).
Sorry to disagree, the Russian oligarchs exist by the grace of Putin. If he decides to nationalise their holdings, there won’t be much that they could do about it. However, he also needs “competent” people to run the industry, so basically it is a two way street. Also, yes, no more funding for NGOs. What are they doing in Russia in the first place? Russia could very well do without them. They should go home and get a real job.
Russians are Europeans.
The fact that the intention of the combined West, cemented together by the it’s fascist insanity from Washington, is to eliminate Russia, Russians and Russian culture, even to removing all Russian history from global archives is the enemy Russia faces. Sergei Glazyev says it best. You Tube “US Militarises Ukraine
in order to invade Russia”