I won’t even bother to discuss the topic of US and EU sanctions against Russia as this is only utter nonsense aimed at appeasing a few lobbies and proving to the general public that western leaders are “tough”. Let’s, however, look at two interesting developments:
1) Obama has declared that the US will not go to war over the Ukraine. As usual, Obama tightly wrapped the key words in a lot of nonsensical political hot air, but he did state the following:
“We are not going to be getting into a military excursion in Ukraine. What we are going to do is mobilize all of our diplomatic resources to make sure that we’ve got a strong international correlation that sends a clear message“. In other words – there is no military option. Speaking about Putin Obama also said: “His strategic decisions are in no way based on whether he thought that we might go to war over this”. In other words, Putin is not bluffing and he does not fear us“. Good. Somebody (Dempsey?) finally talked some sense into this man.
2) A former US ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1987-1991, John Matlock, wrote an editorial for Time magazine in which he shows a surprising amount of basic common sense (illustrating yet again my thesis that the quality of US diplomats today is infinitely worse than what it used to be 20 years ago). I recommend that you read the full editorial – just to get a sense of the man – but I want to quote what I believe is the key section of the editorial:
Though they may be difficult for all relevant parties to accept, the premises of a solution to the Ukrainian mess are clear: 1) The new constitution should provide for a federal structure of government giving at least as many rights to its provinces as American states have; 2) The Russian language must be given equal status with Ukrainian; and 3) There must be guarantees that Ukraine will not become a member of NATO, or any other military alliance that excludes Russia.
Guess what? The man is absolutely correct! For one thing, I firmly believe that Russia would support such a program if only because, contrary to what so many people seem to think, has no desire at all to incorporate the eastern Ukraine into Russia. As I have written in the past, what Russia wants is a a) stable b) prosperous and c) non-hostile independent Ukraine on its eastern border. Of course, what Russia will not permit is the violent imposition of a Banderastan in the Eastern Ukraine. That is simply not going to happen. But an independent Ukraine is not at all a bad thing for Russia, it is, in fact, clearly the solution Russia would prefer. And just to clarify – if the sanctions adopted against Russia are just a load of bull and a PR stunt, that does not mean that Russia wants a new Cold War or that Russia benefits from tensions with the EU and US. Peace, stability and prosperity are what Russia most needs today. So Matlock’s common sense proposals will be met with full support in the Kremlin.
However, there are two very serious obstacles to the realization of this plan now:
1) The USA with its big stupid mouth has cornered itself into a comprehensively non-constructive position and its going to be awfully hard to make a 180 degree turn and actually cut the imperial nonsense and get to work with Russia to stabilize the situation.
2) There is utter and total chaos in most of Banderastan (nationalist controlled ex-Ukraine) and armed gangs of mobsters are terrorizing the local population and racketeering small – and even not so small – businesses. From all the reports I read I get the feeling that there must be something in the range of several tens of thousands of armed thugs loose in Banderastan (some 20% political and 80% mobsters, some 20% mobsters and 20% political). Somebody will have to disarm these thugs, a non-negligible amount of which will have to be killed in the process. Both Russia and NATO could do that (well, Russia would be far better at it, but nevermind), but neither can move in for political reasons. So I simply don’t see who could do that right now. Maybe the leftover Ukrainian military?
Alas, the crazies in the new revolutionary regime are not only not trying to rebuild a police force or a real military, they are creating a “national guard” formed mainly of thugs loyal to the revolutionary regime.
Bottom line – there are signs that some Americans a slowly waking up from their grand imperial hallucinations, but this is very, very late in the game. Had Obama and Matlock made these statements just one month ago, that would have made a huge difference, but today?
And then there was the utterly unprofessional, rude and undiplomatic rant of Samantha Powers at the UNSC. She actually said the following:
Russia is known for its literary greatness and what you just heard from the Russian ambassador showed more imagination than Tolstoy or Chekhov. A thief can steal property but that does not confer the right of ownership on the thief. What Russia has done is wrong as a matter of law, wrong as a matter of history, wrong as a matter of policy and dangerous.
To which the Russian ambassador, Vitalii Churkin, replied:
During the discussions a number of colleagues unfortunately spoke up in an excessive way and I’m especially forced to return to the statement made by the representative of the United States of America. It is simply unacceptable to listen to these insults addressed to our country. If a delegation from the United States of America expects our cooperation in the Security Council on other issues, then Madam Powers must understand this quite clearly. Thank you.
If James Baker was still running the State Department Samantha Power would have been summarily fired from her current position and sent to teach English as a foreign language to Kisangani or Juba. Today, with Obama in the White House – this kind of attitude is simply to be expected.
Still, now that the sabre rattling appears to be in the process of being replaced by some basic form of pragmatism, I want to believe that the article by Matlock by be the first sign of reason coming back to Washington DC. At the very least, it is encouraging to some a member of the US nomenklatura writing a sensible op-ed.
The Saker
Putin way to ANNEX A TERRITORY: without a single gunshot, without a single destroyed building, with smiles, flowers and balloons
US/NATO way to DEMOCRATIZE: destroy half of the country, kill thousands even millions, and leave chaos and misery.
And gain nothing after all.
I’m not naming the countries, you all know.
It’s very Kipling-esque,isn’t it: the female is the deadlier of the species, as evidenced by the trail of destruction wrought by female butchers from Albright to Rice to Killary. Oh, let’s not forget Susan Rice and now Samantha Powers. Washington believes that hard-talking, man-eating b@@ches push through imperial objectives more aggressively. And, no, I am not sexist because I am gay. But I still support Putin, with some reservations.
Re: Powers and Churkin, what is the Russian term (I’m doing it kind of phonetically here) nekultura?
You know, it’s not “just” that American tendency to be truly awful at diplomacy: Powers et. al. demonstrate quite clearly they don’t even know what it is.
Or, apparently, much care.
I detest the woman, and am still cringing.
