Trouble brewing for the self-appointed World's Policeman - November-December, 2014

One would never know it watching CNN but serious trouble is brewing around the world for the self-appointed World's Policeman. Washington has not had it this difficult, at least in recent memory. Vice-President Biden's last minute decision to flee from a public meeting with the chocolate king in Kiev; the ugly name calling against the Hungarian president; China's economy overtaking the US; growing anti-EU sentiments in eastern Europe; the theft of Moldova's pro-Russia vote; the ouster of Georgia's Western-backed Defense Minister; the increasingly desperate acts of Armenia's Western-led political opposition; the massive energy deal struck between Moscow and Beijing; and more recent major energy deal agreed to between Moscow and NATO member Ankara are symbolic of serious American foreign policy failures around the world today. And renewed racial tensions flaring in the American heartland and yet another looming "government shutdown" are symbolic of the country's many persistent and potentially catastrophic domestic ailments.

Make no mistake about it, trouble is brewing for the self-appointed World's Cop. From eastern Europe to the Caucasus, from the Middle East to the Far East, chess pieces long positioned to benefit the Western world are beginning to move in favor of the Eastern world. 

It was not supposed to be this way.

They found themselves alone on the very top of the world's food chain in 1991 when the Soviet Union suddenly imploded and ceased to exist as a deterrence. Fate would hand the Western political establishment the world on a silver platter. With a massive geopolitical vacuum thus created before them, "forces of freedom" began raiding Middle Eastern oil fields with impunity, and they also began the systematic invasion of former Soviet nations with "forces of democracy". Without a capable opponent on the other side of the political divide to check their actions, they moved the chess pieces around at will and with great disregard to human suffering, and despite persistent complaints from places such as Tehran, Moscow and Beijing. 

But fate would also have it that their tenure at the top of the world would not last very long. By 2007/2008 things began to go awry. Western powers have since suffered a series of geopolitical setback on the world stage. Now that they have begun losing control over strategic regions of the world where they have had an iron grip over, Washington is exhibiting clear signs of ailments. The Western political order may be coming the Sick Man of the world. With the following I have outlined some of its more apparent symptoms.

The Sick Man of the world

Recent years have revealed to the world public that the Western financial system is essentially a virtual reality, a massive Ponzi scheme and that the impressive castle Western powers have build for themselves is essentially a house of cards. More-and-more Americans are beginning to recognize that the US Dollar's "reserve currency" status is a double edged sword that will harm the US in the long term. We have also come to learn that the so-called "growth based" economic model of the Anglo-American-Jewish world is doomed to fail because it is unnatural, irrational and unsustainable -
The virtual might of the US Dollar will come to an end, the economy will begin to shrink and the fancy house-of-cards will come crashing down one day. Without its artificial luster, Western civilization - the low quality Anglo-American-Afro-Jewish pop culture that has created an ignorant, selfish, materialistic, violent, vulgar and Godless society where apathy rules and perversions are rampant - will surely fall apart. But we are not there just yet. But give it time and it will come to pass. A deeply flawed economic/financial system and a deeply corrupted society are not Washington's only long-term problems. Washington is suffering a series of major geopolitical setbacks in recent years.

Western powers have already been evicted from former Soviet territory in Central Asia and the Caucasus. There are also now a number of nations within the Western political orbit - Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia, Greece, Moldova, Hungry and Turkey in particular - that if given the chance may actually break from the West and seek better ties with the East. In their haste to expand NATO eastward, Western powers incorporated into their structures a number of such nations that will prove very problematic for them in due time. In Ukraine, the Western experiment to weaken Russian influence in Europe is in tatters as Russia takes back Ukrainian territory bit-by-bit, and the West is left with paying for Ukraine's mounting bills which is growing day-by-day. Russia's resurgent military seems to be everywhere: Strategic bombers patrols and naval warships have been appearing throughout Europe and the Far East, and there is talk that Russia will for the first time in its history begin strategic bomber patrols right in Washington's backyard. In the south Caucasus, Georgia seems well on its way to freeing itself of the Western infestation it was afflicted with some ten years ago. In the Middle East, Moscow has managed to keep Assad's government in power and even when the inevitable happens and Syria is broken up, Moscow will continue to maintain it's military presence in Tartus within a newly formed Alewite state. In Iran, Moscow and Tehran are involved in a number of high profile projects. In Asia, despite Washington's efforts to derail Russo-Sino relations, the strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing forges ahead as never before. Perhaps more importantly, discussions about breaking the US Dollar's hold over humanity is gaining traction around the world. Moscow has in recent years managed to roll back most Western advances in Eurasia. More importantly, it has begum taking the initiative in various theaters of operation.

 Things are getting very difficult for the World's Policeman.

Although the American news press did its best to paint the US President's recent visit to China as a victory for American diplomacy and a sign of US leadership in the world, the reality of the matter was a bit different. The agreement on global warming signed between Washington and Beijing was meaningless fluff. In other words, all show, no substance. As Moscow and Beijing are getting closer militarily, politically, economically and financially, Washington and Beijing are drifting further-and-further apart. If you page through the large number of nonsense appearing in the US news press, you may be able to find a handful of articles that are closer to the not-so-comfortable reality that currently exists between the US and China. The following two articles can be characterized as such -
What really happened in Beijing: Putin, Obama, Xi and the back story the media won’t tell you: http://www.salon.com/2014/11/13/
The international gathering in Beijing was not the only noteworthy global event in recent weeks. Coming on the heels of the China summit, President Putin made a grand arrival at the G20 meeting in Australia - with a naval armada! More poignant than the Russian president's stylish naval escort was the warning the Russian president gave Western leaders during his appearance there that Moscow is prepared to deal with anything Western powers decide to do against Russia. Besides preparing to whether the economic/financial war being waged against it by Western powers, Moscow is also preparing for the worst case scenario, just in case things escalate out of control.

 Things are getting very difficult for the World's Policeman.

 Western aggression in places such as Libya, Syria and Ukraine may ostensibly suggest Western prowess at first glance but it's actually a good indicator that the Western political order is desperate and in a panic. They are essentially out on a killing spree to ensure their survival in this rapidly changing world. With the resurrection of the Russian Bear and with the rise of China - and with the resilience of the Shiite regime in Iran - the Western political order is suddenly faced with its inability to stop the political tides around the world from changing. This is why Washington is growing increasingly desperate. This is why Western powers are - directly and indirectly - engaged in military actions around the world. And their desperate effort to maintain global supremacy at a time of historic changes has been the main motivating factor behind their aggression towards Russia. I talk more about this in a previous commentary -
Worried for its loss of hegemony the West is bent on bringing down Russia (July, 2014):http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2014/08/worried-for-its-lose-of-hegemony-west.html
Within the American homeland, the mainstream news press is rife these days with complaints about Washington's impotency in foreign affairs and establishment authors are publicly lamenting America's retreat on the global stage. Although many prominent voices across the US are blaming the House Negro serving in the White House for the empire's woes, the problems the American empire faces today are much larger and much deeper than any one president. In fact, the problems the empire faces today are global in scope and fundamental in nature.

Forecasting an inevitable weakening of Western power, Kremlin officials are carefully and meticulously positioning Russian assets in strategic areas of the world. Kremlin's intent is to see the Russian Federation pick up where Washington leaves off. Yes, Moscow is seeking to become a global power once more. We see this Kremlin agenda in the creation of the Eurasian Union. We see this Kremlin agenda in the creation of CSTO to rival NATO. We see this Kremlin agenda in the forging a strategic alliance with China, the world's soon to be largest economy in the world. We see this Kremlin agenda in the rekindling of Russian ties in South America. We see this Kremlin agenda in its stockpiling of gold. We see this Kremlin agenda in the historic rearmament and modernization of the Russian armed forces. We see this Kremlin agenda in the increasing numbers of strategic bomber and nuclear submarine patrols around the world. We see this Kremlin agenda in Moscow's active participation in non-Western multinational bodies such as SCO and BRICS. We see this Kremlin agenda in making its voice heard around the world. Finally, and perhaps more poignantly, we see this Kremlin agenda in the effort against the most powerful weapon in the Western arsenal - US Dollar. What only a few years ago was unthinkable, how to dethrone the US Dollar and free the world from Anglo-American-Jewish control has become a favorite problem solving game for senior officials in Moscow and Beijing -
Russia And China Try To End The Dominance Of The Dollar: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/putins-revenge-russia-china-try-131700912.html
Eurasian Economic Union Reportedly Set to Abandoning Dollar, Euro: http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/12/02...n-dollar-euro/
I am not under any illusions. I do understand that breaking the iron grip the US Dollar has over the world will be a very complicated, drawn-out and bloody affair. But it has to be done for the sake of humanity. I personally feel it will happen sooner or later. Emerging powers such as Russia, China, India, Iran and Brazil are preparing for the inevitable dethronement of the Western world's most powerful weapon-of-mass-destruction. But we still have a very long way to go. In the meanwhile, the reader would do well to stop forming opinions on money and politics based on what Western "indicators" such as the Dow Jones, Corruption Perception Index, Moody's Credit Ratings or the Forbes Magazine have to say. These Western institutions are ultimately meant to create a Western-centric, alternative reality for the global sheeple. Humanity needs to stop looking at the world through Western prisms. 

Once the reader can psychologically break free of the alternative reality Western institutions have created, the reader will begin recognizing the corrosive nature of Western influence and begin seeing that its power and influence is indeed currently in decline.

Having squandered the good image is had come to enjoy during much of the 20th century; having reached its political and financial pinnacle in the years following the Soviet Union's collapse; American power and influence today is clearly waning and it will never get back to where it was before its downturn because the historic circumstances that helped create its ascent to the top of the world are long gone. If I were to put a symbolic date on Washington's historic decline as a global power, I would date it to the summer of 2008. More specifically, August of 2008 -
Russians burning American flag in American built military base in Georgia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKciOFc5zYM
It was back in the summer of 2008 when the Russian Bear humiliated the Western/Turkish/Israeli-backed criminal regime of Saakashvili and all Western powers could do was sit back and watch in horror. It's been down hill ever since as Washington has suffered one setback after another. Virtually all of the Western gains in the south Caucasus and Central Asia have been reversed.

In an effort to regain momentum against Russia's resurgence Washingtonians have embarked on a global PR tour. As I said, President Obama's visit to China did not produce anything tangible. Washington's sudden conciliatory tone with regards to Tehran are signs of desperation and it will not yield tangible results. Vice-President Biden's visit to Kiev did not go well, to say the least. Actually, Americans cant seem to get respect anywhere anymore. Even in "allied" territory there seems to problems today. Here we see Turks assaulting American servicemen in broad daylight -
Yes, I understand that Turks will be Turks. But what does the rest of the world think of Washington? Well, in a recent Gallup Poll that asked people in 65 countries "what nation presents the largest threat to world peace today" the US came in first place. In an increasingly anti-American Germany, an astounding 40% of Germans support Russia's annexation of Crimea. Even within France, pro-Russian sentiments run high particularly amongst those in the country who are tired of watching France turn into a Third World cesspool as a result of post-war European liberalism. While 63% of Greeks dislike the US, 61% of them express positive views about Russia. 22% of Bulgarians want to abandon the EU and join the Eurasian Union. And a staggering 75% of Armenians view Moscow favorably.

Even in places where Russophobia runs deep, there is no real love for Uncle Sam. In a secret recording a couple of months ago, Poland's Western trained foreign minister (with a well connected Jewish-American wife nonetheless) was heard describing in graphic detail what he thought of the nature of American-Polish relations -
"You know that the Polish-U.S. alliance isn't worth anything. It is downright harmful, because it creates a false sense of security ... Complete bullshit. We'll get in conflict with the Germans, Russians and we'll think that everything is super, because we gave the Americans a blow job. Losers. Complete losers."
Polish Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski
At the end of the day, this Western trained Sikorsky's homoerotic description of Poland's relationship with the US is a pretty good indicator of just how deep (no pun intended) the Western empire's friendships and alliances go these days. Outside of the Anglo-American-Jewish world (i.e. US, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Israel) virtually all of the Western world's alliances are based on financial/economic enslavement and bribes (i.e. aid money, that which the Federal Reserve prints on an as needed basis). Once the US Dollar eventually loses its luster (that which is maintained around the world by military actions and that which will eventually end) the Western order-of-things, along with its alliances, will all crumble overnight. Remaining on the topic of Poland's Radoslaw Sikorski, the following report that came out in the Russian press is very revealing -
Anne Applebaum Sikorski Can't Account for $800,000 Income: http://russia-insider.com/en/politics
Sikorski's Jewish-American wife is financed by Washington? Very interesting, but not in the least bit surprising. Information like this simply reveals to us how the Western political world operates. In high level politics, nothing is left to chance. Every square millimeter of the world's political landscape needs to be placed under control, one way or another. Therefore, Sikorski's marriage with the well-connected American Jewess - who is also a well known war monger - was no doubt an arranged marriage by Uncle Sam. Incidentally, Poland's Sikorski has two equivalents in Armenia.

Opposition activist Alik Arzumanyan married his American wife while he still had a very influential position in the Armenian government. It would not surprise me one bit if it was discovered that Arzumanyan also made his living through his wife. The other political leader who is married to a well connected foreigner is the "great Armenian patriot" Paruyr Hayrikian. He wed his CIA-connected Jewess while he was still a Soviet dissident. They have since divorced but they maintain family ties. Both he and his wife (who currently lives in Boston with her Jewish kids) get financial support from the US government essentially for the role they played in destroying the Soviet Union, and in Paruyr's case, also for representing Washingtonian interests in Armenia today.

 Back to the main topic: Washington doesn't even seem to be getting much respect at home. US Congress's approval rating is at a historic low. At a time when President Putin has been enjoying unprecedented popularity at home, President Barack Obama's popularity rating in the US hovers around a dismal 30%. Anti-government voices in American society is on the rise today. I am not talking about African-Americans. I am not talking about libertarians. Interestingly enough, one of the most vociferous anti-government groups are US military veterans.

Trouble is brewing at home. Trouble is brewing in Europe. Trouble is brewing in Asia. US power and influence is in steady retreat. Things are thus getting very difficult for the self-appointed World's Policeman and westerners are beginning to see it -
Ron Paul: ‘US provoking war with Russia, could result in total destruction: http://rt.com/usa/211799-paul-congress-russia-war/
Making Enemies America Can't Afford: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/doug-bandow/making-enemies-america-ca_b_6394300.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592
China's Silk Road challenges U.S. dominance in Asia: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/10/china-apec-silkroad-idUSL6N0T03CY20141110
 Anti-West Alliance Forming in the East: http://www.dw.de/anti-western-alliance-in-asia/a-17914677
US control is diminishing, but it still thinks it owns the world: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/feb/04/us-control-diminishing-own-world
The US Needs To Recognize Russia’s Monroe Doctrine: http://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2014/12/us-needs-recognize-russias-monroe-doctrine/100557/
World order principles should be changed to avoid 3rd world war — Italian journalist: http://itar-tass.com/en/world/768197
Paul Craig Roberts The War Against Putin: http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/11/22/27588/
Russia is the last major check on US imperial status: http://presstv.com/detail/2014/06/09/366260/russia-last-check-on-us-imperial-status/
The Rise of German Imperialism and the Phony “Russian Threat”: http://www.veteransnewsnow.com/2014/12/06/512468-the-rise-of-german-imperialism-and-the-phony-russian-threat/
Time for a new world order? http://rt.com/op-edge/201563-time-new-world-order/
America is number 1, but in what? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lawrence-wittner/the-united-states-is-no-1
It’s official: America is now No. 2: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/its-official-america-is-now-no-2-2014-12-04
Paul Craig Roberts: How America Was Lost: http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2013/11/07/america-lost-paul-craig-roberts/
How the Reserve Dollar Harms America: http://online.wsj.com/articles/how-the-reserve-dollar-harms-america-1416527644
Stratfor founder: ‘US fears a resurgent Russia’: http://rt.com/news/216043-stratfor-relations-russia-usa/
EU Stoking Flame of Conflict Yet Again - UKIP MEP David Coburn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cBPDx-2zeM
The Western aggression against Russia is actually a by-product of a Western weakness that ironically comes about from being alone at the very top of the global food-chain. From a Western perspective: Russia is too powerful, too technologically advanced, too independent, too ambitious, too large and Russian territory simply has too much natural wealth for one nation. From a Western perspective: The Western world has exhausted much of its natural wealth and it has become too finely developed during the past twenty-five years. When you are at the very top, the only place left for you to go when your time comes is straight down. They thus see a serious, long term threat looming in the eastern horizon. The threat cannot be left alone for the fear that it might develop into a global competitor. That's a problem for the West because there is no place at the top for two competitive giants. The Russian nation, much more so than China, poses the number one geostrategic threat to the Western political order. Western sanctions imposed on Russia - as well as the Western instigated civil wars in Ukraine and Syria - need to be looked at as desperate measures to undermine Russia's rise as an independent global power. The Western effort, drawing from past experiences against the Soviet Union, is a desperate measure to stop the creation of a global counterweight to the Anglo-American-Zionist alliance.

Russia needs to cut its umbilical cord

Mayer Amschel Rothschild - the wealthiest man in history, the founding father of international finance and the patriarch of the infamous Rothschild dynasty - is best known for saying: "permit me to issue and control the money of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws." Within a span of a single century, the Rothschild dynasty came to control the finances of the Anglo-American empire, helped in the destruction of the Russian Empire through its funding of Bolshevism and funded the creation of the Zionist state of Israel. But the Rothschild legacy would not end there. The financial paradigm of the modern world - also known as the Western banking system - is the evolutionary by-product of what Mayer Amschel Rothschild started some two hundred years ago. When Western powers invade and annex nations around the world, be it militarily, culturally or economically, one of the first things they take control of are its banks. Consequently, virtually all "Central Banks" on earth today (including Armenia's) serve the Anglo-American-Jewish political order in varying degrees. And Russia is no exception. During the Cold War the Soviet Politburo is said to have cooperated with international bankers, which many people claim was actually the reason for its demise. By the 1990s, Russia had been taken over by international bankers. One of President Putin's greatest domestic challenges during the past fifteen years has been against this internal enemy.

The exclusive ability to "issue and control" the money of nations around the world is the Western political order's number one strength and their most powerful weapon-of-mass-destruction. Until this ability of theirs is not taken away, or at least reduced to a significant degree, the Western political order will retain its global hegemony and will act with reckless impunity. With that in mind, I think the following news items are very important developments coming out of Moscow today: In one of his finest hours, President Putin called for more self-reliance for the Russian state and blamed currency speculators in Russia for the Ruble's recent troubles -
Putin threatens crackdown on currency speculators: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0d2b7f14-7b9b-11e4-b6ab-00144feabdc0.html
Russian Leader Accuses Central Bank of Economic Sabotage: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/russian-leader-accuses-central-bank-195000381.htm
Predictably, the sanctions that the Anglo-American-Jewish global cartel has placed against the Russian Federation is having the exact opposite effect of what they were seeking. The sanctions are accelerating the inevitable by forcing Moscow to crackdown on Western assets inside the country. The sanctions have forced Russians to seek total self-reliance. The sanctions have forced Russians to seek even closer relations with emerging economies around the world. The sanctions have hardened Russia's stance on regional maters. The sanctions have helped in fomenting a drastic rise in Russian nationalism as well as spawning hatred of the political West in ways the Kremlin could not ever dream of doing. The sanctions have forced Russians to seek true independence, even in cyberspace. The sanctions have set Moscow on a course to finally cut its umbilical cord (i.e. dependency) with the West. 

Fully cognizant of the power the Western political order yields today I do understand that the Russian Federation may yet suffer considerable economic pain during its transition away from the Western financial paradigm to a homegrown economic/financial system based on the sound principles of nationalism and socialism. But this pain is something Russia must endure for it will prove greatly beneficial in the long term. To ultimately free itself of financial and thus political bondage and servitude - and realize the great potential that awaits it in the 21th century - Moscow must free itself of Western control.

 What Westerners suffering from imperial hubris such as the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal fail to understand is that the sanctions against Russia have started a process that will eventually end up undermining Western power around the world. Despite what Forbes Magazine says, despite what Moody's Corporation says, despite what any Western index shows, the Russian nation is stable and secure. The sanctions will in the long run prove immensely beneficial to Russia's economic, financial and political health. The sanctions will also help in the formation of a multipolar political world. Therefore, take everything you have been hearing from officials, political analysts and economic experts in the Western world with a grain of salt. Despite their sanctions and despite their manipulation of oil prices to punish Moscow, the Russian Bear will not bow to Western pressure. The Russian President is enjoying the kind of popularity at home that is very seldom seen. The Russian military is in the midst of a historic modernization and rearmament program. The Russian state is on a diplomatic offensive from the far east to the far west. I strongly believe that the modern Russian state will prove more resilient than its Soviet predecessor. The Russian nation will weather the current crisis and come out of it stronger than before.

 There was a time when the US Dollar was backed by gold and humanity (including Soviet peoples) looked up to the Western world. Today, the US Dollar is backed by armed interventions around the world and the global masses look at the West with fear and disdain. There was a time when the Western world was the world's sole industrial power. Today, the Western world lives by killing (i.e. creating wars around the world) and by imposing itself as the middleman in global trade. Today, the Western world is nothing but a lavish house-of-cards. One well placed strike will bring down the entire system. Even some of the top financial gurus of the Western world, Jim Rogers and George Soros, are beginning to recognize that the end of the road is near. The imperial hubris of the Western global order will eventually make it collapse under its massive weight. A new, multipolar world is slowly but surely emerging. In the opinion of many, including myself, the future - if there is one, after all this mess is over - will belong to Eurasia. If the twentieth century was the American century, the twenty-first century promises to be a Eurasian century. Baring any unforeseen calamities in Moscow, I firmly believe that Russia will be in the driver's seat - politically, militarily and economically - within the twenty-first century. Many nations around the world are beginning to see this as well.

"Corruption" in the Czech Republic

Western officials have been treating the Czech Republic with white gloves and great sums of money has been poured into it during the past twenty-five years. Soon after its political transformation over two decades ago, the Czech Republic was turned into an epicenter for Western operations in central/eastern Europe - as well as into an open-air whorehouse, but that's another matter. Yet, despite all its geographic and political advantages, the Czech Republic is apparently not doing very well and that favorite Western catchphrase "corruption" seems to be a major problem in the country. The BBC unexpectedly reported on this matter recently - 
Corruption remains major problem in Czech Republic: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-27670980
Prague is within the Western political orbit. The topic of "corruption" would therefore not have been covered by a major Western institution like the BBC. I therefore suspect that something must have gone wrong recently. Well, it apparently did. Upon a little research, it became glaringly obvious as to why the BBC had gone out of its way to report on corruption in one of the Western strongholds in eastern Europe. Apparently, President Zeman of the Czech Republic, like his counterparts in Hungary and Serbia, were not being totally obedient to Uncle Sam -
President Zeman calls for lifting of Russia sanctions at event organized by Putin associate: http://www.czech.cz/en/Nouvelles/President-Zeman-calls-for-lifting-of-Russia-sancti
Therefore, the problem in Prague is not "corruption", the problem in Prague seems to be the weakening of Western control. As I have said, as long as you whore yourself to Western powers you get a free pass to do anything. Examples for this are many: Mexico, Columbia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel, Pakistan, Myanmar, Albania, etc. If you, however, dare try to exercise politics independently of the West or pursue polices that run contrary to Western interests, you get targeted by hordes of Democracy Now(!) extremists - or Islamic fanatics depending on what part of the world you live in. 

And speaking of Islamic fanatics, is it not curious that Washington is also in the business of promoting Islam in Czech Republic? -
US Government Promoting Islam in Czech Republic: http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4262/islam-czech-republic
Nevertheless, since the Czech Republic is still part of the Western world in a political sense, and as long as it stays that way, Prague's problems will not be exploited and used to foment a regime change there as they have done in so many other places. In other words, as long as Prague remains politically expedient to the West, don't expect Washington to foment any kind of sociopolitical unrest in the country despite any of its internal problems. Therefore, the BBC report and the street protests are essentially meant to warn Zeman's government and keep his government in order.

Closer to home: In the eyes of Washingtonians, Armenia's real problem is not "corruption" in the country, it's merely the lack of a Western presence in the country. In other words, had Armenia been one of their many open-air whorehouses around the world, Armenians officials would do no wrong. With Russian boots in the house, however, Armenians officials can do no right.

With regards to "corruption" I have always maintained that generally speaking nations like Armenia and Russia are no better or no worst than any developing nation around the world. Moreover, the main, fundamental difference between the developed West and the developing rest is the simple fact that "corruption" in the West has evolved through generations to become primarily institutionalized (i.e. reserved for the political/financial elite). The Western world (primarily the Anglo-American world) has historically had some of the most corrupt regimes in the world. But centuries of relative peace and stability in the West (i.e. the absence of chaotic regime changes that has plagued much of the rest of the world) has helped it accumulate immense wealth that which has trickled down to the masses and has helped it evolve a semblance of law and order.

With that said, what we need to keep in mind is that the ONLY way to limit/curb corruption in ANY society is through good education, good employment opportunities and, more importantly, through long periods of peace and political stability. To this I'll add that Western style "liberal democracy" is a very good way to keep nations politically unstable, economically enslaved and culturally in decline.

The power of Western psy-ops is so that whether we realize it or not we have all been conditioned to think that "corruption" or the lack of liberal democracy in places such as Russia or Armenia is the main problem. The stupid notion that if only corruption is fought against and the lower masses are given a say in politics everything will be well is misleading and ultimately dangerous. Fighting corruption is like concentrating all of one's effort in treating the symptom of an illness without ever attempting to cure its cause. And, needless to say, giving the masses a real say in politics is suicidal, especially for developing/emerging nations. Distracting developing societies with such utter nonsense has in the bigger picture been the Western world's greatest advantage over vulnerable nations it has targeted in recent decades.

 Hungary looking East

Serbia recently honored President Putin as a national hero during a military parade the kind of which the Serbian nation had not seen in several decade. I must admit however that the royal reception Serbians gave President Putin was somewhat expected. What was not expected was Washington's recent complaints against the government in Hungary. I suspect the reason Washington has for its recent actions against Budapest are more serious than it appears on the surface. I am sure there is more to the story than what's being reported. I say this because American officials would not have suddenly gone to such an overtly aggressive route with an important regional player such as Budapest had Hungarian President Viktor Orban's grave sin had simply been to have close economic/energy dealings with Moscow. Needless to say, a lot of eyebrows have been raised with the recent spat between Washington and Budapest.

Although most European governments are meekly parroting Washington's Russophobic narrative about Ukraine, a significant portion of the European citizenry sees the criminality of the West in Ukraine and elsewhere. Being that President Orban's government is quite popular with Hungarians and that Hungary in particular is a pivotal nation in the region, I suspect we will see more nations in the region following suit in the coming years. Although it's a bit premature to predict anything at this point, there are natural political tendencies that are working against Western interests. This means trouble for these are serious, long-term geostrategic problems for Western officials. In fact, Hungary and Serbia are not the only concerns Western officials have in the European sphere. Georgia and Moldova are also becoming serious concerns.

The tectonic shifts we are currently seeing in the geopolitical landscape of the world today are in my opinion the natural progression of things (i.e. nature's way or if I may, God's way of bringing balance and order to human ecology). 

But, for Western officials, it was not meant to be this way.

Almost twenty-five years after the fall of the Soviet Union in Europe, Russia has grown very powerful once again; parts of war torn Ukraine have been brought back under Russian control. EU/NATO member Hungary, EU/NATO member Bulgaria, EU aspirant Serbia, EU aspirant Moldova and EU aspirant Georgia clearly seem to have set a political course that will taken them back to Moscow. And NATO member Turkey is becoming too dependent on Moscow. These historic shifts away from the West may be the reason why twenty-five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall (the dismantling of which was not supported by the West at the time), a new wall is forming but this time it is being erected by Western powers.

More importantly, twenty-five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, former Soviet republics - perhaps with the notable exceptions of Baltic states and Poland - are increasingly beginning to come to the realization that Westernization/Americanization/Globalization is a new and more powerful form of Bolshevism and that membership or participation in Western structures such as IMF, NATO and the EU are detrimental for the natural development of their nations.

In other words, the sudden disappearance of the Soviet Union almost twenty-five years ago did not meet utopian expectations, to say the least. This is the context within which recent developments regarding Hungary and elsewhere should be viewed.

An extension of the Hapsburg Dynasty of Austria, Hungary started the twentieth century as one of the wealthiest and most powerful empires in the world. By the end of the Second World War, Hungry had entered Moscow's orbit as a communist republic and a member of the Warsaw Pact. Like their Polish and Yugoslavian counterparts, Hungarians lived pretty well under communism. But by the mid-1980s, when the Soviet union seemed susceptible for a collapse, the relentless lure of the Western lifestyle proved too much for anyone to resist. Budapest was amongst the first to break from Moscow. With a lot of wide-eyed anticipation and great expectations, Hungarians, like so many other former Soviet peoples, embraced the Western world. This unconditional embrace of the West proved to be a serious vulnerability for these nations for it allowed Western powers a free hand in the region.

That was then, this is now.

A lot has changed in the world since the Soviet collapse, a period in time that gave the victorious political West unprecedented powers over humanity. A lot has changed since the days when Western powers would act around the world with impunity. A lot has changed in the world since the days when a global superpower like Russia had been turned into a failed state under the threat of breaking apart into several states.

 Hungarians may have finally come to the realization that living under Western powers came at a terrible cost to their political sovereignty, their economy and their national culture. Hungarians may have finally come to the realization that the Western world was nothing like what they had seen in Hollywood blockbusters all their lives. Hungarians may have finally come to the realization that affordable electronic gadgets, blue jeans and rock-n-roll were not the only things that the Western lifestyle had in store for them. Hungarians may have finally come to the realization that sexual decadence, pedophilia, child pornography, poor education, abject poverty, dysfunctional family life, political empowerment of minorities, police brutality, political empowerment of society's fringe elements, elitist political system, wealth gap, multiculturalism, interracialism, metal illness, high rates of suicide, high rates of rape, high rates of crime, proliferation of hazardous pharmaceuticals, junk foods, drug addiction, political corruption, veneration of Jews, encouragement of third world emigration, militant atheism and state sanctioned promotion of homosexuality were even bigger part of the much coveted Western lifestyle.

More importantly, more-and-more people are coming to the realization that "democracy" or "liberalism" were not the "secret" to Western power and wealth but war plunder and exploitation of man. If, relatively speaking, Westerners today are living happy, carefree lives its because their governments have brought slavery, death and destruction to the far-corners of the world for the past few centuries. If Westerns can enjoy affordable high quality goods, it's not because of a wonderful democratic system, it's the result of exploitation of human resources around the world. If Westerners are living happy, carefree lives in recent years it's because for generations their parents, their grandparents and their great grandparents toiled like slaves for the nation's elite before some of the accrued wealth began tricking down to the masses. This is especially so in the Anglo-American heartland of the western world, where the average citizen lived not much unlike a serf until modern times. That the happy-go-lucky lifestyle in the West today is gradually coming to an end is a discussion that is beyond the scope of this commentary.

Ultimately, 2008 proved very pivotal in that two major events occurred during that year. It was 2008 that saw the awakening of the Russian Bear from its two decades long hibernation and it was 2008 that made the West's vulnerability apparent when the economic/financial crisis descended upon the Western world. Events of 2008 conveyed to nations around the world that Russia was no longer going to be a passive power and that the Western world was not invincible after all. In my opinion, these had far reaching geostrategic implications for these two major events that occurred in 2008 have been shaping world events ever since.

With Washington recently growing ever more audacious and aggressive in Europe and pushing front line nations in the region into direct confrontation with Russia, it was only inevitable that there would be some push-back. It is now very apparent that Budapest and Belgrade are the ones pushing back.

Nevertheless, although as an Armenian I despise what Viktor Orban's government did two years ago when they prematurely set free an Azeri scum who had murdered a young Armenian officer in his sleep, in the bigger geopolitical context, I am glad Europe has governments like the one in Budapest that are willing to stand up to Western aggression because in the big picture the "Western lifestyle" and Western powers are threats not only to Russia, China, Iran and Venezuela - but also to Armenia and to the rest of mankind in general.

 Serbia looking East

Two decades ago Yugoslavia fell victim to geostrategic calculations formulated in Washington, Brussels and London. Fifteen years ago, Serbia was mutilated essentially because it was the last pro-Russian bastion in Europe. The Western aggression against Serbia in the Balkans came at a time when Moscow was down on its knees and on the verge of a total collapse. Russia could only watch as a natural ally like Serbia was mercilessly bombed by NATO and one of its historic regions forcefully severed from it and placed essentially under Turco-Islamic rule. Incidentally, the Balkans in the 1990s was also one of the several war zones where Western intelligence agencies worked hand-in-hand with Al-Qaeda terrorists.

Serbia was eventually bestowed the unfortunate honor of being the first victim of a successful Color Revolution. Serbia has since been utterly saturated by Western funded operatives and subversive agencies. The manner with which Serbia was severed and a West-leaning government placed in power in the country has in fact become a blueprint for Western operations elsewhere in the world. In fact, the so-called "Arab spring" followed the same template. What the West perfected in Serbia are being executed in places such as Venezuela, Syria, Libya, Iran, Egypt, Ukraine, Armenia, Russia and more recently in Hong Kong. 

Many of Armenia's political opposition movements such as Pre-Parliament are part of the same mold.

Having had enough of Western style corruption and oppression, two years ago Serbians elected a nationalist president who had publicly promised better relations with Moscow. The great nation of Serbia thus began waking-up from its Eurotic nightmare -

Serbs had enough of Tadic oligarchy that kept them in poverty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IH2nCKRu74&feature=plcp

The victory of a “pro-Russian” candidate in Serbia a surprise to the West: http://sputniknews.com/voiceofrussia//2012_05_21/75489956/

The promise made by President Tomislav Nikolic back in 2012 was finally manifested when the Russian President was the guest of honor at a recent military parade in Belgrade, the first of its kind in thirty years. Serbian officials reaffirmed their commitment to the Russian-sponsored South Stream gas pipeline project which has since been put off. Russian officials reaffirmed their commitment to support Serbia on Kosovo. To cap it off, Serbia conducted military drills with Russia. The signs out of Belgrade are unmistakable. Serbia is on an Eastern path.

President Nikolic's election victory two years ago and President Vladimir Putin's recent appearance at a military parade in Belgrade can be marked as turning points for Serbia for they are major victories for Serbian nationalism and a strategic success for Moscow. In my opinion, it's no longer a matter of if Belgrade will be bringing Kosovo back under its fold but simply a question of when. Before any of this happens, however, Serbians need to thoroughly cleanse Serbia of its Anglo-American-Zionist infestation.

Armenians would do well to recognize that the tragic fate that befell Serbia in 1999 - with its NATO bombing and the loss of its historic province of Kosovo - was a fate that would have befallen Armenia as well had the south Caucasus not be so crucially important for Moscow. Had it not been for Moscow and its close allies in the Armenian government during the past 15 years, Artsakh, and most probably portions of Zangezur, would have been part of Azerbaijan and/or Turkey today and the Armenian nation would have been subservient to Ankara, at least economically. The military wing of Western oil and gas interests - NATO and the regions Turkic/Islamic terrorists - would have made sure of it. I thank God that Armenian officials have been mature enough to recognize the paramount importance of having Russian boots on the ground in Armenia. With that said, I'm very glad to see Serbians coming back to their nationalistic senses.
Bulgaria looking East 

One of the many nations within the "Western" sphere that is tethering on the brink of disaster is Bulgaria. The Christian Orthodox, Slavic nation that has had over two centuries of close ties with Russia is torn between East and West. Just like in much of eastern Europe, the irresistible lure of the Western lifestyle proved to be an illusion. Bulgarians are not happy with their government's Western orientation. Corruption in Bulgaria today is rampant, even western Europeans are participating in it. Crime, unemployment, energy costs are very high. Hundreds-of-thousands of Bulgarian are fleeing their country to the EU's power-centers (i.e. France, Germany and Britain). Similar to Greece, which has been systematically reduced to being a subsidized nation barely making a living on German handouts, EU/NATO member Bulgaria is on the verge of becoming a failed state. The following is a closer look at some of Bulgaria's problems as reported by Western sources -
Interestingly, in stark contrast to Western news reports about Armenia, reports about Europe's most destitute nations are seldom covered in detail by mainstream news agencies or Western NGOs. In other words, they can't complain about Bulgaria's "oligarchs" because all of Bulgaria's biggest "oligarchs" reside in Brussels, London and Washington. They cant even blame Moscow this time. Therefore, there is no Western agenda to foment political unrest or a regime change in places such Bulgaria. As a result, Western propagandists avoid seasoning news stories with political incitement. As messy as Bulgaria is, as far as Western officials are concerned, Bulgaria is slowly developing and progressing... because it is bending-over to Western institutions and not Moscow or anybody else. 

Despite the best face they put on it, the reality of the matter is that Bulgarians are utterly disillusioned by their Western orientation. BBC recently fear mongered about the Bulgarian military's continuing ties with Russia. And despite the fact that their political and financial/economic system is in Western hands, they could not hide the fact that 22% of Bulgarians favor abandoning the EU and joining Russia Eurasian Union. Even if this poll result is proven to be accurate, the cited figure of 22% is very large considering Bulgaria's circumstances. In their haste to expand Western borders to the doorstep of Russia, they incorporated a number of nations like Bulgaria that will prove very problematic for them in the future.

Moldova not allowed to look East

Much of what I described for Hungary, Bulgaria and Serbia applies to Moldova as well. The small, landlocked nation wedged between Ukraine and Romania has also been adrift in a turbulent post-Soviet sea. While the nation's natural tendencies gravitate it towards Russia, a strong, opposite pull from Western institutions and activists in the country is unmistakable. Also let down by the shattered dreams of Western orientation, Moldovans have been gradually seeking reorientation with the East.

Due to Moldova's very strategic location, the Moldovan people's desire to have closer relations with Moscow proved too much for Western powers to bare. Faced with yet another looming geopolitical disaster in Europe, we very recently saw the ugly face of Western-style corruption reveal itself once more. Moldova's pro-Russian vote was blatantly stolen by essentially those who have been preaching "free and fair elections" around the world. While a tactical victory of sorts, this egregious manipulation of the pro-Russian vote in Moldova will prove counterproductive for Western powers in the long term. Needless to say, don't expect CNN or the BBC to spend the next month or two talking about this election violation.

Simply put: Moldovans are not being allowed to look East by the forces of "freedom and democracy".

 As I have been proclaiming for many years now, faced with insurmountable obstacles around the world, the Western political order is slowly revealing an ugly face that has long been hidden behind an appealing mask. The Soviet Union may have been primitive in many ways, but the Western political order is evil and destructive in many ways. It's high time for humanity to wake-up and see the political West for what it truly is.

Being stupid during the Cold War was somehow excusable because there seemed to be something more ominous on the other side of the iron curtain. Being stupid today, in this age of information, especially after what we have seen Western powers do in places such as Venezuela, Argentina, Serbia, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Syria and Ukraine is totally inexcusable!

Georgia looking North?

For years there has been talk in Moscow about the revitalization of a major Soviet era railway project in the Caucasus. The main purpose of this Moscow-sponsored initiative was to tie south Caucasus nations to Russia via a broad trade network that would also include motorways and perhaps extend to Iran as well. These projects, strategic in scope, have gone beyond talk in recent years. In fact, a lot of money has already been spent on them by interested parties and much more is being promised. In fact, some work on the project had already begun in Abkhazia and Armenia. Looking at the picture, however, one could immediately see a major problem: Georgia is essentially the missing link. Georgia is absent in a rail and road network that is envisioned to stretch from Russia to Iran traversing Abkhazia, Georgia and Armenia. Relations between Moscow and Tbilisi have actually been down right hostile during much of the past ten years. This raises an obvious question: Why would Moscow embark on such a grandiose project if Georgia would not be part of the equation?

It is obvious that such a project could only be realized after normalization of relations between Tbilisi and Moscow, and it is equally obvious that Moscow would not have spent all this effort on the project in question had it's future been unpredictable. In my opinion, it can therefore be safely speculated that Moscow was quietly working on and expecting a reversal of course in Tbilisi. The following is a chronological look at events-
Saakashvili Confronts Russians in Disputed Region in Georgia (October, 2007): http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2009/02/words-wont-do-it-any-justice.html
Saakashvili Says Whoever Opposes Azerbaijan is Georgia’s Enemy (September, 2011): http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2011/09/saakashvili-says-whoever-opposes.html
Clashes at Anti-Government Protest in Georgia (May, 2011): http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2011/05/although-bit-late-georgians-are.html
What Could the "Georgian Dream" Mean For the South Caucasus? (October, 2012): http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-could-georgian-dream-mean-for.ht
Russians actually started working on portions of the railroad just before the Russo-Georgian war. When Russian troops crushed the Georgian military and liberated Abkhazia and South Ossetia in a matter of two or three days in August, 2008, it became very apparent that after nearly a twenty year hibernation the Russian Bear had finally set its sights back onto the troublesome south Caucasus. By 2009, it became obvious that Moscow had serious plans for the Western-backed dictator in Tbilisi. By 2011, is become obvious that Saakashvili's regime was not doing well. By 2012, the wealthiest man in Georgia, a man who had made his money in Russia and one who had good relations with Moscow was in power. With Ivanishvili's arrival, Saakashvili was exiled to Brooklyn. With Saakashvili's departure, Tbilisi began a tedious/arduous process of mending its ties with Moscow and rooting out Western operatives inside the Georgian government. The most recent example of this was the dismissal of Georgia's West-leaning Defense Minister, Irakli Alasania. With Moscow becoming a major factor in Tbilisi once more, Western propagandists are fear-mongering. Recent news reports indicate, however, that the Moscow sponsored railroad project is moving fast forward now that the Eurasian Union has become a viable factor in the region.

These are all very positive signs that Georgia's gradual departure from its disastrous Western-orientation is well on course. Tbilisi is gradually warming to the idea of becoming an integral part of a Russian-led trade network in one way or another. It was only a matter of time before the government in Georgia would be brought to its good senses… because there was a real chance that Tbilisi would also lose its Armenian populated region of Javakhq. From Tbilisi's perspective, seeking better relations with the Russian Bear was therefore simply a matter of political sanity and an inevitability. Facing further political disasters, Georgian officials accepted the realities of south Caucasian realpolitik -
Georgia Ready to Provide Armenia Free Route to EEU: http://asbarez.com/129320/georgia-ready-to-provide-armenia-free-route-to-eeu/

Yakunin: Russian Railways considers launching rail link to Armenia: http://news.am/eng/news/235403.html
Putin suggests building railway linking Moscow to Yerevan through Sukhumi and Tbilisi: http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/11/25/putin-suggests-building-railway-linking-moscow-to-yerevan-through-sukhumi-and-tbilisi/
Russia gets greater control over Black Sea region: http://news.yahoo.com/deal-gives-russia-greater-control-over-abkhazia-140627302.html
For nearly ten years Georgians foolishly placed trust in Westerners, Jews and Turks and turned against their northern and southern neighbors. While they could have gotten away with their anti-Armenian policies, their anti-Russian policies proved to be their undoing. Similar to the plight that befell Serbians and Ukrainians, the Georgian pursuit of Western fairytales destroyed their nation (Abkhazia and South Ossetia are forever gone, Javakhq and Ajaria have the potential of seceding). Tbilisi needed to stop its political mistakes before it ruined Georgia. 

Georgia will not enter NATO or the EU. It had no real chance to begin with. Politically speaking, Baku continues to be a hostage to Moscow as Turkey now is increasingly becoming an economic one.

At the end of the day, the status quo in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno Karabakh will remain as is. Tbilisi and Baku will dance to the music coming out of the halls of the Kremlin. Sooner or later, in one way or another, there will be a rail link between Armenia and Russia. Sooner than later, Tbilisi and Baku will be either absorbed fully into the Eurasian Union or simply made to cooperate with it. According to recent reports, Georgia seems to be half way there already. In a historical context, Georgians and Azeris lose, Armenians and Russians win.

I never thought I would say this, but Armenians have proven to be much smarter that Georgians and Azeris put together. But in rejoicing let's also keep in our minds that we continue to have our share of suicidal idiots. The main difference between our idiots and their idiots is that their idiots are in government whereas our idiots are in the political opposition. Many of Armenia's Washington financed political activists like Paruyr Hayrikian and Raffi Hovanissian wanted Yerevan to pursue a suicidal Georgian route. Moreover, generally speaking, Armenians were in awe of everything about Saakashvili's Georgia. Awash in tens-of-billions of dollars in loans from Western, Turkish, Jewish and Arabian sources, Georgia was dazzling in lights for a while and Armenia's self-destructive peasantry was astonished. Despite the glitter and the perception of progress in Tbilisi, however, those who understood history and the natural tendencies of regional geopolitics predicated that the Georgian fantasy would sooner or later come to an abrupt end. It came much sooner than thought.

Placing Georgia within the Russian fold thereby severing it from the clutches of Western oil corporations, Turks, Azeris and Israelis will greatly benefit Armenia and regional peace. Landlocked and blockaded by two predatory neighbors, Armenia's most promising border connection proved to be its weakest geographical link for the past twenty-five years. The free flow of regional trade is one of the ways in which Pax Russica in the south Caucasus will prove extremely beneficial for Armenia. We are certainly heading in that direction. Washington and its lemmings inside Armenian society will certainly try to sabotage it. Nevertheless, all sides recognize that better Russian-Georgian relations is key to Armenia's economic and thus political health. If Armenia is not to have common borders with Russia, it must have Georgia within the Russian orbit. Tbilisi is headed in that direction. Pax Russica in the south Caucasus is one step closer.

Turkey looking North?

Although mainstream news media outlets in the US are trying their best to characterize Moscow's abandonment of the strategic South Stream pipeline project and the recent deal it reached with Ankara as a "diplomatic defeat" for President Putin, the reality of the matter is that Moscow's move was a very serious setback for Western powers. In fact, it was a brilliant move by the Kremlin in my opinion. The South Stream was meant to provide south eastern Europe with Russian natural gas. Regional nations - Serbia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Austria, Italy, Greece - were very enthusiastic about the project... but not Brussels, London or Washington. By pulling back (perhaps ostensibly) from the South Stream project and reaching a deal with Ankara instead, Moscow is punishing the EU. It is also luring Ankara further way from Western powers and creating a real potential of a clash between European nations affected by the matter and Western powers. Bulgaria, perhaps predictably, has been one of the first ones to raise its voice of concern. More nations affected by this development will surely follow.

And there are yet other serious geopolitical ramifications to closer economic ties between Russia and Turkey.

The Russian-Turkish deal is a serious insult to Baku and Kiev for it signals less Turkish support for both nations. More importantly, Western powers are in danger of losing more leverage over Ankara. Some of the readers may recall that back in the autumn of 2008 NATO came close to losing Turkey. Fearing at the time Moscow would send its tanks all the way down to the Georgian-Turkish border, a panic-stricken Ankara placed its bet with Mother Russia and began signalling that it was ready to abandon NATO and seek closer ties with Moscow. It was at this time when Ankara put aside its pan-Turkic pride, sent President Abdullah Gül on an official visit to Yerevan and announced its intention to form a "Caucasus Union", envisioned to include Russia, Turkey Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia -
Turkey in tight spot between Russia and NATO (September, 2008): http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2009/06/turkey-historic-presidential-day-trip.html
Turkey lays out plans for Caucasian alliance as Georgian FM in Istanbul (September, 2008): http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2009/06/despite-objections-from-baku-and.html
This fit perfectly within Moscow's grand geostrategic agenda in the region. Moscow had been trying to lure Ankara away from NATO as a part of Russia's historically successful divide and conquer approach to regional politics for some time. And to put this all in an Armenian context, I'd like to remind the reader once more that despite Moscow's very lucrative trade deals with Ankara during the past two decades, Moscow has not stopped recognizing the Armenian Genocide, Russian officials have not stopped from appearing at the Armenian Genocide memorial in Yerevan - nor has it stopped the Russian military from paying less attention to the security of the Armenian-Turkish border. Unlike in the Western world, where virtually everything has its price, Moscow approach to regional politics is based on its national security needs, and Armenia is an integral part of Russia's national security. Moreover, the further Ankara drifts away from Western powers, higher the chances that it will suffer serious repercussions. After all, Western powers and Jews still maintain quite a bit of influence in Turkey, especially amongst its secular population, especially within its industrial sector. Ultimately, Moscow may or may not succeed in luring Ankara out of NATO. I personally do not think it will happen because taking Turkey out of NATO without destroying it in the process cannot be done. Regardless of what may or may not happen with Ankara's NATO membership, what is important, from an Armenian perspective, is Turkey's increasing reliance on Russian trade and energy. After all, Russia is the dominant force in the Black Sea region and its clout is continuing to grow. Russian-Turkish trade is primarily one way - Russian energy to Turkey's energy starved economy. In other words, Turkey needs Russia more than Russia needs Turkey. Better relations with Moscow will in fact force Ankara to abandon its Pan-Turkic and/or Neo-Ottoman wet-dreams in the Caucasus. With better relations between Moscow and Ankara, the Armenian-Turkish border may just open after all. After all, the so-called "protocols" were at least in part a Russian agenda -
Looking at Armenian-Turkish Relations - Without the Paranoia, Obsessions or the Hysteria: http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2010/08/looking-at-armenian-turkish-relations.html
Moreover, the recent agreement between Moscow and Ankara, in conjunction with the heightened tensions between Moscow and the West, may also result in Western powers placing more emphasis on Baku and the Western-funded Nabucco pipeline which is Europe's only source of Central Asian energy that does not pass through Russia. This will make Baku's already difficult geopolitical situation suddenly more complex and Sultan Aliyev will automatically become even more vulnerable in the eyes of Western powers, Moscow, Tehran and Yerevan - and less important in the eyes of Ankara. Such signs are already appearing. I have a gut feeling that recent development in the region, as well as falling oil prices, will cause very serious problems for the dictatorship in Baku.

At the end of the day, despite the West's wishes, Russia will not be brought down to its knees be it financially, economically or militarily. At the end of the day, Europe still needs massive supplies of natural gas. The Russian Federation is still the world's number one natural gas provider. Don't believe the bullshit coming out of Fox News, liquified natural gas or shale gas from the US is currently not nor will it ever be a viable and/or practical alternative to Russian energy for Europe. And the construction of new pipelines from the Middle East to Europe is still very, very far away... if at all possible -
Thanks to Western aggression and machinations, the entire Middle East has been turned into one big bloody battlefield and there seems no end in sight for the cycle of ethnic and religious violence there. Today's carnage will bare bad fruit for generations to come. Europe can forget about replacing Russian energy with Middle Eastern energy for the foreseeable future. If Moscow follows through and actually abandons the South Stream project and reroutes its pipelines to Turkey, the EU will have screwed itself. The EU will have in fact been screwed by Western miscalculations and political blunders. Europeans will still have to purchase Russian natural gas - but now from Turks and at a higher price. With that said, I personally think the South Stream project may still be revived. Nevertheless, the more troubles Ankara has with the Western powers, the better it will be for Russians and Armenians. The Turkish state will sooner-or-later fall apart and Armenians will reclaim what belong to Armenia. For now, however, we need to concentrate on strengthening the Armenian statehood we have today. And one of the ways with which the Armenian statehood will be strengthened is through the unconditional opening of the Armenian-Turkish border, within the context of the Russian-led Eurasian Union.

We are living in historic times

 Merely twenty five years after the collapse of the Soviet Union we are living through historic change once more. This time around, however, the impending change may eventually prove more fundamental in nature. Humanity may finally succeed in breaking from the post-Napoleonic era's Anglo-American-Jewish paradigm and enter into a multipolar one. As the political epicenter of the world shifts eastward, so with prosperity. Only with the Western political order out of the way will projects that hold great potential for humanity will become realized. Needless to say, it will not be a pretty journey. Now that the Western political order has effectively become the Sick Man of the world, we will see increasing bloodshed. As another Sick Man in history has shown, terminally ill political systems based on militarism, exploitation, arrogance and illusion do not quietly fade into history. We have a problem in the world today because Western power and influence is far reaching. 

Cecil Rhodes, the ardent British imperialist, mining magnate and one who masterminded the creation of the Anglo-American empire, once looked up to the heavens and said -

"I would annex the planets if I could"

While the inheritors of his grandiose imperial vision have not been able to annex the planets, they have managed to annex, in one way or another, much of the world we live in today. For the past two hundred years humanity has been living in an Anglo-American-Jewish era. The aforementioned trinity permeates virtually every single aspect of life on planet earth today. If they had their way they would even "privatize" and tax the air we breath as well. Well, come to think of it, the Western crusade against "climate change" is in fact closely related to their imperial desire to control the air we breath through their laws and their taxes.

