Posted on 09/20/2004 4:10:21 PM PDT by neverdem
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September 20, 2004, 8:14 a.m. No Peter the Great
Vladimir Putin looks more and more like a heavy-handed imitation of Yuri Andropov does anyone still remember him? Andropov was that other KGB chairman who rose all the way up to the Kremlin throne, and who was also once my de facto boss. Considering that Putin has inherited upwards of 6,000 suspected strategic nuclear weapons, this is frightening news.
Former KGB officers are now running Russia's government, just as they did during Andropov's reign, and the Kremlin's image another Andropov specialty continues to be more important than people's real lives in that still-inscrutable country. The government's recent catastrophic Beslan operation was a reenactment of the effort to "rescue" 2,000 people from Moscow's Dubrovka Theater, where the "new" KGB flooded the hall with fentanyl gas and caused the death of 129 hostages. No wonder Putin ordered Andropov's statue which had been removed after the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 reinstalled at the Lubyanka.
In the West, if Andropov is remembered at all, it is for his brutal suppression of political dissidence at home and for his role in planning the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia. By contrast, the leaders of the former Warsaw Pact intelligence community, when I was one of them, looked up to Andropov as the man who substituted the KGB for the Communist party in governing the Soviet Union, and who was the godfather of Russia's new era of deception operations aimed at improving the badly damaged image of Soviet rulers in the West.
In early 2000, President Putin divided Russia into seven "super" districts, each headed by a "presidential representative," and he gave five of these seven new posts to former KGB officers. Soon, his KGB colleagues occupied nearly 50 percent of the top government positions in Moscow. In a brief interview with Ted Koppel on Nightline, Putin admitted that he had stuffed the Kremlin with former KGB officers, but he said it was because he wanted to root out graft. "I have known them for many years and I trust them. It has nothing to do with ideology. It's simply a matter of their professional qualities and personal relationship."
THE NATIONAL POLITICAL PASTIMEIn reality, it's an old Russian tradition to fill the most important governmental positions with undercover intelligence officers. The czarist Okhrana security service planted its agents everywhere: in the central and local government, and in political parties, labor unions, churches, and newspapers. Until 1913, Pravda itself was edited by one of them, Roman Malinovsky, who rose to become Lenin's deputy for Russia and the chairman of the Bolshevik faction in the Duma.
Andropov Sovietized that Russian tradition and extended its application nationwide. It was something similar to militarizing the government in wartime, but it was accomplished by the KGB. In 1972, when he launched this new offensive, KGB Chairman Andropov told me that this would help eliminate the current plague of theft and bureaucratic chaos and would combat the growing sympathy for American jazz, films, and blue jeans obsessing the younger Soviet generation. Andropov's new undercover officers were secretly remunerated with tax-free salary supplements and job promotions. In exchange, Andropov explained, they would secretly have to obey "our" military regulations, practice "our" military discipline and carry out "our" tasks, if they wanted to keep their jobs. Of course, the KGB had long been using diplomatic cover slots for its officers assigned abroad, but Andropov's new approach was designed to influence the Soviet Union itself.
The lines separating the leadership of the country from the intelligence apparatus had blurred in the Soviet satellites as well. After I was granted political asylum in the United States in July 1978, the Western media reported that my defection had unleashed the greatest political purge in the history of Communist Romania. Ceausescu had demoted politburo members, fired one-third of his cabinet, and replaced ambassadors. All were undercover intelligence officers whose military documents and pay vouchers I had regularly signed off on.
THE MAKING OF A DICTATORGeneral Aleksandr Sakharovsky, the Soviet gauleiter of Romania who rose to head the Soviet foreign intelligence service for an unprecedented 15 years, used to predict to me that KGB Chairman Andropov would soon have the whole Soviet bloc in his vest pocket, and that he would surely end up in the Kremlin. Andropov would have to wait ten years until Brezhnev died, but on November 12, 1982, he did take up the country's reins. Once settled in the Kremlin, Andropov surrounded himself with KGB officers, who immediately went on a propaganda offensive to introduce him to the West as a "moderate" Communist and a sensitive, warm, Western-oriented man who allegedly enjoyed an occasional drink of Scotch, liked to read English novels, and loved listening to American jazz and the music of Beethoven. In actual fact, Andropov did not drink, as he was already terminally ill from a kidney disorder, and the rest of the portrayal was equally false.
