In a recent comments thread Carlo has pointed out that there is a campaign to murder non-Wahabi Muslims in Russia to which Lysander added that “perhaps it should be Russian policy to seek the overthrow of the Saudi royal family. Perhaps not openly stated, but maybe the should start a covert program of destabilization against KSA. Surely there are some former KGB officers who remember how to do these things? At the very least in retaliation for each incident that occurs in Russia.”
That is an interesting idea. Needless to say, I have no access to any decision-making on such topics which are of the prerogative of some key elements the Presidential Administration, probably a restricted sub-group of key individuals of the Security Council of the Russian Federation and which could task either the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) or the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), or both, to engage in a destabilization campaign in the KSA. That is in theory. In practice, things are far more complicated than that.
First, it is crucial to understand that between 1988 and 1991 (Gorbachev years) and, even more so, between 1991 and 1991 (Eltsin years) the Russian security services were comprehensively smashed to smithereens. The politically correct expressions for this process of quasi-annihilation are “reformed” or “democratized”. One could write an entire PhD thesis on the magnitude of this cataclysm, I will just offer an order-of-magnitude figure which is nothing more than my guesstimate of how much was destroyed. I would estimate that roughly 90% of the global capabilities of the ex-Soviet (and then Russian) security services were destroyed under the rule of these “democratic leaders”.
Since Putin’s election in 2000 this process has been reversed, there is no doubt about that, but the current Russian security services are still far from having recovered from the “democratic apocalypse” of the 1980s and 1990s.
Furthermore, I would personally argue that the security services of the former USSR were largely bloated and ineffective. I personally was involved in many types of “anti-Soviet” activities for many years and I can attest that the KGB was no nearly as formidable as some imagined it to be. Let’s just say that Brezhnev’s KGB was nothing like Stalin’s NKVD/MGB. Sure within the KGB itself the branch tasked with Foreign Intelligence (the PGU KGB SSSR or First Main Directorate of the KGB) was an elite of a much higher level than the rest of the KGB, but nonetheless, even the PGU was not the all-knowing, all-understanding and almighty Ueber-spy-service some imagined it to be. Bottom line: when Putin came to power his task was not to simply resurrect the former KGB, but to design a new security establishment suitable for post-Communist Russia, an immensely complicated task which he had to tackle in extremely difficult, if not critical, circumstances.
Nowadays the major Russian intelligence and security services include the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Federal Protective Service (FSO) and the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). There are a few more services such as several departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), the Federal Border Service (FTS), the small and shadowy Security Service of the President of the Russian Federation (SPB), or the Anti-Terrorism Center of the CIS (ATTsSNG) which all have some intelligence and security functions, but the big players are obviously the SVR-FSB-GRU trio. While their areas of responsibility are roughly similar to the one of their Soviet era counterparts (the SVR’s inherited the functions of the 1st Main Directorate of the KGB, the FSB inherited the functions of the 2nd Main Directorate of the KGB (and a few other Directorates), while the current GRU inherited the functions of the old GRU GSh SSSR) this is a misleading comparison because the fundamental missions of the modern SVR-FSB-GRU trio have changed dramatically.
This is hardly surprising. The USSR fancied itself as a global empire, a superpower which would challenge the capitalist world in every corner of the planet in a global zero-sum game. As for the Soviet security services, not only were they tasked with protecting the state, there were also tasked with protecting the Soviet regime and even the Communist ideology. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent democratic apocalypse, the Russian internal security services were given a dramatically different set of tasks including such things as the protecting the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation from foreign infiltration and home gown separatist movements, the struggle against Western-backed financial interests or the protection of non-Wahabi Islamic clergy from terror attacks. The good bad old KGB never had to deal with such tasks. As for the SVR and the GRU, they put the early detection of World War III on the back-burner and they turned to such matters as economic intelligence and lucrative weapons export contacts.
As for the “conceptual map” of the planet as seen by the Russian security and intelligence establishment it looks like this: the territory of the Russian Federation itself which needs to be protected from economic, social and political crises, the “Near Abroad” (countries of the former USSR) and the “Far Abroad” (the rest of the planet). The absolutely vital territory to defend was, of course, the Russian Federation itself. From this realization came the need to also get directly, if covertly, involved in the “Near Abroad” because developments in this “Near Abroad” directly and immediately affected the national security of the Russian Federation. The Georgian war of 08.08.08 clearly proved beyond any doubt that the entire realm of the “Near Abroad” had to be considered as a real of vital Russian interest. But what about the “Far Abroad”, the rest of the planet?
