Saker gives up:
Wow, I really did take a beating in this comments section! Oy vey!
And here is the deal – as a military analyst I know a lost cause when I see it and this is one. So, I am giving up! You guys win :-)
You want to flag-wave? Please – be my guest, I won’t argue any more. You think that Russia will have an easy victory in Syria? Sure, whatever. You think that Doctors in Military Sciences are “amateurs”? No problem…
Even before the Russian military operation in Syria began I have been trying to inject a sense of realism and caution in the huge tsunami of hyperbole which flooded the Internet, but I will admit that I failed. Apparently, there is no demand for realism or caution.
Oh, I will still call it as I see it, I just won’t bother arguing with the flag-wavers. Let them wave to their heart’s content.
Big meeting in Moscow:
By now everybody has seen the photo of Putin and Assad shaking hands. What has received less attention is whom Assad actually met.
Putin, of course. And Lavrov and Shoigu. They spoke for a total of three hours. Then Medvedev joined them for a private dinner. Guess who else joined them? Mikhail Fradkov, Head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, and Nikolai Patrushev, Head of the Russian Security Council.
Guys, this is most definitely a power-meeting my any standard, something which only happens very very rarely in the presence of a foreign head of state (only Xi had that kind of access, if I remember correctly). And that tells me that major issues were discussed and very imporant decisions taken.
Obviously, not a word came out about what was discussed, but a meeting like that is something unprecedented. Foreign heads of state don’t get to speak directly to folks like Fradkov, especially not on camera. This is yet another strong message to the USA: this time, we mean business.
I have seen no official photo of this meeting, but I did manage to make a screenshot from a news video:
Assad, Patrushev, Fredkov Lavrov, Medvedev, Putin and Shoigu
Assad right next to Patrushev and Fradkov? Wow!
Putin’s popularity:
Poor Obama. Remember how the US imposed sanctions on Russia in the hope of turning the Russian people against Putin? Well, here are Putin’s latest approval ratings: (на октябрь means ‘in October’)
89.9% – in other words, Putin and his policies have the support of 90% of Russians!
What the poll does not show, but which I am sure is true, is that of the 10% who do not approve at least 5% (and probably 8-9%) do not approve because they consider that Putin is not firm enough in his struggle against AngloZionist imperialism. What do I base that estimate on? Mostly, the popularity (or lack thereof) of the few pro-US political parties like “Parnas” which was unable to get a single member into the Duma and which recently got thrashed in local elections.
So all that Putin-demonization is meaningless. It’s the entire Russian nation the West is fighting, not just one guy!
That’s it for now. See you in my dreams :-)
The Saker (temporarily dreaming that he is a dreaming alligator)
So I hadn´t got it but that´s the reason why the potoma&langley&capitol guys were whining soooo loud on the “red carpet” reception for Assad in moscow!
Yeah. and if such reception had been for the Bagdadi calipha instead?
And everybody knows there is no substitute for victory.
Let Putin take the red phone and tell Obama: well dry up your tears: it´s our s.o.b. and we´ve also got the right to have one.
“Let Putin take the red phone and tell Obama: well dry up your tears: it´s our s.o.b. and we´ve also got the right to have one.”
Perhaps you are too restricted in your framing and vision?
Salam Anonymous,
Obama is my president. In my own Country, in our own White House, to our own President, Netanyahu kept on lecturing year after year. He kept on poking Obama’s eyes, in front of all his own people. In fact, he used the awful term, “n” for our President.
Never underestimate a black man. There are lots of great black leaders and black man. You don’t poke the eyes of your host in his own house in front of his own people.
The color revolution is now going on in Israel. Netanyahu couldn’t make to October 8, Holocaust ceremonies in Germany. But Kerry made him travel to Germany today to meet him. Kerry refused to meet Netanyahu in Israel.
Russia is at the doorsteps of Isreal, protecting the Airspace of both Syria and Lebanon, with the best Military Hardware Russia posses. Soon Russia will be in both Iraq and Egypt.
Assad is going to stay, but Netanyahu will be taken away soon in white straight jacket. AIPAC is history and he cannot any longer turn to Boehner.
Rejoice,
Mohamed.
Let’s hope you are right….
Re: “Soon Russia will be in both Iraq and Egypt.” — well the three-act deception play called ‘getting two Russian-equipped (and serviced) ships build in France and delivered to Egypt’ was a master stroke which neither the US nor the UK could see occurring in the open right in front of their noses.
Holland has gone up in my estimation for possible shrewdness and good acting.
France and Germany now have a bet each way now between the old NATO ‘poodles-and-master’ camp (going slowly mad with new EU ex-Soviet members driving an anti-Russian irrational agenda) and a new emerging Russia-China EUAsia (read SCO + Iran, Pakistan & India) economic block.
Now the apartheid state of Israel is looking increasingly like a larger version of Gaza on the edge of the ME region. Assad will get the Golan Heights back and Russia will be invited to monitor in situ under a UN mandate. That Nut-&-Yahoo character won’t last long as the domestic pressure lid comes off. And Iran is not even in the ring now. Ha! Already the International court is signaling the settlements must go and land returned to the Palestinian owners. Bye, bye, Bibi baby!!!
The Saudi regime is also not long for this world it seems and a few Emirate gas stations (that can’t get a non-Rusian gas pipeline through ‘Assad Must Go’ Syria mean nothing in the larger game. The oldest aircraft carrier in the US Navy just pulled out and limped off somewhere stage left.
What I would add to your statement is: “Soon Russia will be in both Iraq and Egypt … and Libya” — I suspect he only needs the legal ‘invite’ and Putin will be quite happy to avenge the ghost of old Qaddafi — and his mate Xi will be quite ready to assist in re-establishing the Chinese economic equation in north Africa.
I suspect there is a very subtle code in Putin’s UN speech: “Do you understand now what you have done?” may well also perhaps imply that “Now you will sit down and learn what your mush-for-brains have done”.
Salam Anonymous,
Excellent Post, and you are right about Libya. Already, in my country US of A, Ex-Prime Minister of Israel is being sued for Gaza flotilla.
Former Israeli prime minister sued in US for raid on Gaza flotilla
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/21/former-israeli-prime-minister-sued-in-us-for-raid-on-gaza-flotilla
All these war criminals will be persecuted, as soon as they leave office. God’s Justice is never far.
Rejoice,
Mohamed.
I’m not going to hold my breath waiting on that.
Salam Everyone,
Already, USA have given Iraq the choice either you pick us or Russia, but not both.
Anybody, wants to bet who the Iraqis will pick? Pretty soon USA will be leaving.
Rejoice,
Mohamed.
***
Although I did think that if judging the situation, solely based on the highlights taken from Konstantin Sivkov interview, would result to very alarming conclusions. One must be reluctant to draw conclusions based on highlights alone. But Mohammed , man, there he is walking in the park already. While the opponents of Syria and Russia are trying to think of every way possible to make it as hard as they can for them.
Abkhasia development educasion interes parliament.
The Saker,
Rejoice. Half full glass is really full this time. Netanyahu, will soon be in white straight jacket.
Amen,
Mohamed.
P.S. You have to really enjoy your vacation. Your family needs it.
Hi Saker,
It has been forever since I have posted.
I understand your concern, that we need to be cautious and have more realistic expectations. Russia’s entry into Syria is not a movie where the hero will come out victorious, where all the bad guys are killed and everything is wrapped up, happily ever after.
This is real, and the ending is going to be messy and how we (amateur analyst) measure success will be very different to how Russia and Syria will measure success.
If we reflect back to the struggles of the Donbass area, we learn success (Mink I and II) is interpreted differently by the different players, as each have had different criteria and needs.
I sometimes wish more people learned about risk management/ mitigation, for in every project, and believe me this venture into Syria is a project, one needs to consider the risk, that in order to succeed one cannot assume everything is going well, or that every action will have a positive reaction. We need to talk about the challenges, in order to mitigate its impact.
We don’t need naysayers as much as people who consider those possible threats to the project, so we can make the changes needed to get us back on track.
Any idea what the victuals are on display Mr Allisaker.?