Hi Saker,
Have you already seen this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSOF8ZB1SQg
Deputies from the “Freedom” beat the head of Ukrainian TV channel and force him to resign.
have you seen this clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViotlSjgSpg
Deputies from the “Freedom” beat the head of Ukrainian TV channel
have you seen this clip yet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViotlSjgSpg
Saker,
It would be very helpful to me if you would tell me what sources you read, esp the Russian language ones.
This Time editorial is a good indication that there are some important power centers in the US that are trying to undo the damage Obama has done with his reckless words. Even the NY Time and WaPo have shown some glimmers of hope. Both Meashiemer and Kisserger wrote some good realist op eds pointing out the Russia has legitimate national interests that the US must respect.
Wow, I have just heard that Putin has decided that everyone in Crimea with property must become a Russian citizen or lose their property. This affects me personally and it seems a bit rough. Any insight into this?
Source?
Interestingly enough, Mackinder dealt with a similar problem in his democratic ideals and reality book. On pgs 199-202, he outlines a similar situation, with respect to redrawing maps after ww1 in eastern europe.
“Each proprietor should be given the option of exchanging his property and retaining his nationality or of retaining his property and changing his nationality.”
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-20/soros-has-modest-proposal-how-punish-russia
Soros still crazy
http://syrianfreepress.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/us-foreign-aid-agencies-paid-for-kiev-street-violence-interview-with-former-us-intelligence-officer-scott-rickard/
Worth the time to watch
Yes, todays diplomats are short on any common sense and I’m sure that’s how they get the job.
Hi Saker,
I have been entertaining the thought that Obama and Kerry actually do have a strategy: Since Obama doesn´t have much power and his state department is infested by neocons, he waits for them to make their moves, then totally discredit themselves and for the wind to change direction and when the moment comes to make a decision, he turns his back to the crazies . Syria and Ukraine situations seem to support this. When push comes to shove, Obama seems (however too late) to make the right choices. This apparent ineptitude would be make some sense if he is not in full control of his state deparment (or the government for that matter), which is pretty clear. Does this make any sense?
Hi Saker,
I have been entertaining the thought that Obama and Kerry actually do have a strategy: Since Obama doesn´t have much power and his state department is infested by neocons, he waits for them to make their moves, then totally discredit themselves and for the wind to change direction and when the moment comes to make a decision, he turns his back to the crazies . Syria and Ukraine situations seem to support this. When push comes to shove, Obama seems (however too late) to make the right choices. This apparent ineptitude would be make some sense if he is not in full control of his state deparment (or the government for that matter), which is pretty clear. Does this make any sense?
I agree, this might be a solution for the moment. However, how Russia could trust the ziomaniacs won’t start dismentaling the very agreement they signed right away? I.e., what are the guaranties if the crazy ziofascist embarked onto such an advanture in Ukraine in the first place?
IMHO, everything but a stalemate is a win-win for Russia. The longer the chaos continues, the worst outcome would be for Russia at the end. Who knows? A long-lasting chaos with low-intencity conflict on Russia’s borders was the plan after all.
So far, though, Russian response was nothing short of brilliant!
mobilize all of our diplomatic resources
You realize he’s talking about JSOC snipers and contract provocateurs, right?
See http://www.moonofalabama.org/2014/03/ukraine-us-pulls-back-agrees-to-russian-demands.html for more on the ‘federalisation’ issue.
The lunatics have taken over the assylum.
Mal Fraser did an interview on RT today and again the old gaurd get it. They understand diplomacy, how to deal with Russia and Ukraine. Not to antagonise. This dangerous bunch of idiots running the US Govt. and Europe at the moment are very dangerous – due to their stupidity. Running off their mouths like that and this childish sanction game.
That other awful woman Psaki at the State Dept.(don’t know if spelt that right)should be fired too.
Veritas
This is likely but another distraction by the US secret government.
Be vigilant to monitor developing events in Syria and Iran with respect to the current blustering by Israel – this could fast become a flashpoint.
The crackpot Israeli government pretends that it “will go it alone”, which is of course nonsense. As soon as the fray begins the US will become involved.
Ukraine has probably been used to engage Russia so as to keep it from getting too involved in the real goal that is Iran.
Pepe Escobar on Samantha Power
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/CEN-02-200314.html
Saker, apart from the obvious jawboning of US establishment I don’t think USA will get dedicated to putting out the fires in Ukraine because it’s always been in the interests of the Zionist/AIPAC/neocon ruling class of the USA to create havoc in the near proximity of Russia. Heck, they spent at least 5 billion joobux just this last time.
What they’re doing now, I believe, is doing some rhetoric damage control after being exposed multiple times with their hands inside the cookie jar (Nudelman’s “F@#k the EU” and snipers leaked phone conversations, Klichko’s and whatwashisname US Embassy in Kiev staff member’s hacked e-mails). The public, or a portion of it, starts to awaken to the insidious games being played.
The way events will progress near term, as I see it, is the path of Libya and Egypt. The Zio-arsonists will refuse to officially engage, but will continue their sponsorship to Banderites. At the same time, hardships and austerity will become breakfast, lunch and dinner for ordinary Ukrainians and it can only result in a counter-coup. Russia can act if things get ugly, but by meddling it would risk getting the rabid ZATO imperialists on its borders (ZATO will strongly oppose individual Russian action in Banderastan and will propose joint measures; think Kosovo). Either way, Ukraine is screwed counterclockwise. My heart goes out to all the directly affected innocent people in Ukraine. I hope they gather courage and swiftly get rid of the zio-nazi mercenaries currently occupying Ukraine’s top positions…
LXV
P.S. Thank you for this beacun of truth that you’re tending. You are doing an amazing job, I hope you’re aware of that.
http://english.pravda.ru/world/ussr/20-03-2014/127139-transdniestria-0/
Samantha Powers – shill for the elite – is correct about one thing: “A thief can steal property but that does not confer the right of ownership on the thief”
This is a concept the secret government, military industrialists, wall street types and those faceless families behind central banks need to keep firmly in their minds and never forget.
The wealth they have stolen by subterfuge, manipulation and deceit is not their own and they would be well advised to invest it carefully for the day willl arrive when the people of the world want it back with interest.