Their ability to influence course of events in faraway lands are unprecedented in human history. They have the powerful tools - political, military, psychological, cultural, financial and organizational - to manipulate and exploit societies across the world. They have powerful news media outlets to disseminated Western propaganda. They have a massive array of well-funded NGOs championing all kinds of causes that serve all kinds of Western interests. They have the financial means to bribe officials and enslave nations. They control the commodities trade. They control global trade routes. They control the creation and dissemination of money around the world. They have an all-powerful music and film industry to craft human behavior. They have provocateurs and hitmen ready to incite unrest whenever and wherever needed. They have professional agents working behind-the-scenes under the guise of "journalists", "aid workers", "humanitarian activists" and "environmentalists". They have the highly refined tools to mesmerize, stupefy and create an alternative reality for the global sheeple. Consequently, they have a great multitude of brainwashed activists around the world to organize "opposition" groups and take to the streets every time their spiritual leaders and financiers in the West call on them -
George Soros and his open society: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncdisau7rBs
NGO documents plan Ukraine war: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEcZFgSnVP0
Does the US engineering revolutions?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpXbA6yZY-8
US has history of supporting anti-govt upheavals: http://rt.com/news/us-sponsored-coups-ukraine-517/
Documents Leaked by WikiLeaks Show an Organization Training Opposition Around the World: http://revolution-news.com/documents-leaked-wikileaks-show-organization-trains-opposition-around-world/
How to Start a Revolution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO1t4Fif2c0
Revolution Engineering: US know-how and 'colourful' technology: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0xlOeZ8Dr8&feature=plcp
South of the Border: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vBlV5TUI64
NGOs, an extension of US foreign policy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-raqX4KKY1Q
Washington on the War Path: Civil Society as Battering-Ram: http://rt.com/politics/washington-war-russia-putin-023/
USAID Exposed in Cuba - What it Tells Us About US Subversion Worldwide: http://www.globalresearch.ca/usaid-exposed-in-cuba-what-it-tells-us-about-us-subversion-worldwide/5419679
US NGO uncovered in Ukraine protest: http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/2014/01/07/us-ngo-uncovered-in-ukraine-protests/#sthash.mJPpqq63.dpuf
Russia, Iran, Venezuela, China and Armenia have been some of their most persistent targets.

Speaking of Armenia: With official entry into the Russian-led Eurasian Union just a few weeks away now, Uncle Sam's operatives in Armenia are getting increasingly desperate - as was predicted. Last week, "Preparliament" members got their automobiles set on fire (most probably done by them to attract media coverage and gain public sympathy). Now, the same are claiming that they will attempt a regime change in Armenia - by the use of arms if need be! And when are these Western-financed terrorists planning to carry out their violent revolution? Next April 24, on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of all times! Alarmingly, they are also implying that the murder of Armenian security officials and politicians is justified now because the two serve foreign interests (i.e. Russian interests) -
Սթափվե´ք, այլապես կգա այն օրը, երբ ժողովուրդը կստիպի ձեզ սթափվել: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNEz5W9_lKo
As you can see, Armenia's self-destructive peasantry are once again ready and very willing to burn down their village to save it from imaginary monsters. Very surreal indeed. Even more surreal is the lack of outrage amongst Armenians at statements made by Preparliament representatives. I say, perhaps the killing of Preparliament members is now justified as well, specially since their actions in Armenia directly serve the interests of Western powers and Turks. Although they speak of "nationalism", "human rights" and "civil society", these characters are wolves in sheep's clothing. These characters serve foreign masters and are in fact the enemies within. It is their kind that has ruined Armenian statehood time-and-again. It is their kind that has turned Armenia into a desolate battlefield time-and-again. It is their kind that has kept Armenia torn between great powers. It is their kind that murdered and beheaded the great Mkhitar Sparapet and presented his severed head to the Turkish Pasha as a peace offering.

Representatives of Preparliament - along with Paruyr Hayriikyian's National Self-Determination Union, David Grigorian's Policy Forum Armenia, Raffi Hovanissian's Heritgate Party and Vartan Oskanian's Civilitas - represent the single greatest threat to Armenian statehood for they are cancerous cells within the Armenian body.

I'm now actually looking forward to the day when these vermin try to do what they are promising for that will most probably be their final end. With that said, it should also be said that these people are as impotent as they are pathetic. They bring a Shakespearian quote to mind: Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Their time has in fact passed. Their best chance for a Color Revolution was in early 2008. Back then, a few of them were shot down, the rest fled for their lives. Today, these vermin would be lucky to get several thousand prostitutes, homosexuals, senile seniors, pedophiles, clueless peasants, ignorant adolescent, lunatics and professional Western mercenaries out to the streets. 

Like I said, their time has long passed. Armenia is moving on.

These types of "democracy" movements we are seeing spring-up around the world today appeal to the lowest, most primitive instincts of mankind. Let it surprise no one therefore that advocates of such movements in developing or underdeveloped nations tend to be those on the fringes of normal society. In their personal quest to bring about change (change within which they would feel better for themselves), often times homosexuals, open or otherwise, become leading activists for such movements. We see this process in Armenia as well. Nevertheless, similar to Bolshevism one hundred years ago and Christianity before that, Western-led democracy movements today appeal to the disgruntled masses of the world with false promises of a better life. Similar to what Bolshevism was one hundred years ago, democracy movements today are weaponized and exported to targeted nation - nations of the world that are not subjugated by Western financial institutions or nations that are not under the Western boot.

 On the eve of the one hundredth anniversary of the First World War, Russian lands are once again under attack by corrosive ideological movements formulated in and promoted from Western lands. "Westernization" and "Globalization" are new and more potent forms of Bolshevism that should be fought against by all of humanity. In a larger context, this is not only Russia's fight - this is humanity's fight. This is indeed a fight between good and evil. I pray for peace - but I hope Kremlin officials are getting their big guns ready just in case, because we simply cannot afford a replay of 1917.

In closing, I would like to remind the reader that we are living in a very interesting period in human history and very turbulent times are ahead. If Western powers are unable to subdue Moscow through measures they have currently adopted, they may resort to more drastic measures out of desperation. There is a real risk that if Moscow is not made to comply with Western dictates through a renewed cold war (i.e. political, financial and/or economic measures) they may transform their effort into a hot war. 

Why do I think this is a very real risk? Simply because Western powers are too wealthy, too well-fed and too blinded by their perceived strength and arrogance to allow upstarts like Russia to weaken their global hegemony. They realize that they are in a serious predicament: If they cannot secure a position at the very top of the global food-chain, they may have to sink all the way to the bottom. In their neo-imperial pursuit of total global dominance - Russia is the only political entity on earth standing in their way. If threatened, a gluttonous monster who has been unchallenged in the world can be very dangerous animal indeed.

 With that said, I predict that the monster in question will be either tamed or killed.

 The only thing today that is saving mankind from total subjugation by the Anglo-American-Zionist global order is nuclear deterrence: Moscow's willingness to use its nuclear arsenal if threatened. I personally believe that the increasing threat of a nuclear catastrophe will force Western officials to calibrate their actions against Russia. Russia will therefore persevere. Washington will continue losing its outposts throughout Eurasia in the coming decades. Western power and influence will diminish. Western-funded usurpers around the world posing as "democracy" movements will gradually lose their luster. A multipolar world will emerge from the current turmoil. Although Western control around the world is gradually diminishing, imperial officials in Washington still think they should own the world. Therefore, the assault against nation-states that do not comply with Western dictates will continue. After all, as all trigger-happy American policemen, Uncle Sam's self-appointed role as the World's Policeman has proven to be a very bloody affair indeed. Its demotion from that role may be an even much bloodier affair still, but it has to be done for the greater good. It will be done.

 Arevordi
November/December, 2014

***

Should America Continue Being the World’s Policeman?


Bush did too much and Obama too little—but a ‘broken-windows’ model of U.S. foreign policy can be just right

When it comes to U.S. foreign policy, Americans must sometimes feel like Goldilocks in the three bears’ house. The porridge that was President George W. Bush’s “freedom agenda”—promising democracy for everyone from Karachi to Casablanca—was too hot. The mush that has been President Barack Obama ’s foreign policy—heavy on rhetoric about resets, pivots and engagement but weak in execution and deeply ambivalent about the uses of U.S. power—is too cold.

 What we need instead, as the fairy tale has it, is a foreign policy that is just right—neither too ambitious nor too quiescent, forceful when necessary but mindful that we must not exhaust ourselves in utopian quests to heal crippled societies.

The U.S. finds itself today in a post-Cold War global order under immense strain, even in partial collapse. Four Arab states have unraveled since 2011. The European Union stumbles from recession to recession, with each downturn calling into question the future of the common currency and even the union itself. In Asia, China has proved to be, by turns, assertive, reckless and insecure. Russia seeks to dominate its neighbors through local proxies, dirty tricks and even outright conquest. North Korea’s nuclear arsenal and Iran’s effort to develop one tempt their neighbors to start nuclear programs of their own. And even as the core of al Qaeda fades in importance, its jihadist offshoots, including Islamic State, are metastasizing elsewhere.

As for the U.S., the sour experience of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has generated a deep—and bipartisan—reluctance to interfere in foreign conflicts, on the view that our interventions will exact a high price in blood and treasure for uncertain strategic gains. One result is that aggressive regimes seem to think that they can pursue their territorial or strategic ambitions without much fear of a decisive U.S. response. Another is that many of our traditional allies, from Israel to Saudi Arabia to Japan, are quietly beginning to explore other options as the old guarantees of the postwar Pax Americana no longer seem as secure as they once were.

How should an American president navigate through this world of ambitious rogues and nervous freelancers? How can the U.S. enforce some basic global norms, deter enemies and reassure friends without losing sight of our global priorities and national interests? How do we conduct a foreign policy that keeps our nightmares at bay, even if we can’t always make our dreams come true?

When it comes to restoring order in places widely assumed to be beyond the reach of redemption, there is a proven model for us to consult. But it has nothing to do with foreign policy; it has to do with policing our toughest inner cities. And it has brought spectacular—and almost wholly unexpected—results.

 The year 1991 was a year of foreign policy triumphs for the U.S., from victory in the Gulf War to the collapse of the Soviet Union. But it was the annus horribilis for American crime, with nearly 1.1 million aggravated assaults, 106,590 forcible rapes and 24,700 murders. In every category, crime was up from the year—and the decade—before. As late as 1995, some criminologists were predicting that a new wave of “super-predators” would descend on American neighborhoods. “If current trends continue, the number of arrests of juveniles for violent crimes will double by the year 2010,” reported the New York Times, citing a Justice Department report.
 
“Current trends” did not continue.

In 1990, New York City registered a homicide rate of 30.7 murders for every 100,000 people. By 2012, it had fallen to a rate of 5. A similar, if slightly less dramatic, story unfolded in every other major U.S. city. The social deliverance happened despite the fact that many of the factors often cited to explain crime—bad schools, broken homes, poverty, the prevalence of guns, unemployment—remained largely the same from one decade to the next.

What happened? The crack epidemic crested in the early 1990s. The police began developing new techniques to track and control patterns of criminal activity. Between 1992 and 2008, the number of law enforcement personnel rose by 141,000, a 25% increase, and from 1990 to 2000, the adult incarceration rate nearly doubled. More cops on the streets; more bad guys behind bars. It was bound to have an effect.
 
But something else was at work. In 1982, George Kelling, a criminologist at Rutgers, and James Q. Wilson, a political scientist at Harvard, wrote an essay for the Atlantic Monthly titled “Broken Windows.”
 
Their core insight turned on a social-science experiment conducted in 1969 by Philip Zimbardo, a psychologist at Stanford. Dr. Zimbardo parked a car on a street in the Bronx, with the hood up and without license plates. Within 10 minutes, vandals begin to pick the car clean of its valuables: battery, radiator, tires. By the next day, people began destroying the car, ripping up pieces of upholstery and smashing windows.

Dr. Zimbardo then conducted the same experiment in tony Palo Alto, Calif., near the Stanford campus. This time, the car—also with the hood up and the license plates removed—sat untouched for several days. So Dr. Zimbardo smashed a window with a sledgehammer. “Soon, passersby were joining in,” wrote Drs. Kelling and Wilson. “Within a few hours, the car had been turned upside down and utterly destroyed.” What to conclude?

“Disorder and crime are usually inextricably linked, in a kind of developmental sequence,” Drs. Kelling and Wilson argued. It had long been known that if one broken window wasn’t replaced, it wouldn’t be long before all the other windows were broken too. Why? Because, they wrote, “one unrepaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing.”

The idea that the mere appearance of disorder encourages a deeper form of disorder cuts against the conventional wisdom that crime is a function of “root causes.” Yet municipalities that adopted policing techniques based on the broken-windows theory—techniques that emphasized policing by foot patrols and the strict enforcement of laws against petty crimes and “social incivilities”—tended to register sharp drops in crime and improvements in the overall quality of life.

We are disposed to think that, over time, order inevitably dissolves into disorder. But the drop in crime rates reminds us that we can go the other way—and impose order on disorder. Could it be that there’s a “broken windows” cure not just for America’s mean streets but for our increasingly disorderly world?

President Obama often talks about rules. After Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad used sarin gas to murder more than 1,000 people near Damascus in August 2013, Mr. Obama warned that “if we fail to act, the Assad regime will see no reason to stop using chemical weapons.” After Russia seized Crimea in 2014, he denounced the Kremlin for “challenging truths that only a few weeks ago seemed self-evident, that in the 21st century, the borders of Europe cannot be redrawn with force.”

The language is elegant; the words are true. Yet the warnings rarely amount to much. The U.S. succeeded in getting Mr. Assad to give up much of his chemical arsenal, but the Syrian dictator goes on slaughtering his people, sometimes using chlorine gas instead of sarin. The president’s immediate response to the seizure of Crimea was to sanction a handful of Russians, send a few fighter jets to Poland and Lithuania, and refuse Ukrainian requests for military support.

This is how we arrive at a broken-windows world: Rules are invoked but not enforced. Principles are idealized but not defended. The moment the world begins to notice that rules won’t be enforced, the rules will begin to be flouted. One window breaks, then all the others.

The most urgent goal of U.S. foreign policy over the next decade should be to arrest the continued slide into a broken-windows world of international disorder. The broken-windows theory emphasizes the need to put cops on the street—creating a sense of presence, enforcing community norms, serving the interests of responsible local stakeholders. It stresses the need to deter crime, not react to it, to keep neighborhoods from becoming places that entice criminal behavior.

A broken-windows approach to foreign policy would require the U.S. to increase military spending to upward of 5% of GDP. That is well above the 3.5% of GDP devoted to defense in 2014, though still under its 45-year average of 5.5%. The larger budget would allow the Navy to build a fleet that met its long-stated need for 313 ships (it is now below 290, half its Reagan-era size). It would enable the Air Force to replace an aircraft fleet whose planes are 26 years old on average, the oldest in its history. It would keep the U.S. Army from returning—as it now plans to do, over the warnings of officers like Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno —to its pre-World War II size.

The key to building a military ready to enforce a broken-windows policy is to focus on numbers, not on prohibitively expensive wonder-weapons into which we pour billions of research dollars—only to discover later that we can afford just a small number of them.

Broken-windows foreign policy would sharply punish violations of geopolitical norms, such as the use of chemical weapons, by swiftly and precisely targeting the perpetrators of the attacks (assuming those perpetrators can be found). But the emphasis would be on short, mission-specific, punitive police actions, not on open-ended occupations with the goal of redeeming broken societies.

The central tragedy of the Iraq war is that it took nine months, at a cost of some 480 American lives, to remove Saddam Hussein from power and capture him in his spider hole—which ought to have been the central goal of the war. Yet we spent eight years, and lost an additional 4,000 Americans, in an attempt to turn Iraq into a model of Arab democracy—a “root cause” exercise if ever there was one. There’s a big difference between making an example of a regime like Saddam’s Iraq and trying to turn Iraq into an exemplary state.

A broken-windows foreign policy would be global in its approach: no more “pivots” from this region to that, as if we can predict where the crises of the future are likely to arise. (Did anyone see Russia’s invasion of Ukraine coming?) But it would also know how to discriminate between core interests and allies and peripheral ones.

As Henry Nau of the George Washington University notes in a perceptive recent essay in the American Interest, we should “focus on freedom where it counts the most, namely on the borders of existing free societies.” Those are the borders that divide the free countries of Asia from China and North Korea; the free countries of central Europe from Russia; and allies such as Israel and Jordan from many of their neighbors.

A broken-windows foreign policy wouldn’t try to run every bad guy out of town. Nor would it demand that the U.S. put out every geopolitical fire. American statesmen will have to figure out which of those fires risks burning down the entire neighborhood, as the war in Syria threatens to do, and which will probably burn themselves out, as is likely the case in South Sudan.

Then again, foreign crises rarely present a binary choice between doing nothing and conducting a full-scale military intervention. A cruise-missile strike against a single radio tower in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide could have helped to prevent Hutus from broadcasting instructions for murdering Tutsis, potentially saving thousands of innocent lives at minimal cost to the U.S. Bomb strikes by NATO to lift the siege of Sarajevo helped to turn the tide of the war in the former Yugoslavia against Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic, also at no serious cost to the U.S. Perhaps it is time for a strategy that enshrines the principle that preventing tragedy should enjoy greater moral legitimacy than reacting to it.

In his famous 1993 essay, “Defining Deviancy Down,” the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan observed how Americans had become inured to ever-higher rates of violent crime by treating as “normal” criminal activity that would have scandalized past generations of Americans. “We are getting used to a lot of behavior that is not good for us,” the senator from New York wrote. Twenty years later, the opposite has happened. We have defined deviancy up. But having done so, we have tended to forget how much better things are now than they were before.

Americans have lived in a relatively orderly world for so long that we have become somewhat complacent about maintaining it. Perhaps that explains why, in recent years, we have adopted a foreign policy that neglects to do the things that have underpinned that orderly world: commitments to global security, military forces adequate to those commitments, a willingness to intervene in regional crises to secure allies and to confront or deter aggressive regimes.

In recent months, however, and especially since the rise of Islamic State and the beheading of American journalists Steven Sotloff and James Foley, Americans have begun to rediscover certain truths about Pax Americana: If our red lines are exposed as mere bluffs, more of them will be crossed. If our commitments to our allies aren’t serious, those allies might ignore or abandon us. If our threats are empty, our enemies will be emboldened, and we will have more of them.

In other words, if the world’s leading liberal-democratic nation doesn’t assume its role as world policeman, the world’s rogues will try to fill the breach, often in league with one another. It could be a world very much like the 1930s, a decade in which economic turmoil, war weariness, Western self-doubt, American self-involvement and the rise of ambitious dictatorships combined to produce catastrophe. When President Franklin Roosevelt asked Winston Churchill what World War II should be called, the British prime minister replied, “the unnecessary war”—because, Churchill said, “never was a war more easy to stop than that which has just wrecked what was left of the world from the previous struggle.” That is an error we should not repeat.

To say that the U.S. needs to be the world’s policeman isn’t to say that we need to be its preacher, spreading the gospel of the American way. Preachers are in the business of changing hearts and saving souls. Cops merely walk the beat, reassuring the good, deterring the tempted, punishing the wicked. Not everyone grows up wanting to be a cop. But who wants to live in a neighborhood, or a world, where there is no cop? Would you? Should an American president?

Source: http://online.wsj.com/articles/yes-america-should-be-the-worlds-policeman-1415984889

America in Retreat: The New Isolationism and the Coming Global Disorder
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At a recent event in New York City, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and Wall Street Journal foreign affairs columnist and deputy editorial page editor Bret Stephens was introduced to an audience of hundreds. As he introduced Stephens, the MC enthusiastically shared that the highlight of his week occurred on Tuesday mornings when he opened the Journal’s op-ed pages to read Stephens’ latest column and insights. Similarly, it was with great anticipation that I opened the pages of Stephens’ new book, America in Retreat: The New Isolationism and the Coming Global Disorder. And as I expected, he did not disappoint. Stephens is an historian as well as a prolific writer and deep thinker, the combination of which has led to a thoughtful, well-researched and factually-supported manuscript. His book is a direct result of years of failed U.S. foreign policy:
Since Barack Obama took office in 2009, the political order of the Arab world has nearly unraveled. The economic order of the European world is under strain. The countries of the Pacific Rim are threatened by a China that is by turns assertive, reckless, and insecure. Despite its fundamental weaknesses, Russia seeks to dominate its “near-abroad” through a combination of local proxies, dirty tricks, and outright conquest. Another international order – the nuclear one – is being fundamentally challenged by the acquisition of nuclear capabilities by two uniquely dangerous states, Iran and North Korea, which in turn invites their nearest neighbors to consider their own nuclear options. Al Qaeda may be diminished in some corners of the Middle East, but it is metastasizing in others. The United States is more reluctant than it has been for decades to intervene abroad, judging that there is better security in inaction than action. Traditional allies of the United States, uncertain of its purposes, are beginning to explore their options in what they suspect is becoming a post-Pax Americana world, encouraging freelancing instincts which Washington has a diminishing ability to restrain.
How did America, the leader of the free world for a variety of reasons including its military strength, powerful international alliances, and unrivaled visionary leadership, come to a place at which scholars, journalists, enemies, and friends debate whether it is in decline or temporary retreat? This is a distinction with a difference that Stephens addresses early in his book as he optimistically concludes that America is not in decline -- we still have a choice. In making the case that the dismal state of affairs can be reversed, he also develops a powerful argument for the next president to be a neocon who recognizes the imperative role of America as the world’s policeman.

In examining the “Retreat Doctrine” of “rebalance, resize, and retreat,” Stephens notes that Obama’s foreign policy approach is not simply a retreat in military might. It is also “a diplomatic approach, a strategic posture, perhaps even a national ideal.” He walks the reader through Obama’s “Light Footprint” approach to foreign policy that rests upon the belief that “the containment most needed in the twenty-first century is not of authoritarian adversaries such as China, Russia, or Iran” but of “the United States itself.”

Stephens further makes the point that while Obama, when speaking about foreign policy, tends to do so in moral terms, “so much so that it sounds as if he’s running not a superpower but a social movement,” what the president is actually doing is retreating “from ordinary moral judgment.” The problem with Obama’s Retreat Doctrine in this regard is that he does not follow through on moral decisions from ignoring human rights violations in Egypt, Syria, Iran, Russia, and China to ignoring the Green Movement in Iran in 2009.

Stephens also calls attention to the isolationists’ mistaken belief that all of these foreign policy failures are taking place, and will remain, far from America’s shores. He expounds upon the observation of Leon Trotsky that “You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you” and observes, “[o]ne can only be alone when one is left alone. We will not be left alone.” However, he also recognizes that “No great power can treat foreign policy as a spectator sport and hope to remain a great power.”

For those concerned with the apparent divide in the Republican Party, Stephens’ chapter on “Republicans in Retreat” is interesting. He notes that “Republicans are busy writing their own retreat doctrine in the name of small government, civil liberties, fiscal restraint, ‘realism,’ a creeping sense of Obama-induced national decline, and a deep pessimism about America’s ability to make itself, much less the rest of the world, better.” He then attacks those claims and points out that American retreat:
Ultimately requires a return to the very thing small-government conservatives hate most: the expensive, intrusive, security-conscious state. It’s also no accident that democratic countries that do the most to slash their military budgets and global commitments also have comparatively bigger welfare states.
After investigating the foreign policy divide within the conservative movement and in particular, the influence of the Tea Party and “Realists” and how they led to isolationist ideals, Stephens concludes that only conservative foreign policy will achieve the maintenance of global order.

Stephens’ historical analysis is compelling. “The tragedies of the 1930s are well known. What’s forgotten is how they flowed from the illusions of the 1920s, the same illusions that conservative advocates of the Retreat Doctrine harbor today.” Against this backdrop, he debunks the claims of those who support this doctrine and who believe the world will sort itself out without American intervention. He exposes the failures of concepts such as liberal peace, balance of power, and collective security as alternatives to Pax Americana. “A balance of power may seem plausible in theory. But the nature of power is that it seeks pre-eminence, not balance.” Again, it is clear that the only alternative to Pax Americana is global disorder.

After recognizing America’s recent weak responses to provocations (N. Korea’s testing of a ballistic missile and nuclear weapons, Syria’s use of chemical weapons, Russia’s seizure of Crimea), Stephens proscribes a way out of this mess. The immediate goal of U.S. foreign policy should be to arrest the slide, introduce a “broken-windows” approach of deterrence rather than reaction, put cops on the street by deploying personnel globally, increase military spending, punish violations of geopolitical norms, be global in approach, distinguish core interests, and prevent local conflicts from escalating into regional catastrophes. While this may seem like a common sense approach, our current policy-makers and leaders would benefit from a tutorial.
There is a growing sense that if America provides no leadership, authoritarian regimes will quickly fill the breach; that if our red lines are exposed as mere bluffs, more of them will be crossed; that if our commitments to our allies – both the ones we generally like and the ones we have no option but to accept – aren’t serious, those friends might abandon us; that if our threats against our enemies are empty, our enemies will be emboldened, and we will have more of them.  If history does not end – and it hasn’t – then the United States does not get a holiday from it.
Through the use of historical facts and analyses, the inclusion of compelling statistical realities, and the embrace of practical analogies (“No police or fire department would wait until a house is consumed in flames before it started putting it out”), Stephens makes the case that the coming global disorder is inevitable if the country continues on a path of retreat. He even includes a chapter entitled, “A Scenario for Global Disorder” peeking into the looking glass of the adventures in the Democrats’ wonderland if Hillary were to win in 2016. But he also gives readers like me, who feared prior to reading his book that America’s decline was irreversible, a rational basis for hope that our preeminent place in history and the world can in fact be restored under the right leadership. It is not too late for America -- especially if everyone reads America in Retreat.

Source:http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2014/11

Heritage Foundation: Russia's Aggression Isn't Stopping in Ukraine

This file photo shows Russian President Vladimir Putin

NATO confirmed on Wednesday that Russian tanks were moving into rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine. But Russia's aggression under Vladimir Putin didn't begin in Ukraine and, unless the West stops vacillating, it won't end there, either.

After the 2003 Rose Revolution, the nation of Georgia, in the Caucasus, became a staunch American ally. But in 2008, it was invaded and partially occupied by Putin's Russia, and in 2012 its pro-Western president, Mikheil Saakashvili, lost the parliamentary elections. Since then, Georgia has been governed by a coalition founded by a shadowy billionaire who made his money in Russia. But recently, the Georgian defense minister was fired and its foreign minister quit. Both advocated closer ties to the West. Georgia is drifting into Russia's orbit.

Next to Georgia are Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenia, heavily armed by Russia, supports a separatist territory inside Azerbaijan, which is a major oil producer. As Russia also exports energy, it has a lot to gain from threatening Azerbaijan. Last week, in a sequel to major border clashes in August, Azerbaijan's military shot down an Armenian helicopter. Armenia is not a mere Russian puppet, but by backing Armenia, Russia perpetuates the conflict and again makes Russian influence felt in the Caucasus.

If Armenia is a problem, Iran is a threat. Russia announced a contract last week to build eight new nuclear reactors in Iran. There is nothing new about Moscow's nuclear ties to Tehran: Russia completed Iran's nuclear facility at Bushehr. Supposedly the new reactors, like Bushehr, will produce only electricity. But the West can't even monitor Iran's existing nuclear program; with eight new reactors, monitoring will be far tougher.

The Obama administration badly wants a nuclear deal with Iran. While Russia is a party to the negotiations with Iran, its new nuclear contract seems designed to make the administration's quest for an agreement look unbearably foolish. Even if the West gets access to Bushehr, Iran will, thanks to Russia, simply draw new nuclear cards. And by selling to Iran, Russia wins leverage over the West: By creating a threat, it can perversely demand that it must be part of the diplomatic efforts to address that threat.

Nor are the Balkans free from Russian meddling. In late 2013, Montenegrin newspapers reported that Montenegro had turned down a Russian request for a naval base, which Russia apparently wanted because it feared losing its Syrian port at Tartus. As long as Montenegro has a hope of joining NATO, it is likely to reject Russian requests. But Bosnia is more vulnerable, and Russia has close ties to Republika Srpska, the Serbian part of Bosnia. In March, Milorad Dodik, the Serbian president, met with the Russian foreign minister. Dodik, the Russians announced, was in Moscow to receive an award from the "International Public Fund of Unity of Orthodox People." Translation: The Serbs are Slavic brothers, and just like the Ukrainian rebels and the occupied parts of Georgia, they are under Russian protection.

In a recent speech, Putin defended the pact between Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin that divided Poland and launched World War II. That was both a hint that he is willing to cut a dirty deal with the West and a threat to his neighbors: cooperate with Russia or, like Poland, be divided.

If the West cannot give Russia's neighbors a better option, they will have to accept Putin's terms. Putin has the West pegged: We always condemn Russian actions, but invariably, we soon decide it's time to talk again. The West needs to draw a line and stand by it: No more forgive and forget.

Ted R. Bromund is a senior research fellow in The Heritage Foundation's Thatcher Center for Freedom.

Source: http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/russia-s-aggression-isn-t-stopping-in-ukraine-ted-bromund-1.9618880

Putin Visits Turkey: Oil Prices, Ukraine, Georgia, Cold War, World War

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Putin’s state visit to Erdogan yesterday in Ankara, a summit meeting between the world’s two top pseudo-democratic authoritarian regimes, can determine the direction of history for some decades. If you think I exaggerate, keep reading. Anyone moderately literate in the world’s strategic balances knows exactly what I mean. I will add some less visible but pivotal factors that, in toto, could affect all our lives. At stake is not merely the future of Syria, ISIS and the like, but the price of oil, the fate of sanctions, the democracy vs. autocracy struggle, Nato, EU, Cold War, even Nuclear War. The world is poised so precariously that, as others have noted, we could be at a pre-WW1 moment on the verge of Great Power conflict.

Back in mid-October I discussed the likely drop in oil price, now occupying headlines, to outline how Saudi Arabia meant to use oil power to push back Moscow for supporting Assad http://www.forbes.com/sites/melikkay...r-is-shifting/ Moscow aimed veiled threats at the Saudis for playing a political game in collusion with the US. Riyadh knows that Putin’s bluster evaporates domestically without gas and oil revenues, and externally without pipeline leverage. In the column I point out how, in fact, Saudi Arabia intends to push back against the US equally; a very low oil price endangers the cost-effectiveness of fracking. The Saudis aren’t pleased with Washington’s increasing alignment with the Shiite Crescent in the Mideast. Then, in November, I wrote in this space about a telephone quarrel between Erdogan and Putin. I dwelt on Erdogan’s gas deal with Turkmenistan and Putin’s narrowing timeline for bullying Ukraine with a compliant EU – compliant because of EU dependence on Russian gas supplies http://www.forbes.com/sites/melikkay...nvade-ukraine/.

That’s the background to the Ankara summit meeting. Up to now, Putin was able to slow down all manner of alternatives to Russian fuel by lowering prices, intimidating suppliers and users, and condign gestures of violence. It is all on the verge of busting out of his control. Gazprom has just announced they’re abandoning a pipeline plan to circumvent Ukraine. In addition, as the link shows, Erdogan signed a deal to import and pass on Turkmen gas ultimately to Europe. Plus, a pipeline via Turkey from Azerbaijan will reach Europe in four years.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg just published a report on the Ankara visit saying the meeting will result in lots of harmony because Turkey has no alternate to Russian gas. The report also asserts that Russia serves as Turkey’s second largest trade partner. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-1...fferences.html . With all due respect, the truth is much more complicated. Erdogan understands Moscow’s increasing weakness. Indeed, Erdogan himself embodies the weakening threat, being the conduit for multiple ways Europe will get fuel supplies – from Azerbaijan, from Turkmenistan, from Iraq. On the other hand, like others in the region, he has begun to detach from the West. He’s actually planning to have Russia build nuclear power stations in Turkey. The stupidity of this idea has many layers, not least the dependence on Moscow. Clearly Erdogan wants to acquire a nuclear guarantee for himself and his regime, not a happy sign for Turkey’s future democracy. 

Meanwhile, Putin has made his moves to pressure Turkey. Not many people know that Georgia’s current government acceded to Russian demands to build a strategic road from Russian Daghestan through Georgia to the Azerbaijan border. This will allow the Kremlin to move assets to seal off the Azeri border at any time. Meaning, isolating Azerbaijan from trade with Turkey via Georgia, and with Georgia itself, in effect sealing off Azerbaijan from the world. You can be sure that Georgia’s regime will act in solidarity with Moscow. The PM in Tbilisi just said, in a November 25 interview with the FT, that he opposes Western arms for Ukraine. This is the same government that has not uttered a word against Putin or for Ukraine against Putin. Essentially, the Kremlin’s message to Turkey goes something like this: don’t bank on your Azerbaijan supplies, neither for yourself nor as a conduit to Europe. Nor should you have faith in the future autonomy of Azerbaijan to make choices, and that goes for Turkmenistan too. Do you think that the US or Nato will come to your side when Russian tanks invade those places and cut you off from their oil and gas? So far Erdogan has no reason to doubt Putin’s threat. The last thing Erdogan can handle, with its southern border aflame, is a military threat reopening on Turkey’s northern flank.

So that’s how the forces are balanced at the summit. Putin will keep raising the threshold of his threats – many think he will actually use nuclear weapons, even if through deniable proxies, even if only tactical weapons. After Assad’s chemical weapons, and pro-Russian rebels downing a civilian airliner – without consequences – can we dismiss the notion? For sure, Erdogan can’t. Having alienated Nato and emasculated his army, he knows nobody will fight a world war to defend him. As for the US and EU, they have a lot to answer for by ignoring Putin’s aggression in Georgia and then in Ukraine. They emboldened him to believe that no single country’s fate will spur them to face him down. They’ve dropped all red lines so at no juncture were his atrocities pivotal. He has built up his threat incrementally, stealthily. He has made his message clear. He doesn’t think he needs to up the ante anymore but he will if necessary – it might even lead to a world war, if necessary. That’s the message. With the drop in oil prices, he may have to and the West will have to respond.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/melikkay...war-world-war/

Viktor Orban Steers Hungary Toward Russia 25 Years After Fall of the Berlin Wall

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A quarter-century ago, as Hungary helped ignite the events that would lead to the collapse of communism, the ferment produced a new political star. Viktor Orban was 26 then and a longhaired law graduate. In June 1989, five months before the Berlin Wall came down, he lit up a commemoration of the failed 1956 revolt against Moscow with a bold call for free elections and a demand that 80,000 Soviet troops go home.

Now, as the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall is commemorated Sunday, Hungary is a member of NATO and the European Union and Mr. Orban is in his third term as prime minister. But what was once a journey that might have embodied the triumph of democratic capitalism has evolved into a much more complex tale of a country and a leader who in the time since have come to question Western values, foment nationalism and look more openly at Russia as a model.

After leading his right-wing party to a series of national and local election victories, Mr. Orban is rapidly centralizing power, raising a crop of crony oligarchs, cracking down on dissent, expanding ties with Moscow and generally drawing uneasy comparisons from Western leaders and internal opponents to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.

“He is the only Putinist governing in the European Union,” said Joschka Fischer, the former German foreign minister. Some other Eastern European countries, especially Poland, have remained oriented toward the West and still harbor deep suspicions of Russia long after the Cold War ended.

But Hungary is one of several countries in the former Soviet sphere that are now torn between the Western ways that appeared ascendant immediately after the fall of the Soviet Union and the resilient clout of today’s Russia. Money, culture and energy resources still bind most regional countries to Russia as tightly as to Europe. Mr. Putin’s combative nationalism is more popular here than what many see as Western democratic sclerosis.

Mr. Orban has laid out a philosophical vision and justification for his authoritarian-leaning approach that suggests a long-term commitment to turning Hungary into something quite different from what the West anticipated when the Iron Curtain collapsed and the Berlin Wall came down. In a speech this summer, Mr. Orban declared liberal democracy to be in decline and praised authoritarian “illiberal democracies” in Turkey, China, Singapore and Russia.

He traced his views to what he portrayed as the failures of Western governments to anticipate and deal adequately with the financial crisis that started in 2008 and the ensuing deep recession. He called that period the fourth great shock of the past century — the others being World War I, World War II and the end of the Cold War — and the impetus for what he called today’s key struggle: “a race to invent a state that is most capable of making a nation successful.”

Western democracies “will probably be incapable of maintaining their global competitiveness in the upcoming decades and will instead be scaled down unless they are capable of changing themselves significantly,” Mr. Orban said in the speech, according to an English translation on the government’s website.
Hungary, he said, will be “breaking with the dogmas and ideologies that have been adopted by the West” and will instead build a “new Hungarian state” that will be “competitive in the great global race for decades to come.”

Achieving that vision will require tougher stances toward outside forces, including nongovernmental organizations, the European Union and foreign lenders and investors, he said. As recently as 2008, Mr. Orban was a fierce critic of Mr. Putin. But the tone has changed, and the two have grown friendly, with Russia investing heavily in Hungary.

“Orban is a populist who acts, doesn’t just talk,” said Peter Kreko, director of the Political Capital Institute in Budapest, an independent research organization. As a result, he added, Hungary “can serve as a role model in Eastern Europe,” enticing countries like Romania and Bulgaria to follow an authoritarian path.

The only difference between Mr. Orban and authoritarians in other countries, Mr. Kreko said, is that “when they turn to the West, they try to smile, and Orban doesn’t even try.”

The grand center of Budapest, with its floodlit palaces flickering in the Danube, its sophisticated cafes, crowded theaters and the tourist-choked streets, betrays little sense of authoritarian unease. Yet behind the designer boutiques, young and struggling artists worry about when their state financing might be cut off if they fail to hit the proper note, and government watchdog groups suffer attacks in the state-controlled media while waiting anxiously for the arrival of investigators.

In the west of Hungary, German auto plants and other foreign investments create the semblance of a Western European lifestyle. But the feeling is quite different in the rural east, where destitute families, many of them Roma, either toil in one of Mr. Orban’s public works projects or languish in hopes the economy will improve.

Even the iconography of Budapest has taken on Mr. Orban’s stamp, exemplified by a much-derided statue unveiled last summer near Parliament showing a German eagle attacking an angel, meant to represent the Hungarian people — widely seen as an attempt by Hungarian nationalists to whitewash the country’s alliance with the Nazis during World War II. Mr. Orban’s subordinates in the ruling party, Fidesz, which he firmly controls, say that he is unchanged from the anti-communist rabble-rouser of the past and that charges of incipient dictatorship are left-wing fantasies.

“He is the same guy he used to be 25 years ago,” said Zoltan Kovacs, the prime minister’s international spokesman. “He wants to get rid of the attitudes, the remnants of the former system — get rid of the attitude that people live on social aid rather than work.”

Even his harshest critics concede that Mr. Orban has gone to nowhere near the lengths of Mr. Putin in silencing opponents. No one has been tossed in prison for criticizing the government. There has been no overt censorship. Recent mass protests against a proposed Internet tax were allowed to proceed and ended up forcing a retreat by Mr. Orban.
Nonetheless, foreign criticism is mounting. When President Obama recently listed states that are silencing civil society groups, Hungary was the only European country named. Washington has barred six unidentified public officials, deeming them too corrupt to enter the United States.

After the first free elections in 1990, Mr. Orban was one of several figures who had helped topple communism to jostle for power and influence. Most Hungarians, like others in Central and Eastern Europe, had unrealistic expectations of a quick, good life under democracy and capitalism.

They embraced NATO membership, which in 1999 came with the immediate duty to oppose Russia and fight in the war over Kosovo. They chafed at long negotiations, but like seven other former Soviet bloc nations welcomed European Union membership in 2004.

Hungarians perhaps felt the hardship of transition more bitterly than most because they had lived better than many others in the Soviet bloc under communism. Hungary had “goulash communism,” said Balint Ablonczy, domestic political editor of the pro-government journal Heti Valasz. Liberal democracy brought freedom of speech, but also the loss of jobs and of a sense of security, he said. In 1998, voters threw out the Socialist government and handed power to Mr. Orban and his party.

But as prime minister in that first term, “he overdid the nationalist ideology,” said Julia Lakatos, an analyst at the Center for Fair Political Analysis, a research group in Budapest. In 2002, the Socialists won back power. In 2010, though, voters turned back to Mr. Orban, who appeared to have learned from his previous mistakes.

Critics contend that the government uses its purse strings to control the arts and make the news media compliant. Dissent is attacked in the official press and sometimes investigated by the government. Even some conservative supporters are slightly wary of the extent to which Mr. Orban has systematically assembled power: packing courts and the chief prosecutor’s office with loyalists, altering the Constitution and laws so his party dominates.

“He ran as someone who would bring the two sides together in Hungarian politics, but when he got in he said, no, it is the time of the right, the time for revenge on the left,” said Mr. Ablonczy, the editor. “For him, politics is fighting. I am a man of the right, but my deepest disappointment with this government is this logic of always fighting.”

Fidesz won a second consecutive four-year term in April, its coalition again eking out a two-thirds majority in Parliament that essentially allows it to pass whatever laws it pleases. The party also won the European Parliament elections in May and local elections Oct. 12, a rare triple in fractious Europe these days.

Signs abound of the distance Hungary has traveled since communism’s fall. Laszlo Magas helped organize a Pan-European picnic in Sopron on the Austrian border that, in 1989, provided a first death knell for the Berlin Wall. Hundreds of East Germans used the occasion to pour across the once-sealed frontier.

Now a Fidesz member of the Sopron City Council, Mr. Magas refused to discuss politics at all, he says, because foreigners do not understand the country. Western news media, he says, seek out only opponents of Mr. Orban, who are a tiny minority in today’s Hungary.

They embraced NATO membership, which in 1999 came with the immediate duty to oppose Russia and fight in the war over Kosovo. They chafed at long negotiations, but like seven other former Soviet bloc nations welcomed European Union membership in 2004. Hungarians perhaps felt the hardship of transition more bitterly than most because they had lived better than many others in the Soviet bloc under communism.

Hungary had “goulash communism,” said Balint Ablonczy, domestic political editor of the pro-government journal Heti Valasz. Liberal democracy brought freedom of speech, but also the loss of jobs and of a sense of security, he said. In 1998, voters threw out the Socialist government and handed power to Mr. Orban and his party. But as prime minister in that first term, “he overdid the nationalist ideology,” said Julia Lakatos, an analyst at the Center for Fair Political Analysis, a research group in Budapest. In 2002, the Socialists won back power.

In 2010, though, voters turned back to Mr. Orban, who appeared to have learned from his previous mistakes. Critics contend that the government uses its purse strings to control the arts and make the news media compliant. Dissent is attacked in the official press and sometimes investigated by the government.

Even some conservative supporters are slightly wary of the extent to which Mr. Orban has systematically assembled power: packing courts and the chief prosecutor’s office with loyalists, altering the Constitution and laws so his party dominates.

“He ran as someone who would bring the two sides together in Hungarian politics, but when he got in he said, no, it is the time of the right, the time for revenge on the left,” said Mr. Ablonczy, the editor. “For him, politics is fighting. I am a man of the right, but my deepest disappointment with this government is this logic of always fighting.”

Fidesz won a second consecutive four-year term in April, its coalition again eking out a two-thirds majority in Parliament that essentially allows it to pass whatever laws it pleases. The party also won the European Parliament elections in May and local elections Oct. 12, a rare triple in fractious Europe these days.

Signs abound of the distance Hungary has traveled since communism’s fall.

Laszlo Magas helped organize a Pan-European picnic in Sopron on the Austrian border that, in 1989, provided a first death knell for the Berlin Wall. Hundreds of East Germans used the occasion to pour across the once-sealed frontier. Now a Fidesz member of the Sopron City Council, Mr. Magas refused to discuss politics at all, he says, because foreigners do not understand the country. Western news media, he says, seek out only opponents of Mr. Orban, who are a tiny minority in today’s Hungary.


The bullying of Hungary – the country that dared to disobey the US and EU

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25 years ago, Hungary was being toasted in the West for opening its border with Austria to East Germans, in a move which led to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Now the Western elites are not happy with Budapest which they consider far too independent.

The refusal of Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his ruling Fidesz party to join the new US and EU Cold War against Russia, which has seen the Hungarian parliament approving a law to build the South Stream gas pipeline without the approval of the European Union, in addition to the populist economic policies Fidesz has adopted against the largely foreign owned banks and energy companies, has been met with an angry response from Washington and Brussels.

Hungarian officials have been banned from entering the US, while the European Commission has demanded that the Hungarians explain their decision to go ahead with South Stream. That’s on top of the European Commission launching legal action against the Hungarian government for its law restricting the rights of foreigners to buy agricultural land. The bullying of Hungary hasn’t made many headlines because it’s so-called “democrats” from the West who have been doing the bullying.

Viktor Orban is not a communist, he is a nationally-minded conservative who was an anti-communist activist in the late 1980s, but the attacks on him and his government demonstrate that it doesn’t matter what label you go under - if you don’t do exactly what Uncle Sam and the Euro-elite tell you to do - your country will come under great pressure to conform. And all of course in the name of “freedom” and “democracy.”

Fidesz has been upsetting some powerful people in the West ever since returning to power in 2010. The previous “Socialist”-led administration was hugely popular in the West because it did everything Washington and Brussels and the international banking set wanted. It imposed austerity on ordinary people, it privatized large sections of the economy, and it took out an unnecessary IMF loan. Ironically, the conservative-minded Fidesz party has proved to be much better socialists in power than the big-business and banker friendly “Socialists” they replaced.

One of the first things that Fidesz and its coalition allies, the Christian Democratic People’s Party, (KDNP) did was to introduce an $855m bank tax - the highest such tax in Europe - a measure which had the financial elite foaming at the mouth. Orban clashed with the IMF too, with his government rejecting new loan terms in 2012, and paying off early a loan taken out by the previous government, to reduce interest payments.

In 2013, Orban took on the foreign-owned energy giants with his government imposing cuts of over 20% on bills. Neoliberals expressed their outrage at such “interventionist” policies, but under Orban, the economy has improved. Although it’s true that many still look back nostalgically to the days of “goulash communism” in the 1970s and 80s when there were jobs for all and food on the table for everyone. Unemployment fell to 7.4 percent in the third-quarter of this year; it was around 11 percent when Fidesz took power, while real wages rose by 2.9 percent in the year up to July.

The man his enemies called the “Viktator,” has shown that he will pursue whatever economic policies he believes are in his country’s national interest, regardless of the opinions of the western elite who want the Hungarian economy to be geared to their needs.

His refusal to scrap his country’s bank tax is one example; the closer commercial links with Russia are another. Russia is Hungary’s third biggest trading partner and ties between the two countries have strengthened in the last couple of years, to the consternation of western Russophobes. In April, a deal was struck for Moscow to loan Hungary €10 billion to help upgrade its nuclear plant at Paks.

Orban’s policy of improving trade and business links with Russia, while staying a member of the EU and NATO, has however been put under increasing strain by the new hostile policy towards Moscow from Washington and Brussels.

Orban again, has annoyed the West by sticking up for Hungary’s own interests. In May he faced attack when he had the temerity to speak up for the rights of the 200,000 strong Hungarian community living in Ukraine.”Ukraine can neither be stable, nor democratic, if it does not give its minorities, including Hungarians, their due. That is dual citizenship, collective rights and autonomy.” Hungary’s Ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Kiev. Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, the US’s most obedient lapdog in Eastern Europe, called Orban’s comments “unfortunate and disturbing” as if it was anything to do with him or his country.

In August, Orban accurately described the sanctions policy of the West towards Russia as like “shooting oneself in the foot.”“The EU should not only compensate producers somehow, be they Polish, Slovak, Hungarian or Greek, who now have to suffer losses, but the entire sanctions policy should be reconsidered,” Orban said.

In October, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto also questioned the sanctions on Russia, revealing that his country is losing 50 million forints a day due to the policy. Hungary has made its position clear, but for daring to question EU and US policy, and for its rapprochement with Moscow, the country has been punished.

It’s democratically elected civilian government which enjoys high levels of public support, has ludicrously - and obscenely - been likened to military governments which have massacred their opponents. "From Hungary to Egypt, endless regulations and overt intimidation increasingly target civil society," declared US President Barack Obama in September. Last month there was another salvo fired at Hungary - it was announced that the US had banned six unnamed Hungarian government officials from entering America, citing concerns over corruption- without the US providing any proof of the corruption.

"At a certain point, the situation, if it continues this way, will deteriorate to the extent where it is impossible to work together as an ally," warned the Charge D’Affaires of the US Embassy in Budapest, Andre Goodfriend. The decision and the failure to provide any evidence, understandably caused outrage in Hungary. “The government of Hungary is somewhat baffled at the events that have unfolded because this is not the way friends deal with issues," said Janos Lazar, Orban‘s chief of staff.

The timing of the ban has to be noted, coming after the Hungarian government had criticized the sanctions on Russia and just before the national Parliament was due to vote on the South Stream pipeline. The pipeline, which would allow gas to be transported from Russia via the Black Sea and the Balkans to south and central Europe without passing through Ukraine, is a project which Russophobes in the West want cancelled.

"I am inclined to think that it is a punishment for the fact that we talk to Russia," said Gabor Stier, the head foreign policy editor of the leading Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet. "America thinks that we are corrupt, but we are a sovereign state, and it is our business. Many people in the United States do not like that Viktor Orban is very independent…..Corruption is just an excuse."

It’s hard to disagree with Stier’s conclusions. Of course, there is corruption in Hungary, as there is in every country, but it pales in comparison with some countries who are faithful US allies and who Washington never criticizes. The 2013 Corruption Perceptions Index compiled by Transparency International, reveals that Latvia, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria and Bosnia-Herzegovina are all below Hungary, as indeed is Italy. Yet it’s Hungarian officials that the US is banning.

True to form, the attacks on Orban and his government in the Western media have chimed with the political attacks. ‘Is Hungary, the EU’s only dictatorship?’ asked Bloomberg View in April. The BBC ran a hostile piece on Orban and Fidesz in October entitled Cracks Emerge in leading party, and which referred to “government corruption” and “the playboy lifestyle of numerous party officials.”

The piece looked forward to the end of Fidesz rule. While earlier this week, the New York Times published an OpEd by Kati Marton, whose late husband Richard Holbrooke, was a leading US diplomat, entitled Hungary’s Authoritarian Descent. You’d never guess that the Hungarian government wasn’t the flavor of the month in the West would you? The question which has to be asked is: will Hungary be the next country to be the target of a US/EU sponsored regime change? We all know what happened to the last Viktor who refused to sever links with Russia. Will Orban suffer the same fate as Ukraine’s Yanukovich? There are good reasons for believing that he won’t.

Fidesz did make a mistake by announcing the introduction of a new internet tax last month, which brought thousands onto the streets to protest but they have since dropped the plans and the problem for the US and EU is that Orban and his government remain too popular. In October’s local elections Fidesz won 19 of Hungary’s 21 larger towns and cities, including the capital city Budapest, not bad for a party that‘s been in power since May 2010.

Orban’s brand of economic populism, combined with moderate nationalism, goes down well in a country where people remember just how awful things were when the neoliberal “Socialists” were in power. His style of leadership may be authoritarian, but Hungarians prefer having a leader who has cut fuel bills and reduced unemployment to one who mouths platitudes about “liberal democracy” but who imposed harsh austerity measures and leaves them unable to afford the daily essentials.

Moreover Hungary, is already a member of the EU and NATO unlike Ukraine under Yanukovich and isn't about to leave either soon. On a recent visit to America Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told the US TODAY newspaper “US is our friend, US is our closest ally.” The US clearly wants more from Hungary than just words, but while both Washington and Brussels would like to see a more obedient government in Budapest, the “liberal” and faux-left parties they support simply don't have enough popular support for the reasons outlined above. And things would be even worse for the West if the radical nationalist party Jobbik, the third largest party in Parliament, and which made gains in October’s local elections, came to power- or if there was a genuine socialist/communist revival in the country. The fact is that Orban is in a very strong position and he knows it. That’s why he feels able to face down the threats from abroad and maintain a level of independence even though total independence is impossible within the EU and NATO.

We can expect the attacks on Orban and his government to intensify but the more the West attacks, the more popular Orban, who is able to present himself as the defender of Hungary’s national interests, becomes. Hungary gave the West everything it wanted in 1989, and, as I pointed out here, its “reform” communist leadership was richly rewarded. But in 2014 it’s a very different story. In the interests of democracy and small countries standing up to bullying by powerful elites, long may Hungary’s spirited defiance continue.

Source: http://rt.com/op-edge/203151-hungary-independent-politics-west/

President Zeman calls for lifting of Russia sanctions at event organized by Putin associate

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The Czech president addressed the Dialogue of Civilizations conference on the Greek island of Rhodes in fluent Russian. The annual event is organized by a Vienna-based group called World Public Forum. Its president is the Russian oligarch Vladimir Yakunin, who has himself been targeted by US sanctions. In his 17-minute address on Friday, Mr Zeman criticized the sanctions imposed by the EU and US on Russian over Moscow’s support for pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine and its annexation of Crimea. 

"We have to remove the sanctions which are not only useless but they cause a reverse effect than their authors hoped to achieve. We need to develop a dialogue based on the exchange of people, commodities and capital as well as completely uncensored information,” Mr Zeman said.

