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Russian Patriotism Unleashed by Georgian War
SPIEGEL ONLINE ^ | 10/15/2008 | Fred Weir

Posted on 10/16/2008 5:47:42 PM PDT by neverdem

LETTER FROM MOSCOW

The war in Georgia has provoked unprecedented levels of patriosm in Russia. The majority of the population supported their army's actions in the Caucasus. And even the fiercest critics of the Kremlin have now become proud Russians.

Members of the Kremlin-loyal youth organisation "Nashi" wave flags and hold a banner during a protest in front of the US embassy in Moscow during the Georgia war.
REUTERS

Members of the Kremlin-loyal youth organisation "Nashi" wave flags and hold a banner during a protest in front of the US embassy in Moscow during the Georgia war.

I never thought I’d see the day when regular Russians, without any prompting, would voluntarily and passionately defend the actions of the Kremlin in conversations with a foreign friend.

But at a garden party in a Moscow suburb one evening at the height of Russia’s flash war with Georgia in August, I was accosted by several old friends who were bursting to explain to me why Moscow had no choice but to send the 58th Army into Georgia, that it in no way constituted “aggression,” and that Russia was clearly acting according to humanitarian concerns.

“Why do you [Westerners] always paint Russia black, even when we’re just trying to save our own citizens from genocide?,” Sasha, a professor of political science asked me. “We’ve been facing a creeping invasion of our country by NATO for years, but thank God our leaders are finally taking action to stop it,” said Andrei, an executive with a big Western-based multinational...

(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections; Russia
KEYWORDS: caucasus; crimea; geopolitics; georgia; moldova; nato; transdniestria; ukraine

1 posted on 10/16/2008 5:47:43 PM PDT by neverdem
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To: neverdem

What people don’t like their kinsfolk being lined up and slaughtered by wannabe backwater despots?

Shocking.


2 posted on 10/16/2008 5:52:52 PM PDT by Natchez Hawk (Haider was drunk, How does that fit with your stupid conspiracy?)
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To: Natchez Hawk
What people don’t like their kinsfolk being lined up and slaughtered by wannabe backwater despots?

Check the threads using the keyword georgia, and you'll find that this was planned and provoked by the Russians. The Georgians took the bait. Their kin were being killed by the South Ossetians who had already evacuated the South Ossetian capitol by busses to Russia before the Georgian artillery attack on it.

3 posted on 10/16/2008 6:02:32 PM PDT by neverdem (I'm praying for a Divine Intervention.)
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: Natchez Hawk
You have it exactly backwards. These Russians are protesting in support of their kinsfolk being lined up and slaughtered by a wannabe backwater despot.
5 posted on 10/16/2008 6:09:00 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: wardaddy; Joe Brower; Cannoneer No. 4; Criminal Number 18F; Dan from Michigan; Eaker; Jeff Head; ...
Once More, With Humor (McCain & Obama meet tonight at Al Smith dinner)

Cornell Researchers: McCain Voters are Closet Racists

Obama and the Attempt to Destroy the Second Amendment

Gun Owners of America Releases Congressional Voter Guide -- Elections will produce tremendous...

2008 Candidate Grades and Endorsements NRA-PVF rates other nominees for state legislatures, etc.

Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

6 posted on 10/16/2008 6:43:43 PM PDT by neverdem (I'm praying for a Divine Intervention.)
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To: neverdem

Regardless of how the situation is being portrayed in the United States, in Russia it is, as I’m sure you all know, being portrayed as though Georgia was the one that committed the attrocities. My dad reads some Russians news site, and when this whole thing started they were (and I’m sure they still are) saying how Georgia troop killed 1,000 South Osetians (I spelled that incorrectly, didn’t I?)and basically portraying the Georgians as the agressors.


7 posted on 10/16/2008 6:54:47 PM PDT by Vozda
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To: Natchez Hawk
Russians and their kin must leave Georgian territory or many more Russians shall die. Russians deserve to die if they support the psychotic Chekist Putin's genocidal occupation of Georgian lands.

Death to the Russian invaders and all their supporters!

Death to Putin!

8 posted on 10/16/2008 7:35:58 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
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To: neverdem; Lasha; Tailgunner Joe

Scary times when Dugin is so popular and fascism begins to emerge.
I commend the author for the willingness to sit and talk to Dugin, as I personally would have to spit on him, I believe.
He is the antichrist forerunner candidate of the year.


9 posted on 10/16/2008 7:39:16 PM PDT by MarMema (regime change in Russia!!)
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: MarMema

:) keep in mind that Spiegel is “in very close connections” with Gazprom, so apply a huge discount factor to everything they write...


11 posted on 10/17/2008 1:59:10 AM PDT by Lasha
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To: neverdem

Weir’s editorializing should be taken with a grain of salt-—I’d rather support Nashi Orthodox youth than some Canadian socialist Journalista

http://02varvara.wordpress.com/2008/01/25/orthodox-activists-from-nashi-prepare-to-hold-an-anti-abortion-rally-in-moscow/


12 posted on 10/17/2008 10:56:11 AM PDT by eleni121 (EN TOUTO NIKA!! +)
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