Matlock’s offer won’t work. The Empire promised not to bring Hungary,Poland, etc. into NATO…then did so. Doubt if Putin will accept anymore promises. One way or another, the EU/bankster – US/neo-con Putsch regime in Kiev will have to be removed. You notice that the looting of the Ukraine is already in full swing, Greek-style – gold hijacked, bail-ins and whatnot – which suggests that this already impoverised region will eventually spin into complete chaos. Putin will have little choice but to send in the troops: if the Ukraine cannot protect itself from the Zio-globalist bandits, Russia will have to.
The US apparently continues to flog Russai with a lettuce leaf with the latest “sanctions”.
Of course no economic sanctions of any substance will ever be applied to Russia by the US, unless of course the US completely loses its collective mind.
For anyone who doubts the total economic destruction that Russia can inflict pon the US, take a look at this interview with Jim Sinclair (the world’s leading authotiry on the gold market):
http://usawatchdog.com/putin-has-nuclear-economic-bomb-jim-sinclair/
“We hear constantly Russia is only a regional power. We hear lies. We hear untruths. We don’t have a clear picture to what is taking place”.
“Russia has the upper hand. They have it in their ability to turn the U.S. economy upside down and into collapse. There is no question whatsoever. Putin doesn’t need a nuclear bomb. He has a nuclear economic bomb that he can set off at any time”.
I hope Russian agencies keep gathering intelligence and documenting all atrocities and terror being cared out as we speak by banderites against innocent people in Ukraine. They might need it later to take those responsible to the International Criminal Court one day.
Я
Regarding the volleys of sanctions going on, I was reminded of this:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/05/07/putin-signs-ban-on-foreign-bank-accounts-into-law/
(I forget where I read about it last year- this article will do)
At the time, I sensed that this was not only a good common-sense thing to do, but also a good step towards encouraging Russian domestic investment and laying the groundwork for the possibility of having to quarantine the economy in the face of the collapsing Western banking system. And, as it turns out, a good way to prevent embarrassment in the event of sanctions and asset freezes. Since then, my thinking was that the move might have sent a subtle signal to other Russian government officials, and Russian investors, to put the wealth into Russia more than off shore. The Cyprus bail-in was happening at about the same time, which would have strengthened that trend. Any who heeded that signal over the past year must be smiling now. I haven’t seen anything about it all since- does anyone have any information?
Now, with sanctions and asset freezes going down, my guess is that off shored wealth will continue to flow even faster right back to Russia, thereby strengthening the economy and making it easier for Russia to withstand the coming collapse of the Western banking system.
Washington and the EU must have thought of this, are they perhaps not thinking too clearly or is there some angle to all this that I’m not seeing?
Saker, I’d like to think these so-called “elites” are coming to their senses, but I doubt it. There’s dirty work afoot, and about all we can hope for is that they aren’t as sharp as they believe they are.
@ anonymous 19:22
Thanks for the Sinclair link. I have thought for awhile now that the best way to break the empire is with economics. The empire is teetering on the edge of its own destruction already- a sharp shove is all it takes.
It might be useful to consider some of the history behind the current dilemma that Obama and Kerry find themselves. I do not believe that either the major players in the current admin or any of the big deep state honchos wanted to see this happen but there were some deep influences inside our establishment that led to this fiasco. It was clearly destructive to give a neocon like Victoria Nuland the European-Erasian portfolio at state and that was part of the problem.
I think Brzezinski’s influence inside the Obama admin was also important. We have seen repeated references to his 1997 paper arguing about the need for the US to isolate and reduce the Russian state. Of course, brzezinski was a FP advisor to Obama from the very beginning. I had forgotten something else about his influence in government. Brzezinski was one of the founders of the trilateral commission that was instrumental in getting Jimmy Carter elected to the presidency. This is a quote from: Truedemocracy
The Carter Presidency and Beyond, published in 1980 by the Ramparts Press, Prof. Laurence H. Shoup devotes an entire chapter to demonstrating how the Trilateral-linked and Trilateral-controlled Establishment media promoted the presidential candidacy in 1976 of the then-obscure Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter.
We should all know the influence Brz had in the Carter admin. He not only began our involvement in the Afghan civil war by supporting the Islamic rebels there in 1978 but he also largely reversed the policy of detente with the Soviet Union that was put together by Nixon and Kissinger. It is no accident that Kissinger and Brz have had competing op eds in the NYTs and WaPo in the last few weeks over our Ukraine policy with Brz arguing for escalation and Kiss arguing that we respect Russia’s national interests.
In any case the mistake that Obama and Kerry have made is embedded deep in our major FP institutions. Hopefully there will be a recognition among the grownups there of the importance of cleaning out their attics and purging the system of this knee jerk anti-Russian bias.
“Good cop/bad cop”, that’s how Israel-America does things. Matlock appears to be playing the “good cop” role. Something I’ve noticed is that the other American “good cops” I’ve heard urging a more responsible path is they are currently out of government. The people in the current U.S. regime all seem to be playing the “bad cop” role. That is something to consider.
Meanwhile, the insane asylum inmates are back at it:
Draft law denouncing non-proliferation treaty submitted to Ukrainian parliament
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_03_21/Draft-law-denouncing-non-proliferation-treaty-submitted-to-Ukrainian-parliament-3135/
“The draft law denouncing the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) of July 1, 1968 was submitted to the Ukrainian parliament on Thursday, March 20.
The draft, submitted by two MPs from the Batkivshchina (Fatherland) party and one MP from the UDAR (Punch) party, will go to the relevant committees for a review.
Radical MP Oleg Lyashko demanded at the parliament plenary session on Thursday that Ukraine should regain the status of nuclear power.”
I believe these freaks are on a very short Israeli-American leash and don’t make a move without authorisation. Which means this is another provocation from Israel-America directed at Russia.
The Ukraine destabilisation, I think, is an attempt to isolate Russia, and keep provoking and distracting them. As such, overt war was never in the planning, so Obama’s announcement he wont got to war against Russia is an empty gesture mainly to propagandise the aggressors as the peaceful ones in this.
