Posted on 03/11/2006 6:58:31 PM PST by strategofr
Russian generals and anti-American propagandists would like you to believe that George W. Bush was behind 9/11, or else it was “the Jews.” Anti-Semitism is alive and well today, from the “historical revisionists” who say the holocaust never happened to the obnoxious conspiracy nuts who believe that the Protocols of the Elders of Zion are authentic. Anti-American and anti-Jewish propaganda are of a piece. The one set of lies is related to the other, as the fate of the Jewish people in World War II foreshadows the fate of the American people in World War III. Extermination of the hated and reviled race is an ongoing theme. It has appeared in the past and it will reappear in the future. Those who want to destroy America are kin to Hitler and his followers. Allied with Moscow, they form a new United Front that links al Jazeera and Hugo Chavez’s Telesur channel with a global revolutionary movement. These people dream of America’s fall, without regard for the impact on humanity as a whole. The fall of America signifies the collapse of a global system. Such an event would bring an unprecedented planet-wide death toll. Even if America’s leaders have stumbled into this mess through stupidity, the wickedness of the malcontents is still wicked, and nothing will wipe the blood from those who revel in America’s downfall. The enemies of reason will blame the United States and the Jews and President George W. Bush. They will accept grotesque lies as truth while truth disappears for decades or centuries. We should not be surprised that the former chief of staff of the Russian military blames capitalism for 9/11.
Having built up Iran’s nuclear program, having emboldened the world’s leading terrorist state, the Russians bait the Americans. If America preemptively strikes Iran’s nuclear program then a crushing oil embargo will follow. The price of oil will skyrocket further. It is a clear case of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” The Russians are making lots of money off rising energy prices. They will make a lot more. Tensions between Iran and the United States, unrest in Nigeria and an emerging communist dictator in Venezuela threaten an oil crisis that will bring America to its knees. “Taking into account the good relations between Russia and Iran,” says an Iranian official, “we can prevail in this crisis.” And who will stop them? “We are counting on the continuation of close contacts with our Chinese colleagues [in this matter],” says the Russian foreign minister.
On February 28 Russian President Vladimir Putin wrote an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal titled “Energy Egotism Is a Road to Nowhere.” The central question about this commentary should be, “Who is the energy egotist Putin refers to?” Reverting to the classic rich versus poor dialectic of communism, Mr. Putin denied that “energy security has mainly to do with the interests of industrially developed countries.” Think of the two billion paupers who “do not enjoy modern-day energy services, while many lack access even to electricity.” According to Putin, “Their access to many benefits and advances of civilization has been virtually blocked.” That’s right, the rich nations are “blocking” the poor. And irony of delicious ironies, Russia has now assumed the presidency of the G-8. “Today,” noted Putin, “energy is an engine of social and economic progress.” (Here the word “progress” signifies the forward movement of the Revolution.)
Responding to Putin in a Wall Street Journal letter to the editors on March 9, former Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar wrote that Mr. Putin’s article reminded him “of speeches of former Soviet leaders, when peace was praised but in reality preparations for war were made.” According to Laar, “Russia’s recent actions against Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have made absolutely clear that Moscow has decided to use energy deliveries as a political weapon.” This has occurred because the KGB is at the helm. Through criminal networks, energy blackmail, economic subversion and political infiltration the “former” Soviet Union dominates Russia and Europe from behind the scenes. America has lost its former position and dares not call the Kremlin to account.
Writing in the Washington Times on March 8, Edward Lozansky warned that the American government is provoking Russia into “a new and probably more dangerous Cold War.” Of course, the Cold War never ended. The Russian promises of the 1990s came to naught by design, not by happenstance. Through a bloody and cynical provocation stemming from Chechnya, the head of Russia’s secret police was appointed to the presidency. His subsequent electoral victories were manufactured. This opened the way to a planned strategic reversal. Russia’s policy, even before Putin’s rise to power, consisted of several suggestive elements: 1) Building a new alliance with China, 2) granting nuclear assistance to Iran, 3) subverting German democracy, 4) manipulating the mineral wealth of South Africa, 5) slipping nuclear technology to North Korea (under the table), and 6) using energy as a political weapon. It is no accident that Iraq is on the brink of civil war, that Iran insists on developing nuclear weapons, that Venezuela and Bolivia have gone communist.
Moscow favors all of these developments.