Much of the president’s remarks dealt with the threat of the terrorist group Islamic State, which Mr Zeman said was a cancer compared to the “civil war” in Ukraine. The West and Russia must join forces in fighting Islamic terrorism, he said. Indeed, Mr Zeman warned, Ukraine could in the future become a terrorist haven just like Libya and Iraq. The president’s remarks contradict past declarations by the Czech foreign minister, Lubomír Zaorálek, who last month denounced the incursion of Russian armed forces into Ukraine. But Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has also questioned the effectivity of the sanctions, and asked for concessions to protect the Czech industry. David Frous is a spokesman for the Czech Foreign Ministry. 

"I don’t think they were necessarily in conflict with what Czech Republic’s view. We have repeatedly emphasized that not all the sanctions applied have the expected impact on the Russian economy, and in consequence on the Russian behaviour towards Ukraine.”

However, the president Mr Zeman has come under fire in the Czech media both for the content and the form of his Rhodes address. Some commentators criticized his very participation in the event which he first attended in 2005 but this arrived for the first time as the president of his country. Commentator Jefim Fištejn says the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary have become the most vocal opponents of the EU’s stance on Russia which could have serious consequences for the countries’ future. 

“We are part of the western of the Western civilization with all its achievements and values. Trying to be in between, trying to be in between the different worlds is dangerous for such a country whose geopolitical position is very delicate. Any unclear and dubious statements weaken the country’s geopolitical roots.”

The Czech public seems to be split on the issue of Russian policies in Ukraine and the EU’s reaction to it. In the latest survey, one third of the respondents opposed the sanctions while 48 percent supported them. Some 10,000 people have meanwhile signed petitions calling for a tougher stance on Russia.

Source: http://www.czech.cz/en/Nouvelles/President-Zeman-calls-for-lifting-of-Russia-sancti

Serbia Greets Putin With Historic Military Parade

 RIA Novosti / Sergey Guneev
The country next in line to join the European Union staged a spectacle not seen in a generation Thursday to honour Russian President Vladimir Putin. Serbia held its first military parade since the days of former President Josip Broz Tito as part of the celebrations during the Russian leader's six-hour visit Thursday. The festivities commemorated the Soviet Union's role in liberating the country from Nazi occupation in World War II, according to the government in Belgrade.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, an ally of strongman Slobodan Milosevic during Yugoslavia's bloody breakup, is balancing the nation's EU aspirations with traditional Russian ties. Putin's visit gives him an opportunity to show the 28-nation bloc that he has other foreign-policy options if membership criteria become unpalatable, according to Djordje Vukadinovic, an analyst at the Belgrade-based New Serbian Political Thought institute.

"Vucic is honoring Putin with the military parade to consolidate his own standing within his electorate," Vukadinovic said. "At the same time, he's sending a message to the EU that he actually has an alternative if they press him too hard on democracy, human rights or media freedoms."

The European Commission, the EU's executive, last week called on Serbia to improve democracy, the rule of law, media freedoms, the economy and ties with Kosovo. Serbia has yet to open any of the 35 policy-reform areas needed to join the EU after starting the process in January. As the talks drag on, with former Yugoslav partners Slovenia and Croatia already in the trading bloc, public support for membership fell to 46 per cent in June from 51 per cent six months earlier, according to a survey of 1,015 people.

The split is between proponents of closer ties with the EU, Serbia's largest trading partner, and Russia, which supplies the country's energy and supports its rejection of international recognition for Kosovo's independence. Vucic withstood calls to join sanctions against Russia over Ukraine. The Belgrade parade, the first since the collapse of Yugoslavia, included tanks and other military vehicles and a fly-over of fighter jets.

"We have left wars behind," President Tomislav Nikolic said before the parade started. "Today, Serbia bases its growth on free access to the Russian market and investments from Russia." Nikolic awarded "dear brother Vladimir" the highest Serbian decoration, the Order of the Republic. Putin was greeted in Belgrade by cheering crowds, standing in the rain, with one of the banners saying: "Vladimir, Save Us."

Soviet troops helped guerrillas led by Tito oust German troops in 1944 and establish the communist regime. Tito later opposed Joseph Stalin's plan to make Yugoslavia a Soviet satellite, resulting in the country's expulsion from the Communist Information Bureau in 1948. The rupture oriented Yugoslavia westward even before the fall of communism. The EU today accounts for 64 per cent of Serbia's foreign trade and 72 per cent of investment, according to Serbia's statistics office and central bank. Russian investment was 598 million euros between 2005 and 2013, compared with total investments of 13.3 billion euros.

Russia may consider allowing a quota of cars made by Italian manufacturer Fiat SpA in Serbia to be exported to Russia, Putin said in Belgrade. He also sees a chance for Serbian farm exports to triple to 390 million euros if various agreements have been implemented. Russia has banned imports of European foodstuffs and Serbia has promised Russia it won't allow EU countries to use its territory to export food.

Western sanctions "provide opportunities" for countries that "want to cooperate with Russia," Putin said in Belgrade. "If there's no luck, then misfortune can help."

Serbia's further EU integration is years away, even after Vucic and Nikolic vowed to press for membership in 2019. EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said on 30 September new members won't be accepted before the turn of the decade. That gave Putin an opening amid Russia's worst standoff with the EU, the United States and their allies since the end of the Cold War, according to Dimitar Bechev, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Vucic's six-month-old administration is trying to jump-start economic growth and create jobs as the economy faces its third recession since 2009. His policies are designed to quell growing public discontent, with sporadic protests by industrial workers, teachers and police over planned public wage cuts. Students, who demonstrated this week in Belgrade, are being forced to pay more for their studies as state universities increase fees.

The premier is trying to "improve his image among his own supporters, who have totally different views" on issues including public wage and pension cuts or the Gay Pride parade organised last month, said Vukadinovic at the Serbian Political Thought. Demonstrating a closeness with Putin may win back some of that support, he said.

"For Serbian citizens, the love for Russia is purely emotional and irrational" and political leaders "have been encouraging the emotional bond with Russia," Svetlana Logar, a sociologist and researcher at the Belgrade-based pollster Ipsos Strategic Marketing, said in an interview. "But when you ask them about a country they'd like to move to, it's Germany."

Source: http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/world-int/world-news/international-news/12446-serbia-greets-putin-with-military-parade.html

Vladimir Putin moves to strengthen ties with Serbia at military parade

Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a speech at the 'Victor's March" military parade on 16 October 2014 marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade from fascist invaders. (RIA Novosti / Aleksey Nikolskyi)

Vladimir Putin set the seal on Russia’s closest alliance in central Europe on Thursday exchanging vows of support with Serbia and attending a military parade in Belgrade on a scale that has not been seen in the region since the Cold War.

The Russian president vowed never to recognise Kosovo’s independence, a priority for Serbia which refuses to accept the loss of the former province after a war in the late 1990s. In return, his Serbian counterpart, Tomislav Nikolić, pledged not to bow to European Union pressure to take part in sanctions against Russia, over Moscow’s role in the Ukraine conflict.

“Europe can count on it that we will not impose sanctions and that’s that,” Nikolic said at the Palace of Serbia, a huge socialist-era building on the banks of the River Sava. “Serbia will not endanger its morality by any hostility towards Russia.”

The reaffirmation of Russian-Serbian ties, at an event to celebrate the alliance in two world wars, was a boost for Putin on his way to the ASEM summit of European and Asian leaders in Milan, where he can expect a frosty reception from western and Ukrainian leaders. The Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, said she would raise the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, allegedly by Russian separatists in Ukraine, in which 298 people were killed, including 38 Australian citizens and residents.

After arriving in Milan from Belgrade, Putin was due to meet the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, who said she would press him on observance of a September ceasefire agreement which remains tenuous.

“It is above all Russia’s task to say clearly that the Minsk plan is really respected,” Merkel said as she arrived for the summit. “Unfortunately, there are still very, very big shortcomings. But it is important to seek dialogue here.”

On Friday, Putin will meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Petro Poroshenko to attempt to strengthen the truce and also come to a deal over Russian gas supplies to Ukraine. Much of the Russian gas supplied to the EU passes through pipelines crossing Ukraine, and Putin warned that Russia would cut supplies intended for Europe if Ukraine siphons off gas intended for Europe, as it did in 2008. “Russia always has been a reliable supplier. But there are big transit risks,” he said in Belgrade.

Putin enjoyed a brief respite from those pressures while in the Serbian capital for a military march-past commemorating the centenary of the first world war and the 70th year since the Soviet army and Yugoslav partisans liberated Belgrade. An enthusiastic crowd, estimated by the Serbian government as 100,000-strong, lined the parade route and chanted “Putin, Putin”, and “Serbia-Russia, we don’t need the [European] Union”.

Nikolic awarded him a large medal and chain of precious metals, named the Order of the Republic of Serbia, the country’s new highest honour, having been specially created for the occasion.

The march-past involved 300 military vehicles, including scores of tanks, as well as anti-aircraft missiles on trailers, and over 3000 troops marching in high-stepping unison under a sudden torrential downpour. At the same time, Serbian and Russian jet fighters roared overhead and paratroopers dropped from the sky. It was the biggest military parade in Serbia and the Balkan region since 1985, when it was the Yugoslav army marching past the country’s communist leaders.

Big screens over the crowd showed footage of the country military’s past, including the recapture of Belgrade, with Red Army help, from the Nazis in October 1944. The screens also showed military parades of the socialist era watched by the white-gloved, blue-uniformed Yugoslav dictator Tito.

What was missing from the visual history was Serbia’s role in the Croatian, Bosnian and Kosovo wars of the 1990s, all of which the country lost under Tito’s successor, Slobodan Milosevic. However, there were reminders that the territorial and ethnic issues fuelling those wars have not been resolved. The Russian and Serbian leaders made Kosovo a constant theme, and the Serb separatist leader in Bosnia, Milorad Dodik, fresh from a narrow election win, was given pride of place in the front row of the viewing platform, close to Putin. It was a clear show of support for Dodik who has vowed to weaken the Bosnian state and lead the country’s Serbs to independence.


Nikolic: Serbia won’t join anti-Russian sanctions club despite EU pressure
Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic (RIA Novosti/Aleksey Nikolskyi)

Serbia is not planning to impose sanctions on Russia, said its President Tomislav Nikolic after meeting EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn. The latter said the EU expects Serbia to bring its policy in line with the European one if it seeks to enter the union. Nikolic said that Serbia is not planning to introduce sanctions at the moment, though admitting the country is seeking EU membership which implies an obligation to pursue common policies, including foreign.

"What I heard from Hahn is the same what you have heard from him: Serbia is not an EU member and it can be independent in pursuing its foreign policy; but EU membership would have implied a commitment to pursue a common foreign policy," the President said at a media conference after talks with Hahn, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Good-Neighbourly Relations visiting Belgrade on Thursday.

In turn Hahn emphasized the importance of a common policy in the EU and Serbia’s commitment to it if the country wants to join the union. But he admitted that currently Serbia is not a member and “will definitely not impose sanctions on Russia."

Later in an interview with the local newspaper Vecernje Novosti, Hahn used harsher rhetoric saying Serbia is legally bound to harmonize its policies with Europe on such issues. He elaborated that he understands the historic connection between the two countries and accepts the fact this decision will not be easy.

“Your country identified EU accession as its key strategic objective, which Prime Minister [Aleksandar] Vucic confirmed during the recent visit of [Russian] President Putin to Serbia," he said. "It is very important and we expect of Belgrade to meet its commitment," he added.

Earlier on Thursday, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic also said that though the EU is Serbia’s “strategic goal” the country won’t impose sanctions over Ukraine in line with the Union.

"I am going to tell you what I keep saying to everybody wherever I go: Moscow, Washington, Brussels, Belgrade or Kosovska Mitrovica. Everything I have said about Serbia's policy, our path to the EU and our attitude to Russia, I have also said to [Russian President] Vladimir Putin and Mr. Hahn," Vucic stressed meeting Hahn.

Moscow and Beijing criticize EU’s push

On Thursday, the EU pressure was criticized by Russian MP Aleksey Pushkov, who said that the EU is trying to force Serbia into the Russia sanctions club.

“Presently the European Union is trying to force Serbia, which is not an EU member, to join their sanctions program. They are practically blackmailing Serbia: either it joins the sanctions against Russia or [the bloc] won’t see it as a country with a chance of joining the EU,” the head of Russia’s State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee said. “The problem for Serbia is that in any case it has no prospects for joining the EU anytime soon. Even if they join the anti-Russian sanctions now, they would simply succumb to blackmailers and no one would accept them in the EU in one year for doing this,” he added.

China has also replied to Hahn’s statement in tune with Russia saying that EU is trying to impose its values on Serbia.

"As I know the accession to the European Union is the priority task for Serbia. By taking this opportunity the EU is trying to impose its values on Serbia and sets the imposition of sanctions on Russia as a condition for entering the Union," Vice-Minister of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee Zhou Li said on Thursday as quoted by TASS.

China "considers any sanctions counter-productive in international relations", Zhou Li said. "In essence this problem is the choice that the Serbian government, the ruling party and the opposition face."

Russian Troops Hold Drills in Serbia

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Camouflage-clad Russian soldiers parachute from the sky, armored vehicles fire live rounds on an open field after being dropped from military transport jets and helicopters fire missiles against enemy positions. Although the flat terrain resembles the Ukrainian war zones, this is not an armed Russian intervention against its neighbor. It's the first-ever joint Serb-Russian military exercise in Serbia, the Balkan country that has been performing a delicate balancing act in between its Slavic ally Russia and Western Europe, with which Belgrade wants to integrate.

The "anti-terrorist' drill on Friday — the first such by the Russians outside the former Soviet Union — of elite Russian troops in northern Serbia, not far from NATO-member Croatia, has stirred controversy both here and abroad.

"Serbia's government wants to try and keep everyone happy," said prominent Balkan political analyst Tim Judah. "So, the U.S. helps finance and modernize Serbia's army while now Serbian soldiers train with Russians. In normal times there would be little to say about this, but post-Crimea, these are not normal times anymore."

Although Serbian officials say they respect Ukraine's territorial integrity and do not support Russia's annexation of Crimea, they have refused to impose sanctions against Russia like the EU and the U.S. have. Russia and Serbia have traditionally close historic and cultural ties, and Moscow has backed Belgrade's bid to maintain its claim over Kosovo — a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008 with the support of Washington and its allies.

The show of Russian military might in a country seeking to join the European Union comes as Russia, blamed by the West for fomenting the Ukraine crisis, tries to increase the Kremlin's presence in the Balkans. During our short stay in Serbia, we established the basis for expanding of our military relations," said Russian Gen. Vladimir Shamatov.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was in Belgrade last month where he received a hero's welcome that included a Soviet-style military parade. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, arrived in Belgrade on Friday.

"Serbia says it supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine, yet it welcomes Putin with a military parade and its soldiers are training with the army that annexed Crimea and is fighting in Ukraine," Judah said. "As the (Ukrainian) war goes on this is an increasingly untenable position and Serbia's government will just annoy both Russia and its Western friends rather than being on good terms with all."

Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic said he believes Serbian "neutrality" is tenable and defended holding the drill with the Russians. "There are no secrets about this exercise," he said after the drills that included a mock live-ammunition attack against a terrorist base with armored vehicles and about 200 troops, some deployed by Ilyushin IL-76 transport aircraft.

"We are militarily neutral and we would like to maintain good relations with everyone, including Russia, the European Union, the United States and China," Gasic said, adding that Serbia — which has never been part of any Russian or Western military alliance — will also hold military drills with the Americans next month in Serbia. In Washington, State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki called the military exercise regrettable.

"Although it is our understanding that this Russian-Serbian joint military drill had been planned for some time, we regret that Serbia decided to proceed. In light of Russia's actions in Ukraine and its disregard of international law and norms, this is no time for 'business as usual' with Russia," Psaki told The Associated Press.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russian-troops-hold-drills-serbia-162814039.html

Moldova’s elections show major success of pro-Russian forces — Russian expert


The people of Moldova demonstrated their desire to build closer ties with Russia and the Russia-led Customs Union

Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Moldova showed major success of the country’s pro-Russian forces, a Russian political scientist said on Monday. Struggle between supporters and opponents of European integration was in the focus of the election campaign that ended on November 30. For that reason, the polls were called a foreign policy referendum. In summer, Moldova signed an association agreement with the European Union, which cancelled visas for Moldovan citizens. Opinion polls, however showed that the majority of the population in Moldova wanted integration with the Customs Union. More than 90 % of people in the unrecognized Dniester Republic and the Gagauz Autonomy also voted for the integration with the Customs Union (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia) at their referendums.

“It is clear that the current elections were a major success for the pro-Russian forces,” Grigory Dobromelov, director of the Institute of Applied Political Studies, said.

The people of Moldova demonstrated their desire to build closer ties with Russia and the Russia-led Customs Union, Dobromelov went on to say. He stressed the importance of Russia’s decision to declare a migration amnesty for Moldovans working in Russia from November 5 to 30. Konstantin Romodanovsky, the head of the Russian Federal Migration Service, who met Igor Dodon, the head of the Moldovan Party of Socialists, early in November, said that FMS would allow Moldovans who had violated migration rules to go home and take part in the vote. He also promised they would face no barriers or obstacles upon their return to Russia and would be given assistance in getting work permits.

“That step, which was absolutely unique in its nature, produced a significant impact on the state of mind of Moldovan voters. It was extremely important for them that Russia had singled Moldova out of other allies and countries that supply migrants to it,” Dobromelov explained.

He said that Russia has carried out a deep analysis of processes that are taking place in Moldova and that its decision was based on the right vision and understanding of the situation in the country. “We did not do anything to exert pressure on the people of Moldova but we did, however, do everything to persuade them into making a pro-Russian choice,” Dobromelov concluded.

For the moment, vote count has been completed at 89.4% of the polling stations. The opposition Party of Socialists received 21% of votes; Moldova’s Liberal-Democratic Party (19%); the Communist Party of Moldova that led the elections in the past 15 years gained (17.9%); the Democratic Party of Moldova (15.7%); the Liberal Party of Moldova /9%/.

According to the monitors, these figures make it possible to predict that a coalition of pro-European parties has a chance to form a parliamentary majority, which, nevertheless, will have to reach an agreement with the opposition to elect a new president. Incumbent President Nicolae Timofti is ending his tenure in 2015. The inability to reach a consensus in appointing the country’s new president plunged Moldova into chaos in 2009. According to Moldova’s Central Electoral Commission, the turnout at November 30 parliamentary elections was 55%, which was a drop of 8% since 2010.

Source:  http://en.itar-tass.com/world/764541

Russia says 'gross violations' in Moldova election

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Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday there had been "gross violations" of election rules during the campaign for the Nov. 30 parliamentary election in Moldova and on voting day. International monitors said the election had been well-run but criticized a last-minute decision to exclude the party of Russian businessman Renato Usatii from the race on the grounds that it had been funded from abroad. "Moscow has taken note of international experts' assessments following the results of the parliamentary elections in Moldova," the ministry said in a statement. "At the same time one cannot ignore that the conclusions on their transparent and democratic character do not go down well, with gross violations allowed in the preparations and the conduct of the election process." Three pro-European parties look likely to form a new ruling coalition after the vote even though Moldova's Socialist Party, which favors joining a Russia-led economic bloc rather than moving toward the European Union, won the most votes. The ministry said the results showed many Moldovans want deeper ties with Moscow, which supports close ties with Transdniestria, a pro-Russian breakaway region in Moldova.
Old Russian Ties Pull Bulgaria in Two Directions

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As part of our series on Russia’s relations with its European neighbours, we put the spotlight on Bulgaria. The country’s old tensions over commitments to East or West have come to the fore over the Ukraine crisis and were a key issue during the general election earlier this month. Sofia-based international relations expert Plamen Ralchev looks at where Bulgaria goes from here.

Modern relations between Bulgaria and Russia began about two centuries ago when Russia sought geopolitical advantages in the Balkans and strategic access to the Turkish Straits. Russia positioned herself as a guardian of Balkan Orthodox Christians in the Ottoman Empire, which included the people in latterday Bulgaria. With linguistic similarities also in common, the Russians became supporters of the 19th-century Bulgarian liberation movement against the Ottoman rule.

By the time of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-78, Russia’s paternalistic approach to Bulgaria nurtured a kind of dependency mentality among many Bulgarians. After the Ottoman defeat and the subsequent congress of Berlin, Russia ended up with a mandate to supervise the Principality of Bulgaria that emerged.

Bulgarian bed-hopping

Both the Bulgarian public and Russian-speaking elite were deeply in favour of Russian involvement as the army, police force and public administration were set up. Yet sentiment became more divided after 1885 as the question of full statehood moved up the agenda. And when Bulgaria embarked on a modernisation project in the late 19th century, it tacked towards the European mainstream and particularly Germany.

This continued until after the Yalta conference of 1945, when Bulgaria was relinquished to Soviet influence. For the next 45 years Soviet dominance built upon previous pro-Russian sentiments in Bulgarian society. This turned the country into a communist stronghold, the staunchest and most obedient Soviet ally.

Bulgaria lost prestige internationally and became heavily dependent on the Soviets. Even after the fall of the Communist regime in 1989, Bulgaria was hesitant for several years about which way to go. And in the intervening years of Euro-Atlantic integration, the pro and anti-Russian divisions have re-emerged at every challenge.

Bulgaria joined NATO (2004) and the European Union (2007), and signed an agreement with the US in 2006 for a joint military training facility within the country, all of which have been heavy blows to Russia. This has put Bulgaria in a precarious position because the Russians have various kinds of leverage over her.

Life’s not a gas

Bulgaria has remained energy-dependent on Russia due to the unwise political choices of several governments. Not only does Russia provide most of its gas, the Russian energy giant Lukoil owns Bulgaria’s only oil refinery. Lukoil and Gazprom also have a network of petrol and gas stations throughout the country. Bulgaria depends on Russia for all of its nuclear fuel (though it recently signed a deal to have a new reactor built by Japanese-owned Westinghouse). The net result of this energy dominance is that Russia maintains a strong “energy lobby” in Bulgarian political and expert circles.

In recent months this lobby has been working overtime over the “South Stream” pipeline, which is being built from Russia across the Black Sea, through the Balkans to north-east Italy. Crucially this gives the Russians a second gas export route to Europe that doesn’t go through Ukraine. Bulgaria ordered work on the pipeline to stop in the summer under pressure from Brussels that it did not conform to EU law. It appears not to have resumed since.

Disagreements over the suspension were among various issues that helped bring down the Bulgarian coalition government in July. This led to an election earlier in October, where the pipeline was a key point of debate. The pro-suspension centre-right GERB party finished first, but it is not yet clear whether it can form a stable coalition.

 Inferiority complex

Aside from energy, Russia is heavily interested in the Bulgarian military-industrial complex, most of whose equipment is Soviet-made and depends on Russia for maintenance. The outgoing Bulgarian defence minister was recently quoted saying this puts the country in a vulnerable position, particularly regarding its ageing jet fighters. Any question of upgrading with equipment from elsewhere runs counter to Russian interests, so is unlikely to be welcomed by Moscow.

Russian companies’ and citizens’ investments in Bulgarian property have meanwhile increased in recent years, while the Bulgarian tourist industry relies on Russian visitors. Russia is also good at using propaganda. It frequently puts a spin on assistance or benefits to Bulgaria as being “from Moscow with love”. This is attractive to those Bulgarians whose affection for Russia remains strong. And it suits Russia when the Bulgarians are unsure whether to look East or West, such as during the Ukraine crisis.

The Russians see this as an opportunity to tip the scales by playing one side against the other. This cropped up over South Stream, for instance, where there are rumours that the previous government would have allowed the pipeline work to continue despite the EU objections. Some observers believe that Russia will also have a hand in determining the make-up of the next coalition government.

If Bulgaria is to overcome its Russian obsession and inferiority complex, the elite needs to use more political imagination and be more willing to make difficult policy choices. It cannot handle its eastern neighbour alone, because Russia is much more powerful. If the EU and US are determined to play tough on Russia, Bulgaria is one of the places where they will have to face their opponent. The security context will be determined by whether the West stands firmly alongside Bulgaria, and whether the Bulgarian government sustains Russian pressure or opts to “play both ways”.

Bulgaria unfortunately has to survive in a swirl where the European mainstream meets the Russian current near the Turkish Straits. Having had to cope with the interference of Russia, Germany and Turkey throughout its existence, these countries still have the biggest stakes in Bulgaria’s future.

It is not that Bulgaria could become another Ukraine, since here Russia has always preferred to play in the shadows. There is no Russian-speaking population with an identity crisis that presents a similar opportunity. Rather it is a question of influence and political decisions. Being in NATO and the EU gives Sofia certain credentials with the West. But it has to strengthen these further to curb the pro-Russian drift and overcome the two countries' complex and deep-rooted past.

Source: http://theconversation.com/russias-borders-old-ties-pull-bulgaria-in-two-directions-33288

Bulgaria May be the Next US-Russia Flashpoint

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Will Bulgaria be the next testing ground in the escalating confrontation between Putin’s Russia and the West—and why should you care? The answer may have something to do with gas.

Follow the Pipelines

“If the Russians get their way in Ukraine, we will be the next country they will turn their attention to,” said Evgeniy Dainov, a political science and sociology professor at New Bulgarian University in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital. He is a staunch critic of the Kremlin who nevertheless refuses to support a Western initiative to wean Bulgaria off Russian energy by letting big American companies such as Chevron “frack” in its most fertile land. Just like Crimea and the Donbass region of Ukraine, where clashes are currently taking place, Bulgaria has considerable shale gas reserves—and these reserves are near the heart of the East-West dispute.

 A Russian Trojan Horse?

Bulgaria was once the Soviet Union’s most loyal ally—now it’s a member of the European Union and NATO but it continues to have close economic and cultural ties with Russia. So much so, in fact, that some Europeans worry that having Bulgaria in their midst will prove to be a “Trojan horse” from Russia. The Bulgarians—along with the rest of Europe, and the West—are nervous about what they view as Russia’s intensifying expansionism: Kremlin influence inevitably follows direct investments and business deals with Russian entities. These can quickly morph into channels of political pressure—as in the 2009 Russia-Ukraine gas dispute, when the Russians cut off the gas to 16 European Union countries.

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Those Who Can Be Intimidated

A senior fellow and head of the European Council on Foreign Relations’ Bulgarian office, Dimitar Bechev explained to WhoWhatWhy his view on how Russia wields its power: “The Russian regime has a very cynical attitude and divides people into two categories: those who can be intimidated and those who can be bought.” Those who can be intimidated would include the Bulgarians, for many reasons. One reason: they depend on Russia for 90 percent of their natural gas, and they saw what happened during the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute (see map above).

3

There seems to be no limit to those who can be bought. Though Russia complains about “Nazis” in Ukraine, it has been funding extreme-right movements around Europe, which helps explain why the main ultranationalist party in Bulgaria just threatened to bring down the Sofia government if it approves sanctions against Russia. “It is obvious that Russia is co-opting people and buying influence—these methods are much more visible in the former Soviet countries, but are also being implemented throughout the Balkans, in Bulgaria as well as in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and elsewhere,” Bechev said.

Russian money has helped produce an odd-fellows alliance between the far right and the left in Bulgaria—though in the case of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, which controls the current coalition government and is also widely perceived as a conduit of Russian influence, there is more than money involved. It is the successor of the former Communist Party, whose graying constituency remembers fondly the old regime.

Western Interference Not Welcome Either

However, it’s not just financial self-interest or a kind of institutional nostalgia that leads Bulgarians to be suspicious of the West and its own brand of neo-liberal expansionist policies. Many Bulgarians have bitter personal memories of Western interference in their affairs in the post-Communist era. Indeed, Western-supported “economic liberalization” focused on the fire sale of state-owned industries contributed to the country’s financial ruin in the 1990s. As an editor for Anthropology News observed:

“Thugs were everywhere. In almost every nice restaurant I visited, there were thick-necked former wrestlers with handguns shoved into the backs of their pants, bodyguards of the new superrich. Rapid economic liberalization created economic growth, but this wealth was concentrated in the hands of a new domestic pack of oligarchs. Western investors had no problem doing business with these robber barons, people who did not innovate or produce, but who bribed and stole their way to wealth. Government regulators were happy to sell off state assets at reduced prices as long as they were given their generous slice of the spoils.”

Then, once the failure of the precipitous “economic liberalization” was clear, the IMF came in 1997 and imposed fiscal austerity on the country—in effect, punishing ordinary Bulgarians for the economic collapse brought on by the previous Western-imposed policy. “Fiscal austerity” involved cutting budget deficits through reduced government spending, which meant, among other things, lower incomes for Bulgarian workers.

“Bulgaria provides stark evidence that an economic strategy based on low wages and labour market flexibility will fail,” the International Trade Union Confederation wrote in a prescient report in 2012. “For more than a decade Bulgaria has been encouraged to pursue such a strategy by both the IMF and the European Union…. The Bulgaria record demonstrates that the draconian labour market reforms being forced on workers in Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy and other peripheral countries in Europe are misplaced.”

Just a year after the report was published, the failure of this second Western-imposed policy had resulted in daily protest marches in front of Parliament. Sociologists from the Sofia-based polling agency Alpha Research concluded in a report that “Bulgarian society is sliding down the spiral of institutional and political collapse.”

If parts of this story sounds similar to Ukraine’s, it is hardly a coincidence. When Ukraine, mired in financial trouble, applied to the IMF for financial aid last year, the IMF demanded painful austerity reforms, among them an end to fuel subsidies to Ukrainian families. The Ukrainian government refused and turned to Russia, which offered $15 billion with foreign policy strings attached but no demands that would hurt the average Ukrainian. The rest is history. (It bears noting that the new revolutionary government finally forced the subsidy cut through last month.)

It’s no surprise, then, that at a recent pro-Ukraine demonstration in Bulgaria, few people viewed things as black and white. One demonstrator articulated his nuanced frustration this way: “I am here to protest the interference of all foreign powers in Bulgaria, as well as in Ukraine.”

Source: http://whowhatwhy.com/2014/04/18/bulgaria-next-putin-care/

Russia gets greater control over Black Sea region

Russia tightened its control Monday over Georgia's breakaway province of Abkhazia with a new treaty envisaging closer military and economic ties with the lush sliver of land along the Black Sea. The move drew outrage and cries of "annexation" in Georgia and sent a chill through those in Abkhazia who fear that wealthy Russians will snap up their precious coastline. It also raised further suspicions in the West about Russian President Vladimir Putin's territorial aspirations after his annexation of Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in March.

Under the treaty signed by Putin and Abkhazia's leader in the nearby Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russian and Abkhazian forces in the territory will turn into a joint force led by a Russian commander. Putin said Moscow will also double its subsidies to Abkhazia to about 9.3 billion rubles (over $200 million) next year.

"I'm sure that cooperation, unity and strategic partnership between Russia and Abkhazia will continue to strengthen," he said. "Ties with Russia offer us full security guarantees and broad opportunities for socio-economic development," Abkhazian President Raul Khadzhimba said.

Russian troops have been deployed in Abkhazia for more than two decades since the region of 240,000 people broke away from Georgia in a separatist war in the early 1990s. Still, Monday's agreement reflected a clear attempt by Moscow to further expand its presence and came only after a change of leadership in the territory.

Coming amid a chill in Russia-West ties over the Ukrainian crisis, the deal raised concern about Moscow's plans. The Black Sea region has always been important for Putin, who justified the annexation of Crimea by saying it would guarantee that NATO warships would never be welcome on the peninsula, the home base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

NATO's secretary-general condemned the treaty, stressing that the alliance supports Georgia's sovereignty. He also called on Russia to reverse its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, another breakaway province, as independent states.

"This so-called treaty does not contribute to a peaceful and lasting settlement of the situation in Georgia," Jens Stoltenberg said. "On the contrary, it violates Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and blatantly contradicts the principles of international law, OSCE principles and Russia's international commitments."

 The U.S. also said it wouldn't recognize Russia's move and expressed continued support for Georgia's sovereignty.
"The United States will not recognize the legitimacy of any so-called 'treaty' between Georgia's Abkhazia region and the Russian Federation," the U.S. State Department said in a statement. Abkhazia's former leader, Alexander Ankvab, was forced to step down earlier this year under pressure from protesters who reportedly were encouraged by the Kremlin. Khadzhimba, a former Soviet KGB officer, was elected president in an early vote in August that Georgia rejected as illegal.

Unlike Ankvab, who had resisted Moscow's push to let Russians buy assets in Abkhazia, Khadzhimba has appeared more eager to listen to Russia's demands. The Georgian Foreign Ministry denounced the new agreement as a "step toward the de-facto annexation" of Abkhazia and called on the international community to condemn the move. Russian-Georgian relations were ruptured by war in August 2008 after former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili attempted to restore control over South Ossetia. The Russian military routed the Georgian forces in five days and Moscow recognized both rebel provinces as independent states.

The Georgian Dream bloc led by Russia-friendly billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, which unseated Saakashvili's party in the 2012 vote, has sought to repair ties with Moscow. But while economic relations have improved, political ties have remained frozen because of Moscow's refusal to compromise on the status of Georgia's separatist regions.

Saakashvili's United National Movement party has accused the Georgian government of kowtowing to Moscow. "The Georgian government has done practically nothing," said party leader David Bakradze, who urged the government to join Western sanctions against Russia and opt out of political talks with Moscow.


Russian analyst’s article on “straight way” to Armenia via Georgia stirs controversy

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In Russia they start voicing plans for the “opening” of a straight way to Armenia via Georgia. In particular, this is what deputy director of the Center of Strategic Situations Mikhail Chernov wrote in his article on the Russian lenta.ru portal. His article was taken as a provocation and probing of sentiments, still it caused a sharp reaction both in Armenia and Georgia.

The essence of the article by Chernova is that the military-strategic treaties between Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which are being prepared for signing, may become prerequisites for Russia’s reaching the border with Armenia. Now the only overland route from Russia to Armenia lies through Georgia, and it is almost an insurmountable obstacle for the integration of Armenia into the “neo-Soviet” space.
 
The texts of the treaties are already in the Russian State Duma, and, according to Chernov, “the institution of bilateral treaties may become a new tool of Russian foreign policy allowing Russia to meet its objectives in the South Caucasus without unnecessary complications in international relations.”
 
“Russia has two such basic tasks in the region and they are closely related to each other. The first one is to prevent the creation of NATO military infrastructure in Georgia. The second objective is to ensure a reliable direct transport link with Armenia,” the Russian expert says. Besides, control of the Russian Federation over transport communications will provide full functioning of the Russian military base in Armenia.
 
The mechanism has also been devised. It turns out that on October 31 Vladikavkaz, the capital of Russia’s republic of North Ossetia hosted a congress of the International Public Movement called “The Supreme Council of the Ossetians”, which was also attended by former president of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity. He raised the question of Trusovsky gorges and Kobin hollow being part of Ossetia. Presence in Kazbegi region will make it possible to control a small section of the strategically important Georgian Military Highway – the shortest route from Russia to Armenia.
 
“At the same time, Russia is more interested in the development of the Trans-Caucasian Highway. The ‘western’ route to Armenia passes through the Gori district, bypasses Trialet Ossetia, where a considerable number of Ossetians lived before the early 1990s, as well as the Armenian-populated Samtskhe-Javakheti region,” Chernov writes.
 
He hopes that if by some chance in Georgia on the basis of the current political crisis Maidan-like events start, Russia may introduce troops into Georgia for the “protection” of Ossetians and thus open up its route towards Armenia.
 
In an interview with Newspost former defense minister of Georgia Dimitri Shashkin said: “Alarm should be sounded over the document relating to the Tskhinvali region, which officially entered the [Russian State] Duma. Russian experts have already started openly speaking about the threat that concerns Russia’s big desire to create a direct link with its base in Gyumri (Armenia).”
 
 According to Shashkin, on the basis of treaties being prepared with Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Russia is openly stating that it will protect them against Georgians.
 
“[Russian] protection of Georgian regions is another new challenge. It turns out that if about a hundred people are paid for setting up a group of provocateurs, they [Russians] may invade Kakheti in order to protect the local population. A hundred provocateurs can be found easily,” Shashkin said.
 
No official reaction to these statements have yet been made in Armenia, Georgia and Russia, however, at the level of experts there are opinions that such provocations can sow discord between Georgians and Armenians. Former Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania, who stepped down recently, has repeatedly stated that the Russian base in Armenia is a threat for Georgia. It is these threats that do not allow Georgia and Armenia to establish mutually beneficial relations.


Georgia Ready to Provide Armenia Free Route to EEU


Georgia is ready to provide Armenia with a free transit corridor for exporting its goods to the Eurasian Economic Union, Armenian deputy economy minister Emil Tarasyan said Wednesday during a public discussion on Armenian exports to the Russia-led trade bloc organized by the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Armenia.

According to him, the issue on the transit of Armenian cargo through the territory of Georgia was included in the list of the main documents that Armenia signed with the Eurasian Economic Union, “because Armenia is the only country of the trade bloc that shares no common border with any of the bloc’s members.”

“Today we are working to secure an uninterrupted shipment of Armenian goods to the Eurasian Economic Union’s markets,” said Tarasyan, adding that Armenian goods will be exempted from customs checks at the border.

Armenia formally joined the Eurasian Economic Union on October 10. The agreement was signed by the heads of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia in Minsk, Belarus. The agreement on establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union comes into force in 2015. Russia may open a “green corridor” for Armenian trucks at Upper Lars border crossing on its frontier with Georgia, Gagik Kocharyan, a senior official of the Armenian economy ministry, said.

The Upper Lars is the only overland conduit to the outside world for Armenian businesses. It is of utmost importance for Armenia, which is subjected to transportation blockade by Azerbaijan and Turkey. According to Kocharyan, Armenian diplomats in Russia are discussing now the green corridor “issue with the Russian side.

In turn, the chairman of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Arsen Ghazaryan, said Armenian business people are facing problems now when going through the Upper Lars crossing because of the large number of trucks.

“Since Turkey did not join the Western sanctions against Russia, it has significantly increased its exports to the Russian Federation, carried out mainly by trucks. As a result, Armenian trucks have to stand in long lines at the checkpoint,” said Ghazaryan.
Some 40 states plan to create free trade zone with Eurasian Economic Union — lawmaker

Sergey Naryshkin

Around 40 states have plans to establish a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), the speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, Sergey Naryshkin, told an international conference in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana on Monday.

 “Five countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have already made a Eurasian choice, and another 40 countries across the world have officially voiced their wish to set up a free trade zone with our integration association,” Naryshkin said.

 The Eurasian Economic Union, which comes into force in January 2015, offers a unique chance for cooperation between Western Europe and the Asia-Pacific Region, the lawmaker said. The EEU members are currently Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia. Kyrgyzstan is expected to join the union soon.

 Naryshkin said those who consider the EEU as a threat only confirm that “a new and serious geopolitical player is indeed emerging in the world.” “It will probably build those lacking bridges which will unite Western Europe with the dynamic Asia-Pacific Region,” he stressed. The lawmaker warned against regarding the new bloc as a threat, saying it gives a “unique chance in which the peoples of Europe, Asia and the world in general are strategically interested.”

 Naryshkin said the Eurasian Economic Union will enlarge. “We see what interest other states have in the Eurasian Economic Union. I am sure it will enlarge and strengthen,” he said. The Kazakh Senate’s Chairman Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev noted the significance of the EEU formation. “It is an adequate response to what is happening in the world and to world economy shocks,” he said.

 The idea of Eurasian integration was voiced first by Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev in 1994. Finally, the Eurasian Economic Union has been formed and will begin working on January 1, 2015.

 The first attempt to form an economic international organization was made when the Commonwealth of Independent States concluded an agreement on an economic union, but the project was not implemented. In 1995, Russia and Belarus signed an agreement on a customs union, which was joined by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The countries concluded an agreement on the Customs Union and the common economic space in 1999 to build a common market.

 In 2009, the Russian, Belarusian and Kazakh presidents agreed on a deeper economic integration form - the Common Economic Space. The three agreements on the Eurasian Economic Union, the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space are open for other states to join.

 Source: http://en.itar-tass.com/economy/761312

Can China and Russia Squeeze Washington Out of Eurasia?  

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The Future of a Beijing-Moscow-Berlin Alliance

A specter haunts the fast-aging “New American Century”: the possibility of a future Beijing-Moscow-Berlin strategic trade and commercial alliance. Let’s call it the BMB.

Its likelihood is being seriously discussed at the highest levels in Beijing and Moscow, and viewed with interest in Berlin, New Delhi, and Tehran. But don’t mention it inside Washington’s Beltway or at NATO headquarters in Brussels. There, the star of the show today and tomorrow is the new Osama bin Laden: Caliph Ibrahim, aka Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the elusive, self-appointed beheading prophet of a new mini-state and movement that has provided an acronym feast — ISIS/ISIL/IS — for hysterics in Washington and elsewhere.

No matter how often Washington remixes its Global War on Terror, however, the tectonic plates of Eurasian geopolitics continue to shift, and they’re not going to stop just because American elites refuse to accept that their historically brief “unipolar moment” is on the wane.  For them, the closing of the era of “full spectrum dominance,” as the Pentagon likes to call it, is inconceivable.  After all, the necessity for the indispensable nation to control all space — military, economic, cultural, cyber, and outer — is little short of a religious doctrine.  Exceptionalist missionaries don’t do equality. At best, they do “coalitions of the willing” like the one crammed with “over 40 countries” assembled to fight ISIS/ISIL/IS and either applauding (and plotting) from the sidelines or sending the odd plane or two toward Iraq or Syria. 

NATO, which unlike some of its members won’t officially fight Jihadistan, remains a top-down outfit controlled by Washington. It’s never fully bothered to take in the European Union (EU) or considered allowing Russia to “feel” European. As for the Caliph, he’s just a minor diversion. A postmodern cynic might even contend that he was an emissary sent onto the global playing field by China and Russia to take the eye of the planet’s hyperpower off the ball.

Divide and Isolate

So how does full spectrum dominance apply when two actual competitor powers, Russia and China, begin to make their presences felt?  Washington’s approach to each — in Ukraine and in Asian waters — might be thought of as divide and isolate.

In order to keep the Pacific Ocean as a classic “American lake,” the Obama administration has been “pivoting” back to Asia for several years now. This has involved only modest military moves, but an immodest attempt to pit Chinese nationalism against the Japanese variety, while strengthening alliances and relations across Southeast Asia with a focus on South China Sea energy disputes. At the same time, it has moved to lock a future trade agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), in place.

In Russia’s western borderlands, the Obama administration has stoked the embers of regime change in Kiev into flames (fanned by local cheerleaders Poland and the Baltic nations) and into what clearly looked, to Vladimir Putin and Russia’s leadership, like an existential threat to Moscow. Unlike the U.S., whose sphere of influence (and military bases) are global, Russia was not to retain any significant influence in its former near abroad, which, when it comes to Kiev, is not for most Russians, “abroad” at all. 

For Moscow, it seemed as if Washington and its NATO allies were increasingly interested in imposing a new Iron Curtain on their country from the Baltic to the Black Sea, with Ukraine simply as the tip of the spear. In BMB terms, think of it as an attempt to isolate Russia and impose a new barrier to relations with Germany. The ultimate aim would be to split Eurasia, preventing future moves toward trade and commercial integration via a process not controlled through Washington.

From Beijing’s point of view, the Ukraine crisis was a case of Washington crossing every imaginable red line to harass and isolate Russia. To its leaders, this looks like a concerted attempt to destabilize the region in ways favorable to American interests, supported by a full range of Washington’s elite from neocons and Cold War “liberals” to humanitarian interventionists in the Susan Rice and Samantha Power mold.  Of course, if you’ve been following the Ukraine crisis from Washington, such perspectives seem as alien as any those of any Martian.  But the world looks different from the heart of Eurasia than it does from Washington — especially from a rising China with its newly minted “Chinese dream” (Zhongguo meng).

As laid out by President Xi Jinping, that dream would include a future network of Chinese-organized new Silk Roads that would create the equivalent of a Trans-Asian Express for Eurasian commerce. So if Beijing, for instance, feels pressure from Washington and Tokyo on the naval front, part of its response is a two-pronged, trade-based advance across the Eurasian landmass, one prong via Siberia and the other through the Central Asian “stans.” 

In this sense, though you wouldn’t know it if you only followed the American media or “debates” in Washington, we’re potentially entering a new world.  Once upon a time not so long ago, Beijing’s leadership was flirting with the idea of rewriting the geopolitical/economic game side by side with the U.S., while Putin’s Moscow hinted at the possibility of someday joining NATO. No longer. Today, the part of the West that both countries are interested in is a possible future Germany no longer dominated by American power and Washington’s wishes.

Moscow has, in fact, been involved in no less than half a century of strategic dialogue with Berlin that has included industrial cooperation and increasing energy interdependence. In many quarters of the Global South this has been noted and Germany is starting to be viewed as “the sixth BRICS” power (after Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).

In the midst of global crises ranging from Syria to Ukraine, Berlin’s geostrategic interests seem to be slowly diverging from Washington’s. German industrialists, in particular, appear eager to pursue unlimited commercial deals with Russia and China.  These might set their country on a path to global power unlimited by the EU’s borders and, in the long term, signal the end of the era in which Germany, however politely dealt with, was essentially an American satellite.

It will be a long and winding road. The Bundestag, Germany’s parliament, is still addicted to a strong Atlanticist agenda and a preemptive obedience to Washington. There are still tens of thousands of American soldiers on German soil. Yet, for the first time, German chancellor Angela Merkel has been hesitating when it comes to imposing ever-heavier sanctions on Russia over the situation in Ukraine, because no fewer than 300,000 German jobs depend on relations with that country. Industrial leaders and the financial establishment have already sounded the alarm, fearing such sanctions would be totally counterproductive.

China’s Silk Road Banquet

China’s new geopolitical power play in Eurasia has few parallels in modern history. The days when the “Little Helmsman” Deng Xiaoping insisted that the country “keep a low profile” on the global stage are long gone. Of course, there are disagreements and conflicting strategies when it comes to managing the country’s hot spots: Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, Xinjiang, the South China Sea, competitors India and Japan, and problematic allies like North Korea and Pakistan. And popular unrest in some Beijing-dominated “peripheries” is growing to incendiary levels.

The country’s number one priority remains domestic and focused on carrying out President Xi’s economic reforms, while increasing “transparency” and fighting corruption within the ruling Communist Party. A distant second is the question of how to progressively hedge against the Pentagon’s “pivot” plans in the region — via the build-up of a blue-water navy, nuclear submarines, and a technologically advanced air force — without getting so assertive as to freak out Washington’s “China threat”-minded establishment.

Meanwhile, with the U.S. Navy controlling global sea lanes for the foreseeable future, planning for those new Silk Roads across Eurasia is proceeding apace. The end result should prove a triumph of integrated infrastructure — roads, high-speed rail, pipelines, ports — that will connect China to Western Europe and the Mediterranean Sea, the old Roman imperial Mare Nostrum, in every imaginable way.

In a reverse Marco Polo-style journey, remixed for the Google world, one key Silk Road branch will go from the former imperial capital Xian to Urumqi in Xinjiang Province, then through Central Asia, Iran, Iraq, and Turkey’s Anatolia, ending in Venice. Another will be a maritime Silk Road starting from Fujian province and going through the Malacca strait, the Indian Ocean, Nairobi in Kenya, and finally all the way to the Mediterranean via the Suez canal. Taken together, it’s what Beijing refers to as the Silk Road Economic Belt.  

China’s strategy is to create a network of interconnections among no less than five key regions: Russia (the key bridge between Asia and Europe), the Central Asian “stans,” Southwest Asia (with major roles for Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey), the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe (including Belarus, Moldova, and depending upon its stability, Ukraine). And don’t forget Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, which could be thought of as Silk Road plus.

Silk Road plus would involve connecting the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar economic corridor to the China-Pakistan economic corridor, and could offer Beijing privileged access to the Indian Ocean. Once again, a total package — roads, high-speed rail, pipelines, and fiber optic networks — would link the region to China.

Xi himself put the India-China connection in a neat package of images in an op-ed he published in the Hindu prior to his recent visit to New Delhi. “The combination of the ‘world’s factory’ and the ‘world’s back office,’” he wrote, “will produce the most competitive production base and the most attractive consumer market.”

The central node of China’s elaborate planning for the Eurasian future is Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Province and the site of the largest commercial fair in Central Asia, the China-Eurasia Fair. Since 2000, one of Beijing’s top priorities has been to urbanize that largely desert but oil-rich province and industrialize it, whatever it takes. And what it takes, as Beijing sees it, is the hardcore Sinicization of the region — with its corollary, the suppression of any possibility of ethnic Uighur dissent.  People’s Liberation Army General Li Yazhou has, in these terms, described Central Asia as “the most subtle slice of cake donated by the sky to modern China.”

Most of China’s vision of a new Eurasia tied to Beijing by every form of transport and communication was vividly detailed in “Marching Westwards: The Rebalancing of China’s Geostrategy,” a landmark 2012 essay published by scholar Wang Jisi of the Center of International and Strategic Studies at Beijing University. As a response to such a future set of Eurasian connections, the best the Obama administration has come up with is a version of naval containment from the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea, while sharpening conflicts with and strategic alliances around China from Japan to India. (NATO is, of course, left with the task of containing Russia in Eastern Europe.)   

An Iron Curtain vs. Silk Roads

The $400 billion “gas deal of the century,” signed by Putin and the Chinese president last May, laid the groundwork for the building of the Power of Siberia pipeline, already under construction in Yakutsk.  It will bring a flood of Russian natural gas onto the Chinese market.  It clearly represents just the beginning of a turbocharged, energy-based strategic alliance between the two countries. Meanwhile, German businessmen and industrialists have been noting another emerging reality: as much as the final market for made-in-China products traveling on future new Silk Roads will be Europe, the reverse also applies. In one possible commercial future, China is slated to become Germany’s top trading partner by 2018, surging ahead of both the U.S. and France.

A potential barrier to such developments, welcomed in Washington, is Cold War 2.0, which is already tearing not NATO, but the EU apart. In the EU of this moment, the anti-Russian camp includes Great Britain, Sweden, Poland, Romania, and the Baltic nations. Italy and Hungary, on the other hand, can be counted in the pro-Russian camp, while a still unpredictable Germany is the key to whether the future will hold a new Iron Curtain or “Go East” mindset.  For this, Ukraine remains the key.  If it is successfully Finlandized (with significant autonomy for its regions), as Moscow has been proposing — a suggestion that is anathema to Washington — the Go-East path will remain open. If not, a BMB future will be a dicier proposition.

It should be noted that another vision of the Eurasian economic future is also on the horizon.  Washington is attempting to impose a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on Europe and a similar Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on Asia.  Both favor globalizing American corporations and their aim is visibly to impede the ascent of the BRICS economies and the rise of other emerging markets, while solidifying American global economic hegemony.

Two stark facts, carefully noted in Moscow, Beijing, and Berlin, suggest the hardcore geopolitics behind these two “commercial” pacts. The TPP excludes China and the TTIP excludes Russia. They represent, that is, the barely disguised sinews of a future trade/monetary war.  On my own recent travels, I have had quality agricultural producers in Spain, Italy, and France repeatedly tell me that TTIP is nothing but an economic version of NATO, the military alliance that China’s Xi Jinping calls, perhaps wishfully, an “obsolete structure.”

There is significant resistance to the TTIP among many EU nations (especially in the Club Med countries of southern Europe), as there is against the TPP among Asian nations (especially Japan and Malaysia).  It is this that gives the Chinese and the Russians hope for their new Silk Roads and a new style of trade across the Eurasian heartland backed by a Russian-supported Eurasian Union. To this, key figures in German business and industrial circles, for whom relations with Russia remain essential, are paying close attention.

After all, Berlin has not shown overwhelming concern for the rest of the crisis-ridden EU (three recessions in five years). Via a much-despised troika — the European Central Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the European Commission — Berlin is, for all practical purposes, already at the helm of Europe, thriving, and looking east for more.

Three months ago, German chancellor Angela Merkel visited Beijing. Hardly featured in the news was the political acceleration of a potentially groundbreaking project: an uninterrupted high-speed rail connection between Beijing and Berlin. When finally built, it will prove a transportation and trade magnet for dozens of nations along its route from Asia to Europe. Passing through Moscow, it could become the ultimate Silk Road integrator for Europe and perhaps the ultimate nightmare for Washington.

“Losing” Russia

In a blaze of media attention, the recent NATO summit in Wales yielded only a modest “rapid reaction force” for deployment in any future Ukraine-like situations. Meanwhile, the expanding Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a possible Asian counterpart to NATO, met in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. In Washington and Western Europe essentially no one noticed.  They should have. There, China, Russia, and four Central Asian “stans” agreed to add an impressive set of new members: India, Pakistan, and Iran.  The implications could be far-reaching. After all, India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now on the brink of its own version of Silk Road mania. Behind it lies the possibility of a “Chindia” economic rapprochement, which could change the Eurasian geopolitical map. At the same time, Iran is also being woven into the “Chindia” fold.

So the SCO is slowly but surely shaping up as the most important international organization in Asia.  It’s already clear that one of its key long-term objectives will be to stop trading in U.S. dollars, while advancing the use of the petroyuan and petroruble in the energy trade. The U.S., of course, will never be welcomed into the organization.