Looks like black pudding and potatoes, not particularly appetizing …
Thanks for the report on the meeting of seven. It’s power packed. Kind of takes my breath away.
I’m assuming that giving up to the flag wavers is a rhetorical device. I can’t imagine the Saker giving up. It’s kind of like minimal service.
I agree with your realism approach which is needed if only for balance. I admit that I get pulled into the flag waving myself although I tell myself I am against war. Just goes to show how powerful social and psychological dynamisms are. We really do need the balance of reason and logic. Please stay the course.
“It’s the entire Russian nation the West is fighting, not just one guy!”
Although apparently you have never understood it, it is more than the Russian nation that the opponents are fighting – they are even fighting themselves, with a little encouragement.
“Putin, of course. And Lavrov and Shoigu. They spoke for a total of three hours. Then Medvedev joined them for a private dinner. Guess who else joined them? Mikhail Fradkov, Head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, and Nikolai Patrushev, Head of the Russian Security Council.”
Perhaps you should take heed of the use of spectacle including use of photographs and how they can restrict “vision”.
As advised more than one year ago over-extension is always a strategic error, even when analysts over-extend into “strategy”.
Although the comments were never published, when in a hole it is often wise to stop digging, whilst creating a useful narrative why digging is being curtailed.
“You want to flag-wave? Please – be my guest, I won’t argue any more. You think that Russia will have an easy victory in Syria? Sure, whatever. You think that Doctors in Military Sciences are “amateurs”? No problem…”
However I suggest that the above statement has resonances of apres nous le deluge, which may prove useful as psychological defence, whilst illustrating the default resort to the binary exhibited by some military analysts.
Still it is recognised that all datastreams had/have their uses including yours, including whether or not they are “published”.
I will promptly recognize how broad vision is yours vis-a-vis the restricted vision here assigned to others.
And honestly once more, this Saker´s view is informative, points at simple hints to laymen and seems rather something plain and of simple reading/interpretation… Both as a military and a political analyst. He has written much more enigmatic and expertise requiring articles before.
Dear Saker,
I think you should consider the age factor in these comments … possibly are post-adolescents with hormones boiling in his veins …
Dear The Saker or the dreaming alligator,
As the saying goes – “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”.
It is what it is. Carry on with your caution and insights – those who want to listen will. Those who don’t won’t. But at least you’ve got it out there.
In regard to the dinner – I didn’t know who the other two guys were next to Assad – very important. Wow! No wonder why all the MSM were throwing their toys out of the pram. And this meeting took place before the SCO and Vienna meetings with Lavrov and Kelly.
Meanwhile little bitty Qatar is havig a fit:
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151021/1028898327/qatar-syria-intervention.html
and Lavrov is making it clear before the meeting with Kerry, Turkey and SA in Vienna that without Iran all these meetings are useless. He also states that Egypt, Jordan, UAE, our dear little friend Qatar should be at this meeting too and Russia hoping for a broader coalition.
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20151022/1028926163/Iran-Syrian-Crisis.html
Maria also had her weekley update
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20151022/1028928658.html
And Iraq also coming out saying it has made no promises to US about Russian planes getting involved:
http://sputniknews.com/world/20151022/1028928790/iraq-us-russia-airstrikes-isil.html
Oh didums – looks like the sulking US hasn’t got the power it used to have over its vassels and occupied countries…..it is slowly but surely being brought down from its exceptional perch – very dangerous though too – there are some crazies there.
Rgds,
Veritas
thanks for link Maria
I think message is Turkey-watch out you buy ISIl oil…..and USA NATO etc look, all your presence in Afghanistan has done is only more proof of disaster to join the long list………….hope the messages get even more blunt and direct……Sophie and Co had a prog recently with ex president of Afghanistan last few days……………….but not watched it.
“I will still call it as I see it,” that’s what most of us are here for Saker.
Whenever I see a photo of Putin, Lavrov and Shoigu, I think of a triumvirate or troika, and feel confident that no matter what happens to one, the other two will ensure Russia’s success.
” I think of a triumvirate or troika”
The Russian Federation not only has group “leadership” in depth but many co-operators within and without Russia.
care to expand?
well, Rogozin is another inside and Saker is outside. And Dimitri Orlov
“care to expand?”
No, doubt is often useful to encourage in opponents, and a blog is a broadcast medium.
I think of the sign of the cross he made upon his entrance at the 70 anniversary parade telling the nation that they were going into battle.
RR
Color revolution in South Africa?
I am in Cape Town, what do I do?
http://ewn.co.za/2015/10/22/Fees-Must-Fall-gains-more-international-support
https://www.enca.com/south-africa/feesmustfall-students-arrive-parliament-nationalshutdown
https://www.enca.com/south-africa/us-concerned-police-action-feesmustfall-protests
Please advise I’m freaking out.
Chill my bra
The ANC is in no serious danger of being overthrown in a colour revolution. Why would the US/NATO/Whoever bother?
The ANC:
* Is keeping a lid on the most unequal society since the fall of the Roman Empire,
* Provides fake populist cover for an economy managed almost purely on Neoliberal, Globalist lines
* Caves in to any trade demand US business makes of it (eg: vigorously enforces US copyright, sacrifices the SA poultry industry just because they were asked, encourages GM crops etc. )
* Lets money flow out of the country like a river
* Rolls out the red carpet whenever US/Nato warships or troops want to pay a visit
* Lets US (and Israeli) secret services operate in their country with zero oversight
* Has proved itself time and time again to be for sale, easily bribed
Why would the US/NATO/Whoever mess with such a sweet deal? Possible red flags like the recent hoo-ha about 51% SA ownership of foreign security companies will pass, resolved in the favor of the USA, as they always are. SA isn’t a nation, it’s barely even a country. It’s a resource extraction zone for Anglos and Glencores, Phizers and Monsantos. Plantations need supervisors that can keep the coolies in line and the best supervisors don’t use a whip, they use marketing (Mandela) and a few sweeties (Child Grants, do nothing jobs like waving flags).
And replace the ANC with what? The DA? The country would explode, burn to the frikkin ground along with all those foreign cash cows and anybody in the US embassy with even 3 braincells would know it.
No, I believe that any coulour revolution organising entity knows full well that only the ANC can keep a steady hand on the SA powderkeg while the 1% get on with what they do best. If you can pick any holes in my reasoning I would love to hear it.
Aangename kennis.
I agree with your list of impressive ANC achievements.
Here is my thinking:
(sorry I don’t have this very well organised yet)
The ANC are in a tough spot, their support is failing and while they are still the undisputed top dog, everyone is starting to look for an alternative. Factions within the party prevent them from taking action in any particular direction. While this has been good for the 1% and, in general, the whites, the promises to the poor blacks have been broken and the younger generation are no longer willing to accept promises as payment. The emergence of COPE, EFF, loss of membership have scared the ANC. They are afraid of losing power, especially individuals that may face corruption charges in future. So yes, I agree the ANC has been able to keep a lid on the powder-keg but I think their control is slipping. I don’t think the DA will come after the ANC, it will be the EFF. So we might be dealing with an actual revolution as opposed to a foreign controlled takeover. I don’t know.
SA is part of the BRICS and our economy is doing very badly. We need a capital injection. China has pledged a $ 50 billion loan. If this goes through, SA will become much more partisan and will clearly take sides with the Chinese. Our nuclear deal in progress also did not sit well with the USA. Our gold mines are no longer profitable and the platinum not much better. If we do take the loan from China we can stave of social unrest a bit longer, perhaps become competitive again at producing something. We do have a strategic position in Africa, it is possible that our government is negotiating with the Russians or Chinese about establishing military bases here.
So I see a number of scenarios playing out, none of them will be favorable to the USA. Here are 2:
1. SA gets bailed out by China, making us essentially a Chinese colony and we start cooperating with them more strongly militarily and diplomatically. The ANC stays in power. There is some redistribution of wealth and the rule of law is maintained. The Chinese essentially takes over the running of the country. This scenario may include a “recall” of Zuma as short term appeasement.
2. We have change of government through other means than election. The EFF takes over. I have no idea what happens next. Dangers are many and even the potential for civil war. Economic output likely to crash. Upsurge in racial tension. Right wing will get more paranoid. Many whites will leave the country as quickly as they can.