I would argue that Russia made the correct call in deciding that it simply did not have the resources to once again become a global player. In other words, the Russian regime took a monumental, truly historical decision: it decided that Russia would never be an Empire again, that it would take the very deliberate decision to “restrict” itself to being a large but “normal” country whose security would be best promoted by an insistence on the respect for international law and a well-developed system of alliances in a (hopefully) multi-polar world in which other such “non-global” or “non-imperial” countries could join efforts and mutually assist each other.
It is quite true that most of us when we hear the words “respect for international law” or “alliances of equals in a multi-polar world” almost instinctively dismiss them as crude propaganda simply because we have heard them used over and over again the disguise or justify US imperial or Western neo-colonial policies and it is now very hard to believe ex-Communists like Putin when they use them. And yet it is absolutely essential to understand that these expressions are not a means to “sell” Russian policies but the instruments chosen by Russia to promote its national security interests. In other words, its not that Putin “believes” in international law, its that Putin believes that a policy of systematic insistence that international law be respected is greatly advantageous for Russia.
In this context, the option to embark on a campaign to destabilize Saudi Arabia or, for that matter, any other country, does not seem compatible with the overall national security strategy of Russia. That does not mean that the Russian regime would not like to pay back the KSA for its multi-billion dollar campaign in support of Wahabi terrorism in Russia – I am sure it would – rather it simply means that Russia does not believe that the appropriate response to the Saudi terror campaign would be to try to retaliate in kind.
The Russian anti-Wahabi-terror campaign is, I believe, organized around the following global national security policies:
Policies inside the Russian Federation:
a) Strengthening as much as possible the Russian internal security services on all levels, from the Federal FSB to the local rookie police officer on the beat in the streets of Makhachkala.
b) Seeking to identify and promote local leaders – such as Ramzan Kadyrov – capable of dealing with terrorism while developing the local economies.
c) Embark on a systematic campaign of support for non-Wahabi (traditional) forms of Islam in all of Russia, including the capital and all the major Russian cities
d) Developing and maintaining a very powerful military “fist” capable of immediate response (2 hours or less) to any major armed attack.
e) Adopting of a body of laws which strictly punish any forms of national, ethnic or religious discrimination, hatred or hooliganism and the systematic use of such law to punish groups or individuals (Russian and non-Russian) violating these laws.
f) Adopting a system of laws which will gradually “choke” and eventually bring down to a minimum the activities of covert US/EU/NATO assets in Russia, from the likes of Khodorkovsky to the Pussy Riots crazies, and including a whole galaxy of individuals, movements, organizations and parties, all of which, if taken together, would account to something like 1% to 2% (max) of the Russian population.
g) Covert internal efforts to prevent the appearance of a real, non Kremlin-controlled, opposition movement or party; the potential interest for such a real opposition to the current regime in power is probably rather strong as the real power-base of dedicated Putin supporters is probably only somewhere in the 40%-50% of the population (Putin got so brilliantly re-elected not so much because all of those who voted for him loved him as because of the fact that there simply is currently no credible opposition or alternative to Putin).
Policies in the Near Abroad
a) Economic support in terms of grants, credits or preferential pricing policies for those regimes in the Near Abroad who either are supportive of Russia or, at least, not directly hostile.
b) Security assistance in all forms for those regimes in the Near Abroad who either are supportive of Russia or, at least, not directly hostile.
c) Economic and political isolation of anti-Russian regimes in the near abroad
d) Development and maintenance of armed forces structured into four autonomous and self-sufficient “strategic directions” each controlling a sufficient number ground, naval and air forces to immediately respond to any local conflict or external aggression.
e) Overt political support for political parties or movement in opposition to the anti-Russian regime in power.
