I listened live to Putin’s speech yesterday with great interest. Here is my own analysis, for what it is worth.
Putin was strongest in his accusations of western hypocrisy. His ironic welcoming of the West having suddenly discovered the concept of international law was very well done. His analysis of the might is right approach the West had previously adopted, and their contempt of the UN over Iraq and Afghanistan, was spot on. Putin also was absolutely right in describing the Kosovo situation as “highly analogous” to the situation in Crimea. That is indeed true, and attempts by the West – including the Guardian – to argue the cases are different are pathetic exercises in special pleading.
The problem is that Putin blithely ignored the enormous logical inconsistency in his argument. He stated that the Crimean and Kosovo cases were highly analogous, but then used that to justify Russia’s action in Crimea, despite the fact that Russia has always maintained the NATO Kosovo intervention was illegal(and still refuses to recognize Kosovo). In fact of course Russia was right over Kosovo, and thus is wrong over Crimea.
I was very interested that Putin made distinct reference to the appalling crimes against the Tartars in the 1930’s, but also to the terrible suffering of Ukrainians in that period. His references were not detailed but their meaning was clear. I was surprised because under Putin’s rule there has been a great deal of rehabilitation of Stalin. Archives that were opened under glasnost have frozen over again, and history in Russian schools now portrays Stalin’s foreign policy achievement much more than his crimes (and it is now again possible to complete your Russian school education with no knowledge the Stalin-Hitler pact ever happened). So this was both surprising and positive. Designed to be positive was his assurance that Crimea will be trilingual. We will see what happens; Putin’s Russia is in fact not tolerant of its ethnic populations in majority Russian areas, and in fact contains a great many more far right thugs than Ukraine – probably about the same percentage of the population.
The 97% referendum figure is simply unbelievable to any reasonable person and is straight out of the Soviet playbook – it was strange to see Putin going in and out of modern media friendly mode and his audience, with their Soviet en brosse haircuts and synchronized clapping – obviously liked the Soviet bits best.
The attempt to downplay Russia’s diplomatic isolation was also a bit strange. He thanked China, though China had very pointedly failed to support Russian in the Security Council. When you are forced to thank people for abstaining, you are not in a strong position diplomatically. He also thanked India, which is peculiar, because the Indian PM yesterday put out a press release saying Putin had called him, but the had urged Putin to engage diplomatically with the interim government in Kiev, which certainly would not be welcome to Putin. I concluded that Putin was merely trying to tell his domestic audience Russia has support, even when it does not.
But what I find really strange is that the parts of the speech I found most interesting have not drawn any media comment I can see. Putin plainly said that in his discussions with Kuchma on the boundaries of Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union, they hadn’t wanted to open any dispute with what they expected to be a friendly neighbor, and that therefore the boundaries of Ukraine had never been finally demarcated. He said twice the boundaries had not been demarcated. That seemed to indicate a very general threat to Eastern Ukraine. He also spoke of the common heritage of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine in a way that indicated that he did not accept that Ukraine might choose a political future away from Russia.
Secondly, he said that on the day the Soviet Union broke up, Russians in many places had “woken up to find themselves in a foreign country.” Again from the context in which he said it, this referred not just to Crimea, and not just even to the rest of Ukraine, but to Russian nationals all over the Former Soviet Union. I would be worrying a lot about this part of the speech if I was Kazakh, to give just one example. Putin seemed to be outlining a clear agenda to bring Russian speaking areas of CIS countries back in to Mother Russia – indeed, I see no other possible interpretation of his actions in Georgia and Ukraine.
I think that we should start listening much more carefully to what he says. I also think that the weakness of the EU’s response to events gives Putin a very dangerous encouragement to pursue further aggrandizement. I posted a few days ago:
The EU I expect to do nothing. Sanctions will target a few individuals who are not too close to Putin and don’t keep too many of their interests in the West. I don’t think Alisher Usmanov and Roman Abramovic need lose too much sleep, that Harrods need worry or that we will see any flats seized at One Hyde Park. (It is among my dearest wishes one day to see One Hyde Park given out for council housing.) Neither do I expect to see the United States do anything effective; its levers are limited.
The truth is of course that the global political elite are in the pockets of the global financial elite, and while ordinary Russians are still desperately poor, the money the oligarchs rip out of Russia’s backward commodity exporting economy is parceled around the world financial system in ways that make it impossible for the western political classes to do anything. Whose funds would the hedge fund managers look after? Whose yacht could Mandelson and Osborne holiday on?