All of this lies in the future, however.  In the present, the Kremlin keeps signaling that it once again wants to start talking with Washington, while Beijing has never wanted to stop. Yet the Obama administration remains myopically embedded in its own version of a zero-sum game, relying on its technological and military might to maintain an advantageous position in Eurasia.  Beijing, however, has access to markets and loads of cash, while Moscow has loads of energy. Triangular cooperation between Washington, Beijing, and Moscow would undoubtedly be — as the Chinese would say — a win-win-win game, but don’t hold your breath.

Instead, expect China and Russia to deepen their strategic partnership, while pulling in other Eurasian regional powers. Beijing has bet the farm that the U.S./NATO confrontation with Russia over Ukraine will leave Vladimir Putin turning east. At the same time, Moscow is carefully calibrating what its ongoing reorientation toward such an economic powerhouse will mean. Someday, it’s possible that voices of sanity in Washington will be wondering aloud how the U.S. “lost” Russia to China.   

In the meantime, think of China as a magnet for a new world order in a future Eurasian century.  The same integration process Russia is facing, for instance, seems increasingly to apply to India and other Eurasian nations, and possibly sooner or later to a neutral Germany as well. In the endgame of such a process, the U.S. might find itself progressively squeezed out of Eurasia, with the BMB emerging as a game-changer. Place your bets soon.  They’ll be called in by 2025.  

Pepe Escobar is the roving correspondent for Asia Times/Hong Kong, an analyst for RT, and a TomDispatch regular. His new book, Empire of Chaos, will be published in November by Nimble Books.

Source: http://orientalreview.org/2014/10/10/can-china-and-russia-squeeze-washington-out-of-eurasia/

As Russia Draws Closer to China, U.S. Faces a New Challenge

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President Obama flies to Beijing on Sunday to renew efforts to refocus American foreign policy toward Asia. But when he lands, he will find the man who has done so much to frustrate him lately, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. “You are pivoting to Asia,” Russia’s ambassador to Washington said last week, “but we’re already there.”

Mr. Obama is returning to Asia as Russia pulls closer to China, presenting a profound challenge to the United States and Europe. Estranged from the West over Ukraine, Mr. Putin will also be in Beijing this week as he seeks economic and political support, trying to upend the international order by fashioning a coalition to resist what both countries view as American arrogance.

Whether that is more for show than for real has set off a vigorous debate in Washington, where some government officials and international specialists dismiss the prospect of a more meaningful alliance between Russia and China because of the fundamental differences between the countries. But others said the Obama administration should take the threat seriously as Moscow pursues energy, financing and military deals with Beijing.

“We are more and more interested in the region that is next to us in Asia,” said Sergei I. Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to Washington. “They are good partners to us.” He added that a recent natural gas deal between Moscow and Beijing was a taste of the future. “It’s just the beginning,” he said, “and you will see more and more projects between us and China.”

The Russian pivot to China factors into a broader White House-led review of American policy toward Moscow now underway. The review has produced several drafts of a policy to counter what officials call Putinism over the long term while still seeking silos of cooperation, particularly on issues like Iran, terrorism and nuclear nonproliferation.

Though there is not a wide divergence of opinion inside the administration over how to view Mr. Putin, there is a debate about what to do. The review has pitted officials favoring more engagement against those favoring more containment, according to people involved. The main question is how the Ukraine dispute should define the relationship and affect other areas where the two countries share interests.

Within the administration, Mr. Putin’s efforts at accord with China are seen as a jab at Washington, but one fraught with a complicated history, mutual distrust and underlying economic disparity that ultimately makes it untenable. “They’ll use each other,” said one government official, who declined to be identified discussing the internal review. “And when one of them gets tired or sees a better deal, they’ll take it.”

But others warned against underestimating the potential. “There’s just so much evidence the relationship is getting stronger,” said Gilbert Rozman, a Princeton scholar who published a book, “The Sino-Russian Challenge to the World Order,” this year and an article in Foreign Affairs on the subject last month. The rapprochement began before Ukraine, he added, but now there is a “sense that there’s no turning back. They’re moving toward China.”

Graham Allison, director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard, said Mr. Putin seemed to have forged a strong bond with President Xi Jinping of China. “There’s a personal chemistry you can see,” he said. “They like each other, and they can relate to each other. They talk with each other with a candor and a level of cooperation they don’t find with other partners.”

Mr. Xi made Russia his first foreign destination after taking office and attended the Sochi Olympics as Mr. Obama and European leaders were boycotting them. Each has cracked down on dissent at home, and they share a view of the United States as a meddling imperialist power whose mismanagement of the world economic order was exposed by the 2008 financial crisis.

While past Chinese leaders looked askance at the Kremlin leader, “Xi is not appalled by Putin,” said Douglas Paal, an Asia expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The twin crises in Ukraine and Hong Kong have encouraged the alignment. State television in Russia portrays democracy protests in Hong Kong as an American-inspired effort to undermine China, much as it depicted the protests in Kiev as an American effort to peel away a Russian ally from Moscow. Chinese media present Mr. Putin as a strong leader standing up to foreign intervention.

In May, as the United States and Europe were imposing sanctions on Moscow over Ukraine, Mr. Putin sealed a $400 billion, 30-year deal providing natural gas to China. Last month, China’s premier, Li Keqiang, signed a package of 38 deals in Moscow, including a currency swap and tax treaty. Last week, Mr. Putin said the two countries had reached an understanding for another major gas deal. The two had already bolstered economic ties. China surpassed Germany in 2010 to become Russia’s largest trading partner, with nearly $90 billion in trade last year, a figure surging this year as business with Europe shrinks.

“The campaign of economic sanctions against Russia and political pressure is alienating Russia from the West and pushing it closer to China,” said Sergei Rogov, director of Moscow’s Institute for U.S. and Canada Studies. “China is perceived in Russia as a substitute for Western credits and Western technology.”

Masha Lipman, a visiting fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations, said that the pivot to China “is taken very seriously” in Moscow and that “commentators regard this shift as a given, a done and irreversible deal.” Yet talk of a Russian-Chinese alignment has persisted for decades without becoming fully realized, given deep cultural differences and a Cold War competition for leadership of the communist world. And Beijing has long opposed separatist movements, making it uncomfortable with Moscow’s support for pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine.

In Moscow, some fear Russia, out of weakness, has made itself a junior partner to a rising China. While China is now Russia’s largest trading partner, Russia is only China’s 10th largest — and the United States remains its biggest. Moreover, big Russian state companies can make deals, but China will not replace Europe for most corporations and banks, as there is no developed commercial bond market for foreigners in China akin to Eurobonds.

John Beyrle, a former American ambassador to Moscow, said discussions with Russian business leaders revealed nervousness, a sense that the turn to China was out of necessity as loans and investment from the West dry up. “One of them said that dependence on China worries the Russian elite much more than dependence on the West,” he said.

Lilia Shevtsova, a Moscow-based analyst with the Brookings Institution, said: “The pivot is artificial. And the pivot is to the disadvantage of Russia.”

Mr. Obama and Mr. Putin will cross paths twice this week, first in Beijing at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and then in Brisbane, Australia, at a meeting of the Group of 20 nations. Mr. Obama hopes to advance a Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact. Russia and China are acutely aware they have been excluded from the proposed bloc, and Mr. Putin says it would be ineffective without them. Such issues only fuel Russia’s move to China, Russian officials said. If the United States and Europe are less reliable, long-term partners, then China looks more attractive. “We trust them,” said Mr. Kislyak, “and we hope that China equally trusts us.”


'Putin's Revenge': Russia And China Try To End The Dominance Of The Dollar

'Putin's Revenge': Russia And China Try To End The Dominance Of The Dollar
Russia and China just agreed to a second major gas deal, worth slightly less than the $400 billion agreement reached earlier this year, according to Bloomberg. The details of the deal mean Russia will supply China with another 30 billion cubic metres of gas every year for the next three decades through the Altai pipeline, a proposed pipe transporting the gas from western Siberia to China. 

Many analysts see the move as evidence that Moscow is pivoting away from reliance on European customers and toward East Asia, where relatively rapid economic growth should prop up demand. It's also a political move, as relations with the rest of Europe have become increasingly cold after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the tit-for-tat sanctions between the European Union, United States, and Russia. 

The value of the Russian rouble has collapsed recently as the price of oil has declined. Russia's economy is dependent on oil, so the currency fluctuates with the oil price. The price declines in turn threaten Russia's ability to meet its budget obligations and pay debt. In sum, the country faces an economic crisis if it can't find new demand for oil and currency .

But the rouble is rallying against the dollar today. Here's the US currency dropping by nearly 3% against the rouble after the central bank announced it would stop trying to defend the currency's collapse. The China deal helps both Russia and China lessen their economic dependence on the West. It also helps Russia get around the economic sanctions imposed by the West because of the Ukraine situation. The Moscow Times notes:

Curtailing the dollar's influence fits well with China's ambitions to increase the influence of the yuan and eventually turn it into a global reserve currency. With 32 percent of its $4 trillion foreign exchange reserves invested in US government debt, China wants to curb investment risks in dollar. The quest to limit the dollar's dominance became more urgent for Moscow this year when US and European governments imposed sanctions on Russia over its support for separatist rebels in Ukraine.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/putins-revenge-russia-china-try-131700912.html 
Russian Senator: “Russia Supports Multipolar World, Rejects Exceptionalism”

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Andrei Klimov, the Russian Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, held a press conference on Friday at Rossiya Segodnya’s multimedia press center, where he discussed US pressure aimed at the Eurasian Economic Union project, Russia’s strained relations with PACE, the country’s search for alternative forums for inter-parliamentary dialogue, and the shift of the world away from US-based unipolarity.

On US Attempts to Halt the Process of Eurasian Economic Integration

Speaking about the integration processes of the Eurasian Economic Union, Klimov noted that “in her own time, Mrs. Clinton, as Secretary of State, said that under no circumstances should Eurasian integration ‘in the Russian scenario’ be allowed.”

Klimov noted that since then the US has been searching for “weak links” and is willing to use “any means necessary” to “destabilize the situation in the countries that neighbor Russia,” noting that such destabilization measures have most recently been realized in Ukraine.

“They have already done what they could [in Ukraine]...the system has already been broken...the abscess has been created, the crisis is set to last a long time, and their direct control [over events] is no longer necessary,” Klimov said. “They are trying to work via our neighbors. Now in Yerevan [Armenia] there are attempts to create unrest. There are similar attempts in Kazakhstan,” he added.

Presently, “the Kazakh people are being told by someone via local NGOs that their Russian neighbors have some not-very-good thoughts with regard to Kazakhstan. And we are also told through various ‘experts’ that we will lose more through the Eurasian Union than we gain.”

Noting the aftermath of the color revolutions and other destabilization attempts, Klimov stated that former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is presently having trouble entering the US, noting that “our Ukrainian colleagues would do well to see how the great friendship with Uncle Sam ends.”

Questions on PACE Membership

Klimov discussed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which deprived Russia of the right to vote, to participate in its statutory bodies and to monitor activities this past April due to Russia’s annexation of Ukraine. He said that while Russia sees no reason to leave the organization, it is far from the only platform for inter-parliamentary dialogue, and “we should reevaluate our position within the organization.”

Klimov noted that considering “the global processes which are occurring today,” there are “a variety of inter-parliamentary institutions” to work with, adding that Russia has had “a somewhat exaggerated idea” about the importance and manner of PACE discussions.

“The world is changing, and we shouldn’t remain frozen,” Klimov said. Still, he added that Russia has made many concessions to enter PACE it the past, and from an economic perspective, and the perspective of Russian citizens working, living and vacationing in PACE countries, the organization remains an important partner for Russia.

Prospects for Other Inter-Parliamentary Platforms

Among the alternative inter-parliamentary platforms which Russia has recently been reorienting itself towards, Klimov mentioned the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEM), a platform for inter-parliamentary dialogue stretching from Europe to Asia and Oceania, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, an organization Klimov calls “old, tested and proven.”
 
Klimov noted that at the most recent ASEM meeting in Rome on October 6-7, calls were made from all sides for the reform of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. He added that Russia “can’t wait for the reform of these institutions, which at present are dominated by the West, and undeservedly so, from our perspective.”

The Senator noted that interesting proposals were made in Rome to “turn [ASEP] into something similar to PACE...to constitute an organization,” including a permanent secretariat. “Possibly something like a Eurasian Assembly will form out of this, which based on our goals, would be very beneficial [for Russia].”

Klimov noted that one of the reasons Russia is so eager to expand its participation in ASEP is the country’s size. “Russia has two dozen neighboring countries, all of them very different from one another...thus for us, formats where they are all present are objectively preferable ...[Russia is] a big country, and it’s very difficult to conduct our international affairs based on small groupings because what we are dealing with [a dispute somewhere along the country’s border] is not necessarily interesting to, for example, a small European country. In this regard, considering our potential and interests as well as our size, the Inter-Parliamentary Union is [the most comfortable forum], and we regret that we are only now beginning to understand this.”

Speaking about the upcoming meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on October 13 in Geneva, Klimov noted that Russia would bring its White Book on human rights violations in Ukraine, as well as other material from Russian political and civil organizations, and will be ready to present evidence, if necessary, that would convince the world community to come to independent conclusions based on the evidence. Klimov mentioned other organizations which Russia has been working with, including the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum and the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, as well as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, which Russia has recently joined.

 On the European Economic Crisis, Financial Bubble:

At the ASEP forum in Rome, Klimov noted that he had heard figures during the course of discussions which he had found interesting; he had discovered that "the EU accounts for more than 60% of all social spending worldwide" despite having a population of only 600 million people. At the same time, the EU’s contribution to global GDP is only 15 percent. Obviously someone has to pay for the difference. These questions are very worrisome to people who represent countries which make a much greater contribution to the creation of [global] GDP."

Klimov said that “the fact that the discussion took place in Italy only made it more relevant, considering that unemployment among the country’s youth stands at 40 percent today. Imagine such a high unemployment rate in our country. It would result in a tremendous outcry, and justifiably so... Against this background, it is understandable that when such tremendous resources are spent on social needs, the region becomes attractive to immigrants...and now in the EU there is no idea about what to do with this issue. On one hand, the unions attempt to prevent the bar from being lowered; while on the other hand, their economies haven’t been capable of dealing with the problem for a long time, and money and other financial instruments are utilized. All of this affects the world financial system’s [stability], since this bubble is set to burst sooner or later; similar processes are occurring in the United States; this is what the discussions [in Milan] were about.”

Growing International Interest Toward the Eurasian Union and BRICS

Klimov noted that among parliamentary circles and foreign business communities, interest in the Eurasian Union project and the five BRICS economies “is greater even than in our own country...Our people seem to have become accustomed to thinking on the scale of Russia, which of course is correct, and they have not yet come to understand that the Eurasian Economic Union is a new supranational entity whose decisions are binding for participating countries; there are a lot of interesting processes taking place in this regard. Our international partners seem to have observed this attentively, together with what is going on in the BRICS.”

Klimov noted that Russian delegations are asked about developments on these issues at forums throughout the world, “from Caracas to Colombo,” and also among Western leaders, “especially its business class,” adding that “the political class is also interested but tries to hide it.”

 Need for and Movement Toward a Multipolar World Order

Klimov noted that Russia “today and in the foreseeable future, will support a multipolar world, toward which we are presently working with all our efforts...including through inter-parliamentary dialogues with our colleagues.” Klimov added that Russia rejects the ideas of national exceptionalism and of one power deciding for everyone. The Senator said toward the conclusion of his meeting that currently “the US often just avoids those platforms where they do not have a dominant position...they have even left the platform organized by the countries of Latin America, which pushed them out, together with the Canadians. And if we are to speak about who is isolated, in inter-parliamentary terms, it’s the United States...Because if you observe the countries that do not have very close relations with them –even just the inter-parliamentary dialogue between the EU and the US, you will see a lot of interesting things in this regard.”

Source: http://en.ria.ru/interview/20141013/194014538/Russian-Senator-Russia-Supports-Multipolar-World-Rejects.html
Russia Surpasses US in Nuclear Weapons Technology, NATO "Scared"

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Crisis in Ukraine has sparked even more controversies as Russia accuses the United States of pushing for regime change in Moscow. Tension across the globe has also been rising following the country's aggressive military mobilizations on Ukraine with recent evaluations saying that Russia may now be at par, perhaps even beyond, the nuclear capabilities of the West. Are Vladimir Putin and his country a rising threat? 

Last September 1, 2014, a report from the US State Department claimed that in 40 years and for the first time following the USSR collapse, Russia achieved strategic nuclear weapons' parity with the United States. More importantly, Washington said that Moscow may have regained a status similar to the mid-70′s Sovient Union. To be exact, the State Department revealed that Russia now has 528 carriers of strategic nuclear weapons capable of carrying 1,643 warheads. The United States, as per the report, manages 794 vehicles including 1,652 nuclear warheads. 

The report considers Russia's weapons advanced than US primarily because it guarantees parity on warheads with a fewer strategic nuclear weapons' carrier. The gap may even widen in the future considering the promise of Russian defense officials to add new generation missiles to Russia's SNF. 

The reportedly growing military power of Russia injects more tension as its Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of Russia attacks the West's sanctions on the country. According to the minister (via CNN): "As for the concept behind the use of coercive measures, the West is making it clear it does not want to try to change the policy of the Russian Federation ... they want to change the regime -- practically no one denies this." This reflects the waning ties between the United States and several European nations with Russia. These countries condemned Russia's move on Ukraine such as sending troops to the region to overthrow Ukrainian government forces. 

CNN also reported that Moscow has been vocal about its support to the rebels in Ukraine even sending aid convoys. However, the region did deny being militarily involved. Reuters' report, on other hand, demonstrates new lows in country relations for Russia. In order to pressure Russia in its involvement with Ukraine, the European Union and the United States have imposed sanctions on the country. Reuters quoted Putin: "We understand the fatality of an 'Iron Curtain' for us." 

"We will not go down this path in any case and no one will build a wall around us. That is impossible!"

Ukraine has been a source of tension for both Russia and the United States since the Cold War. Fatalities in the region have reached 4,300 people since chaos erupted around mid-April. Academic director at the German government's Federal Academy for Security Policy in Berlin also noted the impact of Russia's move in Ukraine to NATO.

"The rapid mobilization of 20,000 to 40,000 Russian troops at the Ukrainian border scared the hell out of NATO," Bloomberg quoted the director. 


Russian bomber patrols to reach Gulf of Mexico

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Russia's long-range bombers will conduct regular patrol missions from the Arctic Ocean to the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, the military said Wednesday, a show of muscle reflecting tensions with the West over Ukraine. A statement from Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu comes as NATO has reported a spike in Russian military flights over the Black, Baltic and North seas as well as the Atlantic Ocean. It came as NATO's chief commander accused Moscow of sending new troops and tanks into Ukraine — a claim quickly rejected by Moscow. Shoigu said Russian long-range bombers will conduct flights along Russian borders and over the Arctic Ocean. He added that "in the current situation we have to maintain military presence in the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific, as well as the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico."

He said that the increasing pace and duration of flights would require stronger maintenance efforts and relevant directives have been issued to industries. Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers were making regular patrols across the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans during Cold War times, but the post-Soviet money crunch forced the military to cut back. The bomber patrol flights have resumed under Putin's rule and have become increasingly frequent in recent years. Earlier this year, Shoigu said that Russia plans to expand its worldwide military presence by seeking permission for navy ships to use ports in Latin America, Asia and elsewhere for replenishing supplies and doing maintenance. He said the military was conducting talks with Algeria, Cyprus, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba, Seychelles, Vietnam and Singapore.

Shoigu said Russia was also talking to some of those countries about allowing long-range bombers to use their air bases for refueling.

Ian Kearns, director of the European Leadership Network, a London-based think tank, said the bomber patrols were part of Kremlin's efforts to make the Russian military "more visible and more assertive in its actions." The new bomber flights "aren't necessarily presaging a threat," Kearns said. "They are just part of a general ramping-up of activities." But he said "the more instances you have of NATO and Russian forces coming close together, the more chance there is of having something bad happening, even if it's not intentional."

On Monday, the European Leadership Network issued a report that found a sharp rise in Russian-NATO military encounters since the Kremlin's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March, including violations of national airspace, narrowly avoided mid-air collisions, close encounters at sea, harassment of reconnaissance planes, close overflights over warships and Russian mock bombing raid missions.

Three of the nearly 40 incidents, the think tank said, carried a "high probability" of causing casualties or triggering a direct military confrontation: a narrowly avoided collision between a civilian airliner and a Russian surveillance plane, the abduction of an Estonian intelligence officer and a large-scale Swedish hunt for a suspected Russian submarine that yielded no result. In September, the report said, Russian strategic bombers in the Labrador Sea off Canada practiced cruise missile strikes on the U.S. Earlier this year, in May, the report said, Russian military aircraft approached within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of the California coast, the closest such Russian military flight reported since the end of the Cold War. Russia-West ties have dipped to their lowest point since Cold War times over Moscow's annexation of Crimea and support for pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine. The West and Ukraine have continuously accused Moscow of fueling the rebellion with troops and weapons — claims Russia has rejected.

Fighting has continued in the east despite a cease-fire agreement between Ukraine and the rebels signed in September, and Ukraine and the West accused Russia recently of sending in new troops and weapons. U.S. Gen. Philip Breedlove said Wednesday that in the last two days "we have seen columns of Russian equipment, primarily Russian tanks, Russian artillery, Russian air defense systems and Russian combat troops entering into Ukraine."
Breedlove, who spoke in Sofia, Bulgaria, wouldn't say how many new troops and weapons have moved into Ukraine and wouldn't specify how the alliance obtained the information. The Russian Defense Ministry quickly rejected Breedlove's statement as groundless. Breedlove said that the Russia-Ukraine border is "completely wide open," and "forces, money, support, supplies, weapons are flowing back and forth across this border completely at will." "We need to get back to a situation where this international border is respected," he said.
Russia To Build Unified Network Of Military Facilities On Its Arctic Territories In December

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Russia is planning to set up the headquarters of its Arctic Command at a naval base used by its Northern Fleet, and the new facility will become operational on Dec. 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Monday. The Arctic Command is part of Russia’s plan to form a combined arms group and construct a unified network of military facilities in the country’s Arctic territories, by hosting troops, advanced warships and aircraft to strengthen the protection of its northern borders, Ria Novosti reported.

“A new strategic command in the Arctic, based at the Northern Fleet, will become operational on December 1 this year,” Putin reportedly said, in a meeting with top military commanders on Monday. Russia’s Defense Ministry said that the newly formed Arctic Command, dubbed “North,” will include the country’s Northern Fleet, two Arctic-warfare brigades, in addition to its air force and air defense units by 2017, according to Ria Novosti.

The latest announcement by Russia follows recent media reports that Norwegian scientists had spotted a Russian submarine surface in the Arctic Circle in October. The submarine was reportedly the 13,700-ton Delta class boat Orenburg, a newly refurbished ballistic missile bomber. In October, a senior Russian military commander said that the country would strengthen its military forces with more airfields and radar stations in the Arctic.

“We are planning to build 13 airfields, an air-ground firing range, as well as ten radar and vectoring posts,” Lt. Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev, head of the National Defense Management Center, was quoted as saying at the time, by Ria Novosti. Russia’s Natural Resources Minister Sergei Donskoi also reportedly said in October that the country could submit another request to the United Nations, seeking to expand its Arctic borders by 1.2 million square kilometers (more than 463,322 square miles).

A Russian expert also said that the country’s prospective submission to the U.N. to expand the limits of its Arctic borders is backed by scientific research. Over the past few years, the Russian government has reportedly been undertaking several political, economic and military measures to safeguard the country’s interests in the Arctic. In October 2013, Putin vowed never to "surrender" Russia's Arctic area. He later ordered the Defense Ministry to take steps to protect Russia’s interests in the region, Xinhua reported.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/russia-build-unified-network-military-facilities-its-arctic-territories-december-1728913

Russia Tensions Move Closer to US

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu makes the military salute at the Red Square in Moscow, on May 9, 2014, during a Victory Day parade.

Russia’s increasingly assertive – and some say militaristic – foreign policy hit a little closer to home recently. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that the Russian military would soon be conducting bomber patrols worldwide, including in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico – the United States’ proverbial backyard. “In the current situation we have to maintain military presence in the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific as well as the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico,” said Shoigu, apparently in response to accusations from NATO officials that Russian troops are heading into Ukraine.

Shoigu reportedly added that the flights would be “reconnaissance missions to monitor foreign powers’ military activities and maritime communications,” presumably referring to the U.S.

If Shoigu’s announced plans were to materialize, the Russian flights would constitute the most significant Russian international military escalation since the Cold War. By some standards, bomber sorties in the Gulf of Mexico would surpass even Cold War-era tensions, as Russian forces reportedly did not routinely patrol North America’s southern flank. “Such a policy is highly reminiscent of Soviet military activity during the Cold War,” says Laura Linderman, a research fellow with the Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council. “This is a calculated escalation by Moscow to see just how far they can push the U.S.”

Shoigu’s comments come amid a major increase in Russian airborne “probing” missions in the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean and throughout European airspace. However, those flights were largely launched from Russia itself. Even occasional missions skirting U.S. airspace near Alaska or California can be launched from Russian bases. Flying patrols to the Gulf of Mexico, to say nothing of the further-flung Caribbean, would require a constellation of refueling and maintenance facilities throughout the region to support aircraft making the approximately 5,500-mile journey from Russia’s frozen East to the balmy Gulf.

This makes it unlikely that Russia will be able to fly patrols in the Gulf and Caribbean as announced without first establishing those facilities, experts say. It is also possible that while several high-profile missions may indeed go forward, they will be used more as a demonstration of capability rather than establishing a regular surveillance route. But either way, it underlines Russian intentions to boost its presence in the Western Hemisphere and, more broadly, to lay claim to the return of Russia as a global power.

Lincoln Mitchell, an associate research scholar at the Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies at Columbia University, supports the view that the Russian plan cannot be ignored despite the obvious logistical difficulties. “In the last year or so, what seems unlikely one day with Russia has had a way of happening the next,” says Mitchell. The leadership “has been very smart about seeing just how far they can go. You can’t rule it out just because it seems implausible today.”

Though the Russian bomber sorties, should they ever happen, will involve aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons, the actual military threat they pose is relatively low. The Russian long-range bomber of choice, the Tupolev TU-95 “Bear,” is of 1950s vintage and an easy mark for U.S. air forces – including the hypersophisticated F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II fighters that make up an ever-larger portion of the U.S. fighter fleets.

The greater danger may be the risk of an incident between Russian and U.S. planes. A collision between a U.S. spy plane and a Chinese fighter in 2001 brought relations to deep lows even without the volatile context that increasingly surrounds U.S.-Russian ties. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, in which Russian forces appear to be actively engaged in supporting separatist groups in the country’s East, has been a major point of contention between the U.S. and Russia since the conflict began in earnest in March.

Russia has denied its involvement in Ukraine, saying that any of its citizens fighting there are only “volunteers.” However, U.S. leaders reject this claim. According to U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, NATO forces have confirmed “columns of Russian equipment, primarily Russian tanks, Russian artillery, Russian air defense systems and Russian combat troops entering into Ukraine.”

In Washington, the response to all this activity and rhetoric has not been particularly well-defined. “Russia is invading Ukraine, but the administration will not call it an invasion. Is this a strategy?” asks Linderman. “As far as I can tell, in the run-up to this situation, the administration has not shown itself to be sufficiently strategic.”

Instead, it has leaned on a tool kit of sticks and carrots in an effort to nudge Moscow toward compromise. On one hand, Washington has used sanctions, aid and military reassurance deployments to pressure Moscow for its alleged excesses, but it has kept the door open rhetorically for a figurative “off-ramp” that would lead to de-escalation. “I think Obama has been one of the cooler heads in Washington,” says Mitchell. He “is a lame duck who is likely going to be replaced by a more hawkish president in 2016. In a way, this frees up Obama to do what he wants on the issue.”

But the threat of Gulf flights appears to show that Moscow is not interested in reversing course anytime soon. Instead, the Russian government has signaled its intent to continue pushing unless its claims to leadership – which its critics consider to be neo-imperial impulses – over states in its so-called near abroad region are acknowledged and respected by Western powers. Yet the U.S. and its allies in Europe say these countries should be free to choose their foreign policy orientation, which makes the two sides essentially irreconcilable.

However, Mitchell sees the administration’s current approach as prudent. “We already have superior military power,” he notes. There’s a difference between Russia doing something the U.S. disapproves of, he says, “and being an actual threat to Americans – and that’s a distinction that is ultimately up to the president to make.”

Still, the specter of Russian bombers flying regular patrols along American shores adds yet another dimension to the increasing rivalry between Russia and NATO. Though the patrols may not be a direct military threat to the U.S. mainland, they highlight a growing gap between U.S. and Russian foreign policies – one that may not be solved for years.

Source: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/11/28/russia-tensions-move-closer-to-home 

Russia launches ‘wartime government’ HQ in major military upgrade

NDCC war room. Computer simulation. Image by Defence Ministy

Russia is launching a new national defense facility, which is meant to monitor threats to national security in peacetime, but would take control of the entire country in case of war. The new top-security, fortified facility in Moscow includes several large war rooms, a brand new supercomputer in the heart of a state-of-the-art data processing center, underground facilities, secret transport routes for emergency evacuation and a helicopter pad, which was deployed for the first time on Nov. 24 on the Moscow River. The Defense Ministry won’t disclose the price tag for the site, but it is estimated at the equivalent of several billion dollars.

The new National Defense Control Center (NDCC) is a major upgrade on what was previously called the Central Command of the General Staff, a unit tasked with round-the-clock monitoring of military threats against Russia, particularly ballistic missile launches, and deployment of strategic nuclear weapons. It was roughly a counterpart to the US National Military Command Center, the Pentagon’s principal command and control site.

The NDCC inherits all those functions, but also has plenty of extra roles as well. In peacetime, an additional task is to monitor all of Russia’s important military assets, from hardware being produced by defense contractors to the state of oil refineries, to weather conditions and their effect on transportation routes. And if Russia does get into a war, the center would act as a major communication hub and a form of wartime government, delivering reports to the country’s military command and giving orders to all ministries, state-owned companies and other organizations, according to the needs of the armed forces.
“The creation of NDCC was one of the biggest military projects of the past few years. The closest analogy in the past in terms of functions and tasks was the Commander-in-Chief HQ in 1941-45, which centralized all controls of both the military machine and the economy of the nation in the interests of the war,” Lt. General Mikhail Mizintsev, the NDCC chief, told Lenta.ru in an interview.

The military says the upgrade has been long overdue. The national security situation may be very fluid in modern times, and instead of days the leadership may have only an hour to take crucial military decisions. The center’s job is to offer the Defense Minister and the President options in case of emergency, which would be based on facts, figures and accurate projections.

Potentially the biggest part of the upgrade was the creation of communication and data processing equipment that would give the military computer power and software needed to factor in hundreds of parameters in their mathematical models. The Defense Ministry had to use only domestically-produced hardware due to security considerations, which limited its options.

According to officials, the result is a very robust computer network with state-of-art data encryption and multiple backup sites spread throughout the country, which would keep the center functional even if its main facility in Moscow is damaged by an enemy attack or sabotage.

The center employs over 1,000 officers working on a rotating watch system. Mizintsev said the armed forces selected their best officer for the posts, many of which are new for the Russian military and require skills not previously taught to officers on a regular basis until recently. They have been operating in trial mode since April. A thoroughly military facility, the NDCC has an unexpected civilian component to it. Its location in Moscow is close to two major hospitals, including the Pirogov trauma center. Both hospitals are quite old and their original designs didn’t provide for dedicated helicopter pads. The Defense Ministry said the medics can share NDCC’s new pad on the Moscow River for emergency patient transportation. The pad can accommodate helicopters weighing up to 15 tons, enough to land a Mil Mi-8, world’s most-produced transport helicopter, or a Mil Mi-38, its designated replacement.

Source: http://rt.com/news/210307-russia-national-defence-center/

Forbes: Is The Breakup Of Ukraine Inevitable?

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Ukraine is the very definition of the word “inevitable” — that which cannot be avoided.  Ukraine is going broke. It may lose more of its territory. Investors are running for the door, betting that things are going to get worse.  All of this is now unavoidable. The market used to think the Ukraine crisis would cool down by the December.  All bets for that outcome are now off the table. Ukraine is shrinking, in more ways than one.

On March 16, 2014, Ukraine saw a large chunk of its territory annexed by Russia. The Crimea peninsula, then an autonomous region of the country, voted to secede after a perceived anti-Russia government took over Kiev. Crimea is dominated by ethnic Russians. Now, two regions continue to keep Ukraine in the news: Luhansk and Donetsk.  Leaders there have decided it is best to become autonomous republics too. Like Crimea, this may very well be another way of saying goodbye to Kiev, if not Ukraine altogether.

Even if territorial integrity remains, Ukraine’s finances are deteriorating. The nation’s currency, the hryvnia, has lost 91.5% of its value so far this year, falling rapidly after the Central Bank decided on Nov. 4 to abandon its 12.95 peg to the dollar. The BNY Mellon Ukraine Index is down 40.18% year-to-date, much of it coming after the Bank’s decision. It’s panic time for Ukrainian money.

The probability of Ukraine defaulting during the next five years, according to the CDS markets, is now greater than 70%. “Economically, Ukraine is being transmogrified into a failed state,” says Vladimir Signorelli, co-founder and senior international economist at Bretton Woods Research in New Jersey.

Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has stuck with his policy of austerity since taking over the country in February. He has followed the International Monetary Fund’s prescription of shock therapy policies of tax increases, devaluation and spending cuts. Monetarily, “Ukraine is beginning to look like an IMF basket-case from South America or Africa from the 1970s and 80s,” Signorelli says, adding he expects inflation to go even higher than the 19.8% levels hit last month.

According to Reuters, one third of Ukraine’s deposits have been withdrawn from the banking system since Sept. 21, or nearly $6.8 billion. Ukraine’s foreign reserves stand at a mere $12.6 billion as of October. Not surprisingly, the probability of Ukraine defaulting during the next five years, according to the credit default swaps market, is now greater than 70%.

To make matters worse, Ukraine still owes Russia’s state owned natural gas company, Gazprom, $1.6 billion by year-end. Meanwhile, the IMF’s next loan tranche — of its $17 billion dollar bailout program – is expected to be delayed, possibly into next year. So where is this country going to get money to keep its government afloat? Russia reportedly holds about one fifth of Ukrainian sovereign bonds, with frontier markets giant Franklin Templeton owning about 40% of Ukraine’s debt.
 
A default scenario for Ukraine, which was not among the assumptions in the European Central Bank’s recent stress tests of 130 banks, would create significant market volatility and introduce the threat of contagion in the E.U. Back in April, European banks owned nearly $1.4 trillion of loans to Eastern European countries. Loans to Eastern Europe comprise approximately 35% of total foreign loans by Austrian banks, 27% by Italian banks, and 18% to 20% by Greek and Portuguese banks.

“A Ukraine default scenario could become analogous to the Mexican Crisis in 1982. Similar to the way Fed Chairman Paul Volcker was able to monetize Mexico’s debt in 1982, thereby quickly reflating the dollar and taking off the table a sovereign default by the Mexican government, we believe there is the potential for a similar monetization by the ECB should Ukraine teeter on the brink of default,” Signorelli says.

Political map of Ukraine, highlighting the Crimean peninsula in pink. The four provinces along the Russian border are in favor of becoming autonomous zones, separate from Kiev. That might be the best case scenario. The worst case will be those four provinces being annexed one-by-one by the Russian Federation next door.

The Map

Crimea is now part of the Russian map. A number of regions along the eastern Ukraine border, starting with Luhansk and Donetsk, are on the verge of following in Crimea’s footsteps.

Last week, the top U.S. commander for NATO said Russia was effectively working to re-draw the Ukrainian border. U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove said on Nov. 3 that “Hybrid war is what we are coming to call what Russia has done clearly in Crimea and in eastern Ukraine. I’m concerned that the conditions are there that could create a frozen conflict,” one that ultimately sees more regions either become autonomous from Kiev, with greater allegiances to Russia, or building on a civil war that will eventually lead to a secession.

Over 4,000 people have been killed in military skirmishes between pro-Russia fighters and the Ukrainian military. Russia denies funding the militants, though Washington insists on evidence of Russian troop movement heading into Ukraine. Russia usually says the vehicles are carrying humanitarian aid.

One thing is certain: Russia, Ukraine and the E.U. cannot agree on how to stop fighting. The Sept 5 cease-fire agreement between Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin is basically dead. Instead of broader negotiations, escalation appears to be at hand with separatists unwilling to recognize Kiev. Ukraine president Petro Poroshenko faces a dilemma. He agreed with Washington, Brussels and Moscow that sending in more troops to Eastern Ukraine was a bad idea. But he’s doing it anyway as separatists continue to spark civil unrest in the Donbas region.
On Nov. 4, Poroshenko ordered more troops to the eastern cities despite the fact that the U.S., E.U. and Russia have agreed that the disposition of the eastern provinces cannot be resolved on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Poroshenko has also suspended all budget subsidies earmarked for the territories, basically starving them of a federal lifeline. Yatsenyuk announced this week that $2.6 billion in state support, including benefits and pension payments to retirees, would be withheld from Donetsk and Luhansk until the fighting ceases. The move is unlikely to pacify those already against the government.

A partition of the country is becoming more likely. If so, it could stretch from Luhansk in the northeast all the way down to the Kherson province in the southeast, on the Crimean border. Ukraine’s problems may be bad for European banks and frontier market bond holders like Templeton. It is even worse for Russia.

The Ukrainian crisis has led to a direct weakening of the Russian ruble — down 41% year to date. Sanctions on Russian banks and energy companies like Gazprom became active on June 28, hurting business sentiment and sending the Market Vectors Russia (RSX) exchange traded fund down 21.09%.

“We want to see this crisis end, too, ” Putin told a gathering of more than 1,500 investors and executives during last month’s Russia Calling! investor conference in Moscow. “ We consider the Ukrainians close family. We share cultural and religious history and want to remain a close ally to Ukraine,” he said.

Even worse for Russia has been the coincident decline in oil prices, which appears to be reflecting the collision of increased supply and falling demand in China and Europe. Falling oil prices has added another risk to the Russian economy, which is highly reliant on oil for public finances. Meanwhile, an escalation of the Ukraine crisis is more inevitable than not. This will also hurt Russian investor, but will surely push Ukraine’s finances to the brink and possibly redraw the Ukrainian map longer term.
Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2014/11/12/is-the-breakup-of-ukraine-inevitable/?partner=yahootix

Will Georgia Be the Next Ukraine?

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As the world observes the continuing clash between Russia and the West in Ukraine, tensions are rising further south, in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. Like in Ukraine, rivalries among political factions and ethnic groups in Georgia dangerously intersect with the broader Russian and Western struggle for influence in the former Soviet space. Without the dialogue necessary for peace, a serious conflict could erupt here as well, with very negative implications for regional and international security. The situation can’t be ignored.

Located at a strategic crossroads between East and West, Georgia has been a major theater of contention for many years. A country rich in history and hospitality, it is viewed by Washington as a conduit to Central Asian energy and as a means of expanding influence into the former Soviet Union. Moscow views it as an important component of its traditional security structure, enhanced by history and the shared ties of Orthodox Christianity.

In 2003, the Washington-backed Rose Revolution in Tbilisi swept Georgian President and former Soviet foreign minister Eduard Shevardnadze out of power, and brought in the American-educated, staunchly pro-Western Mikheil Saakashvili. Saakashvili’s government immediately sought to join the European Union and NATO and engaged in provocative anti-Russian rhetoric. Relations with Moscow quickly deteriorated. The situation reached the boiling point in August 2008, when Saakashvili launched a military assault on the breakaway region of South Ossetia, which was protected by Russian peacekeepers. The attack precipitated a five-day war in which Russia expelled Georgian forces from South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia, and then formally recognized both as independent states. In response, Saakashvili severed ties with Moscow. Six years later, Russo-Georgian relations remain at a standstill.

In many respects, the 2008 conflict seemed to be a prelude to the developments that are now unfolding in Ukraine. In both conflicts, NATO expansion and attempts by Washington to strengthen US influence in the region played key roles. In both cases, pro-Western governments—overtly antagonistic toward Moscow—did much to fan the flames. And in both cases, Moscow stood firm in protecting its interests.

In the years following the 2008 conflict, Saakashvili’s regime gradually collapsed. In October 2012 his party, the United National Movement (UNM), lost to the Georgian Dream coalition headed by the charismatic Imeretian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili. Ivanishvili’s victory seemed to herald a new era for Georgia. It was to be one informed more by balanced pragmatism than by Saakashvili’s penchant for pro-Western bluster.

As a leader, Ivanishvili was neither entirely pro-Russian nor pro-Western. He understood the benefits of a relationship with Moscow and vowed to repair relations with the hope of fully restoring diplomatic ties. He also sought reconciliation with Abkhazia and South Ossetia and advocated for reopening the Abkhaz railway, which linked Armenia to Russia during the Soviet era. He kept Georgia’s NATO and EU ambitions on the table, likely as negotiating chips with Moscow to help ensure a peace deal with the Abkhaz and Ossetes. At the same time, he openly considered the idea of joining the Moscow-backed Eurasian Union.

Despite Ivanishvili’s reformist stance and his strategic and diplomatic posturing, he was limited in his ability to fundamentally change the situation because Saakashvili remained the nominal head of state in a power-sharing arrangement. After Saakashvili’s final defeat in the 2013 presidential election and Ivanishvili’s decision to retire from politics, they were replaced by two Ivanishvili associates: the philosopher and bon vivant Giorgi Margvelashvili as president and Irakli Garibashvili as prime minister, a mere 31 years old at the time of his appointment. With Saakashvili out of office, a new hope emerged that Russo-Georgian relations would be finally restored. The high point in this growing thaw occurred during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, when Russian President Vladimir Putin personally invited Margvelashvili to a one-on-one meeting.

However, when all eyes turned toward the Maidan, the meeting was put on hold indefinitely. As the Ukraine crisis intensified, the United States and the European Union stepped up their efforts to enhance their geopolitical position in the former Soviet space. US officials emphasized the importance of a Georgian future in NATO and full US support for Georgia’s territorial integrity. Meanwhile, the EU moved up the date of the signing of its Association Agreement with Tbilisi from August to June, granted more money to Tbilisi and persuaded the pro-Moscow leader of the Georgian Orthodox Church to support EU membership. In the absence of full diplomatic relations with Tbilisi, Russia was powerless to counteract any of these moves.

There were domestic concerns too. Within the ruling Georgian Dream coalition, there are divisions between pragmatists (like Prime Minister Garibashvili) and hawks (like Parliament Speaker Davit Usupashvili) over how to pursue relations with Moscow. Even within the pragmatist camp, disagreements have emerged between Garibashvili and President Margvelashvili. Points of contention range from who should meet with Putin to who should sign the Association Agreement. The delineation between the power of the president and that of the prime minister in Georgia’s developing political system remains a subject of debate, and has been at the center of the ongoing Margvelashvili-Garibashvili feud. Until recently, both Margvelashvili and Garibashvili were planning to attend the UN Climate Summit, which would have made Georgia the only country represented by two heads of state. In the end, Margvelashvili canceled his participation at the event.

It is noteworthy that Ivanishvili has criticized Margvelashvili but has been largely silent amid the ongoing Ukraine crisis. In March, he only briefly touched on Ukraine when he predicted that Russia will “not concede regarding Crimea.” In an interview published in the weekly Kviris Palitra on September 15, he commented further. “God forbid the continuation of what is now going on in Ukraine,” he said. “Of course, it is horrible what is happening in Ukraine. We, all of us, and I personally support our neighboring country, Ukraine.” He also hoped “very much that everything will be settled in the near future” and for “peace to be established there soon.”

Contrast this to former President Saakashvili who has been a vocal supporter of Kiev and even served as an unofficial advisor to the post-Maidan Ukrainian government. The former Georgian leader’s involvement with Kiev led to protests from the Georgian government as well as the government of breakaway Abkhazia. In Georgia’s southern neighbor, Armenia, it was lampooned on ArmComedy, the Armenian version of The Daily Show. Speculation in the Caucasus about an official Saakashvili advisorship increased after the election of Petro Poroshenko. On May 26, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized a potential Saakashvili appointment, while Georgian Prime Minister Garibashvili offered some “friendly advice” to Kiev: “keep Saakashvili at bay.” In the end, Poroshenko opted to appoint Kakha Bendukidze, a Saakashvili political ally, instead.

Today, Saakashvili is in self-imposed exile in Brooklyn, New York and with good reason. He is a wanted man in Georgia. Initially targeted for questioning with regard to the murder of former Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, he is now the subject of an investigation into alleged abuses and excesses of power during his presidency. Tbilisi’s prosecutor has issued a warrant for his arrest, and efforts are now under way to seize his property, freeze his assets and issue an international arrest warrant via Interpol. In addition, Russia has spoken of a possible arrest warrant for Saakashvili’s attacks against civilians in the 2008 war in South Ossetia.

In response, Saakashvili laughed off the charges and promised to “arrive in Georgia” not as a criminal but as a hero, threatening to bring his own Maidan to Tbilisi. The Georgian government noted these declarations with concern. In April, Tbilisi’s Interior Ministry claimed that Saakashvili and the UNM were planning to “destabilize” Georgia with the aim of “overthrowing state institutions.” Interior Minister Aleksandr Tchikaidze also claimed that UNM members purchased car tires to stage Maidan-style burning barricades. In his interview, Ivanishvili warned that Saakashvili and the UNM “want Georgia to burn in flames, because they are no longer in power.” He maintained that “God saved us that they are no longer in power.”

Significantly, on September 10, the Interior Ministry raised these concerns for a second time. Prime Minister Garibashvili commented on the initial reports in April, stating that “no one will dare to stir destabilization in this country while we are in the government; if anyone has any such desire or attempt, they will be strictly punished.” He responded similarly to the second report in September. The possibility of widespread civil unrest is particularly troubling to Georgian officials, as the memory of the civil war in Georgia during the 1990s is still fresh in many people’s minds.

Yet, even though Saakashvili’s popularity is marginal in Georgia, and though his regime undoubtedly committed many abuses, the criminal charges from Tbilisi against him still prompted a barrage of criticism from the West. US senators from both parties expressed “extreme disappointment” and “concern” with the charges against Saakashvili, while EU officials and members of the Obama administration accused Tbilisi of “selective justice,” backsliding on its democratic obligations, and “deviating from the European path.” Georgia reacted with surprise to these accusations from its Western “partners.” Responding to Western criticism of the initial charges against Saakashvili, Prime Minister Garibashvili retorted that “no one should demand from us to be more Catholic than the Pope.”

In response to further criticism from the Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and the Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius, Garibashvili remarked that their reactions were not surprising as they represented members of a “kind of a club of Saakashvili’s friends. Regrettably, they were not aware of those terrible things that had been happening in Georgia for years.” On Twitter, Bildt replied that “if the Georgian Prime Minister does not want to listen to the best friends of his country in EU that’s his choice.”

Moscow has expressed concern about other recent developments. Georgia’s signing of the EU Association Agreement in June led to the suspension of the Russo-Georgian Free Trade Agreement, which had been in place since 1994. Bilateral trade between Russia and Georgia increased by 35 percent in the first few months of 2014, largely due to the restoration of trade relations under Ivanishvili. The Association Agreement threatens these dynamic new trade relations between both countries.

Moving toward the EU and potentially joining it carries even more serious economic risks for Georgia. As the Eurozone struggles to recover from a severe currency crisis, it is unlikely to deliver on the promise of a major economic transformation for Georgia. The EU’s newest Eastern European members (Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia) have already stopped converging with their Western European counterparts. Citizens of several other Eastern European (and increasingly Southern European) countries have emigrated west, with no return in sight. For a country like Georgia, with a GDP per capita of about $6,000 and continued poverty and unemployment in the countryside, membership in the EU would not bring any dramatic changes and may, in the long term, serve to turn the population against the political elite.

A far greater concern to Moscow is Georgia’s continued pursuit of its NATO ambitions. At the height of the Ukraine crisis, Georgia’s hawks hoped that NATO would grant Tbilisi a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at the NATO summit in Wales in September. Despite signs that Washington might support such a move, Germany’s Angela Merkel quickly shot it down before it even reached serious discussion. Instead, Tbilisi was granted a NATO package that would, among other things, establish a NATO training facility in Georgia and give NATO the right to “occasionally” hold military exercises in the Caucasus country. Moscow was less than thrilled, though the denial of a MAP must have been a relief. Still, Putin took precautionary measures. In the run-up to the NATO summit, Russia began the process of forging a defensive military alliance with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. After the NATO summit, US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel visited Tbilisi and pledged military aid to Georgia. This increased militarization of the Caucasus region is a troubling development and could have negative implications for broader European and the Middle Eastern regional security.

So, what is to be done? Georgia and Russia have to come to the table and start talking. Even without formal diplomatic relations, the leaders of both countries must meet. Putin’s invitation to Georgia’s Margvelashvili remains open. A meeting like this could set the tone for warmer relations, including a possible resolution of the longstanding Abkhaz and South Ossetian issues along federal or confederal lines.

Meanwhile, the West should recognize that efforts to expand NATO and the EU are not helpful to the pursuit of peace and should instead encourage all parties involved to settle their differences peacefully, amicably and naturally. Russia, Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia could work with the West as partners toward greater economic and political integration. The vision of a united Europe without walls, stretching from Lisbon to Vladivostok, might then be realized. It could also lead toward a common security structure to address global problems, such as nuclear nonproliferation, limited water resources, world hunger, threatening diseases and common threats like ISIS.

The alternative to this option is the continued expansion of NATO into the post-Soviet space and the realization of Russia’s fear that NATO bases are creeping closer to its border. The ultimate nightmare would be to see these divisions entrenched and militarized with the presence of nuclear weapons. Suddenly, there would be a new cold war dividing line running directly through the volatile Caucasus. If the West persists with expanding into this region, it could very well make Georgia the next Ukraine.


Is Putin’s Next Move Against Azerbaijan?

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Azerbaijan is a key American ally. The only country to border both Iran and Russia, it has angered both with its consistent efforts to orient itself to the United States. While many Americans point out Azerbaijan’s democratic deficit, President Ilham Aliyev’s strategy of building up the middle class first has merit: To force reforms prior to establishing a strong, stable middle class would play into the hands of both Iran and Russia, neither of which care an iota about democracy.

As much as Azerbaijan orients itself toward the West, neighboring Armenia has planted itself firmly in Russia’s orbit. Indeed, Armenians are perhaps the only people who would willingly vote to embrace Russia rather than the West even if Russia did not lift a finger to influence or force them. Culturally, Russians and Armenians have much in common, and Russia remains Armenia’s chief patron.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh erupted into hot conflict almost immediately upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the regaining of independence by both states. In December 1991, Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh declared their own republic, one of those fictional states that the Kremlin has helped prop up with increasing frequency—for example, Transnistria in Moldova, Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia, and more recently Crimea and Donetsk in the Ukraine.

Visiting Georgetown University Professor Brenda Shaffer is right when she writes in the Wall Street Journal that “Freezing lawless regions invites conflicts.” Nagorno-Karabakh has become a center for money laundering, weapons trafficking, and general instability. In sum, it has become the typical Putin proxy.

With the West distracted by events in Iraq, it seems Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh sought to make their move against a pro-Western ally which has moved to become an energy hub outside Russia’s orbit. Clashes began last week, and have escalated over subsequent days. When it comes to the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, there’s a tendency by American policymakers to engage in moral equivalence or simply to seek quiet, regardless of principle. This is wrong on four counts:

First, while Western policymakers see diplomacy as a means to conflict resolution, Russian Present Putin sees international relations as a zero-sum game in which for Russia and its client states to win, the United States and its allies must lose.

Second, whatever the emotional commitment many in the Armenian Diaspora in the United States have toward Armenia and their desire to seek acknowledgement for the events of a century ago, the fact of the matter is that the Armenian government has repeatedly undercut U.S. interests, even going so far as ship Iranian weaponry to be used to kill American soldiers in Iraq.

Third, it’s time the White House recognize that friendship and alliance go two ways. We cannot expect Azerbaijan to so continuously align itself with the United States and promote American interests if we turn our back on its friendship in its hour of need.

And fourth, there is no longer any excuse to not see Putin for what he is. No more Bush-era soul gazing, or Obama-era reset. That Bush and Obama hardly reacted when Russian forces invaded Georgia surely contributed to Putin’s willingness to invade Ukraine. That Obama fiddled and German Chancellor Angela Merkel sought to appease in the aftermath of that crisis only encouraged Putin to move once again to destabilize the South Caucasus, and its most consistent pro-Western republic. If the United States does not stand up for Azerbaijan, then Putin will understand that we are neither serious about freedom or liberty, friendship or alliance. In such a case, beware Kazakhstan, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and even Poland.


