Posted on 03/01/2018 8:59:09 AM PST by GoldenState_Rose
Without a coherent vision of the future or an attractive model for others to imitate, without any soft power to speak of, without an economic model that can ensure sustainable growth or keep people out of poverty, the missile-rattling is a terrifying but hollow sound.
In the context of a mock election with a predetermined result, Russia's growing military might means better protection for an unaccountable, oppressive regime that doesn't have to keep any of the promises it makes. It's muscle without hope or substance.
Putin's fascination with the new toys is understandable.
This part of the speech carried a three-part message to Western, primarily U.S., leaders:
— "We've never ceased to be a major nuclear power but no one would listen to us. Listen to us now!" (This line was greeted with a standing ovation)
— If you believed Russia was permanently left behind after the Soviet Union's breakup, you miscalculated: "Russia containment has failed."
— The U.S. anti-missile defense system and the expansion of NATO infrastructure to Russia's borders are "ineffective and a useless financial burden."
"This is not a bluff," Putin insisted — a claim that I hope will never be tested.
(Excerpt) Read more at themoscowtimes.com ...
We have a Russian Baptist Church, full on Sunday, the one day I drove by there on the Sabbath.
We’ve got Russians working at the bank, just, etc.
But we always hear from these others who may well not be Russian. lol.
Law and Order, that tv show, it takes from the real world, they have had a few shows where Russian prostitutes are in them. It’s really a pretty pathetic image of Russia, the one who was in the Emirates hanging off skyscrapers, now, this “sex instructor” in Thailand. It’s really a pretty negative thing to see. Let’s not forget, Russia is balanced out with a lot of good people, great hockeyplayers but those prostitutes do seem often connected to the ruling class and that’s not good.
Would these be things you learned from the western press?
You mean the same NATO and America that recently bragged about changing policy on the first use of nukes? The same ones who now advocate the introducing the use of small yield nukes (i.e. sized between Hiroshima and five times Hiroshima or so it was in the seventies) in tactical situations anywhere in the ME, Europe, or Asia? The America where the Pentagon wants to retaliate against a hacker attack (as often as not that never happened but are a good misdirection away from the shoddy security procedures in place) with a nuclear attack on whoever they blame? The same NATO and America that vacuum up everything that anyone puts on the Internet and can alter the headers into whatever they want them to be? That NATO and America?
Good Gawd man, wake up and work to clean out the backed up toilet in the US instead of ranting about plumbing in Russia, China, Syria, North Korea or anywhere else because all the BS and yadda, yadda, about foreign policy is just more smoke and mirrors.
Kiss you statue of Zibig and put it away in a drawer until, for starters, the US has elections that aren't rigged. Until that happens and a lot more you better get used to a lot of equal but opposite reactions to the BS the US has been spreading around the world for years against the will of the American people.
I’d save my criticism for the Putin-bots, this is a discussion forum. You have no right to be telling people what they should be discussing.
No they aren’t. Do you want us to take the state sponsored press from unfree countries as Russia and other countries are per the Freedom House rankings.
They laughed and laughed about the bread lines story. I have plenty of experiences that tell me to ask the Russian people for the truth rather than believing our very own fake news.
So what are your sources?
From personal experience living there and since I have been back (as of end of 2016) things have been heating up because approach of March elections. An increase in online dissent and organized protest activity especially among the youth has gotten Kremlin nervous. Not to mention protests are now taking place in provincial regions outside of Moscow/St. P, which is a new phenomenon.
The economy has been worst hit in the provinces...
With every new “election” the country gets more and more repressive and reverting back to its former Soviet/tsarist habits.
One of the sweetest people I know (young - aged 19) was inches away from beaten up by riot police simply for standing at an anti-corruption protest in Moscow back in June. Saw phone video. Another (young) innocent bystander received the blows instead.
I am proud of our President, our system of government, our history, and our troops. I love Europe, the Christian faith, and Western Civilization. I want nothing to do with bitter post-Soviet revisionism. The Chinese and Russians can keep their Stalinist governments. Thanks.
So what, it's Russia's problem, not ours and we didn't have any friction with Russia until after Kosovo first then really after Libya. Gee whiz, who could complain about those two wonderful things, right? They both had such wonderful results.
Move back to Russia and fix it or stay in the US and fix the US. The US is way, way, too involved in a dozen places it shouldn't be to start more fights with people who the EU and Russians are quite capable of handling if they give a damn.
Well Putin certainly is no Christian knight in shining armor thats for sure.
I really like Trump and many of the Christians he has surrounded himself with. Very happy that God has extended so much mercy to this great nation.
Now the darkness both within and without our nation is unravelling. And Putin’s plans along with it.
What do you call a leader of a country showing a video of him nuking the US? Only two nut jobs have done that: Kim Jong and Putin
A counterpoint view to the “KGB Super Smart Guys Concocted it All” viewpoint:
https://isteve.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-rape-of-russia-explained-by-anne.html
If you want to believe that it was all some covert plot to hand out state enterprises to KGB guys...sure. Whatever. But wait, wasn’t it a Jewish plot? I heard that too. And Varangians...Putin is a Varangian! Yeah, that’s it!
Personally I think it was just an opportunity to take back what they had lost, presented by the chaotic void that could have been prevented. By that I mean Putin and the people around him now.
And that’s all I’m going to say.
“” “” Putin can’t be a popular reaction to anything because he was hand picked by Yeltsin and made his successor.”” “”
You are irrefutably correct that Putin was a product of the previous system and was expected to continue business as usual.
Another important point is he fooled the system and changed the rules. That is why he is hated by some.
“” “” Putin is a Chavez type hero. They both got into the head of their petrostates in 2000 when the oil boom started and the results of 5x rising oil price are attributed to their “economic miracles” by their fans. When the oil boom ended both of their miracles collapsed.”” “”
That’s obviously a lie and a line from globalist propaganda.
Pick several countries with very different systems who only have extensive energy sector in common.
Let’s say Venezuela, Norway and Saudi Arabia.
Energy sector makes the least part of the economy in Russia comparing to all of the above but it did better than them in terms of growth for some reason during the energy boom.
Putin is no Chavez. Not even close. The guys Western media wants to see in charge are Chavez. WaPo endorses Russian Communist nomination against Putin no less.
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