Personally I should like to see a complete financial freeze on the entire Russian oligarchy. The knock on effects would only hurt a few bankers, and city types and those who depend on them (cocaine dealers, lap dancers, Porsche dealers, illegal domestic servants). Sadly we shan’t see anything happen. They won’t let Eton go bust.
Macky and doug scorgie
I realise that you are trying to subvert this thread to anti-Israeli rant. Before I go any further on Israel.
Can I please have your opinion on whether or not you trust historical evidence to support claims of Holocaust?
Clark
More concretely.
“Habbabkuk, I do not believe that there is much anti-Jewishness in this comment sections, though I agree that there is some.”
I’m gratified to see that you’re progressing. It will get you into trouble on here if you’re not careful (cf the stick Craig’s got over the last few threads)?
“There is much suspicion that Jewish connections and influence are often pro-Israeli, and thus pro Israel expansionism, pro Israeli apartheid and supportive of Israeli racist murder and human rights abuses.”
I hear what you say. Would you say that Mary recently posting a photo of Theresa May on the arm of a British Jew called Jonathan Something or other at some reception illustrates that suspicion you refer to? Or if not, what do you think its purpose was?
John Goss
I realise that in my post I said couple of days instead of couple of weeks which I meant to say. Karimov was actually recovering from after shock and getting rid of evidence of his bloody actions in the few days after the Andijan massacre.
But does it really matter when exactly karimov visited Moscow? He did few weeks after killing hundreds of people (women and children) got full backing of putin and you HAVE NOT even mentioned this in your article.
‘Habbabkuk, 2:03 pm: do you think that the people you argue against here are evil and/or inhuman?’
But you haven’t yet noticed. He very rarely argues against anyone. His posts are blatantly designed to irritate rather than either inform or debate.
Habbabkuk, in a democracy, we’re all meant to be important.
When people’s opinions fail to reflect reality, it becomes important to consider the ways in which their informational environment affect their cognition; none of us are independent of such influences.
We are each part of that environment ourselves. By taking such a, sorry to say it, superior and confrontational approach, you encourage people to form a “camp” in opposition to yourself and your opinions; you cause the disagreement to harden.
Now it may be that you’re aware of that, and your strategy may be to herd the opposition into a narrow corral, provoke them to an irrational unity, and then easily discredit them. But in the long run it is self-defeating, unless there are death camps to send them to, and even governments which do that tend not to last very long.
If you’d rather win hearts and minds, then providing gentler, more compassionate and more understanding education will prove the surer course. Remember, in a democracy, we’re all important.
Clarke
MAD (which I unfortunately use quite often on this blog) is not abbreviation. The word as it is described in Oxford dictionary says that “chiefly British (Of behaviour or an idea) extremely foolish; not sensible:”.
In 21 century of internet and various books available online and various archived materials also available online, it is no excuse for someone to state that limited knowledge exists due to the Iron Curtain that had fallen over 20 years ago. Read now, enrich your knowledge.
I was actually one who lived behind Iron Curtain. My knowledge of the west (at that time) was as limited as yours of the USSR. It did NOT prevent me from learning English, reading and having better understanding of the history, culture, economy and politics of the west. I am NOT the best expert. In fact I do not even claim to be an expert of the western history etc, but I know for sure MORE THAN YOU and MANY others on this blog about EVIL of Russian Empire, USSR and revanchism of these horrible policies by current Russian president.
Habbabkuk, 3:12 pm, yes, I do think that, though I don’t see it as limited to Jews and Jewishness. I’ve commented before that Mary’s comments about the political social whirlwind serve to illustrate what a small, insular group influential people constitute, and I linked to an article about how a person’s social group primarily determines their outlook on life, by constantly reinforcing their opinions.
This, incidentally, is why I consider this comment section so important. We get an unusually diverse range of contributors here, and I expect that the readership is also diverse. It cuts across political allegiance, social groups and economic strata, exposing people to the unfamiliar. And that is why I’d like you to participate in a more friendly, respectful and compassionate manner rather than getting people’s backs up <3
Here’s a blast from the past.
Malcolm Fraser, former Australian Liberal (Conservative) PM, tells the truth about US hegemony.