Policies in the Far Abroad
a) Using the Russian power at the UN Security Council to block any unilateral use of force or any unilateral intervention by the US Empire and its subsets (NATO, EU, Anglosphere, Israel, Colombia, etc.)
b) Insistence that any international crisis be handled by a representative segment of the international community (and not just US puppet regimes) and by all the parties to the conflict (and not just those supported by the USA).
c) Development of new international institutions such as BRICS, CSTO, SCO and others which can strengthen a multi-polar world and thereby oppose a worldwide US hegemony
d) Keeping the Russian armed forces in general and the Strategic Rocket Forces powerful enough to make a direct military aggression against Russia by anybody, including first and foremost the USA, absolutely unthinkable.
Policies common to all levels
a) Prepare for the inevitable global financial collapse by such means as reducing the amount of US Treasury holdings, dollars, Western stocks, etc, owned by Russia or Russian interests (many, if not most, Russian experts predict this collapse for 2013 already).
b) Re-orienting the Russian economy towards Asia while keeping Europe dependent on Russian energy exports.
c) Reducing as much as can be the current dependence of the Russian economy and state budget on energy and raw-material exports aboard by the revitalization of high-technology, aerospace, medical, industrial, information technology and other sectors of the Russian economy.
It is the fundamental mission of the Russian security and intelligence forces to support the implementation of all these policies on their respective levels, a far more complex and diverse task than that which was given by the Soviet leadership to the KGB.
Does that mean that Russia will never use KGB-style techniques to destabilize a regime or use covert operations against an enemy? No, not at all.
For example, it is likely that the SVR is keeping a very close eye on the political struggle between Saakashvili and Nino Burdzhanadze and it would be reasonable to expect the SVR to do whatever it can to assist her, but only covertly, of course. Similarly, I am sure that the contact between the Russian and Iranian security services are very close and that the Russian GRU has a very good idea of what Iran might, or might not, be doing in Syria or Bahrain. Finally, I would not be surprised at all if we learned one day that GRU agent had succeeded in infiltrating the CENTCOM’s Joint Intelligence Center in Tampa Bay. But neither would I be surprised if I learned that the GRU has succeeded in infiltrating somebody in the J.P. Morgan Chase Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) or in the staff of the China Policy Department of the US Chamber of Commerce. These new targets reflect new realities and new missions.
What I do not see at all is the SVR or the GRU putting the time, effort and money to build up a covert network of agents inside such a tough target country like the KSA not because it fundamentally could not do so, it probably could, but because that would entail fantastic opportunity costs and a redirection of urgently needed resources from far more important priories. And even if there are still “former KGB officers around who remember how to do these things” I suspect that they would nowadays be used either as teachers in the various specialized academies or as advisers to the new leaders.
Ever since the crisis in Syria began I have been clamoring Urbi et Orbi that the Russians are not, repeat, not coming!! (see here, here and here). In these articles I was referring to a possible military intervention, but today I hope that I have explained why the Russian security and intelligence organizations are not coming either, at least not with any type of covert operation to support Assad or overthrow the House of Saud.
I will conclude here by saying that I am personally very happy that the Russians are not “coming”. First, Russia does not have any more justifiable reasons than the USA to be policing the planet, regardless of whether it has the means to do so or not. I oppose all “global cops” – regardless of who they are. Second, nobody in the Middle-East has asked for the Russians to “come” and, frankly, even if they did, I don’t believe that Russia has any obligation or even any logical reason to agree to such demands. Why? Simple: if Russia was in a deep crisis, do you seriously believe the Syrians, Saudis or Iranians would “come” to “help” Russia? Of course not! Third, the best Russia can do for the people of the Middle-East is take upon itself to shoulder responsibilities commensurate with the real, actual, Russian capabilities. What point is there to “come” only to be defeated? Why make empty promises of support which one cannot deliver upon? Russia did take a very clear and firm stance on Syria and it did that where it mattered the most, at the UN Security Council, where Russia could actually deliver on its promises.
Lastly, and unlike the ruling “1%” Western plutocracies who wage constant wars of choice against the clear will of their own public opinions, the Kremlin cannot ignore the fact that a vast majority of the Russian public would be categorically opposed to a Russian military or covert operation into a conflict so far from Russia or the Russian Near Abroad, and in defense of a very dubious ally like Assad. The fact is that the Kremlin is far more democratic than all the western “democracies”, at least if by “democratic” we understand “ruling in accordance to the will of a majority of people”.
