tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post5834470359390873782..comments2024-03-28T04:09:32.493+03:00Comments on Heralding the Rise of Russia: Raffi shows Putin who's boss - March, 2013Arevordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926782646398360125noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-76451034440733393302013-04-05T08:59:11.834+04:002013-04-05T08:59:11.834+04:00http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/139090/yuri...http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/139090/yuri-m-zhukov/cyprus-and-russia-did-not-just-break-up?cid=nlc-this_week_on_foreignaffairs_co-040413-cyprus_and_russia_did_not_just_3-040413<br /><br />Link to a good article on Russia and Cyprus.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-67477816480351679032013-04-02T05:57:19.947+04:002013-04-02T05:57:19.947+04:00Turkish leaders actually had the audacity to accus...Turkish leaders actually had the audacity to accuse China of committing "genocide" against the Uighyrs. Amazing how tough the turks are when they think they can hide behind America, combined with their own delusions of grandeur! They have also accused the US of genocide in Iraq and israel against the Palestinians. <br /><br />Every time I see Erdogan and Co. say something provocative against a major power like Russia, China or the US (even though the US on the surface seems willing to tolerate just about anything from Ankara), I get filled with a special joy. They say hubris is a dangerous thing, and the turks have it in abundance.<br /><br />Their recent high point has been stumbling around in Syria. They had that F-86 shot down, threatened all hell would break loose, and then all of a sudden backed down and dropped the topic, much like the Pantsir missile dropped their aging, second-hand American aircraft. Then they grounded those Russian and Armenian aircraft on route to Syria "for inspections". I can't think of a better way to anger the Russians. Bear-baiting by neo-ottoman wannabes will not end well for turkey. As Arevordi has stated, turkey seems to be confidant that any confrontation with Russia will result in a Crimean War situation, where the west saved turkey, but little do they know they are setting themselves up for a new Sarikamish with miscalculations of Saakashvili proportions.<br /><br />And as everybody stated, we hope Armenia's leaders have plans to exploit all of these missteps. It's a damn crime that our President has to deal with childish imbeciles protesting on the streets, and self-hating peasantry and traitors like Serj Tankian and Raffi "I lost 65 lbs by going on several hunger strike while pretending I give a damn about Armenia or its people" Hovannisian.<br /><br />PS Skhara I agree with you. I find sites like that useful in keeping on prespective on how productive and creative Armenians have been in the past and as a reminder that we can make our own country bloom as well. It's just interesting Armenian trivia, like knowing the jewel-encrusted throne of the Russian Tsars (now at the Hermitage museum) was a gift from Armenian merchants. Too bad so little effort had been put in the past into developing the territory we managed to hang onto today. Your attachment to Artsakh is commendable. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-72106700074787034562013-04-02T01:39:27.770+04:002013-04-02T01:39:27.770+04:00I am very much disappointed from Raffi Hovannisian...I am very much disappointed from Raffi Hovannisian. Raffi should be reminded that there is no country in this world with 100% fair and free election. Also, it took US, England, France and many other developed countries 100’s of years to be where they are. Do not expect a small country surrounded by enemies, no natural resources and only 22 years of independence to have 100% fair and free election. Election was not fair! Who cares! Serzh Sarkisian is going to be out of office in 5 years anyway. Instead of asking people to stop work to gather around and listen to him, Raffi should encourage people to work hard and work more to advance our country. Germans and Japanese are working hard making progress every day, India and China are taking over the world and Armenians are protesting some stupid election results that were fairer than elections in many other countries in this world. We are busy protesting, guess who is celebrating? Turks and Azeri’s for what Raffi is doing.<br /><br />Georgek AnjargolianAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-84096467994294491162013-04-01T07:59:13.563+04:002013-04-01T07:59:13.563+04:00@Sarkis86
The Xin Jiang problem in China is a gre...@Sarkis86<br /><br />The Xin Jiang problem in China is a great opportunity for Armenia I think. Not only the US but also Turkish Intelligence and Grey Wolves are playing a large part in causing Turkic nationalism to increase in this mineral rich part of China. Armenia provides a necessary buffer preventing Ankara from having a direct land link to Xin Jiang via Turkic populated states and China knows this. All the more reason for the Chinese to prefer a North-South transportation link from the Persian Gulf to Russia via Armenia-Georgia over the Baku-Tiflis-Turkey line, thus weakening the Turkish influence in the Caucuses and beyond. Not sure if the Armenian government has caught on to this yet or whether they have tried milking this issue to its fullest.<br /><br />Arto#2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-23151516442046307582013-04-01T00:36:58.125+04:002013-04-01T00:36:58.125+04:00@Sarkis,