I’m really doubtful any agreements made by the Israeli-Americans will be worth anything, and I think they will keep pushing ahead with their plans on the ground as if there were no agreements. It’s basically how these people operate.
вот так
Bolow: the link to the interview with Jack Matlock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox9iV6aGFLk&feature=youtube_gdata
Saker :
The future of the planet in my concept is closely related to the BRICS .
Brazil , Russia , China , India and South Africa holds 50 % of the world population .
Brazil and South Africa and to a lesser extent Russia produce commodities that supply India and China.
Processed products are supplied by Russia and China, to a lesser extent by India and Brazil .
What is interesting in this context is that none have overlapping territorial interests , only decent trade and mutual understanding .
A ” basket” of currencies between these countries is that ” industrialized first world” as they fear most , when the carriage start walking , Iran, Iraq , Syria , North Korea , perhaps Portugal , Spain , Argentina , Italy and other countries to embark on the “basket ” where there will be ( this is very important ) ” Tax Havens ” , Pesticides and genetically modified seeds .
The financial elite seated on the throne of steel and gunpowder cannons , using green toilet paper lie in the grave of hunger where for 200 years lay the rest of the world .
Maybe because Geographer and Historian drunk on French School of Ives Lacoste , see the world from another perspective where man must occupy the space but carefully not only preserve the original nature , and human where groups have formed and established .
You introduce me valuable information from the past and present in a region with cognitive pinches in my profession assimilate data and make future plans, strategies and where a city needs to grow , as the thing can be done , and it involves deep knowledge relief , climate, vegetation , natural sources for survival and displacement of this population .
This view serves to ” micro ” ( as a Neighbourhood ) but also for the ” medium / large / macro ” (city , state , Paiz / Planet ) .
Everything I mentioned above is to , first, tell you that Putin may be the articulator BRICS , so get us out of the direction of the Third World War that bankrupts ” First World Countries ” both need to get rid of the unemployed who managed to make through the Cartels created .
In the U.S. adopted the tactic that is used to raise pigs , you put in cages , fattening and then gives a sledgehammer to the head ( an oppressive state where in some places there is a lawyer for every 1000 inhabitants , where there is the highest rate of prisoners in the world ) . In Europe created famine in Africa and other corners to direct people, diluting the original .
In any of the aspects regarding the nuclear family ( father, mother , children) media ” first world ” seeks to denigrate , it seems as if we went back to Ancient Rome before imploding . In our day , the Pope first demonized as abortion, then demonized on Putin not accept homosexuality, you know other things that happened , not even worth stating here that the Army of the rich is much more like a band of mercenaries of Rome and ancient Greece than anything, history repeats itself unfortunately.
My father ( a descendant of Poles who came to Brazil in 1870 ) he spoke fluently, German, English, French polish always said :
” Who knows where it comes from , you know very well where it goes .”
My mother , of Austrian descent ( came after the First World War to Brazil ) , always told me :
” I never tell a lie , say what you think even if it offends .”
Following these principles since childhood but I see that the tactic in developed countries is to make the donkey population in the long run in two or three generations , and you will find politicians who can barely write in the native language ( thank God Russia and China as well as India not fallen into that – Brazil and South Africa have risen accordingly) .
Well, better to stay here , I have spoken too much about what I conceive of the future .
Alexandre .
Saker :
The future of the planet in my concept is closely related to the BRICS .
Brazil , Russia , China , India and South Africa holds 50 % of the world population .
Brazil and South Africa and to a lesser extent Russia produce commodities that supply India and China.
Processed products are supplied by Russia and China, to a lesser extent by India and Brazil .
What is interesting in this context is that none have overlapping territorial interests , only decent trade and mutual understanding .
A ” basket” of currencies between these countries is that ” industrialized first world” as they fear most , when the carriage start walking , Iran, Iraq , Syria , North Korea , perhaps Portugal , Spain , Argentina , Italy and other countries to embark on the “basket ” where there will be ( this is very important ) ” Tax Havens ” , Pesticides and genetically modified seeds .
The financial elite seated on the throne of steel and gunpowder cannons , using green toilet paper lie in the grave of hunger where for 200 years lay the rest of the world .
Maybe because Geographer and Historian drunk on French School of Ives Lacoste , see the world from another perspective where man must occupy the space but carefully not only preserve the original nature , and human where groups have formed and established .
You introduce me valuable information from the past and present in a region with cognitive pinches in my profession assimilate data and make future plans, strategies and where a city needs to grow , as the thing can be done , and it involves deep knowledge relief , climate, vegetation , natural sources for survival and displacement of this population .
This view serves to ” micro ” ( as a Neighbourhood ) but also for the ” medium / large / macro ” (city , state , Paiz / Planet ) .
Everything I mentioned above is to , first, tell you that Putin may be the articulator BRICS , so get us out of the direction of the Third World War that bankrupts ” First World Countries ” both need to get rid of the unemployed who managed to make through the Cartels created .
In the U.S. adopted the tactic that is used to raise pigs , you put in cages , fattening and then gives a sledgehammer to the head ( an oppressive state where in some places there is a lawyer for every 1000 inhabitants , where there is the highest rate of prisoners in the world ) . In Europe created famine in Africa and other corners to direct people, diluting the original .
In any of the aspects regarding the nuclear family ( father, mother , children) media ” first world ” seeks to denigrate , it seems as if we went back to Ancient Rome before imploding . In our day , the Pope first demonized as abortion, then demonized on Putin not accept homosexuality, you know other things that happened , not even worth stating here that the Army of the rich is much more like a band of mercenaries of Rome and ancient Greece than anything, history repeats itself unfortunately.
My father ( a descendant of Poles who came to Brazil in 1870 ) he spoke fluently, German, English, French polish always said :
” Who knows where it comes from , you know very well where it goes .”
My mother , of Austrian descent ( came after the First World War to Brazil ) , always told me :
” I never tell a lie , say what you think even if it offends .”
