Russia has the oil card, the Iran card, and the missile card (or so it thinks). Is Russia using them to threaten the West, or is the West picking the fight?
Posted by David Ignatius & Fareed Zakaria on April 27, 2007 12:09 PM
russia is not the enemy.why does west have bases around russia in balkans,also in former russian countries,russia fells threaten by it. why does west keep supporting albanian terrorists againts small country like serbia and they know that albania has ties with islamist terrorists WHY.
russia is not the enemy.why does west have bases around russia in balkans,also in former russian countries,russia fells threaten by it. why does west keep supporting albanian terrorists againts small country like serbia and they know that albania has ties with islamist terrorists WHY.
This week, we see Russian propaganda in action. At a summit between Russia and the European Union (EU), Vladimir Putin (the dictator of Russia) outright lied, "The Estonian authorities 'didn't just disperse demonstrators, they killed one demonstrator,' he said. 'We demand that the criminals be brought to account.'"
Putin claims that the Estonians deliberately killed a Russian looter. The reality is that the Russian looter was killed by another looter. "But the main activity [of the Russian rioters] was looting [in Estonia]. Dozens of shops were raided. The police, initially overwhelmed, made 1,000 arrests. One man was stabbed to death—in a row with another looter, Estonia says."
The killer was not the Estonian government. Rather, the killer was an ethnic Russian who opposes assimilation into Estonian culture. He killed another Russian who also refuses to assimilate into Estonian culture.
The only good news to come out of this Russia-EU summit is that Angela Merkel has found her voice to condemn Russia. The Russian thugs, at Putin's request, again prevented peaceful Russian protestors from traveling to Samara (from Moscow) to stage a peaceful demonstration. Merkel condemned the Russian thugs.
Soon -- very soon -- she will be joined by a re-invigorated French president, Nicolas Sarkozy. Unlike the limp-wristed Jacques Chirac, Sarkozy will not hesitate to condemn Russia and its lying thugs. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are the troika of Western civilization.
I think many others have already flipped the question around and understand that the U.S. would react the same way if Russia where proposing a MDS. I want to challenge people to look into the history of U.S. foreign policy that can be summarized by, "speak softly and carry the big stick." In other words, if you don't agree with the U.S. you're part of the Axis of Evil. They've supported dictators (responsible for countless human rights abuses) in Latin America, undermined democracy such as in Guatemala in 1954, which led to a 36 year Civil War. I bring this up because I think its hypocritical for the U.S. to profess to stand up for freedom, democracy, and liberty on the other side of the globe while it has led a unilateral movement to conduct propaganda against countries in the Western Hemisphere that will not follow its policies with a blindfold. The U.S. has met stark opposition that Russia and China lead and I would not expect the U.S. to like that one bit. When the U.S. treats others as equals then it will gain more respect in the world.
I think many others have already flipped the question around and understand that the U.S. would react the same way if Russia where proposing a MDS. I want to challenge people to look into the history of U.S. foreign policy that can be summarized by, "speak softly and carry the big stick." In other words, if you don't agree with the U.S. you're part of the Axis of Evil. They've supported dictators (responsible for countless human rights abuses) in Latin America, undermined democracy such as in Guatemala in 1954, which led to a 36 year Civil War. I bring this up because I think its hypocritical for the U.S. to profess to stand up for freedom, democracy, and liberty on the other side of the globe while it has led a unilateral movement to conduct propaganda against countries in the Western Hemisphere that will not follow its policies with a blindfold. The U.S. has met stark opposition that Russia and China lead and I would not expect the U.S. to like that one bit. When the U.S. treats others as equals then it will gain more respect in the world.
Also, if certain Serbs want to return to reside in Kosovo, then they must assimilate into the Kosovar culture.
In the same way, the Russian minority in Latvian must assimilate into Latvia culture. Russian culture (as indicated by the daily human-rights atrocities in Russia) is substantially inferior to Latvian culture. Latvian culture is part of Western culture.
Kosovar culture is not Western. However, Serbian culture is inferior to Kosovar culture. So, we should demand, not merely expect, that the Serbians choosing to reside in Kosovo must assimilate into Kosovar culture.
In 1999, the Serbians massacred the Kosovars. The blood of the murdered children cried from the grave.
The West tried to immediately respond. However, the Russians wanted to prevent the Westerners from rescuing the Kosovars. The Russians wanted the Serbs to exterminate the Kosovars and to seize Kosovo.
Then, Washington told Moscow to just go to hell.
We proceeded to bomb Serbia until the Serbs stopped their savagery. Strangely, Serbian-Americans supported Serbia. Then, again, Serbian culture is very similar to Russian culture.
After an extended rain of American cruise missiles on the Serbian animals, they finally relinquished Kosovo.
Now, fast forward to 2007. The Kosovars have clearly earned their independence from Serbia. We Westerners tend to, justifiably, side with the victims. The Kosovars are clearly victims. The Serbians massacred them by the thousands. To this day, the Serbian animals have hid the Serbian military thugs (who orchestrated the Kosovar massacre) from the war crimes tribunal in the Hague.
Acting like animals has a special appeal to the Russians. Again, they are fomenting trouble in Kosovo.
The Russians are foaming at the mouth, crazy russians! In his Victory Day speech Putin compared the foreign policy of the United States to the Third Reich.
I think the Russians totally lost it, and we should take care of these Russian loons before they snap. It is one thing to be crazy, but quite another to be crazy with nuclear weapons!
In his speech, Putin also acknowledges the rising racial enmity, extremism and xenophobia inside Russia.
Russia accused the European Union and NATO on Monday of conniving with nations that disrespect the memory of Soviet soldiers and seek to rewrite history, the latest angry words in a dispute deepened by Estonia's relocation of a World War II monument.
The dispute has tested relations between Russia and the West, already strained by disagreement on an array of issues ranging from human rights and democracy to arms control. The West is wary of President Vladimir Putin's increasingly assertive Kremlin, while Putin has accused Western forces of seeking to weaken Russia.
NATO and the EU sharply criticized the sometimes raucous protests by pro-Kremlin youth groups whose members picketed the Estonian Embassy in Moscow for a week, disrupting its operations. Along with the United States, they urged Russia to ensure security for the embassy and diplomats.
Poland, meanwhile, took a shot at Russia by saying it was preparing a law that would give local authorities a free hand to remove monuments that show "praise for the Communist dictatorship.
It is good for Americans to know where you stand, James B., and now Americans know they can not depend on your loyalty to America.
Again, your name calling and personal attack will not help you to convince the American people.
Instead, Americans increasingly understand that Russians can not be trusted.
i am a bona fide russophile, who is ecstatic about russia's great rise economically, politically, socially, athletically, militarily, and culturally since putin came to power. i am confident that the ship is headed in the right direction, stronger than ever.
i also disagree with american hegemony, something that became prevalent post-cold war.
the two ideas go hand-in-hand because i think that russia's resurgence and its strengthening alliance with germany, france, italy, spain, greece, hungary, china, india, israel, latin america, the arab world, and other nations could help end american hegemony.
you, on the other hand, are simply a racist, xenophobic, russophobe, who has written simply ludicrous hate speach such as:
"When Russians come to our country, we will return the favor. Just wait for Russians to come visit America! We will be ready for the savage Russians."
this, my friend, has no justification and explicitly reveals your deep racism, as well as possible emotional issues.
In your previous posts, James B. you spew anti-American propaganda. Therefore, it is impossible for Americans to believe you care about Americans reputation abroad because you have lost all credibility.
btw, do me a favor and stop traveling overseas so that i guess foreigners don't think all americans are in fact ugly americans. i mean, you can still go to puerto rico and the carribean, but just don't go to europe or asia. thanks.
James B. again you turn to personal attack and name calling which is a sign of your growing desperation. People respond negatively to your view when you begin name calling and personal attack.
It is unfortunate you conduct yourself this way in public because this is not the way to convince people of your view.
Now calm down before you have a stroke or heart attack.
The Nashi is one of the many Kremlin-directed groups serving part of the strong-arm of Russian-government "justice". The Nashi "spontaneously" hold violent demonstrations and harrass foreign diplomats of countries targetted by the Kremlin.
Click on the following link. The web site there has a picture of Russian animals who are members of the Nashi.
The Nashi, upon orders of the Russian government, attacked both Estonian diplomatic buildings and Estonian diplomats.
How can we in the West deal with these animals?
One solution is to expel Russia from the G-8 and to restore its original name: "G-7". The Russian government is no better than the Chinese government, yet China is not a member of the G-8. Why should Russia be a member when China is not one?
Expelling Russia from the G-8 would not alter our economic or military relations with Russia. However, expelling Russia will send a message to the Russian animals, in humiliating terms that even they can understand. The message is that we Westerners condemn Russian brutality and authoritarianism.
There is little difference between the Russian government and the Chinese government. The Kremlin calls itself a "democracy", yet both Moscow and Beijing suppress pro-democracy demonstrations. The Russian police, in animal-like fashion, grab peaceful protestors and beat them -- over and over and over. The pain is so great that the protestors wish that they were dead.
At the same time, Beijing and Moscow actively orchestrate "spontaneous", violent demonstrations against foreign governments. Pro-democracy demonstrations are silenced, but government-directed demonstrations are encouraged to explode in full force.
Here is the relevant quote. "His remarks came a day after thousands of protesters mobbed Japan's consulate in Guangzhou and a Japanese supermarket in Shenzhen Sunday. Two Japanese students were attacked in a Shanghai restaurant Sunday, and on Saturday, protesters in Beijing broke windows at the Japanese Embassy."
"That was swiftly followed by a blockade of Estonia's embassy in Moscow by protesters from Kremlin-run youth movements; they have attacked it with eggs, stones, paint and deafening music, ripped down the flag, and jostled the ambassador. They now threaten to demolish the embassy on May 9th, a public holiday that marks Soviet victory in Europe. Estonia has protested. So has NATO, mildly. Russia says it has stepped up security and blames Estonia for 'stoking tensions'."
Both Beijing and Moscow ruthlessly suppress public demonstrations and protests unless they are initiated by the governments themselves. Both the Chinese and the Russians ignore the Vienna Convention on protecting diplomats and diplomatic buildings.