I believe I have come across that sight b...@Sarkis,<br />I believe I have come across that sight before at a Russian-language “Kavkaz” forum. To be honest, I don’t spend a lot of time at sites like that. There is another one dedicated to Sumgait if I recall correctly. I think as projects, they are only useful if in some-way they aid Armenian national interests, otherwise I don’t like to dwell on the genocide and pogroms. I don’t like Armenian people being indoctrinated in a “victim-mentality”. The sooner Armenian people realize that global geo-politics is a jungle, the better. Armenians will not get anywhere quoting human rights, history, or what-not, our enemies and the global giants don’t care. History should be used in the context of “we take what’s ours when we can”. Yes Baku was hell, in fact, I have some very vivid memories of some very dangerous moments. It was also at a time when I was a very young child and was very irritated with my parents that they would not let us (me and my brother) go play outside, grab us out of school before gym class -- I actually never got step outside except next to one of my parents in areas that were guarded by soldiers, like bus stations or the metro stations. The adults in my family saw the writing on the wall and knew that we had to get out, we sold off our property at, at most 75% of the actual value, but got out in time and were able to make plans. This happened in 1989, of course Armenian families who stayed until that massive pogrom in 1990 ended up losing everything. I have absolutely 0 attachment to Baku, my greatest attachment is to Artsakh. When it comes to dealing with Azeris, I am way passed my younger emotional reactions to them, but rather view everything with a very cool head in the context of interest and the surrounding geo-political interests. <br /><br />skharaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-62595530066943988942013-03-31T14:15:31.854+04:002013-03-31T14:15:31.854+04:00Washington Promotes Islamism and Political Destabi...<b>Washington Promotes Islamism and Political Destabilization in Xinjiang Uygur, China’s Oil and Gas Rich Region</b><br /><br />http://www.globalresearch.ca/us-promotes-islamism-and-political-destabilization-in-xinjiang-chinas-oil-and-gas-rich-province/5329016<br /><br />Yet again, we see the west attempting to undermine a competitor, in this case China, via its favorite proxy - muslim turkic people. I wish more Armenians would realize that if the US will use turks to antagonize a gigantic power like China, they wouldn't think twice about sacrificing insignificant and often troublesome little Armenia in order to preserve their pawns in Ankara, who are much more valuable than the Uighurs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-67078242402860008662013-03-31T05:40:53.080+04:002013-03-31T05:40:53.080+04:00@Skhara
Arevordi actually sent me the link to the...@Skhara<br /><br />Arevordi actually sent me the link to the older version of this blog on HyeClub a while back. I read through it and I noticed it was you and Arevordi carryied that thread for the first 40 or so pages of the 200 pages it had. It's good seeing patriots carrying on a long term friendship, even an online one.<br /><br />Baku must have been hell when the anti-Armenian pogroms broke out. Have you seen http://www.baku.am/, it's a history of Armenians in Baku.<br /><br />@Jerriko Magpantay<br /><br />I was just speculating about Cyprus, it seems like a possibility <b>if</b> Syria holds and the EU continues its punishing treatment of Cyprus.<br /><br />Hypothetically, if Russia can turn the tide today as it did during World War II, then it should have no trouble reestablishing dominance over Eastern European satellites. The west, however, would likely resort to extreme panic actions before that happens. It's geopolitical chess yet again, and the atmosphere of sociopolitical extremism, military mobilization and increasing confrontations are reminiscent of the antebellum periods of the twentieth century. Also factor in tensions in East Asia and intrigue in Latin America and the Arab World.<br /><br />It's hard to tell what may happen. As for the "turkish republic of northern cyprus", it is a temporary aberration, a privilege america gave nato member turkey over less important nato member greece. It serves mainly as a demonstration of the fate that befalls any Orthodox Christian country that throws its lot in with the western globalists, as the Greeks have done. TRNC will be crushed, as the Mongol, Seljuk and Ottoman states collapsed before it.<br /><br />As for Serbia negotiating with "Kosovo", I see it as similar to Armenia negotiating with azerbaijan... Basically it is done to ease pressure for the time being until war breaks out again and the question of these islamic tools of the west are resolved once and for all. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-53625336338732083142013-03-30T22:48:15.755+04:002013-03-30T22:48:15.755+04:00Could the Balkans be affected if Cyprus falls into...Could the Balkans be affected if Cyprus falls into the Russian sphere of influence? There's also the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' to consider and not to mention the fact that Serbia is forced to hold talks with the false state of 'Kosovo'. Jerrikohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07519536290198165291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-6919175322387854392013-03-30T21:53:18.682+04:002013-03-30T21:53:18.682+04:00@Skhara