In the midst of America’s woes, Russia is doing well. According to Lozansky, the Russian economy “has been growing at the robust rate of 6 percent to 7 percent for the last five years.” Russia’s government operates with a surplus. Russia’s stock market, Lozansky noted, is “the best in the world.” Foreign investment in Russia is rapidly rising as Russia pays off old Soviet debts. “Most importantly … the majority of Russians are feeling proud of their country…. Waking from his slumbers, President Bush sees that Russia has played a trick. In 1991 the United States was ideologically disarmed while the “former” communist bloc put together a new and more powerful formation. Washington is now caught in a trap.
© 2006 Jeffrey
Ping. The last sentence really says it all.
I don't trust Norquist one bit; he's a Muslim sympathizer and Republicans have quit going to his Wednesday morning meetings because they see him the same way and don't trust him. But on this particular issue, I think he's right.
Nyquist sits around think up these conspiracy theories in the can. The man is off his rocker.
Demographics is everything.
I pretty much feel the same way about Nyquist, but I don't think he's off his rocker on this one.
I'm not very familiar with Norquist but there seems to be at least a few questionable statements in the article. True, Russia tried to squeeze Ukraine with oil stoppages, but after a scowl from America, they backed down.
The brink of "civil war in Iraq" has been debunked by our military officials as well as journalists who have the gumption to get out of their hotel rooms and actually view the situation for themselves.
Lastly, I don't recall reading much that coroborates Russia's economy is zinging along. In fact, I thought foreign investment wasn't so hot there, although oil is perhaps a much different matter.
Putin is a thug though, and not to be trusted. I don't think I will never understand the Russians.
Good points.
Good points. I'm going to read this again in the morning because I'm too tired to carefully consider it all tonight.
Oh, this isn't Norquist; who I was thinking of. This is a nutjob.
Ditto.
"If Russia is doing so well, how come their population is dropping and their life expectancy is decreasing?
Demographics is everything."
Admittedly, Nyquist has a tendency to gloss over Russia's very deep-seated problems, as he does here. He also, in my opinion, exaggerates how willing Russia would be to engage in a nuclear war with the United States (he does this elsewhere). Nonetheless, he makes some good points, here and elsewhere.
"1) Building a new alliance with China, 2) granting nuclear assistance to Iran, 3) subverting German democracy, 4) manipulating the mineral wealth of South Africa, 5) slipping nuclear technology to North Korea (under the table), and 6) using energy as a political weapon. It is no accident that Iraq is on the brink of civil war, that Iran insists on developing nuclear weapons, that Venezuela and Bolivia have gone communist.
Moscow favors all of these developments. "
Sounds like the same old from the Kremlin
thanks for the ping Gary. Nyquist does seem to be a conspiracy theorist.
“Russian generals and anti-American propagandists would like you to believe that George W. Bush was behind 9/11, or else it was ‘the Jews.’”
A statement made without any corroborating evidence. Which Russian generals? The only generals who have come close to making that sort of statement are RETIRED SOVIET generals, long outside of the mainstream of Russian political thinking and far away from the centers of power.
“Anti-Semitism is alive and well today, from the “historical revisionists” who say the holocaust never happened to the obnoxious conspiracy nuts who believe that the Protocols of the Elders of Zion are authentic. Anti-American and anti-Jewish propaganda are of a piece. The one set of lies is related to the other, as the fate of the Jewish people in World War II foreshadows the fate of the American people in World War III.”
And as in America, anti-Semitism in Russia is relegated to the far far right and left and proffered by those with zero influence.
“Extermination of the hated and reviled race is an ongoing theme. It has appeared in the past and it will reappear in the future. Those who want to destroy America are kin to Hitler and his followers. Allied with Moscow, they form a new United Front that links al Jazeera and Hugo Chavez’s Telesur channel with a global revolutionary movement.”
Once again, NyQuist (is he chugging NyQuil?) is out of it. “Allied with Moscow” and “al Jazeera” and “Telesur” in the same sentence would mean Russian television would be filled with the same. It is not. Bush actually receives better treatment by Russian television journalists than he does in the States and elsewhere. While the Russian pundits do offer criticism on the US’s policy in Iraq they cage it in “well-meaning but mistaken policies” instead of the “evil intentions” and “Cheney’s looking out for his oil friends” that you see here and in Western Europe.
“These people dream of America’s fall, without regard for the impact on humanity as a whole. The fall of America signifies the collapse of a global system. Such an event would bring an unprecedented planet-wide death toll. Even if America’s leaders have stumbled into this mess through stupidity, the wickedness of the malcontents is still wicked, and nothing will wipe the blood from those who revel in America’s downfall. The enemies of reason will blame the United States and the Jews and President George W. Bush. They will accept grotesque lies as truth while truth disappears for decades or centuries.”
