Posted on 01/27/2023 10:47:14 AM PST by MarMema
A U.S. government body held a Congressional briefing plotting ways to break up Russia as a country, in the name of supposed “decolonization.”
The participants urged the United States to give more support to separatist movements inside Russia and in the diaspora.
They proposed the independence of numerous republics in the Russian Federation, including Chechnya, Tatarstan, and Dagestan, as well as historic areas that existed centuries ago such as Circassia.
This is far from the first time that hawks in Washington have fantasized about carving up foreign countries. During the first cold war, the U.S. sponsored secessionist groups inside the Soviet Union. In the 1990s, the U.S.-led NATO military cartel successfully dismantled Yugoslavia. And Washington has long backed separatists in the Chinese regions of Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
After the overthrow of the USSR, neoconservative operative and future Vice President Dick Cheney wanted to slice up Russia into several smaller countries. Former U.S. National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski even published an article in elite Foreign Affairs magazine in 1997 proposing to create a “loosely confederated Russia–composed of a European Russia, a Siberian Republic, and a Far Eastern Republic.”
Yet this Congressional hearing was one of the most high-profile and provocative calls for balkanization yet, held in broad daylight.
Titled “Decolonizing Russia: A Moral and Strategic Imperative,” the June 23 briefing was organized by the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), known more commonly as the Helsinki Commission.
This commission claims to be “independent,” but it is a U.S. government agency created and overseen by Congress.
The event was introduced by Congressman Steve Cohen, a Democrat from Tennessee who co-chairs the commission. Representative Cohen claimed Russians “have in essence colonized their own country,” and argued that Russia is “not a strict nation, in the sense that we’ve known in the past.”
At the virtual hearing, which was livestreamed on YouTube, the congressman was joined by veteran regime-change activists who have worked for an array of U.S. government agencies. The event was moderated by Bakhti Nishanov, a senior policy advisor to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. He excitedly noted, “We have many, many participants. I think this is pretty much a record for a House commission briefing.”
Nishanov argued that Western condemnation of Moscow’s war in Ukraine should expand to opposition to “Russia’s interior empire.” He added that the panelists hoped to “come up with ideas that will actually contain Russia.” The most active speaker in the hearing was Casey Michel, a millennial neoconservative activist who has made a career out of advocating for regime change against the U.S. government’s adversaries.
Michel got his start professionally working for the U.S. Peace Corps on the Russia-Kazakhstan border, and later capitalized on the new cold war hysteria in Washington. He is an adjunct fellow at the ironically named Kleptocracy Initiative of the Hudson Institute, a right-wing DC think tank that has been handsomely funded by the Koch oligarchs, WalMart’s Walton family, massive corporations like ExxonMobil, and the Pentagon.
In May, Michel published an article in Washington’s establishment magazine The Atlantic, titled “Decolonize Russia,” which appears to have been an inspiration for the Congressional briefing.
“Russia continues to oversee what is in many ways a traditional European empire, only that instead of colonizing nations and peoples overseas, it instead colonized nations and peoples over land,” Michel declared in the hearing. The neoconservative activist lamented that the United States did not use the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 to break up Russia itself. He complained that Western support for secessionist movements in Russia did not go far enough.
“These are colonized nations that we consider to be part of Russia proper, even though, again, these are non-Russian nations themselves that remain colonized by, as we’ve seen yet again, another dictatorship in the Kremlin,” Michel said.
He insisted that the event was not simply about advocating for the “dismemberment and partition” of Russia, but was rather motivated by genuine opposition to colonialism and imperialism.
This was deeply ironic, because Michel has spent years viciously smearing the anti-imperialist left in the United States, while frequently caricaturing the term to demonize the governments of Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Bolivia.
When it comes to supporting separatist movements inside Russia, however, Michel curiously fashions himself one of the world’s most vocal advocates of a unique form of “anti-imperialism” that just so happens to advance U.S. foreign policy interests.
.@cjcmichel: choosing to ignore the kinds of anti-colonial, pro-sovereignty, and anti-imperial movements that will emerge in Russia is a luxury we no longer have. https://t.co/RQA2bR4pd9
— Helsinki Commission (@HelsinkiComm) June 23, 2022
Joining Michel at the Congressional briefing was Erica Marat, a professor at the College of International Security Affairs at the Pentagon’s National Defense University.
Marat accused Russia of committing “genocide.” She condemned so-called “imperial collaborators” in Russia, singling out Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. She did not acknowledge the incongruity that she herself works for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Marat also complained that the “Global South continues to consider Russia as an anti-Western, anti-colonial power and denies the dignity of non-Russian people and especially people of color from the former Soviet states.”
Similar comments were made by fellow panelist Botakoz Kassymbekova, a lecturer at Switzerland’s University of Basel.
Kassymbekova lamented that the Soviet Union’s anti-imperialist “narrative was very attractive, especially in the Global South.”
She rejected “the Marxian idea, that was popular all around the world, that capitalism produces colonialism,” and the “very successful anti-Western narrative of the Soviet Union that colonialism is a Western problem.”