So while there is not a direct benefit for the USA or NATO in a regime change right now, they will be denying SA to China and Russia.
Then again, perhaps students just don’t want to pay for university…
boerseun
I see where you’re going with the denial theory. Makes sense to my armchair theorist ears.
All I can really add is I doubt the EFF will have to overthrow the government by means other than election if the ANC can’t perk up the economy and keep those students, the jobless and poor, compliant.
If the EFF lose the election they won’t have any other means of taking power. If they tried an uprising or something the Army would crush them – whites in the army too, no lovers of EFF). If the EFF does win by ballot, the army would take them out then too- ANC won’t give up power while it’s got the guns. But we’re just talking about a drawn out state of emergency scenario.
Nobody will help the EFF fight a proper civil war – Cuba and the USSR are not in that business anymore and China will talk to whoever can give them the best deals on access and minerals and that would still be the ANC. It won’t take a lot of manpower to run the parts of the economy foreign powers are interested in and 2/3 of the spending power rests with the top 10% …. so, what do they actually need the poorest 80% of South African people for? Who cares if they protest and strike? The gov could just bottle them up in the townships to starve and have a gin and tonic.
All of this is 2-3 election cycles in the future so pure speculation about things that could easily change. What I do think is that at some point we might be treated to the spectacle of rich whites in Sandton voting ANC just to try and keep the EFF out of power.
Also, I think SA is a lot less strategically valuable than it thinks it is. The Southern searoute for example is fading in importance quickly. Only the very largest tankers have to use it and that was before Panama and Suez upgrades. South Africa is actually sort of on the edge of everything – about as far as its possible to get from main global markets.
I think the students are pretty genuine BTW. They know you’re headed for a shack without a degree and Uni was already unaffordable before the increases.
Workers and Students Unite: Form a United Front with 10 demands regarding social welfare.
Free Universal access to Education, Housing, Medical Care. That is three. Full employment and a living wage. That is 5. A National Bank that deals with all government accounts inclu pensions etc ability to create long term loans-this shouldn’t be difficult with BRICS expertise. All natural monopolies vital to human survival-energy, transportation, must be public goods maintained and managed by the public. Never mind women or gay rights or anything else. identity politics. Equal pay for equal work. General Strike until you get these demands met. This would be a transitional program that SA needs. After all these years and people are still living in shanties and beggar’s in the streets. It is time for a transition to a post capitalist world. Capital controls on banking to prevent capital flight as were suggested for Greece but not done. Ask for help from like minded individuals like Glazyev and the former finance minister of Greece who was fired. And Webster Tarpley from the tax wall street party.
RR
Buurtwagter, your analysis seems hideously correct. The betrayal by the ANC has been so complete and so devastating that it must be without compare. Mandela was no doubt always willing to be Chief Overseer, but required 25 years or so to establish his street cred. Do you think it would have been different at all if Chris Hani had lived?
So,how much support does the South African government have among the people and the military.That would seem to be the key to answer you.
Hi Bob
Elections in SA are relatively free and fair, So, 60%+ of the population want an ANC government, about 18% want Democratic Alliance (the opposition, practically identical Neoliberal platform but without the brilliant “we liberated the nation” brand image). Under 10% of voters go for the really populist/nationalist/leftist parties. If the economy continues to deteriorate and one of the latter parties came to power in a few elections time the US might have a reason to do a colour job, but meanwhile- it’s win-win.
The army is totally government loyal. About 85% ANC appointed jobsworths and the rest ageing white officers and tech experts that just want to hang on till pension time. Zero chance of a coup under present conditions.
Thanks I appreciate it.
Among the people there is high support but going down. Last election around 60%. Membership of the ANC fell from slightly over a million to under 800 000 in the last couple of years. Their main support base is aging and dying.
In the military it is complicated because they inherited the armed forces from the apartheid government. So while 20 years have passed and many new people have come and gone, there is still a significant number of people from the previous regime and especially among the high skill positions like pilots and specialists there is a lot of white people whom the government does not trust.
Boerseun
Nah, My whole family was SADF – some stayed on after 94- so I know loads of those guys. Trust me, all a 55 year old officer or petty officer wants to do is hang on to collect their payout. My uncle just retired. He got a new car and now he plays with model trains.
ZERO chance of white revolt in the Army.
Thanks you.
Not sure about percentage, but yes, it is in the air. There was funny picture about it:
http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/gleb1368/31776814/69979/69979_900.jpg
“Listen, liberasts! We criticise Putin not because he is too-Putin, but because he is not-enough-Putin!”
Liberasts are collaborationists in Russia, covered under flag of liberalism. I’ve heard this polite, but precise definition from Khazin recently.
I’ve heard that too from Russians.Many of them accuse him of not being “strong enough”.While in the West they seem to think those that aren’t 100% Putin supporters.Aren’t, because they are pro-West,”foolish West”.They don’t realize the “Pandora’s box” they opened up in Russia.
Thank you Saker for this extremely informative blog, it has helped me learn so much!
In the thread posted by the Russian professor of military sciences, the professor believes that the Caspian sea task force has nearly exhausted its complement of cruise missiles. How long would it take for them to sail back to port, re-load, and sail back into firing position? If that is too troublesome, what about sending multiple squadrons of Tu-22s, Tu-160s, and Tu-95s literally over the Caspian sea, close to where the ships launched their Kalibrs, and launch from there? That, in my opinion, would solve the issues of crowded Latakia air base, and safety.
A growing number of people have called for the Chinese PLA to deploy forces to the Syrian theatre, but there are multiple problems. One, as stated in another Saker thread, the Liaoning simply does not have enough carrier aircraft. Two, since Qatar & Saudi Arabia have threatened direct intervention there is only one degree of separation between proxies-NATO; Beijing does not want to fight a war half way around the world with countries it has good relations with, i.e. GCC. Three, Beijing has to worry about fortifying itself against a combined US-Japan navy that threatens its islands in the South China sea, and more importantly, the resurgence of Taiwan separatists.
In terms of the Sino-Russian alliance it is much better for Beijing to defend the eastern flanks. Beijing is better placed to defend the sparsely populated Russian Far East region, where Russia has relatively few resources, while Moscow can help push back/defend the western flanks where Beijing has no resources.
Your opinion is always welcome Saker, especially if it does not fit our established patterns.
You often bring a perspective that is missed my most. Changing a thought pattern is always uncomfortable, but anyone who is sincerely seeking after the truth knows the feeling and comes to expect it.
The only “weakness” I see in your work is your extreme sensitivity to some of the comments. It hurts you and the trolls and opponents of the truth know it. They take advantage of this strength/weakness to attack you and attempt to impair your work. I know you will not give up and for one I will continue to provide you with my unconditional support.
As for the meeting with Assad, your post is the most informative to-date about the significance of the event and its ramifications.
Thank you very much again and again and again…
Saker, thanks for naming the others from Intel services. I was guessing that’s who they must have been.
Syria is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the RF. Assad is an employee. (to use business metaphors).
Putin has taken over Syrian assets and liabilities. Risking RF’s top gun assets, manpower and machines, RF has acquired the keystone position in the ME marketplace.
Iraq is waiting to be acquired. I think that Iran is timid about taking it for themselves. It may later get Iraq in a spinoff deal.
The reason Iran has not appeared on the scene in useful numbers is Putin’s control. He wants to placate the Saudis (who are malleable because their financial statement is looking dire with loss of revenues and predicted instability internally). (You can only chop off so many heads.)
Putin will try to get diplomatic control of Syrian resolution and a new government, Yemen resolution, and an entirely new Russian managed ME environment stable and fit for big business.
There is enormous growth potential if the wars could be ended.
Thus, Iran is kept in the shed. Later, its wealth will be added to the enterprise.
Putin: CEO and Capitalist of Russia, Inc.
The only risk in the play is Turkey. Erdogan manifests schizoid behavior. The Turks’ board of directors may have to buy him out of his contract soon.
It is interesting to look at things through a different lens. The struggles over what appears to be ideology and military hegemony really is about control of distribution and market share.