Classic whack-job analysis from NyQuist. Of course, if you read between the lines of his “analysis” he’s saying that the US is too close to Israel and that it will lead us to damnation. He also fails to recognize that Russia is NOT trying to make us collapse, but rather trying to gain a position as a “pole” in a mult-polar world. They don’t like the current unipolar world (neither does France, Germany, and even Britain [Blair notwithstanding]). And as such base their foreign policy movements with the creation of competing poles in mind. The US Administration appears to have dismissed this or not taken it seriously. I say this because there are ways to counter the Russian movements that have not been done. We seem to have drifted off to sleep in some matters involving the ME. Having said that, the one thing Russia does not want is the fall of America. Their real “strategists” realize such an event would mean dire consequences for them (China anyone?). We could easily reverse any gains the Russians think they have made.
“We should not be surprised that the former chief of staff of the Russian military blames capitalism for 9/11.”
Correction – former chief of staff of the Soviet military. He’s also the same guy who claims Yeltsin AND Putin were involved with the fall of the Soviet Union. NyQuist conveniently leaves this little tidbit out. But of course, he doesn’t actually “quote” the guy because then his claims could be verified or refuted.
“Having built up Iran’s nuclear program, having emboldened the world’s leading terrorist state, the Russians bait the Americans. If America preemptively strikes Iran’s nuclear program then a crushing oil embargo will follow. The price of oil will skyrocket further.”
Oil Embargo? From whom? The Saudis? The Iraqis? The Russians? Nope. Only Iran and Venezuela. Russia, btw, has refused membership in OPEC. Now, of course, the Russians would benefit by selling us more oil, but then the Iranians and Venezuelans would be hurt, wouldn’t they….
“It is a clear case of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” The Russians are making lots of money off rising energy prices. They will make a lot more. Tensions between Iran and the United States, unrest in Nigeria and an emerging communist dictator in Venezuela threaten an oil crisis that will bring America to its knees. “Taking into account the good relations between Russia and Iran,” says an Iranian official, “we can prevail in this crisis.” And who will stop them? “We are counting on the continuation of close contacts with our Chinese colleagues [in this matter],” says the Russian foreign minister.”
Oh what a dishonest way of stringing together his analysis. He uses two quotes, one different matters, one from the Russians and one from the Iranians, strings them together and makes it sound like a conspiracy. Minister Lavrov was talking about getting the Iranians to cooperate by using the Chinese. The Iranian official was boasting about overcoming the West’s opposition because Russia has so-far resisted having the matter looked at in full by the UNSC.
“Responding to Putin in a Wall Street Journal letter to the editors on March 9, former Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar wrote that Mr. Putin’s article reminded him “of speeches of former Soviet leaders, when peace was praised but in reality preparations for war were made.” According to Laar, “Russia’s recent actions against Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have made absolutely clear that Moscow has decided to use energy deliveries as a political weapon.” This has occurred because the KGB is at the helm. "
Russia’s actions vis-à-vis Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia has thus far failed and are considered a Russian foreign policy defeat by THE RUSSIANS.
“Through criminal networks, energy blackmail, economic subversion and political infiltration the “former” Soviet Union dominates Russia and Europe from behind the scenes. America has lost its former position and dares not call the Kremlin to account.”
What? Let’s do a little math – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia (for the most part), Azerbaijan, and Georgia are not dominated by Russia and give them headaches just about every day. Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzia, and Kazakhstan play both sides of the street. Uzbekistan only recently turned back toward Russia after the recent border problem. Uzbekistan is one “color revolution” away from balking at the Russians again. If I was Putin looking at my map of “Risk” I’d be pretty depressed. Sure – he’s got Belarus’ solidly in their camp, but that’s about it in his neck o’the woods.
“Writing in the Washington Times on March 8, Edward Lozansky warned that the American government is provoking Russia into “a new and probably more dangerous Cold War.” Of course, the Cold War never ended. The Russian promises of the 1990s came to naught by design, not by happenstance.”
NyQuist with his tinfoil hat on. Nope, it was all a big ruse and all the problems the Russians are having are just faked. And I just bough the Brooklyn Bridge for 2 bucks.
“Through a bloody and cynical provocation stemming from Chechnya, the head of Russia’s secret police was appointed to the presidency. His subsequent electoral victories were manufactured.”