He should know. He was involved in the palace coup against sitting Labour PM Gough Whitlam back in the 1970s, when Whitlam tried to undermine relations between Australian and US spooks, which we now know as Five Eyes.
This was part of the early enabling measures of neoconism, which took place in Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and the US too, of course.
He’s not happy with how it all turned out, but then, who is.
“US thinks it’s superior, rules only apply to inferior nations”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhKvV1aTAL8
Seems like Goughie was right, and remember these guys come from a time when western politicians had a bit more substance about them, not the teenagers we have today.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Fraser
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gough_Whitlam
Clark
Why do you assume habby’s a democrat.
Surely everything about habby’s posts suggest elitism.
I think Putin is ignoring the logical inconsistency in his argument, because the US/UK have set the precedent for this. He’s kind of saying, “If it’s OK for you to play Empire then why not us?” I find this – in the context of the Geopolitical Hegemonic game Western pressure is forcing Putin to play – entirely understandable. It’s Mafia Rules, plain and simple.
It occurs to me that Putin doesn’t care what the Western Media and leaders think, because of their hypocrisy. He knows he is going to be demonised no matter what, so he’ll do what he wants to do anyway. Moral judgement of his actions is another question, but if we’re talking about basic Russian Pragmatism here, well I think that’s the result we’ve got.
The West have been pushing at Russia’s Borders for too long and Putin has drawn a line. Perhaps we should be thankful that the violent fanatics in Washington don’t yet appear to have direct opposite numbers running things in Moscow, or we might have a little more to worry about right now.
It’s easy for us to sit here in our cushy Western lives and judge, but in the context of the Global Imperial Death Match that all the major powers and everyone else plays to some extent, Putin has managed to do this – so far – without a great deal of bloodshed.
Uzbek in the UK; “Can I please have your opinion on whether or not you trust historical evidence to support claims of Holocaust?”
Let’s be generous and assume that this is not a pretty low & quite a disgusting attempt to smear me as a Holocaust denier, as it’s not all relevant to what we were discussing, so anyhow the answer is I do indeed trust the historical evidence to support claims of Holocaust.
So feel free to now proceed with our conversation.
Uzbek in the UK, I’d like to send you good wishes. I haven’t been keeping up with all the conversation here, but I’ve often seen your comments, trying to convince people of Putin and Russian dominance. Good, well done, I’m glad you’re doing it. I know what it’s like to argue against many people at once in a comment section like this one; it is hard work, people falsely identify you as some kind of enemy, or a stooge spreading propaganda for some vested interest. You’re doing very well.
But most of your opponents are not mad. They are merely ignorant, and for any individual, subjects of which we are ignorant greatly outnumber subjects about which we are not. I agree that they should learn more, and be less sure of their positions, but people’s time is always limited. I ask you to remember that Russia/USSR was presented here as “the enemy” for the wrong reasons in an unfair manner, and I wish you patience while the reaction to propaganda works its way out.
Uzbek in the UK, 20 Mar, 2014 – 3:13 pm
If I am going to put something in an article I need to have the facts. First of all the meeting was not 2 days or even 2 weeks later, it was a month and a half later. From what I understand from the Alexander Gabuyev article Karimov and Putin held their talks in camera but at the press conference Putin did not support Karimov’s claim about western and US influence, believing instead from Russia’s own intelligence that there was intervention from Afghanistan.
“Мы очень сопереживали тому, что происходило в Узбекистане, и удовлетворены, что удалось взять ситуацию под контроль”,- многозначительно сказал Владимир Путин. Он подтвердил факт участия внешних сил, однако не стал развивать тезис Ислама Каримова о влиянии Запада и США, а пошел в другую сторону: “У нас была информация об инфильтрации боевиков из Афганистана, это наши спецслужбы подтверждают”. После этого оба президента удалились на закрытые переговоры.
I’m afraid Uzbek you are going to have to write this article yourself. I should like to read it.
Dmitry Orlov talks US collapse and Ukraine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCO5nZgvtbY
Thanks Herbie. I share practically all Dmitry Orlov’s views, about the collapse of the US economy, about the unity of the Ukrainian and Russian armies, and about the unsustainability of the thugs in government under Yatsenyuk.
