We already had the somewhat “bipolar” statements of Igor Strelkov who could go from “we are about to win” to “they are about to exterminate us” in 24 hours and then back. Still, looking at his videos he looked tremendously stressed and frustrated and, what is really a major issue in such situation, he looked severely sleep deprived. He also clearly was trying to wake up the semi-comatose part of the Novorussian population which preferred to stay home and either let Strelkov’s men die for them or, if all else fails, they hoped for Russia’s Polite Armed Men in Green to liberate them. So, if anything, I feel sympathy for Strelkov who, after all, is a military commander, not a professional spokesman. But then a truly incredible piece of news began popping up all over the Internet: the NDF had taken a major military base with 221 tanks, 228 APCs, 12 Self-Propelled guns, 18 Grad launchers, 183 IFVs, and 12 Mortars. Wow! I even saw an article claiming that the NDF was now in the process of forming an tank division (nevermind that there is a lot more to a tank division than just tanks). Tank division or not, if true this was truly fantastic news. The information came from “chief of the information section of the southeastern front”, Konstantine Knyrik, it was picked up by Interfax and made its way to other news outlets (including ANNA news). A day later the press service of the Donetsk People’s Republic denied this information. In fact, it appears that not only did the NDF not get such a fantastic arsenal – they did not even take the military base from which supposedly this arsenal came from: the Ukies had successfully repelled their attack.
Fog of war or no fog of war – this is a real problem, in my opinion.
All it takes is just *one* such embarrassing situations to shoot down in flames the credibility of all the information coming out of the resistance forces in Novorossia. And again, I will point out to Hezbollah as the perfect example of a successful information policy: as Hassan Nasrallah himself explained in a speech last year, Hezbollah might not always reveal all that it knows, but it will never lie. Never. Hezbollah announces its defeats as well as its victories. It even admits when it does a mistake. And this remarkable policy – especially in the Middle-East – gives Hezbollah a huge capital of credibility, even with the Israelis.
There is another example which the NDF and the authorities of Novorossia might want to pay attention to.
Yesterday evening I was watching a recorded experts panel basically discussing the viability of a Donetsk and Luganks People’s Republic or Novorossia. The panel included mostly Russian experts, but a number of Novorossian officials were also invited. One of the panelist asked the Novorussians what they were doing to help those whose houses were being destroyed by Ukie shelling. The reply was: “we are actively discussing the issue”. At which point, the moderator jumped in and said “stop discussing and help these people now!”
During the Israeli war on Lebanon in 2006 Hezbollah had an amazing policy: as soon as the bombs/shells stopped falling out of the sky, a truck with a group of Hezbollah young men would pull up and offer each family whose house had been destroyed three options: a) we rebuild your house b) we give you the money to rebuilt your house c) we help you relocate. The most interesting thing is that Hezbollah did that with all families regardless of whether they were Christians or Muslims and regardless of their political affiliations! Your house is lost – Hezbollah will help you out. Period. And before I get accused of parroting Hezbollah propaganda, I know about this from a (non-Lebanese and non-Muslim) friend who happened to be in south Lebanon during the war (I never read about this anywhere). This friend told me that Hezbollah had developed these policies many years ago during the various shelling and bombing campaigns the Israelis regularly engaged in.
And let me preempt the argument that Hezbollah is awash with Iranian money. So? The NDF should be (and probably is) awash with Russian money. Ditto for the argument that Hezbollah had it easy compared to the Novorussians: not so, Hezbollah was born during the Israeli occupation of Lebanon and it was primarily representing the interests of the poorest Lebanese, not the fact cat millionaires a la Hariri & Co, and most of the original Hezbollah members were rather young and inexperienced. So no, Hezbollah happened in very hard conditions and while Iran and Syrian did help, they did not do the job for the locals Lebanese patriots.
Hezbollah’s example is highly relevant to the Novorussian situation because it shows that what a resistance movement need is what I would call a “holistic” approach to resistance. Yes, the military aspect is important (and Hezbollah is probably the most formidable guerrilla force on the planet), but the resistance effort must include a professionally run public/media information service, a smart fund-raising campaign. Do you remember when you could “buy” one Katusha-rocket for $10’000 on the Internet which Hezbollah would then guarantee would be “delivered” on Israeli positions? They also offered a rifle for a combatant, a full equipment set for a combatant and even 1 AK-74 bullet for $1 if I remember correctly. And money came pouring in! They also developed a computer-based RPG (role playing game) in which the player could play the role of a Hezbollah fighter. The invented many such schemes and did not only rely on Iranian money. Just imagine if such “purchases” were made available on the Russian Internet: “for $1000 you can “buy” an RPG round which will be shot at a National Guard target, for $100 dollars we will shot a mortar round at the Ukies, $10 will buy you a sniper shot and $1 an AK round” – the money would flow in in minutes because it would give Russians in Russia a way to feel like they are doing something useful, that they are participating to the struggle against the Fascists and their death-squads. By the way, there is already a precedent: during the wars in Chechnia, Russian businesses sponsored entire units, including elite ones: the businesses would give them all the money needed to get the best and latest gear in exchange simple for a heartfelt “thank you” from these units. Local OMON and SOBR units often had such corporate sponsors who then could count on the support of these units in case of problems with the local mobsters.
These are just a few examples of how creative one can get with some out of the box thinking. Again, Hezbollah set the gold-standard in this kind of business.
But first and foremost, the Novorussian authorities need to make it clear to the population that voting for independence is not enough – they need to also fight for it. This is what Strelkov clearly tried to do, but this has to be the job of a professional PR person, not an exhausted battle commander. I am sure that with time the Novorussians will do better, but they need to learn fast as Novorussia is still not anywhere near its real resistance potential and people are dying because of this “less than full scale” resistance.
The Saker
New Graham Phillips segment on Mariupol Massacre Victory Day 5/9/14.
http://grahamwphillips.com/2014/06/21/mariupol-may-9th-what-really-happened-part-2/
Very interesting evidence about Oleg Lyashko being behind this event and Phillips terms it the real start fo the Ukrainian Civil War, with the military/National Guard/Right Sektor being used to put down a police rebellion at being ordered to massacre Victory Day celebrants.
It makes me wonder just what the hell the Ukies repelled the assault on the tank farm WITH, considering they reportedly had very little around that site until it was reinforced (let’s hope not because of Gubarev’s big mouth bragging NAF were about to get 250 tanks). Did the Ukies wire the place up with enough explosives and threaten to destroy all of the vehicles rather than allow them to fall into enemy hands (a difficult task if there ever was one but with enough C4 it could be done). That’s the only way I can imagine the Ukies defeating a determined effort to seize the site.
When I saw that Daniel Sandford of BBC was reporting that the NAF attack failed on Friday, I thought ‘surely Ukies are lying again and MiniTrue is carrying water for them as the high end version of the InterpreterRag’. Turns out I was wrong. I hate it when the Empire propaganda organs that usually lie about all but the most obvious and irrefutable facts (such as the widespread destruction of buildings in Slovyiansk, though they ignore deliberate destruction of the water works and other infrastructure) are proven right.
It does indeed allow the Ukies to say, ‘See the NAF and Russia lie about everything’ while they continue to successfully cover up their atrocities, despite the best efforts of people like Graham W. Phillips to document what happened in Maroupol on 9 May or numerous bloggers documenting the false flag progrom at Odessa on 2 May. Ditto for the dumb lie about Jen Psaki, here I was trying to drive a wedge between the Interpreter Rag and the MSM reporter they basically accused of repeating ‘Russian propaganda’ about white phosphorous to Psaki, and suddenly, conveniently for the psyop warriors of Ukraine and NATO, suddenly the narrative is ‘OMG Rossiskaya Gazeta lied about a conversation between Psaki and Matt Lee that never took place’. Not ‘the Khodorkovsky-paid shills at IntrepreterMag accused Matt Lee of lying or being incompetent and not able to tell the difference between footage from Fallujah and 2014 Slovyiansk’.