In 1999, when Putin became prime minister, he also surrounded himself with KGB officers, who began describing him as a "Europeanized" leader capitalizing, ironically, on the fact that he had been a KGB spy abroad. Yet Putin's only foreign experience had been in East Germany, on Moscow's side of the Berlin Wall. Soon after that I visited the Stasi headquarters in Leipzig and Dresden to see where Putin had spent his "Europeanizing" years. Local representatives of the Gauck Commission a special post-Communism German panel researching the Stasi files said that the "Soviet-German 'friendship house'" Putin headed for six years was actually a KGB front with operational offices at the Leipzig and Dresden Stasi headquarters. Putin's real task was to recruit East German engineers as KGB agents and send them to the West to steal American technologies.
I visited those offices and found that they looked just like the offices of my own midlevel case officers in regional Securitate directorates in Romania. Yet Moscow claims Putin had held an important job in East Germany and was decorated by the East German government. The Gauck Commission confirmed that Putin was decorated in 1988 "for his KGB work in the East German cities of Dresden and Leipzig." According to the West German magazine Der Spiegel, he received a bronze medal from the East German Stasi as a "typical representative of second-rank agents." There, in those prison-like buildings, cut off even from real East German life by Stasi guards with machine guns and police dogs, Lieutenant Colonel Putin could not possibly have become the modern-day, Western-oriented Peter the Great that the Kremlin's propaganda machine is so energetically spinning.
Indeed, on December 20, 1999, Russia's newly appointed prime minister visited the Lubyanka to deliver a speech on this "memorable day," commemorating Lenin's founding of the first Soviet political police, the Cheka. "Several years ago we fell prey to the illusion that we have no enemies," Putin told a meeting of top security officials. "We have paid dearly for this. Russia has its own national interests, and we have to defend them." The following day, December 21, 1999, another "memorable day" in Soviet history Stalin's 120th birthday Putin organized a closed-door reception in his Kremlin office reported as being for the politicians who had won seats in the Duma. There he raised a glass to good old Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili (Stalin, meaning "man of steel," was the dictator's nom de guerre).
Days later, in a 14-page article entitled "Russia on the Threshold of a New Millennium," Putin defined Russia's new "democratic" future: "The state must be where and as needed; freedom must be where and as required." The Chechens' effort to regain their independence was mere "terrorism," and he pledged to eradicate it: "We'll get them anywhere if we find terrorists sitting in the outhouse, then we will piss on them there. The matter is settled." It is not.
SCAPEGOATING AND CONSOLIDATINGOn September 9, 2004, Chechen nationalists announced a $20 million prize on the head of the "war criminal" Vladimir Putin, whom they accuse of "murdering hundreds of thousands of peaceful civilians on the territory of Chechnya, including tens of thousands of children."
For his part, President Putin tried to divert the outrage over the horrific Breslan catastrophe away from his KGB colleagues who had caused it, and to direct public anger toward the KGB's archenemy, the U.S. Citing meetings of mid-level U.S. officials with Chechen leaders, Putin accused Washington of having a double standard when dealing with terrorism. "Why don't you meet Osama bin Laden, invite him to Brussels or to the White House and engage in talks, ask him what he wants and give it to him so he leaves you in peace?" Putin told reporters in Moscow.
Then Putin blamed the collapse of the Soviet Union for what he called a "full scale" terrorist war against Russia and started taking Soviet-style steps to strengthen the Kremlin's power. On September 13, he announced measures to eliminate the election of the country's governors, who should now be appointed by the Kremlin, and to allow only "certified" people that is, former KGB officers to run for the parliament.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, its people had a unique opportunity to cast out their political police, a peculiarly Russian instrument of power that has for centuries isolated their country from the real world and in the end left them ill-equipped to deal with the complexities of modern society. Unfortunately, up until then most Russians had never owned property, had never experienced a free-market economy, and had never made decisions for themselves. Under Communism they were taught to despise Western democracy and everything they believed to be connected with capitalism, e.g., free enterprise, decision-making, hard work, risk-taking, and social inequality. Moreover, the Russians had also had minimal experience with real political parties, since their country has been a police state since the 16th century. To them, it seemed easier to continue the tradition of the political police state than to take the risk of starting everything anew.
But the times have changed dramatically. My native country, which borders Russia, is a good example. At first, Romania's post-Communism rulers, for whom managing the country with the help of the political police was the only form of government they had ever known, bent over backwards to preserve the KGB-created Securitate, a criminal organization that became the symbol of Communist tyranny in the West. Article 27 of Romania's 1990 law for organizing the new intelligence services stated that only former Securitate officers "who have been found guilty of crimes against fundamental human rights and against freedom" could not be employed in the "new" intelligence services. In other words, only Ceausescu would not have been eligible for employment there. Today, Romania still has the same president as in 1990, but his country is now a member of NATO and is helping the U.S. to rid the world of Cold War-style dictators and the terrorism they generated.