Ukraine Clash Shows Azeris Who’s Boss as Russia Ties Bind


Peeling away former Soviet republics from their U.S. and European allies is getting easier for Russia after its show of force in Ukraine. Azerbaijan is changing tack after months of steering clear of the showdown 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) away. First Deputy Premier Yaqub Eyyubov broke the silence in September, calling Russia his country’s “closest, most fraternal” ally. As a sign of the warming ties, Russian warships last month docked at in the capital, Baku, for the first time in more than a year. The nation, which provides the only westward route for central Asian oil bypassing Russia, has grown alarmed that Ukraine was left to fend for itself as President Vladimir Putin had his way in Europe’s biggest crisis since the Iron Curtain fell 25 years ago. That was a “very bad” signal, according to Elnur Soltanov, head of the Caspian Center for Energy and Environment, a research group focused on foreign policy in Baku. “It told everybody who is the real boss in the region, who is the real hegemon,” he said. “Ukraine is the biggest jewel among the post-Soviet states and if Russia comes in broad daylight and occupies Ukraine and the Western world shows this limited reaction -- it tells us that if something goes wrong with Russia, we shouldn’t trust anybody to come and save us.”

Oil Effect

As Azerbaijan redraws its foreign policy, its $74 billion economy is being buffeted by falling crude output and an oil-market selloff. Gross domestic product expanded 2.8 percent in the January-October period, slowing from 5.7 percent a year earlier. Hydrocarbons, which account for 45 percent of GDP, make up more than 90 percent of total Azeri exports, up from 60 percent in the late 1990s, according to the International Monetary Fund. The Caspian Sea country is backtracking on its two-decade drive to forge closer ties with the U.S. and Europe as tensions escalate with Russian ally Armenia over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The government has also come under greater scrutiny for its commitment to media freedoms and human rights. Azerbaijan last week shot down what it said was an Armenian helicopter that violated its airspace, an attack that threatens to escalate the conflict. More than 20 troops were killed in August as the skirmishes turned the deadliest in 20 years. With Russian troops already stationed in neighboring Georgia and Armenia, leaders in the nation of 9.6 million people are concerned about leaving the country’s other flanks exposed after seeing the failed efforts to counter Putin’s actions in Ukraine. 

‘Closer Relationship’ 

President Ilham Aliyev has visited Putin twice in the past three months and has recently hosted a range of senior officials from Moscow. Along with Turkey and Israel, Russia is among the biggest suppliers of weapons to Azerbaijan, selling it military hardware including T-90 battle tanks. Speaking at a meeting with Putin last year, Aliyev said Azeri arms trade with Russia was worth $4 billion. The government in Baku plans to increase defense spending by 27 percent next year. “We definitely see a closer relationship between Baku and Moscow in the past year,” said Thomas de Waal, senior associate at the Russia and Eurasia program of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “The Azerbaijani elite is seeking an equal relationship with both Russia and the West, while retaining its own economic and political independence.” Azerbaijan’s shift toward Russia is also straining relations with the U.S. and Europe. 

Obama, OSCE 

U.S. President Barack Obama in September singled out Azerbaijan as a country where “laws make it incredibly difficult for NGOs even to operate.” The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe this month urged the government to end its “ongoing and increasing number of repressive actions against independent media and advocates of freedom of expression,” according to a statement. After winning independence 23 years ago, Azerbaijan has developed energy and security ties with the U.S. and the European Union. In partnership with oil companies including BP Plc (BP/), Statoil ASA (STL) and Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), the Caspian Sea nation built the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which ships Asian oil to Europe bypassing Russia. The country also sent troops to fight alongside U.S. forces in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. NATO relies on Azerbaijan for a third of non-lethal shipments to Afghanistan. It also joined GUAM, a U.S.-backed alliance with Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova. All bar Azerbaijan tied their future to the European Union in June by signing free-trade agreements with the 28-nation bloc. Azerbaijan rejected such an offer. 

Separatist Challenges 

Like the three other members of the group, Azerbaijan has struggled to regain control over a breakaway region. The message is that confrontation with Russia by Georgia and Moldova worsened separatist challenges, as it did in Ukraine said Rasim Musabayov, a member of the international relations committee in Azerbaijan’s parliament. Azerbaijan is locked in a territorial dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, a conflict that erupted after the Soviet breakup in 1991. Although major hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered cease-fire in 1994, no peace agreement has been signed. Armenia hosts the only Russian military base in the region and gets Russian weapons at discounted prices. “Azerbaijan has drawn lessons from what has happened to Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine,” Musabayov said. “Azerbaijan realizes that it can’t get Nagorno-Karabakh resolved without Russia’s involvement."


The US Is On A Collision Course With An 'Absolutely Indispensable' Ally

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The US and Turkey are headed for a showdown over Syria, as evidence mounts that Ankara is enabling groups that Washington is actively bombing. Discord between the two allies is now more public than ever following a new report by Dr. Jonathan Schanzer and Merve Tahiroglu of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "Bordering on Terrorism: Turkey’s Syria Policy and the Rise of the Islamic State" details Turkey's apparent willingness to allow extremists — including militants from the Islamic State (aka IS, ISIS, or ISIL) — and their enablers to thrive on the 565-mile border with Syria in an attempt to secure the downfall of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. "The IS crisis has put Turkey and the US on a collision course," the report says. "Turkey refuses to allow the coalition to launch military strikes from its soil. Its military also merely looked on while IS besieged the Kurdish town of Kobani, just across its border. Turkey negotiated directly with IS in the summer of 2013 to release 49 Turks held by the terrorist group. In return, Ankara reportedly secured the release of 180 IS fighters, many of whom returned to the battlefield.

"Meanwhile, the border continues to serve as a transit point for the illegal sale of oil, the transfer of weapons, and the flow of foreign fighters. Inside Turkey, IS has also established cells for recruiting militants and other logistical operations. All of this has raised questions about Turkey’s value as an American ally, and its place in the NATO alliance."

Schanzer, a former counterterrorism analyst for the US Treasury Department, told Business Insider that Ankara was "like that guy at the casino who keeps doubling down on a bad bet. Each time the policy has failed, Turkey appears to have decided to go back and do it again, but with higher stakes." Throughout the Syrian civil war, Turkey's southern border has served as a transit point for cheap oil, weapons, foreign fighters, and pillaged antiquities. As the conflict progressed, the fighters taking advantage of Ankara's lax border policies were more and more radical. "What began with scattered opposition forces exploiting the border became something that was really focused on the Muslim Brotherhood, which then became something that was utilized by [Salafist rebel group] Ahrar al Sham, which was then utilized by [al-Qaeda affiliate] The Nusra Front, which is now utilized by ISIS," Schanzer told Business Insider. He added that given various reports of jihadi financiers sitting in hotels on the border between Syria and Turkey, "it is impossible that [Turkey's intelligence agency] MIT is not aware" of what's going on. The financiers "are doling out cash to those who come back with videos of attacks, proof of what they've done against the Assad regime or other enemies," said Schanzer, who previously detailed Turkey's terrorism finance problem to Business Insider. Those videos are then used as propaganda to raise more money for funding fighters.

America's Role

The report notes that policy of the administration of US President Barack Obama regarding Syria may have indirectly instigated Turkey's dangerous policy. After supporting Turkey's cause of ousting Assad, Washington didn't follow up with significant support to the moderate opposition while Assad dropped Scud missiles and barrel bombs on playgrounds and bakeries. Obama then balked at enforcing his "red line" after Assad's forces killed an estimated 1,400 people in four hours by firing rockets filled with nerve gas on rebel-held territory near the capital. "I was in Turkey during the Ghouta attacks, and [Turkish officials] were incredulous," Schanzer said. "They believed that the United States was squarely behind [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan, not only just in terms of steering Syria into soft landing, but also that it would back up its words with deeds and take action in light of an ongoing slaughter. "So I think in a sense once it became clear that the US was not going to be holding to its word, there was a sense among the Turks that they had to do this themselves." 

ISIS And Blowback 

"Turkey does not have a conflict with ISIS, doesn't want a conflict with ISIS, and ISIS is benefiting from [Turkey's] border policies," Schanzer said. "Beyond that it gets a lot more fuzzy, but the point is that the Turks are not being forthcoming about this relationship." He added that despite no evidence that Turkey was actively working with ISIS, "it cannot be denied that Turkey is helping to facilitate the activities of a terrorist organization that has killed Americans and is destabilizing the region." Furthermore, ISIS is gaining a following in the country. The report cites an email from Turkey-based BuzzFeed reporter Mike Giglio that highlighted his concern about the "level of ISIS support among the 1-million-plus Syrians living in Turkey. I don't see how they can successfully weed out ISIS supporters from among these refugees."

Schanzer said that as the suspected presence of ISIS inside Turkey increased, and with it support inside Turkey for ISIS and other extremist groups, it becomes that much more difficult for Turkey to do anything. "They've inadvertently created a mechanism that can yield blowback for them that could be extremely painful," Schanzer said. "You have a lot of people now that are invested in the business of extremism in Turkey. If you start to challenge that, it raises significant questions of whether" the militants, their benefactors, and other war profiteers would tolerate the crackdown

Impossible To Maintain

Tensions between Ankara and Washington won't dissipate "so long as Turkey tries to remain neutral with regard to ISIS while all of these things are happening on its border," according to Schanzer. Consequently, the report argues, Washington must find a way to work with Turkey. Outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel described Turkey as "absolutely indispensable" to the ISIS fight. Turkey would need to shut down the border, wrap up known nodes of Nusra and ISIS supporters, remove ISIS recruitment cells, and dismantle ISIS logistical operations inside the country. (Schanzer noted that the US or NATO could assist.)

"A lot of this is going to come down to the will of Ankara right now," Schanzer said, adding that a lack of cooperation could result in Treasury Department sanctions against "individuals who are taking an active role in these illicit pipelines" on the Turkish side of the border. "After that, I think we do begin to question whether security or intelligence cooperation can continue when there isn't an honest give and take with what's happened," Schanzer added. The report concludes that Ankara must understand that "while America's Syria policy may have been feckless, its border policy has been reckless." And the repercussions of doubling down even further would jeopardize relations with a crucial ally.  "No one wants to scuttle this relationship. But I do think that as more and more of this comes to light, it becomes ... essentially impossible to maintain the status quo," Schanzer said. "If we've decided that ISIS is an enemy worth defeating, it becomes impossible to maintain the relationship as it is."


Russia Can Survive An Oil Price War

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Yves here. This article is an important sanity check on the impact of the current oil price war on Russia. We’ve seen similarly skewed conventional wisdom  on the Saudis:  “No, they can’t make it on a fiscal budget basis at below $90 a barrel,” completely ignoring the fact that the Saudis clearly believe it is in their long-term interest to suffer some costs to inflict pain on some of their enemies, and render some (a lot) of shale oil and alternative energy development uneconomical, which increases their ability to extract more in the long term from their oil asset.

By Colin Chilcoat, a writer at OilPrice. Originally published at OilPrice

After a frosty reception at the G20 summit in Australia this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin required some much needed rest, at least according to the official explanation given for his conspicuously early departure from the proceedings. All things considered it could have been a lot worse. Russia finds itself in familiar territory after a controversial half-year, highlighted by the bloody and still unresolved situation in Ukraine. Nonetheless, the prospect of further sanctions looms low and Russia’s stores of oil and gas remain high.

Shortsighted? Maybe, but Russia has proven before – the 2008 financial crisis for example– that it can ride its resource rents through a prolonged economic slump. Higher oil price volatility and sanctions separate the current downturn from that of 2008, but Russia’s economic fundamentals remain the same – bolstered by low government debt and a large amount of foreign reserves. Moreover, Western involvement in Russian oil and gas plays is more pronounced than ever.

Economic diversification has not come easy for Russia, arguably for a simple, but effective reason; oil and gas are a source of tremendous wealth for the country. However, the dire straits of the 2008 global crisis illustrated the importance of financial diversification. Since then, Russian state-owned oil and gas giants Rosneft and Gazprom have increasingly allowed Western majors like BP, Eni, Exxon, Shell, Statoil, and Total access to some of Russia’s underdeveloped, but prized projects. Western companies have an estimated $35 billion tied up in Russian oil with hundreds of billions more planned and service providers Halliburton and Schlumberger each derive approximately five percent of their global sales from the Russian market.

The Western majors remain committed to their extra-national ventures and these powerful relationships ultimately limit the sanctions’ scope. Still, with their cooperation put on hold, Russia has been forced to look elsewhere, and increasingly within. Rosneft is set to announce new Arctic partners by the end of the year, a role formerly dominated by Exxon. China appears a likely suitor as the two countries have already embarked on a promising oil partnership in Russia’s Far East in addition to the highly publicized long-term gas deals. Domestically, Rosneft and Gazprom have strengthened their alliance and Putin has approved the creation of a state-owned oil services company.

The learning curve will likely be steep, but early successes have bred high hopes and oil production is not projected to contract. Gazprom Neft just completed its third delivery from their Prirazlomnoye project, the world’s first stationary Arctic platform. Shipments from the promising field have now exceeded 1,400,000 barrels on the year. Onshore, homegrown technology and execution has already yielded huge results in East Siberia, which looks to overtake West Siberia as Russia’s primary producing region in the near future.

The picture is incomplete without a discussion of price, and oil’s sinking value – a combination of low demand and increasing supply, US shale included – spells trouble for a number of major players, Russia among them. The breakeven price, or the production cost per barrel, is the central figure here however, and in an international game of ‘how low can you go’, OPEC is in the driver’s seat.

Still, the lower prices – Brent crude has averaged $81 per barrel thus far in November – are in no party’s best interest and OPEC will do their best to keep prices high while defending their market share. The cartel’s upcoming meeting in Vienna on the 27th will go a long way in determining the future trajectory of oil prices. The global supply glut will be the focus, but theories surrounding both US and Saudi collusion and conflict give doubt to any plan for unified production cuts.

Business as usual in Vienna would be a welcome sight for Russia, who would see a decline in the United States’ ability to define geopolitical events in the Eastern Hemisphere. The truth is, the US can’t win any volume or price-based game of brinkmanship with the traditional producing states, Russia included. Shale plays in both Russia and the US will soon be priced out with continued slippage. Unlike the States however, a majority of Russia’s production comes from cheaper, though declining, fields in West Siberia. The International Energy Agency already predicts a 10 percent decline in US shale investment in 2015.

Whether or not that’s enough to stunt global supply remains to be seen. Shaky situations in Iraq and Libya could just as easily remedy pricing woes overnight. What doesn’t kill you doesn’t always make you stronger, but Russia can survive a price war.

Source: http://oilprice.com/Energy/Oil-Prices/Russia-Can-Survive-An-Oil-Price-War.html

Russia eyes economic self-reliance, proves national strength amid Western pressure

http://www.citifmonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/79502782_putinarmafp-620x330.jpg

Russia seeks for more independent economic development and has proved its national strength amid Western sanctions, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday

URGING ECONOMIC SELF-DEVELOPMENT

Russia depends on itself for economic development, remains open to world investments and is not interested in arm races, Putin said in his annual state of the nation address to the Federal Assembly. Western sanctions encourage Russia to attain more economic efficiency, he said, adding the government should overcome disorganized administration, irresponsibility and bureaucracy, which are "direct threats to our security."

Russian economy should get out of the trap of zero growth rate and reach an above-world-average development rate in the coming three to four years, so as to increase its share in the global economy and therefore strengthen economic independence, Putin said in the Kremlin Palace. The government is tasked with solving the problem of high inflation and ensuring economic growth at the same time, as well as reversing the depreciation of the Russian ruble, Putin added.

Inflation rate should be brought down below 4 percent, while annual labor productivity should be no less than 5 percent, according to Putin. He added that the Central Bank and other relevant departments have been asked to take harsh and coordinated measures to fight speculators in the currency market. More proposals were made by the president to ensure a more independent Russian economy, such as the establishment of a new and transparent supervision system between business and government by 2015 in order to prevent obsessive governmental control, as well as a one-time full amnesty for repatriated offshore capital.

Alexei Makhlai, president of the Social Policy Research Center, a non-governmental organization, said Putin's capital amnesty proposal could succeed and help revive the stagnated economy. "Putin hinted that the authorities would consider repatriation of the assets not only as an economic move, but also as a political sign of support to the Russian state, as a manifestation of patriotism," he told Xinhua. Meanwhile, Maxim Osadchy, head of analysis at Moscow-based Corporate Finance Bank, disagreed, citing the lack of trust between businessmen and politicians.

"The other thing is, the investors' behavior depends on real economic situation much more than on any politician's words," the expert told Xinhua. Russia's economy has been hit hard due to the continuous fall of world oil prices and Western sanctions, with the country's Economic Development Ministry estimating a 0.8 percent contract in 2015. The Russian currency, ruble, has also lost nearly 40 percent of its value against dollar and euro.

HAILING NATIONAL STRENGTH

The events of the departing year demonstrated Russian state and people's strength and proved the necessity for the country to remain strong and sovereign amid Western pressure, Putin noted. "This year we have passed through trials that only a mature and united nation, a truly sovereign and strong state can cope with," Putin said at the beginning of the address. He accused the United States of its attempts to influence the relations between Russia and neighboring countries "directly or indirectly."

Russia has respected and will always respect the inalienable right of every nation, including Ukraine, to choose its own path of development, allies as well as political and economic systems, Putin said. Current focus should be on the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis, as well as political and economic reform of Ukraine, "instead of politicking and empty promises," he said.

"(The West) attempts to contain Russia's growing influence. If it wasn't for sanctions, they'd invent something else. But it's senseless to talk to Russia from the position of force, even when Russia faces internal difficulties," Putin said.

While pointing out that western sanctions also hurt those who initiate them, Putin stressed that Russia will not bow because "the more we retreat, the more our opponents will behave cynically and aggressively." Putin ruled out curtailing cooperation with Europe and the United States, saying that Moscow will restore and broaden traditional ties "with the south of the American continent and will continue cooperation with Africa and Middle Eastern countries."

The president stressed Russia is not to engage in a costly arms race and will not seek self-isolation despite current challenges. "No one can reach military superiority over Russia ... We've got enough strength, will and courage to defend our freedom," Putin stated. Putin warned that the U.S. global missile defense system threatens the security of not only Russia but the entire world, bringing possible disruptions of the strategic balance of forces.

"After the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002, it continues intense work to set up a U.S. global missile defense system, including in Europe," Putin said. "I think it is detrimental to the United States itself, as it creates a dangerous illusion of invincibility and increases the desire for unilateral and, as we often see, injudicious decisions."

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/europe/europe/2014-12/05/c_127278182.htm
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201 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 4, 2014 at 10:08 PM

    What is going on with RT today ? Who controls its editorial and prsentations. For three solid days I have had to bear the unbearable. To be bombarded with news and headlines and commentaries about ho " poor blacks" get killed by WHITE policemen in the USA. I switched off. This is not news, it is lampoonery, to what audience ? RT is another CNN copy cat, with a slightly different spin. Three days of utter propaganda presentations on behalf of blacks. To cap it all we had Oksana someone intervieweing the head of the international nuclear proliferation organization, the head was nothing more than a fat kaffir. RT today should call itself BRT. Berutsi

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    1. ArevordiDecember 5, 2014 at 3:49 AM

      What RT is essentially doing is called "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". The Western news press does the same every time a homosexual is beaten up in Russia. Anyway, if you don't have anything smart to say please stay away from the keyboard.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousDecember 5, 2014 at 3:19 AM

    Good post Arevagal jan,

    One thing though. Placing Bolshevism and Christianity in the same sentence in an attempt to compare them with democracy is misleading. Bolshevism was and remains materialistic, it denied the metaphysical and it was utopian of the terrestrial variety. We can build heaven on earth; absolute nonsense but one which the Enlightenment has spread to all corners of the world. Christianity did promise a better life for those who accepted its tenets but it never said a better life in the material world, it always emphasized the spiritual and everlasting life which we can access via Christ. This is markedly different from communism/bolshevism, and democracy.


    LG

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    1. ArevordiDecember 5, 2014 at 3:44 AM

      I agree with you LG. However, you are missing the point I was trying to make. The point being: At different times in history different sociopolitical tools have been used to either keep the sheeple in order or to get the sheeple to rise. Culture (such as Hellenism or Westernization), religion (such as Christianity and Islam) and political movements (such as Bolshevism and Democracy) have been used and abused towards political goals. I am not judging the theosophical or socioethical values of Christianity. I am an Orthodox Christian and I support the propagation of Christian values in Armenian society. I am merely pointing out the fact that everything in human society can be weaponized and used towards political goals - and Christianity is no exception. For over one thousand years imperial Popes in the Vatican (the West of its time) used Christianity to subjugate and colonize lesser peoples around the world. Then, the same was done with communism. Now, the same is being done with Democracy.

      With that said, I personally see Democracy (as prescribed for developing nations by the political West) as one of the most destructive sociopolitical forces on earth.

      Delete
    2. JerrikoDecember 5, 2014 at 5:01 AM

      I agree with your understatement, although idiots who completely uneducated would disagree with what you've said instinctively.

      One question that plagues me: South Africa was once a part of the Anglo-American bloc, so why did it end up as part of BRICS?

      I would also like to point out that you're also right with regards to Serbia's shift towards Russia. However, one of my nationalistic minded Serbian friends had a rather negative comment about Tomislav Nikolic since he claimed that Nikolic was a sellout. I think it was indeed true that when Putin showed up in Belgrade, he got a more standing ovation than Nikolic, while the latter was actually booed by his own people.

      On the other hand, I'm not sure about Japan and South Korea being a part of the Eurasian Union.

      "This is a new era for Armenia's economy. Who will be next in the puzzle? What we know is that Japan and South Korea have no other option, US doesn't want to buy their products, and both would not want to be part of a Chinese economic sphere." - World and Armenia.

      The problem with this statement though is that both Japan and South Korea are staunch US allies, and they also have US troops garrisoned on its soils. Yet if there should be a dispute over the island of Dokdo/Takeshima, the US might have to back its Japanese ally over its other South Korean ally.I do believe that if the US is pushed out of Eurasia, the SCO could play a huge role in the reunification of the Korean peninsula. After all, a unified Korea allied with Russia and China could put enormous pressure on Japan to ditch its US ally, though that might be unlikely.

      As much as I have negative reception about North Korea though, they are surprisingly far sighted in terms of how Anglo-American-Zionist influence can damage a nation, both physically and spiritually. It is also no wonder why the North Korean regime is rather hostile towards Israel. On the other hand, there is one part of the Eurasian Union where they can take advantage of business opportunities that can connect them with East Asia: in North Korea, there is a place called the Kaesong Industrial Complex, built by the joint efforts of both Korean states. If Washington is pushed out of Eurasia and the two Koreas unite, Kaesong, along with Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore, could become the financial centers that Moscow could potentially use.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousDecember 5, 2014 at 8:28 AM

    "Western civilization - the low quality Anglo-American-Afro-Jewish pop culture that has created an ignorant, selfish, materialistic, violent, vulgar and Godless society where apathy rules and perversions are rampant"

    http://asbarez.com/129434/move-over-liberace/

    Western society is getting more depraved by the day. The extreme glorification of homosexuality as some "normal" and "desirable" thing is just one of many manifestations. And unfortunately, this repulsive absence of morality has penetrated into hte Armenian-American community as well. Long long are the days of quaint, conservative Armenian farmers and merchants. Instead we have a weaponized, politicized community embracing the ultraliberalism that the American-Jewish media promotes. Skim through the above Asbarez article and ask "do we need to see an 'Armenian Liberace' or watch a movie about a Parskahay drag queen drug addict"? Or do we need Serj Tankian, Atom Egoyan, Peter Balakian and others writing open letters to President Sargsyan to protest the fact that Armenia largely rejects homosexuality? Does such a community, or a nation composed of such individuals have a sustainable future?

    The answer is NO, and the underlying phenomenon we are witnessing is very clear. Armenians who have been exposed to what now passes for western civilization have allowed it to corrupt them. God forbid that same "civilization" gains a foothold inside Armenia. It would be 1920s Bolshevism on steroids.

    And consider that the most demented Armenian-Americans are the loudest voices pushing the west's regime change agenda inside Armenia. Take the case of Kevin Abrahamian, who authors anti-Putin and anti-Sargsyan diatribes on Asbarez and elsewhere. No surprise that he also happens to list that he is interested in men and women:

    http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/KevinAbrahamian

    ps I was not aware that the fugly bitch who authored this crap was the wife of the Polish FM. The Slavs who are under Washington's control have no dignity whatsoever, both Warsaw and Kiev have top officials who are either foreign citizens or married to foreign citizens. The conflict of interest and corruption is on a massive scale.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/anne-applebaum-war-in-europe-is-not-a-hysterical-idea/2014/08/29/815f29d4-2f93-11e4-bb9b-997ae96fad33_story.html

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    1. ArevordiDecember 5, 2014 at 7:24 PM

      Kevin Abrahamian supports my theory that people with deep rooted psychological problems (in his case, psychosexual disorders like homosexuality) often times become very enthusiastic activists for any form of "change" that promises to bring about social tolerance for such kinds of problems. It's a instinctual "survival strategy" that is also commonly seen amongst parasitical Jews. There are many cases of homosexual opposition activists throughout Armenian society. Asbarez's editor Ara Khachaturian is one. Arajinlratvakan's Arman Babajanyan is one. Karen Hakobian is one. There several others that I know are homosexuals but I don't want to talk about them. With that said, I suspect many, many more of such opposition types remain in the closet. When they come out of the closet in a place like Armenia, is it primarily to apply for asylum in a Western country.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousDecember 5, 2014 at 3:28 PM

    Don't let anyone misguide the unwary. South Africa is still very much inside the Anglo American net. They may have become part of BRICS, it is understandable from SA's perspective, but the movers and shakers in SA economics and politics are not the ANC, Zumas or anyone else, but the Anglo American establishment and within that establishment the Juden hold complete sway. Of course they rule by proxies. Before a political candidate is anointed in the hustings, it must rigourously make a trip to the local branch of the Sanhedrin, then with his clean bill of a philo Juden proctor trek to Tel Aviv, don a kipa, bang the head against a wall, visit the Yashem and be fully certified as bonafide Juden operative. All the huge mining houses, owned lock stock and barrel by the Oppenheimers, Schlesinger etc , have co opted in their directorate boards all the former red dyed marxist gerrilla criminals. But now they have savored the caviar and cognac, they have stripped themselves of their marxist zeal and fire and have become obedient toads of the establishment. Instead of sporting kalashnikovs , they sport Cuban cigars, drive mercedez with sartorial chauffeurs, have fat bank accounts in Swiss Banks ( not in any BRICS Bank) and parade their white whore spouses. In South Africa itself, ask anyone what BRICS is and the answer would be building material. This is the reality today.

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    1. ArevordiDecember 5, 2014 at 7:06 PM

      Very well stated, particularly the last part about South Africans not knowing what BRICS is.

      Delete
  5. ArevordiDecember 5, 2014 at 7:03 PM

    Since we are on the topic of Jews once again... The following link is to an article in Hetq that discusses the Jewish role in the Ukrainian crisis. In it, the author cites a Jewish source to claim that Ukraine's chocolate king is Jewish -

    Ղրիմը եւ հրեական հարցը-1: http://hetq.am/arm/news/57547/xrimy-ev-hreakan-harcy-1.html

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  6. AnonymousDecember 5, 2014 at 7:34 PM

    Great job Arevordi, I dont know how you do it but great job. I need a few days to finish reading your new work but quickly looking through it this very accurate comment you made caught my attention: "The main difference between our idiots and their idiots is that their idiots are in government whereas our idiots are in the political opposition"

    Arto1

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  7. AnonymousDecember 7, 2014 at 1:35 AM

    http://www.rferl.org/content/podcast-the-state-of-the-empire/26727775.html

    View from the other side.


    LG

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  8. AnonymousDecember 7, 2014 at 2:01 AM

    http://carnegie.ru/eurasiaoutlook/index.cfm?fa=57399&lang=en&postCommentStatus=1

    LG

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  9. AnonymousDecember 7, 2014 at 11:30 PM

    What a timely commentary, great job Arevordi. Cracks are appearing, western media is getting desperate with articles even americans see as propaganda pieces.
    Russia's rise to an independent country was possible with Putin's strong hand and military reforms. Russia is surpassing Nato in many aspects now, as far as military is concerned. That is the backbone Putin can rely on. With Shoigu, Lavrov, Glaziev, Miller, Sechin, Fradkov, Petrushenko and Narishnikov they have assembled a good team. Medvedeev has learned his lesson as well.
    We can expect Russia to pressure Turkey to open the border, and Georgia coming in line I think Armenia's future is looking good too.

    Here is an interesting opinion

    http://novostink.ru/analytics/93679-stanislav-tarasov-karabahskoe-uregulirovanie-beguschie-v-labirinte.html

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  10. AnonymousDecember 7, 2014 at 11:41 PM

    Here is 2 articles worth reading

    http://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2014/12/us-needs-recognize-russias-monroe-doctrine/100557/?oref=search_russia%20monroe%20doctrine

    http://www.defenseone.com/threats/2014/11/how-powerful-russias-military/99062/?oref=d-dontmiss

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  11. JerrikoDecember 8, 2014 at 12:34 AM

    http://wakeupfromyourslumber.com/bulgarian-nationalist-party-leader-proposes-referendum-on-nato-and-eu-exit/

    I don't know how successful will Volen Siderov and the Bulgarian Ataka Party be should they try and launch a referendum on seceding from the EU and NATO. Although I know much about Nigel Farage's desire for Britain to secede from the EU, I don't know if it can be done.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Robert KupelianDecember 8, 2014 at 3:36 AM

    http://rt.com/news/212275-israel-strike-syria-airport/

    Dont know what to make of this...

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousDecember 8, 2014 at 2:40 PM

    There is a war in progress. Now Israeli jets have launched attacks near damascus. Where were the Syrian air defences.? As long as the Israeli can attack any country with impunity, they hold the initiative. I am expecting a response from Syria; not the diplomatic one of crawling and wailing to the UN. Where are the Syrian defensive networks. This whole thing is bizare. The question remains , how , when and if there is any statelet or state in the ME who is capable of defending itself against the Israelis. I am not refering to militia groups like Hezbollah. Soone or later Russia will have to intervene, by proxy or indirectly, just like the USA is doing now. I hope the isrealis jets launch attacks against turkish assets. Let's see what the turks are made of, besides their traditional braggadoccio and gaseous bluster. The Armenian riposte to Azerbaijan is still in the wings, following the downing of the helicopter. The reasoning is that " next time" Azerbaijan fractures an Armenian asset, then there will be a " disproportionate response". Next time.

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    1. SvediatsiDecember 9, 2014 at 12:31 AM

      It's not the first time such air strikes were conducted against Syria, with the latter not retaliating. Syrian airspace was violated many times even before the crisis. The problem is the fact that if Syria retaliates, a major regional war will break out in the Middle East, for other countries and militias will join. For the time being, Syria and its allies are not risking that. By "for the time being" I mean since the end of the Six Day War (with the exception of Syrian and Israeli forces clashing in Lebanon during the civil war, outside of Syrian territory).

      So don't expect a retaliation just yet.


      Delete
  14. AnonymousDecember 8, 2014 at 2:57 PM

    In the democratic miasma of the EU and its constituents vassals members referendums. plebiscites and democratic norms and values are non existent. In fact are verbotten. No vassal country in the EU will be permitted to go on a referendum. The state oppression paraphernalia is too strong and ruthless in these vassal states, dissent is crushed rapidly and efficaciously. Bulgaria is no different in form and shape than the rest of the EU puppet member states . In Greece the nationalist opposition has been ruthlessly culled of its leadership. In violation of its constitution, the nationalist party has been marginalized by political chicanery, deceit and corruption. If any nationalist movement poses a threat, the establishment reacts violently. In Athens, the Soros foundation for democratic endowment ( NGO)has its headquarters esconced in the Municipal buildings, under the patronage of the marxists scabious dog of its mayor. In Hungary, this guy Orban is a western puppet. Orban has now entered into an alliance with Azerbaijan, military and in other areas in solidarity with Turanian brotherhood. According to the " fake" nationalists in the Hungarian political canvass Hungary is loyal to its Turanian heritage ,and they consider themselves cousins-brothers of the Turks and Turklc tribes. As for Farage, here we have another loud fart and bombast capitalizing on the grievance vote. The UK will do what its zionist bosses thell them to do. Farage is a staunch zionist, and his UKIP is well funded by the Juden. It is a matter of controlling the government and its opposition.

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  15. Kim PhilbyDecember 8, 2014 at 10:57 PM

    http://news.rs.gov.ru/node/353

    Yesterday, Krivopuskov Viktor Vladimirovich gave a lecture at the only Armenian school in Moscow, here are the highlights:

    - he gave a summary of Russian-Armenian relations and future prospects

    - he warned that Armenians are not active enough, that there is not one single Armenian advisor to President Putin, that in the past there were more than 20 high-ranking Armenian deputies in Russia (Soviet times) when the population was 0.5 million, and now there are less than 2 even though the population exceeds 3 million. 

    He was even on the wanted list of Azerbaijan because of his pro-Armenian stance. So how did the Armenian audience respond? They all attacked him. 

    - if Azerbaijan is spending millions for lobbying purposes and convincing Russians to support their cause, Armenians are attacking those who from themselves are pro-Armenian (typical Armenian mentality: Armenians and Azeri's together spread anti-Armenian information, Armenians and Azeri's together spread pro-Azeri information, just read a typical Armenian newspaper).

    - the Armenians in the audience responded by saying that it is Russia's fault that there are no Armenians in high-ranking places; he responded that it is not like a "gift-card" and that Armenians need to be more active and work for it

    - the Armenians criticised him / Russia for selling weapons to Azerbaijan; he mentioned that Russia has to take its interests into account and that if Azerbaijan did not buy it from Russia, they would buy it from another country. Moreover, he stated that for every weapon Azerbaijan obtains, Armenia gets a weapon to counter it, and that currently Armenia possesses the S400 system (yes, not the S300, but the S400). 

    - then an Armenian priest took the stage, spoke mostly in Armenian, then in very "rabiz" Russian, criticising him further, which caused the audience to be pleased, and all the teachers to praise the priest for "resisting Russian chauvinism" to show that you can not "mess" with Armenians

    - He also mentioned that never in his life he witnessed a country / nation where such a majority openly feels so much (destructive) hate towards their country (Armenia) and authorities, which is very worrisome... and he admitted that it is very difficult for Russia to counter the information war-fare that is conducted by the West in Armenia, and that the US Embassy alone counts more than 250 registered vehicles in Yerevan

    Anyway, how is planning an armed revolution on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide going? Viva l'Armenie!

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    1. ArevordiDecember 9, 2014 at 1:05 AM

      In sharp contrast to what Armenians do in the US: Which is to enthusiastically kiss the ass of every American official they can get their hands on.

      It's an upside-down turned world: Biting the hand that feeds, kissing the hand that beats.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 9, 2014 at 4:34 AM

      Lobbying programs in Russia and abroad require strict coordination, direction and support from the higher echelons of the Arm. Govt. and should not be left to the whims of NGOs, journalists, nationalist, musicians, artists, and certainly not priests. I'd like to see the diaspora ministry and foreign ministry get their asses kicked into shape for failing at this function, and the non-diplomatic functions (ie all social NGO functions) of the US embassy severely curtailed.
      Arto2

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    3. AnonymousDecember 9, 2014 at 7:06 PM

      Arevordi,

      I know one of your calls is to make Armenians realize that we can be in Russia what jews are in the west. Sorry to put it like this my friend but what you are saying is a pipe dream so forget about it. Our people just dont have what it takes. Look at history, Jews expertly live inside large powers like you say parasites and they use that power for jews advantage. Our people live like nomads always on the move around the world. And why Armenian community leaders are not speaking up against what preparliament's doing? No body like the corruption going on in government but armed revolution on April 24? This is crazy. I dont know how are we going to keep a country like this?

      Ps: Read most of your analysis. Very good stuff. I had no idea about Turks wanting a "caucasian union" with Armenia in it. I didn't know your work goes back to 2008 and even before. I wish I found this blog earlier.

      Arto1

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    4. AnonymousDecember 9, 2014 at 10:37 PM

      Hi Arto1,
      We Arto's seem to be on the same page, however I'd like to add something to your comment. When we speak of the Jews, or any other ethnic group, we should be careful to distinguish between the average person and the leadership. The Jews have an extremely well organized, well coordinated and well funded leadership. Some of it is visible but most of it is invisible. This has been around for centuries and is the ONLY reason behind their success. Lets look at Russia today and Russia 20 years ago. The difference again is due to the well organized patriotic leadership they have today. I've lived in 4 countries and traveled extensively to many other countries and can tell you through my observation that the Armenian people have a surprisingly high level of natural intelligence. Even the uneducated Armenian peasant is more intelligent than most university educated people in other countries I've met. By natural intelligence I'm referring to the their ability to deduct and reason, and their ability to understand complex problems. Their mind works in very complex ways. They also are highly emotional which has both positive and negative points. The point I would respectfully argue against you and Arevordi is that we don't have more stupid and self destructive people than anyone else. If anything the Armenian people have been able to ward off a color revolution better than most. We just don't have the right guidance under strong patriotic leadership which will channel peoples energies. In the absence of such a force, other parasitic forces jump in to fill the vacuum, hence the foreign funded NGOs. The morale of the people is far more important for a nation than adding another percentage point to the GDP based on flawed IMF formulas. It is true that our president and defense ministers have done a great job building defense and strategically aligning the nation in the right direction, and we should commend and support them in their actions, but we should also be ready to point out that the current failure to strengthen the morale of the people needs to be addressed. We have lots of potentially strong and patriotic leaders but their access to important positions of power is restricted because of the current political hierarchy and culture. The Russian gentleman Krivopuskov Viktor Vladimirovich is far more an Armenian patriot than many of the "businessmen" sitting in Armenia's parliament or serving as regional governors in Armenia. I know the argument is that it is from this peasantry that the leadership arises but I would beg to differ in that in every country a firewall is usually set up to allow only selected individuals to enter leadership position, and that this firewall is very much a component of political culture. For us I suppose it is a political culture which has both soviet roots and ultra-liberal roots from the LTP years. This is where the battle needs to be fought. We have no shortage of Sparapet Mkhitars, we just need to alter the political firewall to let them in.
      Arto2

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    5. AnonymousDecember 10, 2014 at 12:45 AM

      We have to be hopeful. One day we will have strong, educated and intelligent people.
      That time is far, we now have armenian prostitutes working? In turkey.
      that says a lot about Armenian national values and how far we are from being a nation, true nation. A nation that can sit and argue with Russians.

      Delete
    6. AnonymousDecember 10, 2014 at 3:41 AM

      Arto jan,

      Take this from one Arto to another,

      You are looking at the world from personal eyes. You have not experienced Armenians enough. Armenians are so smart they will eat you live if they think you will be better than them one day. Armenian intelligence only works to power other nations. We need a few generations of independence, peace and maybe with some patriotic education after that we will have Armenians worthy of being called an Armenian. But like TK said that time is far for now because for now we are more like gypsies like Arevordi reminds us.

      Arto

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    7. AnonymousDecember 10, 2014 at 5:50 PM

      Arto2

      Who said Armenians are stupid? Armenians are sooooo smart that western mercs in Armenia openly threaten to kill Armenian officials on April 24 and we dont here not one voice of outrage from anywhere in our society. Very smart LOL! No seriously Armenian intelligence does not work for Armenians benefit it works for foreign intelligence (dont mind my pun) Like already pointed out deep jealousy, material worship and bad intentions to fellow Armenians is the reason why "smart" Armenians cant build a nation. Do you know that sorcery and putting evil spells on people "tuxtugir" is always booming business in Armenia? I agree with you we need a leader to rise and use Armenian intelligence for Armenian benefit. But how will we get one with all the intelligent Armenians pulling him down from all sides. Sorry for being cynical.

      Longtime reader

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    8. AnonymousDecember 11, 2014 at 12:21 AM

      Longtime reader,
      Actually your cynicism is very common in our community, and that is the problem. It is an emotional response that is learned behavior taught by our western funded media and propagated by our citizenry due to the reasons I described above. Please be careful not to fall into the vicious cycle. Typically emotional responses don't solve problems, they create them. All the symptoms you are describing only highlight what I'm saying. It will take time I know but we have to start on the right foot. And don't point out anecdotal things such as "tuxtugir" and present it as a common societal practice because I'm sure even you don't believe it is. Other than that I'm grateful to have this forum to exchange information. I've learned a tremendous amount from Arevordi and everyone else on this blogsite. I think I'll end my point here. Thanks
      Arto2

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    9. ArevordiDecember 11, 2014 at 2:41 AM

      I thank both Artos for being here (for a while I thought you two were the same person who couldn't makeup his mind about what to call himself)

      Arto2,

      Please don't take this the wrong way but you have not accurately assessed the characteristics of our people in their natural setting (i.e. together in their homeland). Along with Arto1, I also suspect you have not experienced Armenians enough in your life. You will change your mind after extensive/intimate dealings with our people. Trust me on that.

      Have you ever tried to organize anything with a group of Armenians? What you end up with is more problems than you started with. World famous classical music conductor Valery Gergiev (who is an Ossetian) worked in Armenia for a short time period in the early 1980s. In an interview he gave to an Armenian television program in recent years, he was asked for his impressions on Armenia/Armenians. He said after having worked with 200 Armenians (he was referring to the philharmonic musicians) he felt he was ready to run a country.

      There is an Armenian saying: One Armenian is too little. Two Armenians is too much.

      Having a society full of "intelligent" people is not always a positive thing for a nation-state if those with the intelligence do not posses other positive traits as well. Look at some of the most powerful nations on earth: Russia, France, Germany, Japan, China, US, Britain, etc. On average, the people that live in these nations (with the notable exception of US and Britain) are very intelligent but they are also a simple people that tend to mind their own business and instinctively seek leadership. Do you know of an Armenian that minds his or her business, wants to live simply and instinctively seeks to follow leaders, especially one that is Armenian?

      There is another factor here that needs to be addressed. There is "intelligence" and there is "street smart". I think you are confusing the two. While there are many intelligent Armenians indeed, many more Armenians, the average Armenian today I dare say, tends to be more street smart than intelligent. How to fend for yourself is what Armenians excel at. This has its roots in historic circumstances. Being shrewd, clever, money smart, energetic, adaptable, etc, is a survival strategy bred within Armenians during the past one thousand years. You can argue that being street smart is a form of intelligence and I would agree. But being street smart alone - without a sense of nation/community - is not constructive in nation-building.

      Look at Preparliament members: They are highly intelligent people [I even know a few of them] I don't even think they are "traitors" (at least in the literal sense of the word). But they are potentially very dangerous for one does the work of ten professional mercenaries. Preparliament members are so smart that they want to start a bloody revolution - on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide! Worst yet, the Armenian general public is so smart that not a peep is heard. As Longtime Reader asked: Where is the public outcry?

      Yes, we are very intelligent. But we are also arrogant, clannish, overly ambitious, overly competitive, overly ostentatious, overly envious, materialistic, cynical, gossip-prone and very emotional. These are the fundamental reason for our people's political illiteracy. In particular, arrogance, tribalism and emotions gets into the way of prudent political reasoning. Therefore, intelligence per se is not enough. Moreover, Armenian intelligence becomes a problems when you have large numbers of intelligent people living in a small and poor nation.

      Delete
    10. ArevordiDecember 11, 2014 at 2:50 AM

      PS: It will be very difficult for "powerful leaders" to emerge in Armenian society. They will be torn apart along the way. This unique trait of ours is why we have historically not had a powerful leader. At the risk of pissing off many, I will dare say that Tigran the Great (who was ethnically a Parthian) was an anomaly during the past two thousand years. Throughout our history (post-Urartu period in particular) our kings feared our nakharars (feudal barons). It's no different today. The Armenian president today is not the most powerful man in Armenia. To maintain his presidential seat and his power, he has to deal with the "oligarchs," some of whom are more powerful than he is.

      For Armenia to give birth to its Vladimir Putin, Armenians first need to change some core values. Yes, a new breed of Armenian can be created in time through "social engineering". But, who is going to start the process, the chobans-in-Armani-suits currently in power or Western mercenaries vying for control?

      I think for the foreseeable future it is up to individual Armenians like us to start that process. And let's realize that the best social engineering starts in the household.

      "Firewalls" like the one you described gradually comes about after long periods of independence, prosperity, peace and stability - and if there is a collective consciousness for it (collective/instinctual realization of its need). All nations deserve the governments they have. If you immerse yourself in Armenian society you will see that many, if not most Armenians, are potential "oligarchs". You will also see that the supposedly hated oligarchs have considerable following amongst the people. Ask yourself, what has stopped an Armenian during the past twenty-plus years from taking a gun and shooting down one of the hated oligarchs? If the oligarchs were truly hated they would have been hunted down by vigilante groups a long time ago. Armenians of Armenia see themselves in the oligarchs they hate so much.

      Delete
    11. AnonymousDecember 11, 2014 at 7:41 AM

      Thanks Arevordi,
      Just a quick question however to clarify my thoughts. If we were an ungovernable people then how is it we can have a wonderfully organized, disciplined and structured military? Don't the same genetic and personality traits that make phenomenally brave and skilled soldiers also exist in the rest of society, and if so cant the rest of society also be governed to bring out their "soldierly" characteristics in the same way in day to day living? Sorry, I don't want to turn this into a sociology discussion but I was wondering if you had any thoughts you'd like to share regarding the military and our personality characteristics.
      Arto2

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    12. ArevordiDecember 11, 2014 at 6:24 PM

      Arto jan,

      Most self-respecting Armenians tend to approach this subject matter with emotional bravado and arrogance. I am, on the other hand, going to approach this subject matter very rationally and objectively - because the worst thing we can do as a people at this point is to overestimate our abilities and underestimate that of our enemies.

      Wonderfully organized military? Perhaps. I am also impressed by their training and equipment. But, in reality, we wont know (and I hope we don't get to know) how good our military is until major hostilities begin. Thus far, all we have seen is muscle flexing on both sides. We won't know who is better until a major war begins. I don't want to find out.

      Here is something to consider: Most sniper deaths that occur on the line-of-contact are because of indiscipline - soldiers sleeping on watch, exposing their bodies as they move around, smoking, talking loud, etc. Most injuries and deaths that occur between Armenians in the military are because of indiscipline - someone curses out someone else's mother and world war three breaks out.

      With that said, I will also say that the Armenian military looks well organized and well trained for three fundamental reasons: 1) It is relatively small (most Armenian men avoid serving) and thus far easier to organize. 2) Russian military aid in the form of free weaponry and training. 3) Russian military culture that which - thank God - permeates the Armenian military.

      Regarding Russian martial culture: One of the fundamental reasons why Armenians were successful against Azeris during Artsakh's liberation struggle was because Azeris had no combat experience during Soviet times, whereas many Armenians had fought in Afghanistan and many Armenians were part of combat units in the Soviet military. Many of these veterans became the core of Armenia's military.

      Another factor that contributed to our victory was this: After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Moscow began seeing Armenia as a geostrategic asset and thus began sending large numbers of heavy weaponry to Armenian forces fighting in Artsakh. Another psychological factor was the "never again" syndrome - it was a romantic time with the Soviet collapse and a newly independent Armenia would not allow a second genocide.

      These are the factors that led to our victory. Any future war will be fought under totally different factors and circumstances. Thus far, we Armenians hold the tactical advantage (mountainous terrain) and the strategic advantage (Russia's alliance). We must therefore do our best to maintain these advantages - which means we cannot give up any of Artsakh's mountainous territory and we must remain firmly allied to the Russian Bear.

      PS: Genetically, peoples of the south Caucasus, including Azeris, are closely related. What primarily sets us apart from the rest is not genetics, it's culture. We have good and bad aspects to our folk culture. We need to move away from the slogan "vortegh hats anytegh kats" and move more towards "miayn zenqov ka Hayots perkutyun".

      Delete
    13. ArevordiDecember 11, 2014 at 6:36 PM

      Arto2 jan,

      Regarding "tuxtugir": It is in fact VERY common in Armenia and it reveals the true character of our society today. So common in fact, I just happened to come across this talk show about it last night. Please watch it. Sociologically speaking, it's very enlightening - http://www.armnewstv.am/programs/21513/38384

      Delete
    14. AnonymousDecember 11, 2014 at 11:30 PM

      Interesting video, I liked what the priest and others had to say. However, why is a homo hosting the show? Why is this allowed on TV? This all goes back to the original point raised, Armenians are not running the country efficiently and correctly otherwise we would not have garbage on tv first and foremost those trashy soap operas.


      LG

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    15. ArevordiDecember 12, 2014 at 4:10 AM

      Hayr Komitas is my favorite cergy. Every single public appearance he has is a spiritual and intellectual gem. I want to see him Katoghikos one day.

      Lay off that kid, he does a good job. Do you know if he is gay or are you making an assumption based on his looks/demeanor? I think he is just a "նուրբ մամաի բալա" (a delicate mama's boy). If he is gay, he is a closet one. As long as he stays in the closet, I don't have any problems with him.

      Stop acting like a Taliban.

      Delete
    16. AnonymousDecember 13, 2014 at 1:17 AM

      I don't know for sure whether he is a fag or not. But from his mannerisms it is quite likely that he is.

      Stop acting like a lefty :P


      LG

      Delete
  16. AnonymousDecember 9, 2014 at 6:36 PM

    Every now and then a person emerges who so galvanizes popular opinion that he becomes the most idolized and admired person in the country. Naturally when this happens, the "people" call upon him to be their leader. The mythological Moses was such a person. So was George Washington (the people wanted him to be president for life). So was Hitler. So is Putin. Each -to a vast majority of his countrymen- is/was simply the best person to do the job.

    The Russian Czar was the most revered and popular person in Russia. But the war was going badly, no victory was in sight, and economic hardships were increasing. Less than 100,000 men were involved in the overthrow of the czar out of a country of 160 million. Based upon figures amassed by Lenin himself after he took control of Moscow and St.Petersberg, the Communist party numbered about 100,000. 80,000 of these were Jews. 98% of the Politburo were Jews. But, because they had the money to make things happen, the power and will to terrorize the Christians, and the organization to keep everyone in line and in a state of fear, the Communists won the ensuing Civil War.

    Forces are at work within Russia intending to disrupt the economy and sew discontent among the population. They have set out to mold public opinion, not serve it. They will never be able to tear the "people" away from Putin; but they are counting on making such a mess of the economy that -like Morsi in Egypt- Putin can be seen as incompetent and stubbornly wrong-headed. Before that happens, I hope that they will be exposed, rooted out and imprisoned for their treasonous activities. The "west" will see this as a "pogrom", regardless of the facts or the situation.

    The Zionists are at war with Putin as much as they were at war with Hitler, long before open warfare started in 1939. Whatever the costs entailed and however long it takes, they are confident that they will prevail this time as well.

    Anachronism

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    1. ArevordiDecember 10, 2014 at 9:14 PM

      Very well said, Anachronism,

      Processes that led to major wars against Russia during the last two hundred years are repeating today. In their zeal to belittle and attack Russia (by spreading anti-Russian disinformation via Western news media and film industry) they are inadvertently creating a mental-state (a political culture) in Western society that may yet prove very harmful for the Western political order. By failing to understand Russian mentality and underestimating Russian power and resilience, the West is making the same mistake Nazi Germany did during its height of power. This was somewhat expected since the Anglo-American-Jewish alliance is the direct successor to Hitler's Europe.

      The West today has the same geopolitical aspirations as Hitler did some seventy years ago - minus the racial/cultural component.

      With that said, I do not think the West is foolish enough to pursue a direct war with Russia. They may have had such an opportunity in the 1990s. They no longer do. Similar to what Western interests did back during early 20th century, they will instead attempt to manipulate/incite domestic issues in the country. Back then, they succeeded in toppling the Czar because the Russian Empire had run its course (it had fallen considerably behind European powers) and was ripe for collapse.

      Today, it's a different story. Russia today is on its rise and in very good shape to resist. Don't mind financial/economic forecasts put out by Western institutions. They are all relative to interpretation. What truly matter are law enforcement, political unity, healthy employment rates and the affordability of food and products. Fluctuations in market prices or employment rates - up or down - is natural for they even occur in the West. As long as there are no sudden and/or drastic changes (no indicators suggesting any) Russia will whether the current crisis just fine. In fact, it will come out of this crisis better shape than ever.

      Anyway, let's pray that the Russian nation will persevere in face of this great adversity for Russia is humanity's last hope. Russia is the last hope for preserving the western/European civilization, the traditional nation-state, the traditional-family and Apostolic Christianity. Russia is the last front against Globalism, Western imperialism, Islamic extremism, pan-Turkism and Zionism.

      Thank you for reading, thank you for commenting.

      Delete
  17. AnonymousDecember 10, 2014 at 10:28 AM

    Dugin lecture on Eurasia. (English)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSAa9lDp56o


    LG

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    1. AnonymousDecember 10, 2014 at 6:52 PM

      Canadian TV on Dugin, I haven't watched it yet.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFI6fg8NITg

      Delete
    2. ArevordiDecember 10, 2014 at 9:17 PM

      LG,

      Isn't it sad that two Orthodox brothers (Russia was actually the direct successor of Byzantium) have to communicate in English?