Damn damn damn. I know Russia and the NAF are up against banksters with unlimited funds for propaganda, AI sock puppet programs and hordes of paid trolls, but they MUST do better than this and get more clever. Attacking Interpreter Rag for impugning Lee’s credibility (as well as hiding the real sources of their funds, which is Qatar/Saudi Arabia as unregistered foreign agents) would’ve worked much better.
Saker:
Throughout the American War for Independence, it is stated that no more than 30% of the population actively supported the cause. Only a few opposed it as Tory loyalists, but many just sat on their hands and kept their heads down and focued on plowing fields and tinkering.
Why should Novorossiyans be any different? And just after two months? Internet era expectations are just too much.
The United States took over a year of activism to begin fighting, a year of fighting to declare independence and another year to adopt its first constitution.
The most important thing right now for Novorossiya is fighting men and the generation of arms and armament. A couple of airy dreamers thinking up trracts and constitutions is plenty. When the NAF is marching on Kiev after victory in Kharkov, it can worry about cleaning up its political system.
I do agree about direct action brigades to do thing like rebuild houses and apartments, but more secure control of Novorossiya is first needed for this to gain the buy in of the people who would do it and populace benefitting.
Best column of yours I’ve read yet. Thanks for all the work.
Predictably sane. This shouldn’t be a matter for discussion it is so fundamental. One does get the impression somewhat that the fighters are focused on the glory without realizing that their relationships with their community are equally, if not more important. I have never seen it written about, but political officers in the NLF tended to be middle aged women who were fully integrated into the units and brought some adult sanity to what otherwise might become an adolescents gone wrong situation.
herb
http://pravosudija.net/article/dvadcat-vtorogo-iyunya-prodolzhenie-etnicheskaya-chistka
If this report from a prior thread I read is correct, Poroshenko and the junta’s plan is to engage in ethnic cleansing, have their mercs dressed in Ukie uniforms but are allegedly Russians (Ukie propagandists have already been spreading rumors far and wide via Tymchuk that Russian recruits on the Russian side are being given Ukrainian uniforms) intervene, and try to bait Russia into direct intervention. Then later on NATO and propaganda outlets will say Russia faked the whole thing, or even that RUSSIAN units drove Russophone Ukrainians from their homes to justify Russian intervention (nevermind what this implies about the competency of Ukrainian armed forces that could be in the area to prevent such alleged provocations).
In some sense, it’s the Odessa formula again — dress up your side as ‘pro-Russians’, have them press the real anti-Kiev people into some action (like running into the Trade Unions Building), then complete the main objective of the Gladio ‘op’. In Odessa it was to burn many people alive and terrorize the city and the rest of Ukraine while maintaining a pathetic veneer of deniability to the rest of the world that the Ukrainian government’s hands were clean.
Diabolical. Let’s hope concern about losing the mercs ‘in action’ or them getting caught and interrogated on YouTube halts such false flag plans. The chatter from the NAF side about English-speaking mercs near Slovyiansk is definitely increasing. I wonder if it’s a prelude to a ‘snatch and grab’ mission to make evidence of US, British or Polish merc involvement irrefutable (though the lying MSM and Ukies will still insist the captured POW merc is an actor somewhere in Russia).
It seems to me that too many able bodied souls are lined up at the border. Perhaps, like the mothers in Bukovina, the war is a good thing, if just someone else would fight it. Perhaps it is much easier to just go to the motherland.
Excellent post Saker. Thanks for your work.
Yes, but Russians seem congenitally incapable of decent marketing, promotion, and propaganda. It was said on TV that it was hard to buy souvenirs at the Sochi games – only one shop with long queues.
Why hasn’t Russia forced more order on the resistance? They can’t afford as many mistakes as Kiev can.
I am sure that with time the Novorussians will do better, but they need to learn fast as Novorussia is still not anywhere near its real resistance potential and people are dying because of this “less than full scale” resistance.
At the risk of sounding gratuitous or unkind, the vote determined that the Novorossians would come under fire from the junta in Kiev. This may be why Putin advised against the vote at this time.
So, yes, whether they realised it or not at the time, the Novorosians now have a responsibility to support in any way they can individually the fighters who are now fighting to protect them.
Never mind what their fate will be if the NDF fails (assuming, which the Novorossians must allow for if they are wise, that Russia will not intervene on their behalf)
I do not know if this video of Sergey Glazyev has been linked here before but it is well worth watching
Last night this link disappeared, but I think it’s worthy seeing; English subtitles;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWT5HM_NMlI
Saker citing Hezbollah’s tactics in their wars against Israeli occupation and later invasions sound like very good advice to the Novorussia insurrection. You are quite correct that Hezbollah enhanced its credibility in honestly reporting its own failures and casualties. They did this when it was not clear that they were winning. Strelkov, as you suggest, should stick to military operations and leave the public relations to people who specialize in that area. But the important thing is that they avoid spreading unconfirmed rumors or outright lies.
I didn’t know all that about Hezbollah. Unfortunate the “tank repair base” capture was hot air, because the SD forces need a way to combat zionazi armour at a distance in open country, and some old fashioned tank guns would help out immensely there.
The reporting of this conflict has been continuously fraught with bad info, for whatever reasons. While what is being reported from Novorossia may or may not be accurate, at least one thing is certain: the noise out of Kiev, the NWO colonies and the Jewish owned/run western media is totally BS.
Your example of Hezbollah, Saker, is a really instructive one.
When we support each other (compassion) in trials as Hezbollah have shown, we act according to our genetic coding of empathic people. When we do this, we win because together we are far stronger than the psychopaths. We have the numbers apart from anything else.
When we are convinced to act out of self-interest as the psychopaths do, then we lose because the psychopaths are far better at acting out of self interest than us because they are far more ruthless than we can ever be.
This is how compassion is stronger than evil or exploitation. But it is hard to see this amidst the fear which is the purpose of spreading fear as far as the psychopaths are concerned.
Saker,
Igor Strelkov is in the position to exaggerate. I expect no less from him.
How ever, I do think Novorossian’s political wing is far lag compare to their military commanders.
They should really visible, running the territory, (not other way around as it is now), and help Igor Strelkov and his man out with business solutions of many of their needs too. Strelkov need get some sleep after run the front line business. He should not need to worry about corrupt mayor, or some thing like that as he is now.
I read some where that Oleg Tsarov could be the first Novorossian president. Is it true, if so, then where is he hiding? why not at front line run the political side of whole thing and show what he is made of? If not, could there be some one else that is good with message, good managerial skill, and able to think out of box? or maybe some of his man can think of of box, and he only need to recognize it, and make sure it is implemented?
I, too am confused at Russia’s seeming inability to embrace western Madison Avenue propaganda, er, ummm . . . advertising methodology to counter the AngloZionist’s endless dreck.
The Zionists have their paid shills why not Russia?
Saker, you’re raising some truly interesting points here and it’s going to take me a while to chew on them all. But first off, we all have to remember that these people have been doing this for, what, maybe three months now? I’m guessing that Hezbollah didn’t start out doing all they do now either, though they did have a couple of Islamic concepts and pillars (the responsibility for charity, for one) that came in quite handy as they evolved.