Russia can also break with its Communist past and join our fight against despots and terrorists. We can help them do it, but first we should have a clear understanding of what is now going on behind the veil of secrecy that still surrounds the Kremlin.
Ion Mihai Pacepa, a former two-star general, is the highest-ranking intelligence officer to have defected from the Soviet bloc. His book Red Horizons has been republished in 27 countries.
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http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/pacepa200409200814.asp
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To: Destro
You must have been fishing for idiots because you've clearly landed the biggest one of all!
88 posted on 09/20/2004 11:52:44 PM EDT by FormerLib
Who exactly were you calling the biggest idiot in this post?
You sound like Kerry----flip flop--flip flop
The second that I respond in kind, he/she pushes the abuse button.
That's called flame baiting.
Show me where.
Russia has incredible issues to deal with today. It was rated the country with politicians most likely to be bribed, and among the top 3 in the world for corruption in the world - next to Mozambique!
Italy responded to their mafia issues with a similar approach as the one Putin is considering - and for a power-mad leader, Putin has not even put together the proposal yet. He is supposed to be submitting it to the Duma by the end of this year.
As someone else pointed out, Reagan said presidential term limits should be extended.
Russia has always functioned well under strong central government, and a little over 1/2 of her people support Putin in this idea.
Sharon seems to love Putin, and if Putin were so dangerous and pro-islamic I doubt that Sharon would be inviting them to come and sharing technology and anti-terrorist secrets with them.
Beginning almost ten years ago, the regions of southern Russia took in huge numbers of chechens who left the country in droves over Sharia law and the rampant warlord gangster "democracy" they put in place, after Russia granted them freedom.
Then, the leaders of chechnya began to invade local small Caucasian countries and ran a place of horror, kidnapping and mutilating young children, making snuff films, and terrorizing everyone who did not support them.
What is left in chechnya today is not like in Iraq. There is a difference. I hope Israel is helpful and I thank God for Sharon, who apparently cares about children being brutalized and killed by these monsters. But a lot of us here would support very strong military action against chechnya.
When you look at the facts, there is no reason to believe the USSR has gone underground and is re-emerging in the islamic radicals we face today. Being linked to the Russian people by our common churches, I would be the last to support a return to the USSR, who killed some 300,000 clergy. Under the USSR the chechens faired quite well, being non-Christians and mostly secular at the time. Yes, Stalin disliked them and deported them enmasse, but Stalin was a Georgian and disliked them for historical reasons. That was in what, 1930 or so?
Your hatred blinds you.
I see Putin as a man who is facing mafia and oligarchs in many official positions around him, at least one of whom actually took money to look the other way as explosives were planted in a school. Like all of us when we are in deep pain and see chaos that has led to terrible cruel things happening, Putin is responding with efforts to control the madness he sees.
Most recently Putin is admitting he was wrong about being friends with and trusting Iran. Bush likes him and I do too. Putin is naive and perhaps makes mistakes, but he is, so far, the best thing Russia has had. An economic conservative, he has done a terrific job getting Russia back on her feet in many ways. Now he needs to clean up a huge mess and get control over terrorism.
Putin was the first leader in the world to send us condolences after 9-11. We need to give him time to really understand the world, and let Bush and Sharon continue to help him see the realities of global islamic radicals.
Diversionary stuff to an enemy that does not exist is not supporting Bush and our country, imo. In fact I think your postings are anti-American and are like a slap in the face to Bush.
Together we can overcome this terror and cult of radical islam. Some leaders may need to be coached and gently brought aboard. Bush is up for it, and apparently so is Sharon. We need to stay the course and continue to trust Bush. Have hope, not hate.
Are you denying here and now that you've spoken about the attractiveness of the mannish Russian men?
Say yes or no, but remember that I can provide links to your posts on the subject.
Are you also denying that you advocate the destruction of Chechnya the nation, and the Chechen people?
Remember, I still have the links to both your "gates of Hades" post, and your "I'll bring the popcorn" post.
If anyone's hatred is fully exposed here is yours...where was Christ in your post about bringing popcorn to witness the razing of Chechnya and her people from the face of this Earth?
When have you even acknowledged the presence of Chrsitians in Chechnya?