Makes you wonder where the real “Free World” really is, does it not?
The Saker
PS: come to think about it, there is one realm in which the Russians will use the good old “cloak and dagger” type of operations: the elimination of terrorist leaders in the Caucasus. In fact, the Russians openly admit, with some pride, that they killed many Chechen insurgency leaders including Dudaev, Basaev, Khattab, Maskhadov and many, many others. Dokku Umarov has, so far, succeeded in avoiding the Russian killer teams and I wonder if that is not because the Kremlin is more than happy to have him in the role of a “Russian Bin-Laden”. Whatever may be the case, there is no doubt in my mind that the Russian security services will hunt down and execute any Wahabi terrorist leader reckless enough to enter the territory of the Russian Federation. I do not, however, believe that the Russians will attempt to kill them abroad even though western sources have claimed that the Russian security services were involved in the murders of Yandarbiev, which I do not believe to be true (nor do I believe that they were involved in the murders of Yamadaev for that matter). The worst instances of terrorism in Russia are currently taking place in Dagestan, which is were I expect the Russian killer teams to be the most active.
Hi Saker, Thanks for a great and informative essay.
I just wanted to make clear that I was not suggesting Russia should police the world or come to the rescue of any particular country/government or act in the interests of some other nation.
But if KSA is assisting the west to destabilize the Caucasus, then Russia **SHOULD** act against those responsible.
It does not have to start out with a covert plan to overthrow KSA. The first thing Russia should do is invest in its foreign language media and use it to attack KSA as much as possible without ever relenting. It should invest copiously in RT in Arabic and attack KSA there. It should especially highlight any cooperation between KSA and Israel.
Russia should find out who the biggest doners to Wahabi terrorism are and…assassinate them?…No need. Just call them out in public.
That would be a great first step. It might be enough to get the Saudis to back down. If not, then we can talk about more serious steps.
With regard to Syria, Russia is doing exactly what it should: insist that international law be respected and act to raise the costs to the west of any intervention without Russia having to spend a lot of its own resources. Obviously, Russia should not intervene militarily under any circumstance other than repelling an attack on Russia.
Excellent text, Saker. You made good points about why Russia can’t and shouldn’t use the same tactics of sponsoring terrorism and destabilization against Saudi Arabia. But I still think that Russia should ally closer with countries that support traditional Islam and oppose Wahhabism, and considering that the greatest opponents of Wahhabis are the Shia, it would be only natural to strengthen relations to Iran and have close contacts with Shia movements in other countries (Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrein, even with the Shia minority in KSA).
That is one superb piece of analytical work. The best I’ve read in a long time and, believe me, I read a lot of good (ie non-Western MSM) stuff on geo-politics and the position of Russia.
Are you OK with me wikifying it and posting it – duly credited etc – on Wikispooks?
@Lysander:
The first thing Russia should do is invest in its foreign language media and use it to attack KSA as much as possible without ever relenting. It should invest copiously in RT in Arabic and attack KSA there.
Well, RT does exist in Arabic (http://arabic.rt.com/) though since I unfortunately do not speak that wonderful language I am unable to assess its performance. However, if RT Arabic is anything like its English and Spanish language programs, then I would imagine that they are very good. There is also something called Rusiya Al-Yaum which is run by RIA Novosti but broadcast by RT.
The problem is that most of the media *INSIDE* Russia is very anti-regime, some in a rabid fashion (Ekho Moskvy) some is a more subtle manner (NTV). So, again, it is hard for Russia to fight an offensive information campaign against Saudi Arabia at the time when it has to fight a *defensive* media campaign inside Russia.
Russia should find out who the biggest doners to Wahabi terrorism are and…assassinate them?…No need. Just call them out in public
The Russians know *exactly* who pays for the terrorism in Russia, but Russia simply cannot openly accuse the House of Saud, much less so the MI6 or the Pentagon…
@Carlo:
But I still think that Russia should ally closer with countries that support traditional Islam and oppose Wahhabism, and considering that the greatest opponents of Wahhabis are the Shia, it would be only natural to strengthen relations to Iran and have close contacts with Shia movements in other countries (Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrein, even with the Shia minority in KSA).