Putin’s recitation of blindingly obvious facts seems to have tapped a vein of seething popular resentment. Here a reformed US Cold Warrior describes the speech as a manifesto of everything (reading a bit much into it, IMO,) and gets a global chorus of acclamation in comments,
http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.be/2014/03/today-every-free-person-in-world-has-won.html
The whole world hates the US government. People worldwide hate the US government, pity its subject population and despise its satellite states. The US population, from right to left, incoherently loathes their regime.
As one who was there when the USSR fell flat, I was struck by the intense public happiness among Soviet insiders, their joy in treason, the great curative puke of disgust that purged a parasitic regime. Now America is ripe for that. Putin doesn’t have to lead anybody. He can just stick a quick finger down America’s throat and stand aside.
Habbabkuk (La vita è bella!
20 Mar, 2014 – 1:56 pm
Doug Scorgie (to Uzbek):
“How do you think other posters here can check that what you say is true if you don’t provide links or references?”
Habbabkuk (to Doug Scorgie):
“Which implies that you think that everything is true provided it’s from or backed up by a link.”
A non-sequitur Habbakuk.
иди в жопу
Moscow strikes back against US officials – Banned from Russia
1. Caroline Atkinson
Deputy Assistant U.S. President
National Security
2. Daniel Pfeiffer
Assistant to the U.S. President
3. Benjamin Rhodes
Assistant to the U.S. President
4. Harry Reid
The leader of the majority in the Senate
U.S. Congress
5. John Boehner
Speaker of the House of Representatives
U.S. Congress
6. Robert Menendez
Chairman of the Senate Committee on
Foreign Affairs
7. Mary Landrieu
Senator
8. John McCain
Senator
9. Daniel Coates
Senator
http://www.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/newsline/177739554DA10C8B44257CA100551FFE
Here’s an interesting speech from a Ukrainian MP from the south east of the country having a go at Svoboda …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nXoBnUtHaNE
Here is the translation …
” Authorities are missing the boat. All of us must concentrate and give clear answer unless we want to lose both Crimea and Ukraine. How could we let that Crimea, “Ukraine’s gem”, an outlet to the sea, a strategic territory with such huge human and natural resources is being lost by us. Why is this happening? This is happening due to, among other reasons, sound compliance of people who live there and those people had been frightened by what had been happening in Kiev. What declamations were spoken, what statements were made? Unfortunately authorities are missing the boat again. Prime-minister has begun to address to the South and the East of Ukraine humanely only since yesterday and to explain them that russian language will not be abolished, that regions will acquire bigger sovereignty and citizens of these regions will be taken into account and will be respected. You may disagree and shout but I have just returned from Kharkov – the problem is that elderly people, 60+ y.o., want to join Russia. It is our problem and we are communicating with these people and informing them. Middle-aged people want russian language to become a state language and they want federalization and independence of a region (SE Ukraine). If you do not listen to them you will disintegrate the country, not we (Party of Regions) but you (Svoboda party). Visa non-free regime must not be invoked, you can call a persona non grata but people in eastern regions do work in Russia. You will hurt people who live in these regions first of all again. Do you, my friends and colleagues from Svoboda party, how you are called in Kharkov? You are called as “stars of the Kremlin”. You all, immediately after Putin’s speech, came to Panteleymonov (chief editor of first national TV of Ukraine) and did everything to cause harm on purpose (they forced him to resign). Killers? You are the killers! Moreover if authorities continue to miss the boat they will be remembered not as the ones who took the lead over Maidan but ones who were the true destructors of Ukraine. Concentrate! You…
Suddenly her microphone deactivates…
Some MPs are shouting “killers” in ukrainian…
She continues: Military personnel in Crimea of all units still do not receive any adequate orders from superiors. Not from chief-commander, not from MoD. Do not miss the boat or you(Svoboda party) will lose Ukraine, we will also lose it (Party of Regions) but we will not let you forfeit Ukraine. Listen to the South-East!!! Do not miss the boat!!!”
@ Orwellian at 4.02pm.
I’m sure you’re right about Putin not caring about Western media or politicos. After all, I don’t; why should he?
I was gobsmacked a week or two ago when I first heard Kerry start banging on about International Law and not changing borders by force. Whaaaaatt???? I couldn’t believe it. As if that wasn’t bad enough, they’ve been on about it ever since. Who believes this bollocks?
Who believes this bollocks?