James B. your personal attacks and wild speculation as to who we are is a sign of your desperation that you are not able to convince American people in a civilize debate. You spew anti-American propaganda to defend Russia. American people do not share your view on Russia, and you do not speak for the American people.
i simply can't feel for the estonians. they aggravated a sensitive issue, tried to rewrite history, and have built a very segregated state... you reap what you sow...
atheist, you forgot to point out that many estonians joined the german armed forces and the waffen-ss division during w.w. ii, contributing to the holocaust and that multipe jewish groups around the world have condemned estonia's act as condoning the holocaust and/or glorifying the nazis.
and, in fact, trying to rewrite history has brought out the same emotions elsewhere...
"Thousands of people have taken to the streets of the Chinese city of Shanghai in the latest in a series of anti-Japanese demonstrations.
Protesters carrying Chinese flags surrounded the Japanese consulate throwing stones and other missiles. "
Here is the relevant quote. "That is the story of Russia's reaction to Estonia's decision to move a Soviet-era war memorial and 12 unmarked graves from a prominent position in the capital, Tallinn, to its international military cemetery. [...] After the Estonian authorities sealed off the monument last weekend, hundreds of people, mostly from the 300,000-strong ethnic Russian population, rioted in Tallinn. They attacked the main theatre and the Academy of Arts, chanting 'F.u.c.k Estonia', and 'Russia, Russia'. Secondary-school pupils unfurled a banner outside parliament reading 'USSR forever'."
Here is the relevant quote. "The House resolution calls on Japan to unequivocally acknowledge its wartime sex slavery and officially apologize for it. Representative Mike Honda, the California Democrat [and Japanese-American] who is spearheading the legislation, said he hopes the House Committee on Foreign Affairs will vote on the resolution next month."
Folks, what -- the hell -- is the problem with the Russian-Estonians? They praise the Soviet Union. They possess Estonian citizenship yet demand the restoration of a statue that honors soldiers of the Soviet empire. By contrast, the Japanese-Americans have condemned the actions of Imperial Japan.
Somone. Anyone. Please tell me what -- the hell -- is the problem with the Russian-Estonians.
"The rioting [by Russians living in Estonia] was not wholly spontaneous. Russian embassy officials had previously met leading protesters in curious places such as a botanical garden, according to pictures leaked by local spy-catchers. After the riot, another front opened: state websites were swamped by attacks from computers with Kremlin IP addresses."
Here's the summary reduction. The Kremlin deliberately helped the Russian rioters to commit violence in Estonia.
What did the rioters do? Here's a quote.
"But the main activity [of the Russian rioters] was looting [in Estonia]. Dozens of shops were raided. The police, initially overwhelmed, made 1,000 arrests. One man was stabbed to death—in a row with another looter, Estonia says."
However, what is most shocking is not the violence. What is most shocking is that Russian-Estonians (i.e., ethnic Russians who possess Estonian citizenship) refuse to assimilate and continue to pledge allegiance to Moscow.
These Russian-Estonians become outraged when the Estonian government, justifiably, removed a statute honoring a Soviet soldier. It is the symbol of a nation that enslaved all of Eastern Europe. Why would someone possessing Estonian citizenship insist on maintaining a statue that honors a foreign nation (i.e., a nation outside of Estonia)?
Look at the Americans of Japanese ancestry. When was the last time that you heard Japanese-Americans demanding that a statue be constructed to honor Japanese soldiers? Never! Japanese-Americans are 100% American citizens, and their allegiance is to Washington.
In fact, a Japanese-American Congressman proposed a Congressional resolution demanding that Tokyo apologize for the crimes of World War II. If this Japanese-American thought and acted like the Russian-Estonians, then the Congressman would have sponsored a resolution praising Imperial Japan.
The behavior of the Russian-Estonians is absolutely disgusting. The Estonian government is justified in removing the statute of the Soviet soldier. Morever, the government should just destroy it.
Russian-Estonians who still cling to the Russian empire should, frankly, get the hell out of Estonia. They should go "back" to the Russian "fatherland".
i would like to repeat, once more, that atheist and mickey's comments are flagrant racist, extremist hate speech, and in no way reflect the opinion of more than 99% of americans.
i would like to advise both of them to re-read their posts when they sober up so that they can see for themselves the racist and xenophobic terms they are using.
both of you are free to be as shortsighted as you want to and hold a deep hatred of russia as you so evidently do. so, if you want, continue being fed western propaganda. continue preaching hate speak. continue living in a fantasy world far away from reality.
what more can i say. i, and my fellow citizens here on planet "reason", would like for you to come over to our side, but you may only do when you realize that russia is a force of good (many times counterbalancing the force of bad, which of lately has been revealed as american unilateralism) and that russia's growing strength and international clout is the best thing that civilization could have wished for.
i do wish, though, that you reveal to us your agenda because it'll make this even more interesting. assuming you are american, are you of a) eastern european decent with perceived scores to settle with russia, or are you b) affiliated with a NGO associated with an exiled oligarch, or are you c) just your run of the mill paranoid and/or brainwashed americans?
whatever the case, your goals won't come to pasture. in every aspect of competition, russia is forging ahead (vis-a-vis the u.s.). from the corporate boardroom, to science and technology, to general wealth and prosperity -- russia is up and the u.s. is down since putin came to power.
p.s. 2 bucks that mickey went to russia as a tourist, had a bad experience, and is one of those people who try to settle vendettas over the internet. i mean the way he/she always talks about tourists... it's pretty much obvious... maybe he/she tried to speak russian and the people laughed... anyway, he/she now has a grudge and oh, oh boy writing bad things about russia on the internet will get his/her revenge! so, so cool.
on the other hand, i think atheist is an elder gentleman, probably ex-armed forces. he was fed some information during training that the soviet union is evil empire, yada, yada, yada still living in the past.
The cornerstone of propaganda is to present falsehoods as fact. Russian propagandists claim that the demonstrators (on April 14 and 15) in Moscow and St. Petersburg were violent hooligans. The Russian propagandists claim that Western media is controlled by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or another branch of the American government.
CNN, NBC news, the "New York Times", the "Economist", and a parade of other reputable Western sources state that the demonstrators were 100% peaceful.
Which source is telling the truth? Russian propagandists or NBC news? You make the call.
Once you decide that the Western media is telling the truth, then read the story at the following link.
The shocked reporter from "Newsweek" wrote, "In St. Petersburg, a police baton broke former city Duma deputy Sergei Gulayev's hand in five places. Police chased down and beat every pedestrian they could, including pensioners. ... [Aleksandr] Kazantsev suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung after a policeman kicked him repeatedly."
The Russian police grabbed peaceful bystanders and violently beat them -- over and over and over. The police wielded their batons and clubbed the peace demonstrators -- over and over and over. Many of the victims were soaked in their own blood and needed hospitalization.
Visit the following Web link to see a video of Russian police brutality.
The more you write to defend Russia, James B., there more you expose your true color i.e. communist Red. James B. you spew anti-American propaganda, remember? You do not speak for most Americans.
As to our friends in Eastern Europe, they tell us that they lived under brutal Russian oppression until the fall of the Berlin Wall. No wonder europeans despise Russians.
When it comes to xenophobia and ethnic hatred, nobody can compare to the Russians. Just read the international press, UN reports, and Human Rights Organizations reports, people can understand how Russians discriminate against non-Russians, foreigners, and tourists.
While Russian policemen look the other way, Russian neo-Nazi skinheads roam the streets looking to beat up any non white foreigners and even killed them. Russian Policemen routinely shake down tourists for bribes and stop non-Russians on street corners to check documents but that is just a cover to steal money from wallet. When tourists go visit Russia, they have to pay more money than what Russians pay in everything from hotel, transportation, food, ...etc, they call it a double price system.
on the other hand, the u.s. has a lot to fear from china due to china holding the american economy in their hands. if the chinese begin to sell u.s. dollars, or simply even stop accumulating them, the u.s. economy will crumble like a house of cards. basically, right now, the american economy is bankrupt and only the purchase of foreign dollars by asian tigers and opec have kept it afloat... it's like these exporters had set a trap that the u.s. fell for...
mickey, your hate of russia is disgusting and most americans do not share your view. and a recent bbc poll indicated that the u.s. was far more disliked throughout the world than russia. only eastern europe, japan, australia, and the u.k. are on our side, while old europe, the arab world, latin america, and most of asia is with russia.
russia is a multicultural country, and has been for much longer than america has existed as a country. in fact, i think the u.s. has been promoting xenophobia and ethnic hatred the world round, from "sectarian" violence in iraq to the breakup of yugoslavia along ethnic lines. not to mention: "About 10.4% of the entire African-American male population in the United States aged 25 to 29 was incarcerated, by far the largest racial or ethnic group—by comparison, 2.4% of Hispanic men and 1.2% of white men in that same age group were incarcerated. According to a report by the Justice Policy Institute in 2002, the number of black men in prison has grown to five times the rate it was twenty years ago. Today, more African-American men are in jail than in college. In 2000 there were 791,600 black men in prison and 603,032 enrolled in college. In 1980, there were 143,000 black men in prison and 463,700 enrolled in college."
You spew anti-American propaganda, James B., yet you call yourself an American? I can see you are rooting for the Russians. You must be a commie Russian at heart pseudo-American.
I know a way to scare the Russians senseless. Just say to the Russians that the Chinese are coming! Upon hearing that, the Russian faces change into expressions of terror and doom. It works everytime. LOL
Yes, the 1.5 billion Chinese will take back their land in Siberia before the end of this century, and there is nothng the few million Russians can do about it. I just love it when the Chinese take care of the Russians, so we in the West do not have to dirty our hands dealing with the Russians.
i almost skipped over mickey's posts, but they too are racist and even went as far issuing a threat...
which is funny, really, because most americans are obese... or on anti-depressants... or have a lack of caring about news and politics, except entertainment news. so, mickey, i don't you will find anyone willing or able to accomplish what you say: "When Russians come to our country, we will return the favor. Just wait for Russians to come visit America! We will be ready for the savage Russians."
russia is a great country and in my opinion russians are one of the best people. they are generally smart (microsoft, intel, and boeing crave for russian employees), athletic (reall athletic as opposed to 50% of baseball players who are on steroids), patriotic, and spiritual.
man-to-man the u.s. will not stand a chance vs. russia and i also think that in a nuclear war we will not stand a chance due to russia's top-of-the-line missile technology (the topol-m), which is simply the best missile on the planet.
first of all, atheist from boston, u.s.a. your comments are racist and bring shame on the u.s.
i am an american who sympathizes with the russia greatly. i totally agree with the way they handled the other russia protests and please remember that extremist bolshevicks made up more than 50% of the measly 3,000 max protesters in st. petersburg or moscow.
i agree that russia retreated strategically and is about to win the cold war and i am so happy for it because i trust russia. in my opinion, russia is one of the most spiritual countries that has done the most, in many occasions, to maintain peace and stability throughout the world. 27 million soviets sacrificed their lives to defeat nazism in just one example of russia saving the world. i also admire russia's ingenuity, including its space accomplishments that leave america biting the dust.
anyway, i totally deplore atheists' vocabulary and his blatant racism that obviously stems from deep hatred, probably from constant exposure to western propaganda.