AMEN! And, as you well know, I have tried to push that argument forward in this blog as much as I could. And I can also tell you that I did the same with some of the right people to talk to in Russia in the past. There is one caveat to this concept. Not all Shia have the same conceptual clarity about Wahabism. In the case of Iran I would say that yes, absolutely, they “get it” and I know for a fact that they act on it. However, there are still many Shia who have what I call the “my Umma right or wrong” knee-jerk reaction which brings then to automatically side with their “fellow Muslim” against the “Kufar” even when that “fellow Muslim” is a crazed Wahabi maniac who will slit their throat at the first opportunity.
This is one of the reasons why the regime in Russia is putting so much efforts in traditional Islamic education: because only a lack of education will trigger the type of primitive knee-jerk responses we so much deplore.
But yes, only Iran “got” Chechnia right from day one. ALL the other naively fell right into the Anglo trap…
@wikispooks: Are you OK with me wikifying it and posting it – duly credited etc – on Wikispooks?
Oh absolutely! It would be my pleasure, really. And thanks for your kind words of support.
BTW – this is the note I have at the bottom of my blog:
Notice about this blog’s original contents:
Please feel free to copy, publish and pass on any part or all of the original contents of this blog. No authorization from anyone is required to use any of the original content published here.
So while I thank you for kindly asking, please feel free to copy and publish anything I write. This blog being anonymous, I really seek no personal recognition, all I want is for the word to get out there, to stir up the discussions, to promote a free exchange of ideas or, possibly, even values. So I am always absolutely delighted when something I write gets pick-up by somebody else.
So many many thanks to you!!!
Kind regards,
The Saker
@Wikispooks: Just had a thought; you possibly might find these of some interest:
http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2011/02/will-muslim-world-ever-show-enough.html
http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2011/02/interesting-statement-from-russian.html
http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2011/05/possible-signs-of-real-changes-in.html
YMMV of course, HTH
The very foundation of deterrence….
“A security philosophy cannot rely on defense alone. It must also include offensive capabilities, which is the very foundation of deterrence….”
Russia would be making a great mistake if it neglects offensive capabilities, whether overt or covert…in my view.
I have heard persistent rumors about Putin having had a hand in the assassination of Rafic Hariri in Beirut on Feb. 14th 2005, because Hariri apparently was used as a conduit to covert financial aid by the Saudi Wahhabi crazies, into the Northern Caucuses region and specifically the operation in the school of Baslan if I remember well….Following that operation, Vladimir Putin said publicly that “He will cut off” the hand of those complicit in the Baslan massacre of several hundred children at school, and he delivered apparently on his promise through SYRIA…and the assassination of Hariri with two tons of high explosives….
Do you have any notions about the validity of such speculation…???
Most of the support that Chechen terrorists receive is not from Saudi Arabia but from Turkey were it gains its ethnic support. It is the ethno-religious Turkic aspect that is the main driving force not the cop out of Saudi Wahabbaism philosophy that is marginal in regards to terrorist recruitment and support in Russia and across the region
Russia subversion of the KSA regime would be utterly stupid and counterproductive as:
1)If Russia was involved in destabilising the Kingdom that hosts the holiest sites in Islam that would immediately incur the raff of the international Muslim world.
2)It would increase support for terrorism in Russia as a response.
3)It would incur the wrath of the west that Saudis have billions of dollars invested into western economies and seen as a play by Moscow of control of global oil market.
4)A new regime would just be as pro-US/western.
5)It would affect the global oil market that Russian economy is still largely dependent on.
6) It would be a cop out in any future investigation of Saudi state involvement in 9/11 if the regime is removed.