Kassymbekova insisted that the USSR was colonialist, although her argument was contradictory because she simultaneously admitted that, after the Bolshevik Revolution, the former Russian czarist empire “partially underwent decolonization.”
Ironically, she also repeatedly mentioned “Stalinism” and the need for thorough “de-Stalinization,” without ever acknowledging that Joseph Stalin was himself Georgian, not Russian.
Kassymbekova used the briefing to call for the U.S. government to provide more resources for secessionist movements by “supporting civic initiatives and civil societies of its neighbors and within Russia.”
.@BotakozKassymb1: Today Russia attempts to restore the Soviet empire based on the idea of Russian cultural superiority and genocidal suppression of peoples. https://t.co/RQA2bR4pd9
— Helsinki Commission (@HelsinkiComm) June 23, 2022
Another panelist was Fatima Tlis, a Circassian separatist activist from Russia who was given a fellowship by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a notorious CIA cutout used to finance U.S. regime-change operations around the globe.
Tlis has worked extensively with U.S. government propaganda outlets Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. According to her publicly available LinkedIn profile, Tlis has also worked with the Jamestown Foundation, a neoconservative DC think tank closely linked to the CIA.
Tlis claimed in the hearing that her “homeland” Circassia is “occupied” by Russia. She also spoke of “white slavery.”
In the Q&A session, a guest asked how the panelists could discuss “decolonization” in Russia while they are in the United States and work for the U.S. government, which was founded on genocide of Indigenous peoples. Tlis dismissively shot back, “As for your question, everybody who has ever dealt with the Russian disinformation and propaganda would immediately recognize it for what it is. It’s called–there’s actually a professional term for this disinformation: whataboutism.”
Kassymbekova responded similarly, arguing “this is kind of a very typical way of blaming the West rather than looking inwards.”
The final participant in the briefing was Hanna Hopko, a former of member of Ukraine’s parliament, who previously chaired its Foreign Affairs Committee, and a significant figure in the 2014 U.S.-sponsored coup in Ukraine, marketed as Euromaidan.
Hopko insisted that Washington must think “how to change not just the regime, but how to change the imperialistic nature of Russian statehood.”
But because she was traveling, Hopko’s call signal was very weak, and she was not able to speak much in the briefing.
The panelists concluded the hearing condemning Russia’s military intervention in Syria, while making no mention of the billions of dollars the United States, its European allies, Gulf monarchies, Israel, and NATO member Turkey spent arming and training sectarian Islamist rebels in order to wage a proxy war in the country.
They likewise failed to acknowledge that Russia only entered Syria at the request of the country’s internationally recognized government. Tlis referred to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as an illegitimate Russian “asset,” and depicted Moscow’s defense of Syria’s territorial integrity against Western attempts at state collapse as a form of aggression.
Intersectional imperialism This “Decolonizing Russia” briefing is one of a growing number of examples of the U.S. government co-opting left-wing rhetoric in order to advance its imperial interests.
Numerous Biden administration officials have exploited rhetoric about “intersectionality,” the principle that various forms of oppression like racism and sexism intersect.
The White House claimed to follow an “intersectional approach.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted the State Department supports “diversity and intersectionality.”
The CIA published a recruitment ad featuring a Latina agent who proudly called herself a feminist. The spy agency–which is notorious for organizing right-wing coups d’etat and torturing detainees–has likewise portrayed itself as a supporter of the trans community.
The U.S. government funds a podcast co-created and hosted by a CIA veteran that claims to speak on behalf of the “Uyghur diaspora” and employs intersectional feminist rhetoric to demonize China.
This strategy of intersectional imperialism shows how Washington has modified its propaganda strategy, employing progressive-sounding talking points to appeal to left-leaning youth.
DC’s call to “decolonize” Russia is reminiscent of an award-winning paper by academic Cara Daggett, titled “Drone Disorientations: How ‘Unmanned’ Weapons Queer the Experience of Killing in War.” This article whitewashed the U.S. assassination program by arguing it is subversive and anti-heteronormative, because “Killing with drones produces queer moments of disorientation.”
I will make this number 4 since I accidentally skipped it.
I still on the first page and I have found 11 examples of the weird psychological issues the Russophiles have. They have been so poisoned by ideology that they defend any criminal behavior that they think will even tangentially hurt the people they hate. They even hate fellow conservatives because they can agree with some (and not even all) liberals on one issue. This pretty much comes down to anger from what the Dems did to Trump and now they want to take it out on Ukraine. They have somehow turned Russia into some right wing conservative Christian bastion in their minds. It has become their version of the medieval Cathay and Prester John, with Russia and Putin respectively.
It is an American colloquialism condemning a Double Standard of Law Enforcement or Political Treatment.
Endorsing a Double Standard is what Dats about.
Zelensky ran on an anti corruption platform and then became a huge corruption expert.