Stop, Alexey, enough of your copy and paste nonsense! Include a link if you must, but stop copy and paste all over the place! Say it in your own words, thoughts, and ideas, or are you too afraid to reveal your lack of education? Red Army and Red Guard are Russian invention, so do not try to change focus and divert our attention to China. I like the idea of the Chinese taking care of you Russians, so we in the west do not have to dirty our hands. I agree Russia does not fit into a western mold.
Dear Atheist, mixing up politics (young thugs instigated by the Kremlin) and people ("Russian barbarians" as you call us all) evidences misunderstanding of not only Russia, but politics in general. And History. Ronald Reagan who is respected in Russia has made the difference (you may be interested to read your former President's diaries coming out in June).
Anyway, quotes are quotes, so let me also quote:
William Rusher, a Distinguished Fellow of the Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy and author of "How to Win Arguments":
"Putin has clearly not opted to make Russia a tame junior partner of the West. But one wonders by what right the West expected any such thing? Today's Russia is a long comedown from the mighty Soviet Union. Its gross national product is almost laughable, and its population is actually declining. Alcoholism is nearly as ubiquitous as the common cold. But it still boasts an enormous landmass, and its has a centuries-long history of authoritarianism which seems to suit much of the population better than the kind of unfettered democracy President Bush thinks the whole world is longing for.
I suggest that we stop trying to force Russia into a Western mold for which it is wholly unprepared. In the long run -- by which I mean several decades -- Russia's attention is sure to be drawn ever more forcibly to the growth of China, with which it shares a 4,000-mile border. As China grows, prospers, and expands its military, the vast spaces of Siberia and other parts of eastern Russia are bound to look appetizing. Russia, even if its population stops shrinking, will be no match for it. Where can it look for allies and protectors, if not to the West? And the West, led by the United States, will have its own profound reservations about the expansion of Chinese power.
In the long run, therefore, the "problem" of Russia will solve itself. Meanwhile, we will just have to get accustomed to a Russia that bears very little resemblance to a New England town meeting."
And, as to young thugs, they are like the "Red Guards" (“Hóng Wèi Bīng”), a mass movement of civilians, mostly students and other young people, who were mobilized by Mao Zedong and his allies to defeat their enemies within the struggle for power officially called the Cultural Revolution, between 1966 and 1976.
This is frightening. But the movement will only be growing if feeded by your kind of condemnations of Russia and the "Russian animals".
And, it seems, you are just missing (or never knew) something. We lost about 30 million (!) of our beloved in that Second World War. I do not care about politics. As most in Russia I do care about the memories of those killed. It's easier to care about Arlington, Virginia, but we are pitty to have the graves all over Europe.
"The rioting [by Russians living in Estonia] was not wholly spontaneous. Russian embassy officials had previously met leading protesters in curious places such as a botanical garden, according to pictures leaked by local spy-catchers. After the riot, another front opened: state websites were swamped by attacks from computers with Kremlin IP addresses."
Here's the summary reduction. The Kremlin deliberately helped the Russian rioters to commit violence in Estonia.
What did the rioters do? Here's a quote.
"But the main activity [of the Russian rioters] was looting [in Estonia]. Dozens of shops were raided. The police, initially overwhelmed, made 1,000 arrests. One man was stabbed to death—in a row with another looter, Estonia says."
The Russian animals did not stop there. In Russia itself, Russian thugs -- under orders by the Kremlin -- committed violence against the Estonian embassy and its personnel. Here's a quote.
"That was swiftly followed by a blockade of Estonia's embassy in Moscow by protesters from Kremlin-run youth movements; they have attacked it with eggs, stones, paint and deafening music, ripped down the flag, and jostled the ambassador. They now threaten to demolish the embassy on May 9th, a public holiday that marks Soviet victory in Europe."
Just look at these Russian animals. I have not, in any way, exaggerated their barbaric behavior. Just read the article at the above link.
The Estonians justifiably joined NATO. They do not threaten Russia. The Russians, however, do threaten the Estonians.
A historical reminder (sorry, it may be a bit long, but worth reading to refresh memories):
"Zbigniew Brzezinski: How the US provoked the Soviet Union into invading Afghanistan
Translated from the French by William Blum on: 19.11.2004
First Published: Le Nouvel Observateur (France), Jan 15-21, 1998, p. 76
Question: The former director of the CIA, Robert Gates, stated in his memoirs From the Shadows, that American intelligence services began to aid the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan six months before the Soviet intervention. In this period you were the national security adviser to President Carter. You therefore played a role in this affair. Is that correct?
Brzezinski: Yes. According to the official version of history, CIA aid to the Mujahadeen began during 1980, that is to say, after the Soviet army invaded Afghanistan, 24 Dec 1979. But the reality, closely guarded until now, is completely otherwise: Indeed, it was July 3, 1979 that President Carter signed the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul. And that very day, I wrote a note to the president in which I explained to him that in my opinion this aid was going to induce a Soviet military intervention.
Question: Despite this risk, you were an advocate of this covert action. But perhaps you yourself desired this Soviet entry into war and looked to provoke it?
Brzezinski: It isn't quite that. We didn't push the Russians to intervene, but we knowingly increased the probability that they would.
Question: When the Soviets justified their intervention by asserting that they intended to fight against secret involvement of the United States in Afghanistan, people didn't believe them. However, there was a basis of truth. You don't regret anything today?
Brzezinski: Regret what? That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had the effect of drawing the Russians into the Afghan trap and you want me to regret it? The day that the Soviets officially crossed the border, I wrote to President Carter, in substance: We now have the opportunity of giving to the USSR its Vietnam war. Indeed, for almost 10 years, Moscow had to carry on a war unsupportable by the government, a conflict that brought about the demoralization and finally the breakup of the Soviet empire.
Question: And neither do you regret having supported the Islamic fundamentalists, having given arms and advice to future terrorists?
Brzezinski: What is most important to the history of the world? The Taliban or the collapse of the Soviet empire? Some stirred-up Moslems or the liberation of Central Europe and the end of the cold war?**
Question: Some stirred-up Moslems? But it has been said and repeated: Islamic fundamentalism represents a world menace today.
Brzezinski: Nonsense! It is said that the West had a global policy in regard to Islam. That is stupid. There isn't a global Islam. Look at Islam in a rational manner and without demagoguery or emotion. It is the leading religion of the world with 1.5 billion followers. But what is there in common among Saudi Arabian fundamentalism, moderate Morocco, Pakistan militarism, Egyptian pro-Western or Central Asian secularism? Nothing more than what unites the Christian countries.
William Blum, Author of "Killing Hope: U.S. Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II" and "Rogue State: A Guide to the World's Only Superpower". Portions of the books can be read at: http://members.aol.com/superogue/homepage.htm (with a link to Killing Hope"
Well, we do not have a reson to forget (as well as clear cut promises of NATO not to go East given to Gorby).
Now, the missile defenses in Poland and the Czech Republic: another round of "knowingly increasing the probability" that Russians start reacting (to the detriment of Russian - European relations, which may be a goal of Washington D.C.)? And Estonia - still another round? Who's next in line?
Hey, Russia is not ideal (curruption, no democracy Western style, organized economic crime), and I am not the fan of Putin, but someone looks like being too eager to push Russia into being even worse than that. A bogy needed again?
Russians should not be regarded to be totally stupid. If George, Condy and Dick really think (which I doubt) of defending Europeans againts non-existent missile threat from Iran than let them deploy ABM radars and missiles in Turkey and Greece (also NATO member countries) looking more South and South-East, than just East as in the case of Poland and the Czech Republic! And the best place for ABM systems against North Korea is Japan, of course!
We must treat Russians the same way they treat Americans. Russian policemen routinely shake down foreigners, including American travellers in Russia. Russian Policemen demand bribe from foreigners, including American tourists. Russian policemen silently approve and look the other way when Russian neo-Nazi skinheads beat non-white foreigners, including African Americans, dark skin latinos, and Asian Americans. Russians are xenophobic racist bullies.
When Russians come to our country, we will return the favor. Just wait for Russians to come visit America! We will be ready for the savage Russians.
We must treat Russians the same way they treat Americans. Russian policemen routinely shake down foreigners, including American travellers in Russia. Russian Policemen demand bribe from foreigners, including American tourists. Russian policemen silently approve and look the other way when Russian neo-Nazi skinheads beat non-white foreigners, including African Americans, dark skin latinos, and Asian Americans. Russians are xenophobic racist bullies.
When Russians come to our country, we will return the favor. Just wait for Russians to come visit America! We will be ready for the savage Russians.
In Estonia, the Russian-speaking protestors were not demonstrating peacefully. They committed violence and looted stores. The Estonian police acted appropriately.
Hopefully, next time, the Estonian police will use deadly force against people who commit violence.
In the case of the demonstrations held on April 13 and 14, the protesters were 100% peaceful. Yet, the Russian police beat innocent bystanders. The police beat them -- over and over and over -- to the point of breaking bones and shedding blood.
The shocked reporter from "Newsweek" wrote, "In St. Petersburg, a police baton broke former city Duma deputy Sergei Gulayev's hand in five places. Police chased down and beat every pedestrian they could, including pensioners. ... [Aleksandr] Kazantsev suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung after a policeman kicked him repeatedly."
Visit the following Web link to see a video of Russian police brutality.
Many Russian bigots, who compose the majority of people in Russia, (1) support using maximum force against peaceful demonstrators but (2) oppose using force to stop Russian-speakers who commit animal-like violence against non-Russians.
Just look at those bigots surrounding the Estonian Embassy in Russia. Look at those animals. They speak Russian and violently attack diplomats from both Sweden and Estonia.
1) Sorry, but Russia is far from being a "brutal authoritarian state". It's a wishful thinking. Russian democracy is far from being ideal or even good, but it's a democracy - it has a good deal of necessary political & economical freedom.