Russia’s policy should be making alliances with Orthodox nations and groups in the Mid East and near abroad as a counter to growing Turkish influence while at the same time courting Turkeys influential role in the Caucasus, Mid East, Balkans and Central Asia with economic and regional agreements while eliminating the Chechen terrorist threat before they can come into Russia.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/on-the-hit-list-russia-hunts-down-chechen-terrorists-abroad-a-788490.html
@Anonymous: I have heard persistent rumors about Putin having had a hand in the assassination of Rafic Hariri in Beirut on Feb. 14th 2005
As somebody born in a family which the KGB had always keep a close eye on, and as somebody who has had the (dubious) privilege of being the object of an (unauthorized) KGB death threat (the officer who made it was reprimanded and demoted) and, finally, as somebody who after 1991 actually became a good friend to a Colonel of the KGB Spetsnaz Unit “Vympel” (who is, amongst other tasks, charged with assassinations of foreign heads of state in times of war), I have always had a keen interest in the issue of KGB assassinations. So even though I cannot absolutely guarantee that I am right here, I can tell you that I am totally convinced, without the shadow of a doubt, that there rumors are unfounded.
The reality is that at least since the 1950s the KGB has always been very very very reluctant to conduct assassinations abroad, in particular against non-Soviet individuals. There was even something of an unwritten rule between the West and the Soviets: you don’t kill our people and we don’t kill yours. Interestingly, some countries like Tito’s Yugoslavia did not have such a policy and this resulted in a lot of Yugoslav officials and Yugoslav emigres getting killed. Let me share a fact with you which most people are not aware of:
In the world of international espionage assassinations are considered a sign of a *LACK* of sophistication.
Yeah, I know. 007 and the “right to kill”. But that is fiction. And the Mossad, with its Kidon teams. But the Mossad is not a sophisticated outfit at all, only a very arrogant one. Amongst civilized actors, assassinations are a very rare tactic, used when no other options are open, and the decision to do so is always taken at the very top of the state.
Considering all that, why would Putin order the murder of Hariri? Hariri was not some type of defector, or even a Russian citizen. He was a FOREIGN HEAD OF STATE! Just consider the risks such an operation would entail. Even if Hariri had paid for Beslan and hired every single one of the terrorists who did it, never ever would the Kremlin consider killing him in retaliation. That would totally go against the corporate culture of the KGB/SVR (the only ones who could conduct an assassination abroad in peacetime).
As for deterrence, there are many theories thereof, but I would say that it is basically based on either denial or punishment. The FSB/SVR has much better tactics of denial and Russia, as a state, better tactics of punishment, then killing Harari.
I agree with Nasrallah: its the Israeli morons who did it. That is very much *their* style…
Kind regards,
The Saker
Off topic Kremlin Stooge article on challenges to the dollar as the world reserve currency.
http://marknesop.wordpress.com/2012/04/09/high-noon-the-greenback-goes-for-its-gun-in-the-fight-of-its-life/
If Russia wants to punish the West it could do worse than attempt to establish an alternative currency regime between itself and China and then invite the rest of the world to join it starting with the other BRICS.
@Robert: Kremlin Stooge is very good. And yes, it appears that Russia is slowly reducing its holdings in dollars, US Treasury Bonds, etc. and also encouraging non-dollar trade. However, there are forces inside Russia who oppose that. Worse, Russia has just joined the WTO and the non-dollar energy stock exchange recently opened seems to be doing little or nothing.
My personal feeling is that there is a big fight *INSIDE* Russia and that various interest groups with totally diverging goals are struggling over this. But I might be wrong, of course.
Cheers!
Dear Saker,
In my view, the Western inspired and exploding Sunni/Wahhabi/Salafist/Takfiri/Islam will be Russia’s primary national security focus for the rest of this century…
Best,
Joe
Unfortunately it seems there are powerful elements in Russia who want to do a deal with the West and regard America as the source of progress. I think Medvedev came into this category. Personally I hope the Eurasianists win out.
On another note Mercouris has just published an analysis of our friend Beresovsky. A British judge has basically called Beresovsky a liar and fantasist. Much of the propaganda against Russia in the British media is based on Beresovsky’s testimony.
http://mercouris.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/berezovsky/
It’s a mysery to me what the British government thought it was doing providing protection to this scumbag. Soros warned that Beresovsky was not to be trusted back in the Nineties and Boris Nemtsov was implacably opposed to him back in the Nineties.
nasrallah’s new (old) promise:
http://resistance-episteme.tumblr.com/
@Robert: Berezovsky, what a character! He will go down in history as one of those Jews who really hated Russia with all his might and soul and who truly dedicated his life towards inflicting the maximal amount of damage and pain on the Russian people… Really, he is “up there” with the likes of Lev Trotsky/Bronstein, Naftalii Frenkel, Genrikh/Enoch Iagoda and so many others. Sure, he did not organize Gulags, but what he – and the rest of his likes – did to Russia can be compared to the outcome of a major war, both in terms of human and financial costs.