The dumbest half or third of the population, distracted by porn and Pussy Riot, who believe, or rather lack the mental energy to disbelieve, whatever the media tell them. These are the dumbocrats who give superficial credibility to the pseudodemocratic plutocracy under which we now live.
Perhaps in retaliation we should take over Chelsea FC!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26661220
Technicolour (19 March – 10.14pm)
Sorry for the delay in replying. I agree with those who argue that the term “cold war” was used by the US foreign policy establishment to pull the wool over the eyes of Americans and others by portraying US actions after WWII as essentially defensive in nature, with the leader of “the free world” bravely confronting a powerful, aggressive and implacable USSR bent on world conquest and domination. The evidence shows this was hogwash.
The US emerged from WWII as the most powerful nation the world has ever known. As returning GIs settled into comfortable post-war prosperity, Washington used the rhetoric of war against a supposed new enemy to coopt the US media and academia, brainwash the population and intimidate (or arrest) critics who questioned official accounts of events.
In reality, US policy was aimed at maintaining and extending its economic dominance by establishing a global network of military bases, demanding access to markets and securing access to resources by fair means or foul.
Operating in secret much of the time, and killing opponents when necessary, it pursued these goals by financing political elites around the world and undermining their opponents, dictating the policies of international bodies such as the UN, World Bank and IMF, usurping European colonial control of “third-world” countries and “containing” (large) or invading (small) countries which refused to accept US suzerainty.
These policies didn’t end when the “cold war” ended in 1989 (with the collapse of the Soviet Union) and they continue today. Ukraine is a good example.
(The fact that Russia and China were run by ruthless totalitarian dictators doesn’t change the basic realities of post-war international relations, in my opinion, but it certainly helped US propagandists).
John Goss
What do you want me to provide you a secret Nixonian style tape confirming what putin told karimov behind closed doors?
Since you are being so picky on the date of the visit I ask again does it really matter? 2 days, 2 weeks or 6 weeks?
Karimov went to Kremlin to see putin as soon as he was able to leave Uzbekistan and as soon as Kremlin confirmed his acceptance. If you read little about Uzbekistan (and in fact you mentioned it in your article) until Andijan massacre Uzbekistan was US ally in war on terror. Kremlin and China both tried few times before to force US to leave K2 but Karimov only took final after Andijan massacre. Putin bought karimov’s farce (or putin might have advised karimov on how to actually make false claims, who knows) but facts remain facts. Karimov went to Kremlin soon after Andijan massacre and got putin’s backing.
I will give you 3 quotes below judge for yourself.
1 http://www.antiterror.ru/library/smi/90979035.html
Showing that putin accepted karimov’s death toll account and supported karimov’s version that Afghan terrorists were involved in the upraising
“Число погибших в Андижане оценивают по-разному. Независимые источники говорят о почти тысяче человек. По данным же генпрокуратуры Узбекистана, во время массовых беспорядков погибли 176 человек. Из них 79 – террористы, 45 – мирные жители, 20 – сотрудники правоохранительных органов, 11 военнослужащих. Во время андижанских событий были ранены 295 человек. Из них 62 – террористы, 47 – сотрудники правоохранительных органов, 35 – военнослужащие, 18 – мирные жители. Теперь, когда ситуация в республике взята под контроль, и об этом Каримов сообщил Путину, сделаны первые выводы. “Произошла инфильтрация боевиков из специально подготовленных баз на территории Афганистана” – таков вердикт и российской, и узбекской сторон. Впрочем, как сказал Владимир Путин, Россия знала об опасности, исходящей с афганской границы, и даже предупреждала об этом спецслужбы соседних государств. “У нас была такая информация, наши спецслужбы это подтверждали, но не знаю, насколько эта информация была вовремя до вас доведена”, – заявил Путин Каримову.”
2 http://www.fergananews.com/articles/7427
This is Michael Andersen account on death toll which contradicts to what karimov sold and Putin happily accepted.
“Ведь один из самых важных вопросов об Андижане – сколько людей тогда погибло. Согласно официальной версии, 187 человек, причем, если верить словам Каримова, погибшие – это герои-солдаты и террористы. Свои подсчеты проводили и представители международных организаций, независимые эксперты, – и тогда говорили, что погибло минимум восемьсот, а может, и тысяча человек.