Secondly, just in general, self-governance is hard: just ask anyone who’s ever been on a church committee! Or been involved in a union. And starting basically from scratch, under conditions of war, with — I am sure — a lot of people who’ve not been involved in anything like this before (even for the troops, not where they lived, with civilians under fire), they’re by necessity spending more time reacting than being pro-active. These aren’t excuses, they’re just observations. Also, I see the self-governance part as separate from the military one — how do they set up a system that meets their needs and is sufficiently representative (and of whom? Hopefully an increasing number of people, but you can see how that could get increasingly complicated, too). And then why, for gosh sakes, are they still paying taxes to Kiev? But all these needs for different staffing structures have to be recognized, and then dealt with without alienating too many en route — while under fire.
Then there is the military. Strelkov is apparently yearing for a general but even there, there are generals and then there are generals, right? So they’re still improvising and evolving — again, while under fire. Again, no excuses, just observations. But then, to make things even more complicated, you have, ideally, an authoritarian military structure and an at least somewhat representative civil structure: where does PR fit in? You’re totally right, PR and communication in general are absolutely essential. But under whose control? That’s not a simple question and it is a very important one. Who calls those shots?
I am sure that, apart from a shared response about being fired upon, the people of the Donbass have a wide range of views about absolutely everything else. And the last thing the nascent government needs there is to alienate people whose support is literally a matter of life and death. Generally in these situations, leaders do emerge, people whose talents just fit the situation. But unfortunately, it doesn’t happen overnight; things need winnowing, beating the wheat from the chaff, yet time here is of the essence.
Which reminds me: what they are doing is essentially guerilla warfare, right? I mean, it’s self-defense too but essentially guerilla warfare (I think; this Is. Not. My. Forte.!!!) So, in Vietnam, did Ho Chi Minh really do all the strategy, tactics and logistics, or were local leaders fairly autonomous? How does that work? That’s all I’ve got at this point but I’m hoping people will have answers to some of this.
Anonymous said…22 June, 2014 02:15
“Last night this link disappeared, but I think it’s worthy seeing; English subtitles.”
Why is it worth seeing? I’m tired of seeing “click this” posts.
Give a short description of what it is about so people can determine for themselves whether it is worth the time.
That’s basic internet etiquette.
American Kulak:
I wonder if it’s a prelude to a ‘snatch and grab’ mission to make evidence of US, British or Polish merc involvement irrefutable (though the lying MSM and Ukies will still insist the captured POW merc is an actor somewhere in Russia).
I hate to say this, but there is a simple way for NAF to refute that assertion. Have the guy give his confession on tape, and then chop his hands and head off with a sword or blow his head off on tape with a gun. Then toss the body outide and invite the opposing side to come and get the corpse. Why do you think Al Qaeda did this repeatedly and now ISIS? Precisely to eliminate the possibility of a fake tape and show they meant business. Remember the mercs hung from the bridge in Fallujah?
This is war, not paddycake, so please don’t get all moral on me here people. If you want to be a peaceful person in this sort of situation, there is always a monastery nearby, or a farm field calling.
Anonymous said…
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“””””but they need to learn fast as Novorussia is still not anywhere near its real resistance potential and people are dying because of this “less than full scale” resistance.”””””””
Dear Saker
its good to see you are well versed on the benevolent tactics of the best Resistance Organization, the earth has ever seen, but its only good because 2 Million Lebanese support it..and you are finally advising the Novorussians to emulate it!!!!!…without the next level there is no independence…
I trust Strelkov’s pronouncements. I remember when someone identifying as one of his fighters wrote an Internet post where he boasted that a hundred junta soldiers were killed in some engagement. Later that day Strelkov said that it was 10 to 15 at the most and that “nowhere do people lie as much as at war and at the hunt”.
After the fight near Volnovakha Gubarev and others claimed that Ukrainian soldiers were shot up by Kolomoyskiy’s people. Strelkov said he knew who did it and that they represented the Donetsk People’s Republic. I think it was actually Bezler’s group.
So I’ve seen several cases when Strelkov admitted not very convenient facts.
Of course he does everything in his power to bring about a Russian intervention. He wants to rile up Russian public opinion so that it puts pressure on Putin to act. Does that sometimes reach the level of hysterics? A Russian intervention would most likely save some of the lives that Strelkov feels responsible for – those of many of his fighters and of many civilians in Slaviansk. It’s scary to imagine that kind of responsibility. If I thought getting hysterical would help, I’d get hysterical too.
The people in the East are led by idealists. Putin gives them what his Intel on the ground says they need.
Most people in similar circumstances get out or hunker down, but don’t get involved. It’s human nature.
They see the enemy, not as invaders or even as inhuman, criminal marauders. And the worse it gets, the more terror works to make them flee or do nothing.
The militia has no social skills. That is why Hezbollah is a good example for them. They should ask for a few specialist to come and help them build rapport with the masses.
However, the militia is doing great as a fighting force. But ultimately, Putin and the Russian military will decide the end result on the battlefield.
I see Kiev suing for peace. I see the Donbass region devastated. Strategically, Putin and Russia need Kiev embroiled in battles until EU and IMF give up the chase for Ukraine or work a compromise that suits Putin and Russia.
Russia will then use Chinese money to rebuild the region wherever the battlefields go. Recovery will benefit Russian and China.
Kiev will die under the weight of debt and decrepitude of industry. It is inevitable.
This is a low intensity war that will be much longer than most people now judge.
A proto-war to destroy Russia is on. It’s military component happens to be on Donbass region turf.
It might have been somewhere else for starters.
If the Ukies get really pushed to ratchet up the military after NATO comes in July (if that happens) and if the US pays more for more dead boys to be sent home to their mothers, Crimean border area might be tested.
Certainly, the other places the US and CIA will light up with violence are the small states around Russia that now are peaceful. This is a long war that will continue for the rest of the decade. The people caught in the middle don’t matter. That most of them choose not to fight for their home, their family, their lives means they will lose them.
Americans can’t find any of these geographic locations on a map, don’t care if other peoples die, and are so dumbed down from the Cult of Liberalism and the sycophant media that they still think Russia Federation is as communist as Lenin made it.
Russia won’t win safety soon. It is working with strategic partners, not allies. China and Iran are a start. If the SCO continues to grow, that will help.
But, basically, militarily versus NATO, Russia is alone.
But I think the West is caught in a bear hug. It will have life squeezed out of its war and destabilization efforts. The Russian Bear has suckered NATO to spend billions the Europeans don’t have, to wage a war the Europeans don’t want, to achieve an American goal that is bad for the European market and industries.
Ultimately, the safe haven for Euro industry will be with Russia and the Eurasia development tied to China.
Ironic disaster for Americans. Their leaders will have built a multi-polar monster by trying to destroy it in the cradle.
All America can ally with is Islamic terror. We see how that is going in Iraq and Syria, North Africa and the African continent.
I hope for a miracle, I pray for the people caught in the death machine, and I pray for Putin.
Andrew said…22 June, 2014 02:48
“I hate to say this, but there is a simple way for NAF to refute that assertion. Have the guy give his confession on tape, and then chop his hands and head off with a sword or blow his head off on tape with a gun. Then toss the body outide and invite the opposing side to come and get the corpse. Why do you think Al Qaeda did this repeatedly and now ISIS? Precisely to eliminate the possibility of a fake tape and show they meant business. Remember the mercs hung from the bridge in Fallujah?”
Great idea. Reduce the Novorussians to the level of barbarity the zionazis displayed with their death squads doing terror ops. Yeah, that will do wonders to bring people over to their side.
“Hey, Novorossia acts just like “al ciada”, see, they really are a dedicated independence movement that we can really get behind.”