I liked your analysis. It helped me under...@Skhara<br /><br />I liked your analysis. It helped me understand many things regarding the Syrian conflict, this part was enlightening: <br /><br />"But they’ve adopted by the end of 2012 and changed strategies by not trying to hold on to and control every piece of real-estate – instead fortifying certain parts of the country, killing the enemy tactically where the enemy holds territory and only move to re-conquer territory if there were enough militia to occupy once army leaves. This strategy netted the SAA and pro-government militia a string of victories first in late January to early February, and just recently in the last couple of weeks – the ratio of losses is staggering in favor of the SAA/government militia."<br /><br />I say this because it seemed to me that Aleppo had started to fall under the rebels' hands. But now that you mention the SAA's strategy, the image is clearer now: the Army in Aleppo is concentrating on preserving the most important parts: The Airport, the University, Military Academy, Police Stations etc. You are right that this is putting the Syrian Army on the advantage. But taking into consideration the unlimited support the rebels are getting, don't you think this will bring to a stalemate in the long run? As much as I would love to see the conflict end in favor of Assad, It doesn't seem to be the case. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-20836132046317767802013-03-30T06:05:41.083+04:002013-03-30T06:05:41.083+04:00@Svedia:
I think Auon's statement about "...@Svedia:<br />I think Auon's statement about "WW3" is rooted in context of escalation. Petro-Arabs, Zionists, and western imperialists are obsessed with "Assad" over his regime's alignment with Tehran. So they've been escalating since beginning of the Syria crisis in 2011. It started off with destabilization and psy-ops: 3rd party "snipers" shooting riot police and demonstrators, propaganda and bribes were used in the context of "Assad" allegedly shooting "peaceful demonstrators" to elicit sedition. They were trying to destroy the regime with defections of army and regime personnel initially with the collaboration of Syria's "Muslim brotherhood". But this effort failed to make enough of an impact with the regime and military only “trimming the fat” (getting rid of those who were corruptible and prone to sedition in the first place) so to speak while pretty much holding. Next they thought they could launch a military invasion of jihadis and conquer cities. They did this by infiltration and made some headway in the first part of 2012. The SAA were taken aback and making many blunders given their inexperience with such warfare. But they’ve adopted by the end of 2012 and changed strategies by not trying to hold on to and control every piece of real-estate – instead fortifying certain parts of the country, killing the enemy tactically where the enemy holds territory and only move to re-conquer territory if there were enough militia to occupy once army leaves. This strategy netted the SAA and pro-government militia a string of victories first in late January to early February, and just recently in the last couple of weeks – the ratio of losses is staggering in favor of the SAA/government militia. Now it appears that the enemies of Syria by way of their petro-arab and turk proxies are going from covert support to over support. So one has to wonder when the forces arrayed against Syria are going to admit defeat and back off? All evidence points to the fact that the absolute majority of the Syrian nationals have rallied around the army – so what are they going to do? Do they plan to do a wholesale genocide of Syrians to get Assad? From where I sit, its either that or they back off and wallow in humiliating defeat all the while Iran scores another major geo-strategic victory in Iran’s string of victories starting with Iran-friendly Shia’s taking over Iraq, Hezbollah cleaning the Zionists clock in 2006… and now Syria? Will the petro-Arabs accept their humiliation once again, or will they continue to escalate to the point of all-out invasion? In which case Assad is after all armed with WMDs, Iskanders, and a very significant stockpile of scuds.<br /><br />@Sarkis<br />I agree Cyprus could be the weak point that Russia exploits to expand shop in the Eastern Med. Russia’s naval command already stated that they like the weather in the Eastern med and plan to establish permanent presence there. The nick is just run-on initials. Arevordi and I go way back in the virtual world where I used the same moniker, so I signed my posting that way so he recognized me :). I am not from Georgia, was born in Baku.