Following these principles since childhood but I see that the tactic in developed countries is to make the donkey population in the long run in two or three generations , and you will find politicians who can barely write in the native language ( thank God Russia and China as well as India not fallen into that – Brazil and South Africa have risen accordingly) .
Well, better to stay here , I have spoken too much about what I conceive of the future .
Alexandre .
The church weighs in on the sanctions against Russian officials: http://interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=54769
Text correction:
There will be NO “tax havens”.
There is NO overlapping of territorial interests among the BRICS.
The translation from Portuguese / English does not accept “NO” in the text.
Grateful.
Alexandre.
Here is an Indian perspective on the situation. The author, N.V. Subramanian, is highly regarded.
http://www.newsinsight.net/AfterCrimea.aspx
– Abraham
I found the word, Saker. некультурный Would that fit Powers (et. al.)?
Hi Saker,
Thanks for all the brilliant articles that you’ve written I check your blog first thing in the morning (pacific time) and many times during the day.
This article I just read on Global Research has got me worried. Could you please comment on it?
Do you think the US is really planning this:
U.S. Prepares to Gas Russia Into Submission
http://www.globalresearch.ca/u-s-prepares-to-gas-russia-into-submission/5374500
babylon falling…
Did anybody notice that the two top billionaires on the sanctions list, Gennady Timchenko and Boris Rotenberg, are actually Finnish citizens!
Helsinki Arena owners slapped with US sanctions over Ukraine
A new list of Russians subject to US sanctions includes three businessmen with major investments in Finland. Two, Gennady Timchenko and Boris Rotenberg, hold Finnish citizenship. The other third is Boris’s brother Arkady.
I wonder how the Finnish foreign ministry will react. Applaud? Lick more US arse? (Most likely.)
Greetings from Singapore:
Assuming here that the so called elites are psycopaths, it is difficult to assume they come to their senses, but they must be aware of the new reality:
(1) Crimea is Russian. Ukraine is not sustainable.
(2) Assad is winning the war in Syria.
(3) Iran is moving towards an agreement to settle the nuclear issue.
(4) China (without much noise) supports Russia.
(5) India (pragmatically) understands Russia.
(6) Saudi Arabia and Israel are more and more isolated in their direct and in-direct subversive activities.
The only thing what actually works for Obama, at present, is the propaganda machine and the media (worldwide) is in full swing ‘demonizing’ and creating fear. Does it matter? People, nowadays, have a 2 minute or so memory span.
US elites come to their senses? No! Why would they do that!
@Anon 17:44
No, it sounds puerile and doesn´t make any sense at all. Do you really believe the coward “red line” Barack B*nana would take such a gamble and risk Powers, McCain & Co drive it to the edge of a nuclear war just to prove a point? It´s more like wishful thinking on your part.
Sanctions?
What Russia could do if situation escalates.
Suspending or freezing the agreement for CopyRights and Patents payments respect to the countries that impose economical sanctions and freeze assets of russian individuals or companies.
Floud the markets with patented and copyright items without corresponding any right.
The payments for such rights would be conveyed in a special national account, that could, later one, be unfrozen when the above sanctions would be removed, but any payment for the above rights would be subtracted by the economical damage suffered due to the above sanctions.
Nora,
You can also try невоспитанный – i.e. bad mannered, rude, etc.
Now Russia is in a position of strength, the West is confused and does not understand what is happening – Russia has planned the annexation of the Crimea, it was not coincidental.
Inevitably, the West will do other wrong moves.
Now Russia needs to wait for the right time, concealing his intentions, and then act quickly to close the Ukrainian question annexing its eastern and southern parts.
The West will not be able to respond.
Sorry for my English
An explanation of Russian actions (in French):
http://www.cameroonvoice.com/news/article-news-14426.html
“…Did anybody notice that the two top billionaires on the sanctions list, Gennady Timchenko and Boris Rotenberg, are actually Finnish citizens!…”
The interesting thing about the US sanctions are they might actually be quite clever – if the point is not so much about ‘punishing’ Russia but punishing Europeans who make a fair bit of their business with Russia.
If the goal of the sanctions are really about ensuring that co-operation between Europe & Russia is killed (or atleast severely compromised) then these are a good start.
Getting the EU politicians & EU bureaucracy to actually co-operate in dismantling their own countries business interests is quite astonishing, and a very clear sign that most western countries are run by people with very little interest in their country’s welfare.
Russia has quietly become one of the most important, reliable & profitable markets for many major EU firms, & the actions of EU ‘elites’ is simply lunacy.
1) Obama has declared that the US will not go to war over the Ukraine.
But Obama is already fighting a war by proxy. Why would he want to fight directly when he can tie down Russian troops with expendable militias?
I still think he is smart. Imagine if McCain would have won. He keeps talking about committing US troops to the ground.
I think it’s the same reasoning that goes into drone strikes. It’s cost effective. Nothing to do with morality.
2) As I have written in the past, what Russia wants is a a) stable b) prosperous and c) non-hostile independent Ukraine on its eastern border
It would be naive to think that Russia is doing everything because it s justified or fair. If that was true they would not back the kicked out president who Putin did point out was corrupt. They are being pragmatic, adapting, and being proactive.
The reason Russia took Crimea was its strategic importance. The reason they do not want the east and south of Ukraine is political. If Russia would invade the East and South, the left over half of Ukraine would join NATO, would forever have policies that would be anti Russian, and would invite further isolation for Russia. But by keeping it as one country they avoid NATO from expanding, they have leverage in terms of a population that is pro Russian, and maybe they see a future where a Russian leaning leader could still become President some day. It becomes a no man’s land.
Nasrallah and Putin may be great leaders but they are still human. Obama may be a dirty/immoral/scruple- less individual, but what better can “the great Satan” produce to serve its interests.
