Posted under Europe
President Dmitri A. Medvedev announced Saturday at a party convention in Moscow that he would step aside for Mr. Vladimir Putin, who served as president from 2000 to 2008 but was limited by the Constitution to two consecutive terms. Mr. Medvedev is to take his place as prime minister after presidential elections in March, which Mr. Putin is assured of winning. ~ NY Times, Sept. 24, 2011
I’m sure the neocons have their panties in a wad. How dare a Russian leader care for the well-being of ethnic Russians! How dare a Russian leader expel foreign oligarchs controlling Russia’s assets! How dare a Russian leader take harsh measures to curb Third World immigration! As many other bloggers have noted, who would have guessed back in the Cold War that the most pro-Western leader in the world today would be a Russian, Vladimir V. Putin.
Brock Townsend on 24 Sep 2011 at 6:28 pm #
Heh:)
RonL on 25 Sep 2011 at 1:14 am #
Standard Communist trick, moving leaders along new positions. KBG rule continues, with Stalinist veneer of Nationalism. Big deal.
Russia still commits demographic suicide witht e Tatars and Muslims. Instead of getting Russians to return to Russia, Putin is driven by revanchism and uses irridentism to bully his neighbors.
Which Christian Western country will Putin attack next?
Kirt Higdon on 25 Sep 2011 at 1:25 am #
I don’t think Putin has ever really been out of power. He and Medvedev make a good team. Putin is not a revanchist and what Christian (or other) country has he attacked? It was Georgia, encouraged by the US, which attacked and killed Russian troops. Russia’s retaliation was swift but measured – no attempt to dominate all of Georgia, not even a regime change. Just a three week punitive expedition to protect Russian citizens and confiscate or destroy as many of Georgia’s US made arms as possible. I’d call this a very rare example of a war with just cause waged in a just and effective manner.
humongous fungus on 25 Sep 2011 at 2:52 am #
“Foreign” oligarchs?
humongous fungus on 25 Sep 2011 at 2:55 am #
How dare a Russian leader take harsh measures to curb Third World immigration!
Russia should decide whether to continue to invade and occupy the Caucasus and consider it part of Russia, or to let it separate as sovereign nations.
It is hypocritical to fight a war to keep the Caucasus as part of Russia while at the same time treating internal migrants from the Caucasus as foreigners when they move to other parts of Russia to escape the chaos caused by the war/occupation.
RonL on 25 Sep 2011 at 6:16 am #
Putin has waged cyberwarfare on Estonia and Goergia. The Russian invasion of Georgia is well documented. Georgian’s did not attack Russians any more than Poles attacked Germans on August 31, 1939. Russians were already bringing in forces into the disputed territory, including the mobilization of Cossacks prior to the blatant false-flag operation. Similarly, Georgian internet was taken down prior the “false flag” operation to allow the Russians to lie. 1/3 of Georgia is occupied and it is cut off from resupply. Putin knows that taking over the whole country will make everyone see his lies, so he control Georgia indirectly and purchases European acquiecense with oil and Gas.
And that is what this was about. Allow Russia and its ally Iran to control Caspian energy and transmision of said petrochemicals. That any protecting Iran from Israel using Goegia to attack Iran’s Russian-aided nuclear weapons program.
It is so sad to see so many conservatives willfully fall for communist propaganda.
http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2008/08/russias-propaganda-war-against-georgia.html
http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2008/09/russian-problem-turning-blind-eye-to.html
http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2010/04/russia-georgia-and-islamic-terrorism.html
Kirt Higdon on 25 Sep 2011 at 12:11 pm #
OK, so this is all about Israel. Russia will prevent Georgia from allowing Israel the use of its territory to attack Iran. And this also relates to the long-standing Jewish/neo-con grudge against Russia; the reference to Cossacks kind of gives that away. To the grudge holders, Russia must be destroyed since it is the land of cossacks, pogroms, and Stalin, who had most of the Jewish communists killed including Trotsky, the forerunner of the neo-cons. Of course, Stalin was actually a Georgian and most of those cossack-led pogroms actually took place in Ukraine, but somehow it’s all the fault of the Russians.