      Delete
    3. ArevordiDecember 10, 2014 at 10:24 PM

      TK

      I watched it. It's actually an intelligent presentation by Michael Millerman. But... Isn't it sad that even in Canada it's up to these two Jews to analyze political matters that pertain to Canada?

      Delete
    4. AnonymousDecember 11, 2014 at 1:21 AM

      Yes, I just watched it too, kind of surprised Canadian TV showed program about Dugin. Unexpected, especially Millerman's opinion at the end of the show. Was also surprised reading the comments under the video. Generally I think Canadians are more literate than Americans. Not as much Hollywood culture and frosty winters made them sit home and read. LOL

      Delete
  18. AnonymousDecember 10, 2014 at 6:50 PM

    Interesting data about real state of Russian economy from Russian source

    http://russia-insider.com/en/business/2014/12/09/03-23-27pm/study_shows_russias_economy_resilient_backdrop_sanctions

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  19. ZoravarDecember 10, 2014 at 6:51 PM

    In the backdrop of Western sanctions and falling oil prices, I strongly recommend everyone to read this eye-opening article based on documented facts and figures:

    http://www.awarablogs.com/putin-midterm-interim-results/

    ReplyDelete
  20. AnonymousDecember 10, 2014 at 6:57 PM

    Armenian Human Rights Defenders Predict Harsher Environment https://iwpr.net/global-voices/armenian-human-rights-defenders-predict-harsher-environment

    ReplyDelete
  21. ArevordiDecember 10, 2014 at 9:52 PM

    Zoravar and TK,

    When it comes to geopolitical matters such as Russia we need to learn to ignore 'everything' we are told by Western "experts" or officials. The same applies to many Western assets residing inside Russian society for they are also trying to spread panic. Don't pay much attention to financial/economic forecasts put out by Western institutions because they are all subject to interpretation. Their data is tweaked/manipulated to get the kind of results they want you and I to see. 'Everything' we see, read and hear in mainstream Western news and television media is presented with some form of political spin. They are trying to create the perception in the West that Russian society is weak. They are trying to sow panic inside Russia. After all, much of Western power is based on hype - the fabricated perception that the Western world is the very center of the universe.

    Ultimately, what truly matters in any country is law enforcement, military powers, political unity, healthy employment rates and the affordability of common foods and products. Some fluctuations in domestic market prices or employment rates is natural even in the best of times. Such fluctuations even occur in the West. In fact, if you take a close look at the US economy and you will find very severe problems. Anyway, as long as there are no sudden and/or drastic changes in Russian society (no indicators suggesting any) Russia will whether the current crisis just fine. In fact, it will come out of it in better shape than before.

    PS: I think Kremlin officials are also trying to create the perception that Russia is seriously hurting as a result of Western sanctions and lower oil prices for two purposes - 1) To not encourage additional sanctions or additional measures to hurt the Russian economy 2) To rally the Russian people around its leadership and sow hostility inside Russian society towards the West.

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  22. ZoravarDecember 11, 2014 at 7:12 PM

    Pepe Escobar's article:

    Russia, Turkey pivot across Asia

    http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/CEN-01-081214.html

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  23. AnonymousDecember 12, 2014 at 6:16 PM

    I usually dont side with russians but last few years is really changing my mind because America is out of control. Putin is a very smart man and he is doing the right thing in India: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/12/world/asia/putin-and-modi-reaffirm-bond-between-russia-and-india.html?ref=world

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  24. AnonymousDecember 13, 2014 at 2:00 AM

    Get a load of this mans reasoning, what a fucking moron: http://news.am/eng/news/243325.html

    Longtime reader

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    1. ArevordiDecember 13, 2014 at 2:13 AM

      He periodically get on a public platform and spews Russophobic nonsense to justify the salary he has been getting from Uncle Sam since his "dissident" years. With that said, it goes beyond money with him. He is mentally ill. He may have been raped while in Soviet prisons, which would explain his mental illness and hatred of Russians. Nevertheless, I agree with your description of him. To think that we have characters like him representing nationalism in Armenia is an embarrassment to our entire race.

      Delete
  25. AnonymousDecember 13, 2014 at 2:46 PM

    Arevordi, i just finished reading the entirety of this latest blog entry. It "delivered" to say the least; a nice summary and analysis tying together recent events. As always I enjoyed reading your psychological analysis of the various actors involved, including your description of how the western agenda attracts the freaks inside targeted societies like Armenia and Russia, the freaks who want (consciously or not) to destroy the existing, tradition-based social norms in order to form a degenerate, western-style society where they will more comfortable. You nailed it with your observation that Kevin Abrahamian is exactly this type of person.

    I also want to comment on your point that many of Armenia's opposition like Pre-Parliament are not traitors in the true sense of the word, rather they are just dangerously delusional but well-meaning idealists. I have to concede this point as well from my own personal experience. All of the AYF people I knew, including ones openly calling for President Sargsyan's assassination during the Protocols era, were both "smart" (aka did well in school) and they thought they were acting in Armenia's best interests. I'm sure it was the same story with the utter failure that the "barevolution" as well. Not surprisingly, the twenty-something, university-educated "activists" had pretty much ZERO experience or education regarding Armenian geopolitics, and they had very poor critical thinking ability. Add to that that they were raised and successfully brainwashed by the Anglo-American-Jewish establishment, and had therefore internalized the subversive ideas that the system drills into the heads of the youth (democracy is good, homosexuality is desirable, interracialism is good, multiculturalism is good, feminism is good, religion is bad, establishment scientists never hide the dangers behind pharmaceuticals or GMOs, etc.). As much as these people frustrate me, I know they are mostly mislead pawns. It's the true traitors like alik arzumanyan that drive them into a frenzy in order to serve western goals. And sadly, sometimes they have to be put down with violence for the greater good of society.

    Whether in diaspora or inside Armenia, the root of our problem is a lack of real leadership. Armenian-American organizations are often infiltrated by western intelligence, so there is no hope there (Armenian National Committee, Armenian Assembly of American, Armenian Youth Federation, Policy Forum Armenia, and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation among others). Not all Armenian-Americans are hopeless, but a good majority are as brainwashed as the average westerner by these groups that have reduced Armenianness to a myopic focus on "genocide recognition" from a government as corrupt and criminal as Washington. It's easy to criticize existing Armenian institutions like the government or Church for failing to provide effective and organized leadership, but it is a difficult task which they face. PreParliament and the likes of Shant Harutunyan would be public enemy number 1 if Armenian state TV and government organized youth groups publicized their crimes, called attention to the danger they pose, and publicly beat a few of them into submission... but instead we see that even the police and security services let these idiots publicly plan insurrections and call for riots, until something like Harutunyan's exploding a bomb in Yerevan occurs and they are forced to act. That alone proves that there is way too much freedom and democracy for such an underdeveloped society as Armenia.

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  26. AnonymousDecember 13, 2014 at 2:52 PM

    Ps "one Armenian is too few, two Armenians are too many" LOL absolutely brilliant and sadly 100% accurate.
    Ps 2 - "tuxtugir" - the most primitive, gypsy-like, backwards, superstitious, irrational, uneducated, and oftentimes selfish and bottom-class segments of Armenian society. People have a need to make sense of a world they don't understand, and so they make up and delude themselves into believing all sorts of ridiculous myths about supernatural powers. Ignorant people will naturally tend to believe this ridiculous stuff. I know a few myself that do it, not surprisingly these people are so stupid (and untrustworthy) that I wouldn't hire them to clean toilets. The best way in my opinion to combat this crap is top-down educational programs that teach Armenians not to act like 12th century peasants. I think the American equivalent of the role tuxtugir plays in Armenian society - although not as "evil" - is the new-age movements where gullible people fall for magic crystals, lay lines, aliens, and other supernatural phenomena; whatever they think will give them an edge over others. That so many Armenians want to use this supposed power to the detriment of other Armenians speaks loudly about one of our most pressing problems as a race.

    Ps links of interest:
    http://www.darkmoon.me/2014/anti-putin-propaganda-not-working/
    I don't know who Lasha Darkmoon is, but I enjoy her work. She has several interesting articles on Jewry.

    http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/12/11/cia-torture-report/
    A damning collection of links.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/10049292/David-Cameron-says-real-progress-made-with-Vladimir-Putin-over-Syria.html
    Old article, but it notes that Putin gave the British PM Armenian brandy, just like Stalin gave to Churchill. Imagine if a US president had presented a foreign guest with Armenian brandy, the diaspora would hail him as a hero to no end.

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  27. AnonymousDecember 14, 2014 at 6:09 PM

    This isnt going to end well they are clearly escalating the crisis

    http://news.yahoo.com/us-congress-passes-russia-sanctions-arms-ukraine-054621335.html

    http://nypost.com/2014/12/14/saudi-arabias-oil-war-against-iran-and-russia-2/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArevordiDecember 14, 2014 at 9:05 PM

      Economic/financial sanctions; manipulating oil prices; saturating the Middle East with Wahhabi fanatics; arming the junta in Ukraine... These are drastic measures, as well as signs of desperation. They see the rise of a power that threatens their global hegemony. Since they are powerless militarily and politically, they are resorting to use their most powerful weapon of mass destruction - the Dollar - to hurt their enemies. And look at the affect the Dollar WMD has had: With a little tweaking of a single lever, they have been able to do significant damage to targeted economies around the world. Their hope is to damage the Russian economy just enough so that their forces of "democracy" would be able to incite sociopolitical unrest or a revolution.

      This approach reminds me of how a little over one hundred years ago Jewish Bolsheviks murdered a major Czarist reformer to stop the economic/financial situation of the Russian Empire from improving to lay the groundwork for a bloody revolution which was eventually realized several year later -

      Assassination of Pyotr Stolypin: http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2012/09/assassination-of-pyotr-stolypin.html

      Recent world events should be a wake up call to humanity. Westernization and Globalism is a grave threat to the civilized world. Humanity desperately needs multipolarity in world affairs. This is why the Anglo-American-Jewish political order has to be defeated. The US Dollar is being pushed around the world as a highly addictive narcotic. As long as we are dependent on it, it will control us. THIS IS WHY NATIONS OF THE WORLD NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT LIMITED EXPOSURE TO THE WEST MEANS A BETTER CHANCE AT SURVIVAL IN THE LONG TERM.

      Last week they quietly set the stage for arms deliveries to Ukraine when they quietly pass this law -

      America on “Hot War Footing” as House Paves Way for War with Russia: http://www.veteransnewsnow.com/2014/12/06/512430-america-is-on-a-hot-war-footing-house-legislation-paves-the-way-for-war-with-russia/

      Yes, we seem to be heading towards a major confrontation indeed, unless factors pushing the world towards another world war somehow changes. In the mean while, Russia needs to begin restructuring its economic and financial system, tighten its belt and wait this one out. The last thing Moscow should do now is to lash out militarily in Ukraine, which is what the West wants. In reality, Western arms in Ukraine will not have much of an impact on Novorossiya. If the US goes through with its threat, Moscow will begin arming pro-Russian rebels with sophisticated weaponry.

      If US goes through with its threat to arm Kiev, Moscow should also respond by supplying sophisticated weaponry to Syria, Iran and Hezbollah - and have Armenian forces put an end to the BTC pipeline in Azerbaijan.

      Once more, I would like to point out the dangers of economic and financial integration with Western powers. Being dependent on Western trade and money is like putting your body on a life support system the controls of which are in the hands of those who do not care whether you lived or died.

      Delete
    2. JerrikoDecember 14, 2014 at 9:25 PM

      With the Pivot to Asia that the US is currently doing, would the Americans be arming anti-Chinese factions in Asia the same way they're arming the Kiev regime?

      Delete
  28. ZoravarDecember 14, 2014 at 8:47 PM

    One of the best articles I have seen so far about the subject of falling oil prices:

    http://www.caseyresearch.com/articles/russias-unfazed-by-falling-oil-prices

    ReplyDelete
  29. AnonymousDecember 15, 2014 at 1:55 AM

    Arevordi,

    Did you see CNN special report Road to Armenia?

    Arto

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    1. ArevordiDecember 15, 2014 at 3:02 AM

      Did I see it? Yes I did. And did you see the honorable CIA representative in Yerevan casually chit-chatting with a couple of young chicks in the background of that trendy cafe where Armenia's Westernized youth congregate? Isn't it interesting that he was there, almost subliminally?

      What did I think of the program? Shallow/Western crap presented, as always, with a touch of honey. But I am pretty sure American-Armenians had a one big, collective orgasm over it.

      The best part of the show was probably the first few minutes or so when they talked about Tumo and Armenia's love of chess. The rest of the program was your typical Western view of a backward nation, presented with your typical Western spin. The entire thing was basically a celebration of Westernized Armenians and the promotion/encouragement of Armenia's further Westernization. Very worrying in my opinion because they are targeting the new generation. THEY ARE SOWING SEEDS. I have been warning about this for many years.

      Remember how they started the show by saying Armenia/Armenia's youth is moving away from the Soviet past? Wait a minute: Why celebrate moving away from Armenia's Soviet past? First, the Soviet past was a very important chapter in our nation's history for Armenia exists today due to its Soviet past and Yerevan is a metropolis today due to its Soviet past. Second, was the Soviet system ALL BAD? There was nothing positive in the Soviet period? As if Westernization is ALL GOOD?

      Why couldn't the person/persons who wrote the script for the program say: "Armenians today want to preserve some of the more positive aspects of the Soviet system as they adopt some of the finer aspects of Westernization"... Or something to that effect.

      By presenting items with subtle/inconspicuous Western spin, the "news agency" in question is not "reporting" it is CONDITIONING people's minds. And because CNN has a reputation around the world that is larger than life, its programming conditions even the minds of those who are well educated. In short, such Western style reporting is meant to create PERCEPTION. And as we all know, PERCEPTION IS REALITY.

      Anyway, as a video expose on our nation, it utterly failed to give the viewer a real glimpse/taste of Armenia and Armenian civilization. There is so much they could have put in the half hour instead of jazz clubs, American-Armenians living in Yerevan and a chubby British-Armenian bimbo with a weird accent.

      I'm sorry if I ruined you viewing pleasure. Honestly, I did not like the show. Want to see what a real video report on Armenia should have looked like, watch this by RT:

      Armenia: 20 years post-Soviet (1/2): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alF81CB-zhc&feature=related

      Armenia: 20 years post-Soviet (2/2):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sh5PXQ7PdE

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 15, 2014 at 6:03 PM

      LOL I figured you would say something along these lines. I looked at the CNN program as better than nothing. It put Armenia on the map for ignorant people around the world. I did not see the RT program before but I agree it was done much better than the CNN one. I liked RT's coverage of the genocide and they even mentioned NKR has been Armenian populated since "time immemorial" and that Stalin gave it to Azerbaijan in 1921.

      Arto

      Delete
  30. AnonymousDecember 15, 2014 at 7:38 AM

    Info you guys here will appreciate:

    Russian arms sales soar on domestic spending: http://news.yahoo.com/russian-arms-sales-soar-domestic-spending-233910504.html

    Слава России!

    ReplyDelete
  31. AnonymousDecember 15, 2014 at 6:51 PM

    Russia has surrended selling out east Urkaine. Enjoy Eurasian union and the Russia Holocaust denial laws you will be getting with it. Pathetic

    ReplyDelete
  32. ArevordiDecember 15, 2014 at 10:06 PM

    Being that I have a deep distrust towards Armenians in matters relating to politics and nation-building, in all seriousness, I cannot blame Russians for not trusting Armenians either. Therefore, this survey result did not surprise me -

    Survey: Armenia, Azerbaijan enjoy almost the same level of trust among Russians: http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/12/15/survey-armenia-azerbaijan-enjoy-almost-the-same-level-of-trust-among-russians/

    In my opinion, this survey result is indirectly related to the flawed foreign policy approach by official Yerevan during the past twenty years known as "complimentary politics". Distrust from your closest ally - and your only lifeline - is what we get for saturating Armenia's political landscape with Western operatives. [The way a lot of our compatriots carry themselves in the Russian Federation is another factor, but that is a different discussion] Instead of using our already limited resources in advancing issues relating to Armenia within a nation that so happens to be the hegemon in the Caucasus, our leaders have been busy enthusiastically frolicking with Western reptiles with the hopes of lining their pockets with a few Dollars.

    For years I have been warning about the near total absence of organized Armenian lobbying efforts in the Kremlin.

    For years I have been warning that Turks/Azeris are actively engaged in organized lobbying efforts the Kremlin.

    For years I have been warning that all of the pro-Armenian policies coming out of Moscow have been initiated by Russian officials without much if any official Armenian input or encouragement because Armenian officials have been too busy begging for attention from Washington and Brussels.

    For years I have been warning that we are failing to understand and fully appreciate the strategic importance and the great potential of our historic alliance with the Russian Federation, as well as failing to understand the serious dangers of Yerevan's continued flirtations with the political West.

    For years I have been warning that the majority of Armenian politicians in Armenia's political arena are either pro-West, West-leaning, bought by the West or can yet be easily bought by the West, and that Armenia is an ally of Russia today merely as a result of a handful of people in Armenia - namely the Karabakh clan.

    ReplyDelete
  33. AnonymousDecember 16, 2014 at 5:05 AM

    http://asbarez.com/129888/british-foreign-office-issues-report-on-armenian-diaspora/

    I find it revealing that even the British are privy to the fact that Armenians in Russia are dropping the ball when it comes to collectively lobbying the Kremlin to pursue a pro-Armenia policy. This is troubling.

    LG

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    1. AnonymousDecember 16, 2014 at 5:31 PM

      (Part 1 of 2) I tried to leave the following comment. Let's see what assbarez's censors do.

      Sarkis says:
      December 16, 2014 at 2:52 am

      The dying nation of the Anglo-Saxons never fails to insult the Armenian nation. The filthy English scum who authored this report took every opportunity they could to insult the Armenian nation – using quotations to call into doubt the Armenian Genocide; using other insulting euphemisms; criticizing the Armenians who seek recognition of the Armenian Genocide; and questioning the liberation of Artsakh and its de facto independence from England’s oil-rich buddies in Baku. The shameless English trash pretend that it is only the Diaspora in the west which cares about the Armenian Genocide, which is complete bull because the Armenian state and Armenians everywhere including the diaspora in Russia, the CIS, South American and the Middle East fight for justice for the Armenian Genocide. The charlatan who wrote this garbage pretends that the Russian-Armenians allegedly “do not care” about the Armenian Genocide when in reality the Russian government recognized the Armenian Genocide decades ago and therefore Russian-Armenians do not have to beg or protest for their government to recognize the Armenian Genocide, unlike the British, American and Israeli governments which go to all ridiculous lengths to protect their NATO brothers in Ankara. President Putin visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial in December 2013, and believe me the most powerful man in the world did not visit Tsitsernakaberd because of any lobbying pressure, he did so because he is the upright, moral, Orthodox Christian leader of a country which sees tiny Armenia as its strategic ally in the vital South Caucasus region. Additionally, the author pretends that Russian-Armenians are largely “apolitical” because they are migrant workers, when in reality all migrant worker Armenians – including those in Europe – are as active and concerned about the Armenian Genocide, it’s just that poorer migrants tend to lack the resources and time to put together large lobbying groups. This trash is not even worth commenting on.

      Is it not interesting and enlightening that after dozens of insults and denials of the Armenian Genocide, the author then bemoans the fact that the diasopra is supposedly not active enough in “internal governance/democracy-building issues within Armenia”. Firstly, what nation in the world allows non-citizens to meddle in its internal governance? Interested Armenian patriots from the Diaspora is free to move to Armenia, get dual citizenship and then partake in nation-building and internal Armenian politics, but its silly to think nonresident non-citizens should have a voice in internal Armenian affairs. Let’s face the facts here: the British know that “democracy” (ie political empowerment of the lower, uneducated, and often self-destructive classes) in underdeveloped societies like young Armenia would open Armenia up for meddling by wealthy western governments and intelligence agencies. Look at what they did to open democratic Iran under Mossadegh the 1950s to get a picture, or the terror they unleashed in open and democratic South American nations to get a clear picture. The British know that if Armenia were a “democracy”, the clandestine operations they have tried to pull, like the regime change they were caught on tape planning with Arthur Baghdasaryan in 2007 would likely be much more successful.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 16, 2014 at 5:31 PM

      (Part 2 of 2)

      The facts are clear: British Petroleum built the pipelines from Azerbaijan through Saakashvili’s Georgia, bypassing Armenia and heading to Turkey, which in turn transformed a bankrupt Azerbaijan in 2004 to a multi-billion dollar petro-state. Britain is the closest ally of Turkey in Europe, a brotherhood of genocidal NATO nations. Britain goes to great lengths to deny the Armenian Genocide, even further than the US and on the same level as Israel and Turkey. The British Museum presents ancient Armenian heritage under the nonexistent category of “ancient Turkey”. And these are just the tip of the iceberg.

      Thank God our tiny Armenia is protected from these Anglo and Turkish vultures by the Orthodox Christian superpower that is Putin’s Russia. It’s a shame that the only true segment of this filthy report is that Armenians in Russia are not engaged in truly lobbying the Kremlin to their full potential. In fact almost all of the pro-Armenian activity we see from Russia is from the Russian initiative, rarely from the Armenian. I hope balance returns to the Russian-Armenian community as they finish establishing themselves inside post-Soviet Russia. God Bless our Armenian Fatherland, God Bless Mother Russia and President Putin and his government, and God protect the strategic alliance between our two fraternal, Orthodox Christian nations from all enemies both foreign (like the British) and domestic (British agents inside our societies like giorgi “azeri film festival in Yerevan” vanyan)!

      Delete
  34. AnonymousDecember 16, 2014 at 9:22 AM

    http://fortruss.blogspot.com/2014/11/grandmaster-putins-golden-trap.html?m=1

    Summary: article discusses how the west has artificially propped up the dollar and lowered gas and gold/silver prices, and how Russia still gets paid in dollars around the world for its exports, which has resulted in Putin pulling another judo move and using his in-dollar profits to buy up as much physical (not paper) gold as possible. Russia bought more gold last year than the rest of the world combined. Russia has doubled its gold reserves from 2008 to 2014. And while in the 1980s low energy prices caused the idiot Gorbachev to sell off the USSR's gold, in the 2010s low energy prices have allowed Russia to increase its gold reserves. Also the article points out that while the west can continue to exist in the current system as long as it has gold, it is fucked when its reserves begin running low, which they inevitably will.

    Basically, as Arevordi, and the articles posted by Zoravar and others have pointed out, all of hte available economic data is open to interpretation and more importantly to spin/manipulation. The west has been shooting itself in the foot for decades, offshoring its manufacturing jobs, importing millions of unproductive third-world trash which end up on the welfare system, turning its financial markets into unregulated casinos, and indebting itself through endless wars. Sanctions and manipulation of commodity prices is only going to end up hurting the corruption-ridden western economies more than anything else, Europe first and the "Estados Unidos Americanos" right after.

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    1. SvediatsiDecember 16, 2014 at 7:15 PM

      Very interesting article Sarkis. Very eye-opening. Certainly non-mainstream but very valuable information. It is also reassuring. It would be wise if the average person in Russia read and understood all this, since we're hearing people are panicking in Moscow.

      I have a question that may sound simple but I would like to be sure. If I'm not mistaken, Arevordi has mentioned a few times about how Armenia has either sold its gold reserves or has reduced the gold prices, thanks to Tigran Sargsyan. In either case, that means that the Dram is more dependent and vulnerable on the US dollar, correct?

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 17, 2014 at 4:45 AM

      http://www.armeniandiaspora.com/showthread.php?2920-Central-Bank-admits-sale-of-gold-reserves

      In the early and mid 2000's when western-trained "economist" Tigran Sargsyan was head of the Central Bank of Armenia, he engineered a policy of artificially propping up the value of the Dram by secretly selling off Armenia's reserves of gold and foreign currency, while publicly denying any interference in the Dram's exchange rate. Subsequently, when he ran out of reserves or was otherwise instructed to end this policy, overnight he announced that the CBA he was heading had in fact been selling reserves to prop up the currency, and that this would now end. So the Dram, which had since introduction been about 500-550 dram = $1, dropped by 2007 to about 306 dram = $1. Suddenly on March 3, 2009, with absolutely no prior warning, the dram fell from 305 to almost 380 against the dollar. Needless to say, Armenia's poorer citizens were screwed by the western-trained assholes policies.

      This might help partially explain why the lower, uneducated, and self-destructive segments of Armenian society appear to hate their country so much: they are not sophisticated enough to understand that western-trained economists have designed the policies that have raped them so badly since independence, so they just assume that the President is a thief who steals everything and gambles it away in foreign casinos, or that "oligarchs" stole everything, "yerkire yerkir chi", the "Karabakh clan", and other shit they are programmed to think by the "independent media" and NGO assholes.

      Delete
  35. AnonymousDecember 16, 2014 at 5:55 PM

    http://theuglytruth.wordpress.com/2014/12/15/us-vice-president-biden-to-light-national-menorah-in-dc/#more-75335

    "Pro-Armenian" clown joe biden to light the 40-foot menorah in front of the White House. Separation of Church and State flies out the window when America's ZOG addresses a jewish issue.

    ***

    http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Google-Adobe-Leave-Russia-Due-to-Putin-s-New-Laws-467521.shtml

    No more backdoors for Russia! Funny how revelations that Uncle Sam spies on an ally like the German Chancellor results in no changes in German policy, while Russia is working to develop some technological independence.

    ReplyDelete
  36. JerrikoDecember 17, 2014 at 3:36 AM

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LkRTkUQqPU

    The ruble's going down in value though against the US dollar, so how can Russia tough this one out?

    Another article:

    http://sputniknews.com/voiceofrussia/news/2014_03_28/Russia-s-secret-weapon-crashing-US-economy-by-collapsing-petrodollar-5071/

    Would this actually be a smart move though?

    ReplyDelete
  37. AnonymousDecember 17, 2014 at 4:14 AM

    http://tomatobubble.com/homo.html

    More proof that the west is dying.

    ReplyDelete
  38. ArevordiDecember 17, 2014 at 6:36 PM

    Recent actions against Russia is the follow-up to what Kerry promised a year ago when he said - "We won't hesitate to use 21st century tools to hold Russia accountable for 19th century behavior".

    Their "21st century tools" is in fact a Weapon of Mass Destruction created in the mid-20th century - the US Dollar as global reserve currency and a currency with which international trade and financial transactions are conducted.

    The thing Russians cannot do right now is panic. Overall, they seem to be doing well thus far. News reports about people selling their Rubles and buying Dollars or Euros are mainly about Muscovites. Let's recognize that all the news items and official statements coming out of the West is geared specifically to cause panic within Russia. In response, the Kremlin has been doing a great job by characterizing recent events as Western aggression against the Russian homeland. Russian are a deeply patriotic people. The effort by Kremlin officials has to continue.

    Yes, things will get difficult in the short-term as commodities prices rise somewhat. In the meanwhile, however, Moscow will be restructuring its financial and economic sectors to limit its exposure to Western powers in the future. As I have been saying -

    Recent world events should be a wake up call to all of humanity. Westernization and Globalism is a grave threat to the civilized world. Humanity desperately needs multipolarity in world affairs. The Dollar is being pushed around the world as a highly addictive narcotic. As long as nations of the world are dependent on Western trade and money, Western powers will control humanity. This is why the Anglo-American-Jewish political order has to be defeated. THIS IS WHY NATIONS OF THE WORLD NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT LIMITED EXPOSURE TO THE WEST MEANS A BETTER CHANCE AT SURVIVAL IN THE LONG TERM.

    The most important challenge facing humanity in the 21 century is the killing of the Dollar as a world reserve currency. This has to be spearheaded by the Russian nation for there is no one else within the human society that can do this. Some of the other important things Moscow will be doing in the coming months is making electronic money transactions and money transfers between Russia and nations within its orbit free of Western institutions -

    Haypost, Russian Post sign agreement to implement “Forsage” money transfer system: http://www.times.am/?p=104149&l=en

    Russia to launch alternative to SWIFT bank transaction system in spring 2015: http://rt.com/business/204459-russia-swift-payment-alternative/

    Russia launches China UnionPay credit card: http://rt.com/business/180696-china-russia-union-pay/

    Russia Gets Ready for Life Without Visa and MasterCard: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-03-24/russia-gets-ready-for-life-without-visa-and-mastercard

    The End Of An Era: Is The US Petrodollar Under Threat? http://oilprice.com/Energy/Oil-Prices/The-End-Of-An-Era-Is-The-US-Petrodollar-Under-Threat.html

    People simply do not comprehend just how much control Western powers have over the world. THIS HAS TO CHANGE. The painful yet sacred process to lessen Western control over humanity has now been started by Mother Russia. There is no going back. This battle to save mankind from Anglo-American-Jews has to continue. Once more -

    THIS IS A BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL. NATIONS OF THE WORLD NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT DEPENDENCE ON WESTERN TRADE AND MONEY IS DEPENDENCE ON WESTERN POWERS. NATIONS OF THE WORLD NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT LIMITED EXPOSURE TO THE WEST MEANS A BETTER CHANCE AT SURVIVAL IN THE LONG TERM.

    In this historic battle against the Beast, the great Russian nation has my admiration and my support.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. AnonymousDecember 18, 2014 at 1:38 AM

      They did the same before approach world wars one and two. They are pushing Russia into a new european war.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 18, 2014 at 2:29 AM

      I wish I had the money because this is a good time to buy rubles.

      Arto

      Delete
  39. AnonymousDecember 18, 2014 at 12:03 PM

    Our government has carried out a faux pas , inexplicable is the invitation to the grandson of the genocidist Djemal to visit Armenia and discourse at the University ,where he claimed his dissertation was received with applause. In the same vein he also criticized Armenians fo being nationalists. The grandson of this brazen murderer ostensible got his invitation because in one of his latest books he " mentions the word genocide" for the crimes and tragedies heaped upon Armenians. The writer also adds that his grandfather was murdered by " Armenian bandits". He insults gratuitously the memory of the heroes who exacted justice by disposing of this unspeakable murderer of a race. Interestingly in his book he also has some vignettes on the Karabagh war, where he lambast the Armenians as having invaded and usurped the Karabakh terriroties. This is scandalous. How did this grandson of a murderer managed to contrive an invitation to come to Armenia and speak to University students ? I am appalled at the passivity of the students and their attitude of genuflecting and paying obeisance to a writer who cajoled his way in by having used the word genocide; This grandson of a genocidist having used the "word" got his visa to stomp into Armenia and roam freely into University and peddle his book, insult our history by describing our justice redeemers as " bandits" and categorizing us as aggressors and usurpers of our own lands. Admitedely he appears to have been taken to Dzidzernapert, but that is not sufficient for a Turk to set foot on Armenian soil. Those persons who invited this grandson are solely to blame for this unfelicitous charade. The work of ingorant buffoons bordering on treachery.

    ReplyDelete
  40. AnonymousDecember 18, 2014 at 12:44 PM

    The Juden declared war to Nationalist socialist Germany in 1933, instituting boycots of german goods and escalating into sanctions and currency apostacy. Germany became an autarky and disengage herself form the Juden financial monetary system . This did not go down well with the Hebraic international; their reaction culminated with the total destruction of the Dritten Reich. In the closing days of the war, the Germans tried a negotiated peace with the Allies by offering to rescind their autarchy and became part of the international money-banking system.

    USA did the same thing to Japan, boycotts, sanctions and limit the sea lanes in the pacific.

    Sanctions and boycotss is the Juden's prelude to overpower and subdue its enemies, failure of this method is followe up with open hostilities leading to war.

    Russia is being accorded same prescriptions. They seek Putin;s removal and the reinstatement of their hegemony through political stooges like Gorbachev, Yeltsin, etc. They think they can topple Putin. We shall wait and see, the core of the problem is not the implosion of the Russian economy, that happened in 1998 already. The key to the campaign of vilification, slander and destruction of the economy is the consequential actions taken by the Putin's Russia. Against national socialism the Juden brought the war upon Hitler and then accused the German leader of having started it all. The Japanese were conrnered in such a way that their only way out was to strike and break the stranglehold, the war was also brought upon their island nation. Prior to that the Juden also applied sanctions and boycots to Mussolini's Italy, when the Italian began marching on Ethoipia, There are many more examples, the strategy of the Juden international is to weave a web and trap its opponents in falling into it through their consequential actions. The world is run by the Juden and its acolytes, the nations of the so called " West". Any challenge , real or perceived to their hegemony is not tolerated. The USA dollar, they say is in its death throes . Strangely enough for the Dollar to be gaining in value whilst being tended in its death bed ? Ultimately the series of events will play out to lure Putin's Russia into making serious moves to break the financial monetary stranglehold. Putin's Russia can , and has the capability , of going on the autarchy path and face up the reality of an eventual war. War will come to Putin;s Russia. It is up to Putin how he responds to the mortal threat. It is a choice of an independent national sovereign Russia, or a Russia as a loyal member , firmly immersed in the international money Banking system, in other words a vassal of the Judaic tribesmen.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. ArevordiDecember 18, 2014 at 7:04 PM

      Very well said.

      This is, however, a different world. Their effort to subdue a rising giant will backfire this time. After all, Russia has the military capability to turn London, Washington, New York and Tel Aviv into a blazing inferno... even without the use of nuclear bombs.

      Delete
  41. AnonymousDecember 18, 2014 at 3:49 PM

    Putin's 2014 Q&A marathon LIVE UPDATES
    http://rt.com/news/215471-putin-press-conference-updates/

    The west is experiencing great Schadenfreude over the temporary hardships that the Russian economy is facing as Russia reorients itself away from the western-controlled system. The mainstream media seem intent on deluding the brain-dead simpletons who still get their information and views from them that "Russia is paying the price for its actions in Ukraine". The MSM has been trying to pass off the lie the Russian liberation of Crimea was merely "Putin bullying his neighbors", supposedly ordinary Russians don't support reunification with Crimea or at least are unwilling to bear the economic costs (exact same bs the west claims regarding Armenia and Artsakh) . Who are these Kikemedia scum trying to fool? I'm pretty sure the Russians look at the reunification with Crimea the same way that Armenians look at reunification with Artsakh, or maybe Javakhk, Nakhichevan or Kars. Color revolutions work against weak governments that generally have recently lost territory (Serbia had lost Kosovo, Georgia had lost Abkhazia and South Ossetia). I'm pretty sure most Russians are euphoric that, after the losses of the Gorbachev and Yeltsin periods, Putin came along and liberated Chechnya and Crimea, and for the most part de facto liberated all of Novorossiya while kicking NATO out of the CIS. To cut a long story short, the western elites can shove their hopes for a regime change in Russia up their ass, which most westerns enjoy doing anyway these days.

    There are of course a few self-destructive people who view territorial expansion as a bad thing. In the US for example, there exist a shockingly large number of White Americans who have been trained to cheer whenever they hear that Whites are on their way to minority status, and that the process is already complete in parts of the Southwest including parts of California. I guess such Americans have their counterparts among a very small segment of Moscow's population (the NGO crowd that the US marshaled for a protest only a few weeks ago). Same types exist in Yerevan in the form of the anti-"Karabakh clan" degenerates. But these people are easily contained if the country has competent security services and leadership.

    All of that being said, I hope and suspect that Russia will unleash a very unpleasant surprise on the west soon enough. Maybe something economic, involving gold, or maybe something else. The US economy is not as strong as is claimed, an external shock would deepen the already existing recession that it is in. In fact, here's the power of the media to frame people's thinking. Holiday sales were pretty disappointing this year, Black Friday and Cyber Monday spending were the lowest in years, and frankly the retail scene is abysmal with stores closing all over the country. This is because retail is obviously consumer-driven, and consumers are broke, which is bad news for a consumption-based economy like the US. Yet the MSM would have you believe the US is out of recession, while Russia is on the verge of collapse.

    ReplyDelete
  42. ArevordiDecember 18, 2014 at 7:36 PM

    Yet another historic Q&A session by President Putin -

    "After the Berlin Wall fell and the Soviet Union dissolved... we were totally open to our partners but what we saw was that they directly supported terrorists in the Caucasus, in the northern Caucasus. I am not going to go into details at the moment but do partners act in such a way?"

    “Russia in the 1990s completely stopped the long-range bomber flights that the Soviet Union used to carry out. But American strategic bombers with nuclear weapons still flew. Why? Against whom? Who was being threatened?”

    "Our economy will overcome the current situation. How much time will be needed for that? Under the most unfavorable circumstances I think it will take about two years"

    “And you are telling now that we have an aggressive policy? Do you have common sense? Do we place our troops at US borders? Who is placing NATO troops, military infrastructure closer to us? Does anyone listen to us, talk to us about it? No, nothing. There is always the same response: it’s not your business,”

    “We are not attacking anyone in the political sense. We are only defending our interests… The displeasure of our Western partners, particularly the Americans, comes from that.”

    "Sometimes I think maybe it would be better for our bear to sit quietly, rather than chasing piglets in the forest. To sit eating berries and honey instead. Maybe they will leave it in peace? They will not. Because they will always try to put him on a chain, and as soon as they succeed in doing so they will tear out his fangs and his claws. Once they've taken out his claws and his fangs then the bear will be no longer necessary. He'll become a stuffed animal. The issue is not about Crimea. The issue is that we are protecting our sovereignty and our right to exist"

    Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6ORHkB89vk

    ReplyDelete
  43. ArevordiDecember 18, 2014 at 7:51 PM

    Is the West is self-mutilating just to hurt Russia?

    UK oil industry ‘close to collapse’ as price plunges below $60 per barrel: http://rt.com/uk/215579-uk-oil-industry-crisis/

    Canada’s currency at 54mo low as oil prices collapse below $60: http://rt.com/business/213783-canada-dollar-oil-price/

    Wheat Climbs to Highest in Almost Seven Months on Russia Concern: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-18/wheat-climbs-to-highest-in-almost-seven-months-on-russia-concern.html



    ReplyDelete
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    1. AnonymousDecember 19, 2014 at 2:48 PM

      I juest read in an article in a spanish news pamphlet( with a leftist orientation and quasi marxist). The articlec spoke in glowing terms about this development, short of an effusive flattering to Mr. Putin . The article read " Since Vladimir Putin became president the Muslims in Russia have erected 7500 mosques, or slightly more than 1 per year. A statisitc which the Islamic countries can take great pride but one that may disturb some of Putin's supporters who beleive that he is committed to making Russia more Russian".

      Delete
    2. ArevordiDecember 20, 2014 at 7:12 AM

      I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you asking a serious question and that you are genuinely concerned about the topic.

      What do we want the Kremlin to do, ban Islam and open a whole new conflict front right inside Russia? Do we want the Kremlin to give Westerns powers the perfect opportunity to foment an Islamic uprising right in the Russian heartland?

      A good 10/15 percent of Russia's population today is either Muslim or of Muslim heritage, most of these are of Turkic ethnicity. Not only that, Russia's Muslims are native to Russian territory. Russians have had to live along side Muslims for the past one thousand years. Historically, the Russian Empire did its best to have good relations with its Muslim subjects. Historically, Russia's Muslims minded their own business and lived quietly under Russian rule. There have been at times isolated uprisings by radical Muslims, but these were put down by the state every time. The last thing Russia needs today is to radicalize its entire Muslim population.

      Russia has no choice but to allow freedom of worship for its Muslim population. The same can be said of Jews. President Putin has also been allowing Jews to build Synagogues and community centers.

      With that said, in the big picture, Islam the religion per se is not the problem. The problem with Islam today is the radicalization of Islam by Anglo-American-Jewish global cartel and their allies in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

      With that said, the Kremlin has been supporting Russia's Christian Orthodox Church on a state level. Christianity is Russia's state religion. Christian symbols are state symbols in Russia. Christianity is part of ethnic Russian identity. The power and influence of the Russian church today is increasing at such a fast pace that Western observers have been sounding the alarm about Russia's Christian/conservative transformation. And the number of churches in Russia have increased in the tens-of-thousands.

      The main point being: Orthodox Christianity is deeply embedded in the Russian identity. Russia's Muslim population have always been treated like well respected guests. However, with so many Muslims living in Russia, there will be the potential for problems for the foreseeable future, especially now that radical Islam has been weaponized by Western powers. That's a problem and something that the Russian authorities cannot take their eyes off of.

      All nations, great and small, have their internal problems. Russia is no different. Efficiently managing its Muslim (and Jewish) population is a fate that Russians have to deal with. The Kremlin seems to have a good working formula in this regard. Let's hope it stays that way.

      Delete
  44. AnonymousDecember 18, 2014 at 8:05 PM

    I don't know if this article should be taken with a grain of salt:

    http://www.thesleuthjournal.com/putin-prepares-win-obama-prepares-surrender/

    Recently, the US and Cuba have made a breakthrough in their foreign relations, thanks to the mediation of the pope. Although would it actually lead to a color revolution in Cuba once the US lifts sanctions?

    Jerriko (not logged in)

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    Replies
    1. ArevordiDecember 20, 2014 at 4:10 AM

      If Havana opens their borders to the US unconditionally (i.e. allowing US corporations, US banks, IMF, USAID a free hand in the country) Cuba will be in more danger than it has ever been. While the past fifty years may have been bad for Cuba, the next fifty may be terrible. I am also wondering if increased Russian activity in the area had anything to do with Washington's decision. With that said, I have not been paying much attention to US-Cuban relations. So I will refrain from making any further comments.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 21, 2014 at 7:23 PM

      This is yet another example of the US taking a shit on the wishes of its own citizens. Most Cuban-Americans are against the normalization, particularly since the castro brothers are still in power. Nothing will change in Cuba other than the commie regime staying in power. Look at China and Vietnam. The US normalized ties with them and communism is still alive. The truth is that the Americans only see $ signs. They don't give 2 shits about democracy or human rights.
      To Cuban Americans I can now only say, 'now you know how Armenian-Americans feel every April and every 4 years during presidential elections. False promises each and every time!

      LG

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    3. ArevordiDecember 21, 2014 at 7:58 PM

      Lo and behold, I just came across this article last night -

      Revealed: Russia’s Tu-95 Nuclear Bombers Scare US, Obama Lifts Sanction On Cuba: au.ibtimes.com/articles/576573/20141219/russia-cuba-vladimir-putin-barack-obama.htm#.VJb7gfnAA

      Makes sense, as far as I'm concerned. With Russia's growing presence in south America, it was inevitable that Washington would make a move on Cuba.

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    4. ArevordiDecember 21, 2014 at 8:26 PM

      LG,

      Have you seriously given your comment any thought? I don't understand your newly found hate towards Havana. Is Havana any more corrupt that the wonderful "non-communist" states of Columbia or Mexico?

      You comparing Washington's very intimate relationship with its Cuban population for the past fifty years with Washington's perennial refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide makes absolutely no sense whatsoever! Every year for over fifty years Washington "recognized" the Cuban embargo whereas every year Washington has refused to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

      Isn't it clear to you that a certain faction in Washington has wanted to lift the embargo because it has not worked? Russia's growing presence in the region may have finally tipped the scale.

      Now, how do you comparing/equate Washington's most recent decision to lift the embargo with its decades long refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide? And are you sure a majority of Americans support Washington's criminal embargo on Cuba? Do you have any statistics to support this claim?

      By the way, anti-Castro Cuban-Americans are a disgusting bunch of animals. You either have not met any or met one or two that made a good impression on you. I suggest you look into the nature of that community a bit further. In character, they are not much unlike the "pro-Shah" freaks of the Persian community in the US or our pro-West freaks...

      The Cuban-American filth in question (much like some of our American-Armenian filth) lobby officials in Washington to embargo their homeland. Why? Simply because their fathers - utterly corrupt businessmen and criminals that had turned Cuba into a massive plantation were casino and whorehouse dotted the landscape - got their asses kicked out by the Castro's communists.

      Of all central and south American nations, Cuba is probably one of the very few nations that is efficiently run.

      Delete
    5. AnonymousDecember 21, 2014 at 9:20 PM

      LG, don't take this personally bro but I have to agree with Arevordi regarding Cuban-Americans and the bigger picture here. They are an extreme psychologically disturbed population. They are a prime example of a US diaspora that is weaponized as a tool against a home country that refuses to tow Washington's line. In comparison the anti-protocols protesters against President Sargsyan in Los Angeles a few years back were relatively harmless angels compared to the Cuban freaks who would like to see the US militarily" liberate" (ie occupy) Cuba. I don't want to insult anyone, but the majority attitude of Cuban-Americans re Cuba is disgusting, and something akin - just for the sake of argument- if the Armenian diaspora expressed pro-Turkish/Azeri views because they despised whatever government was in Yerevan (Soviet, LTP, Kocharyan, or Serj) that much. Internal politics can never be resolved by bringing in hostile foreign powers; regime change in Cuba would return the nation to an American-Jewish whorehouse and gambling den... Hell, from a US point of view it is a good strategic move to try and head off President Putin's plans to restore a Russian military presence in Havana, while at the same time "stealing" a close ally of America's Venezuelan foe.

      I understand Pat Buchanan and others are jumping at the opportunity to use this to attack Obama (since they are not allowed to attack America's real, internal enemies), but that's because they are desperate for support or attention yet powerless against the true problem which is the globalist anglo-american-jew establishment.

      I hate the history of bloshevism, but communism as it evolved over the decades in places like Cuba, Vietnam and North Korea is not the terrible monster that the castrated US media, churches, and especially the right wing would have us believe.

      Plus really there is no point from an Armenian view making enemies with Cubans or "commies" in other countries with which the west has problems. We cannot frame any issue in any other way except "is it good for Armenia". Bringing western moral crusades against communism or Cuba is dangerous and counterproductive. Cuba has done nothing to Armenia (arresting diaspora businessmen who had no links to Yerevan doesn't count, sorry). And realize that some communist states have taken pro-Armenian stances. For example Angola (see flag and current composition of parliament) was one of 7 nations to vote against Azerbaijan's 2008 UNGA Resolution 62/243, even though 99% of Armenians couldn't locate Angola on a map.

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    6. AnonymousDecember 22, 2014 at 4:11 AM

      The Empire and Cuba: an early 1890s display of "humanitarian intervention" propaganda

      http://wolfsonianfiulibrary.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/xc2010_08_1_5_000.jpg

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    7. AnonymousDecember 22, 2014 at 9:48 AM

      Arevordi:

      Don't comment on Cuba if you have little to no working knowledge about it. Cuba was one of the wealthiest states in all of the Western hemisphere prior to the Revolution there. The bs about them being poor and the communists bringing know-how is typical leftist lies spread by closet commies in cahoots with communist Cuba. Same as when I.F. Stone and others claimed that there were no mass starvations in Soviet Russia during the 30s. Or no gulags. If you are really interested in how things were in Cuba during the 50s I can provide you with academic links.

      I never brought in corruption. All states have various levels of corruption including Germany. So this is a none issue. Mexico and Columbia don't persecute Christians. Communist Cuba does and has been for over 50 years.
      Geopolitically I can only guess that Obama may be trying to create a wedge between Moscow and Havana, and Caracas and Havana. That's not the point of my comment though.

      My comparison with the refusal to openly recognize the AG is in regards to the fact that now Cuban-Americans can see that the US doesn't give a shit about human rights and democracy. Those within the Cuban-American community who (wrongly) thought that the US embargo would cause Castro and Co to fall then America would help them regain their lost properties and all would be well were fooling themselves. The US is now once again attempting to turn Cuba into another zone of economic extraction.

      The embargo has not worked if you mean regime change as final goal. However, if the Europeans and Canadians had signed on to the embargo, if US had forced them like it recently did with Russian sanctions, Castro and co would have fallen long ago. So perhaps then the US didn't truly want to see Castro go after-all.
      Majority of Americans are too stupid to know anything going on in the world. And again, I never mentioned majority supporting or opposing the embargo. You know damn well that what the people want doesn't count for much in Washington.

      What major Armenian American org lobbies to embargo Armenia? I hope you were joking.
      If Cuba were efficiently run their economy wouldn't be in the doldrums. Please revisit the facts.

      Castro is a mass murderer. You can call the Cuban American community any name you want. Can't call them mass murderers. What does it say about you that you are focusing on the alleged wrongs of Cuban Americans but appear to give the communists in Cuba a free pass?

      LG

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    8. AnonymousDecember 22, 2014 at 10:14 AM

      Sarkis:

      What ethnic group in the US that has suffered some kind of persecution or other calamity couldn't be classified as psychologically troubled? It doesn't even have to be a minority group in the US, it can be in other states with large refugee populations. Psychologically disturbed? Doesn't mean that they don't have legitimate concerns. Armenians are psychologically damaged too, as are Native Americans, Serbs, Poles, African Americans, etc.
      The U.S. didn't lift a finger to save Batista regime. NYT was praising castro and che before, during, and after the revolution. US allowed Castro to win. Only when Castro started to deal with the Soviets did the US suddenly decide that they should 'please' their newly arrived Cuban citizens. Again, the US doesn't give a shit about HR or democracy. This is what is really weaponized. I'm surprised you and Arevagal need this pointed out to you. My comment was pretty straight forward.
      Internal problems can never be resolved by bringing in any foreign powers. This includes allies. Since alliances can and do often change. Armenian diaspora would not espouse pro Azeribaijan/Turk views because the latter are genocidal regardless of whether the Armenian is in the Armenian highlands or Glendale. The closest real world example you could bring would be members of the Armenian diaspora in the US getting on CNN to advocate bombing Yerevan, like some Syrians and Libyans did a few years ago.
      If we are talking purely geopolitically then one can make a decent argument that Obama made a good decision. But my comment was in relation to perceptions, and the moral dimension of it. Including hypocrisy by the US once again.

      "I hate the history of bloshevism, but communism as it evolved over the decades in places like Cuba, Vietnam and North Korea is not the terrible monster that the castrated US media, churches, and especially the right wing would have us believe."
      Please travel to any of these states and see how you enjoy the liberties there :)
      I am having a hard time taking this comment seriously. Just because a country is against the US doesn't make it a good country. Keep that in mind and don't let your hate for the AAZ establishment blind you to other dark forces in the world. Same goes for Arevagal.
      http://www.amazon.com/Black-Book-Communism-Crimes-Repression/dp/0674076087/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1419231889&sr=1-1&keywords=black+book+of+communism
      Get this book, read it. Then come back and tell me how communism wasn't so bad.
      Well if you think the Armenian community should only think about its problems than be prepared for others to tell you to piss off when you try to convince them that turkey is a vile nation because it committed a genocide against its Christian population and continues to deny it to this day. Any Christian or decent human being should be against an ideology that has killed more than any other ideology in recorded history: Communism. This is not a western moral crusade, it was the west which created and financed communism. http://www.amazon.com/Red-Carpet-Joseph-Finder/dp/0030604842/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1419232109

      LG

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    9. AnonymousDecember 23, 2014 at 4:53 AM

      LG, it's true that all groups can in the US can claim some sort of persecution; however there is a world of difference between what the Armenians suffered (genocide, their homeland in Western Armenia and Cilicia literally wiped off the map, and continuous denial from the whole of western elite) versus the Cubans underwent (their country underwent a revolution and change of government in 60+ years ago and is doing just fine today, they however lost their exploitative positions serving foreign interests under the previous regime). To the everlasting credit of the Armenian diaspora, though, a great majority of its members at least try to act in a way they think is in Armenia's and Artsakh's interests. Your average naive diasporan would be put off by the thought of sanctions, blockades, or bombings of Armenia/Artsakh. There are, however, a handful of POS diasporan Armenians which do call for such a terrible course of action agains Yerevan and openly attack Artsakh officials (such as seto boyadjian of the ANCA, Armenian Bar Association chair Garo Ghazarian, or ara manoogian {see http://www.thetruthmustbetold.com/attempted-arrest/}). They have their counterparts in Armenia like the heritage party which call for PACE to deprive Yerevan of voting rights. The majority of Cubans in the US, by contrast, shamelessly endorse Washington's position that Cuba must be starved and attacked into submission. Cubans here are like a very large and loud community of ara manoogians, with a pathological hatred of Cuba. You can almost imagine they would celebrate if a large natural disaster struck Cuba on the basis that "it will cause the population misery which they will blame on the Castro government". Please don't try to paint such a community in a sympathetic light or make excuses for them.

      It's not the US's duty to "save" any regime, the US government ought to focus on its own people. And the NYT has its own, jew-heavy agenda. And everybody knows that neither the US, nor any other government, is guided by principles like democracy, it's all about national interests. Honestly, I am having a hard time taking your comment seriously as well. You sound like a republican politician. I am looking at this from an objective, non-American move. Just because a government is communist doesn't make it a bad country. Neither does the fact that a former colony of the west's with a weaker economy serve as evidence that that country is "a dark force" which needs a regime change. Reducing tensions with Cuba serves everyone's interests, and it's as surreal to see Obama attacked for taking steps to do so as it was to see Obama attacked for "not launching a missile or two" against Syria.

      It's one thing for a born and raised US citizen to travel to Cuba or North Korea. But let's rephrase your suggestion: had I been born in Cuba or North Korea, I could hold my head high that my tiny nation kept the empire out. Vietnam though, sadly, is now on its knees for Uncle Sam.