<br />---------------------------------------------------<br />skhara<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-17458252753142129262013-03-29T09:14:32.892+04:002013-03-29T09:14:32.892+04:00Thanks Skhara, I agree it seems like military post...Thanks Skhara, I agree it seems like military posturing and preparation ahead of a major conflict. The west keeps upping the ante, Russia and its partners keep checking them and the west is becoming increasingly reckless. I remember NATO moving warships into the Black Sea during August 2008 as a show of strength and support for saakashvili... I don't think President Putin has forgotten or forgiven.<br /><br />After reasserting itself in the South Caucasus, Russia has done well challenging the west in their former colony of Syria. If Russia can crush the foreign-funded Syrian rebels and essentially declare Syria as a Russian protectorate and base, then Russia is in an unprecedented situation to spread its influence in the Mediterranean and Middle East.<br /><br />A possibility: A huge opportunity would then open up for Russia to use it's "soft power" (ie economic resources) to sway Cyprus into the Russian sphere. Cyprus is NOT an official NATO member, and the thought of Russian aid against their turkish occupiers may compel Cypriot officials to act, and especially more so given that the EU is currently robbing them into poverty. Then there's the question of the British base on the island...<br /><br />Hypothetically, should Russia take Cyprus, turkey will be surrounded on three sides by the Bear; Russia would secure another friendly warm-water port in the Mediterranean; and the pariah state of israel would find itself squeezed and more isolated. The EU and NATO would panic, as it is not too difficult to imagine Cyprus ushering in a domino effect of Russian penetration into Europe starting south from Europe's economic whipping boy Greece.<br /><br />BTW that's an interesting username. Are you from Georgia?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-40801136854397413912013-03-29T07:47:24.484+04:002013-03-29T07:47:24.484+04:00@Skhara
Michel Aoun a Lebanese Maronite hopes to ...@Skhara<br /><br />Michel Aoun a Lebanese Maronite hopes to become next president of Lebanon, and there are general elections taking place this year. He is pro-Assad currently, while in the past he fought against the Syrian Army, when he was supreme commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces. Although I agree with him that Assad is not about to fall anytime soon, I don't take quite seriously when he talks about WW3. Many Lebanese officials from both sides predict many major political changes, while their power in major geopolitics is not big enough to know whether WW3 would happen or not. Lebanese political forces are merely pawns, and the smallest of them. So I personally wouldn't take Aoun's, or his opponents' opinions too seriously. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-83479650699556381632013-03-29T05:17:29.369+04:002013-03-29T05:17:29.369+04:00Sarkis, I believe these wargames are connected to ...Sarkis, I believe these wargames are connected to the freak show taking place at the "Arab League Summit" over Syria. They basically threw down a gauntlet of open warfare and total military solution. The battle on the ground in Syria is not going their way as the SAA has improved in both strategy and tactics significantly and their young men have become battle hardened. They are now trying to throw all kinds of money, weapons, and jihadis hoping to bite off at a least a small chunk. <br /><br />Russia is not amused, Lavrov called the Geneva communique "dead", which and then Putin called the surprise naval maneuvers. Looks like Russia is gearing up for a complete military solution. <br /><br />I watched a recent interview is Michele Aoun who stated that if the fall is the Assad regime is not accomplished, it could lead to WW3. He added that he did not think Assad would fall. <br /><br />skharaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-44849899557030467892013-03-29T00:33:47.785+04:002013-03-29T00:33:47.785+04:00http://rt.com/news/black-sea-naval-drills-999/
Ru...http://rt.com/news/black-sea-naval-drills-999/<br /><br />Russia stages massive surprise war games on Black Sea (VIDEO)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-70860423150596521752013-03-27T00:03:43.395+04:002013-03-27T00:03:43.395+04:00Here's another interesting article about the d...Here's another interesting article about the deepening Russian-China strategic relations<br /><br />http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/CHIN-02-260313.html<br /><br />Arto #2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-53816528850426033002013-03-26T02:46:27.989+04:002013-03-26T02:46:27.989+04:00Thank you taking the time to explain Raffi's p...Thank you taking the time to explain Raffi's possible western connection. What you say makes perfect sense but I personally believe that Raffi actually means well and he is not working for any western intelligence agency. But like you pointed out in your essay his west leaning politics is not good for Armenia because we are in absolutely no position to piss off our only real ally in the world. I hope this problem in Armenia gets solved real soon. There are signs that Raffi may be looking to compromise with the government.