Мы искали доказательства, разговаривали с очевидцами. И они показывали: вот там мой брат умер, там – сестра… И сразу становится понятно, что цифра в 180 человек, причем большинство – солдаты, – не соответствует действительности. Погибших гораздо больше. Мы разговаривали с врачом из Андижана – и она сказала, что своими глазами видела более 500 трупов. У нас есть копии документов из андижанского морга, и согласно этим бумагам, только в один день, 14 мая 2005 года, туда поступило 300 тел. Причем даже по документам причиной смерти было пулевое ранение. И это – яркое доказательство.”
3 http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/672428
This is what happened 1 year after the Andijan Massacre. Please read it VERY carefully. It should open up your BLIND eyes on the real reasons of why putin was so happy to support karimov and buy all bull sh..t from him regarding murdered people.
“Слабость узбекского президента на руку Москве. В России собираются извлечь из сложного положения среднеазиатского союзника экономическую выгоду. В последнее время в Ташкент зачастили высокопоставленные российские чиновники и топ-менеджеры госмонополий. В начале года с Исламом Каримовым встречался председатель правления “Газпрома” Алексей Миллер. Затем Ташкент посетил спикер Совета федерации Сергей Миронов. Переговоры в основном касались допуска российских компаний к разработке крупнейших узбекских газовых месторождений (Урга, Куаныш и группы Акчалакских), а также урановых и золоторудных рудников. На прошлой неделе господина Каримова навестил первый вице-премьер Дмитрий Медведев. Не исключено, что его задачей было окончательное согласование российско-узбекских энергетических договоренностей с тем, чтобы они были подписаны лидерами двух стран в ходе сегодняшней встречи.”
“Нынешние переговоры Владимира Путина и Ислама Каримова пройдут накануне годовщины жестокого подавления волнений в Андижане 13 мая прошлого года. За год после расстрела войсками андижанского восстания власти Узбекистана полностью зачистили политическое и информационное поле в стране и уничтожили остатки оппозиции.
Этот процесс проходил в несколько этапов. Первым делом узбекские власти постарались как можно скорее покончить с “андижанским делом”. Следствие и судебные процессы над “организаторами мятежа” прошли в рекордно короткие сроки. На процессах обвиняемые один за другим признавались в том, что состояли в экстремистском течении “Акрамия”, что хотели создать исламский халифат в Ферганской долине и готовили свой мятеж на американские деньги. Еще до Нового года за решеткой оказались более 160 человек.
Покончив с “мятежниками”, власть взялась за правозащитников. Сначала за решетку отправились узбекские борцы за права человека, чья точка зрения по поводу событий в Андижане расходилась с официальной. Потом пришла очередь зарубежных некоммерческих организаций — Узбекистан уже завершает их выдавливание из страны. Заодно было зачищено информационное пространство. Узбекский МИД лишил аккредитации журналистов радио “Свобода”. А британская служба новостей “Би-Би-Си” сама закрыла офис в Ташкенте, заявив, что ее корреспонденты подвергаются преследованиям. Независимым узбекским журналистам повезло меньше, чем их зарубежным коллегам. Два месяца назад известную в Ташкенте правозащитницу и журналистку Мутабар Таджибаеву приговорили к восьми годам тюремного заключения.”
“До событий в Андижане господин Каримов пытался играть на противоречиях внутри треугольника Китай—Запад—Россия. Являясь членом Шанхайской организации сотрудничества (ШОС) вместе с Россией и Китаем, Узбекистан старался быть верным партнером Запада: открывал у себя натовские базы, состоял в антироссийском ГУУАМе. После Андижана треугольник лишился одной из сторон. Зато Москва и Пекин стали проявлять к Узбекистану повышенный интерес. В первую очередь Китай и Россия стремятся взять под контроль узбекские энергоресурсы. Но судя по тому, что сегодня Ислам Каримов встречается в Сочи с президентом Путиным, а не в Пекине с председателем Ху Цзиньтао, Москве удалось перехватить инициативу и втянуть Ташкент в орбиту своего влияния.
За истекший год Россия и Узбекистан значительно сблизились. Россия дала президенту Каримову беспрецедентные гарантии безопасности, и это стало началом большой дружбы Москвы и Ташкента. В марте Ислам Каримов подписал два важнейших документа: о присоединении к Евразийскому экономическому сообществу и Договор о союзнических отношениях Узбекистана и России. Последний предусматривает, что Москва готова вмешаться в кризисную ситуацию на территории Узбекистана, если режим окажется в опасности.