2) Concerning the demonstrators - I'm not fond of how Russian police behaves. But compare it to what Estonian government & police are doing to the demonstrations in Tallinn - because these actions are the next elements of an old-running state policy of ethnic oppression - and it's going on inside the EU.
God, why don't these world leaders(?) conduct their politics in a mature manner?
A fight is a fight and irrespective of the fact that who initiates it, both the parties involved end up as losers.
We had seen this happen during the Cold War era and the History will repeat itself if both these nations - the US and Russia - continue to go about in this immature manner.
To understand the relationship between Russia and the West, we must first understand the state of Russian society. On April 15, a group of peaceful demonstrators in St. Petersburg walked to the site of a peaceful demonstration, at which they pleaded for the government to become more democratic. In response, Russian special-forces police popped out of nowhere and charged the crowd of demonstrators. They beat the living daylights of them. Police took batons and beat an innocent bystander -- over and over and over. He was covered in blood."" Yeah, we don't abuse protesters in US. How many men die in American prisons, how many killed by police? You people didn't mind Uncle Joe's undemocratic ways when he was saving you from the gas chambers but now that you can get a better deal from Uncle George good bye Mother Russia. The Russians treated you people better than nearly every other nation.
You complain because Putin resents American agitators undermining the Russian social and political order, yet Bush expels or denies visas to guests of nearly every political persuasion with little or no reason other than he doesn't like them. Not to mention 2 vicious wars of our own and supporting another's 2 vicious wars. Highest incarceration rates in world, millions without medical care, appalling infant mortality rates,....don't get me started... You ought to mind your own Gosh Darned business, there is plenty to be done right at home.
Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com
excerpts from the new best seller 'HOW RUSSIA WON THE COLD WAR AND THE UNRAVELLING OF THE POWER OF FALSE NARRATIVES'
'The russian strategy is the opposite of what they did in the 80's (pick a fight with neighbouring countries in the south like afghanistan) and 90's(radical internal restructuring).
Now they are consolidating ties with like minded countries in the neighbourhood like china, germany, venezuela, s.arabia, turkey, indonesia, n.korea, myanmar and even cold war foe pakistan. All this while simultaneously increasing control over previously chaotic internal economic and political structures. Powering all these moves are the bountiful natural resources(hydrocarbons) of mother russia and quite diplomacy.
Funny thing is america is now doing what the soviets did previously in the 80s and 90s. Preoccupied with Iraq its influence and standing is being eroded in the south, east and even west,
while the great czar putin laughs all the way to the bank!
Speaking about missile shields this is a waste of time (and money) in the age of ever improving and easily available cruise missiles and long range stealth submarines. Atleast thats what the russians (and a lot of others) think.
The cold war never ended. The russians have just won it after a smart strategic retreat. They now have the moral upperhand and are considered a force for good by a majority of global citizens.'
the west(read america and britain mostly) is now on an irretrievable path to its status as a second rate backwater just like it has been for most of human history. The future belongs to asia, russia and germany. Bush et al will have to accept this or be forced to as they are now.
perhaps we have alienated Russia, as well as the rest of the 'free' world, and the crux of it all is why arent the American people aware and/or concerned about the fall off in pride at home and respect everywhere else? Those Republicans who continue to back the regieme, look solely to the economic enterprize and disregard
the other aspects of statehood. Why arent we all looking at this with the hairy eyeball, looking for answers about the most corrupt administration since Nixon. why do even the offended democrates hold back when blod for money is the currency of the day? I suspect that the people, will indeed, rise to the occasion soon, when the threats come to the surface and all the dirty tricks are turned inside out for all to see. Soon, enough of this domestic discord will help shape our forign policy, and it wont be Dick and George calling the shots. the american people are going to have to speak, and the world is waiting
Russia is just being Russia . The USA wants the world's love , Russia wants the world's respect .
Putin has done a great job stabilizing Russia ( 70% approval rating , Bush ..... well never mind . ) . The economy is booming , the government is functioning , law and order is maintained . Yet the West complains about the lack of democracy . " I don't get no respect !!!! "
Putin's consolidation of power is not unique. The Guardian, on April 24, published a piece by Naomi Wolf that is worth comparing: "Fascist America, in 10 easy steps."
Chinese society is rife with dishonest, morally repugnant people. If they can make a fast buck while harming you, they will do so.
The Chinese regularly export contaminated food -- including infant formula -- to the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can catch only a few of the contaminated food crates because the FDA does not have the manpower to test each crate of Chinese food.
The label "Made in China" is equivalent to a skull and cross bones -- a warning of lethality.
Note that Russia does not have the same degree of dishonesty. When was the last time that you heard of a Russian company using human hair as an ingredient in soy sauce?
Accuse Israel and the USA of designs hegemony is just expressing a personal 'hatred' of democrtic countries - although they may accused of many faults - without answering the basic question.
It is your privilege to be so subjective instead of expressing an objective opinion.
Dave! _ That would be an accurate asessment. I, and most of the rest of the world, blames Bush and the NeoCOn movement for much of the world's problems. Neoconservatism replaces common sense and observation with a "belief" in how the world is supposed to be. That has, and continues to have, a profound impact on all of their polcies that are troubling. Their belief in Free Trade as caused economic chaos at home and in Europe. Multinational corporations (read: Amecian corporation with offshore mail boxes) close down local operaions and chase cheape labor costs acrosss he globe while flat out dodging their social, national and fiscal obligations. NeoCon beliefs in American hegimony, we are the sole world super power, involves us in risky foreign adventures. Our diplomatic polcies are subservient to these. When confront with reality, rather than adapt, the true believers cling ever more tightly to their belief system and blame everyone else for undermining their efforts, for misunderstaning the policies, for not giving them enough time to work, etc. Witness Bush's clinging to Iraq and the "surge" when it is obvious to everyone that it is merely a continuation of a failed policy, no different than Johnson's "surge" in Vietname that managed to get 20,000 more of our children killed. Witness a dollar falling like a rock against the Euro and every other foreign currancy, witness the disconnect between a stock market with a DOW AT 13,000 but with most Amercian workers witnessing lower wages, $4 a gallon gasoline, ever higher food, medicine, and energy costs, and a present and future tax burdon that will crush them. On the international scene, everyone ppears to be trying to figure out what these guys are up to, attempting to deal with them as if they were sane, rational people, governed by logic. Well, unfortunately, it has become all too obvious that they are not.
NeoConseratism is a disaster and Bush and Cheney and Rice and Wolfowitz are true believers, incompetent and dangerous fanatics. It is time for you to recognize that as a fact.
Here are some things Putin said about culture in 4/26/07 speech:
"There has been an increasing influx of money from abroad being used to intervene directly in our internal affairs. Looking back at the more distant past, we recall the talk about the civilising role of colonial powers during the colonial era. Today, ‘civilisation’ has been replaced by democratisation, but the aim is the same – to ensure unilateral gains and one’s own advantage, and to pursue one’s own interests.
Some are not above using the dirtiest techniques, attempting to ignite inter-ethnic and inter-religious hatred in our multiethnic and democratic country. In this respect, I ask you to speed up the adoption of amendments to the law introducing stricter liability for extremist actions...
The protracted economic crisis the country has gone through has had severe consequences for our country’s intelligentsia, for the situation in the arts and literature, for our people’s culture and creativity. To be honest, these difficulties have all but led to the disappearance of many of our spiritual and moral
Readers’ Responses to Our Question (97)
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October 12, 2007 8:28 PM | Report Offensive Comments
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September 26, 2007 11:52 PM | Report Offensive Comments
WHY DOES WEST KEEP SUPPORTING ALBANIANS AGAINS SERBS.WE KNOW THAT IN ALBANIA YOU HAVE TERORISTS CAMPS
September 23, 2007 12:51 AM | Report Offensive Comments
WHY DOES WEST KEEP SUPPORTING ALBANIANS AGAINS SERBS.WE KNOW THAT IN ALBANIA YOU HAVE TERORISTS CAMPS
September 23, 2007 12:51 AM | Report Offensive Comments
WHY DOES WEST KEEP SUPPORTING ALBANIANS AGAINS SERBS.WE KNOW THAT IN ALBANIA YOU HAVE TERORISTS CAMPS
September 23, 2007 12:50 AM | Report Offensive Comments
WHY DOES WEST KEEP SUPPORTING ALBANIANS AGAINS SERBS.WE KNOW THAT IN ALBANIA YOU HAVE TERORISTS CAMPS
September 23, 2007 12:50 AM | Report Offensive Comments
WHY DOES WEST KEEP SUPPORTING ALBANIANS AGAINS SERBS.WE KNOW THAT IN ALBANIA YOU HAVE TERORISTS CAMPS
September 23, 2007 12:50 AM | Report Offensive Comments
russia is not the enemy.why does west have bases around russia in balkans,also in former russian countries,russia fells threaten by it. why does west keep supporting albanian terrorists againts small country like serbia and they know that albania has ties with islamist terrorists WHY.
September 23, 2007 12:47 AM | Report Offensive Comments
russia is not the enemy.why does west have bases around russia in balkans,also in former russian countries,russia fells threaten by it. why does west keep supporting albanian terrorists againts small country like serbia and they know that albania has ties with islamist terrorists WHY.
September 23, 2007 12:46 AM | Report Offensive Comments
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July 14, 2007 5:23 AM | Report Offensive Comments
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July 14, 2007 5:20 AM | Report Offensive Comments
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July 14, 2007 5:17 AM | Report Offensive Comments
This week, we see Russian propaganda in action. At a summit between Russia and the European Union (EU), Vladimir Putin (the dictator of Russia) outright lied, "The Estonian authorities 'didn't just disperse demonstrators, they killed one demonstrator,' he said. 'We demand that the criminals be brought to account.'"
"Putin, Merkel Exchanges Overshadow Russia-EU Summit" (Bloomberg)
-----------------------------------------------------
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=aEZXd4.p62C4&refer=germany
Putin claims that the Estonians deliberately killed a Russian looter. The reality is that the Russian looter was killed by another looter. "But the main activity [of the Russian rioters] was looting [in Estonia]. Dozens of shops were raided. The police, initially overwhelmed, made 1,000 arrests. One man was stabbed to death—in a row with another looter, Estonia says."
"Bronze meddling" ("The Economist")
-----------------
http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9122766
The killer was not the Estonian government. Rather, the killer was an ethnic Russian who opposes assimilation into Estonian culture. He killed another Russian who also refuses to assimilate into Estonian culture.