      As for the book, I'll pass, thanks. But I'll repeat my point that communism served to a degree to protect third world nations like Cuba and Vietnam from becoming American colonies. Stop looking at communism in a one-dimensional, zero-sum way. Take Stalin for instance: brutal and unfair, yet he turned Russia into an industrialized superpower which crushed the Wehrmacht and built on his reign to the point that even after the Soviet collapse it remains the only power capable of challenging the US. You can't just say "gulags" and end an analysis of Stalin.

      And don't forget the terror unleashed on Latin American nations like Mexico and Columbia where the US dominated. In fact the greatest massacres in history have been carried out by the enemies of communism, namely the Americans and European colonial powers. That, for a significant part, is why communism found support in the third world in the first place.

      Delete
    10. AnonymousDecember 23, 2014 at 4:58 AM

      Your last "they'll tell us piss off" comment makes you sound like an ANCA recruiter :) I strongly believe that Armenians should only act on Armenian interests and those things which directly affect Armenian interests like lobbying the Kremlin. And yes, I strongly advise against meddling in internal Cuban affairs and especially against supporting an external actor (the US government and the Cuban-Americans) against a sovereign nation like Cuba. Let's not become hated meddlers like the Jews, it will come back to bite us. News flash: neither the Cubans, nor the Americans, nor anyone else involved in this matter will have an iota of effect in helping Armenia against Turkey. What is Cuba going to do, pass a Parliament resolution condemning Turkey? What are the Cubans in Miami going to do, ask Congress to reaffirm the Armenian Genocide? Those actions are a waste of Armenian resources, with or without Cuban support. Recognition of the Armenian Genocide can be supported only by educational endeavors, and there is sufficient work done in this field to prove the facts of 1915. Anything further than recognition is beyond the scope of the US and Cuba, it is something that the Armenian state and its only real ally - Russia - will have to work on in the future. The diaspora does not need to "make friends" by helping politicized causes like the Cuban-Americans or the "Save Darfur/Fight China" or even ther "Free Tibet" people; the diaspora needs to invest in Armenia, repatriate to Armenia (except for scum like ara manoogian), and also help Armenia lobby the Kremlin; all other actions are in the end meaningless.

      "Any Christian or decent human being should be against an ideology that has killed more than any other ideology in recorded history: Communism. This is not a western moral crusade, it was the west which created and financed communism."
      -First, the west has been far more destructive than communism. Second, yes the early Bolshevik-Jews killed Christians. That's why I distinguished that phase of communism. But the Armenian Church did recover after Stalin killed off the old Bolsheviks. Third, the "Communists killed Christians" argument is mostly a tool that American Bible freaks use to galvanize their simpleton flocks to action against America's geostrategic enemies, or their own liberal or anti-Israel enemies. Don't fall for their shallow rhetoric.

      Delete
    11. ArevordiDecember 23, 2014 at 5:22 AM

      LG,

      I don't really understand your motivation (I'm suspecting a personal factor in play). I also don't understand your main political point in this discussion. I see you mixing a few things together which is making whatever point you are trying to get across somewhat unclear. It's also as if you have newly discovered a hate (and a passionate one at that) towards the regime in Havana. I really don't get it.

      "Communism" has killed more people than any other ideology? Really?

      And who is it that's generalizing? Who is not looking at historic events analytically and in a broader, historic context?

      Bolsheviks (those who you probably have in mind in this regard) were as "communistic" as ISIS is Islamic. Bolsheviks were as communistic as Western militaries in Iraq were democratic.

      The communism that evolved in Russia after the Second World War was the best that could be derived/salvaged out of Bolshevism. Post war communism in the Soviet Union was less aggressive or decadent or violent than political systems put in place around the world by Western powers. Therefore, I don't give a rat's ass what the book you linked to has to say about communism (I am pretty sure you can dig up a thousand more of such nonsense). And I don't give a rat's ass what Cuban-American morons think of the Armenia or the Armenian Genocide.

      No one is defending communism but when you make Neoconish statements about communism whatever point you were tying to make becomes irrelevant as far as I'm concerned.

      Westernization and/or Capitalism are also ideologies. The effort to Westernize or Democratize nations have also killed millions around the world, and the deaths are continuing as I write this. If you wanted me to take you seriously in this matter, you should have reconfigured your statement to say "historically, those pushing communism AND CAPITALISM were responsible for mass-scale exploitation of natural resources and the murder, directly and indirectly, of tens-of-millions of people around the world for the past one hundred years."

      With that said, at least communism gave the miserable peasantry around the world some self-respect wheres capitalism impoverished 90% of people in nations it infected. Sanity in governance was only brought upon by the evolution of "socialism" out of communism. Socialism is what finally gave Europe (and the US) a semblance of civility.

      I also have to say I think it was quite arrogant and predatory of you to take my honesty (about not following political events in Cuba closely) as an opportunity to jump all over me. Apparently, your "working knowledge" of this issue is not helping you see the bigger picture. The big issue is that there is a greater fight in this world than your favorite bout between "liberal" and "conservatives". And a million Fidel Castros wouldn't even come close to the evil posed by the Anglo-American-Jewish order today.

      All in all, your information about the island nation is just as "accurate" or "scholarly" as anything communists have been claiming all these years. So, please...

      I'll address couple of your other comments tomorrow.

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    12. AnonymousDecember 23, 2014 at 6:07 AM

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_killings_under_Communist_regimes

      http://www.ascecuba.org/c/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/v08-31baklanoff.pdf

      One would think both of you would learn something from this but apparently you two already know it all.

      Enjoy your group think session. No need to have a discussion if one can't be held.

      LG

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    13. ArevordiDecember 23, 2014 at 6:28 AM

      Are you ok? This is your "scholarly" proof? This is your earthshaking discovery about the horrors of communism? Here is what I think: 25% of the info provided is accurate, 25% of it is bullshit and the remaining 50% of it is subject to interpretation. But, more importantly, 100% of it is taken out of historical context. This is where I call your wisdom and intentions into question.

      PS: Are you are insinuating that "you" know it all. Why, because you read some neocon articles and hung out with some cool "conservatives"? Please get your priorities in order.

      Delete
    14. AnonymousDecember 23, 2014 at 6:44 AM

      Key word think! You don't research in archives, conduct interviews, nor create and then test sociological tests. You want people here to think outside of the box, to not fall for the mainstream thought. But if someone presents views, and facts which contradict your preconceived notions then they must be the one in the wrong? Who are you to say what percent is accurate, what is bs, and what is subject to interpretation? How did you arrive at that conclusion?

      My intentions were stated very clearly. Now I ask you, what are your true intentions?

      P.S.

      Neither you nor Sarkis know what neo-conservatism is otherwise you wouldn't be using that term.

      LG

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    15. ArevordiDecember 23, 2014 at 7:05 AM

      Key word think harder!

      Your "research in archives, interviews and tests" made you realize what a wonderful place Cuba was for the average Cuban before the revolution and how evil communism was? Really?

      You didn't have to trouble yourself with all that. All you had to do was talk to war criminals like John McCain and you would have derived the same conclusions.

      You are accusing Sarkis and I of "group think"?! Is that how you think of this conversation, or this blog perhaps? Group think, because two people don't happen to agree with your -neoconish take on matters? And if I or Sarkis happened to agreed with you what would that have been, vindication of your groundbreaking thesis?

      I actually think Sarkis and I ARE thinking out of the box whereas you are rehashing same old Cold War fables.

      Delete
    16. AnonymousDecember 23, 2014 at 7:20 AM

      Cuba prior to 1959 > Cuba after 1959. Just look at UN stats.

      You and Sarkis are advocating blind hate of anything Western. Where is the nuance? Your pro N Korea comments are what I'd expect to hear in Berkeley coming from 'overprivileged' white kids.

      John McCain is a hypocrite. My initial point was all about hypocrisy. Still is.

      The only one rehashing fables are you when you state that Cuba is better off under Communism. That is a lie planted by Cuban intelligence with the full backing of communists in American and W. European academia. What is so hard to believe about this? Soviets did the same thing. USSR was superb in denial, deception, and propaganda (white, gray and black). Active measures is the term. Castro imported these stratagems and put them to use.

      Nowhere in my first comment did I say Cuba should be a US protectorate. Nowhere did I say Cuba should be invaded. Nowhere did I say Obama made a geopolitically poor choice. Nowhere did I say that the US is the beacon of hope to the rest of the world. Nowhere did I say the Armenian Genocide and Cuban Revolution are the same. Nowhere did I say Cuban elites before the Revolution were angels.

      So why did you jump on me for saying that the US will now be viewed as the hypocritical state that it is by the Cuban American community? Is this statement wrong?


      LG


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    17. AnonymousDecember 23, 2014 at 7:03 PM

      LG, why are you getting emotional and telling us we don't want to debate you? You posted a comment to the effect that the Cuban-Americans were doing something good by their anti-Castro radicalism. You were offered a rebuttal. Up to that point it was a debate. You obviously wrote your first comment because you wanted to let your opinion on Castro be known, not because you simply wanted to point out that the US government doesn't care about human rights or democracy. When faced with the fact that not everyone here holds a black and white view of communism, you started making it personal and decided you "can't take us seriously" and accused us of groupthink.

      As stated above, your argument is just a rehashing of 1950s US propaganda. Furthermore I know EXACTLY what neoconservativism is, and so does Arevordi, and I can see when smart people let neocon rhetoric fog up their thinking. Arevordi is correct when he points out that you're argument sounds exactly like what McCain or the other neocons, tea-partiers, Bible-Belters, and patriotards would say. It is a fact so there's no need to get defensive over it. You have taken the neocon position that some country which overthrew American colonialism is now "evil" because it lacks "freedom and democracy" and oppresses its citizenry, and it poses a danger for America unless America takes an overtly aggressive policy towards that country, and it would be convenient to utilize bitter émigrés as evidence that "the people" hate the targeted regime as well, oh and the emergency is exponentially more dangerous because it offers a strategic advantage to Moscow. That's neocon foreign policy at its core.


      And as for research, your book was authored at Harvard University by people heavily involved with the "solidarity movement" for Poland in the 1980s, so pardon me if I question their objectivity. This type of crap research is a dime-a-dozen, the empire uses it to promote whatever lies it wants. You can easily do enough research to "conclude" that Saakashvili's Georgia was a miracle of democracy in the CIS which was destroyed because it threatened autocratic and evil Russia. Or whatever silly position you want to take on whatever issue. There is a ton of skewed research which would have us believe Putin is the worst thing to ever happen to Russia; Hitler was evil incarnate who went around ordering the deaths of innocent people because they had big noses; Israel is always the victim and never commits any wrong; six million jews were gassed during WW2; the Turks merely deported rebellious Armenians in 1915; Karabakh legally belongs to Azerbaijan; etc.

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    18. AnonymousDecember 23, 2014 at 7:03 PM

      Regarding mass deaths under communists, do I need to remind you which regime carried out the firebombing of Dresden, or the only use ever of weapons of mass destruction against Japan, or used chemical weapons in Vietnam and Palestine, and has invaded and destroyed dozens of nations and several million lives (killed or subjected to hell) over the past century? It certainly wasn't Fidel Castro. Or does the neoconservative/imperialist position that "it's God's will" when America commits atrocities apply here as well?

      Lastly, regarding communism in general, it was post WW2 era communism which gave Armenia a population that was on its way to 5 million, a nuclear power plant, a particle accelerator, a world class observatory at Byurakan, a highly educated population with near universal literacy thanks to free education (no student debt reaching the trillions), secure borders, and a good chunk of Armenia's military hardware still in use today and a generally decent existence for a small, resourceless country. No system is without flaw, but your description of communism is as inaccurate as the cartoonish mainstream depictions of National Socialist Germany. And before arguing that early communism was bloody, take a good look at how Christianity was imposed in its early period and the destruction, oppression and stranglehold over the masses which was its hallmark over most of its early and medieval history.

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    19. ArevordiDecember 23, 2014 at 11:39 PM

      LG,

      At this point I have to say you don't even understand what you are arguing about. I feel a strong sense of condescending attitude, arrogance, resentment and anger in your tone. This is becoming your typical Armenian pissing contest - "Hey, I just learned something new today, see me try it on Arevordi."

      You are beginning to sound like a necon fool. Of course not everything western is bad. That's a stupid accusation to make against me. Also, I am not promoting communism nor am I particularly fond of Fidel Castro. I am simply trying to put things in a proper historical context and "think out of the box".

      Communism was good for some nations and bad for others. Westernization was bad for some nations and good for others. Can you wrap your mind around that? Both sides are equally guilty of mass murder and destruction around the world. Can you wrap your mind around that? With that said, no matter how one looks at it, Uncle Sam's actions in Central and South America are crimes against humanity. And Castro, as cruel as he may have been as a dictator, pales in comparison to Washington's criminals in the region.

      Like I said, it was quite arrogant and predatory of you to take my honesty about not following political events in Cuba closely as an opportunity to jump all over me and make wild accusations. Now that it's finally off your chest, do you feel better?

      Anyway, you are now wasting my time. There is a battle far greater than what you are capable of seeing. The world stands on the precipice of a world war because of the political system you are, perhaps subconsciously, in awe of. This is therefore not the time for "scholarly debates" (not that you have expressed any scholarly approach to the topic discussed). There are sides to be taken in this battle for civilization. This blog (or this "soap box" of mine as you would like to call it) takes a side. What side on you on?

      If you are accusing me or this blog of "group think" or blindly promoting communism to make your neocon nonsense palatable then please refrain from coming here.

      Delete
  45. ArevordiDecember 20, 2014 at 12:02 AM

    Some interesting news reports from today -


    MERCOSUR states intend to develop cooperation with Eurasian Economic Union: http://itar-tass.com/en/economy/767658

    UK, French, German Citizens Wish to See EU Policy More Independent From US: http://sputniknews.com/europe/20141219/1016035474.html

    Over 1.2Mln EU Citizens Sign Anti EU-US Free Trade Agreement Petition: http://sputniknews.com/europe/20141219/1016047743.html

    Stratfor: Ukraine Coup Plotted by US Over Russian Stance on Syria: http://sputniknews.com/politics/20141219/1016024377.html

    Stratfor founder: ‘US fears a resurgent Russia’: http://rt.com/news/216043-stratfor-relations-russia-usa/

    World order principles should be changed to avoid 3rd world war — Italian journalist: http://itar-tass.com/en/world/768197

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  46. AnonymousDecember 20, 2014 at 6:32 PM

    I disagree with his assertion that Putin has been sold on neoliberal economics (except when it means lower tariffs on exports of Russian gas) but the article is worth reading.

    http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/12/17/financial-market-manipulation-new-trend-can-continue/

    The US government, perhaps surprised at the ease at which all financial markets can be rigged, is now rigging, or permitting large hedge funds and perhaps George Soros, to drive down the exchange value of the Russian ruble by massive short-selling in the currency market. On December 15 the ruble was driven down 19%.

    "Just as there is no economic reason for the price of gold to decline in the futures market when the demand for physical gold is rising, there is no economic reason for the ruble to suddenly loose much of its exchange value. Unlike the US, which has a massive trade deficit, Russia has a trade surplus. Unlike the US economy, the Russian economy has not been offshored. Russia has just completed large energy and trade deals with China, Turkey, and India.

    If economic forces were determining outcomes, it would be the dollar that is losing exchange value, not the ruble.

    The illegal economic sanctions that Washington has decreed on Russia appear to be doing more harm to Europe and US energy companies than to Russia. The impact on
    Russia of the American attack on the ruble is unclear, as the suppression of the ruble’s value is artificial.

    There is a difference between economic factors causing foreign investors to withdraw their capital from a country, thereby causing the currency to lose value, and manipulation of a currency’s value by heavy short-selling in the currency market. The latter can cause the former also to occur. But the outcome for Russia can be positive.

    No country dependent on foreign capital is sovereign. A country dependent on foreign capital, especially from enemies seeking to subvert the economy, is subject to destabilizing currency and economic swings. Russia should self-finance. If Russia needs foreign capital, Russia should turn to its ally China. China has a stake in Russia’s strength as part of China’s protection from US aggression, whether economic or military.

    The American attack on the ruble is also teaching sovereign governments that are not US vassals the extreme cost of allowing their currencies to trade in currency markets dominated by the US. China should think twice before it allows full convertibility of its currency. Of course, the Chinese have a lot of dollar assets with which to defend their currency from attack, and the sale of the assets and use of the dollar proceeds to support the yuan could knock down the dollar’s exchange value and US bond prices and cause US interest rates and inflation to rise. Still, considering the gangster nature of financial markets in which the US is the heavy player, a country that permits free trading of its currency sets itself up for trouble.

    The greatest harm that is being done to the Russian economy is not due to sanctions and the US attack on the ruble. The greatest harm is being done by Russia’s neoliberal economists.

    Neoliberal economics is not merely incorrect. It is an ideology that fosters US economic imperialism. By following neoliberal prescriptions, Russian economists are helping Washington’s attack on the Russian economy."

    ReplyDelete
  47. AnonymousDecember 20, 2014 at 6:39 PM

    I read on interesting comment on another blog speculating that when the western sanctions and attacks on the ruble fail to achieve any significant results against Russia and it becomes clear that the Kremlin can weather this storm, the west could carry out another false flag, this time targeting an oil tanker or other oil infrastructure, and blame it on the Russians who will be accused of having committed terrorism in order to cause oil prices to go back up. It sounds far-fetched, but the west is desperate for any sort of victory, and has a long history of false flags including the recent Malaysian airlines likely downed by Kiev in Novorossiya... Such idiotic steps could easily spiral out of control and engulf the region/world in a real war, it is sad that the west can reasonably be suspected of proceeding down this path.

    ReplyDelete
  48. SvediatsiDecember 21, 2014 at 3:07 PM

    When CNN launches a documentary which encourages the "Westernization" of Armenia, everybody loses their mind!!

    When a Russian Documentary series about the First World War, after talking about the successful battle of Sarikamish, devotes an entire section about the Armenian Genocide, and about how Armenian volunteers aided Russian troops to liberate the Caucasus from the turks, none of our nation's representatives are aware. Once again an initiative from the Russian side shows the vast importance Russia gives to its strategic ally, Armenia, yet our compatriots prefer bashing Russia, organizing anti-Russian rallies, protesting against the Eurasian Union, having wet dreams of joining the European Union, encouraging Armenia-NATO cooperation, encouraging euro-integration, spending their vacations in istanbul and antalya, worshipping turkish culture, mocking Armenian culture, spreading the idea of turkish-Armenian "brotherhood" and "to leave the past behind", AND the most important of all, lobby with all their efforts in Washington so that Mr. President say the "G-word" instead of lobbying in Moscow and strengthen Russian-Armenian ties.

    For the last 23 years, the Russian bear has been extending its hand at the Armenians, a hand that had seen war, blood and suffering from 200 years ago, a hand that understood the importance of an ally who is Orthodox Christian in the Caucasus, an ally that can be a great buffer against Turkic people, who incidentally are that ally's arch-enemies. But what we are doing is spitting in the palm of that hand and trying to cut it out of the Caucasus. Brilliant!!

    The documentary in itself is a series about Russia's front in World War 1. The beginning of Episode 3 discusses the battle of Sarikamish, and after 20 minutes an entire section is devoted to Armenian volunteer units and the Genocide, here is that section, though I encourage everyone to watch the whole documentary.


    http://youtu.be/WBaxL1Rwvmg?t=23m17s

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArevordiDecember 22, 2014 at 4:18 AM

      Thank you for bringing this wonderful documentary to our attention. I am very impressed with the film's professional quality. Please forward links of it - with your comments - to as many people as possible. We need to raise awareness.

      Isn't it amazing that although bilateral trade between Moscow and Ankara runs in the tens of billions of dollars range every year (trade between Russia and Turkey is actually larger that the trade between US and Turkey), Russia continues to recognize the Armenian Genocide? Isn't it even more amazing that when Russian leaders visit the Armenian Genocide memorial not a single voice of protest is heard from Turks?

      Delete
  49. AnonymousDecember 21, 2014 at 6:23 PM

    Russian company to operate Sukhum international airport
    http://itar-tass.com/en/world/763594

    Meanwhile in Batumi, western-wannabe Georgia's other government-controlled Muslim region, Turks run the local airport.​ Sakashavili was serious when he talked about making Georgia more like Europe and NATO.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batumi_International_Airport

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAV_Airports

    Speaking of NATO, always remember that Turkey is a key member that NATO leaders in Washington, London and Brussels would sacrifice Armenia and Artsakh to without hesitation:

    Italy, Turkey Win Big on F-35 Sustainment
    http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/international/europe/2014/12/13/italy-turkey-win-big-on-f-35-sustainment/20361741/

    ReplyDelete
  50. AnonymousDecember 21, 2014 at 6:36 PM

    The article below is from 2002 and describes how in the 1980s the US government produced schoolbooks designed for Afghan children filled with violent images and militant Islamic teachings to spur radicalize the youth and use them to fight the Soviets. I copied and pasted select quotes from the article below the link.

    http://emperors-clothes.com/news/abc.htm

    In the twilight of the Cold War, the United States spent millions of dollars to supply Afghan schoolchildren with textbooks filled with violent images and militant Islamic teachings, part of covert attempts to spur resistance to the Soviet occupation.

    The primers, which were filled with talk of jihad and featured drawings of guns, bullets, soldiers and mines, have served since then as the Afghan school system's core curriculum. Even the Taliban used the American-produced books, though the radical movement scratched out human faces in keeping with its strict fundamentalist code.

    Published in the dominant Afghan languages of Dari and Pashtu, the textbooks were developed in the early 1980s under an AID grant to the University of Nebraska-Omaha and its Center for Afghanistan Studies. The agency spent $51 million on the university's education programs in Afghanistan from 1984 to 1994.

    During that time of Soviet occupation, regional military leaders in Afghanistan helped the U.S. smuggle books into the country. They demanded that the primers contain anti-Soviet passages. Children were taught to count with illustrations showing tanks, missiles and land mines, agency officials said. They acknowledged that at the time it also suited U.S. interests to stoke hatred of foreign invaders.

    "I think we were perfectly happy to see these books trashing the Soviet Union," said Chris Brown, head of book revision for AID's Central Asia Task Force.

    AID dropped funding of Afghan programs in 1994. But the textbooks continued to circulate in various versions, even after the Taliban seized power in 1996.

    Officials said private humanitarian groups paid for continued reprintings during the Taliban years. Today, the books remain widely available in schools and shops, to the chagrin of international aid workers.

    An aid worker in the region reviewed an unrevised 100-page book and counted 43 pages containing violent images or passages.

    ...Above the soldier is a verse from the Koran. Below is a Pashtu tribute to the mujaheddin, who are described as obedient to Allah. Such men will sacrifice their wealth and life itself to impose Islamic law on the government, the text says.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArevordiDecember 21, 2014 at 8:40 PM

      Desensitization to violence and the radicalization of a targeted society.

      Most people do not realize that after the Crusades in the 13th century, there were no militant Islamic movements until the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Prior to Afghanistan, there only existed secular nationalist/socialist political movements in the Middle East. It was through Western, Saudi Arabian and Pakistani efforts that Islamic societies were radicalized starting in the 1980s. Radical Sunni Islam has primarily been used as a tool against Russian and Iranian expansion.

      Thank you for the link.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 22, 2014 at 5:36 PM

      Since the Crusades ? I have to disagree. The Ottoman Empire itself had the status of a Caliphate and was seen as such by most of its Muslim population before nationalism arose. Hence all its wars were seen as Islam's Sword establishing the will of God, and various militant Islamic movements were used as tools to strengthen the Empire at various times (the Bektashi order for example), to fight Christians, or Safavi Shia. We Armenians have experienced it very well.
      I agree that the West have been and is still somehow using militant Islam, but let's not view the latter as just a mere tool. It has its own agenda and is using the West as much.
      As for militant Islam, as long as there is Muslims fighting Muslims of other denomination, or non-Muslims, it's ALWAYS there. Always. Not necessarily the main force, but still there somehow.

      Keep up the good work,

      Xndzor

      Delete
    3. ArevordiDecember 23, 2014 at 1:12 AM

      Enker Xndzor, yes, since the Crusades.

      Ottoman armies, like their European counterparts, served their leader, the Ottoman Sultan. Ottoman armies were superficially "Islamic" for their actions were meant to advance only Ottoman interests. Moreover, Ottoman's general treatment of Muslims in north Africans and Middle Easterners were not that much better than their treatment of Ottoman Christians. Ottoman Turks in fact looked down upon the people that gave them their religion, Arabs. Some may even argue that during their peak, Ottomans held more respect for their Christian subjects than their non-Turkic Muslim subjects in the Middle East and Africa. This inter-Sunni ethnic rivalry became apparent when the region's Muslim Arabs joining the Allied war effort against Ottomans during the First World War.

      The modern "pan-Islamic" phenomenon (begun in the early 1980s in an effort against the Soviet Union) has not been seen since the Crusades.

      The cooperation we are seeing between radical Sunni Islam (led and financed mainly by Saudis) and Western powers (i.e. Anglo-American-Jews) is a convergence of geopolitical interests. Of course both sides have their own agendas, that goes without saying. Of course radical Sunni Islam is looked upon as a tool by the West, that also goes without saying. But as long as there is the need to fight Russia and Iran in the region, both sides will continue collaborating.

      Anyway, we have not seen the radicalization of Islam on this scale for at least eight hundred years.

      Delete
    4. AnonymousDecember 23, 2014 at 4:27 PM

      Part 1

      Fair enough for the Ottoman Empire, but I won't view it exactly this way. I don't really believe in ethnic rivalry at this point. The Ottoman Empire was not really a "turkic" Empire at its peak. It was basically a Muslim Rome (Byzantium), ruled by mongrelized people of mostly Greek or Balkanic origin. The dislike it had with remote tribal people like the Arabs or the Berbers had more to do with the classic opposition of civilized metropolitans vs barbarous provincials. It had the same dislike for its own capricious Turkic nomads of Central Anatolia btw. But what bound this whole mongrelized ruling people and distinguished them from their original Christian ethnic brethren was Islam. In that sense Islam and Ottomanism were symbiotic (and that's why the secular Turkey dreamt by Atatürk is an utopia, because it negates the only real piece of identity his people ever had). Now you can say that Islam was only a tool, but I can say the same of Ottoman Empire, that it was a tool to expand Islam. Don't underestimate the independant will of global entities. When Ottoman armies were marching, inside the head of its soldiers they were fighting for Islam (and rape and plunder), more than they were fighting for the Sultan. Same goes with the mobs who rushed into our forefathers' quarters hungry for blood. Sure it was motivated brainwashing, but hell, that's what religions do.
      When Arabs rebelled they were firstly seen as traitors to the Caliphate, hence traitors to Islam. As the (european-inspired) back-up ideology of Turkishness and Panturkism grew, it evolved to full scale ethnic clash, but it was late in history.
      .../...

      Delete
    5. AnonymousDecember 23, 2014 at 4:28 PM

      .../...
      Part 2

      I still disagree that pan-Islamic phenomenon is so new. I see what you mean, and I agree that its scale is unseen, but that's merely the consequence of globalization. The same way Armenian communities which in the Middle-Ages would have disappeared due to isolation (like those of Poland) can now stay in touch with the rest of Armenian world 24/24 and watch Shant TV.
      But what you may forget is that Islam was the dominant dog of the World till the 17th century. Sure Europe was already busy sowing its seeds in remote continents, but it still had the fear of the conquering Ottomans, their North African vassals were still enslaving the coastal folks of Western Europe, India was still a playing field for the Moghols, and Crimean Tatars were still harvesting Slav slaves for the pleasure of its Ottoman big brothers.
      I admit that 3 centuries from the beginning of its open downfall is a heavy knockout, but I merely see modern militant Islam as the consequence of THIS (loosing the top dog position, just as it did during the crusades, with the same result, and in that regard I agree with you), more than Western manufacturing. The West is not that powerful, nor does it understand Islam that much. Sure it's trying to use it as much as it can, or even accelerate it so as to make a convenient, evil enemy in order to keep its grip on the world. But this movement has deeper, independant roots.
      Btw, there had been many steps in that direction before the official birth of "militant Islam". Our own genocide is part of it, as a necessary homogeneization of the territory in favor of the dominant group, now threatened, to secure its threatened borders.
      Face it : we didn't lose much of our homeland because of "Turks", we lost it because if fell into the Islamic world and our identity was then too much symbiotic with christianity for us to adapt in a winning way. If they had been only "Turks", we would have assimilated them a long time ago just like we assimilated a lot of their like before (Cimmerians, Scythians, Parthians...). But this is a taboo. As Armenians, we found shelter among Arabs and Persians, and even some kind of allies, like in the ASALA years with Palestinians, or Iran today. Thus we have embedded in ourselves the command of not pointing Islam in itself, and try to focus on ethnic lines like "Turk" so as to keep an alliance possible with Arabs and Persians. And that's a good thing, I think. But that's still a half-lie.

      Anyway, our disagreement is merely about the causes, I agree with you for the scale in the last eight hundred years.

      Xndzor

      Delete
    6. ArevordiDecember 23, 2014 at 8:43 PM

      Xndzor, I merely tried to point out to you that the Ottoman empire was not pan-Islamic or Islamo-centric like modern day Islamist such as the Mujaheddin, ISIS, Al Qaeda or a number of other groups. You confirmed this point of mine point when you wrote the following:

      "Ottoman Empire was not really a "turkic" Empire at its peak. It was basically a Muslim Rome (Byzantium), ruled by mongrelized people of mostly Greek or Balkanic origin. The dislike it had with remote tribal people like the Arabs or the Berbers had more to do with the classic opposition of civilized metropolitans vs barbarous provincials. It had the same dislike for its own capricious Turkic nomads of Central Anatolia"

      Exactly. Ottomans were an empire and they were multi-ethnic and multi-faith.
      I just want to add that in Ottoman society there was also a hierarchy in which the ethnic Turks were on the top. In other words, converts and non-Turkic Muslims were deemed below Turks.

      Please let's not argue over details. Generally speaking, the violent and xenophobic pan-Islamic movements we are seeing today have not been seen since the Crusades.

      Delete
    7. AnonymousDecember 24, 2014 at 6:01 AM

      ​This is off-topic but Turkish historian Taner Akcam has a book called "From Empire to Republic" that touches on the formation of Turkish identity. According to Akcam it was known that the Ottoman's capable leaders and administrators were not Central Asian Turkic by blood. In fact when the Empire entered it's decline phase it was a popular idea that "True turks must be seeping through into leadership positions" among some Ottoman elites. As the multicultural Ottoman Empire began to die, there was a movement and conflicts to replace it with a Turkish, Islamic, or mixed identity. This history of the formation of modern Turkish identity helps explain in part why the Turkish republic is so repressive and hostile to non-official aspects of history, because the i​​identity is faulty and without foundation and any cracks allowed to develop would risk bringing their nation crumbling down. Hence the myths of a heroic "Father of the Turks" and evil enemies always scheming to tear away chunks of territory through fabricated stories of the Turks being non-indigenous and genocidal invaders.

      Delete
  51. AnonymousDecember 22, 2014 at 4:27 AM

    http://rt.com/news/216527-man-drives-crowd-france/
    http://rt.com/news/216375-france-extremist-stabs-policemen/

    Two recent attacks involving muslims in France screaming "allahu-akbar". Two more recent attacks took place in Australia in Canada by muslims. I'm confused as to the root cause: are these actual cases of random muslims just being muslims or is there a conspiracy to insight these types of attacks in order to convince reluctant US allies to commit more to the US agenda in the Middle East, specifically to "fight ISIS" by bombing Syria?

    ReplyDelete
  52. AnonymousDecember 22, 2014 at 6:34 AM

    The so-called Ruble crisis and the cards up Russia's sleeve by Paul Craig Roberts. More and more I feel that the western elites know very well that the battle has already been lost. The only battle they are fighting right now is the propaganda one against their own people to keep the ponzi scheme going as long as possible.

    http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article40522.htm

    Arto2

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    Replies
    1. ArevordiDecember 22, 2014 at 10:00 PM

      Exactly. The propaganda spewed by mainstream Western news media (99% of Western news media) has become worst that the worst kind of propaganda put out by the Soviet Politburo during the height of Cold War. Not that is was much better before, but after Moscow began pushing back in Ukraine the quality of Western reporting really began to go downhill. Before I would find some satisfaction in reading some articles. Now, I cant even listen/read past the first few words of most news reports without feeling like vomiting...

      Delete
  53. AnonymousDecember 22, 2014 at 8:47 PM

    My take on the Russian financial crisis sounds trite but it's true: what doesn't kill you will make you stronger. It's not half as bad as the MSM shills would have one believe. I've NEVER seen such deceitful propaganda on the FINANCIAL MSM. DISCOUNT IT BY 70%.

    The Russians collectively have really gotten the wake up call, in my opinion. If they follow through with internal SWIFT, and at the very least harness the CBR if not get rid of it, I'd say they are halfway there.

    Putin, as smart as he is, cannot figure out how to battle the snake pit of worldwide money changers. If he can extricate the country from the jaws of the oligarchs surrounding him (a la Khodorkovski) he can pull it off. I have no doubt now that he is real. To paraphrase him, he said: either we will live independently or we will perish.

    Forget our diaspora, I wish our Hayastantsis had half the patriotism of the Russians, instead of being such disgusting western otaramols and davajans.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousDecember 22, 2014 at 10:41 PM

      I don't want to keep beating a dead dog on this forum, but I believe that the seeds of patriotism are in place in Hayastan. We are just witnessing 23 years of western brainwashing together with total neglect of our authorities to limit this phenomena. Bring in some galvanizing patriotic leadership, together with a better economy and more controls over western social engineering and things will change.

      Strategic alignment with Russia is the first step - check. Then EEU membership - check. The opening of the railway link to Russia is the next step - in progress, check. Then a railway link to Iran completely freeing Armenia from the blockade - hopefully check soon. So far so good. Next step is strict control of western ops (already very late but Gorik Hakobyan's speech was very timely and interesting). In time we will see a better and more patriotic Armenia but it will take another decade or two. We don't have to be blind to the realities but gross generalizations and constant trashing of our nation and people while worshiping other people bothers me a lot and doesn't help our unique historical and geographical based problem.
      Arto2

      Delete
    2. ArevordiDecember 23, 2014 at 4:19 AM

      Arto jan, while the seeds of patriotism may be in place, the ground it has been planted in may not yet be fertile enough to spurt it growth. Also, don't kid yourself, the seeds of Globalization/Westernization (as well as general indifference) are also firmly planted. And the latter may outgrow the former if we are not careful.

      Generally speaking, Armenians are NOT nationalistic or patriotic. In my opinion, you are confusing "proud" with "nationalistic".

      What Armenians definitely are is "proud". An Armenian can be a "proud Armenian" in China, Sweden or Zimbabwe, but a nationalist Armenian can only feel "proud" in Armenia. Don't forget we also have "proud" Yerevantis, Artsakhtsis, American-Armenians, Lebanese-Armenians, French-Armenians, Turkish-Armenian, etc. Each thinks it is better than the other. In contrast, we don't have many Armenians today that love their Armenian homeland unconditionally nor do we have many Armenians who are devoted to their newly created nation-state.

      Unconditional love of homeland and devotion to the state are the true definitions of nationalism/patriotism. Armenians, as a people, are a proud people (perhaps a reflection of their personal arrogance) but they do not yet understand nationalism.

      Anonymous is right in saying Russians are much more nationalistic than we Armenians. That is a no brainer. We cant even begin to comparing with them. It's Russian nationalism that will yet save the world from the Anglo-American-Jewish alliance's one world order.

      I also don't want to beat a dead dog but this topic is good example of the importance of breeding (genetics/culture). Historic circumstances have bred Armenians and Russians to be the way they are.

      I'd also like to remind you that all the "checks" you gave Yerevan credit for was not the result of "Armenian nationalism" but the result of a handful of Armenian officials (looked upon by many Armenians as oligarchs, criminals and traitors) who have casted their lot with Russia. I am speaking primarily of the Kocharyan/Sargsyan clique.

      With all that said, I, like you, am very optimistic. With communism gone, with the great game in the region ending, with pax Russicana gradually coming into existence, I finally see some light for Armenia. After one thousand years of living as a submissive, semi-nomadic people we finally have a chance to begin evolving as a people. In the meanwhile, however, we need to better understand our flaws in order to fix them. In other words, this is not the time for patting ourselves on the should because we have a long way to go...

      Delete
  54. AnonymousDecember 22, 2014 at 10:25 PM

    I can only hope this news report is true

    http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/576746/20141222/russia-israel-war-vladimir-putin.htm#.VJhvjf-1ABg

    ReplyDelete
  55. AnonymousDecember 23, 2014 at 3:28 PM

    http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=USD&to=RUB&view=1M

    I have been following the Ruble to Dollar exchange rate over the past week, ever since the media started gloating about the "collapse." It seems to have stabilized since the temporary shock it experienced from December 15 to 17 due to external manipulation.

    From February 2009 until August 2014 the Ruble had been worth between 30 and 35 per dollar. From August 2014 the exchange rate steadily increased to about 45 Rubles p[er dollar. December 15 to December 17 it shot up wildly, and has since then fallen back down and stabilized at about 55 to a dollar. Not quite the "collapse" that the mainstream media is euphoric about, although I am sure that even larger portions of the Russian population are now incensed and mobilized, or at least painfully aware, that the forces of "freedom and democracy" want to tear away Russian Crimea as part of a larger plan to subdue and destroy Russia. Another great success for western policy makers!

    ReplyDelete
  56. AnonymousDecember 23, 2014 at 7:10 PM

    http://rt.com/news/216859-germany-anti-islam-protest-dresden/

    My first thought when I saw this headline was "if this movement doesn't get hijacked by Big Jew in Brussels, then this will be a positive development". Then I read "PEGIDA’s founder and leader Lutz Bachmann speaking at the event, stating that "Germany is no immigrant’s land" and demanding that those who wish to live in the country do so by adhering to a "culture based on the Christian-Jewish" values and "humanism."" Pathetic. Muslims are the symptom, the Anglo-American-Zionist alliance is the disease. Europe is hopeless at this time, and its traditionalists have been neutered. Those German protestors would be have the same amount of hope if they placed their hopes in left-wing politicians as they do in these types of Zionists.

    These "far right" fakes in Europe, including Geert Wilders and Nigel Farageare as kosher as the Swastika-bearing losers in Kiev. I want to thank that one anonymous poster here who pointed out that these clowns were such overt zionists on this blog some time ago, it was the first I learned of their true nature.

    ReplyDelete
  57. AnonymousDecember 24, 2014 at 12:02 AM

    US-Saudi Subterfuge Send Stocks and Credit Reeling http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-oil-coup/5420293

    ReplyDelete
  58. ArevordiDecember 24, 2014 at 1:20 AM

    It's very heartening to see ARFers in Armenia maintaining political sanity and wisdom -

    ARF Lawmaker Calls on Armenia, Russia to Ditch US Dollar in Trade http://asbarez.com/130153/arf-lawmaker-calls-on-armenia-russia-to-ditch-us-dollar-in-trade/comment-page-1/#comment-9230914

    Former ARF Lawmaker Says ‘Revolution’ Has Been Quashed http://asbarez.com/130056/former-arf-lawmaker-says-revolution-has-been-quashed/

    ReplyDelete
  59. AnonymousDecember 24, 2014 at 5:49 AM

    With the rise of the east is this what we have to look forward to in the 21 century?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH0342o5BFs

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CawoPNkY00

    LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArevordiDecember 24, 2014 at 6:08 AM

      I normally don't like posting music videos but this was too good to pass up.

      Yes, there are some scary aspects to the rise of the East. But, let's also remember that Russia is both an eastern and western power. Culturally, Russia is a European civilization. Western civilization and classical European culture is better preserved in Russia than in the Anglo-American world. So, I remain hopeful that the rise of the East will not be as bad as you are trying to make it seem.

      Delete
  60. AnonymousDecember 24, 2014 at 6:07 AM

    Return Of The Jewish Neocons
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE7xEJeM7cM&index=2&list=UUtBqVgzL_cDv_t9o2hFiXXg

    nuland, glaser and kagan are sick jewish war criminals that will be the death of what's left of this country. ted cruz, meanwhile, is a Cuban clown, typical of the Cuban-Americans. Listening to cruz's insults against President Putin is a sad joke. We can learn a lot from this video about the state of US politics today. As much as I dislike people who are very liberal socially, I reserve an equal amount of disgust for right-wing neocons like Cruz and his followers. The whole system is rotten to the core.

    Same goes for the Christian Zionist scum which represent mainstream American Christianity:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35ORuXR6dO4#t=25s

    ReplyDelete
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    1. ArevordiDecember 24, 2014 at 6:27 AM

      Senator Ted Cruz is a Cuban-American? Figures. Did you know he will not stand with Americans if Americans will not stand with Israel? -

      Ted Cruz booed off stage while defending Israel: http://theweek.com/article/index/267950/speedreads-ted-cruz-booed-off-stage-while-defending-israel

      America's "Homeland Security" is primarily concerned about protecting Jews from enemies that... Jews create? -

      U.S. Jewish NGOs to get 97% of Homeland Security's defense grant in 2012: http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/u-s-jewish-ngos-to-get-97-of-homeland-security-s-defense-grant-in-2012-1.448373

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 25, 2014 at 8:45 AM

      Good links Arevordi, there's really not much else needed to draw the conclusion about the values Ted Cruz stands for. Cruz is an appropriate representative of both the majority of politically active Cuban-Americans (who enjoy being tools for the establishment), as well as a good representative of the absolute majority of what passes for the conservative, religious (Christian Zionist) right wing scene of the USA. Cruz, like all conservatives today, is on his knees for bloodthirsty zionist warmonger billionaire Sheldon Adelson, a despicable figure who openly calls for the US to declare war against Syria and Iran. (http://www.tomatobubble.com/sheldon_adelson.html)

      The link of him getting booed off stage was refreshing, and if I recall correctly his fellow Republican scumbag Hannity was booed a few years back at a Republican event as well. But even if some of the Republican laity aren't buying the party's mainline Zionist-worship, the elite leadership positions of the Republican party were taken over long ago by the neocon-zionist faction. It is a mistake to take them as representatives of Christianity, traditionalism, or any sort of integrity, a mistake I've seen many well-intentioned but naive people make. Not that the Democrats are any better - two sides of the same coin - but it's good to remember that there is no point in putting any trust in conservative politicians either. This includes Ron and Rand Paul, Bat Buchanan, and as well as the regulars like McCain, Palin, or Michele Bachmann.

      Delete
    3. AnonymousDecember 25, 2014 at 8:55 AM

      ps I don't want to dwell on Cuba, but here is USAID using rap music to spread subversion inside a targeted regime. Gee, what a surprise there.

      Our rapper in Havana: USAID hijacked Cuban hip-hop scene trying to undermine govt
      http://rt.com/news/213371-cuba-hip-hop-usaid/

      Delete
  61. AnonymousDecember 24, 2014 at 3:59 PM

    I stumbled across the website Armcomedy.com while reading the following article that Arevordi had emailed:

    Will Georgia Be the Next Ukraine?
    http://www.thenation.com/article/181750/georgia-next-ukraine

    I spent some time reading through it, some of the articles were actually pretty amusing. Enjoy:

    2009 Exclusive Interview with Saakashvili
    http://www.armcomedy.com/2009/12/24/interview-saakashvili/

    Georgia’s New Defense Minister Just turned 28
    http://www.armcomedy.com/2009/09/02/georgias-new-defense-minister-just-turned-28/

    Azeri Teenagers Jailed for Masturbation Using Kim Kardashian Photo
    http://www.armcomedy.com/2011/04/19/kim/

    White House Unable to Generate New Genocide Synonyms
    http://www.armcomedy.com/2011/04/27/genocide/

    A Day in Life of Ilham Aliyev (English version)
    http://www.armcomedy.com/2011/05/03/aliyev/

    Anders Breivik Applies for Extradition to Azerbaijan
    http://www.armcomedy.com/2012/05/03/breivik/

    Serzh Sargsyan Once Again Failed to Pronounce “Genocide” in his Annual April-25 Address to Native Americans
    http://www.armcomedy.com/2012/04/25/genocide-2/

    ReplyDelete
  62. SvediatsiDecember 24, 2014 at 4:17 PM

    The last episode of the WW1 documentary made by a Russian company:

    - Bolshevik Revolution explained

    - The casualties Russia and its people suffered

    - The reason why Russian forced pulled out of the Caucasus and other fronts

    - The planting of seeds of the Second World War

    - The horrors of Bolshevism in general.

    - What could have the world been if it weren't for Bolshevism

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzqRtYd911A

    The question is, will one of our Armenian TV stations decide to project this documentary series instead of the emasculating sitcoms and the mafia-lifestyle encouraging TV series? Will the Armenian public be as eager to watch it just like how they drop everything in order to not miss an episode of a mafiosa Yerevantsi "exerting authority" on his "subjects"?

    Even if such thing takes place, will it make Armenians stop spilling bullshit like "Russians betrayed the Armenians in 1918?"



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArevordiDecember 24, 2014 at 6:18 PM

      After watching the all of episode three, I jumped to the last one knowing it would have been about the revolution. I had similar thoughts watching it. Armenians desperately need reeducation and reconditioning. Needless to say, television is the best medium for this, but not only is it being neglected it is being used for the wrong purposes. Anyway, the professionalism and the historical content of the documentary is very impressive. It is probably the most thorough and most accurate television documentary I have seen about the First World War. And the fact that the narration is not expressed through Anglo-American eyes makes it that much more welcome. I have noticed that unlike Anglo-Americans who often try to come across as superheros (and refrain from covering certain things they don't like) Russians tend to get very thorough and self-critical in such types of productions (and there are many productions like this). It's obvious why. While Western powers derived the most benefit as a result of both world wars, Russia on the other hand suffered terribly. Russians are soul searching. It's a good sign for it is a sign for maturity.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 25, 2014 at 8:53 AM

      "The question is, will one of our Armenian TV stations decide to project this documentary series instead of the emasculating sitcoms and the mafia-lifestyle encouraging TV series? Will the Armenian public be as eager to watch it just like how they drop everything in order to not miss an episode of a mafiosa Yerevantsi "exerting authority" on his "subjects"?

      Even if such thing takes place, will it make Armenians stop spilling bullshit like "Russians betrayed the Armenians in 1918?"

      Very well said Svediatsi. I agree 100% A lot of Armenian television programming is pure garbage today. If any of what you described above actually became reality, Armenian society would improve itself by several levels. It's well known people emulate the thoughts and behaviors they see portrayed in the media. Well at least in terms of getting this type of programming aired and promoted in Armenia, I'm confidant it CAN happen, it's just maddening sitting around waiting for some powerful Armenian official or businessman to pounce on the opportunity. As for explaining that Russia did not betray Armenia, there are too many foreign interests promoting that lie and way too little Russian/Armenian efforts at explaining that Bolshevism was exported to Russia by foreign powers.

      Delete
  63. Kim PhilbyDecember 25, 2014 at 2:40 AM

    Putin attends Armenia’s reception in ‘Ararat Hayat’ 23:05, 24.12.2014 Region: World News, Armenia, Russia Theme: Economics


    MOSCOW. - On the eve Armenia’s accession to the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), Armenia organized a reception in “Ararat Hayat” hotel in Moscow, Armenian News - NEWS.am reports.

    The reception has been hold in the framework of the CSTO Collective Security Council summit. The source, who participated in the summit, told Armenian News - NEWS.am that the reception given by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on the occasion of Armenia’s accession to EEU, has been attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, head of the State Duma Sergei Naryshkin, heads of state participating in the summit.

    The participation of Vladimir Putin in the reception illustrates a particularly respectful attitude towards Armenia, as the presence of Russian President at receptions is very rare, the source added. According to the source, the participation of the President Putin in the event organized by the Armenian side is an evidence of allied and fraternal relations between Armenia and Russia.

    ReplyDelete
  64. AnonymousDecember 25, 2014 at 8:52 PM

    The title is more sensationalistic than realistic but you've got to watch this end to end. The closed captions are excellent. Fifth column is the media in Russia as expressly stated in the video. This MP IS A HEAVY THINKER and speaks his mind.

    Evgeny Fedorov, Deputy in the Russian Parliament: US to Attack Russia in 2015! https://socioecohistory.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/evgeny-fedorov-deputy-in-the-russian-parliament-us-to-attack-russia-in-2015/

    Video is in Russian with English subtitles.
    Published on May 31, 2014

    A coup d´état under the guise of an ‘Orange Revolution’ is being prepared in Russia. The big picture and the details are given by Evgeny Fedorov, a deputy in the Russian parliament, and coordinator of the People’s Liberation Movement. The coup facilitator is the fifth column, which dominates the mass-media and public servants all the way up to government ministers, a point barely known within Russia, never mind outside. However, the people’s insurrection in Ukraine could wake up enough people in Russia to restore national sovereignty. In the next few years it will come to a head, with only two possible outcomes : the destruction of Russian civilization or the collapse of the American empire.

    Major segments:
    0:19:51 Washington’s mechanisms of control via the fifth column in Ukraine (coup launched) and Russia (coup in preparation).
    0:47:03 Novorossia could mobilize an army big enough to liberate all Ukraine.
    0:55:34 The armed coup was launched even though Yanukovych was capitulating, in order to establish conditions for terror and massacres.
    1:03:46 Novorossia has eliminated the fifth column. This will be emulated in neighboring territories.
    1:08:57 The foreign ‘mercenaries’ are likely equipment operators (tanks, planes,..).
    1:25:31 Fifth column agitators will try to get Putin overthrown for his “inaction” over Ukraine.
    1:30:00 Mechanisms for construction of the fifth column.
    1:39:19 The global crusade of the Anglo-Saxons — banditry & exploitation, obscured by style, finesse and copious marketing.
    1:45:18 Parallels between the German and American invasions of USSR/Russia (then and now).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArevordiDecember 26, 2014 at 1:28 AM

      Thank you, Anonymous. I watched all the segments noted (I will watch the entire interview later when I have time): Very interesting. Very impressive. Yes, a heavy thinker but also somewhat of an alarmist (although that does not in anyway take away from his message. He seems to have other interviews in which he is warning of an impeding Western assault against Russia. He may be doing this on behalf of the authorities to whip up nationalistic fervor, he may sincerely believe what he is saying - perhaps both. Nevertheless, the kind of political awareness exhibited by Federov is what nationalism and political maturity is all about.

      The only thing I would disagree with him about is his comment about the timing of the Western assault against Russia. He is implying that it's happening now because Russia is at its weakest now. I disagree. It happening now because the West missed their chance in the 1990s and during the first few years after Putin came to power when Russia was truly at its weakest. The West misread the growth of nationalistic sentiments in Russia during the late 1990s. They perhaps thought at the time that between the sociopolitical chaos of the 1990 and the Chechen jihad in the Caucasus would sooner-or-later tear Russia apart without a direct Western assault. After the 2008 Russo-Georgian war, the West come to the startling realization that Russia was not weak, was on the route to a collapse and that the Russian Bear had in fact resurrected. In my opinion, this is why they began a more direct approach to undermine Russia in the aftermath of the 2008 war.

      Their recent aggression against Russian allies in Syria and Iran are also related to all this. On the eve of the Western backed "Arab Spring" throughout the Middle East Syria, Iran and Russia had gotten very close militarily and politically. Anyway, my point is Russia is not at its weakest now. The West is, simply put, desperate now because of Russia's growing strength. This is why Western powers are taking great risks.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 26, 2014 at 3:31 AM

      A bit sensationalized with nuclear rhetoric but this is also interesting

      Is The U.S. Planning A 'First Strike' Nuclear Attack On Russia And China - Episode 380: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaMQlJ_YTtg

      Delete
    3. ArevordiDecember 26, 2014 at 7:06 AM

      Anonymous,

      I don't know who you are but did you notice that the "X22 Report" is featured in the YouTube page of Preparilament (the anti-government group in Armenia)? I have a feeling these left wing, anti-state operations are funded by Soros type funds.

      Delete
  65. Romanian AnonymusDecember 26, 2014 at 6:33 AM

    @Russia is not at its weakest now. The West is, simply put, desperate now because of Russia's growing strength.

    Absolutely correct. And also after the collapse of the pipe-dream of "Israel’s Secret Plan for a 'Second Israel' in Ukraine" (Israel’s Secret Plan for a "Second Israel" in Ukraine
    by Wayne Madsen@http://www.voltairenet.org/article186164.htm). It is the unraveling of all the efforts made since 1917!
    RomAn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArevordiDecember 26, 2014 at 7:09 AM

      Uncle Sam likes gambling while the Bear is good at playing chess. This, in essence, is the main difference between the two sides.

      Welcome back.