What about if your hand/head chopping idea backfires, and makes Novorossia seen as morally bankrupt, like the zionazi “al ciada” terrorists? What should they do then? Start cannibalising the banderivtsy captures to make their terrorism hit home even harder, as well?
Andrew,
…and then chop his hands and head off with a sword or blow his head off on tape with a gun.
I’m not appointing myself the thread police by any stretch, but do you actually think Al-Qaeda and ISIS win support by making snuff/beheading porn? And your treatise on unlimited money printing and how apparently the Empire can get away with it forever and ever plus the previous comment makes me doubt your intentions a tad. Unlike others here I won’t denounce you as a sophisticated troll plant, but I will say that comment is the type of crap InterpreterRag will start citing (along with the endless J and Z word discussions) whenever they get around to trying to discredit the Saker (not that he cares).
That video on LifeNews where the NAF gave a dying Ukrainian soldier a drink of water while they chop off ears is worth a lot of desertions from the Ukrainian ranks, if not new recruits to the NAF. And ultimately NAF is fighting not to decisively defeat the Ukrainian Army in battle, but to inflict sufficient losses that the Ukrainian army finally revolts against the oligarchs, arrest or frags their Right Sector commissars, and goes back home or to Russia. The Kiev regime managed to get the army to fight by installing enough commissars and threatening or purging the reluctant recruits. But the downside is now clear — the most fanatical and loyal pro-Ukrainians are at the front lines, and the losses are coming heavily down on the most ‘loyal’ regions in the far West of Ukraine where ‘pals battalions’ mothers are getting the bad news that their sons are killed or wounded all at once. This is the key to breaking the enemy’s will to fight, not turning into Al-Orthodox-aeda and playing right into the Empire’s hands trying to out thug and out butcher their butchers.
Anonymous вот так said…
Anonymous said…22 June, 2014 02:15
“Last night this link disappeared, but I think it’s worthy seeing; English subtitles.”
Why is it worth seeing? I’m tired of seeing “click this” posts.
Give a short description of what it is about so people can determine for themselves whether it is worth the time.
Anonymous’ link is the same one I gave immediately above it.
Here is the introduction to Glazyev’s video I wrote on my blog-
Update – Youtube video of Sergey Glazyev talking about the Ukranian situation and saying that to see Ukraine as it really is, it has to be seen as an American occupation of Ukraine and the longer Russia waits to intervene on behalf of the people of Donbas, who are experiencing genocide now, the worse it will be for Ukraine and Russia and even Europe.
“The Americans have gained from every war in Europe . . . . So we have to understand that the key to resolving the catastrophe of Ukraine is to be found in Washington. That is where Nazism has to be defeated” – Sergey Glazyev
Here is the video link again
And here is a link to my post which also has a couple of Sergey Glazyev’s articles talking about economic warefare with the US together with the video linked above
@ вот так
Hello, I value your contributions here, and read them with great interest.
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Anonymous said…
“Last night this link disappeared, but I think it’s worthy seeing; English subtitles.”
*
вот так said…
“Why is it worth seeing? I’m tired of seeing “click this” posts.
Give a short description of what it is about so people can determine for themselves whether it is worth the time.That’s basic internet etiquette.”
*
I agree.
The video is superb, though.
Sergey Glazyev in 10 minutes explains the situation in Ukraine more concisely than anyone else has explaied it so far.
He is close to Putin, so this is interesting.
The Russians leadership are not fools. They understand the situation.
The militia has no social skills. That is why Hezbollah is a good example for them. They should ask for a few specialist to come and help them build rapport with the masses. They are building up their English-language PR slowly, but it’s the PR with the locals and to the rest of Ukraine with its massively lying media that concerns me more. At some point the Donbass rebels need to find a Ukrainian or Surzhyk speaker who can record direct appeals to the mothers of the recruits from Galicia to stop the war.
I think the biggest issue that keeps many of these locals in Ukraine is not any love for the junta or embrace of the Galicianization of Ukrainian history as a tale of eternal victimhood at the hands of the hated Moskals (BTW the poll Interpreter Rag and others keep citing about the majority of Donbass wishing to stay with Ukraine was taken prior to the terror-shelling op starting up, I would guess at least a few percentage points have changed since April).
It’s simply that the apathetic majority fears even their pitiful pensions will be taken away from them and Mother Russia in the end won’t adopt them like it did the people of Crimea, thus they’ll end up as a kind of TransDniestr no man’s land. Can you blame them?
There is a certain amount of reticence that, at least from the point of view of the non-able bodied male, is understandable. But every male between 17 and 60 in the Donbass needs to realize his choice of simply living his life is going away, either he’ll fight or run or end up in a FEMA, excuse me, ‘filtration’ camp.
I thought Putin might make a big move this weekend on the anniversary of the Bagration offensive in WWII. I expect most of the ‘big’ moves will come in the financial realm for the time being (maybe a Russian ‘where’s the gold’? raid on the COMEX and the gold suppressors), with Strelkov getting just enough supplies and reinforcements to keep him going even though he’s clearly exhausted. Even with the ‘good’ news of a few NAF T-64s and truck convoys headed his way and the partial shelling of Karachun hill by the rebels.
Maybe China sending symbolic humanitarian aid to the Donbass would also send a message to Washington and Kiev. But in the short run it doesn’t seem like we can count on a lot.
There is no need to do the onjectionable and execute captured foreign mercenaries.
Win hearts and minds.
Yes, capture foreign mercenaries, display them on video, then contact journalists in the their homeland and ask them to get reaction from the mercenaries’ families, confirming their identity, and get that on the six o’clock news before sending them home in a prisoner of war exchange.
yes, the novorussians need better media/pr experts.
If Novorossiya does as Saker suggests, they are certain to win.
Not everyone can do combat, older men have a lot of construction knowledge. A lot of people feel guilty that they can’t fight, but they can do other things that are just as useful. It will make them feel good to be participating. These things can be organized at the community level, the church.
Gleb Bazov’s Twitter account linked to the profile supposedly posted by a ‘Stan Patton’ (likely a pseudonym, after Gen. George Patton) bragging about a ‘Running Man style’
‘Ukrainian safari’ with discussion of whether it’s legit. This is the type of discussion that needs to happen as the highest order NATO PR ops regularly use disinfo or planted info to say ‘see look at those lying Russians’ (planting the photo of the wounded child from Syria and then publicizing the error via StopFake is one technique, publicizing a conversation with Psaki that never took place reported in Russian media to deflect from the white phosphorous use is another).
https://twitter.com/RussiansForward/status/480485677487112193/photo/1
@Saker,
Q: …but the resistance effort must include a professionally run public/media information service, a smart fund-raising campaign.
R: The only thing the resistance needs is victory upon victory, humanity [treating their enemies well] and help all those in need [a la Hezbollah].
Word of mouth generally beats million $$ campaigns [Cantor, anyone?]
I don’t think Russia/Putin’s actions will be fully appreciated [fully understood/grasped] right now, but in due time, the greatness of its actions within its own borders [troop movements/training exercises/etc.] will be taught in all military academia around the globe [together with those of Rommel].
This is a rare moment, but I have to say it, ‘Brilliant.’
Yes, Larchmonter445, I so agree with this sentence in your post:
“Ultimately, the safe haven for Euro industry will be with Russia and the Eurasia development tied to China.”
Indeed:
In a recent interview (thanks to http://www.les-crises.fr/ for transcribing it)with 2 journalists from the main TV channels in France, this is what Putin says:
” Mais cela me rappelle la France, la tradition gaulliste, de Gaulle qui était un défenseur de la souveraineté française et qui, selon moi, mérite du respect. Un autre exemple est celui de François Mitterrand qui parlait d’une Confédération européenne où, d’ailleurs, même la Russie pourrait participer. Je pense que rien n’est encore perdu en ce qui concerne le futur de l’Europe.”