Saudi play for market share has not been beneficial to them. Though they have damaged militarily both the tracking oil industry of the US and LNG potential of the US.
The US has hurt the gas customers in Europe who purchase Russia gas, but have not gained access for US partners like Qatar.
Russia experienced sanctions impact, but hurt the EU much more with counter-sanctions. Trade wars and tariffs and cross-border trade obstacles cut both ways.
Meanwhile, the vast customer base has been given a show of shiny new military technology by the new (old) kid on the corner, Russia. Now everyone is becoming a Putin-fanboy, lining up like Apple fanboys waiting to get the latest “cool” radar or jet or even snuggling up to and watching the Russians use their gadgets.
Great marketing. Putin = Steve Jobs.
Location, location, location. Putin picked the perfect location for his “Apple Store”.
Haha,I think your right in most of that.But its kind of amusing to reduce it to solely economic jargon (not wrong,but amusing choice of description).
Missiles and warplanes would be big temptation to the Saudi’s who like their boys toys….. and their boys by some accounts.
The indian airforce marshall wet his pants seeing the French jets take out Libyan targets.. Guess they will be ordering the SU34’s now.. They already said they wanted 12 S400;s compared to the 3 the Chinese ordered.. I bet Russia will also sell a lot of T14;s as well.. They cost less than the T90’s.. But only India has said they want to buy them. IF the SAA gets a few T14’s and can show them in action, they might be busy until 2030 with orders. 2400 T14’s will take like 10 years before anyone else can get some though..
But Assad has indicated he did not want Foreign boots.. That was until al queda mercenaries took over some critical areas using US made TOW missiles. So this was a blunder of huge proportions.. Assad has lost control and sovereignty.. But it is not the US that benefits, all they have done is rapidly escalate the process of where Russia buys Syria for pennies on the Dollar..
Russia also got off shore drilling rights off Syria for military hard ware..
@ Red Ryder on October 22, 2015 · at 2:44 pm UTC
Putin: CEO and Capitalist of Russia, Inc.
Red Ryder, I detest your inference. Capatilsm is THE problem.
Multipolar World = NO DIFFERENCE !
Putin believes in transparent markets, sorry to disappoint.
RR the only part I didn’t like was about getting another Syrian government…I doubt that….and its too fresh to be funny.
Salam Ann,
New Syrian Government, whose leader will be still Assad.
Salam Red Ryder,
Excellent analog but you you missed out the biggest spoiler, Israel. And, for this reason I kept on saying that they are working together.
My new prediction :
Netanyahu will be removed from his chair in a straight white jacket.
Rejoice,
Mohamed.
Dear Saker:
Where would we be without you???
Topic of the Month:
Counterattack in the Southeast:
Combine:
1. Russia Holding firm in Europe (including Novorossya)- with
a. Corbyn in English Labor
b. Marine Le Pen in France – she is on trial & surging in polls
c. Trudeau – Liberal upset in Canada (to withdraw air force from Mideast)
d. Germany- in political chaos (Refugees fleeing -into- the country???)
Netenyahoo declared Palestinians responsible for the Shoah-(holocaust); Merkel corrected, & I paraphrase, “no, we-(Germans) did it.” I can’t make this stuff up… The fun Dieudonné can have with this. But I digress.
2. The counterattack in the Middle East (Syria)- with:
a. The highest level Political (Emotional) Connection between Syria and Russia in Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, (conducted under the red hot guns of the Zionist-Nazi-imperialists). The Rothschilds and other imperialists did not see this coming. They are in shock. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/22/us/politics/assad-finds-chilly-embrace-in-moscow-trip.html?ref=todayspaper They desperately try to twist the story to their advantage. “Chilly Embrace” my ass (don’t they read the Saker?).
b. The Russian Air Force, and Navy, and the Syrian Armed Forces, and the Iranian Armed Forces, and the Hezbollah -the Palestinian Liberation Armed Forces, and the reborn Iraqi Armed Forces, with some assistance from the Chinese Government, the Houthi in Yemen, and there are others. Do I need a verb?
3. Human-emotional rebuilding is the first victory, and comes through struggle. Economic recovery comes – as always – after victory – after the revolution.
Saker, you did not lose anything. Your strong experienced candid opinions keep us on track. And one day, within the Belly of the Beast, we will produce a resistance worthy of mention and help restore those:
Democratic Republics!
IMAGINE
There are two ways to look at those meetings.One is the way we want it to be (Saker described that perfectly).The other “is”, a “come to Jesus meeting”.To read him the riot act on what needs to be done by him.I’m wondering why there were no Syrian officials pictured there.No Syrian military,intelligence,or political/diplomatic officials in the meeting.Not even an aide to be seen.I think I’d like to see pictures of Assad during and after the meeting (read his expressions/body language) before I feel too good about it.Hopefully it is as we want.But still,the lack of Syrian officials is interesting.When you are planing big moves you’d want to have the people involved there (I think).But if you are chewing someone out,or giving them bad news they don’t want to hear.You want only your people around for that.So we’ll have to wait and see.
Uncle Bob 1
This was a meeting held under war conditions.
Assad arrived with (I am sure) a few aids. He was in & returned to Syria (before) news of the occasion was released to the world.
Obviously, President Assad could be given communications – while still in Damascus.
*The Key point is: His Trip to Moscow Was of the Greatest Political and Moral Importance.
The imperialists might insist that Vladimir Putin would “read him the riot act on what needs to be done by him,” as that is how they treat their underlings. I am not sure that explains the courageous and lightning quick move of Russia’s Air Wing and support forces to Syria.
The Assad visit to Moscow was a Dazzling Display on the World Stage (Read your Shakespeare), of respect and support on the part of the Russian Nation to the Syrian People and their Soldiers who have held the line for four long years against the overwhelming forces of Zionist American terrorism.
Use your eyes and heart. The imperialist Oligarchs have Nukes and TV, and Hollywood, and Disneyland, but they don’t have our souls. They don’t have souls.
A handshake with Vladimir Putin means something, specially if the Rothschild’s “New York Times” disapproves.
The 19th Century was wasted on some people.
IMAGINE
This was a meeting held under war conditions (…) The Key point is: His Trip to Moscow Was of the Greatest Political and Moral Importance.
Yes, absolutely. I totally agree.
Two other places set.
Assad is known. Welcome at the Kremlin.
Who are the missing two?
Syrians? Other nationalities?
Yes,I agree too.But still,I would be more sure if I had seen one other Syrian official there too.But yes,it was a spectacular photo op.And you can bet the Empire and stooges were seething.
Definitely not a ‘come to Jesus meeting.’
Assad is president of a country under extreme duress – and he hasn’t turned tail and run. (And he did have alternatives, particularly in Britain.) Putin would respect that. He must surely feel a degree of empathy too: he knows what its like to be defamed by the Western MSM.
I have also seen another photo where they look pretty happy – and a certain ‘relief’ seems evident too. With so many enemies, the security provisions must have been incredibly focussed and tight. Getting Assad there safely and back clearly took some major planning.
Sure, they might have points of contention – that’s normal. But I totally agree with the Saker – this is a morale-booster for Assad and a definite endorsement by the Kremlin.
Yeah, they don’t just ‘talk the talk’ in the RF – they ‘walk the walk.’
Security permitting.:)
Assad is known.
Perhaps it suits Syria not to have his closest confidants identified?
Could be,possibly?
translators aren’t in the photo so spare place for one of them?
Looking at the photo for the fifth or sixth time (eyesight poor with age) there seem to be up to four unoccupied place settings.
Syrians? Other nationalities?
Intriguing.
Uncle Bob that’s ridiculous…didn’t you even notice Assad’s grin from ear to ear….and just his old supervisor as companion….you silly
True,but remember that was the beginning of the meeting.I hope the majority opinion here is correct.But sometimes its good to play “devil’s advocate” and mention other possibilities as well.That way,we can see all sides of events.You see,I do agree with Saker’s flag waving article to a great extent.I think we shouldn’t get too excited until we know the full story of events.While studying history and World affairs I’ve found the details (or back-story) sometimes is most important to understand what (and why and how) something took place.As an example.If we just took news reports as everything we needed to know about an event.We’d see a “maidan” in Kiev displaced one government and put another in its place.But now,because we know,not just “what” happened.But “why” and “how” it happened we have a whole different understanding of the events of the maidan. And every event should be considered in the same way.