The EU, which first sided with Georgia in the dispute, upon investigation learned that Georgia had started the war. Now it might be argued that the Russians shouldn’t just give citizenship to any Ossetian or Abkhazian who requests it. Those people are not Russians although they obviously prefer rule by Russia to rule by Georgia. (Walter likes Putin’s immigration policies; I wonder what he thinks of that aspect.) My bottom line is that the US should not be mucking around in that part of the world and that if the Russian regime makes it more difficult for Israel to attack Iran, they’re doing not only themselves but the US and even Israel a favor.
Savrola on 25 Sep 2011 at 4:47 pm #
My God, RonL, you mean those sneaky communiss are still out to get us?
Pulling the wool over our eyes while collaborating with the Iranians to destroy God’s chosen people?
Aaron on 25 Sep 2011 at 6:06 pm #
Russia is the West? When did that happen?
Walter on 25 Sep 2011 at 7:25 pm #
Genetically, ethnic Russians cluster with Europeans. Slavs constitute one of the three major divisions of European tribes (along with Germanic and Celtic divisions of tribes).
J on 25 Sep 2011 at 7:56 pm #
The ancestral hatred that neocons / Trotskyites have for Russia (going all the way back to the USSR’s purging of the Trotskyites) should have no bearing upon Western foreign policy. We should have amicable relations with Russia, our white neighbor to the East.
Great recent op-ed by Pat Buchanan:
Why is Obama Regime Trying to Start War with Russia?
Patrick J. Buchanan
August 22nd, 2011
http://buchanan.org/blog/why-are-we-baiting-the-bear-4833
RonL on 25 Sep 2011 at 10:23 pm #
Kurt,
I never said this is about Israel.
In case you haven’t been paying attention for the last week, but right now Israel, Cyprus and Russia are all lined up against Turkey’s attempt to steal the gas field between Cyprus and Israel.
It is about Russia using standard communist tactics against its neighbors. It is about Russia helping Iran’s nuclear program to hurt the US. It is about Russian revanchism and its failure to clean up the communist mess.
The EU depended on Russian compliance with an investigation on ground they controlled. The offending artillery were Soviet made. And this occured after Russia secured control of gas pipelines to most of Central Europe. Georgia was already crushed, and Germany working with Russia for gas. This wasn’t a legal finding, but a political agreement like the kind that gave Eastern Europe to the USSR.
And notice how you ignore that attacks on Estonia.
Savrola,
Putin is out to control his neighbors and to limit American influence in the area. It is part national interest, part revanchism, and part irridentism. Russia’s deal with Iran is to divy up Caspian energy and to help the Iranians cripple US power. It isn’t about Israel.
J,
Russia isn;t staying white. In 40 years it will be Muslim and Tatar thanks to birthrates and a refusal to consolidate and bring Russians from the near abroad home. The policies you like are those that will end Russia being part of the West.
Kirt Higdon on 25 Sep 2011 at 11:41 pm #
Ron, if what Russia is doing in the vicinity of its own borders is standard Communist tactics, then what the US and Israel do throughout the world in the case of the US and throughout the Middle East in the case of Israel is Communist tactics on steroids. Included are not only cyber warfare and assassinations, but bombing, invasions, ethnic cleansing and long term occupation. Once Obama and Netanyahu get the redwood logs out of their own eyes, there will be plenty of time to worry about the speck in Putin’s eye.
RonL on 26 Sep 2011 at 2:20 am #
Kirt,
You really, really should read before commenting. The communist part was the tactics and manipulation. The claim that Georgia was led by a lunatic who was both agressive and weak, while imposing a media black out.
Israel keeps trying to give up land for peace and get neither. But this isn’t about Israel.
Aaron on 26 Sep 2011 at 3:44 am #
OK, but I meant my question seriously. When did people – a few people on the Internet, apparently – drop the traditional usage and start calling Russia “the West”? (I see that even the racialist comment immediately following Walter’s doesn’t do that.) Did this happen during the 1990s? (Doubtful.) After 9/11? With the rise of white nationalist web sites in the 2000s?
I understand that words are redefined for political purposes all the time. I’m not saying anyone should stick with the “true” meaning of the word. Still, for someone my age, able to remember the Cold War, hearing Russia called “the West” is just bizarre.