My translation:
“But it reminds me of France, the gaullist tradition, De Gaulle who was a defender of French national sovereignty, and who, I think, deserves respect. Another example is François Mitterrand, who was talking of a European Confederation, where even Russia could participate. I think nothing is lost yet concerning Europe’s future.”
There we have it: Putin’s long range view is to include Western Europe into the Eurasian Confederation. A logical development … just look at a map … and how Western Europe is ignoring the sanctions while doing business as usual with Russia, business either can afford to lose.
@ 22 June, 2014 03:45
FWIW, the Glazev video, now with English subtitles thanks to the team at New Insight (or maybe just that one guy with the glasses listening to Fedorov in the videos next to the beautiful woman, hello to him and her) has been posted many times in the last few days. The easiest thing would be to create a Vineyard of the Saker YouTube channel where these videos can be collated in one place. Then commenters could just direct other Saker readers to Saker’s YouTube channel. I am not nominating Saker to do more work and would gladly set it up myself if YouTube didn’t run through GMail (to which I would have to supply my cellular number, something I’d rather not do). Of course my selections of videos would not necessarily be the Saker’s. Nora do you have a pseudonymous Gmail account? Does anybody here have one they already set up without having to supply a cellphone? If so I’ll gladly start collating the vids email them to you and you post them. Maybe we should just call it the ‘VoSReadersChannel’ to make it clear our host is not personally posting the videos.
On an unrelated topic, that of predictive programming, I just saw a new Michael Bay postapocolyptic drama for TNT “The Last Ship” that features…guess who…nasty Russians shelling the last US Navy ship full of survivors of the plague that wipes out mankind.
@ Armican Kulak,
Q: I hate it when the Empire propaganda organs that usually lie about all but the most obvious and irrefutable facts (such as the widespread destruction of buildings in Slovyiansk, though they ignore deliberate destruction of the water works and other infrastructure) are proven right.
R: I do not understand. The truth is the truth, right? Regardless where it comes from, right?
I’m convinced you don’t hate the truth.
@ Andrew,
I normally a man of a few words, but you left my speechless.
You are wrong on so many levels that I don’t even know where to begin. You’re like the man selling cheap, rusty nails at the foot of Golgotha who proclaims, “I need to feed my family, you know….?”
Dear Saker
This article of yours is a cut above rest. Only thinking in this direction will help Novorossia.
I have enjoyed this article.
Croat and Russophile
It seems that there were no pro-Russian organizations to speak of in Eastern Ukraine. So now a bunch of folks who don’t agree on many basic things take power, sort of. No money and only a few buildings in different places. Enough manpower to selectively go get people at an airport or city hall to say that they have joined the rebellion. They talk about a constitution or nationalization, but they need to help those who will lose their pensions, and they need to organize a military command.
Obviously, some of these things have been done in secrecy, likely with Russian help or prodding.
Also, it would seem that a large percentage of Novorossiyans expected massive Russian help. Turning into Transdeniestria was not what they voted for. The Kremlin’s low-key approach is perhaps diplomatically wise, but it doesn’t reassure those on the ground, does it?
Anonymous Paul II said…
Yes, but Russians seem congenitally incapable of decent marketing, promotion, and propaganda. It was said on TV that it was hard to buy souvenirs at the Sochi games – only one shop with long queues.
Why hasn’t Russia forced more order on the resistance? They can’t afford as many mistakes as Kiev can.
22 June, 2014 02:08
——————————-
Dear Sir
You are very much correct.
Just look at the writing of RIA Novosti and for that they receive good salaries and security and social status.
When ex. president Yanukovic was in power, Anglo-Zionist media called him pro-Russian president and Oligarch.
Today RIA Novosti and Anglo-Zionist media call Poroshonko “tycoon” at least RIA Novosti could call him pro-American president.
There are different tactics for different situations:
In 1950 also, after Chinese government already in power, some bandits came into town’s market to rob at times. So one day, fight broke out, Soldiers kill some of the bandits, and leave the bodies there for a few days, and bandits disappeared after that.
There is another very old (3000 years) story, that a city was surrounded by a overwhelm force. There general need his fighters to fight very hard in order to win. So he send out rumors that make his enemy do things would upset his soldiers great deal, one of the rumors he past to his enemy was “if you disrespect our ancestors that buried out side of the city, we will be very scared”. Sure enough, the enemy dug up the bones, and lashed them. You can imaging how angry the fighter inside cities were. When the general finally think they were ready, they broke out, and win the battle.
The first case, you deal with small irritants. They second case, you are in a war, especially a civil war, you want your enemy to find reason not to fight you, not to make them want to fight you to death.
So far, NAF has been doing right thing, and give Ukr soldiers many reason to change sides or not fighting. And it is Ukr that give people of Novorossia no choice but fight. I can not imaging how stupid Kiev government is, and in same token, how stupid US is.
Remember its taken quite a lot of misery for Hezbollah to evolve into what they are now, and they weren’t always awash in Iranian backing. I don’t mean to minimize the threat posed by Kiev, but still, they have mounted nothing that could be compared to the worst the Lebanese have been through. The Israeli invasions (plural) of Lebanon were more like what the Ukrainian people suffered in 1941.The Lebanese civil war was apocalyptic (and included more shlomo agression…I actually hope the people of the Donbas do not have to go through what Lebanon has been through these past 40 years to get a SDF comparable to Hezbollah. Remember also how many Lebanese have simply fled their homes to emmigrate in all that time
A great post! Let me add a few details to the picture.
In the 2006 war, Hezbollah demonstrated mythical levels of discipline. It happened during the war as well as after. There was no looting. None. During the war, fighters at times broke into homes for supplies. When they left, the home was secured until the owner’s return. When the owners returned they found a note detailing what was taken (down to socks and cans of food) and a promise to provide compensation. It is my first hand testimony that in one town, a gold shop had its’ doors blown off and the gold jewellery was hanging there, in the open and without loss, for a month until the owner was able to return and secure it.
After the war teams spread out for assessment. Some 60,000 homes were found to need replacing. IF memory serves correctly, 60,000 more needed repair. Basic furnished rental accommodation was provided – without religious discrimination – until the repair/rebuilding was complete. In the south the job was complete inside a year. In the suburbs of Beirut the project took longer as permits were held up by other political factions.
Nora: “I’m guessing that Hezbollah didn’t start out doing all they do now” – sorry, but yes they did. Starting back in 1993, when Lebanese leadership took over, the movement has maintained the same values and priorities that are seen displayed today. Success destroys values, it does not enable them. The greatest danger they face is their own success. Likewise, leaders do not ’emerge’. The ones that do are inevitably opportunists who will eventually betray the movement’s goals or values for their own political gain. This was the lesson Hezbollah learned leading up to 1993. As a movement they had to go back and literally start over to become healthy. Ironically, it is the Iranians who are learning from Hezbollah, not the other way around.
James: thanks for the great comment on “how compassion is stronger than evil or exploitation” This really is at the core of health and what makes Hezbollah the force that it is. It is an ideological/faith orientation that calls them to live for something much bigger than themselves. It is founded in justice, community and an unwavering commitment to truth. It is only this kind of orientation that enables the kind of discipline that Hezbollah has demonstrated.