There is this incident from the life of Ali ibn Abu Talib (a.s) mentioned in the Nahjul Balagha:
In the Battle of Naharwan, Imam Ali (a) himself was fighting like any other ordinary soldier. During this battle, a man came to face him and in the encounter lost his sword. He realized his hopeless plight of standing before Ali without any weapon in hand. Ali’s hand was raised for a blow when he saw the opponent trembling with fear, he lowered his hand slowly and said: “Run away, friend, you are not in a position to defend yourself”. This attitude made the man bold and he said: ” Ali! Why don’t you kill me, it would have made one enemy less for you”. Ali replied, “I cannot strike a man, who cannot defend himself. You were begging for your life and it was spared”. The opponent got bolder, and said, ” I am told that you have never refused a beggar. Now I beg you of your sword, will you grant it to me?” Ali handed him over the sword! Taking possession of the sword he said: “Now Ali! Who is going to defend you against me and save you from my killing-blow?” He replied: “Of course Allah will defend me if He so wills! He has appointed my death to be my guarding angel, no one can harm me before it is due and no one can save me when it arrives”. Nobility of though and action affected the foe and he kissed the bridle of Ali’s horse and said: “O master! You are a great man indeed! You cannot only forsake the life of your enemy in a battlefield but also you can grant him your sword. May I have the honour to act as your body guard and to fight for you?
Imam Ali replied: “Friend! Fight for truth and justice and don’t fight for individuals!”
Mindfriedo
@Abraham
Thanks for the N.V. Subramanian link. Interesting stuff; but if that is representative of top-level Indian geo-political understanding, I fear India will continue to have rings run around it.
He is quite right to characterise the US as untrustworthy – that is a start – but to suggest that “The solid Republican administrations of the first Cold War are what the United States needs” indicates short-sightedness to put it at its mildest.
The plain, simple fact is that the US-NATO axis has PRECISELY the same geo-political objective as was outlined so clearly by Halford Mackinder over 100 years ago in “The Geographical Pivot of History” and which was the root motivation of both 20th century world wars. That was, is and remains the strategy; everything else is tactics. Russia/Putin appear to understand that clearly enough – as I believe does China, but until India (and the rest of the non-US-NATO countries) show a better understanding of that simple fact, then they will continue to be susceptible to use as pawns in “The Great Game”
Already at a school in Kiev.
As my wife translated for me. Jump around if you’re Ukrainian. Apparently some anti-Russian slurs too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRsXrq0nvDg
@Anon 17:44, I’ve been thinking something similar for a while. I was closely watching Obama’s actions in the aftermath of the chemical weapons attack in Syria last year, and it seemed like Obama was following the strategy of “malicious compliance”; follow the wishes of the powerful special interests (in that case, the US’s allies Israel and Saudi Arabia, who really wanted the US to invade Syria; the Saudis even offered to fully pay for the war!), but in such an incompetent way that actual success becomes impossible. In that way, Obama stops the bad policy from going ahead while the powerful special interests (who also control much of the media) think him merely incompetent rather than a traitor. Because honestly, if one assumes that Obama’s actual goal was to bomb Syria, he hit EVERY single speedbump on the road that it was possible to hit! He really seemed to go out of his way to do it!
My personal fave Russian politic is Sergei Lavrov
He is sharp beyond belief.
His words biting but few
Kerry and Obama through around words a plenty- they say little of any substance but use plenty of words to say it
Hi Saker
At times when reading the gravity of all that is happening gets to you and can be depressing. (God knows it is depressing to read about the misery being perpetrated by numbskulls on the masses of innocent people wanting peace work and a comfortable lifespan for their families friends and nieboures.)
At the bottom when there is a weight on the shoulders along comes Fred to give his take on it all and bring a different perspective to it. So for a little relief I offer this link to read his post at Cearing house.
Snip
Now Obama’s threatening Russia about the Crimea. He may know where it is. I admit the possibility. We live in a strange world, and unexpected things can happen. What I can’t see is, why he thinks the Ukraine is Washington’s business. Last I heard, the Crimea was hung off into the Black Sea by the Isthmus of Perekop, like a hornet’s nest from a peach tree.
Why do we care about it? I guess if it gets to be part of Russia, Arkansas is next to go.
Maybe it moved, though. Continental drift is a reality. It could be anywhere by now, maybe in the Gulf of Mexico. And even if it ain’t, I guess we need a war with Russia over a place that’s none of our business. I mean, I don’t see how we can get along without one.
Now, about being dropped oin their heads: : Pkcle Boy has said of the Crimea, “You don’t just, in the 21st century, behave in 19th century fashion by invading another country on a completely trumped-up pretext.” I reckon he hasn’t heard of Iraq either. The world is full of countries, and it’s hard to keep track of which ones you’ve wrecked
End Snip.
The rest of the article is here:
Link
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article38019.htm
Cheers
KamNam
Ordinarily I would read the preceding comments before contributing, but I am short of time at the moment. I wanted to say that your reference to James Baker was near and dear to my heart. He was my favorite of all the US Secretaries of State. I called him, in conversation, “Jimmy the Fix.”
I fondly remember the days when adults ran US foreign policy.
@Mindfriedo:It would be naive to think that Russia is doing everything because it s justified or fair. If that was true they would not back the kicked out president who Putin did point out was corrupt. They are being pragmatic, adapting, and being proactive.
I think that you misunderstand what I meant. I wrote that “a) stable b) prosperous and c) non-hostile independent Ukraine on its eastern border” not because they are kind and love their neighbors, but because it is in their self-interest to have a stable, prosperous and non hostile independent Ukraine.
Also – you are mistaken when you think that Putin backed Yanukovich. Yanokovich was backed by Ukrainian oligarchs, not Russia. In fact, *NOBODY* in the Ukraine was backed by Russia because Russia had nobody to back up. ALL the Ukrainian politicians were a disaster. I suppose that the smartest and least incompetent was Tymoshenko. But the notion that Russia backed Yanukovich is a complete myth spread by western propaganda to present the struggle of some forces in the Ukraine against Yanukovich as a struggle against a pro-Russian puppet. Yanukovich was a pain in the ass for Russia, like all the Ukie politicians. I can only repeat it again and again and again and again: the Ukraine has been ruled by oligarchs for 22 years now and the system was so totally corrupt that Russia had no option that put on a good face on a terrible situation and smile at whomever was in power.