Теперь Москве осталось вовлечь господина Каримова в деятельность еще одной пророссийской организации — Организации договора о коллективной безопасности (ОДКБ). На днях в Минске генсек ОДКБ Николай Бордюжа заявил, что организация готова плотно сотрудничать с Узбекистаном: “Если уже осуществляющиеся практические шаги выведут нас на новый уровень, то не исключена возможность вступления Ташкента в ОДКБ”. По информации Ъ, на нынешних переговорах с президентом Путиным Ислам Каримов подтвердит намерение включиться в деятельность ОДКБ и взамен будет просить о военно-технической помощи. Скорее всего, он ее получит. Узбекистан стратегически важен для Москвы по нескольким причинам. Контроль над этой страной поможет усилить российское влияние в граничащих с ней Киргизии и Таджикистане. А это усилит позиции России в ШОС: сколотив собственную команду из Ташкента, Бишкека и Душанбе, Москва сможет более уверенно разговаривать с сильным Пекином.”
Now your what is left of your MAD leftie brain and THINK using your favourite realist approach on how putin benefited from rapprochement with Karimov and ASK yourself if he as good as you try to portrait him.
This is the cream of the whole putin’s/karimov newly found friendship after Andijan Massacre Россия дала президенту Каримову беспрецедентные гарантии безопасности, и это стало началом большой дружбы Москвы и Ташкента.
Resident Dissident
BAD strategy. Take over Chelsea and pay all these Torres gang hundred millions from tax payers?
Why not take over some of the luxury russian oligarch owned properties, sell them to (lets say) Chinese oligarchs and build council houses for that money?
Pykrete
There is no question in that Russia has been holding Ukraine by balls for the last 7 centuries.
I agree with that MP that Russian language must be returned official language status (like Ukrainian language) and that rights of Russian minority in Ukraine must be respected.
But recognising all this you also should understand that it will be difficult to do for some as Russia keeps gun pointed at Kiev. It took Czechs and Poles decades to start having normal relations with Germans. Even Brits and French have had troubled relations with Germans, remember Adenauer visit to Paris? Many Indians, Pakistanis and even Chinese still hate British and many Arabs still hate Turks.
In short term no doubt Ukraine will loose economically from breaking away from Russian hegemony (and this is providing that putin does not go further rampaging in Ukraine). But in long term Ukrainian economy needs modernisation that Russia is not capable to provide. Ukraine does not have similar oil and gas reserves like Russia, so Russian economic model is not applicable to it.
Uzbek
You’re right we should just close them down. interesting that Putin sees confiscation of assets as a suitable punishment for those he dislikes.
John Goss
If you fished reading through these long quotations and before you started your brain work I just wanted to stress yet another point from the above quotations.
“Узбекистан стратегически важен для Москвы по нескольким причинам. Контроль над этой страной поможет усилить российское влияние в граничащих с ней Киргизии и Таджикистане. А это усилит позиции России в ШОС: сколотив собственную команду из Ташкента, Бишкека и Душанбе, Москва сможет более уверенно разговаривать с сильным Пекином.
Pure realism is not it? Who cares about hundred dead women and children massacred in Andijan when putin needed straighten his voice when talking to China.
Resident Dissident
It has always been in putin’s blood. In fact the first thing he did, even before he became president (as acting president since Yetsin’s resignation) is started to confiscate assets from russian oligarchs whom he felt threatening him. While Yeltsin employed (theoretically) Equal Distanced (Ravnoudalennuu) strategy (meaning that ever oligarch is equaly distanced from Kremlin), putin from first few months of his kremlin tenure started employing vertical of power strategy, meaning that he is at the top and everything (and everyone) else goes down bottom.
When he was confident enough he confiscated or submitted to his control all media resources in Russia, putting an end to the free speech and diversity of opinions. All media resources started to urinate putin propaganda on Russian people and with establishment of RT to narrow minded, cliché limited MAD western lefties.
Those who still opposed him (like Hodoskovski) or who criticised his policies (like Politkovskaya) have been dealt with KGB style. The latter as you know (since you referenced her earlier) was brutally murdered. I am interested how many MAD lefties here read her book Putin’s Russia?