They will die as well while you eat popcorn and cheer Russia's bombs on.
Everything I said is true, and you can either admit to it, or I will provide links supporting each and every point in my post when I return.
That from the barely literate...All I see in your above posts is personal attack after personal attack being directed to one poster after another.What's higher...your belt size or your IQ?
"...and I do too."
I thought you said I was wrong in my post?
Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has come in for criticism from George W. Bush, the US president, and Chris Patten, the European Union commissioner for external affairs, over the political plans he set out in response to the Beslan siege. Mr Bush expressed concern that Moscow's centralising of power and tightening grip on parliament and the regions threatened democracy.
In the latest cold war-style exchange at the end of last week, Mr Putin warned about "double standards" in the fight against terrorism, and a top British diplomat in Moscow was summoned by the Russian foreign ministry and criticised for the failure to extradite Akhmed Zakaev, the Chechen rebel leader living in London.
Some observers believe that whatever motives lie behind the chilly rhetoric between Russia and its partners, the result could be a shift away from the more open and western-oriented policy established by the country's previous two leaders and pursued until recently by Mr Putin.
As usual, you're misinformed.
America has shown this to be true as well. At times it is necessary to take action which is massive and brutal.
Russia gave chechnya her freedom twice now and each time chechnya used it to brutalized people outside the country. All they had to do was stay home and put their country back together, but no. They invaded Dagestan, made repeated incursions into southern Russia and even Moscow, kidnapping and videotaping mutilations of hostages by the score.
Ikcheria is a portal to Hades. Fisk believes the evil kidnapping and beheading we are seeing now in Iraq was taught to them by the chechens. Also the slave trading going on in Iraq now is very reminiscent of chechen old-times. If Russia had ever had a successful approach to chechnya, which they never seem to have had, perhaps the radicals in Iraq would not have learned such brutal things to do with human beings.
Well, you began the personal insults on this thread with your post #88, I guess you failed to note that my post # was 107.
If you object to personal attacks...DON'T BEGIN THE PERSONAL ATTACKS!
Did you hear the next reporting on that incident? The Brits are now saying they will extradite Zakayev after all, due to increased activity in their country. They discovered something they don't like.
Vanessa Redgrave supports these people and no doubt sends money to chechen rebels.
In the same way that Putin is learning about Iran, the west is learning about the chechens.
Russia has already killed in the neighborhood of 200,000 Chechen civilians, but you don't think to think that Russia's massive assault on civilians for the past ten years had anything to do with the issues at hand.
I have yet to hear you condemn the mass murder of civilians by Russia in Chechnya.
Now, you've begun your moral relativism and are seeking to compare Russia with the US.
I would be and have been just as supportive of India or Israel. We must all work together to end this.
Everywhere in almost every posting...you can't have it both ways. You are either with the enemy or against it. Your posts demonstrate an immensely naive ignorance about the history of the region at best or an agenda governed by a western liberal ideology that led to WWII at worst. Think Chamberlain and Hitler. Putin has every right to pursue the demons of this age anywhere he wants just as Bush does.
Do you even know who the enemy is? Hint: It's not the raped and murdered victims. It's not Putin. It's a bunch who have been doing this stuff since about 632 AD and to the Russian Christians for about 700 years.
I think this will be my last post to you, and I will use it to point out just where your hatred is.
You always use the phrase "against Chechnya", never "against Chechen terrorists".
Your war is NOT against terrorists, but against an entire nation...that's base, blind hatred.
God help you.
It has been celebrated here in the past when we began bombing baghdad, and when Israel took out Hamas leaders.
It is nothing more than support for action against evil.
I believe, along with others here, that civilization is threatened by these people and you can be sure they are working as one. We also need to have unity and support for each other.
Putin was the enemy when he was the head of the KGB, and he is the enemy today as the head if Russia with his ex-KGB cronies in charge under him.
Chechens may be Russia's enemies, but a totalitarian Russia, carpet bombing Chechnya and giving life to Muslim extremism by their actions there, is the enemy of the US.
A Russia who supplied weapons and technology to Saddam Hussein before and AFTER the US invasion of Iraq is the enemy of the US.
I don't think you know who the enemy is.
I'm not surprised that you're attempting to paint all Chechens as Islamic Wahabbi radicals, it falls right in step with your boy Putin's official line.
It is disgusting that you blame Russia for the actions of terrorists, and even have gone so far to suggest that Russian
"KGB" actually were behind the massacre at Beslan, in more than a few posts.
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