      Delete
  66. AnonymousDecember 26, 2014 at 7:56 AM

    A good one by the Armenian Lavrov:

    Russian FM Lavrov: USA's 'exceptionalism' is a global threat: http://english.pravda.ru/russia/kremlin/25-12-2014/129391-sergei_lavrov_usa-0/

    Longtime reader

    ReplyDelete
  67. AnonymousDecember 26, 2014 at 10:04 AM

    Holy Femen! Topless activist snatches baby Jesus from Vatican at Christmas
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1jg_lHPI7M&feature=youtube_gdata_player

    FEMEN - Working hard everyday to protect the honor and dignity women everywhere. In FEMEN's defense though they are about equally as respectable as the Vatican.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArevordiDecember 26, 2014 at 8:06 PM

      In the big picture, Femen airheads are part of the global push by the Western financial elite (i.e. Anglo-American-Jews) to break down common order, reset human civilization and restart from scratch. Although on the surface they may not look similar, they are however related to all the Western-backed (e.g. Soros funded) anti-establishment activists that operate in a wide range of nations around the world today. In Libya, Egypt and Syria, they are Western backed Sunni Islamists. In Armenia, they are Western backed groups like Preparliament, Heritage and a range of NGOs. In Iran, the onslaught against Tehran is by Western backed Sunni Islamist and civil society liberals. The same applies to Russia and China, where Western backed Muslims and democracy advocates are trying bring about fundamental changes. Even the Western world is not sparred their agenda. Europe has been effectively de-Europeanized and de-Christianized by such groups. Similar groups also operate in the US. Christian-zionists, neoconservatives and ultra-liberals have already ruined American society and civilization. In our discussions about current events we sometimes lose sight of the fact that the US is also a nation that has been ruined by such groups. In fact, Europe and the US were their first targets. In a nutshell, the Western elite are in the process of re-creating the world in their image and diverse groups such as Femen, Preparliament and ISIS are their tools of destruction and creation.

      Delete
    2. Romanian AnonymusDecember 27, 2014 at 7:33 AM

      You won't be surprised that the Australian TV displayed a shameful cowardice in relating the episode. Either skipping it altogether (the SBS chanel - one of the most informed) or hiding the fact that it was the Femen ("A" naked woman...). Ukrainians are the good guys. Femen are admired for their "courage" on a par with the chicken stuffed Pussies.
      RomAn

      Delete
    3. Romanian AnonymusDecember 27, 2014 at 7:55 AM

      I forgot to mention (I was overseas at the time) the
      "Rookwood Cemetery vandalism: more than 70 gravestones destroyed". Date December 11, 2014 (http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/rookwood-cemetery-vandalism-more-than-70-gravestones-destroyed-20141211-124ovx.html)
      Australian MSM displayed the same disgusting cowardice:

      "Many of the desecrated graves were in the Russian Orthodox and Serbian Orthodox sections of the cemetery. But the vandals attacked roughly the same number of graves in two other non-denominational sections, moving through the grounds in a line.
      Police said there was no evidence to suggest the crime was motivated by racial or religious hatred.
      But the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations labelled the attack a hate crime, calling for an investigation "at the highest levels".
      The vandalism came a day before Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko arrived on a two-day tour of Australia, in which he was set to attend a memorial service for victims of flight MH17, shot down by Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine".

      RomAn

      Delete
  68. AnonymousDecember 27, 2014 at 1:13 AM

    Well the censors at assbarez decided another of my comments was too dangerous to publish, but I like this comment so I'm going to publish it here.

    http://asbarez.com/130164/thomas-de-waal%E2%80%99s-futile-attempt-at-trivializing-the-armenian-genocide/comment-page-1/#comment-9250774

    Nothing to see here folks, just another jew with an anti-Armenian agenda. No different from the others on this partial list:
    -abraham foxman (anti-defamation league of b'nai b'rith)
    -brenda schaffer (israeli scholar, past president of American Political Science Association, former Research Director of the Caspian Studies Program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, current faculty at the israeli University of Haifa in the School of Political Science, and a visiting professor at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy and at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.)
    -shimon pere (president and former prime minister of israel)
    -guenter lewy (professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst)
    -bernard lewis (Cleveland E. Dodge Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University)
    -bruce fein (attorney, worked for the Turkish Coalition of America , the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation , the Assembly of Turkish American Associations court case against Mourad Topalian in 2001, the lawyer of fellow jew Guenter Lewy against the Southern Poverty Law Center regarding the Armenian Genocide, lawyer of Represemtative Jean Schmidt against David Krikorian, lawyer for the Turkish Coalition of America against University of Minnesota, of the Ron Paul's presidential campaign leaders and a huge influence on Paul)
    -david saltzman (Turkish Coalition of America, works with brunce fein in their anti-Armenian activity)
    -george friedman (founder of Stratfor, advocate of "keep Armenia isolated")
    -rivka cohen (israeli Ambassador to Armenia and Georgia, openly and officially denied the Armenian Genocide while in Armenia)
    -vladimir socor (political analyst of East European affairs for the Jamestown Foundation and its Eurasia Daily Monitor, prominent Armenian Genocide denier, prominent supporter of the lie that Artsakh belongs to Azerbaijan, psychotic Russophobe - interestingly Socor also has some Armenian ancestory in addition to his Jew heritage, a stark example of the dangers of interracialism )
    -michael rubin (current resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and a senior lecturer at the Naval Postgraduate School , has lectured in history at Yale University , Hebrew University , and Johns Hopkins University , heavily involved in the war and destruction against Iraq)
    -stephen blank (a Senior Fellow and resident Russia expert at the American Foreign Policy Council, previously worked as a professor at the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA)
    -richard weitzor (currently a Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Political-Military Analysis at Hudson Institute and an Expert at Wikistrat , previously from 2002 to 2004was a consultant for the Center for Strategic and International Studies , the Defense Science Board , and DFI International, Inc, also has held positions with the Center for Strategic Studies , the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University 's Kennedy School of Government , and the U.S. Department of Defense .)
    -denis jaffe (anti-Armenian journalist)
    -guy billauer (anti-Armenian attorney)

    ReplyDelete
  69. AnonymousDecember 27, 2014 at 3:12 AM

    Russia to supply coal to Ukraine without prepayment - Ukrainian ministry
    http://itar-tass.com/en/world/769576

    ​50,000 tons of Russian coal enter Ukraine
    http://rt.com/business/212171-russian-coal-enters-ukraine/

    While the bandit regime in Kiev openly advocates ethnic cleansing against Russians in Ukraine and continues antagonizing Moscow, the Putin government remains calm, reasonable and merciful and generous towards the civilian population of its smaller Slavic neighbor despite Russia's own ecenomic problems. This is such a well-calculated move: we've all seen the picture of nuland handing out cheap sandwiches during the Maidan riots, now all of the Ukrainians get to see Putin hand out essentially free coal to keep their lights and heaters working during the winter. The bandits in Kiev and their western masters have done everything they can to try to force a harsh reaction from Moscow, but Putin hasn't even broken a sweat yet. They must be fuming. Perhaps Orange Revolution 2014 is doomed to fizzle out just like Orange Revolution 2004 or the Rose Revolution a year earlier in Georgia.

    What have puppet-clowns in Kiev accomplished so far besides destruction, death and transferring Ukraine's gold to the west where they will never see it again? How long until another group of protesters gather in Kiev to overthrow their western-installed regime?

    ReplyDelete
  70. Kim PhilbyDecember 28, 2014 at 1:51 AM

    Russia; promotor of family values, religion, respect for elders and one's culture, heritage.
    United States of America -> awarding an artist that puts Christ in a bottle of Urine

    "The piece was a winner of the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art's "Awards in the Visual Arts" competition,[1] which was sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a United States Government agency that offers support and funding for artistic projects"

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ

    This says it all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArevordiDecember 28, 2014 at 7:09 AM

      This is why I keep reminding people that Russia today is mankind's last hope for preserving human civilization. This is what I mean when I remind people that the Western world, as wonderful as it may seem on the surface, is an evil, barbaric monster who's death will not come a moment too soon.

      PS: Decadence and filth exists in every country, every society on earth, but it exists on the fringes of society. Decadence and filth in the Western world, on the other hand, is now mainstream and is being actively promoted and exported by high level officials.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 28, 2014 at 8:24 PM

      The western society is evil today because it's under demonic possession because it has allowed Satan's earthly helpers to run their society

      Canadian arch-abortionist Henry Morgentaler dead at 90: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/may-god-have-mercy-on-his-soul-canadian-arch-abortionist-henry-morgentaler

      Delete
    3. ArevordiDecember 28, 2014 at 9:14 PM

      One of Satan's earthbound demons indeed. Just imagine how beneficial it would have been for western society, and for humanity in general, had this beast died in his concentration camp instead...

      "Morgentaler was awarded the Order of Canada in 2008".

      So typical of the filthy and self-destructive nature of Anglos. This is the kind of "values" they have been enthusiastically spreading around the world for many decades and our Armenia - our sacred homeland - is one of their major victims.

      Until now I have not had the opportunity to address this matter. I therefore thank you for bringing this up.

      Abortion (better described as infanticide) is a massive blight on Armenia's soul today. Abortion was one of the very destructive influences of Communism and Westernization on Armenian society. There are probably very few households in Armenia today where abortion has not taken place. I am not talking about abortions for instances of rape or when the life of the mother is in danger. I am talking about abortions being commonly used as a method of contraception or as an outrageous method of selecting the sex of the child.

      I primarily blame Armenian men for this evil, in fact - genocidal - epidemic.

      How can I respect any society that has willingly and consciously murdered countless number of its unborn children - for purely selfish reasons. How can we Armenians talk about Armenian family values, Armenian morality, Armenian faith, Armenian culture, Armenian Genocide, nationalism, Turks, civil society, population drain, corruption, etc, if we as a people are consciously partaking in the infanticide of our unborn children?

      I am far from being a religious zealot but in my honest opinion, stopping a heartbeat in a mother's womb for reasons of convenience is beyond murder, it's bestial and demonic.

      Delete
    4. AnonymousDecember 29, 2014 at 3:35 AM

      I agree with your 100% with your position that abortion is infanticide and unjustifiable in almost all cases, with rare exceptions. It's mind-blowing that in Armenia the issue is given so little thought and attention, despite being epidemic in scale. For all of its brutality, Islamist Turkey has more reasonable abortion laws than our own society - something to really think about. I'd like to repost a related comment I wrote on this topic:

      (Part 1 of 2) RT - The Choice: Abandoning Thoughts of Abortion
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VquCR48hAg

      Russia's state-sponsored RT recently did a documentary on the topic of abortion. I think that this is monumental in terms of social policy, demographic planning, and setting the moral foundations of the Russian state back to the traditional, Orthodox Christian roots which helped Russia become a great power in the first place. Once again Russia proves to be the last front for traditional Christian/European values and against the immoral policies worshiped and officially promoted in the west. While I personally understand that oftentimes pregnancies are unplanned and occur by accident, I cannot pretend that abortion is anything less than murder for the sake of convenience. I doubt anyone but the most brainwashed ultraliberal can claim otherwise if they take the time to actually watch footage of an abortion being performed, or look at sonograms of the live fetus within the womb before the abortion is performed, or most disturbingly look at the corpse of the fetus after its life has been ended. It's one thing to claim that "I need to end this fetus's life because I cannot or do not want to be responsible for a child right now" - that may be immoral but at least it is honest; the western power establishment wants to streamline the process by which women come to the decision to have an abortion, so they simply impose the false idea that the fetus is not alive until it leaves the womb and that way the expecting mother does not have to deliberate the moral and ethical considerations that such a decision entails. The west instead wants aborting a fetus to have as little stigma and consequence attached to it as a scab falling off from a wound.

      In the west, the ruling powers preach that abortion is a fundamental part of the concept of women's rights; twisting the concept of infanticide into "reproductive health." While I share the views Arevordi expressed earlier regarding women, that they are not property and deserve respect, I hold that abortions are not just a woman's choice; the decision also affects the father as well as the unborn child. By simple, universal math, the decision by one will be affecting more than three people. Yet, you will be very hard pressed to find any group apart from the religious nutjobs who argue otherwise, and unfortunately the problem with the religious freaks is that they only care about opposing abortion because they think it will buy them a ticket to heaven. The hypocritical pro-life crowd loses interest after the period for abortion expires, they seem neither interested in contributing to help the child and its family through financial aid, nor do they seem interested in working on actual programs to prevent unwanted pregnancies from occurring in the first place such as an actual sexual education program (not "you'll burn in hell if you procreate before marriage" topped off with "masturbation is a sin") and widespread access to condoms (because abstinence programs usually don't work, particularly in a hyper-sexualized society).

      Delete
    5. AnonymousDecember 29, 2014 at 3:36 AM

      (Part 2 of 2): Putting the moral arguments aside, abortions have several negative consequences for nations, including Russia and Armenia. Particularly in more primitive societies, Armenia being no exception, daughters are viewed as less useful than sons for whatever reasons (sons work, sons "carry on the family name", etc.) and therefore when ultraliberals and feminists introduce abortions to these societies, a disproportionate number of girls are killed off and the societal/demographic balance is thrown out of order. The long terms consequences of having too many males and not enough females are a devastating threat to nations, and sadly Armenia's case here is VERY, VERY severe. Additionally, abortions serve to undermine the traditional values of the family, and are thus a part of the war against "Family, Country, God" that states need as a foundation. That's why the west pushes abortions, homosexuality, hyper-sexuality, pedophilia, militant feminism, and all other sorts of socio-cultural poison on targeted nations. And here is where the role of the Church comes into play in combating the west. Russia under President Putin, of course, leads the way and has set the golden standard in this regard. And lastly, abortions contribute to the freefalling birth rates that we see in developed countries, and I do not need to emphasize that Armenia CANNOT AFFORD to give up any more ground in the demographics department. In that respect, I'd like to point out this short article below and the remarkable demographic turnaround President Putin's Russia has had. In this regard the history of abortion, and its development which is intended primarily for eugenics purposes, is very interesting. By applying the concept of abortions instead for a self-imposed population control, countries like Armenia are in fact declaring war on nature in an attempt to stunt their own natural growth, and this can only lead to devastating consequences: Pro Life Russia http://www.tomatobubble.com/id401.html I'd like to add that a huge requirement for preventing women from getting abortions is for the male partners to act like men and actually take responsibility for their roles in the pregnancy and beyond. It is very easy for the west and its militant feminists to twist this issue and use it as a tool to turn women against men by playing on women's feelings of vulnerability and historical fear/resentment of being oppressed and treated like property. I can't emphasize this enough: women are (slightly more than) half the nation, and for a nationalist program to be successful it needs to have as many men and women on board as possible to maturely confront these topics. And when it comes to abortions, the state and Church need to impose on all levels of society that 1) procreation is patriotic, 2) murder is immoral, 3) expecting couples can expect generous (or at least decent) support from the state (Hitler enacted a very successful domestic policy among these lines a few short years after he ended the chaos of the Weimar Era), 4) condoms should be widely available and high school/college students educated in how they can prevent unwanted pregnancies while still allowing intercourse because prevention is probably the most effective way of bringing down the number of abortions, 5) the long-term physical and psychological effects on women should be explained, 6) women considering abortions should be shown sonograms and photos of their fetuses, videos of abortions being performed so that they understand the consequences of their actions, photos of aborted fetuses, 7) if possible, the male should also be required to be consulted, and 8) the woman should be offered and strongly encouraged to talk to a priest, and the priest should be trained by the Church to be both compassion/understanding as well as firm in their offering of guidance.

      ps abortions for tuks, azeris, israelis, pakistanis, and saudis, however, should be strongly encouraged.

      Delete
    6. Romanian AnonymusDecember 29, 2014 at 5:37 AM

      @ it's bestial and demonic.

      Yes. People fail to realize the horrible magnitude of this sin.

      RomAn

      Delete
    7. AnonymousDecember 29, 2014 at 9:10 AM

      I don't know how accurate this info is but here are some stats on abortions world-wide. As far as nations go, Greenland seems to lead the world with between 50-93% or all pregnancies aborted. Next is China, Russia and some countries in Eastern Europe with 30-50% of pregnancies aborted. Armenia seems to be equal with Australia, France, the US, Norway and Sweden with 20-30% aborted. Turkey is between 15-20% and Azerbaijan between 11-15%.
      If you look at the sub-regional stats instead of nation stats, then you see that California is as bad as Russia/China/East Europe.

      I have no idea why Greenland is so atrocious. According to wikipedia they have a tiny population of around 65,000 people, of which 85-90% of them is made up of native inuit people and the rest are mostly of Danish and N. American origin. There is a very high GDP per capita of over $37,500 and a low unemployment. The fertility rate is 2.08 children per woman. If all this info is correct, then each woman in Greenland gets pregnant a minimum of 4 times in their lives.

      The Greenland and European stats show that high abortion rates are not due to poverty, so improving the socio-economic situation in Armenia will not reduce the % of abortions. I agree with Arevordi that it is a social-cultural problem, and communism has left a rather terrible legacy in this regard and the western onslaught makes the tackling of this problem even harder.

      http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/mapworldabrate.html

      Arto2

      Delete
  71. AnonymousDecember 29, 2014 at 3:56 AM

    Articles of interest:

    There must be a special place in hell reserved for these "Serbian" traitors.

    "The centre works against "nationalism, xenophobia, intolerance, hatred and fear."

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Cultural_Decontamination
    http://www.czkd.org/

    *****

    I didn't bother to read this Jewish fantasy, but the title caught my eye:

    Russia’s economy could collapse in months, says financial forecaster
    http://www.timesofisrael.com/russias-economy-could-collapse-in-months-says-financial-forecaster/


    *****

    In light of three Malaysia-based airplanes being mysteriously downed or disappearing in 2014, let's ask ourself if Malaysia has any spiteful, powerful enemies:

    Robert Fulford: Anti-Semitism without Jews in Malaysia
    http://ww2.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/10/06/robert-fulford-anti-semitism-without-jews-in-malaysia

    Globalist Jew, Zionist, rabid Russophobe, New York Times foreign correspondent Thomas L. Friedman went on a rant about longtime former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in his 1999 book "The Lexus and the Olive Tree". I read that book nearly a decade ago in school, the senseless Jew-tirade always stuck out in my mind. Note that Friedman's book equalized and criticized Armenian nationalism with Azeri nationalism,m and then thrashed it as supposedly the outdated cause for the Artsakh War (i.e. the outdated Olive Tree/blood and soil model of identity/values) while endlessly and senselessly inserting Israel-worshipping rhetoric in every unrelated chapter in his book (i.e. the supposedly wise/flawless/modern Jewish/globalist values as embodied in a Lexus vehicle). That book was pure crap:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahathir_Mohamad#Middle_East_and_remarks_about_Israel_and_Jews

    ReplyDelete
  72. AnonymousDecember 29, 2014 at 11:44 AM

    I notice in this circle jerk of russopholia you didn't bother to mention the downing of the Armenian helicopter by russian weapons. I'm glad to took out the name Armenia from the blog title and full on came out as what you are: a homoerotic fan of Putin that could care less about Russia, let alone Armenia. Stop pretending anything on this blog has anything to do with Armenia. Njdeh would have put you people on a wall and shot you one by one for your utter disgraceful behavior. There is a big gap between putting up with Russian relations because you understand their necessity and what you have here: a homoerotic worshiping of all things Russia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArevordiDecember 29, 2014 at 8:48 PM

      What?! You didn't call me a KGB agent, like idiots such as you tend to do? Well, I'm insulted.

      I normally don't post any comments that qualify as diarrhea of the mouth. But seeing that you have an exceptional case of the Russophobic runs, I have made the decision to post your less-than intelligent comments for all the readers to enjoy.

      With that said, the only homoerotic behavior I see is your perennial bending-over to Western officials in hopes that they may say the "G" word.

      At the end of the day, the kind of Armenian you represent (those who suffer from severe political illiteracy and a "Qaj Nazar" syndrome) is more of a threat to the Armenian state than Turks.

      God bless Mother Russia for without her not only would worthless asswipes like you be lamenting the Armenian Genocide and the loss of Western Armenia but also the destruction of the Armenia we have today...

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 30, 2014 at 3:30 AM

      Anonymous
      get to the point, otherwise your rant is more like hopeless try. most countries around us use Russian made weapons.
      Stop using helicopter shooting as a pretext to spill over Russophobia.

      Delete
    3. ArevordiDecember 30, 2014 at 4:30 AM

      TK,

      Don't look for any degree of rationale in their nonsense. They have an agenda and a mission to carry out regardless of how stupid it makes them sound. Makes you wonder: Do these people really believe the bullshit they spew? Which once again brings up the question: Are these people idiots or traitors?

      In my humble opinion they are mostly a mix of naive sheeple, arrogant simpletons and emotionally damaged individuals (e.g. homosexuals) led by a small but tight network of Western agents.

      Nevertheless, anonymous rather conveniently forgot to mention that US and British governments train Azeri snipers. Yes, those snipers who have been killing large numbers of Armenian soldiers on the border in recent years. Is anonymous ready to lay blame on Western governments for those deaths or will he instead blame the "Russian made bullets" Azeris use? Also, Israeli and Turkish governments have provided Baku with a wide array of military training as well as billions of dollars worth of sophisticated arms. Here are some news reports -

      American military contractors MPRI Inc is training Azeri marksmen: http://www.militaryindustrialcomplex.com/contract_detail.asp?contract_id=81

      US Naval Special Ops Demos Training in Azerbaijan: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=26294

      The Sunday Times: British special forces carried out secret trainings in Azerbaijan: http://www.panorama.am/en/society/2013/10/21/sunday-times/

      Azerbaijan Makes Massive Israeli Weapons: http://www.eurasianet.org/node/65053

      Is a US-Financed Azeri Satellite A Threat to Armenia’s Security?: http://asbarez.com/94756/is-a-us-financed-azeri-satellite-a-threat-to-armenia%E2%80%99s-security/

      Turkish Jets to Deliver American Nuclear Warheads, Report Says: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-given-possession-of-nuclear-warheads-report-says.aspx?pageID=238&nID=8220&NewsCatID=33

      Anyway, Azerbaijan is a former Soviet republic. Azerbaijan is located within Russia's traditional sphere of influence. Azerbaijan has normal relations with Moscow. Therefore, it’s natural that most of the arms Baku possesses will be of Soviet/Russian origin. And whether we like it or not, Azerbaijan is also a sovereign republic and it has the legal right to maintain a military. How it uses its acquired weapons is altogether another matter. More importantly, unlike our poor, little and blockaded nation in the south Caucasus, Azerbaijan has the petrodollars to purchase whatever it wants from whomever it wants. If Russians don’t sell arms to them, someone else will. Tactically speaking, I rather Azeris get their weapons from Russia –

      Russian expert: Armenia should be interested in Russian-Azeri arms deals: http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=DC40C210-47E2-11E4-980E0EB7C0D21663

      Besides, how can we complain about Russia cooperating with our enemies when we actively cooperate with NATO members (i.e. Russia's enemies)? At the end of the day, and regardless of what Russians sell to Azeris, had Moscow not been providing Armenia with modern yet affordable weaponry (often times at no cost) Armenia would have disappeared from the map of the south Caucasus a very long time ago.

      Delete
    4. AnonymousDecember 30, 2014 at 6:30 AM

      @Anonymous

      Homoeroetic circlejerk what? Only a gyot would come up with shit like this. Don't even pretend to speak of Njdeh.

      Arto

      Delete
    5. AnonymousDecember 30, 2014 at 6:48 AM

      Here is an analysis from the Noravank Institute in Armenia. I find their military/geo-political analysis usually very balanced and sane. Read the section that relates to geopolitical shifts in the coming decades and the possible scenarios for Armenia. The author quotes US think tanks in his analysis as well.

      Please look deeper at the geopolitical problem and try to understand what the undertone of this blog is before you have a knee-jerk emotional reaction.

      http://www.noravank.am/eng/articles/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=13060

      Arto2

      Delete
    6. AnonymousDecember 30, 2014 at 9:35 AM

      I'm the OP
      first off quit quickly jumping to your strawman portrayal of what you think anyone not ready to worship your dear leader is: some western funded activist wishing Armenia was more European. **** America and Europe as far I'm concerned. Nobody suggested that instead of getting on your knees for Putin, you should do the same for the west. Your entire argument for every god damn things is to derail the topic by saying oh so you suggest we go the homo jews of the west then huh? Can you even remotely demonstrate debating skills beyond that of a 5 year old for a few minutes. Is everything in your world about jews and gays? Not to be insulting, but with seeing how you feel the need to bring up the jews and gays every other minutes, and the homoerotic subpage dedicated to putin and his eyes, have you ever considered that maybe you people have a little bet of that homo jewishness in you?

      Second of all, can you stop with your mother Russia bull****. Really are you not embarrassed? Can you stop worshiping the slavs for one moment while you pretend to be Armenian? I would love to see what Monte or Njdeh would do when they saw you people praising your mother Russia.

      Finally, Russia has a right to sell weapons to whoever it wants, and **** Armenia over if its beneficial for it. However, if you people are at least going to be pretend your Armenian, you should stop worshiping it if it does. Because I have a right to attempt to oppose getting ****ed over when Russia tries. A lot of countries buy Russian weapons, but how many of them buy them to use against strategic partners of Russia? Second, I could care less what the god damn English or Jews sold to Azerbaijan. First of, they aren't a supposed ally of Armenia, and second of all, none of them produce and sell to Azerbaijan anything close to the S300PMU-2, BM-30 Smerch, or Mig29s. Since America doesn't sell Azerbaijan weapons, they couldn't buy anything close to the same capability if Russia wasn't selling them.

      You people are pathetic in that you are not Armenian. You worship your god damn slavic overlords like some uncle tom black republican. You don't support Russian-Armenian relations because they are currently a necessity, you support them because you love Russia as much or more than Armenia. You are a god damn embarrassment. You would all be with the same bunch of people who insisted Njdeh abandon Syunik and just surrender to the Soviets when they took over Yerevan because that was our best hope of negotiating.

      And please don't go on some racist rant about the jews about how the bolsheviks weren't Russians.. ya i head... this entire blog consists of the same general ideas over and over again:

      western funded
      gay liberal agenda
      cia funded
      us-anglo-jewish axis
      jews
      jews
      jews
      jews
      gays
      ngo
      gays
      jews
      gays
      sheeps
      mother Russia
      (if only I wasn't a nigger Armenian, and could be slavic)
      God bless Putin the gift from God, the reincarnation of Jesus Christ

      **** your Russia, **** America, and **** anyone of you cowards who would gladly sell Armenia back to the Russian Empire so you could feel a little more slavic

      Delete
    7. ArevordiDecember 30, 2014 at 7:30 PM

      Dear Anonymous,

      Ten years ago I would have found room in my heart to forgive the kind of stupidity you express. Today, after all we have see in places like Venezuela, Serbia, Greece, Ukraine, Libya, Egypt and Syria, I can only feel sorry for your sick little ass.

      On a spiritual level, you are one of the many little, filthy, self-absorbed lemmings of the whore of Babylon. You serve darkness. I will not even waste one moment discussing international relations, history, geopolitics or Russo-Armenian relations with an intellectual midget like you. Doing so would be like talking about the meaning to life to a fungal spore.

      Like all your ideological brethren, you sound like an angry idiot - with a serious case of Russophobia. Take that as a compliment because I could have called you a filthy traitor.

      And despite how you try to wrap your bullshit - and whether you realize it or not - you people are agents of destruction and your existence in Armenia only serves to benefit Turks and Western imperialists.

      A circle jerk of fagots (many of you are gays, open and otherwise), psychopaths, well meaning sheeple, ignorant adolescents and Western agents is exactly what you are. You people actually remind me of a weird religious cult: Freaks getting together and starting a circlejerk of fearmongering and hysteria. Feeding off each others fears, angers and ignorance. There is no sense is trying to explain to you how strange you all are.

      All I can say to you is thank God for Mother Russia. And if it ever came to choosing between your Armenia, an "independent" playground for Turks, Jews and Westerners, and an Armenia as a Russian oblast - I would pick Russian oblast EVERY single time.

      Now, please get lost. Your kind is not wanted in this blog.

      Delete
    8. AnonymousDecember 31, 2014 at 2:31 PM

      Amazing, I cannot recall the last time I saw an attempt to refute a premise crash and burn as badly as in OP's two comments. Not a shred of consistency or logic in anything he/she/it wrote. He has the audacity to claim Arevordi and the rest of us are "gay for Putin" based on the fact that we promote the Russian-Armenian strategic alliance on the sound principles on which that alliance was founded, and because we highlight Russia's exceptional and indispensable role in the world and President Putin's remarkable reign as leader of a resurrected Russia; and then he complains that our rebuttals were are "strawman augments." Trolling at its ugliest.

      I agree with Arevordi, this poster sounds very angry and emotional. He is most likely a defective individual, either a homosexual or some other freak and suffers from deep psychological issues. Deep down he knows that he is inferior, and he knows that in the traditional society we promote on this blog - healthy, Christian, traditional, NORMAL, Armenian, society - undesirable elements like him would not be tolerated. I wonder if "OP" here is actually Kevin Abrahamian, or some other faggot. It's this type of pathetic "useful idiot" that the west so expertly exploits when it wants to instigate riots or social decay in some part of the world. Luckily for Armenia, these Kevin Abrahamian types are limited in their destructive "activism" to the far away streets of West Hollywood or San Francisco's Castro District, where their effect on Armenia is insignificant.

      Apart from learning from this retard's example of how anger and emotional-tirades have no place in any respectable discussion, we can also glean some more details on how these "angry activist" types operate. I'm going to assume from his use of the phrase "OP" (original poster) that he frequents many online forums like Reddit and others. I've observed that on those threads, no matter what the issue, there is always the same psuedo-intelligent, English-speaking, college-indoctrinated crowd of cowards who are desperate to conform to the dominant ultraliberal current of those forums. Anytime they come across the truth, and it challenges the false reality/cocoon in which they live, they respond by first distorting the facts which they don't like until they have a senseless and illogical strawman argument to work with (e.g. "you're gay for Putin," "all you do is talk about Jews and how you think they control everything in the world," etc.) and then they attempt to engage in some snide, cynical diatribe about why the facts/data which scare them are supposedly incorrect, childish, and despicable. This circle-jerk behavior let's them feel better about themselves because it works in online forums, but reality is usually very cruel to these types.

      Delete
    9. AnonymousDecember 31, 2014 at 2:31 PM

      Here's some free advice asshole, stick to commenting on worthless ARF media websites that no one of even remote importance reads or gives a shit about. If you are looking for a receptive audience for your crap, stick to the local AYF or Armenian Students Association groups which are largely receptive to official positions that agents of the political west would like to impose on the Armenian diaspora. If you have any actual data to present here, then do it, otherwise no one fucking cares to listen to you PMS about "you guys are an embarrassment." And stop degrading Njteh's sacred legacy trying to score cheap, sophistic points for your baseless arguments. Njteh, a true patriot, gave his life trying to forge an alliance with the foreign partner which he thought had the most common interest with his vision of what was ideal for Armenia. Sadly for Njteh the Third Reich was defeated. But I am sure that if Njteh were alive today, he would be firmly in the camp of President Putin - the defender of the societal values that Njteh fought to preserve in Armenia.

      Ps lol at this idiots "I know that the Bolsheviks were Jews not Russians, but I don't like that fact so I will just cast it aside without addressing it." Troll, mixed with self-righteousness, mixed with an odd Zionist bend. Where the fuck do you people keep popping up from?

      Delete
    10. ArevordiDecember 31, 2014 at 7:42 PM

      Excellent rebuttal, Sarkis jan. Remain vigilant. The next few months will be pivotal. Again, let me remind you that Uncle Sam's whores in Armenia have been tasked with hijacking the up coming April 24 commemorations to advance their Turco-Western agenda in the country. Spread awareness.

      Delete
  73. SvediatsiDecember 29, 2014 at 8:40 PM

    Part 1 of 2

    More bullshit:

    ԵՏՄ-ն և Հայաստանի պաշտպանությունը
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jZleZGH9_o

    I didn't know about this NGO up until now, Union of "informed" citizens. More like Union from brainwashing Armenians and turning them against Russia. Here is a breakdown of their arguments followed by rebuttals:

    0:28-0:45 "We are forced to buy old and outdated Russian equipment. The S-300 PS is from 1982 (effective range 90 km), the tanks and artillery are also outdated"

    If there's one thing I have to insist is that if someone is talk about Armenia's military, they should at least understand what they're talking about and understand how military arming takes place. First of all, the S-300s that we get may be from 1982, but that doesn't mean anything. Russia, as well as the other big countries, always export their older models once they build newer models. But here's the thing. Russia gives us the Russian version of S-300 for free, while azerbaijan and other countries mainly get the export version. Same thing goes with the tanks and the "artillery" (I laughed at 0:45 because what they're showing is not artillery, but S-125 surface to air missiles. That shows how intelligent they are in the military).

    Although we have T-72 tanks and azeris have T-90s, ours are upgraded and Russian version, while the azeris' are export version which is the equivalent of a regular T-72. Moving on...

    1:08-1:38 "When we enter the Eurasian Union, we will have to pay 18-20% to the EEU when buying weapons from non-EEU countries. That means we're FORCED to buy Russian weapons, regardless of their quality, quantity and date of production. Boo hoo"

    Like in every organization, each country has its rights and its obligations. What we're getting instead of this 20% tax story is a better economy in general, more security, more high quality weapons at even cheaper prices, more financial stability, more of everything. Also, NATO member countries are discouraged/not allowed to buy Russian weapons. But that seems to be fair, right?... These guys seriously believe that NATO will give us weapons soo powerful that we will obliterate azerbaijan in an hour? Or is all this part of the manipulation?!

    1:40-2:38 "Countries such as the USA, France, Britain, Germany, and other super high-developed "civilized" countries REFUSE selling weapons to azerbaijan, while Russia is giving this many thousand tanks, this many million missiles, anti-air S300 "Favorit" (effective range 200 km) and is the only country which is selling azerbaijan offensive weapons, etc. etc. etc."

    This is the "meat and potatoes" part of this bullshit video. Western countries REFUSE selling weapons to azerbaijan?! Yeah, and turkey is going to give our lands back in 2015... Compared to the "modern" Russian offensive weapons (which in reality are also mostly from Soviet times), azeris have the latest British, American, German and of course turkish and weaponry in their arsenal. So now tell me, what is better to have for our enemy? Modern or outdated weapons?!

    About the S300 Favorit. I don't care if the effective range is 200, 20 or 2000 kilometers, the fact of the matter is those are useless against Armenia because our Armed Forces do not rely on the air force as much as the azeris rely on theirs. The SU-25s play a secondary role and may not take part in decisive combat zones in case of war.

    ReplyDelete
  74. SvediatsiDecember 29, 2014 at 8:41 PM

    Part 2 of 2

    2:40-3:36 "It's clear that the Russian base in Gyumri is not there to protect us from azerbaijan, because Russia is selling weapons to azerbaijan, but let us look this in another context. According to the 1994 Budapest agreement, Russia takes the role to protect Ukraine, but that didn't stop Russia from invading Ukraine and using its Ukrainian bases against the people of Ukraine"

    And this section gentlemen I guess we can call it the cherry on top. So according the "informed citizens", Russia is going to use its base to kill the Armenian population. So Russia "invaded" the Ukraine... did the Ukraine remain trusty towards Russia? ... Did the Ukrainian people accept Russia's protection or did everything to get rid of it? ... Did the Ukrainian government treat its citizens of Russian origin well? Especially in 2014?!

    As for the Gyumri base, let me inform to the uninformed citizens that if it weren't for that base, Armenian Genocide 2.0 would have taken place and completed long ago by turkey and azerbaijan, one nation two-states hand-in-hand.

    Anyways, I wish everyone a Happy New Year and a Merry Armenian Christmas. Regardless of what the traitors are trying to do, they will fail. 2015 will prove to be an interesting year for Armenia. A new era begins. A Eurasian era.

    In our case, let the few remaining genuine Armenian patriots succeed in their lives and contribute to their Homeland. Let our numbers grow and hopefully in the near future, let us raise a new generation of rational nationalistic Armenians who cherish their culture and their homeland. No worries, let our people cry the coming year on April 24. We know better. We know what we need to do in order to go forward. Only after building our current Armenia will we be able to plan our ultimate goal: The Liberation of Western Armenia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArevordiDecember 30, 2014 at 3:34 AM

      Thank you for bringing this group to my attention. I will add them to my ever growing list of Western led subversives operating within Armenian society. Thank you for your spot-on commentary. I couldn't have said it better myself. And thank you for your wishes. I fully share you feelings and I, likewise, would like to wish you the best in all your endeavors. Never keep your eyes off of the homeland. Good or bad, that is the only piece of real estate we have. We therefore have an obligation toward it. And never forget that the road to Western Armenia starts in the Armenia we have today.

      PS: 2015 will definitely be a pivotal year for Armenia. Western led extremists in the country are preparing for a showdown on April 24. As silly as this may sound, Preparliament extremists will actually attempt a regime change on the 100-th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Please spread awareness.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 31, 2014 at 2:46 PM

      Good job Svediatsi. I firmly believe these point-by-point rebuttals are the best way to counter NGO agitprop. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your response to this. Honestly these people are trash, uninformed idiots posing as "experts". The attack on the Gyumri base is ridiculous; didn't diplomats from NATO states France and Greece verify that in 1993 that base prevented the Armenian Genocide 2.0? As for 1980s Russian weapons, first off 1980s weapons are sufficient for Armenia's needs, and relatively modern for a state of Armenia's position and limited resources. Hell the bulk of Turkish tanks and artillery are 1950s and 1960s American surplus (e.g. Patton tanks, F4-Phantoms, their howitzers, ect. see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_equipment_of_the_Turkish_Land_Forces). In 2008 the mighty Russian Army crushed Saakashvili's invasion forces using older tanks than Armenia currently posses. Not that tanks are in any way dispositive in a mountainous area like Artsakh. And in any case noone is "forcing" Armenia to buy Russian weapons, but I doubt any western countries are interested in selling Armenia any Abrams, Leclercs, or Leopards, or Challengers, much less at a discounted price. Armchair generals have no business stirring up hysterical fears. These useless idiots exemplify why NGO's need to be heavily regulated if not outright banned - fortunately from Russia to Egypt there is an emerging movement to do just that and shut down fifth-column, foreign-funded NGOs.

      Delete
  75. AnonymousDecember 30, 2014 at 2:57 AM

    Important interview

    http://www.noravank.am/arm/articles/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=13053

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArevordiDecember 30, 2014 at 8:07 PM

      Noravank and Voskanapat are the only two think tanks in Armenia that deserve respect. I was glad that the interview's theme was largely in-line with this blog's theme.

      Delete
  76. AnonymousDecember 30, 2014 at 6:53 PM

    Rip roaring laughter when one is confronted with sweeping, outrageous claims of a ready to burst in the streets putsch against the government, around the April frame time to coincide with the centenary remembrances. These gansgsters must be a bevy of lobotomized zombies if they even think they would be able to come out into the streets. If this story is true, it supports the theory that their potential behaviour is reminiscent of the feverish outbursts of a paralytic or the delirious shout of chronic drunkards. Assuming that this conspiratorial fable was credible , it would also presume that the security forces of the government have the CV of each of the leadership, monitoring their movements and tracking their societal and political transactions. The security organs of the government would also have ample dossiers on the " foot soldiers and the shock troops of merry go around putchists". The government should not wait, but move over on the offensive and grab the whole pack of sewer rats and exile them to wherever they wish to do. It would be unfair to the average tax payer to foot the bill to keep these traitors in jail. On th other hand we do not have to be surprised , even though the story might be apocryphal , that such absurdities can be contemplated in Armenia; after all the monster hegemon JudenUSA has the largest embassy compound in the region. Why would the hegemon construct the largest embassy compound in landlocked Armenia? What is the " diplomatic" staff and teams lodged in the compound spend their time on ? Espionage, funding of NGO thugs and other subversive internationalist organizations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArevordiDecember 30, 2014 at 7:53 PM

      Anonymous (December 30, 2014 at 10:53 AM)

      As surreal as it may sound, it's very true. A group of Western led nutjobs calling themselves Preparliament are planning on highjacking the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide by trying to topple the government - by the use of arms if need be. Although it sounds like a satirical comedy, a violent coup is actually what they are going to attempt on April 24.

      Not many Armenians know about this agenda. So, please spread awareness.

      The Western led political opposition in Armenia are psychologically/emotionally sick people. You cant reason with them. You can't understand them. Didn't we watch, as their ideological brethren in Serbia, Ukraine, Libya and Syria destroy their homelands? It's our nutjob's turn now. Uncle Sam has called them to his lair and told them they either do this or their funding, that which many of them live off, will be cut off.

      They have a sense of superiority and mission because they think they will save Armenia - from monsters that exist in their heads.

      Like I told the anonymous American-Armenian opposition activist above, the Western led political opposition in Armenia are agents of destruction and their existence only serves to benefit Turks and Western imperialists. They are a circle jerk of fagots (many of them are gays, open and otherwise), psychopaths, well meaning sheeple, ignorant adolescents and Western agents. They remind me of a weird religious cult: Freaks getting together and starting a circlejerk of fearmongering and hysteria. Feeding off each others fears, angers and ignorance.

      The last thing Armenia needs right now is bad PR, especially on April 24. If they do go through with their promise and try something, it will at the very least be a good show. I hope to see police brutality.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 31, 2014 at 1:14 AM

      American agents have cried wolf for one last time. If they goahead and try to pull some shit on April 24 I also hope to see some police brutality ala American style! LOL

      They are traitors and cowards for using April 24 as a cover for their actions. They think the government wont do anything on that day because of press coverage. Maybe they also think that by going to the streets and mixing with the mourners that day it will make their numbers look big. Disgusting.

      Arto1

      Delete
    3. AnonymousDecember 31, 2014 at 2:39 PM

      Guys I doubt that bloodshed will occur or even be necessary. Coup d'etats carried out in the CIS and middle east have only succeeded where large crowds have been organized, incited, and mobilized. That ship sailed in Armenia in March 2008. We saw how quickly raffi hovannisian's "barevolution" fizzled out. And at least raffy could claim that he was genuinely popular in some regions - who the hell would follow the Preparliament clowns into another series of protests. It's not even election season. This is a hail mary play by the west, but it's too little too late to salvage their influence inside Armenia. By the time this crap is scheduled, Armenia will have been safely in the Eurasian Union for four months. I'd be shocked if these idiots got as much attention as that shant haroutunyan terrorist who blew up a small bomb in one of Yerevan's squares before he was apprehended by Armenia's security bodies. I suspect, and hope, that April 24 will be as smooth and uneventful as the 2013 Presidential election (the powers that be even resorted to shooting paruyr hayrikyan when it was clear that all was calm in Armenia, and even that did not escalate tensions in any meaningful way.

      Delete
  77. AnonymousDecember 31, 2014 at 7:24 AM

    Impressive article

    Making Enemies America Can't Afford: Congress Votes More Sanctions on Russia: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/doug-bandow/making-enemies-america-ca_b_6394300.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

    ReplyDelete
  78. skharaDecember 31, 2014 at 6:25 PM

    Hello all, I've been absent for some time. Was in Russia and Armenia this summer. In Russia i was in Rostov during the heat of the war in the Donbass. The city itself enjoyed a peaceful life, people were out everwhere in markets on the streets and it felt very very safe (other than vehicle traffic where Russians seems to be driving worse these days than Armenians).


    Russia for sure will have a difficult year in 2015, but I agree with everything written by Arevordi in this entry.

    I listen to this called Pyakin who talks much of global geopolitics and the struggle of the elites. The differentiates global elites from the national elites. The global elites according to him are working on the removal of the American empire as they no longer need it. The American national elites are obviously fighting tooth and nail.

    He also had something interesting to say about the Global elite's attitude towards Russia. On the one hand they want to contain Russia and interfere with its advancement (they don't want a powerful entity outside of their control), on the other hand they need Russia and specifically Putin to solve many of the global problems for them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArevordiJanuary 1, 2015 at 12:16 AM

      Welcome back Skhara. I was wondering where you were.

      In a nutshell: The "Global elite" (primarily wealthy Jews, multinational mega corporations and old money) are those behind the worldwide push for globalization and liberalism. They are the ones behind secret societies like the Freemasons; they are behind major think tanks like the CFR; they are the ones pushing the Global Warming agenda; they are the ones pushing for the sprea dof GMOs; they are the ones pushing vaccinations; they are the ones pushing homosexuality; they are the ones pushing interracialism and multiculturalism; they are the ones behind elite gatherings like the Bilderbergs; they are the ones that ultimately fund all Soros-type democracy and civil society movements around the world. They are the shadow government, they are the state within the state. They ultimately hope to eradicate all forms of nationalism (primarily European) and religion (primarily Christianity). They therefore have targeted not only developing nations around the world but also Western nations. The West, the Anglo-American world where they mostly live in, has actually been one of their very first victims. The Western political establishment today is a hostage/slave to this Global elite. There may seem to be some push back from nationalist and conservative types from time to time, but the Globalist elite is gradually gaining total control over Western society. It's therefore futile to hope that the West will turn around. Unless we see a miracle of sorts, Western nations will be a total lose. The West has actually become the powerful vehicle upon which the Globalist elite are spreading their agenda worldwide. Simply put: Washington DC and American society is under foreign occupation. Trying to break free of this almost total control they have over American society will surely kill the US. The US is their playground. Russia (and to a lesser extent China) is the only obstacle the Globalist elite have in the world today.

      Paykin's assessment is accurate. They don't want Russia totally gone. A total Russian fall will create uncontrollable geopolitical chaos and a vacuum for others to expand into. They simply want Russia weaker, smaller, poorer and but most important of all - under their control.

      PS: Please share with us your observations/impressions from your trip.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJanuary 1, 2015 at 2:43 AM

      Arevordi,

      The way you describe the globalist elite actually makes a lot of sense for me. All the dependencies in traditional US vs. globalist Armenian makes sense when looking at it this way. I am glad you made the distinction about traditional America and occupied modern America.

      Happy new year to you and your family.

      Arto

      Delete
    3. ArevordiJanuary 1, 2015 at 3:17 AM

      I am not making a judgement but all the liberal/left wing values you see propagating throughout the US (e.g. Global warming, interracialism, multiculturalism, feminism, gun control, ecumenicism, homosexual rights, civil society, anti-establishment movements, abortion rights, minority rights, etc) is a by-product of the Western globalist elite.

      This is not a "Democrat versus Republican" or "Left versus Right" matter because both sides of the political fence in Washington are fully in the pocket's of the Globalist elite. The only sector of American society that is doing its best to maintain its traditional independence are genuine libertarians in America's white/Christian heartland (areas traditionally inhabited by Germanic peoples). These are the people currently in their sights. The Globalist elite will be using gun control legislation to systematically curb dissent in the American heartland.

      Traditional America began gradually disappearing during the 1960s and the 1970s. The modern multiethnic cesspool that American society has been turned into (with the active help from the music, cinema and television industry) is a by-product of the Globalist elite's agenda for the US - and for the entire world: They truly have an agenda that is global in nature: To remake man into one big mongrelized mass of Godless, nation-less, family-less, culture-less, ethic-less and mind-less animals blindly working and fighting for them. They want man to replace God, family and country with consumerism, self-gratification and entertainment.

      I am not trying to be an apologist for the "traditional America" but the Globalist elite is a far more dangerous entity because they not only threaten mankind with physical destruction but also with spiritual destruction.

      Delete
  79. ArevordiJanuary 1, 2015 at 3:25 AM

    Շնորհավոր Նոր Դարի և Սուրբ Ծնունդ

    Լավագույն մաղթանքներս ձեզ և ձեր ընտանիքներին: Թող գալիք տարին բերի մեր երկրին խաղաղութիւն եւ աննախադեպ նվաճումներ:

    Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year to all.

    Let us all pray for peace in the world.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJanuary 1, 2015 at 4:03 AM

      Best wishes to everyone for New Year. Health, happiness and success.

      Thanks for everything Arevordi, we had a lot going on in 2014 and your blog certainly keeps us informed and together. Looking forward to better year for Armenia and Russia.

      T.K.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJanuary 1, 2015 at 7:14 AM

      Happy new year and merry Armenian Christmas to all fellow Arevordis (Arm: children of the sun). Thank you Arevordi for the time you put in this blog. I don't comment much but I regularly check in to see what's going on. You are making a difference.

      Arto1

      Delete
  80. JerrikoJanuary 1, 2015 at 7:27 AM

    2015 will definitely be a pivotal year, though I suspect that the next three years will define the future of the world. The upcoming 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide (though Armenian Holocaust would be more appropriate since it was technically the first 'Holocaust' of the 20th century). I may be among the non-Armenians who contribute to this blog, but rest assure that I am not a brainwashed zombie with a sad case of Russophobia. That is not what I want to say at all.

    On RT, there was something that caught my attention and it was basically a group of Russian quislings who tried to pull off a 'Maidan' in Moscow called "Euromanezhna", and the horrifying part of this thing is that the transgendered person Conchita Wurst even called for such a 'revolution' since the ones behind this protest would assume that Russia doesn't like gays. Thankfully there were counter-protestors who opposed a 'Maidan in Moscow'.

    On the other hand, I don't know if this is just a political satire or not, but this article actually highlights the Jewish role in the Ukraine crisis and its unlikely links to the events in the West Bank and Gaza.

    http://www.texemarrs.com/082014/serpent_people_return.htm

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArevordiJanuary 1, 2015 at 8:21 AM

      The Jewish role in the Ukraine crisis is very discernible. Many of the main players in Kiev are of Jewish extraction. Yes, the next years will be a very important year in global affairs. I pray for peace on earth. Happy and healthy new year to you and your family Jerriko.

      PS: We are ideological brothers. You are one of us.

      Delete
    2. JerrikoJanuary 1, 2015 at 8:34 AM

      Thank you, Arevordi. I just wish my original homeland would be more wary of the upcoming conflicts ahead. After all, the Philippines is pretty much a front line in the potential conflict against China.

      I also notice on other boards that the liberal losers that I encounter often call those who support 'authoritarian' regimes as 'tankies' simply because we happen to oppose US actions while they accuse us of being apologists for such brutal dictators.

      Delete
    3. Romanian AnonymusJanuary 2, 2015 at 3:25 AM

      @Jerriko,

      "The Ukraine Solution: Two Jewish Homelands". The caption says it all. The plan was concocted before WWI and was one of the hidden causes of its outbreak. The target was Russia, slated for dismemberment since then.
      RomAn

      Delete
  81. AnonymousJanuary 1, 2015 at 10:48 PM

    Washington's revolving door with the Azerbaijan leadership. The US ambassador in Yerevan needs to be called to task on this instead of having his meaningless Christmas/New Year speech publicized.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/till-bruckner/who-is-shushing-state-on-_b_6354866.html

    Arto2

    ReplyDelete
  82. ZoravarJanuary 2, 2015 at 1:09 AM

    My wish for 2015 is for it to become the year of victory.

    Something interesting I came across:

    http://www.veteranstoday.com/2014/12/13/historic-speech-in-damascus-sends-shockwaves-around-the-world/

    ReplyDelete
  83. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2015 at 1:09 AM

    https://hereandnow.wbur.org/2015/01/01/eurasian-economic-union

    Merry Christmas and happy new year to all.

    Longtime reader

    ReplyDelete

Dear reader,

New blog commentaries will henceforth be posted on an irregular basis. The comment board however will continue to be moderated on a regular basis. You are therefore welcome to post your comments and ideas.

I have come to see the Russian nation as the last front on earth against the scourges of Westernization, Americanization, Globalism, Zionism, Islamic extremism and pan-Turkism. I have also come to see Russia as the last hope humanity has for the preservation of classical western/European civilization, ethnic cultures, Apostolic Christianity and the concept of traditional nation-state. Needless to say, an alliance with Russia is Armenia's only hope for survival in a dangerous place like the south Caucasus. These sobering realizations compelled me to create this blog in 2010. This blog quickly became one of the very few voices in the vastness of Cyberia that dared to preach about the dangers of Globalism and the Anglo-American-Jewish alliance, and the only voice emphasizing the crucial importance of Armenia's close ties to the Russian nation. Today, no man and no political party is capable of driving a wedge between Armenia and Russia. Anglo-American-Jewish and Turkish agenda in Armenia will not succeed. I feel satisfied knowing that at least on a subatomic level I have had a hand in this outcome.

To limit clutter in the comments section, I kindly ask all participants of this blog to please keep comments coherent and strictly relevant to the featured topic of discussion. Moreover, please realize that when there are several "anonymous" visitors posting comments simultaneously, it becomes very confusing (not to mention annoying) trying to figure out who is who and who said what. Therefore, if you are here to engage in conversation, make an observation, express an idea or simply insult me, I ask you to at least use a moniker to identify yourself. Moreover, please appreciate the fact that I have put an enormous amount of information into this blog. In my opinion, most of my blog commentaries and articles, some going back ten-plus years, are in varying degrees relevant to this day and will remain so for a long time to come. Commentaries and articles found in this blog can therefore be revisited by longtime readers and new comers alike. I therefore ask the reader to treat this blog as a historical record and a depository of important information relating to Eurasian geopolitics, Russian-Armenian relations and humanity's historic fight against the evils of Globalism and Westernization.

Thank you as always for reading.

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