Anonymous, 22 June, 2014 02:53:
The 2 million supporters only emerged after the 2006 war. That support did not exist, at all, anywhere in Lebanon in the early 1990’s. Hezbollah earned that trust. It grew slowly. Very. Slowly. Prior to the 2006 war their support even among shi’ite people in the south was a small minority. The Lebanese are a jaded and cynical people – especially when it comes to tribal politics (which I sense may be true of Ukraine as well). Yet even in this kind of setting, they have managed to earn trust.
Ultimately, this is the reason it is so feared in the region. It is not the military weapons that it weilds. It is the depth of their values, their ‘human assets’ if you will. But it is far more than human assets, it is their understanding of community, of sacrifice for what they know will come to be, simply because it is true and just and embodies the heart of God.
Does Novorussia have that kind of vision and faith? No one wants to fight and die for another opportunist. You cannot with the battle and then pick politicians. The ancients have said “without a vision, the people perish”. The vision is only as solid as the values of the person who calls us to it. Who is that person in Novorussia?
It wasn´t primarily the Zionazi killing feast on orthodox Serbs of cabbalistic proportions in that war, that rendered them total victory, it was their media, their Ahmanpour´s and her ilk that have satanized the Serbs for more than 20 years and even made themselves flagellants of the NATO narrative, believing in the western Kosher lies and that they where baptised by bombs of holy “democracy” from an evil regime.
That and the US imposed quisling cult serving as “government” and 1.800, no less, NGO´s on US payroll heavily entrenched in the Serbian society will keep them occupied and zombie walking for the foreseeable future. The only real Serbs now are the free ones in Kosovo that are fighting both the quisling cult in Belgrade, the Albo drug & organ lords and NATO.
The Novorossiyans have nothing of the sort and could face the same future. Russia do and have cached up since then with RT and all but could do a whole lot more in that regard. I think the Nazi luftwaffe and whatever nasties they are pounding them with (under total media silence) have motivated those who dare enough, but Russia did gave hope and a promise to save them from genocide, didn´t they? Now there are mixed signals from Moscow, Putin wanted them to postpone the referendum, not a wise advice in retrospect and now he says he believe in Poroshitko´s/Waltzman´s “peace plan” and ceasefire that have bombed them all night since yesterday.
This is, after all a war of proxies between the US and Russia and given the fact that Russia proper will be next, i think it is the Russians who should be up in arms now,before that happens.
/Mikhas
@nora
Watch “Amal in Beirut 1984” and “South Lebanon 1985.” On YouTube
Both are excellent videos. The pillar they are standing on, more than charity, is sacrifice.
Mindfriedo
I want to amend my previous post regarding the 3000 year old story. Basically, the town’s people had no choice but fight very hard (had read it long time ago, no longer able to recall all details). That is where NovoRossian stands now.
A negotiated settlement is possible, all the West has to do is let the ceasefire hold.
Meaningful autonomy within Ukraine is the most sensible “split the difference” position, with scheduled elections monitored by trustworthy third parties (I would pick the Chinese).
Elections should center on choosing representatives that will negotiate the terms of autonomy as well as represent the territories in a meaningful way. Ukraine pays its gas bill, and the region returns to its pre-Sochi-backstab struggles for development.
Time is definitely on the side of the locals IF they don’t have to go toe-to-toe with a second world army backed by an Infinite Checkbook.
Putin is slowly ramping up the pressure, and as predicted the West is backing off to the stopping point of the above mentioned negotiated settlement.
None of this was necessary.
Hell awaits Nuland and co.
the pug said…22 June, 2014 03:46
Thanks. I’ve seen the talk before and agree it’s concise and directly to the point. An excellent explanation of what is behind the zionazi strategy with the Ukraine.
Had the comment writer at least given a title, I wouldn’t have bitched.
Pavel Gubarev has a response to the zionazi “peace plan”, a peace plan of his own.
Губарев предложил Порошенко свой мирный план (Gubarev invited Poroshenko his peace plan)
http://www.vz.ru/news/2014/6/21/692173.html (trans) http://translate.yandex.net/tr-url/ru-en.ru/www.vz.ru/news/2014/6/21/692173.html
“Folk Donetsk oblast Governor Pavel Gubarev in response to the peace plan of President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko presented its own version of the conflict settlement, speaking on withdrawal of Ukrainian servicemen from the territory of the people’s Republic and the recognition of their independence.
“My proposal on the peaceful settlement of the collapse of former Ukraine: the first – “Ukra” (law-enforcers – approx. VIEW) output punishers of DND and LNR. The second junta recognize our Republic. Third – junta creates conditions for holding plebescito of self-determination of other regions of new Russia”, – wrote Gubarev on his page on Facebook
In addition, he also proposed to surrender to the forces of militia people’s Deputy of Ukraine, leader of the Radical party Oleg Liashko, the Minister of internal Affairs Arsen Avakov and the Governor of Dnepropetrovsk region Igor Kolomoisky…”
Allegedly Russia has spent 50 billions on Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.
If only a fraction of that money went to creating pro-Russian organizations in Ukraine in last 23 years would have been better for Russia and Novorossiya.
From South Africa
On 22 June, 2014 03:56 the pug wrote:
There is no need to do the onjectionable and execute captured foreign mercenaries.
Win hearts and minds.
I agree. Stooping down to the basement level of the Nazi stormtroopers and their Western supporters will only help amplify their propaganda efforts and convince less informed people that those “Russian agents” are indeed “terrorists”. It is also not helpful to convince those still on the fence about getting involved in the resistance when it seems that no matter which side they choose, it would be terror and injustice anyway.
A “people’s republic” worth its name should be just that:
The best way of practicing democracy is to get serious with it and dismantle hierachical “top-down” structures that only enable accumulation of wealth and power in the hands of a few. People in charge of their local affairs giving the directives to representatives they trust. Similarly, workplaces organised in a way that those working there are in charge of the means of production and how profits should be used.
Yes, capture foreign mercenaries, display them on video, then contact journalists in the their homeland and ask them to get reaction from the mercenaries’ families, confirming their identity, and get that on the six o’clock news before sending them home in a prisoner of war exchange.
I disagree with the POW part. Mercenaries should not granted that status. They are nothing more but privately hired mafia hitmen and should be treated and tried as the murderers they are. But they should be tried fairly. Treat your enemy the way you yourself want to be treated like, be a good example worth emulating.
Б.
Hezbollah vs New Russia
1. Hezbollah is not fighting with Lebanon Army.
2. Hezbollah has the territory where it can relocate.
3. Hezbollah did not emerged out of multi level chaos.
4. Hezbollah wanted to win “hearts and minds”.
5. Hezbollah sold munition against external _enemy_.
6. Hezbollah _knew_ it can withdraw and come back.
Now make the same list with New Russia instead of Hezbollah.
When the Saker compares apples with oranges it’s OK, he’s the right to do so. But I can’t understand why those from the Camp of Wise Men hammering any dissident on this site are unable to see it (well, actually I understand).
Article by Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed on the motives behind the Pentagon’s sponsorship of social sciences:
At the end of the Cold War, a scandal rattled universities in the United States: renowned teachers and research laboratories were secretly funded by the Pentagon. On one hand, their expert opinions were tainted and, on the other, their research was directed towards military applications. This era is back: the Pentagon is now the leading sponsor of social sciences in the United States. It seeks primarily to understand how citizens become involved in a political movement thereby aiming to manipulate and control it.
Pentagon preparing for mass civil breakdown – Voltairenet
Б.
Espina said
Heard the MSM waxing lyrical about this Sikorski character earlier (Sunday am)seemingly a pal of David Cameron and Boris Johnson, former member of the ‘Bullingdon Club’ in it up to his neck right enough…..
http://www.voltairenet.org/article184283.html
Viva the resistance!!!