The only good news to come out of this Russia-EU summit is that Angela Merkel has found her voice to condemn Russia. The Russian thugs, at Putin's request, again prevented peaceful Russian protestors from traveling to Samara (from Moscow) to stage a peaceful demonstration. Merkel condemned the Russian thugs.
Soon -- very soon -- she will be joined by a re-invigorated French president, Nicolas Sarkozy. Unlike the limp-wristed Jacques Chirac, Sarkozy will not hesitate to condemn Russia and its lying thugs. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are the troika of Western civilization.
May 18, 2007 11:03 AM | Report Offensive Comments
I think many others have already flipped the question around and understand that the U.S. would react the same way if Russia where proposing a MDS. I want to challenge people to look into the history of U.S. foreign policy that can be summarized by, "speak softly and carry the big stick." In other words, if you don't agree with the U.S. you're part of the Axis of Evil. They've supported dictators (responsible for countless human rights abuses) in Latin America, undermined democracy such as in Guatemala in 1954, which led to a 36 year Civil War. I bring this up because I think its hypocritical for the U.S. to profess to stand up for freedom, democracy, and liberty on the other side of the globe while it has led a unilateral movement to conduct propaganda against countries in the Western Hemisphere that will not follow its policies with a blindfold. The U.S. has met stark opposition that Russia and China lead and I would not expect the U.S. to like that one bit. When the U.S. treats others as equals then it will gain more respect in the world.
May 16, 2007 11:59 PM | Report Offensive Comments
I think many others have already flipped the question around and understand that the U.S. would react the same way if Russia where proposing a MDS. I want to challenge people to look into the history of U.S. foreign policy that can be summarized by, "speak softly and carry the big stick." In other words, if you don't agree with the U.S. you're part of the Axis of Evil. They've supported dictators (responsible for countless human rights abuses) in Latin America, undermined democracy such as in Guatemala in 1954, which led to a 36 year Civil War. I bring this up because I think its hypocritical for the U.S. to profess to stand up for freedom, democracy, and liberty on the other side of the globe while it has led a unilateral movement to conduct propaganda against countries in the Western Hemisphere that will not follow its policies with a blindfold. The U.S. has met stark opposition that Russia and China lead and I would not expect the U.S. to like that one bit. When the U.S. treats others as equals then it will gain more respect in the world.
May 16, 2007 11:57 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Also, if certain Serbs want to return to reside in Kosovo, then they must assimilate into the Kosovar culture.
In the same way, the Russian minority in Latvian must assimilate into Latvia culture. Russian culture (as indicated by the daily human-rights atrocities in Russia) is substantially inferior to Latvian culture. Latvian culture is part of Western culture.
Kosovar culture is not Western. However, Serbian culture is inferior to Kosovar culture. So, we should demand, not merely expect, that the Serbians choosing to reside in Kosovo must assimilate into Kosovar culture.
May 13, 2007 4:26 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Barbarism knows no bounds in Russia. Read the shocking story at the following link.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/12/AR2007031200972.html
In 1999, the Serbians massacred the Kosovars. The blood of the murdered children cried from the grave.
The West tried to immediately respond. However, the Russians wanted to prevent the Westerners from rescuing the Kosovars. The Russians wanted the Serbs to exterminate the Kosovars and to seize Kosovo.
Then, Washington told Moscow to just go to hell.
We proceeded to bomb Serbia until the Serbs stopped their savagery. Strangely, Serbian-Americans supported Serbia. Then, again, Serbian culture is very similar to Russian culture.
After an extended rain of American cruise missiles on the Serbian animals, they finally relinquished Kosovo.
Now, fast forward to 2007. The Kosovars have clearly earned their independence from Serbia. We Westerners tend to, justifiably, side with the victims. The Kosovars are clearly victims. The Serbians massacred them by the thousands. To this day, the Serbian animals have hid the Serbian military thugs (who orchestrated the Kosovar massacre) from the war crimes tribunal in the Hague.
Acting like animals has a special appeal to the Russians. Again, they are fomenting trouble in Kosovo.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6628066,00.html
May 13, 2007 4:14 AM | Report Offensive Comments
The Russians are foaming at the mouth, crazy russians! In his Victory Day speech Putin compared the foreign policy of the United States to the Third Reich.
I think the Russians totally lost it, and we should take care of these Russian loons before they snap. It is one thing to be crazy, but quite another to be crazy with nuclear weapons!
In his speech, Putin also acknowledges the rising racial enmity, extremism and xenophobia inside Russia.
May 10, 2007 11:13 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Russia accused the European Union and NATO on Monday of conniving with nations that disrespect the memory of Soviet soldiers and seek to rewrite history, the latest angry words in a dispute deepened by Estonia's relocation of a World War II monument.
The dispute has tested relations between Russia and the West, already strained by disagreement on an array of issues ranging from human rights and democracy to arms control. The West is wary of President Vladimir Putin's increasingly assertive Kremlin, while Putin has accused Western forces of seeking to weaken Russia.
NATO and the EU sharply criticized the sometimes raucous protests by pro-Kremlin youth groups whose members picketed the Estonian Embassy in Moscow for a week, disrupting its operations. Along with the United States, they urged Russia to ensure security for the embassy and diplomats.
Poland, meanwhile, took a shot at Russia by saying it was preparing a law that would give local authorities a free hand to remove monuments that show "praise for the Communist dictatorship.
May 7, 2007 7:50 PM | Report Offensive Comments
It is good for Americans to know where you stand, James B., and now Americans know they can not depend on your loyalty to America.
Again, your name calling and personal attack will not help you to convince the American people.
Instead, Americans increasingly understand that Russians can not be trusted.
May 7, 2007 12:20 AM | Report Offensive Comments
first, get a life .
i am a bona fide russophile, who is ecstatic about russia's great rise economically, politically, socially, athletically, militarily, and culturally since putin came to power. i am confident that the ship is headed in the right direction, stronger than ever.
i also disagree with american hegemony, something that became prevalent post-cold war.
the two ideas go hand-in-hand because i think that russia's resurgence and its strengthening alliance with germany, france, italy, spain, greece, hungary, china, india, israel, latin america, the arab world, and other nations could help end american hegemony.
you, on the other hand, are simply a racist, xenophobic, russophobe, who has written simply ludicrous hate speach such as:
"When Russians come to our country, we will return the favor. Just wait for Russians to come visit America! We will be ready for the savage Russians."
this, my friend, has no justification and explicitly reveals your deep racism, as well as possible emotional issues.
but thanks for the laughs today. it was fun.
May 6, 2007 11:21 PM | Report Offensive Comments
In your previous posts, James B. you spew anti-American propaganda. Therefore, it is impossible for Americans to believe you care about Americans reputation abroad because you have lost all credibility.
May 6, 2007 8:47 PM | Report Offensive Comments
btw, do me a favor and stop traveling overseas so that i guess foreigners don't think all americans are in fact ugly americans. i mean, you can still go to puerto rico and the carribean, but just don't go to europe or asia. thanks.
May 6, 2007 7:35 PM | Report Offensive Comments
lol, you are such a dork.
May 6, 2007 7:20 PM | Report Offensive Comments
James B. again you turn to personal attack and name calling which is a sign of your growing desperation. People respond negatively to your view when you begin name calling and personal attack.
It is unfortunate you conduct yourself this way in public because this is not the way to convince people of your view.
Now calm down before you have a stroke or heart attack.
May 6, 2007 6:41 PM | Report Offensive Comments
mickey, you have no credibility due to this statement of yours:
"When Russians come to our country, we will return the favor. Just wait for Russians to come visit America! We will be ready for the savage Russians."
anyone who reads that understands that you are bitter and racist and xenophobic and uneducated.
try to live more in the present than in the past.
May 6, 2007 5:50 PM | Report Offensive Comments
The Nashi is one of the many Kremlin-directed groups serving part of the strong-arm of Russian-government "justice". The Nashi "spontaneously" hold violent demonstrations and harrass foreign diplomats of countries targetted by the Kremlin.
Click on the following link. The web site there has a picture of Russian animals who are members of the Nashi.
Nashi
-----
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6624549.stm
The Nashi, upon orders of the Russian government, attacked both Estonian diplomatic buildings and Estonian diplomats.
How can we in the West deal with these animals?
One solution is to expel Russia from the G-8 and to restore its original name: "G-7". The Russian government is no better than the Chinese government, yet China is not a member of the G-8. Why should Russia be a member when China is not one?
Expelling Russia from the G-8 would not alter our economic or military relations with Russia. However, expelling Russia will send a message to the Russian animals, in humiliating terms that even they can understand. The message is that we Westerners condemn Russian brutality and authoritarianism.
May 6, 2007 2:56 PM | Report Offensive Comments
There is little difference between the Russian government and the Chinese government. The Kremlin calls itself a "democracy", yet both Moscow and Beijing suppress pro-democracy demonstrations. The Russian police, in animal-like fashion, grab peaceful protestors and beat them -- over and over and over. The pain is so great that the protestors wish that they were dead.
At the same time, Beijing and Moscow actively orchestrate "spontaneous", violent demonstrations against foreign governments. Pro-democracy demonstrations are silenced, but government-directed demonstrations are encouraged to explode in full force.
Consider the following.
Chinese demonstrations against Japan
------------------------------------
http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2005-04/2005-04-11-voa12.cfm?CFID=69458939&CFTOKEN=79686581
Here is the relevant quote. "His remarks came a day after thousands of protesters mobbed Japan's consulate in Guangzhou and a Japanese supermarket in Shenzhen Sunday. Two Japanese students were attacked in a Shanghai restaurant Sunday, and on Saturday, protesters in Beijing broke windows at the Japanese Embassy."
Russian demonstrations against Estonia
--------------------------------------
http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9122766
"That was swiftly followed by a blockade of Estonia's embassy in Moscow by protesters from Kremlin-run youth movements; they have attacked it with eggs, stones, paint and deafening music, ripped down the flag, and jostled the ambassador. They now threaten to demolish the embassy on May 9th, a public holiday that marks Soviet victory in Europe. Estonia has protested. So has NATO, mildly. Russia says it has stepped up security and blames Estonia for 'stoking tensions'."
Both Beijing and Moscow ruthlessly suppress public demonstrations and protests unless they are initiated by the governments themselves. Both the Chinese and the Russians ignore the Vienna Convention on protecting diplomats and diplomatic buildings.