Anyone got some more news about this? Seems Iraq was about to invite Russia to join in the battle against ISIS, but then USA went down and bullied Iraqi into saying they wont invite Russia.
“U.S. to Iraq: If Russia helps you fight ISIS, we can’t”
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-iraq-chose-between-american-and-russian-airstrikes-in-isis-fight/
I feel flag-waivers are to be pitied not argue with. :)If they are so sensitive they cannot deal with the reality, then that is really their problem. And a big one at that.
Personally I favore realism over flag-waivers anyday, I live in Sweden,here there is not a fragment of alternate media, and any objectivity is deemed “A threat to democracy” according to the Swedish medial elite.
So I certainly do not desire to be drenched in the same level of subjectivity and propaganda on internet, whether it is pro-what I believe in or anti-what I believe in, I just want to know what is happening.
So far in Syria to me it appears that there has been a miscalucation, some in the Russian/Syrian/Iranian command expected a blizkrieg of a few months, but what they got is a brutal house to house fighting type of war that will last 3-6 years, during which anything could happen.
@Liz. TOS-1s were used in Syria, apparently for the first time, in the last 24 hours. Russia shipped them to Syria months ago.
After Assads visit to Moscow, the pace may step up quite a few notches. al Nusra has been pulling all its fighter to the frontlines against the Syrian government. Syria should be hitting them with everything they have, and this may well start to happen now.
I heard about them being in Syria like 10 days ago.
Here is some nice news.
“On the, 22 October,The Syrian army made significant progress in the southern countryside of Aleppo amid a collapse within the ranks of the militants The Syrian military seized control over the villages of Jouret Aljahash, Rasm al-Sheikh Qiqan, Deir Saliba, and Kafr El-Obeid.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwestern_Syria_offensive_%28October_2015%29
TOS-1 was used in Syria on October 10, 2015 by Syrian Army forces against rebel forces in Hama.
— TOS-1s were used in Syria, apparently for the first time, in the last 24 hours…
In addition to that:
There were discussions at the Saker’s site regarding the constraints, imposed on Russian jets’ abilities to hit the terrorists by the size of Latakia airfield with one runway only.
Today Russians addressed the concern (as if knowing about the discussion :) ), with the spokesman of the RF MoD saying that the efficiency of Rusians jets has increased:
– Previously a pair of our jets went to attack one target, while now, – since the pilots know the terrain much better – a single Russian jet strikes two or more targets during one sortie…
And today’s figures seem to confirm the general’s words: 53 sorties and 72 targets hit.
Certainly a good way for the pilots to gain experience, I hope they have thousand pilots there that rotate so at the end of the offensive Russia has the most experienced airforce in the world. :) Well, I guess USA military flies more sorties, but they only drop bombs like 20% of the time according to Iraq.
I see two genuine Latakia runways on Google maps. Unless I am missing a military airort it is called ‘Martyr Basil al-Assad International’??
Runways are 17-35 left and right. 35L has a displaced threshold but aside from that they are the same length.
Is there something wrong with one of them?
“I feel flag-waivers are to be pitied not argue with. :)”
I feel very much the same about grave-diggers. :)
This whole oversimplification into derogative terms like ‘flag-wavers’, is counter productive. People get carried away on all sides (over ebullient/depressive pessimism), it’s not a movement or some organized political body in either case.
Many people are oppressed under the current global system, so there is a palpable excitement that this system, which has gone unchallenged for so long, finally has an opposition of sufficient force (Russia/China/Iran).
I mostly enjoy this blog, it is in my top ten, and I mostly agree with the Saker, but I’m not prone to oversimplification, and I abhor human labeling, despite its sometimes necessity.
In this case the term ‘flag-wavers’ ONLY acts to divide a largely consensus based community of those opposed to crony capital hegemony. Why add division? There’s simply no need. We can argue the merits of the Russian campaign without the derogatory labels can’t we? It’s sad really when I read the comments and I come across this:
“I feel flag-waivers are to be pitied not argued with. :)”
Who the hell are flag-wavers? Are they like Daesh? Do they beat their kids? Do they steal from the poor? Already there is hate for the ‘flag-wavers’? Seriously? What a friggin joke.
Think for yourselves people, stop parroting what others say. Stop putting people on pedestals all the time. Sycophancy is detestable to any real thinking human being.
I agree with you there.
I am more in line with the Saker ie I am cautious. I hope more a overt and decisive intervention by Iran. They should know that should Syria/Assad falls they are next in line regardless any “agreement” with the empire. I agree that Russia should not use ground troops this should be left to Syria, Iran/Hezbollah and Iraq of course.
I don’t think that the Saker is overly sensitive to reader’s comments at all, it is just that he realizes that these military maneuvers by the US and Russia and the minor players in Syria can lead to World War Three. That is a good reason to be worried. Putin certainly realizes the risks, but to Russian strategic interests, the consequences of NOT intervening militarily are worse than the consequences of limited intervention, so it is a very carefully calculated risk-taking from the Russian point of view. But you never have things under 100% control when military personnel and hardware are placed in harm’s way. Saker is just trying to impress upon readers that this situation is very dangerous, and the flag waving is just annoying to him. Thank God for cool-as-a-cucumber Obama who still wants to earn his Nobel Peace Prize and won’t over-react a la John McCain. The U.S. probably won’t be in safe hands anymore come January 2017.
I am actually curious what was on the menu over there… Looks quite appetizing.
Glass half empty, or glass half full? Mine is half full.
Re lack of ammunition in Syria. Before Russia entered the scene, Syria was using IEDs. Barrels full of fertiliser as they did not even have enough military grade explosive.
On I think official numbers, ship numbers into Syrian ports have tripled in the last month.
Progress although slow is constant with new towns taken each day. al Nusra is taking a lot of casualties in counter attacking solid defences. The numbers deserting the terrorist groups seem to be much higher than the numbers of new recruits joining up.
TOS-1 units where shipped to Syria several months ago but only used for the first time (that anyone following the war knows of) in the last 24hours.
From other accounts,progress has been very slow because of Assad/Syrian government trying too hard to avoid casualties on enemy non combatants, and also attempting to capture rather than kill Syrian fighters. Part of this meeting in Moscow may be to impress upon Assad the importance of destroying the terrorists quickly, rather than a long drawn out affair where the casualties will be higher. First use of the TOS-1 seems to support this.
Unless the US/Israel do something really crazy that will turn the world and perhaps their own people against them, Putin has their measure and will out play them. Saudi and Qatar are non entities, but Turkey is a loose cannon?
your insults have been removed. Mod TR
Why don’t you try injecting your opinions, which at times can be helpful and balancing?
Some of your points are well taken. Others are not so well taken. Putin took a long time to step in and by then the situation was long gone. Assad has been fighting an incredibly unfair war and he needed help long before this.
“Putin took a long time to step in” you say? A long time – by what standards?
Putin and his team have access to intel we know nothing of. He has a number of issues to balance. And Putin is a planner. He knows that if you get the groundwork wrong, you will be decimated. We have no way of knowing what the groundwork was he had to put in place to maximise his chances of success. It’s why, although I accept the warnings Saker and his advisors give as being fully valid, I still think Putin will win it because I can’t see a circumstance he or Shoigu et al, haven’t planned for.
If you read his authorised biography you can read of his first big campaign as acting and then inaugurated President – in Dagestan and Chechnya. He probably seemed to dragging his feet there for a bit too. But he said,
“the first thing I had to do was overcome the disarray among the ministries. The army didn’t’ understand what the Interior Ministry was doing, and the FSB…(.etc.)…….. We had to become one team, one single organism, only then would we be successful”
So – I guess to people like you, he was being too slow, to delayed, then too.
Thank Goodness he was.
And it’s likely the same here.
yup-Putin said there was weeks of intelligence gathering before they went in, which is why they know exactly what they are hitting, with it seems to me, smaller but more targeted bombs rather than just big stuff everywhere eg seen in Iraq.
