Posted on 09/01/2009 8:36:46 AM PDT by TaraP
MOSCOW - YOU think of the United States as the world's leading superpower? Well think again, says Igor Panarin, a professor at the Russian foreign ministry's diplomatic academy.
For Prof Panarin, who has built an academic reputation in Russia for apocalyptic predictions of the imminent US demise, Moscow's ex-Cold War rival is on the brink of economic, political and social cataclysm.
'The probability that the United States will cease to exist in July 2010 is greater than 50 per cent,' he declared at a news conference on Monday. 'The results of the current financial year will shock investors.'
Prof Panarin did not share the hopes of US president Barack Obama's supporters that he would lead the world into a new era of change.
'Obama has the mentality of a social worker: He talks well but he has never managed anything. He will lead the United States towards a crash,' said the academic.
For Prof Panarin, the United States was on the verge of none other than a 'psychological catastrophe'. And the reasons? It all started with Hurricane Katrina. The United States is overwhelmed by single parent families. Its prisons are full. Young people are violent. And oh yes, it has too many homosexuals.
He compared the current situation of the United States under Obama to that of the Soviet Union under its last leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
'The US debt has multiplied seven times in 11 years. Under Gorbachev the Soviet debt increased by a factor of five.'
Vladimir Mamontov, the editor-in-chief of the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia where the news conference was held, moved to distance himself from the remarks. He publishes Prof Panarin's opinions since 'irreverent versions of events help readers to surf through all the more montonous information.'
Feodor Lukyanov, editor of the journal Russia in global politics and one of the country's top foreign policy experts, said such forecasts were of no value for specialists.
'People with an artistic spirit have a rich imagination,' he commented.
While Prof Panarin's views are highly marginal, there are plenty of more mainstream pro-Kremlin analysts in Moscow happy to point out the weaknesses of the United States and the strengths of Russia as a great post-Soviet power. -- AFP
I think he’s confused with the remake of “Red Dawn”, didn’t they notice how their military equipment held up against us when we took Saddam out?
More projection from the Russians.
Good one!
Yeah, the "end of the U.S." might actually be quite a blessing.
Obamacare is a bad deal in a recessionary economy, but it’s not as bad as cap-and-trade, which will drive some people straight into poverty.
I think the American public is beginning to realize how costly it’s going to be to give our liberal/leftist friends everything they want.
“We are all going to die !”
Some day, yes we are.
Did you graduate from Harvard?
"Unity" is the call of the morally weak with something to hide.
"Freedom" is the cry of men made in God's image.
The Russian is correct. By July 2010, people are more worried about food and water than voting districts.
You insult Used car salesmen—Obama is way beyond that. He has all that despicable in Communism and none of its positive elements. Where are the jobs? The Communists were all about putting people to work, getting them to feel good about their nation and its world goals. Where are the patriotic marches and songs for the workers? Where are the movie’s praising the leader? He is setting one group against another. He’s just a corrupt Chicago ward healer out of his water being given the wrong advise.
Sorry, I don’t play on words. Unity is how our military operates. Without it you will fail. Freedom is the cry of the people, unity is what will bring freedom to the people.
Since the 1930's the communists have forced the expansion of the Federal government on a people who have shown little interest in a powerful central government. The tide is turning and the communists have taken their best shot and have lost. They have bankrupted the system and denied Americans their inalienable rights.
What emerges from the train wreck of this federal nightmare will be more powerful states, citizens free to chose between and among high social services states and individualistic states but the feds will no longer be able to dictate how we chose to live. The rump of federal government will be a servant of the people. Not the other way around.
You want big government? Move to Taxachussettes. You want personal freedom and no safety net? Move to Texas. The PEOPLE will have a choice, not a cram down like the government of Pelosi and Reid!
This will be the result of the next revolution. Less marching and shooting and more freedom for all. Leftie losers and freedom lovers alike will benefit. It is the ONLY solution. Free to chose your community under an American umbrella of VERY limited power...
The Prof is wrong......It won’t take that long..................
Just by looking at the name of the paper I knew it wasn’t US or European.
I agree. I wish I was wrong, but honestly, I don’t see another ending to this.
“The breakup of the states will be the downfall of the States.”
... so you mean if the United States breaks up it won’t be the United States anymore? wow! heavy dude
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