Aaron on 26 Sep 2011 at 3:47 am #
[My previous post apparently got thrown into moderation purgatory. I'll try rewording it to see if this version gets through unmoderated.]
OK, but I meant my question seriously. When did people – a few people on the Internet, apparently – drop the traditional usage and start calling Russia “the West”? (I see that even the comment immediately following Walter’s doesn’t do that.) Did this happen during the 1990s? (Doubtful.) After 9/11? With the rise of far right web sites in the 2000s?
I understand that words are redefined for political purposes all the time. I’m not saying anyone should stick with the “true” meaning of the word. Still, for someone my age, able to remember the Cold War, hearing Russia called “the West” is just bizarre.
RedPhillips on 26 Sep 2011 at 12:51 pm #
I not willing to vouch for everything Putin does, because I’m sure he can be ruthless and play outside the rules, as Russian leaders are want to do. I do wish that we had some leaders in the US who practiced judo instead of a bunch of preening wusses whose idea of manliness is backstabbing someone in the political arena.
What I don’t understand is the knee-jerk antagonism to Russia. This seems to me a relic of the Cold War that is no longer useful. As Ron points out, Russia has two things we need, energy and friendship with Iran. If we are really interested in negotiating with Iran, instead of just issuing threats we are ill prepared to back up, then it is in our best interests to make nice with the Russians so they might use their influence with Iran on our behalf and sell us some oil in the process.
Ron concerns at least seem thought out and specific. Most fear of Russia I see from interventionists hysterics is simply floundering around for the next big enemy to justify our huge military and world presence. As people become less and less willing to buy Islam as a MILITARY threat, they are casting around for new boogie men. Russia has 1 carrier group. I think we can relax.
Kirt Higdon on 26 Sep 2011 at 3:02 pm #
Russia has a carrier group? I thought they had sold off a half-completed carrier.
mpresley on 26 Sep 2011 at 3:52 pm #
“Russia has a carrier group? I thought they had sold off a half-completed carrier.”
The Chinese recently commissioned a refurbished Russian carrier for “mysterious” purposes (it says in the news report). Word has it that the erstwhile Soviet carrier Varyag was originally intended to be a floating casino, but the Chicoms had a different idea, and purchased it for cash from a HK travel agency. This too drives the neocons fits. But that is another story, I guess.
humongous fungus on 26 Sep 2011 at 4:34 pm #
I see I received no responses
humongous fungus on 26 Sep 2011 at 4:37 pm #
“I see that even the racialist comment immediately following Walter’s doesn’t do that….”
Can anyone here please define the difference between racialist and racist for me?
Thanks in advance.
humongous fungus on 26 Sep 2011 at 4:38 pm #
“I see that even the racialist comment immediately following Walter’s doesn’t do that….”
Can anyone here please define the difference between r-a-c-i-a-l-i-s-t and r-a-c-i-s-t for me?
Thanks in advance.
Savrola on 26 Sep 2011 at 5:33 pm #
lolz, according to RonL, Slavophobe Zionist extraordinaire, the Great Satan should have more influence with Russia’s neighbors than Russia should.
RonL on 26 Sep 2011 at 5:48 pm #
I’m a Slavophile? I support Poland and Ukraine over Russian threats, so clearly, I’m a Slavophile. I support Russia crushing the Emirate of the Caucuses (Chechnya) so I’m a Slavophile. I have made it clear that I oppose the policies of Putin that would see Slavs become a minority in Russia (keepiong all the Tatars), so I am a slavophile. OK. Got it.
“Great Satan” A yes. Thanks for reminding us of the revanchist illness that rots Russian souls. They hate America. And they have loved their butcher-autocrats from Ivan IV to Stalin, because they have felt strong while cowering from the midnight knock at the door.
Savrola on 26 Sep 2011 at 6:57 pm #
Are you that same RonL from FR? You clearly need to put aside all this ethnic hatred, embraced Putin as your supreme leader, and possibly gain a better command of the English language.
RonL on 04 Oct 2011 at 9:23 pm #
Savrola,
I am a Freeper. Regarding use of the English language, I suggest aht you work on spotting sarcasm.
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