Salam Paul,
“Putin took a long time to step in and by then the situation was long gone. Assad has been fighting an incredibly unfair war and he needed help long before this.”
You are absolutely right about Assad. However, Putin had no choice as Isreal would have not allowed it. But now:
1. Putin is now fighting ISIS, which is supposedly a threat to The Empire.
2. Both Israel and AIPAC are very weak now due to Netanyahu.
Rejoice,
Mohamed.
Putin wont get more than 90%.. the 10% will always be not enough or too much and they will go back and forth.. No western leader can even expect 60%. They get 40% and they think its a mandate.. So this does look like almost 100% of Russians support Putin.. Anything over 70% is still unbelievable though. Because now you are looking at a country on a war footing and preparing to defend itself from danger.. so Russians as a whole truly believe Nato is out to attack Russia and if not for Putin would have attacked Russia.
Now we know one reason about Assads working visit in Moscow. Putin said its possible to give arms to syrian opposition if they fight against ISIL. Genial move. See on Sputniknews:
http://sptnkne.ws/WC4
No don’t give up! Reinforcements have just arrived. I’ll help whip these scalawags in line. You just need to take a fist-full of commonsense and ram it through peoples ears.
They drew first blood….
Hi, I would appreciate your commentary on this article, which sounds very realistic to me.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11937348/Russia-retreats-to-autarky-as-poverty-looms.html
sounds more like a wet dream of the West.
Well,you can have my commentary on the article.It is one of the worst Russophobic ,anti-Putin, 5th column pieces I’ve seen.They picked every 5th column “expert” they could get to trash the Russian economy and Putin’s leadership.While extolling the “greatness” of the West.Their prescription for Russia is to knell to the Empire and ditch Putin.In the West if a leader gets 60% popular support (when was the last time that even happened) they think they are in “7th heaven”.In Russia Putin’s leadership is supported by basically 90% of the people (yes I said 90%) and at least half the other 10% think he isn’t hard enough on the West, and that’s why they don’t support him.Why you think that anti-Russian propaganda piece was,to quote you ” very realistic to me”.Brings up a whole different set of questions in itself.
I lack the ability to comment on the gloom and doom bean-counting but the Stalin poster and “Soviet-era” sub headline opener tell you all you need to know about what follows -propaganda.
That every ‘expert’ quoted is ‘former’ something is suspicious as is the reference to 1930’s Germany.
Hardly a balanced article but then truth is a contra-indication to russophobic hegemon-fearing western vassal MSM.
As for those expensive cruise missiles mentioned, the US equivalent Tomahawk is $1.59 million a piece. As Russia fired just 26 of them $42 million is a drop in the bucket and with a cheaper Rouble…..
I had to laugh about a BBC article comparing Russian air power to US and dissing the former at every step. Seems they might just have been wrong. No matter, the vilification show must go on!
As for -20c Siberia, it is currently actually 0c and Siberia is very hot in the summer. It’s not that much colder in winter than Canada where greenhouse/hothouse production is very common.
Here’s a poor suffering Siberian:
http://siberiantimes.com/home/sent-to-siberia/s0019-life-is-hard-enough-without-having-to-build-separate-climbing-frames-can-we-try-to-play-nice/
As for the ‘hollowed-out engineering and industrial base’ here’s another article close by the one above:
http://siberiantimes.com/business/siberianexport/features/f0169-nanotubes-from-siberia-can-massively-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions/
and if you like bears:
http://siberiantimes.com/home/we-say/w0003-first-images-released-from-stunning-film-about-bears-of-the-russian-far-east/
or cats:
http://siberiantimes.com/healthandlifestyle/others/news/siberia-gets-a-purrfect-cafe/
Quite the gulag dystopia isn’t it? It’s mostly rosy and could be propaganda but it really doesn’t have much of that signature to it.
IMHO, there’s far better fiction at the public library than in western newspapers.
Anonymous – if u are not happy with the moderation of this site – please contact the Saker at vineyardsaker@gmail.com.
“Anonymous – if u are not happy with the moderation of this site – please contact the Saker at vineyardsaker@gmail.com.”
Since broadcast is made on transmission, why do you think doing what you suggest would be rational?
It is interesting that Telegraph’s article has no comments section. It would be interesting to see what the readers think of this. Democratic openness indeed. Well, at least we see the 5th column publicly declaring their views and wishes. I somehow feel that the fact that Putin lets them talk this trash openly, simply means they are not significant at all any more…
Somebody mentioned new prime minister of Canada, Trudeau Junior. Don’t hold your breath, he is just a puppet and will act the way strings are pulled.
Pray for Putin and Russia to win this struggle.
Thanks for your time and effort!!
The UK Daily Telegraph!!?? You cannot be serious!!, as Mr. McEnroe used to screech. The Tories, like all the other Western vermin elites are scared rigid by Putin, by China, by Assad, by the billions who are not going to take being lied to, exploited, bullied and murdered by Western thugs any more.
I really don’t see all that much of a future in the Near East for Arab Nationalism. It can be said that the Arabs are “de-Westernizing” themselves by getting rid of nationalist regimes like Saddam’s Iraq or Assad’s Syria.
Or maybe not “the Arabs”.But the empire and its stooges are getting rid of secular governments.They can control the non-secular governments easier.And I wouldn’t necessarily class that as “de-Westernizing”.They are “de-modernizing” the ME instead.Getting rid of progress and modernity in that region.
Your funny if you think that Arab nationalism is declining just because the “West” and a tiny ME elite want it to. The Arabs are tribal and clannish people, modern nation states have no future in the majority of the area. Modernization and Westernization are synonymous; it(modernization) comes from Western Europe, the Franco-German-English cultural triangle(Hajnal line):
https://hbdchick.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/charles-murray-human-accomplishment-map-european-core-hajnal-line.png
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/European_union_erdf_map_en.png
Progress and modernity are products of the that cultural, political and economic space that I call “Franco-Europe”(named after the Germanic Franks).
Really,you think so huh.Modernism includes, paved roads,Water Purification,Dams,Refrigeration,Motorcycles,Cars,”Toyota” Trucks,TV Sets,Telephones,Radio,Aspirin,Microwaves,Central Air and Heating,Electric Lighting,Railroads,Airplanes,Wrist Watches,Videos,Computers,etc,etc.And for the military minded,Machine Guns,and Artillery Shells,etc,etc.If you can find a ME country that doesn’t want those things let me know.If you know of one country in the World,that rejects those things let me know.Certainly not the Saudis,Qataris,or even ISIS.I see videos of them enjoying the “fruits of modernity” all the time on the computer.Modernity,may have started out in Europe (including Russia).But it isn’t a “Western thing” today,it is a “Worldwide thing”.And that most certainly includes Muslim societies.
If modernity just means improvements made on existing technologies then I agree. But I don’t think modernity necessarily means those superficial aspects; modernity means a certain set of principles based in the “Scientific Revolution”(primarily in the Protestant areas especially England but also in certain divergent Catholic areas like France).
Many of these ME countries that you named, have integrated those superficial aspects into their societies but they obviously have not “dethroned” their core principles. Saudi Arabia has many of those things you outlined yet it has some odd customs. So yes, improved technologies are not really a monopoly of the West but the ideological principles of modernity are.
Forget the flag waivers.
I posted a link to your rant about flag waivers to Moon of Alabama … and one from Mike Whitney. Mike got a pass from those knuckle heads … but they loved trashing you. You are Russian, and wrong, now and then. But which of them, I wonder, is ever much above 50%?
Anyway, I did get a kick out of their reaction … showed who was thinking and who was ranting.
Keep up the good work …
Rg
Hero worship? A fine line between respect and…..
A lot of good analysts in the alternative media… Pepe Escobar, Mike Whitney, Mercouris, M of B and many others.
Saker is the one site I donate to but do I take his thoughts as gospel? Nope.
I usually read the comments at M of B and the shit you kicked off there made it hardly worth reading.
Your assertion that the “flag waving” is premature is, imo, absolutely correct. This is a long term situation that will not be resolved in the near term. Conditions are such that this is a very perilous time and much can and will be negative. I think that if we can avoid a transition to global conflict with all the attendant miseries we should be grateful.