<br /><br />ArtoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-57887980240487703282013-03-26T02:10:29.345+04:002013-03-26T02:10:29.345+04:00US is said to be looking on very nervously at thes...US is said to be looking on very nervously at these Russia-China developments:<br />skhara<br />------------------------------------<br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21930280<br /><br />China 'buys fighter jets and submarines from Russia'<br /><br />China has agreed to buy 24 fighter jets and four submarines from Russia, Chinese state media report.<br /><br />It is reported to be the first time in a decade that China has made a large-scale military purchase from Russia.<br /><br />Two of the submarines will be built in Russia and two in China.<br /><br />The deal, signed just before last weekend's visit to Moscow by the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, comes as both sides increase military co-operation.<br /><br />Correspondents say Moscow and Beijing are trying to counterbalance what they see as American military dominance.<br /><br />China is buying 24 Su-35 fighters and four Lada-class submarines, reported the Communist Party organ the People's Daily and China Central Television (CCTV).<br /><br />They did not put a value on the purchases.<br /><br />China's official defence budget rose by 11.2% in 2012 - pushing it above $100bn (£65bn) for the first time. But foreign experts have estimated that Beijing's actual military spending could be as much as double the official budget.<br /><br />US defence spending was reported as standing at more than $700bn.<br /><br />Beijing - which is also embroiled in a bitter row over disputed islands with Japan - launched its first aircraft carrier last year.<br /><br />"The Su-35 fighters can effectively reduce pressure on China's air defence before Chinese-made stealth fighters come online," the People's Daily was quoted as saying.<br /><br />It said the two countries were expected to co-operate further in developing military technology - including for S-400 long-range anti-aircraft missiles, 117S large thrust engines, IL-476 large transport aircraft and IL-78 aerial tankers.<br /><br />'Riposte'<br />Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow from Friday to Sunday for talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin - his first trip abroad since becoming head of state earlier this month.<br /><br />The two countries are also pursuing a number of deals for Russia to supply Chinese industry with oil and liquefied natural gas.<br /><br />President Xi's visit was lauded by the state-run China Daily as a "well-deserved riposte to Washington for America's military 'pivot' to Asia. Xi is executing China's own 'pivot' - the visit to Moscow to cement ties with" Mr Putin, the paper said.<br /><br />"Xi's decision to make Moscow the destination of his first official visit as China's president will give the US a sharp reminder that it is not the only power able to flex its muscles," the report, translated by BBC Monitoring, went on.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-32100573530582950312013-03-25T18:33:12.717+04:002013-03-25T18:33:12.717+04:00The foreign agents law in force:
http://www.guard...The foreign agents law in force:<br /><br />http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/25/russian-officials-raid-amnesty-moscow-headquarters<br />Russian prosecutors and tax police have searched the Moscow headquarters of Amnesty International and several other rights groups, continuing a wave of pressure that activists say is part of President Vladimir Putin's attempt to stifle dissent.<br /><br />Sergei Nikitin, Amnesty's Russia chief, said officials from the general prosecutor's office and tax police conducted an unannounced audit of his offices and requested documents that the government already had on file.<br /><br />They were accompanied by journalists from the state-controlled NTV television station, which has been used by the Kremlin for hatchet jobs against its political foes.<br /><br />Other rights groups were also subject to searches. The veteran activist Lev Ponomarev's For Human Rights movement was visited by officials and an NTV crew on Monday. He wrote a letter to the Moscow prosecutor's office calling the search illegal, since prosecutors had provided no evidence that his organisation had broken the law.<br /><br />Public Verdict, a human rights law group, was also searched on Monday.<br /><br />Putin has long been suspicious of non-governmental organisations, especially those with American funding, which he has accused of being fronts for US meddling in Russian politics.<br /><br />After Putin returned to the presidency in May, parliament rubber-stamped a Kremlin-backed law requiring all NGOs that receive foreign funding to register as "foreign agents", a term that many Russians find pejorative.<br /><br />Russian officials have searched up to 2,000 NGOs in the past month, according to Pavel Chikov, a member of the presidential human rights council. The searches began after Putin gave a speech urging the Federal Security Service to focus attention on groups receiving foreign funding, which he said were "putting pressure on Russia".<br /><br />The justice ministry said earlier this year that the policy was unenforceable, but on Monda it told the Interfax news agency that the searches were being carried out in line with the foreign agents law.<br /><br />Chikov said many organisations had been checked under another, vaguely worded law on "extremism", including by agencies that have nothing to do with enforcing it, such as the fire service and the health department.<br /><br />The US embassy, Amnesty, the presidential human rights council and Public Verdict have all expressed concern over the searches.<br />---------------------------------<br /><br />skharaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-14231239640335535072013-03-25T01:48:33.683+04:002013-03-25T01:48:33.683+04:00@ Anonymous (March 24, 2013 at 2:08 PM)
