I have been following US-Soviet and US-Russian relations since at least age 5, and professionally most of my adult life, and I have never seen two leaders so obviously hating each other as Putin and Obama. I just watched their joint press conference at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland and I am truly left speechless: the mood was clearly so ice cold that one could almost visualize frost building around (and even on) the two leaders. Just look at this screenshot:
Some facial expression and body language, no?
Putin actually went as far as thanking Obama for a “frank exchange of views” which, in diplomatic language, is tantamount to an admission of a verbal fist fight.
I am not surprised by that. Putin probably despises Obama for being the spineless prostitute that he is, whereas Obama probably hates and fears Putin for daring to say “no” to the Anglo Empire. But the fact that both of these men made only a modicum of efforts to conceal their intense dislike for each other really amazes me. We are far from the skillfully orchestrated love fest between Kerry and Lavrov.
I know, one should not judge on appearance. But I will do that anyway. I feel that 4 decades of careful observation of such meetings grant me that right. And here is what I read into this: Putin comprehensively rejected everything Obama wanted from him. The pretense is now over – Russia and the USA are on a clear collision course.
The Saker
Hi saker. Although Russia may not be able to match NATO in Syria, I’m curious if Russia can leverage it’s control of NATO supply lines in Afghanistan.
If it can I think NATO would basically be checkmated. What do you think?
@Lysander:I’m curious if Russia can leverage it’s control of NATO supply lines in Afghanistan.I’m curious if Russia can leverage it’s control of NATO supply lines in Afghanistan.
Yes, it could. Ditto, by the way, for Iran who has even more influence in Afghanistan than Russia.
If it can I think NATO would basically be checkmated. What do you think?
Well, the problem here is that the US can also do many things which can hurt Russia. Both sides have a full spectrum of means which range from criticizing each other verbally to nuking the shit out of each other. The US being by far the strongest side has more flexibility due to a larger choice of possible methods, but Russia can use the fact that the USA is overstretched, over-committed, and has to blatantly lie to defend its policies. Finally, NATO suffers from being too big and without much of a popular mandate or a clear mission.
Can the USA be checkmated? Depends what you mean by that. The beauty of it all is that the US does more harm to itself than Russian and Iranian policies combined. The latest move by Obama to arm the insurgency is a huge *strategic* mistake which is already backfiring (I will write a special post about that as soon as I have a few minutes to do so). If Russia and Iran might be able to checkmate the USA, then the USA can do a superb job checkmating *itself*.
In what concerns Syria, my personal feeling is that the USA will completely fail in this war. I think that they made several fundamental miscalculations which will allow for the Syrian regime, Iran, Russia and China to do just enough to make sure that the US plan for Syria collapses. Frankly, at this point I see no viable options left for the USA in this war other than a rather futile (and, alas, bloody) exercise in face saving.
To answer your question directly: yes, Russia and Iran can basically make the withdrawal of US forces from Iran a quasi mission-impossible, in particular in what concerns heavy equipment.
The real question though is this: are Russia and Iran better of worse off with US forces in Afghanistan? I think that a rational answer could go either way.
Cheers,
The Saker
Obama’s been getting away with his strategy of sending out someone to make nice noises while continueing full-speed ahead with US triumphalist corporate/state policies for so long that hopefully this will be a deep shock to the Washington elite.
The only people buying their bullsh*t these days are the other Western elites, & as soon as someone decisively says ‘nyet’ the wheels start to come off.
The hysterical anti-Russian attacks in the media have reached a level of farce that you would have to be completely brain-dead to miss their ridiculousness, & most people are just tuning out mainstream media these days & turning to alternative sources (yet another own goal).
Expect even more hysteria from the elites & their media lapdogs over the coming months, as the wheels seem to be coming off a lot of the major neoliberal projects & these idiots are not capable of conceiving of an alternative, or even having a plan B.
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It is amazing to me that such an utterly pathetic bunch managed to amass such vast levels of power, with the majority seeming to be little more than greedy opportunists & ‘package’ salesmen, without any competence outside of manouvering within of halls of Western privelege.
The level of contempt these scum are generating amongst ‘ordinary’ people for western governments is astonishing, & is of such depth that it may last generations.
@KenM:The hysterical anti-Russian attacks in the media have reached a level of farce that you would have to be completely brain-dead to miss their ridiculousness, & most people are just tuning out mainstream media these days & turning to alternative sources (yet another own goal).
Oh yeah, its hilarious! Did you see this one:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/vladimir-putin/10122827/Vladimir-Putin-stole-a-25000-ring-from-New-England-Patriots-owner.html
Its hilarious – check it out :-))
as soon as someone decisively says ‘nyet’ the wheels start to come off.
yes, but don’t forget the Syrian “lah!” and the Iranian “nakheyr!” or even the Chinese “bu!” :-) This is definitely a joint effort, and not a Russian-only thing.
The level of contempt these scum are generating amongst ‘ordinary’ people for western governments is astonishing, & is of such depth that it may last generations
Yes, in Russia for example this level of contempt is truly absolute.
Cheers,
The Saker
What I found very encouraging is that I run into people who are THANKING Putin for keeping the U.S. out of another Iraq.
On a personal note, I’ve been seeking employment abroad in my line of work and recently was offered a job in Singapore. I know it’s also a total surveilence state. And there’s a lot I would miss about this country.
But after the FBI gave that Boston witness a Lubyanka breakfast (probably without even the cigarette) I’m thinkingb it’s time to move on.
@Lysander: Singapore – nice!! I am sure that you will like it there, it is a very interesting place, and there are also many good interesting places all around it. Congrats on your new job and all the best there! I hope you stay in touch from there :-)
As for Putin, yes, he does look pretty good having faced the Seven Dwarfs all by himself and forced them to accept his terms.
The Eltsin years are really long gone.
FINALLY!
Take care,
The Saker