I think that some positives can be realized from the current environment. I do not think that it will be quick, easy or painless.
Thank you for your attention.
Regards,
Ray
“You think that Russia will have an easy victory in Syria?”
Let’s cast this in different terms. Russia will neither win nor lose in Syria because it isn’t fighting a war in Syria, per se, but in the greater Middle East and in world geopolitics; Russia is mainly giving air support in Syria, so a victory for the ‘good guys’ there will be Assad’s and Syria’s victory, while Russia will have to be still engaged in the real war against the empire. For Russia this is a skirmish.
The Syrians will have a difficult victory (barring unfortunate circumstances). If, sadly, the Syrians lose their war Russia could still be victorious in its war vs Empire.
In the greater war, Russia has already won a number of important battles by engaging in Syria:
It has reversed the tide of US aggression and IS fighting there, putting a huge dent in their plans to export terrorism to Russian soil
It has gained (mostly) world wide support in its actions, as well as in important M.E. areas — and the US, more criticism. (Good morning, President Assad. Welcome to Club Bear.)
it has scared the prunes out the US military and war mongers, and demonstrated it’s military capabilities, and political determination
It has exposed the gross deception of the US so-called ‘war on terror’ and on IS, and the corporate media.
Even if the empire funnels more weapons and such into Syria (‘cheating’) and reverse the situation (assuming that Russia won’t adapt its actions), Russia still retains most of the above while the US looks even worse than now, as a dishonest aggressor. The US will lose more than Russia.
Like the sanctions, the empire might achieve some measure of tactical success but resulting in strategic (and even operational — consider what is happening in Germany) loss. (It’s doubtful that if the empire could go back in time and do it over they impose any sanctions, knowing what would happen).
I support Russian involvement in Syria because destroying terrorists is the right thing to do. Some of the commenters here talk as though it’s just a geopolitical game. My view is that the US strategy is all about the Black Sea and they actually thought they could just evict russia from Crimea through Kiev. Just look at Nato moves – Georgia, Abkhasia Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria – what do they all have in common but the Black Sea. Turkey is the remains of the Ottoman Empire and would be gone but for the western support of Attaturk. The Kurds are dreaming of Saladin and think they will get their state. May be so but the west sees them as useful bridge to attack Iran through its kurdish north then link up to Georgia through destabalised Armenia. It all fell apart because Russia was ready to squash Sakashvilli then US Kiev, both failing miserably. US will not give up so easily and I agree with Saker that this is no time for triumphalism but definitely davai!
Best way of getting rid of terrorists is to stop the largest terrorist state — the US — from creating and supporting them, and creating the environments where they flourish, such as fascism, failed states and tyrannies with puppet governments. Cut the root.
Another meeting that won’t please the hawks in Washington – Iraqi lawmakers to go to Moscow in mid-November:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940730000776
It’s complicated (Part Umpteenth.)
” According to foreign fighters quoted by AFP, an
exodus is currently underway of US and other
Western volunteers from the YPG due their left-
wing stance, with one US army veteran —
referred to as “Scott” — claiming he decided not
to join after finding out they were a “bunch of
damn Reds.”
http://www.aina.org/news/20150219185155.htm
Just wondering what will happen to the former ISIS fighters and their ilk when they are ‘defeated’. will they withdraw to their their philosophical home in Saudi Arabia? Or will they just wander about the mideast hoping for another jihad? i personally think a number of them are in Germany and other parts of Europe already and possibly in the US and Canada. I heard on NPR today that we the USA has a secure means of vetting possible immigrants, but is that true?
Most of the Muslims in my community are from Indonesia and live in an encampment around their nice
mosque in manufactured homes. Certainly not marching in the streets and trying to get converts. But Olympia WA is not other places.
Any ideas? Ideology with guns is scary.
“I heard on NPR today that we the USA has a secure means of vetting possible immigrants, but is that true?”
Yes. All the hijackers for the 9/11 false flag were carefully vetted by the CIA, FBI, and other needed government officials so they could get into the country and do the job they were contracted to: play the parts of crazy Muslim extremists attacking the US. It was similar for the show bomber. All these terrorists are tracked by US intelligence all the way through to their attacks in the false flag operations.
My impression so far is that Russia is effectively trouncing Israel-America in Syria much in the same classy manner they did so in Krim. Obviously these are vastly different situations, but the Russians effectively nixed Israeli-American moves in both, leaving the sods apoplectic with rage at their impotence to stop this rout. Syria will probably take a long time to clean up, because they are victims of a region wide aggression by the zionazis/nazis, whose proxy armies have had decades now to emplace themselves. Krim was relatively easy because the proxies were liquidated before the had time to organize anything. The Ukraine, though, will take long time to undo the ZPC/NWO damage, probably longer than cleaning Syria of the zio nasties.
Oh yeah… great post, pithy, to the point. Keep on broadcasting, beloved Saker!
(SANA, 22 October 2015) ~ Syria’s permanent Envoy to the UN Bashar al-Jaafari asserted the importance of the visit paid by President Bashar al-Assad to Moscow on Tuesday in its details and results for every diplomat works in the field of the multilateral international relations.
“In a phone interview with the Syrian TV Wednesday, al-Jaafari clarified that “the importance of this visit came from not being expected as the Syrian strategic thought under the leadership of president al-Assad selected the appropriate time to conduct to meet with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, who became now a direct partner in fighting terrorism in Syria, Iraq, the region and the whole region.”
“These developments showed weakness of countries’ stances that denied their involvement in sponsoring terrorism and used it to twist the arm of the Syrian leadership politically,” al-Jaafari added.
“The importance of the Russian movement at the strategic level is measured by the level of the hysterical situation appeared in the western media outlets, and the reaction of some Arab, regional and Western countries”, al-Jaafari said, adding that “what happened has failed large plans and malicious wills that were aforethought to be implemented against Syria and its people during Autumn and winter”.
He added that France and Turkey has returned to utter these speeches again, however this means that such countries don’t only misunderstand what is going on, but also they are themselves partners in conspiracy against Syria and its people in addition to destroying it historically and geographically.
http://sana.sy/en/?p=58728
“He added that France and Turkey has returned to utter these speeches again, however this means that such countries don’t only misunderstand what is going on, but also they are themselves partners in conspiracy against Syria and its people in addition to destroying it historically and geographically.”
He’s right.And their actions and all the others involved as well.Are direct violations of the UN Charter.Syria should openly and publicly denounce that before the UN and demand they cease it or the UN force them to cease it.Nothing will be done by the UN of course.But it would be valuable propaganda spread all over the World.And if Syria is ever able to retaliate against them,it could be used as the legal argument of why they were attacked.They also should publicly in the UN denounce the West’s attacks on infrastructure in Syria.And demand they stop.And announce (once again) that they don’t have legal authority to violate Syria’s sovereignty.Its important to point out to the World the aggression committed against Syria.Because hopefully one day there will come a reckoning for these crimes.And Syria’s legal argument needs to be impeccable in that matter.
He tried.. You should read some of his interviews, the UN does not allow him to talk easily.. Usually he gets to speak at the tail end of the sessions when most have left. Then they openly cause like the mike not working or giving him a 3 legged chair to sit on. His interviews are cut own form an hour to10 seconds to make it appear he agrees with what the interviewer is saying. The MSM was banned in Syria for taking interviews out of contest and lying, ie repeating what was said differently even on live TV. Like interviewing a Syrian soldier shot by the terrorists and the Reuters reporter repeating what the soldier said as You saying your officer shot you for not shooting peaceful protestors? Its a very tough job when the organization itself is biased.
Secretary General of Solidarity party Mohammed Abu Qassem said that the Director General of West Asian and North African Affairs Department at the Chinese Foreign Ministry Wong Li, met on Tuesday three delegations from the internal opposition separately.
“The meetings which were held, upon the Chinese ‘ embassy request, with the delegations of the Coordination Commission, Democratic Work Commission and Secretary General of the Solidarity party dealt with the latest developments in Syria and means of having the political solution a success, synchronizing with fighting terrorism, mainly the ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organizations in addition to finding a partner from the internal opposition to work with the authority,” A statement by the Solidarity party said in.