He is an obvious coke addict.
https://newspunch.com/pandora-papers-zelensky-stole-public-money-to-fund-his-rise-to-power/
“Ukrainian puppet President Volodymyr Zelensky’s rise to power was funded through stolen public money funnelled to him by corrupt Oligarchs, according to leaked documents.”
I see who you like. Speaks volumes of your character.
Ending your peoples because a foreign invasion isn’t working is not the logic of war, where do you get that silly thinking?==
It will end invader whole country won’t it? God revenge then.
Anyways Russians can’t live under foreign rule. It is impossible. So kill them all but die too of wounds.
It is Russian way. My cousin granddad killed 2 German tanks with their crews(8 crewmen) but died himself. He is a our hero and role model. We simply can’t do worse than him.
there is no such thing as Russia being able to take out the nuclear NATO nations and the United States in a way that prevents them erasing Russia forever.==
Considering much bigger population density and smaller sizes of West countries I would NOT say so. Also Russia has her ABM system working which may defend most dense megapolis Moscow.
It is only megapolis of Russia but how many of them in West countries. Say UK. 10MT on area of London and whole south England with 30 mlns of people gone. And it is only 1 warhead.
But stop talking about us. You better think what YOU will lose.
How is Kiev?
Is Zelensky paying you well?
Russia is conservative and largely Christian.
I have been there many times. You listen to our msm to get your views.
It doesn’t come down to anything. Are you a never trumper then? Sounds like it.
Or maybe just an everyday bottomfeeder Nazi like Ukraine was so badly infested with before Russia stopped it.
Or just a bloodlust russophobe?
I don’t know what brought this infestation of you slimed folk here to FR, but we don’t want you.
And you are not interested in dialogue, just trashing Russia and Trump supporters.
So post away. I won’t be reading them.
See 157.
Told you!!!!
You seem to have absorbed a lot of Soviet/Russian brainwashing that is fantasy.
That Russia will start a nuclear war because Ukrainians are resisting their invasion and that somehow Russia will survive it because of their advanced technology while destroying all of their enemies.
I think you have not looked into the capabilities and vulnerability of Russia, versus the other nuclear powers collectively, and especially of the U.S.
Russia would cease to exist, and whatever remained would be devoured by the ravenous wolves that make up part of your interior, and your Asian borders.
I don’t think that China would visit your ruins to help you, but to finish off any remnants.
Your second site is almost all polemics. It might be on our side of the political spectrum, but it is the right wing version of the Huffington post.
“God revenge then.”
And this is exactly what I have been trying to explain here.
When you *truly* believe in the resurrection, everything is different.
I am only sad for my dogs in contemplating the coming nuclear war.
I know God, thanks to decades in the Orthodox church.
It is not the only place to find God but I believe it to be the best.
That Russia will start a nuclear war because Ukrainians are resisting their invasion==
Not about it. But if NATO gets involved in it. Directly. THEN Russia will go nuclear. Again for you - the logic of a war.
Russia would cease to exist, and whatever remained would be devoured by the ravenous wolves that make up part of your interior, and your Asian borders.==
Same may say about USA. Also ceased to exist and lost her a leading role on a planet. China will be glad. And don’t paint them ungrateful. Usually those who are badmouthing others think this way.
And again you more think about us but not about yourself. Strange.
"The second role is one of nuclear strike and deterrence. For this she will be armed with six ‘2м39′ Poseidon torpedoes. These are a whole new category of weapon not fielded by any another navy. They have been described as ‘Intercontinental Nuclear-Powered Nuclear-Armed Autonomous Torpedoes’. At over 20 meters (65 feet) long they are in effect they are giant underwater drones with practically unlimited range and a nuclear warhead. And their expected performance (around 70 knots and 1,000 meters depth) mean that they cannot be countered with existing weapons.≤/b>"
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/06/russias-gigantic-submarine-belgorod-sails-for-the-first-time/
You really don’t know about these military things, you have no understanding of them, you just scan the internet and post whatever sounds good to you.
So stealing public money is ok?
You are doing exhibits for Salman? Because that was not my post.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Just like you know nothing about Russia and you don’t even bother to look on the net, you just post whatever you feel like posting.
it must be hard for you. Here comes a Russian who says exactly what I have been saying.
Sniff. Sniff.
Sorry for your fall.
And he’s A Canadian too.
Here as a nevertrumper to tell us how misguided we are.
Thank God you are here. Your posts are reminding me to get back with Russians, whom I love.
A long drive I have avoided for too long.
you pushed the experimental shots on americans for their safety...
and you ignored our border crises the entire time...
and you’re still ignoring it while focusing on ukraine...
you’re proving that you’re confused...
We have about six months before the nukes fly.
Kinda takes precedence over other issues right now.
I think I was wrong about vaccines. I posted that last week or so.
I am more interested in foreign policy and always have been..
What is there to say about Biden? I enjoy the posts making him look stupid. What do you think they will do about our border? Nothing.
I am a monthly donor. You?
good for you for admitting you were wrong about the experimental shots...
now how about keeping your attention on the united states of america and its problems...
we as citizens have no right concerning ourselves about another country’s problems while ours is being destroyed...
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