It’s a mysery to me what the British government thought it was doing providing protection to this scumbag
Not at all. London has always been the place which hosted, wined, dined, financed, promoted and, frankly, instructed and controlled the worst enemies of Russia. Historically, British crown with its worldwide Masonic empire has always been the arch-enemy of Russia. Even today, the Russophobic hysteria in the UK is much worse than anything seen in the USA or Israel.
But then, if you look at what Freemasonery is, comes from, and stands for, and what Orthodox Christianity is, comes from, and stands for, then its all very logical and predictable. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear :-)
” But then, if you look at what Freemasonery is, comes from, and stands for, and what Orthodox Christianity is, comes from, and stands for, then its all very logical and predictable. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear :-)”
Saker, if you ever have time I’d love to read a post on that.
@lysander: Saker, if you ever have time I’d love to read a post on that.
That is a huge and complex topic. I will just say this: Freemasonry (and Orthodox Rabbinical Judaism) is/are in reality a form of Satanism whereas Orthodox Christianity is the sole form of Christianity which fully preserved the religion which Christ gave, which was preached by the Apostles, and which was preserved by the Fathers. You can think of the two as polar opposites, as negatives of each other, as “A” and “non-A”. These are the two extremes of mankind’s spiritual continuum, the two forces in opposition in the Garden of Eden, at the Golgotha and at the 2nd Coming. In fact, these are the *only* two forces battling each other since Lucifer fell from the Heavens.
How is that for a reply? I guess most folks reading it will think that I am a raving lunatic. LOL! That’s okay. You asked, I replied, and I don’t care one bit about the inevitable giggles or smirks coming from the “enlightened” agnostics/atheists/secularists which this type comments from me so often enrages.
Cheers dear friend :-)
The Saker
@Saker: “I guess most folks reading it will think that I am a raving lunatic.”
No, I don’t. My grandfather was an 18th-degree Mason, and took Freemasonry quite seriously. My father (under Grandfather’s influence), joined, but did not participate later in life.
I’ve seen enough of Masonry in my time to know that it is grubby and sick. As a convert to Orthodoxy myself, I agree with your overall assessment.
Having said that, I would still be very interested in reading a detailed post from you on the subject. One can always learn new things……
@Michael: life is funny in many ways. Here I am posting about Freemasonry for the first time since I began this blog (I think), and tomorrow evening I will be interviewing a very old and very knowledgeable 32nd Degree Mason (for my own, religious, studies, so I will not be able to share that interview on this blog). The gentlemen I will be interviewing is not the first 32/33 Degree Mason I will be interviewing by the way, so I know that there are very kind and sincere Masons out there (the one I am meeting tomorrow is particularly kind and welcoming). My assessment of the roots and underlying system of belief of Masonry is only that – an assessment of an ideology, a world view and, really, a ministry on behalf of Satan. But I am quite aware that most Masons a) would not agree with my opinion and b) are not even aware of it all. They integrate the traditions, the Craft, the rituals, the ideas without ever really realizing that what this all is is simply an anti-Christianity where the Trinity is replaced by the Three Grand Masters, Christ by Hiram Abiff, Resurrection and Baptism by the Raising, etc. Anyway, this is really a complex topic of which I am only a student and I rather keep it all away from this blog. I don’t mind discussing the politics of Freemasonry, but I rather leave the spiritual/speculative issues out of this blog.
I will say here that I do not believe that “Freemasonry runs the world” as some do (much less so any Illuminati). Things have changed a great deal in the last century or so and Masonry now has essentially created the kind of society where its ideas/values are mainstream. This is why most, if not all, of the so-called “secrets” of the Masons are all over the Internet. Sure, the Grand Orient still plays a *HUGE* role in France, but this is, I believe, more of the exception than the rule in most Western countries.
Anyway, I am really getting carried away here (I do find the topic most interesting), and I was trying to do just the opposite :-)
Let’s get back to our more familiar topics, ok?
Cheers,
The Saker