Espina
Tragically, the Hezbollah approach does not transfer easily to Europe, it is a different culture. One aspect is that with the decline of deep religious afterlife sentiment in Europe, there is significantly less bravery, and many fewer brave people than in Muslim countries. Yes there are great heroes in Novorossiya fighting and dying, indeed many, but insufficient critical mass as compared to the Levant, West has more passivity in face of the need to risk life. People waiting to join Team Victory when they see who it is and joining it has less risk. As American Kulak said above “the apathetic majority fears even their pitiful pensions will be taken away from them”.
Second factor is classic Slavic / Russian dis-organisation and limited abilities to pull together, limited mastery of media (as noted in comments above), all evident on both sides in the battles of Ukraine – Novorossiya. Military perations, media, so many aspects quickly become ‘clusterf-ck’, and people die.
The overall tendency throughout the West, in cultures of now weak religion, is to ‘sit and wait’ for other brave ones to take the bullet in the chest. Consider USA with internet-boastful owners of 300 million civilian guns, who yet do almost zero as nearly full US fascism is implemented, police kill citizens regularly, and mass jailings of US millions, many innocent, continue. When US officials did gun confiscation trial runs (New Orleans Katrina, Boston Marathan incident’) US people were like sheep to slaughter. Brave portion of Novorussians are significantly better, but it is still too small a portion – a factor bedeviling Putin’s tormented days of decision.
Maybe testy Candy-kings in Kiev will now start to feel more like dialogue once they get wind of this development between Moscow and petro-kings in Riyadh? Starting to look like Obama’s pivot out of the ME got a little nudge along. Bye, bye gringo!
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/2014/06/22/Moscow-seeks-to-play-negotiator-Riyadh-holds-the-keys.html
Putin’s economic advisor reveals the massive militarization of Ukraine, intended not only to crush Donbass, but to re-take Crimea, and be the puppets to start another world war for further consolidation of the US hegemony over Eurasia.
To be honest, I normally have trouble believing advisers/spokespersons/etc., but this man made much sense and the picture he paints a dire one. Judge for yourself.
Watch @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWT5HM_NMlI
Israeli forces have raided a building in Ramallah where the offices of several media outlets, including RT’s Arabic channel, are located. The troops broke down the doors of several offices, destroyed some of the equipment and confiscated records, RT’s correspondent Yafa Staiti reported.
http://rt.com/news/167628-israel-raid-rt-office/
American Kulak,
I’d love to help out but I won’t make it easier for Five Eyes to get any more than they’ve already gotten by doing either Facebook or gmail. Your idea is a good one though; hopefully someone will take you up on it.
And right on cue; Fresh clashes in Ukraine threaten ceasefire – Assaults by pro-Russia rebels continue, Ukrainian officials say, while Putin’s troops remain on combat alert.
A raw draft for a serious “Peace Plan”. (Il Discobolo)
1) Immediate stop of all military activities from all parties involved
2) Separation of conflicting parties with creation of a demilitarized zone 30 km wide between Luganks and Donetsk Regions and the rest of Ukraine.
3) Return to their homes of all refugees
4) Implementation of a plan to restore houses,roads, buildings (private and public) destroyed or damaged by bombings, and all services (water, electricity, medicines)
5) Compensations for damage to private proprierties
6) Punishement of responsibles for crimes against the civil population, including the Odessa arson.
7) Ban of armament supply to ALL involved parts
8) Withdrawal of the Ukraine Armend Forces from the Russia Federation borders.
9) Direct negotiations between Kiev and Lugansk/Donetsk representatives.
10) International Inquiry for the events on Feb. 21-22 in KIEV
Look I think a lot of you, including you Saker, are missing the big picture here.
The US and its satraps (mistakenly called the UK and EU) are going all the way here.
Recent announcement of new planned sanctions and all that. NATO exercises in all the surrounding countries. Build up of their forces.
And lest we forget the Ukrainian/NATO exercises in July… on Ukrainian soil… and they are not going to leave. There will ‘something’, some false flag thing that justifies them going on the attack.
They will join in with the ‘freedom loving’ nazis and do what NATO is good at …killing civilians. So you people in the eastern Ukraine you are going to be hit by a NATO sh*tstorm real soon. And unlike the Ukrainian forces, NATO does know how to kill lots of people.
Maybe even have a go at the Crimea. Which they will definitely do if Russia doesn’t intervene then.
Russia knows this, why the announced ‘exercises’, which are designed to bring them up into full mobilisation (and their nuke forces will be at 100% alert).
Hence the Russian air force/NATO … close misses… which will get a lot closer over the next few weeks.
Russia doesn’t want war, Putin doesn’t … the US does.. and as I said ages ago, there is no going back on this now.
This is war. Timing is good July 2014, exactly 100 years from July 1914.
What is happening with the US subs? Are they all out now? Where are their AMD ships, are they all out and where are they?
Big picture: a dying empire is going to do a Sampson….now.
Anonymous said “When ex. president Yanukovic was in power, Anglo-Zionist media called him pro-Russian president and Oligarch.”
This is absolutely right. It is insidious propaganda.
But! In the UK, 90% of people would reject that statement outright. Why? Because nobody uses the term Anglo-Zionist here. It has terrible connotations.
If you want to lose support amongst the general public, then keep repeating that term.
The reality is that the Kiev junta is slowly grinding down the rebels, and it will be in control of all of the eastern Ukraine by the end of the summer.
Russia will not intervene because that would stop all trade with Europe, which Russia needs for modernization. It even needs the West for help in maintaining oil production.
Russia is also on the verge of defeat in the Middle East. Assad is hanging on only because the various Sunni factions spend more time fighting each other than fighting him.
Perhaps Russian can salvage some of its position with a formal alliance with Iran. Russia would provide modern air defenses and aircraft and other military equipment plus surreptitious support for Iran’s nuclear weapons program, and Iran would grant them air and naval bases on the Indian Ocean. These bases could be used to threaten European oil supplies in need.
On the other hand, maybe Russia just collapses into Third World status.
Saker,
Although without a doubt Hizbollah0s policy’s is I would say optimal, you cannot expect Novorossyian authorities to do the same in such short time, without (as you yourself surmise) a majority of the population actively supporting it…and most importantly, without decades of knowledge on such issues. That is not to say that they could learn quickly -following your blog for example- or do a better job communications wise. But I see it right now as primarily a war, with too short notice to mount effective propaganda in the resistance’s side. One only hopes they will do so soon as, living in the “west” disinformation is rampant and favors mostly the nazis in kyiv and l’viv.
BOT TAK and American Kulak:
Do I want to see NAF summarily execute captured mercenaries? No. But it was asked how you prove it is not all a recording on a sound stage with actors. The only way you can do that is to produce a corpse so as to set off the Empire’s wardrum vengenace squad in the media. All of you already knew that is the answer to that question before I answered it for you. Don’t hate me for the answer when I didn’t ask the question or pose it as a problem.
I appreciate the humanity you all show in reaction. The humanity of the NAF in comparison to the abandonment of their own wounded and execution of enemy wounded by the National Guard/Right Sector is one of the best reasons to support them.
Daniel Rich:
You are wrong on so many levels that I don’t even know where to begin. You’re like the man selling cheap, rusty nails at the foot of Golgotha who proclaims, “I need to feed my family, you know….?”
I would say it IS blasphemy to compare the crucifixion of Our Lord to the summary execution of a foreign mercenary who has come to your land to incite and participate in a civil war, and if possible, kill you and your family and take pictures to send back home of his foot on your corpse with your house on fire in the background.
It is the mercenary and the foreign invader, whose “business” is being paid to go and kill innocent people and be involved in deadly conflicts he has no business being in who should be compared to the nail salesman of golgatha.