Good poin...@ Anonymous (March 24, 2013 at 2:08 PM)<br /><br />Good point. I am often asked this question. I think this question ultimately stems from a general lack of understanding of how such things work in the real world. In my opinion, this lack of understanding comes from how our perception, our understanding of the world we live in is altered by far-reaching psy-ops institutions such as Hollywood and major motion pictures such as James Bond.<br /><br />1) There are Western agents that work directly for Western intelligence services. They get paid for what they do.<br /><br />2) There are Western agents that indirectly work for the political West via various different NGOs. These are rights/political activists that get paid by employment in the said NGO and/or by Western financial aid (e.g. grants).<br /><br />3) Then there are Western agents that do what they do for free. These are Westernized individuals acting out on their fantasies because they think they are bringing civilization to a backward and/or oppressive Armenia.<br /><br />In reality, there are only a small handful of Western agents in Armenia that work directly for Western intelligence agencies. Most of those pushing a Western agenda in Armenia today do so indirectly and/or independently through activism. Most of Armenia's Western operatives today work for Western NGOs.<br /><br />While I have no doubt Raffi is a Western operative, I do not know which of the aforementioned categories he belongs under. If I had to guess, I would say he is NOT an agent working directly for Western intelligence. Had he been one, he would have been dead by now. I personally think he is one of the independent operatives pushing a Western agenda in the country. For security reasons there cant be any direct links between Armenia's "democratizers" and Western agencies.<br /><br />In my previous blog commentary I addressed this question with the following words:<br /><br />Major powers often play both sides of conflicts. It's a standard part of their conflict management. Both sides are played because ultimately no one knows who is going to win in the end. Therefore, on one hand they try to appease a regime that they deem powerful or useful. On the other hand, they try to cause unrest - indirectly - by using subversives to put pressure on the same regime. Western officials know that directly antagonizing Armenia will have bad repercussions for them in the south Caucasus for it will push Armenia fully under Russian and Iranian influence. Although Washington would love to see Russia's presence forever removed from Armenia, they nonetheless realize that Russia is firmly embedded in the country. Thus, knowing that Russia is securely in Armenia for the long-term, Western officials find themselves appreciating President Sargsyan's conciliatory/balanced approach in politics. In other words, they do not want to lose the already limited leverage they have over Yerevan by openly antagonizing the ruling regime.<br /><br />Therefore, when we see Western officials being cordial with Armenian officials, we must realize that it is their way of reserving at least some leverage over the nation. Despite their official smiles, however, we must also realize that they will continue to have their lemmings on the streets looking to incite unrest.<br /><br />Simply put: since they cannot have their forces of freedom and liberty bomb Yerevan into submission, they are bombing it instead with their bullshit.<br /><br />Major powers do not attack nations that are well connected or ones that have powerful militaries, unless out of absolute necessity. Acting overtly hostile towards nations that have powerful allies or a dangerous military is often too risky for policymakers in the Western world. This is more-or-less why North Korea, Syria and Iran have thus far been spared direct military aggression from Western powers. The only time Western powers will initiate open hostility against a nation is when the nation in question is militarily weak and/or is politically isolated. Serbia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya are sad examples of this...Arevordihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09926782646398360125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-25003897045612423252013-03-24T22:08:44.130+04:002013-03-24T22:08:44.130+04:00There is one thing I'm having some trouble get...There is one thing I'm having some trouble getting. If Raffi Hovannisian is a western leaning politician why isnt the west backing him?<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-34923591588837775302013-03-24T21:57:23.189+04:002013-03-24T21:57:23.189+04:00@LG
Thank you for the intelligent reply.