Russia backed (and still does back) Assad. He is a Russian ally. Yanukovich always was just a big steaming pile of bovine excreta.
Cheers,
The Saker
Onething said: Wow, I have just heard that Putin has decided that everyone in Crimea with property must become a Russian citizen or lose their property.
Hunsdon said: I would be interested in hearing more about this as well. It doesn’t comport with Putin’s rhetoric, but I’ve been wrong in the past.
President Putin mocks US sanctions, vows not to retaliate http://rt.com/news/putin-president-sanctions-bank-305/
Ukraine turmoil LIVE UPDATES http://rt.com/news/kiev-clashes-rioters-police-571/
10:40 GMT: The Russian senators also requested the United States to add them to their sanction lists. The statement to that effect brands the American move and a similar measure by the EU “an unprecedented move of political blackmail.”
“We are ready for the entire corps of the Federation Council, all senators to joint that sanction list,” Speaker Valentina Matvienko said. She personally is already targeted by the US sanctions.
The senators’ request follows a similar move by members of the lower parliamentary chamber.
The statement also says that senators are baffled by the fact that Washington and Brussels treat an armed coup in Ukraine as a legitimate act of the people while consider a free referendum in Crimea illegal.
“It’s time not for imposing sanctions, but to act urgently and offer targeted help to the Ukrainian people, so that Ukraine did not fall further into political and economic abyss, preserved as a civilized European nation” the senators said.
The statement expresses hope that “common sense eventually prevails and together with the Ukrainian people a path to political resolution of the Ukrainian situation based on Russia’s proposals is found.”
вот так
For an alternate view on what happens in Kiev, you may read : http://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/daniel-heintz/american-in-maidan-Ukraine
I have no idea whether this is an accurate report, but I believe that it could be useful in the informational fog we are now living in.
Hunson-
This was told to me by a neighbor so probably came from the mainstream media. I have not been able to confirm it.
Hey all, I wanted to share this, without comment. Make your won conclusions. It is a google translation with some minor corrections to make it readable, original cane be found here: http://forum.for-ua.com/read.php?1,3719921
Rebuilding Ukraine. Collated from posts on the forums of the “Freedom” party site:
Apply the techniques of Kampuchea Pol Pot era in relation to the urban speaking population. Russian-speakers – to the fields to work under duress. Or organize new Holodomor (famine) for Russian cities to reduce their population . Only we must first take out Ukrainian Ukrainians , whom local cells of “Freedom” will reconcile with their lists, surround the cities with troops , block better in the winter. Turn off gas, electricity , water, sewer block , mobile communications.
ukrainization of Crimea , Donbass , Kharkov, Odessa , Nikolaev, Kherson, Krivoy Rog , Sicheslava , Zaporozhye, Kremenchug, Dneprodzerzhinsk and other Russian cities is only possible with the help of a totalitarian military dictatorship , repressive measures . This is when the defenders of ” bilingualism ” will have their teeth knocked out with rifle butts.
Russian language speakers are an amorphous biomass of live stomachs … It is necessary to liquidate the herd somewhere on 5-6 million individuals. For the 45 millionth Ukraine disappearance of 6 million will not be noticed.
To create a truly Ukrainian Ukraine – physically liquidate all Russian-speaking intellectuals and all Ukrainophobes (fast, shoot without trial. Any member of the “Freedom” party can draft a Registry of Ukrainophobes on the spot) , to execute all members of the anti-Ukrainian political parties and organizations , not only pro-Russian , but also pro-Romanian , pro-Hungarian, pro-Tartar.
In Kharkov , Odessa, Nikolaev and other cities through the process of assimilation of ethnic Ukrainian- Russian marriage lasts no less than 150 years. Therefore, to determine who is Russian and who is Ukrainian is like to make an omelet , and then try to isolate the yolk.
question … lack of Ukrainian human resources, because for this 3/4 of Galicia and Volyn will have to move to the East . Because there are way too many Russian-speaking creoles there.
The damned Jewish community is not paying attention. This Zionist “community” seeks to ensure that the Ukrainians disappear forever. Ukraine has hostages – Jews . If the globalist “community” will bring its army, then Ukraine will start a real holocaust for the Jews.
They are not one of us. To me as an easterner it is insulting to say, but the eastern cattle requires a whip. Nothing can be done. Only fire!
To make Donbass and Kharkov children into Ukrainian nation-centered Ukraine-minded Ukrainians we need to isolate them from their parents . Create a youth and children’s organizations, so that they can renounce (denounce?) their parents. This is possible , but under totalitarianism , dictatorship and militarism.
Isolate … – it is certainly unrealistic, but the confrontation of parents and children in the East and South – it seems to me a very real and the only possible way out.
Ukrainisation … can only be done with the help of the mass sterilization of people under the guise of vaccination spreading deadly viruses , infections , poisoning drinking water , the use of chemical , biological and bacteriological weapons.
… Why kill when you can dismantle the Russian school and everything else …
Russia … will not dare to fight with Ukraine over the dismantling of Russian language …
Muscovites and all Muslims must remove from our land from their bags of intestines , that’s what the policy should be !
Frame each and every one of them. Put them into prisons . Those who are strongly opposing will accidentally fall under Kamaz, have a plane crash, die from sudden cardiac arrest, from suicide or three shots to the head … we will rot them with their own “peaceful” means.
I support all this with both hands. You can even just drown all the scum at night in the Sevastopol bay.
Why so brutal, we’re not animals . The problem is with the very noisy and loudmouthed ones . Some can be evicted, others purely by chance we find child pornography or drugs and off they go to the slammer. Others will sit quietly and wait, and as a result starve, and not achieve anything.
Separatist … sites we will close . The rest will be supervised. Will find them by ip and impose fines. Propoganda channels will be drowned out, the rest can broadcast .
