According to the very official Rossiiskaia Gazeta quoting the Russian Minister of Communications the Kremlin is seriously considering shutting down YouTube. They could do that under a new law called “On the defense of children against information which can damage their health or development”. Furthermore, the Russian agency in charge of communications has already demanded that Internet service providers block the streaming of “Innocence of Muslims” on the grounds that it is “extremist” and “similar to child pornography”.
This makes sense. Russia is clearly siding with the Islamic world here, not only in its capacity as a nation with a strong Muslim minority, but also as a country which has as a policy to defend Russia’s “historical religions”.
I can imagine the outrage this will cause in the Anglosphere: the anti-Putin hysteria will now reach a new height, no doubt.
The Saker
Saker Message:
“I can imagine the outrage this will cause in the Anglosphere: the anti-Putin hysteria will now reach a new height, no doubt.”
And rightfully so.
The Putin regime has learned nothing from the street protests since the parliamentary elections and acts as a tyrant would be censoring the internet. No different from Saudi Arabia or Pakistan.
@Jack:And rightfully so
While I am on principle opposed to any forms of censorship, I am however also quite delighted at several things here:
a) I think that Russia should always side with the Islamic world against the West
b) Not since Alexander III did Russia have a ruler who would dare openly thumb his nose at the West and its hyper-hypocritical system of double-standards.
c) and if you, Jack, dislike it, it is probably a good thing :-P
(just kidding on the last one)
LOL!
More importantly, Russia has shut down USAID :)
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/09/18/262332/russia-pulls-plug-on-usaid-work/
http://rt.com/news/line/2012-09-18/#id37491
It would seem Putin continues to deliver on protecting his country.
@AnonymousLurker: OMG!!!! Finally somebody is kicking USAID our and Uncle Shmuel where he deserves it :-)
What a wonderful piece of news! You really made my day, thanks! (God knows I needed it today…)
@VINEYARDSAKER:
I doubt this comment will get publish but it is worth stating.
a) Why?
I guess we should just forget that whole sponsorship of terrorism thing and support for Chechen militants and terrorism in Russia and the entire Eurasian sphere and the ethnic cleansing and genocide against the Serbs and aggression against Orthodox Christianity?
But I guess that’s just the nasty Wahabis. lol!
What Russia should do is be the protector and promoter of Orthodox Christianity in the Mid East rather then get themselves aligned with an historical aggressive, alien union with Islam who have always been against Russia’s geopolitical interests and are ethnically aligned with Turkey and to this day still travel and support Chechen terrorism in the North Caucasus.
Let the west stew in the mess they have created in supporting radical Islam and their relationship with the Mid East propping up countries and regimes like Egypt that will never be democratic or accomplish anything near western standard of living independent of the mass oil reserves and for the time being the monopoly they have on it that are run by British and American private intelligence personal.
With the projected decline in oil reserves in Saudi Arabia and opening of future energy markets in Africa and Central Asia the US involvement and support of the Mid East where they are the largest benefactors of foreign aid and are overtly anti-American is the Trojan horse that will sink the empire.
b) That is exactly what London and hard line Cold warriors in the US want. That Russia would have nothing to gain but everything to lose.
Frankly this is the standard liberal/Muslim opinion who want to use Russia as a whore/proxy for their own means and do not give a damn about Russia because their own corrupt Muslim societies who have brought nothing but misery to the lands they have expanded their influence wrapped in intolerant religious dogma where we would be slaves to an Islamic oligarchy worse than Communism.
Show me an example where this is not the truth and Islam in the modern era has had a positive effect/influence?
I could cite numerous examples
I have to ask why are you so pro-Muslim?
I thought you were an Orthodox Christian?
@Jack:I doubt this comment will get publish but it is worth stating.
Why? I have never censored your nonsense in the past. Why should I do that this time? You do not give me enough credit, my friend :-)
Why?
Because we, Orthodox Christians, share a common history and culture with the Islamic world, something we never did with the West and, because the worst Islam will want from us is to enslave our bodies whereas the West wants to corrupt our soul. I do not expect you to understand any of that, but since you asked I reply.
That is exactly what London and hard line Cold warriors in the US want. That Russia would have nothing to gain but everything to lose.
Wrong. The West is collapsing. Russia is not. Russia has nothing to fear from Western Cold warriors and their delusions of power. Besides, as Saint Alexander Nevsky (who also chose an alliance with Islam against the Teutonic Knights), God is in the Truth, not in strength. Again, I don’t expect you to understand.
I have to ask why are you so pro-Muslim?
I am only pro-truth. Besides, I have no reason at all to be anti-Muslim.
I thought you were an Orthodox Christian?
I am and it is for God to judge me, not you :-P