May 6, 2007 2:30 PM | Report Offensive Comments
James B. your personal attacks and wild speculation as to who we are is a sign of your desperation that you are not able to convince American people in a civilize debate. You spew anti-American propaganda to defend Russia. American people do not share your view on Russia, and you do not speak for the American people.
May 6, 2007 12:48 PM | Report Offensive Comments
James don't mind Atheist - he is an equal-opportunity intolerant bigot... http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/leon_krauze/2006/11/reform_immigration.html
May 6, 2007 11:19 AM | Report Offensive Comments
here's the link to the previous quote. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4450975.stm
i simply can't feel for the estonians. they aggravated a sensitive issue, tried to rewrite history, and have built a very segregated state... you reap what you sow...
May 6, 2007 9:01 AM | Report Offensive Comments
atheist, you forgot to point out that many estonians joined the german armed forces and the waffen-ss division during w.w. ii, contributing to the holocaust and that multipe jewish groups around the world have condemned estonia's act as condoning the holocaust and/or glorifying the nazis.
and, in fact, trying to rewrite history has brought out the same emotions elsewhere...
"Thousands of people have taken to the streets of the Chinese city of Shanghai in the latest in a series of anti-Japanese demonstrations.
Protesters carrying Chinese flags surrounded the Japanese consulate throwing stones and other missiles. "
etc. etc. etc.
May 6, 2007 8:57 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Compare Japanese-Americans and Russian-Estonians.
Russian-Estonians
-----------------
http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9122766
Here is the relevant quote. "That is the story of Russia's reaction to Estonia's decision to move a Soviet-era war memorial and 12 unmarked graves from a prominent position in the capital, Tallinn, to its international military cemetery. [...] After the Estonian authorities sealed off the monument last weekend, hundreds of people, mostly from the 300,000-strong ethnic Russian population, rioted in Tallinn. They attacked the main theatre and the Academy of Arts, chanting 'F.u.c.k Estonia', and 'Russia, Russia'. Secondary-school pupils unfurled a banner outside parliament reading 'USSR forever'."
Japanese-Americans
------------------
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/28/asia/29japancnd.php
Here is the relevant quote. "The House resolution calls on Japan to unequivocally acknowledge its wartime sex slavery and officially apologize for it. Representative Mike Honda, the California Democrat [and Japanese-American] who is spearheading the legislation, said he hopes the House Committee on Foreign Affairs will vote on the resolution next month."
Folks, what -- the hell -- is the problem with the Russian-Estonians? They praise the Soviet Union. They possess Estonian citizenship yet demand the restoration of a statue that honors soldiers of the Soviet empire. By contrast, the Japanese-Americans have condemned the actions of Imperial Japan.
Somone. Anyone. Please tell me what -- the hell -- is the problem with the Russian-Estonians.
May 6, 2007 2:46 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Folks, read the shocking story at the following link.
http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9122766
Here's a quote.
"The rioting [by Russians living in Estonia] was not wholly spontaneous. Russian embassy officials had previously met leading protesters in curious places such as a botanical garden, according to pictures leaked by local spy-catchers. After the riot, another front opened: state websites were swamped by attacks from computers with Kremlin IP addresses."
Here's the summary reduction. The Kremlin deliberately helped the Russian rioters to commit violence in Estonia.
What did the rioters do? Here's a quote.
"But the main activity [of the Russian rioters] was looting [in Estonia]. Dozens of shops were raided. The police, initially overwhelmed, made 1,000 arrests. One man was stabbed to death—in a row with another looter, Estonia says."
However, what is most shocking is not the violence. What is most shocking is that Russian-Estonians (i.e., ethnic Russians who possess Estonian citizenship) refuse to assimilate and continue to pledge allegiance to Moscow.
These Russian-Estonians become outraged when the Estonian government, justifiably, removed a statute honoring a Soviet soldier. It is the symbol of a nation that enslaved all of Eastern Europe. Why would someone possessing Estonian citizenship insist on maintaining a statue that honors a foreign nation (i.e., a nation outside of Estonia)?
Look at the Americans of Japanese ancestry. When was the last time that you heard Japanese-Americans demanding that a statue be constructed to honor Japanese soldiers? Never! Japanese-Americans are 100% American citizens, and their allegiance is to Washington.
In fact, a Japanese-American Congressman proposed a Congressional resolution demanding that Tokyo apologize for the crimes of World War II. If this Japanese-American thought and acted like the Russian-Estonians, then the Congressman would have sponsored a resolution praising Imperial Japan.
The behavior of the Russian-Estonians is absolutely disgusting. The Estonian government is justified in removing the statute of the Soviet soldier. Morever, the government should just destroy it.
Russian-Estonians who still cling to the Russian empire should, frankly, get the hell out of Estonia. They should go "back" to the Russian "fatherland".
May 6, 2007 2:20 AM | Report Offensive Comments
i would like to repeat, once more, that atheist and mickey's comments are flagrant racist, extremist hate speech, and in no way reflect the opinion of more than 99% of americans.
i would like to advise both of them to re-read their posts when they sober up so that they can see for themselves the racist and xenophobic terms they are using.
May 5, 2007 8:08 PM | Report Offensive Comments
dear atheist from boston, ma and mickey,
both of you are free to be as shortsighted as you want to and hold a deep hatred of russia as you so evidently do. so, if you want, continue being fed western propaganda. continue preaching hate speak. continue living in a fantasy world far away from reality.
what more can i say. i, and my fellow citizens here on planet "reason", would like for you to come over to our side, but you may only do when you realize that russia is a force of good (many times counterbalancing the force of bad, which of lately has been revealed as american unilateralism) and that russia's growing strength and international clout is the best thing that civilization could have wished for.
i do wish, though, that you reveal to us your agenda because it'll make this even more interesting. assuming you are american, are you of a) eastern european decent with perceived scores to settle with russia, or are you b) affiliated with a NGO associated with an exiled oligarch, or are you c) just your run of the mill paranoid and/or brainwashed americans?
whatever the case, your goals won't come to pasture. in every aspect of competition, russia is forging ahead (vis-a-vis the u.s.). from the corporate boardroom, to science and technology, to general wealth and prosperity -- russia is up and the u.s. is down since putin came to power.
p.s. 2 bucks that mickey went to russia as a tourist, had a bad experience, and is one of those people who try to settle vendettas over the internet. i mean the way he/she always talks about tourists... it's pretty much obvious... maybe he/she tried to speak russian and the people laughed... anyway, he/she now has a grudge and oh, oh boy writing bad things about russia on the internet will get his/her revenge! so, so cool.
on the other hand, i think atheist is an elder gentleman, probably ex-armed forces. he was fed some information during training that the soviet union is evil empire, yada, yada, yada still living in the past.
May 5, 2007 8:00 PM | Report Offensive Comments
The cornerstone of propaganda is to present falsehoods as fact. Russian propagandists claim that the demonstrators (on April 14 and 15) in Moscow and St. Petersburg were violent hooligans. The Russian propagandists claim that Western media is controlled by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or another branch of the American government.
CNN, NBC news, the "New York Times", the "Economist", and a parade of other reputable Western sources state that the demonstrators were 100% peaceful.
Which source is telling the truth? Russian propagandists or NBC news? You make the call.
Once you decide that the Western media is telling the truth, then read the story at the following link.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18246918/site/newsweek/
The shocked reporter from "Newsweek" wrote, "In St. Petersburg, a police baton broke former city Duma deputy Sergei Gulayev's hand in five places. Police chased down and beat every pedestrian they could, including pensioners. ... [Aleksandr] Kazantsev suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung after a policeman kicked him repeatedly."
The Russian police grabbed peaceful bystanders and violently beat them -- over and over and over. The police wielded their batons and clubbed the peace demonstrators -- over and over and over. Many of the victims were soaked in their own blood and needed hospitalization.
Visit the following Web link to see a video of Russian police brutality.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/04/15/kremlin.protesters/index.html
Who is the sub-human animal? Russians or Estonians? You make the call.
May 5, 2007 4:22 PM | Report Offensive Comments
The more you write to defend Russia, James B., there more you expose your true color i.e. communist Red. James B. you spew anti-American propaganda, remember? You do not speak for most Americans.
As to our friends in Eastern Europe, they tell us that they lived under brutal Russian oppression until the fall of the Berlin Wall. No wonder europeans despise Russians.
When it comes to xenophobia and ethnic hatred, nobody can compare to the Russians. Just read the international press, UN reports, and Human Rights Organizations reports, people can understand how Russians discriminate against non-Russians, foreigners, and tourists.
While Russian policemen look the other way, Russian neo-Nazi skinheads roam the streets looking to beat up any non white foreigners and even killed them. Russian Policemen routinely shake down tourists for bribes and stop non-Russians on street corners to check documents but that is just a cover to steal money from wallet. When tourists go visit Russia, they have to pay more money than what Russians pay in everything from hotel, transportation, food, ...etc, they call it a double price system.
May 5, 2007 3:28 PM | Report Offensive Comments
russia has nothing to fear from china.
on the other hand, the u.s. has a lot to fear from china due to china holding the american economy in their hands. if the chinese begin to sell u.s. dollars, or simply even stop accumulating them, the u.s. economy will crumble like a house of cards. basically, right now, the american economy is bankrupt and only the purchase of foreign dollars by asian tigers and opec have kept it afloat... it's like these exporters had set a trap that the u.s. fell for...
mickey, your hate of russia is disgusting and most americans do not share your view. and a recent bbc poll indicated that the u.s. was far more disliked throughout the world than russia. only eastern europe, japan, australia, and the u.k. are on our side, while old europe, the arab world, latin america, and most of asia is with russia.
russia is a multicultural country, and has been for much longer than america has existed as a country. in fact, i think the u.s. has been promoting xenophobia and ethnic hatred the world round, from "sectarian" violence in iraq to the breakup of yugoslavia along ethnic lines. not to mention: "About 10.4% of the entire African-American male population in the United States aged 25 to 29 was incarcerated, by far the largest racial or ethnic group—by comparison, 2.4% of Hispanic men and 1.2% of white men in that same age group were incarcerated. According to a report by the Justice Policy Institute in 2002, the number of black men in prison has grown to five times the rate it was twenty years ago. Today, more African-American men are in jail than in college. In 2000 there were 791,600 black men in prison and 603,032 enrolled in college. In 1980, there were 143,000 black men in prison and 463,700 enrolled in college."
once again, i find your posts repulsive.
May 5, 2007 1:52 PM | Report Offensive Comments
You spew anti-American propaganda, James B., yet you call yourself an American? I can see you are rooting for the Russians. You must be a commie Russian at heart pseudo-American.