Anonymous 05:23,
You’re making some really good points.
As far as the marketing/propaganda, I used to get so frustrated with the Palestinians for very much the same, ultimately strategic, lacunae. But reading you, it strikes me that, although we’ve been so marketed-to our entire lives — we breathe it in with our very first breath so *of course* we think that way — other, better-because-less-materialistic cultures simply don’t. It’s literally foreign to them, which is not a bad thing in everyday life but certainly a necessity in self-defense.
Also, I’m wondering the extent to which RIA Novosti et. al. have been infiltrated (again, if you don’t think in marketing terms, you’ll hardly notice when even your own staff use them against you).
@ Andrew,
Q: I would say it IS blasphemy to compare the crucifixion of Our Lord to the summary execution of a foreign mercenary who has come to your land to incite and participate in a civil war, and if possible, kill you and your family and take pictures to send back home of his foot on your corpse with your house on fire in the background.
R; Well, I’m your run-of-the-mill heretic, but I thought the man was against all killing, no? Or, are their lesser murders?
pug:
Yes, capture foreign mercenaries, display them on video, then contact journalists in the their homeland and ask them to get reaction from the mercenaries’ families, confirming their identity, and get that on the six o’clock news before sending them home in a prisoner of war exchange.
The proposal of a prisoner exchange assumes that NAF are dealing with rational actors who share their view of humanity and war. However, look at what they are really dealing with. When the helicopter pilot was shot down over Slavyansk in April, the Ukrainians made sure to come down and get his gun, but they abandoned him injured in the field! Animals show more concern for their fellows who are injured! The Ukrainian side is lying repeatedly, hides their injured all over Ukraine, keeps most of its war dead off the books as unofficial fighters, and is seemingly dumping some of them in mass graves. If the reports about mass graves are true, I expect in some time we will hear from the Kiev side when they can no longer hide the dead that the mass graves are discovered and blame it as massacres by the NAF on poor defenseless Ukrainian prisoners of war. These Kiev coup people are nothing if not masterful psycopathic liars.
How did the exchange of bodies go between the LC and Ukrainians? The LC handed over more than 100 corpses while the Ukrainians demanded money for each one and in the end turned over only 9!
So really, what would happen with an Anglo Merc the NAF parade on video? Western media would lie, lie, lie about why the American or Englishman was in Ukraine, they will claim he was a businessman working for a local firm as a consultant, they will protray NAF as kidnappers and terrorists for the mere fact of capturing and holding a sacred Anglo, sob stories will be broadcast about “I want my daddy to come home” from his terrorized little children, US and British politicans will issue militaristic threats against NAF, possibly a few cruise missiles will be fired. Don’t think so? Do you realize the American government sacrificed 100 Americans troops and saw another 1000 injured in Fallujah to avenge the mercenaries hung from the bridge? There won’t be an exchange for an Anglo merc captured. There will be a demand to hand over the sacred Anglo or suffer military punishment.
yes, the novorussians need better media/pr experts.
Most people I know in the US assume that any slick media presentation and ALL PR presentations are a pack of lies and misrepresentations. As Saker has said, you can figure out most things coming from official media/government on this and many topics by assuming the exact opposite of what they broadcast through their slick media/PR organs. I think NAF is doing just fine without its own websites and TV interviews full of half-truths, lies, and fabrications.
Dear Saker
Do you know why your blog has more posts than any other blogs?
I will tell you one reason.
.
Almost everybody everywhere wants you – in order to post something – to log in via Google, Yahoo, Hotmail or similar accounts.
.
Above mentioned companies require from you telephone number in order to give you an e-mail.
.
On other hand either they are monitored by CIA or they work for CIA.
.
Even the Russian e-newspaper ask you to log in using Google and next to it there is an article
how NSA (CIA) conduct spying.
.
Who is here crazy?
.
Definitely not you.
.
You are more advanced and more far sighted.
Spain
Anonymous said…
Saker,
Although without a doubt Hizbollah0s policy’s is I would say optimal, you cannot expect Novorossyian authorities to do the same in such short time, without (as you yourself surmise) a majority of the population actively supporting it.
=================================
Dear Friend
At least they should strive to do it.
I mean that what has Saker very intelligently advised.
Saker has touched the nerve of the problem and his thoughts are on the right truck.
Peace to your and your family
Croat and Russophile
Well now, this could get very interesting. Apparently Donald Tusk’s government may fall due to a pretty nasty scandal involving bugging and roughing up journalists who discovered an illegal deal with their central bank. If elections are held, Tusk may well go bye-bye (and Sikorski be out of a job?). Does anyone know what the Law and Justice Party’s policies are, or anything about Jaroslaw Kaczynski in his present incarnation?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27919039
les,
Wow. But I think you inadvertantly made my point when you mentioned that Lebanese leadership took over in 1993 and resolved whatever problems they had had before. Also, I’m going to disagree with you about leaders emerging — not all leaders ever are good, but difficult times bring out various latent abilities in people that would otherwise have gone unused. I’ve seen it happen and helped it happen, both. And it doesn’t take long to recognize an opportunist; the problem generally is finding a suitable replacement before things get too far out of hand. Also, there has never yet been a perfect, flawless leader. Except one, the Son of God.
It is a shame though that Novorossiya doesn’t have decent access to and/or might not be very receptive to the advice of some Hezbollah advisors.
Mindfriedo,
You are right. I should have known that. My apologies.
Bakunin, re: mercenaries
“They are nothing more but privately hired mafia hitmen and should be treated and tried as the murderers they are. But they should be tried fairly. Treat your enemy the way you yourself want to be treated like, be a good example worth emulating.”
That is an excellent point — YES!!!
Anonymous 08:53
“But I can’t understand why those from the Camp of Wise Men hammering any dissident on this site are unable to see it (well, actually I understand).”
Quite a few errors in your comment, which I think you also understand.
Thank’s to reading the alarabiya url from Anonymous 9:58, I think Putin’s strategy is two-fold: first, do his best to avoid war with us, but second (and really primary) is to replace us not just via multipolar economics but by becoming the world’s moral and major strategic force for, omigosh, peaceful cooperation. So whatever Russia may be providing by back channels, he is continuing to urge dialogue and a reasonable compromise (by which all sides clearly benefit except us) in Ukraine; and attempting to work with the Saudis to accomplish the same for Syria and the Middle East. Compare and contrast, the Russian approach and the Empire’s. We had a super-sized greyhound one time who mained his dominance over *all* other dogs without ever once a show of aggression — he body-blocked an attacking Norwegian Elkhound one time and sent it running away and when other dogs would yap and nip and try to start something, he’d simply step right over them.
http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/737269
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/2014/06/22/Moscow-seeks-to-play-negotiator-Riyadh-holds-the-keys.html
Il Discobolo 10:28,
I like it! Oh, if only…
“Anonymous From South Africa said…
If only a fraction of that money went to creating pro-Russian organizations in Ukraine in last 23 years would have been better for Russia and Novorossiya.”
sure, these “organizations” are the main tool of the ” fourth generation wars ” and the actual ” defensive” and “weak” position of kremlin derive from this lack.
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2014/06/20/breaking-major-military-columns-enter-lugansk-from-border/
Is Mother Russia giving some helpful hand ?
Andrew,
Dear Saker,
In the video statement by Sergei Glazyev mentioned in this thread (“US is militarizing Ukraine to invade Russia”), he says at 3:20: “I agree with Mihail Remizov: time is on the side of the Nazis, strangely enough.” He then explains in some detail why he believes this is so.
What do you think of his analysis?
Thanks.