I full...@LG<br /><br />Thank you for the intelligent reply. <br /><br />I fully recognize the immense "global" power that lurks behind the current Bretton Woods-derived/Western-based financial system. The Western "world system paradigm" is still in the driver's seat. This is why when I speak of Armenia moving away from the Western financial model/system, I use words such as "hopefully", "gradually" and "eventually". I fully realize that Armenia is in no shape to have an independent economy or a financial model of its own. I also realize that Armenia - a tiny, impoverished, landlocked, remote and blockaded nation surrounded by enemies in a violent geographic location - is not one of the "serious" countries of this world. This situation is primarily why emphasizing Armenia's ever-closer relations to the Russian Federation has become a calling for me.<br /><br />Due to its vast territory, immense natural wealth, technological development and powerful military, the Russian state has a very bright future in the 21st century. Moreover, as you already know, the Kremlin looks at Armenia as a crucially important asset in its very strategic but vulnerable underbelly. Therefore, once you put one-and-one together you get the following: Armenia is in a historic position to be closely allied with a very powerful and wealthy regional power. <br /><br />I have no doubt that Russia will be in the driver's seat in the 21st century; my desire, my wish is for Armenia to stop its dangerous flirtations with the West and finally begin making a concerted effort to - eventually - get fully into Russia's passenger seat. Membership in the Eurasian Union is one of the means with which Armenia can begin to do so. As you pointed out, the key to this will be Tbilisi.<br /><br />At the end of the day, the Western system is falling apart. The only thing keeping the US Dollar afloat as a reserve currency is the US military's numerous wars around the world. Such an approach to preserve Western wealth and power cannot be indefinitely sustained. As nations like Russia and China continue to gradually grow, the West will continue to sink under its massive weight. <br /><br />While we may not be a "serious" nation, we need to get serious and begin developing a strategic foresight in order to effectively navigate the coming storms.Arevordihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09926782646398360125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-59283201904682894292013-03-24T02:37:34.850+04:002013-03-24T02:37:34.850+04:00I concur with Arevordi,
The Armenian government h...I concur with Arevordi,<br /><br />The Armenian government has grossly underestimated the power of propaganda and political warfare both internally and internationally speaking. <br /><br />Had the Tsar taken the rising socialist movements more seriously, or had the Mensheviks taken the splinter group known as the Bolsheviks more seriously, the history of the 20th century would likely have been very different.<br /><br />LGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-27836633313784900852013-03-24T02:33:58.728+04:002013-03-24T02:33:58.728+04:00Indeed I have been watching the unfolding events t...Indeed I have been watching the unfolding events taking place in the financial system of the West. Things are not looking too rosy. With that said, there are still no viable alternatives to the supremacy of the US dollar, and until that changes, it will be difficult and perhaps even counter-productive to fully break from the Bretton Woods system. <br /><br />You said serious nations are discussing life after the dollar, which is true, however, Armenia and Armenians are not a serious state nor nation as we know all too well. Armenia like 98% of the worlds other states does not set the world system paradigm, they adopt it. Until a new paradigm emerges which can effectively replace the US system, we can not make sudden economic and financial shifts.<br /><br />Armenia is very close to Russia in pretty much all conceivable sectors. The likelihood of Armenia joining the EAU will increase as Moscow and Tiflis normalize their relations, and as the EU sinks deeper into ruin. These two factors are the most important indicators as to what choice official Yerevan will make in the next few years.<br /><br />LGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-33912498711051894932013-03-24T01:55:46.991+04:002013-03-24T01:55:46.991+04:00@ Zoravar,
I respectfully disagree.
The relativ...@ Zoravar,<br /><br />I respectfully disagree. <br /><br />The relatively small number of people we see going to the streets for Raffi is not a very good indicator of prevailing political mood in the country. Whether we want to believe it or not, the reality of the matter is that Raffi has a considerable following in the country. I would even suspect that a majority of people in Armenia would ultimately support him just because he is not Serj Sargsyan.<br /><br />This again speaks volumes about the political maturity of Armenians. <br /><br />I reiterate: We cannot afford playing with democracy nor can we afford ignoring these types of Western provocateurs if we don't want Armenia to fall victim to the next color or spring revolution. A number of countries in recent years have made the grave mistake of not taking their "democracy" movements too seriously from the beginning.Arevordihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09926782646398360125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608996291355843279.post-47265862659800677632013-03-24T00:23:12.485+04:002013-03-24T00:23:12.485+04:00In my opinion, we are giving too much attention to...In my opinion, we are giving too much attention to Raffi. He is ridiculously pushing himself deeper and deeper into a hole. I think even his "Western masters" are not putting their bets on him, that's why he is so desperate. Let's just ignore him. As the saying goes: The dog barks, but the caravan moves on.Zoravarnoreply@blogger.com