I know a way to scare the Russians senseless. Just say to the Russians that the Chinese are coming! Upon hearing that, the Russian faces change into expressions of terror and doom. It works everytime. LOL
Yes, the 1.5 billion Chinese will take back their land in Siberia before the end of this century, and there is nothng the few million Russians can do about it. I just love it when the Chinese take care of the Russians, so we in the West do not have to dirty our hands dealing with the Russians.
May 5, 2007 12:01 PM | Report Offensive Comments
i almost skipped over mickey's posts, but they too are racist and even went as far issuing a threat...
which is funny, really, because most americans are obese... or on anti-depressants... or have a lack of caring about news and politics, except entertainment news. so, mickey, i don't you will find anyone willing or able to accomplish what you say: "When Russians come to our country, we will return the favor. Just wait for Russians to come visit America! We will be ready for the savage Russians."
russia is a great country and in my opinion russians are one of the best people. they are generally smart (microsoft, intel, and boeing crave for russian employees), athletic (reall athletic as opposed to 50% of baseball players who are on steroids), patriotic, and spiritual.
man-to-man the u.s. will not stand a chance vs. russia and i also think that in a nuclear war we will not stand a chance due to russia's top-of-the-line missile technology (the topol-m), which is simply the best missile on the planet.
May 4, 2007 10:04 PM | Report Offensive Comments
first of all, atheist from boston, u.s.a. your comments are racist and bring shame on the u.s.
i am an american who sympathizes with the russia greatly. i totally agree with the way they handled the other russia protests and please remember that extremist bolshevicks made up more than 50% of the measly 3,000 max protesters in st. petersburg or moscow.
i agree that russia retreated strategically and is about to win the cold war and i am so happy for it because i trust russia. in my opinion, russia is one of the most spiritual countries that has done the most, in many occasions, to maintain peace and stability throughout the world. 27 million soviets sacrificed their lives to defeat nazism in just one example of russia saving the world. i also admire russia's ingenuity, including its space accomplishments that leave america biting the dust.
anyway, i totally deplore atheists' vocabulary and his blatant racism that obviously stems from deep hatred, probably from constant exposure to western propaganda.
May 4, 2007 9:14 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Stop, Alexey, enough of your copy and paste nonsense! Include a link if you must, but stop copy and paste all over the place! Say it in your own words, thoughts, and ideas, or are you too afraid to reveal your lack of education? Red Army and Red Guard are Russian invention, so do not try to change focus and divert our attention to China. I like the idea of the Chinese taking care of you Russians, so we in the west do not have to dirty our hands. I agree Russia does not fit into a western mold.
May 4, 2007 3:43 PM | Report Offensive Comments
To Atheist, Boston:
Dear Atheist, mixing up politics (young thugs instigated by the Kremlin) and people ("Russian barbarians" as you call us all) evidences misunderstanding of not only Russia, but politics in general. And History. Ronald Reagan who is respected in Russia has made the difference (you may be interested to read your former President's diaries coming out in June).
Anyway, quotes are quotes, so let me also quote:
William Rusher, a Distinguished Fellow of the Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy and author of "How to Win Arguments":
"Putin has clearly not opted to make Russia a tame junior partner of the West. But one wonders by what right the West expected any such thing? Today's Russia is a long comedown from the mighty Soviet Union. Its gross national product is almost laughable, and its population is actually declining. Alcoholism is nearly as ubiquitous as the common cold. But it still boasts an enormous landmass, and its has a centuries-long history of authoritarianism which seems to suit much of the population better than the kind of unfettered democracy President Bush thinks the whole world is longing for.
I suggest that we stop trying to force Russia into a Western mold for which it is wholly unprepared. In the long run -- by which I mean several decades -- Russia's attention is sure to be drawn ever more forcibly to the growth of China, with which it shares a 4,000-mile border. As China grows, prospers, and expands its military, the vast spaces of Siberia and other parts of eastern Russia are bound to look appetizing. Russia, even if its population stops shrinking, will be no match for it. Where can it look for allies and protectors, if not to the West? And the West, led by the United States, will have its own profound reservations about the expansion of Chinese power.
In the long run, therefore, the "problem" of Russia will solve itself. Meanwhile, we will just have to get accustomed to a Russia that bears very little resemblance to a New England town meeting."
And, as to young thugs, they are like the "Red Guards" (“Hóng Wèi Bīng”), a mass movement of civilians, mostly students and other young people, who were mobilized by Mao Zedong and his allies to defeat their enemies within the struggle for power officially called the Cultural Revolution, between 1966 and 1976.
This is frightening. But the movement will only be growing if feeded by your kind of condemnations of Russia and the "Russian animals".
And, it seems, you are just missing (or never knew) something. We lost about 30 million (!) of our beloved in that Second World War. I do not care about politics. As most in Russia I do care about the memories of those killed. It's easier to care about Arlington, Virginia, but we are pitty to have the graves all over Europe.
May 4, 2007 12:55 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Folks, read the shocking story at the following link.
http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9122766
Here's a quote.
"The rioting [by Russians living in Estonia] was not wholly spontaneous. Russian embassy officials had previously met leading protesters in curious places such as a botanical garden, according to pictures leaked by local spy-catchers. After the riot, another front opened: state websites were swamped by attacks from computers with Kremlin IP addresses."
Here's the summary reduction. The Kremlin deliberately helped the Russian rioters to commit violence in Estonia.
What did the rioters do? Here's a quote.
"But the main activity [of the Russian rioters] was looting [in Estonia]. Dozens of shops were raided. The police, initially overwhelmed, made 1,000 arrests. One man was stabbed to death—in a row with another looter, Estonia says."
The Russian animals did not stop there. In Russia itself, Russian thugs -- under orders by the Kremlin -- committed violence against the Estonian embassy and its personnel. Here's a quote.
"That was swiftly followed by a blockade of Estonia's embassy in Moscow by protesters from Kremlin-run youth movements; they have attacked it with eggs, stones, paint and deafening music, ripped down the flag, and jostled the ambassador. They now threaten to demolish the embassy on May 9th, a public holiday that marks Soviet victory in Europe."
Just look at these Russian animals. I have not, in any way, exaggerated their barbaric behavior. Just read the article at the above link.
The Estonians justifiably joined NATO. They do not threaten Russia. The Russians, however, do threaten the Estonians.
I condemn Russia and its Russian animals.
May 4, 2007 11:20 AM | Report Offensive Comments
A historical reminder (sorry, it may be a bit long, but worth reading to refresh memories):
"Zbigniew Brzezinski: How the US provoked the Soviet Union into invading Afghanistan
Translated from the French by William Blum on: 19.11.2004
First Published: Le Nouvel Observateur (France), Jan 15-21, 1998, p. 76
Question: The former director of the CIA, Robert Gates, stated in his memoirs From the Shadows, that American intelligence services began to aid the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan six months before the Soviet intervention. In this period you were the national security adviser to President Carter. You therefore played a role in this affair. Is that correct?
Brzezinski: Yes. According to the official version of history, CIA aid to the Mujahadeen began during 1980, that is to say, after the Soviet army invaded Afghanistan, 24 Dec 1979. But the reality, closely guarded until now, is completely otherwise: Indeed, it was July 3, 1979 that President Carter signed the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul. And that very day, I wrote a note to the president in which I explained to him that in my opinion this aid was going to induce a Soviet military intervention.
Question: Despite this risk, you were an advocate of this covert action. But perhaps you yourself desired this Soviet entry into war and looked to provoke it?
Brzezinski: It isn't quite that. We didn't push the Russians to intervene, but we knowingly increased the probability that they would.
Question: When the Soviets justified their intervention by asserting that they intended to fight against secret involvement of the United States in Afghanistan, people didn't believe them. However, there was a basis of truth. You don't regret anything today?
Brzezinski: Regret what? That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had the effect of drawing the Russians into the Afghan trap and you want me to regret it? The day that the Soviets officially crossed the border, I wrote to President Carter, in substance: We now have the opportunity of giving to the USSR its Vietnam war. Indeed, for almost 10 years, Moscow had to carry on a war unsupportable by the government, a conflict that brought about the demoralization and finally the breakup of the Soviet empire.
Question: And neither do you regret having supported the Islamic fundamentalists, having given arms and advice to future terrorists?
Brzezinski: What is most important to the history of the world? The Taliban or the collapse of the Soviet empire? Some stirred-up Moslems or the liberation of Central Europe and the end of the cold war?**
Question: Some stirred-up Moslems? But it has been said and repeated: Islamic fundamentalism represents a world menace today.
Brzezinski: Nonsense! It is said that the West had a global policy in regard to Islam. That is stupid. There isn't a global Islam. Look at Islam in a rational manner and without demagoguery or emotion. It is the leading religion of the world with 1.5 billion followers. But what is there in common among Saudi Arabian fundamentalism, moderate Morocco, Pakistan militarism, Egyptian pro-Western or Central Asian secularism? Nothing more than what unites the Christian countries.
William Blum, Author of "Killing Hope: U.S. Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II" and "Rogue State: A Guide to the World's Only Superpower". Portions of the books can be read at: http://members.aol.com/superogue/homepage.htm (with a link to Killing Hope"
Well, we do not have a reson to forget (as well as clear cut promises of NATO not to go East given to Gorby).
Now, the missile defenses in Poland and the Czech Republic: another round of "knowingly increasing the probability" that Russians start reacting (to the detriment of Russian - European relations, which may be a goal of Washington D.C.)? And Estonia - still another round? Who's next in line?
Hey, Russia is not ideal (curruption, no democracy Western style, organized economic crime), and I am not the fan of Putin, but someone looks like being too eager to push Russia into being even worse than that. A bogy needed again?
Russians should not be regarded to be totally stupid. If George, Condy and Dick really think (which I doubt) of defending Europeans againts non-existent missile threat from Iran than let them deploy ABM radars and missiles in Turkey and Greece (also NATO member countries) looking more South and South-East, than just East as in the case of Poland and the Czech Republic! And the best place for ABM systems against North Korea is Japan, of course!
May 4, 2007 7:55 AM | Report Offensive Comments
We must treat Russians the same way they treat Americans. Russian policemen routinely shake down foreigners, including American travellers in Russia. Russian Policemen demand bribe from foreigners, including American tourists. Russian policemen silently approve and look the other way when Russian neo-Nazi skinheads beat non-white foreigners, including African Americans, dark skin latinos, and Asian Americans. Russians are xenophobic racist bullies.