Here NyQuist is believing Berezovsky’s b.s. about the FSB starting the second Chechen War and ignoring the terrorist attacks that were carried out by the Chechens. He also ignores the Chechen “revolution” being taken over by Wahabiists. RE: “The Head of the Russian Secret Police” – Putin was brought to Moscow by Yeltsin and appointed by him to stem the flow of FSB agents leaving under Baturin. And, brought in because he was from St. Pete and not influenced by the Moscow FSB crowd. His days at the FSB were short.
“This opened the way to a planned strategic reversal”
Once again, giving them way too much credit.
“Russia’s policy, even before Putin’s rise to power, consisted of several suggestive elements:
“1) Building a new alliance with China,”
Yeltsin played footsies a little bit, but it came to naught because his Defense Chief wasn’t buying it. Ivanov does want to continue the game with China, but he isn’t supported by a.) the Russian people, and b.) the Russian military. This “alliance” is going nowhere. If anything the Russians are trying to play for time and are extremely worried about the growing Chinese economy and its influence in the Russian Far East – one trip to Vladivostok or Nakhodka would show you why.
" 2) granting nuclear assistance to Iran, "
As of this date, the Russian movements vis-à-vis Iran have the backing of the US Administration. Russia, in my opinion, made a huge error in getting involved and now “own” the problem. Backing out now would be a huge loss of face. However, Russia has waaaaay more to lose in this Iran deal than anyone else and if it blows up in their faces they can go to the nearest mirror to find the guilty party.
"3) subverting German democracy,"
Huh? Last time I checked the Schroeder government was out the door and a Washington-friendly Chancellor is at the helm. To me, looks like a big defeat if they were trying to “subvert” German democracy.
"4) manipulating the mineral wealth of South Africa,"
Not sure about this one. Anyone know what he’s talking about?
"5) slipping nuclear technology to North Korea (under the table), and"
Our issue with North Korea has two guilty people – Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.
"6) using energy as a political weapon. It is no accident that Iraq is on the brink of civil war, that Iran insists on developing nuclear weapons, that Venezuela and Bolivia have gone communist."
Pretty poor analysis. Iraq on the brink of civil war? How is Russia guilty in this? Venezuela and Bolivia “going communist” – Russia is guilty how? I’d look a little closer to the States for the influence on that one - four letters, starts with a "C" and ends in "A". Plus, Latin America has a tendency to bounce between leftist and rightist governments.
“Moscow favors all of these developments.”
How do they favor the developments? The only benefit they could gain from any of it is “solving” any problems that arise from these developments. If they emerge on the wrong side of the US on these issues and actually start looking like the old Soviet Union they lose everything they gained in Europe AND force Europe back to being more America friendly. They have much to lose with these developments.
“In the midst of America’s woes, Russia is doing well. According to Lozansky, the Russian economy “has been growing at the robust rate of 6 percent to 7 percent for the last five years.” Russia’s government operates with a surplus. Russia’s stock market, Lozansky noted, is “the best in the world.” Foreign investment in Russia is rapidly rising as Russia pays off old Soviet debts. “Most importantly … the majority of Russians are feeling proud of their country…. Waking from his slumbers, President Bush sees that Russia has played a trick. In 1991 the United States was ideologically disarmed while the “former” communist bloc put together a new and more powerful formation. Washington is now caught in a trap.”
If Lozansky did indeed claim the above, might I suggest a job for him as a Kremlin spinmaster. He paints too rosy a picture. While the Russian economy has grown there is still a lot to be done. Foreign investment is still a lot lower than it should be, and Putin’s at fault for the lag –he has to guarantee investments won’t be lost if the oil prices tank. Foreign investors remember all too well the “default” of ’98.
NyQuist has totally lost it with this “ ‘former’ communist bloc put together a new and more powerful formation.” Let’s look at this “powerful formation”
Belarus
Russia
Uzbekistan?
Hamas?
Hmmm.
Let’s see what they have “lost”
Ukraine
Latvia
Lithuania
Estonia
Georgia
Armenia?
Azerbaijan
Turkmenia (Neutral)
Kyrgyzia
Poland
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Croatia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Albania
Romania
Hungary
East Germany
Etc.
This was where I stopped muutering "bulls**t" and started laughing.
Excellent Fisking.
Ha! Had to look "Fisking" up!! Learn something new everyday. ;)
They may need to rethink that alliance.
That's the kind of thing I saw out in Vladivostok. It's almost like not even being in Russia. And, Russians are naturally worried about it.
Judging from the article, they need to be. Looks like they're starting to get over ran. I wonder how Putin rationalizes what's going on in that part of Russia to his building such a friendship with the chinese.
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