… medicine is powerless. Crimea is frankly hostile to Ukraine, because it is totally inhabited by Russian aliens. The Donbass is full of nationally inferior renegades and mankurts – degenerates in one word. The younger generation – the same mutants and immoral freaks like their Soviet parents . Ukrainianspeaking Ukrainian patriots there are a minority.
Land is property and this property is owned by Ukraine , if users of this land do not agree with this , then good riddance to them, and all the land grabbers should be ousted. We should not listen to whether they want to give up their land or not.
In Ukraine … only Ukrainians are autochthonous. Muscovites are invaders and Russian language is an occupant. Ukrainians must return to the Ukrainian language and Ukrainise non-Ukrainians . Russian language should disappear from Ukraine into oblivion .
@Wikispooks: Thanks for your comment! I think you’re misunderstanding N.V. Subramanian, though … Obviously, I agree that American politicians are following a strategy created by others. However, even given that fact, some Americans politicians (like Eisenhower) have been more prudent than others (like George W. Bush). That’s what Subramanian was getting at, I think.
– Abraham
@Abraham “Like Eisenhower”
These two articles should disabuse you of any notion that Eisenhower was possessed of even common humanity, let alone wisdom:
* Other Losses
* In Eisenhower’s Death Camps
Also, I agree, I was probably a bit hard on Subramanian with my last comment, but he – and India’s political elite generally – will nonetheless ignore that over-arching strategic objective of the US-NATO powers at their considerable peril.
My mistake for a poor choice of words. They may not have backed Yanukovich, but their giving him sanctuary after he fled on humanitarian grounds did give that impression. They argue that he would have been killed on the streets like Gadaffi, which is absolutely true. But in the eyes of the opposition in Ukraine he becomes a Russian stooge, even if he were not. And all his corruption, inefficiency, incompetence, oppulance in a single instant gets transferred from those oligarchs to Putin. Unfair maybe, but self inflicted.
Ali (a.s) faced something similar after Uthman was killed. Ali tried to protect his life even after he knew Uthman to be corrupt, incompetent, despotic, and an usurper of Ali’s own right. But got blamed for his murder afterwards.
Once again where Assad is concerned I doubt they back him for his beliefs or the kind of man he is. Maybe it helps a little. I think it’s mostly to do with who he is getting rid off, where he is situated, etc etc etc.
These people are playing a game of thrones. And where power is concerned they are all ruthless. Russia may be on the right side of history for the moment but that does not mean it will always be so. More times than not it has been on the wrong side. At least for those on the receiving end. And having a giant for a neighbour with an imperial history, no matter how much things change, must be intimidating for its neighbours. And a few days back I read, maybe it was propaganda too, of a Russian news anchor boasting of Russia’s ability to turn the USA to radioactive ash. That is as irresponsible as any of the crap the BBC keeps churning out.
Till a few months ago I was thinking how Iran was like a chess piece, much like Syria is on Putin’s chess board. But once this Ukraine mess flared up and signs of reproachment showed between the USA and Iran, it started looking more like a card game they are all playing. The Mullahs, the Jews, the despots, the “born again” Russians, and the “great satan” Americans. I may root for Hizbollah, mostly because its the underdog, and you may root for the “polite men in green” but I would not want to live under or next to either of them, and definately not under Putin’s ally Assad. The polite part and the David fighting Goliath part would vanish in an instant if they were opposed. And in the end I think the oligarchs will win. Either these ones or their descendants. The Putins, the Nasrallahs, you, me, your readers, we will all loose. Because time, money, and human nature are stacked against us. And because the other side is as relentless as Hizballah was in throwing out the Isaelis or as determind as the “Soviets” were in fighting the “Nazis”. Maybe your pessimism is rubbing off.
Mindfriedo
@ onething
Thanks for the update.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/there-is-no-sectarianism-in-the-army-syrias-war–the-generals-view-9206169.html
Nice one by Fisk, only facts, no bullshit
Mindfriedo
Talk about unprotected sex
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2585013/We-resist-American-political-prisoners-Iran-able-sex-jail-guard-left-cell-door-open-mistake.html
Mindfriedo
And final one, at least one oligarch is on the run
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2586099/Russian-millionaire-run-beating-girlfriend-badly-looked-like-zombie.html
Mindfriedo
Ps: sorry for posting msm garbage here, was just trying to point out the lighter side
@Jean-ollivier, interesting article. I did some background research and found that it was written by a research assistant from PONARS Eurasia, a network founded by Celeste A. Wallander, a current member of Obama’s administration (her job titles: “Special Assistant to the President” and “Senior Director for Russia and Eurasia on the National Security Council”).
Which is not to say that it’s necessarily untrue, but it IS written by an “involved party” (as is just about ALL news on this conflict, it seems), so I would want to compare it with other sources.
RE: U.S. Prepares to Gas Russia Into Submission…
This is what happens when you take your enemies propaganda too seriously…
The US is a NET IMPORTER of Natural Gas & will remain so. The only way becomes a net exporter is if the economy collapses & they start needing to use much less energy.
The US: Natural Gas Importer
http://oilprice.com/Energy/Natural-Gas/The-US-still-Imports-Natural-Gas-so-Why-the-Desire-to-Export-it.html
The whole fracking craze is a giant bubble swimming in a sea of speculative capital & vast government support.
When it pops it will be nasty & many of the oil majors have quietly been exiting the market.
A good look at the fundamentals by Dmitry Orlov:
http://cluborlov.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/shale-gas-view-from-russia.html
Here’s an article with a video showing Putin cowing a bunch of oligarchs and likening them to cockroaches! If only we had ‘leaders’ who could talk to Wall Street and the City of London in that way.
Vlad
На Украине сформировался блок партий и общественных организаций оппозиционный нацистcко-олигархической диктатуре: http://www.vitrenko.org/start.php?lang=1&article_id=19311
Ukraine: un putsch néonazi poussé par l’OTAN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOIgo5vp6A0
I do agree with all of the ideas you’ve presented in your post. They’re rellay convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are too short for newbies. Could you please extend them a little from next time? Thanks for the post.