When Russians come to our country, we will return the favor. Just wait for Russians to come visit America! We will be ready for the savage Russians.
May 2, 2007 11:52 PM | Report Offensive Comments
We must treat Russians the same way they treat Americans. Russian policemen routinely shake down foreigners, including American travellers in Russia. Russian Policemen demand bribe from foreigners, including American tourists. Russian policemen silently approve and look the other way when Russian neo-Nazi skinheads beat non-white foreigners, including African Americans, dark skin latinos, and Asian Americans. Russians are xenophobic racist bullies.
When Russians come to our country, we will return the favor. Just wait for Russians to come visit America! We will be ready for the savage Russians.
May 2, 2007 11:50 PM | Report Offensive Comments
In Estonia, the Russian-speaking protestors were not demonstrating peacefully. They committed violence and looted stores. The Estonian police acted appropriately.
Hopefully, next time, the Estonian police will use deadly force against people who commit violence.
In the case of the demonstrations held on April 13 and 14, the protesters were 100% peaceful. Yet, the Russian police beat innocent bystanders. The police beat them -- over and over and over -- to the point of breaking bones and shedding blood.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18246918/site/newsweek/
The shocked reporter from "Newsweek" wrote, "In St. Petersburg, a police baton broke former city Duma deputy Sergei Gulayev's hand in five places. Police chased down and beat every pedestrian they could, including pensioners. ... [Aleksandr] Kazantsev suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung after a policeman kicked him repeatedly."
Visit the following Web link to see a video of Russian police brutality.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/04/15/kremlin.protesters/index.html
Many Russian bigots, who compose the majority of people in Russia, (1) support using maximum force against peaceful demonstrators but (2) oppose using force to stop Russian-speakers who commit animal-like violence against non-Russians.
Just look at those bigots surrounding the Estonian Embassy in Russia. Look at those animals. They speak Russian and violently attack diplomats from both Sweden and Estonia.
I condemn Russia and the Russians.
May 2, 2007 5:09 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Ateist & Monte Haun
1) Sorry, but Russia is far from being a "brutal authoritarian state". It's a wishful thinking. Russian democracy is far from being ideal or even good, but it's a democracy - it has a good deal of necessary political & economical freedom.
2) Concerning the demonstrators - I'm not fond of how Russian police behaves. But compare it to what Estonian government & police are doing to the demonstrations in Tallinn - because these actions are the next elements of an old-running state policy of ethnic oppression - and it's going on inside the EU.
May 2, 2007 1:49 PM | Report Offensive Comments
God, why don't these world leaders(?) conduct their politics in a mature manner?
A fight is a fight and irrespective of the fact that who initiates it, both the parties involved end up as losers.
We had seen this happen during the Cold War era and the History will repeat itself if both these nations - the US and Russia - continue to go about in this immature manner.
Ultimately the world will loose a lot.
May 2, 2007 4:37 AM | Report Offensive Comments
"" Atheist, Boston, USA :
To understand the relationship between Russia and the West, we must first understand the state of Russian society. On April 15, a group of peaceful demonstrators in St. Petersburg walked to the site of a peaceful demonstration, at which they pleaded for the government to become more democratic. In response, Russian special-forces police popped out of nowhere and charged the crowd of demonstrators. They beat the living daylights of them. Police took batons and beat an innocent bystander -- over and over and over. He was covered in blood."" Yeah, we don't abuse protesters in US. How many men die in American prisons, how many killed by police? You people didn't mind Uncle Joe's undemocratic ways when he was saving you from the gas chambers but now that you can get a better deal from Uncle George good bye Mother Russia. The Russians treated you people better than nearly every other nation.
You complain because Putin resents American agitators undermining the Russian social and political order, yet Bush expels or denies visas to guests of nearly every political persuasion with little or no reason other than he doesn't like them. Not to mention 2 vicious wars of our own and supporting another's 2 vicious wars. Highest incarceration rates in world, millions without medical care, appalling infant mortality rates,....don't get me started... You ought to mind your own Gosh Darned business, there is plenty to be done right at home.
Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com
May 1, 2007 9:50 PM | Report Offensive Comments
excerpts from the new best seller 'HOW RUSSIA WON THE COLD WAR AND THE UNRAVELLING OF THE POWER OF FALSE NARRATIVES'
'The russian strategy is the opposite of what they did in the 80's (pick a fight with neighbouring countries in the south like afghanistan) and 90's(radical internal restructuring).
Now they are consolidating ties with like minded countries in the neighbourhood like china, germany, venezuela, s.arabia, turkey, indonesia, n.korea, myanmar and even cold war foe pakistan. All this while simultaneously increasing control over previously chaotic internal economic and political structures. Powering all these moves are the bountiful natural resources(hydrocarbons) of mother russia and quite diplomacy.
Funny thing is america is now doing what the soviets did previously in the 80s and 90s. Preoccupied with Iraq its influence and standing is being eroded in the south, east and even west,
while the great czar putin laughs all the way to the bank!
Speaking about missile shields this is a waste of time (and money) in the age of ever improving and easily available cruise missiles and long range stealth submarines. Atleast thats what the russians (and a lot of others) think.
The cold war never ended. The russians have just won it after a smart strategic retreat. They now have the moral upperhand and are considered a force for good by a majority of global citizens.'
April 30, 2007 6:33 PM | Report Offensive Comments
the west(read america and britain mostly) is now on an irretrievable path to its status as a second rate backwater just like it has been for most of human history. The future belongs to asia, russia and germany. Bush et al will have to accept this or be forced to as they are now.
April 30, 2007 5:51 AM | Report Offensive Comments
perhaps we have alienated Russia, as well as the rest of the 'free' world, and the crux of it all is why arent the American people aware and/or concerned about the fall off in pride at home and respect everywhere else? Those Republicans who continue to back the regieme, look solely to the economic enterprize and disregard
the other aspects of statehood. Why arent we all looking at this with the hairy eyeball, looking for answers about the most corrupt administration since Nixon. why do even the offended democrates hold back when blod for money is the currency of the day? I suspect that the people, will indeed, rise to the occasion soon, when the threats come to the surface and all the dirty tricks are turned inside out for all to see. Soon, enough of this domestic discord will help shape our forign policy, and it wont be Dick and George calling the shots. the american people are going to have to speak, and the world is waiting
April 29, 2007 9:19 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Russia is just being Russia . The USA wants the world's love , Russia wants the world's respect .
Putin has done a great job stabilizing Russia ( 70% approval rating , Bush ..... well never mind . ) . The economy is booming , the government is functioning , law and order is maintained . Yet the West complains about the lack of democracy . " I don't get no respect !!!! "
April 29, 2007 7:37 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Putin's consolidation of power is not unique. The Guardian, on April 24, published a piece by Naomi Wolf that is worth comparing: "Fascist America, in 10 easy steps."
April 29, 2007 1:43 PM | Report Offensive Comments
We should keep perspective on the matter of Russia. It is a brutal authoritarian state but is not as perverse as China.
If you had a choice, would you prefer to live in Russia or China? I choose Russia.
Here's why.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/29/news/food.php
Chinese society is rife with dishonest, morally repugnant people. If they can make a fast buck while harming you, they will do so.
The Chinese regularly export contaminated food -- including infant formula -- to the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can catch only a few of the contaminated food crates because the FDA does not have the manpower to test each crate of Chinese food.
The label "Made in China" is equivalent to a skull and cross bones -- a warning of lethality.
Note that Russia does not have the same degree of dishonesty. When was the last time that you heard of a Russian company using human hair as an ingredient in soy sauce?
April 29, 2007 1:38 PM | Report Offensive Comments
to Salamon,
Accuse Israel and the USA of designs hegemony is just expressing a personal 'hatred' of democrtic countries - although they may accused of many faults - without answering the basic question.
It is your privilege to be so subjective instead of expressing an objective opinion.
April 29, 2007 12:45 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Dave! _ That would be an accurate asessment. I, and most of the rest of the world, blames Bush and the NeoCOn movement for much of the world's problems. Neoconservatism replaces common sense and observation with a "belief" in how the world is supposed to be. That has, and continues to have, a profound impact on all of their polcies that are troubling. Their belief in Free Trade as caused economic chaos at home and in Europe. Multinational corporations (read: Amecian corporation with offshore mail boxes) close down local operaions and chase cheape labor costs acrosss he globe while flat out dodging their social, national and fiscal obligations. NeoCon beliefs in American hegimony, we are the sole world super power, involves us in risky foreign adventures. Our diplomatic polcies are subservient to these. When confront with reality, rather than adapt, the true believers cling ever more tightly to their belief system and blame everyone else for undermining their efforts, for misunderstaning the policies, for not giving them enough time to work, etc. Witness Bush's clinging to Iraq and the "surge" when it is obvious to everyone that it is merely a continuation of a failed policy, no different than Johnson's "surge" in Vietname that managed to get 20,000 more of our children killed. Witness a dollar falling like a rock against the Euro and every other foreign currancy, witness the disconnect between a stock market with a DOW AT 13,000 but with most Amercian workers witnessing lower wages, $4 a gallon gasoline, ever higher food, medicine, and energy costs, and a present and future tax burdon that will crush them. On the international scene, everyone ppears to be trying to figure out what these guys are up to, attempting to deal with them as if they were sane, rational people, governed by logic. Well, unfortunately, it has become all too obvious that they are not.
NeoConseratism is a disaster and Bush and Cheney and Rice and Wolfowitz are true believers, incompetent and dangerous fanatics. It is time for you to recognize that as a fact.
April 29, 2007 11:05 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Here are some things Putin said about culture in 4/26/07 speech:
"There has been an increasing influx of money from abroad being used to intervene directly in our internal affairs. Looking back at the more distant past, we recall the talk about the civilising role of colonial powers during the colonial era. Today, ‘civilisation’ has been replaced by democratisation, but the aim is the same – to ensure unilateral gains and one’s own advantage, and to pursue one’s own interests.
Some are not above using the dirtiest techniques, attempting to ignite inter-ethnic and inter-religious hatred in our multiethnic and democratic country. In this respect, I ask you to speed up the adoption of amendments to the law introducing stricter liability for extremist actions...
The protracted economic crisis the country has gone through has had severe consequences for our country’s intelligentsia, for the situation in the arts and literature, for our people’s culture and creativity. To be honest, these difficulties have all but led to the disappearance of many of our spiritual and moral