Responding to a question about Russia joining the track of the Syrian crisis, members of the Solidarity delegation said “if the Russian step came to fight terrorism, represented by ISIS, we would welcome it”, according to Abu Qassem.
“What has been proposed during the meeting will be conveyed to the Chinese Foreign Ministry to put China’s new strategy towards the crisis in Syria and help find the political solution in parallel with fighting terrorism,” the statement quoted Li as saying.
http://sana.sy/en/?p=58611
Hi Saker…well, I hope you’re getting some good energy back…I was a bit worried when you kept saying you’re exhausted…that’s terrible.
I hope the weather’s good for when you jaunt outside.
And I hope your dogs are getting good long walks…by the way, do you take your dogs when you go to visit alligators ?
Ann
Ah, relax, Mr. Saker. I had little doubt about your analytical skills, but I find your analysis of the comment thread in question suspect. ;)
It was running 50/50 at worst. I’m surprised you’d surrender at even odds. Is this the Russian spirit? ;)
“Dreams of a sleeping alligator”
Sheep who think they are sharks often drown.
Illusion is self-destructive as has been illustrated consistently through history.
Dreaming to be an alligator is another form of illusion.
You complain of flag waving whilst encouraging it – a recent example being
Heavy Metal – A comparison of Russian and Western armour
“when I realized that he had first had experience with Western and Russian armor (as a career officer) I asked him to write a short “compare and contrast” between the designs these very different schools of armor design and use.”
which at 08-15 hrs UTC 231015 had 10,209 views and 50 comments, some bordering on the ecstatic/erotic.
You also re-enforce technological fetishes held by the opponents, forgetting the first rule of analysis that you should not be blinded/limited by your field of specialisation/vision.
You also appear to forget that analysis is a group activity contributing to greater activities which include but are not limited to strategy formulation, strategy implementation, strategy monitoring and strategy evaluation.
You also forget other rules of analysis which include but are not necessarily limited to not displacing doubt by belief, where professional standards are set to encourage acceptance of “I don’t know”, at least in some locations and organisations.
Given that at least some of the viewers of this blog likely do not have the necessary experience in analysis and strategy to evaluate such matters, this behaviour on your part is irresponsible and unprofessional.
The slogan “Stop the Empire’s war on Russia” is another example of this.
You also reflect the cultural arrogance of the opponents in thinking that Representatives of the Russian Federation and others are so naive not not realise caution and respect of opponents is the norm, and on the basis of little or no data seek to give prescriptions on various aspects of strategies to be followed by others, who unlike you will not only have responsibility but be subject to consequences of the outcomes.
You are and have been complicit in encouraging behaviours which you now appear to register complaint.
Consequently it is likely that more experienced audiences view this blog primarily as a source of data on useful illusion and become increasing loathe to share information.
You know what? STFU. Support and respect my dear Saker for his knowledge and experience. He works so hard for this blog community to further educate and enlighten those of us who have turned away from the MSM. Support him financially, please, if you can.
Yes, the RF has taken a HUGE risk. What do they have? 10, 15 planes? a handful of helios? A couple of ships off the coast? In a tiny corner of Syria? Only these few assets against the lying Hedgemon. And by standing up to The Empire RF has set the whole apparatus, The State Department, The DoD, the Pentigram all into such a tizzy, really they don’t know whether to S*#it or go blind!
You don’t like the Saker’s objective analysis? Go to Fox News.
Cheers, Blondinka
“Thank you for your data-stream which appears to corroborate points made in
/dreams-of-a-sleeping-alligator-dream-three-a-surrender-a-meeting-and-a-rating/comment-page-1/#comment-162176
I noted particularly:
“And by standing up to The Empire RF has set the whole apparatus, The State Department, The DoD, the Pentigram all into such a tizzy, really they don’t know whether to S*#it or go blind! “
where it appears you wish to make an association, or perhaps even a conflation, of “the Sakers” activities with those of the Russian Federation, its representatives and co-operators.
It would appear like “The State Department, The DoD, the Pentigram. .” as a consequence of the comment linked above, plus possibly others transmitted but not “published” on this blog, “you are into such a tizzy, really “they” (you) don’t know whether to S*#it or go blind!” , even to the extent of referring to the Pentagon as the Pentigram.
Is that a religion based Freudian slip?
“You don’t like the Saker’s objective analysis?”
It is not a case of like or dislike, the comment linked above plus others transmitted but not “published” on this blog, constitute professional analyses of “the Saker’s” output which in broad terms conclude that the output of” the Saker” is neither objective nor professional.
If the Saker has experience of professional intelligence organisations, the Saker would not find these comments inappropriate or offensive, but the norm to encourage professional rigour and development.
“Wow, I really did take a beating in this comments section! Oy vey!”
Yes, Saker, and you have also taken a beating recently in comments on the MoA site.
Have you noticed?
You have made numerous incorrect calls recently and been AWOL during critical times.
That’s your business — but it has been noticed by the pundits.
Perhaps you need to step out of your ‘military intelligence’ (isn’t that an old oxymoron joke?) mode occasionally and do some more free-thinking fore-sighting?
I have no background in military matters (well, 2 years aborted in school cadets during the Monty Python era) but I do have a higher degree in Futures Studies and watching Putin et al is 101-level easy to see what’s happening. People like Pete E. can see it. And, yes, I was the one back in early 2014 who picked Putin’s ‘rope-a-dope’ strategy and the approx. timing of the Round 8 ‘knock-out’ sometime after various financial BRICS and SWIFT2 infrastructure were in place.
I’m not claiming any special powers or talents — just an open and informed mind looking at what is unfolding.
Suggest dropping your conservative military ‘professionalism’ soldier mode, climb out of the ‘Ukraine is the centre of the world’ swamp more regularly, and get back to some real broad-world ‘dreaming’ like you were doing in the good olde blog days!
Peace,…
MoA is a site run by AZZ (anti-Zionist zionists as per Atzmon), for AZZ, who gives a bloody rat’s arse what they whine about there. :D
@Anonymous 1:18
‘Futures Studies’?
A degree?
Round these here parts, we call it ‘guessin”.
And we’ve all got Phds. in it :)
“‘Futures Studies’?
A degree?”
It is always comforting to view further examples of “anti-intellectualism”
It always reminds me of counter-intelligence.
The opponents also exhibit such prejudices which are useful vectors to facilitate their transcendence.
@Anonymous 1:08
” It is always comforting to view further examples
of “anti-intellectualism”
It always reminds me of counter-intelligence. ”
But it can be discomfiting if “anti-intellectualism” is a non-linear counter to “counter-intelligence.”
‘Will The Circle Be Unbroken?”
Beats me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn8aruzfRAA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Maybe if you stopped talking in vague riddles a person could ascertain whether you can contribute anything useful or are just an obfuscator -or worse.
‘Pete E.’ who?, FUTU, ‘numerous incorrect calls’- examples please and according to you does the Saker have to be right all the time even when he admits he may be wrong?
Do you think you ‘own’ the Saker?
Perhaps you can use your ‘advanced degree’ in ‘Future Studies’ to give us future stock market prices so we can all ‘make $200/hr on the internet sitting at your computer’? No ‘incorrect calls’ please.
For the record:
1. It was an unfortunate typo == “Pepe Escobar” who has a good model of the game, imo.
2. And as regards other ill informed comments concerning studies in future trends – try scenario planning etc and little or nothing in stock market matters — a simple search would have reduced ignorance in this matter.
3. And in addition, as has been listed on this site numerous times to its owner’s credit, imo, yes — like other more personal interests related to understanding eschatology in general — that branch of thinking about what the meta-narratives say and how ‘faith-based’ policy can influence and guide cult behavior from personal to national levels — the USA and Zionist project in Palestine as one prime example.
4. “Own the Saker” – I provide comment and feedback here and elsewhere as others do. Zip to do with ownership.
5. MoA site comments — the quality of a blog site is related to its content. This includes the topic du jour and the comments sections which can be more or less relevant to world events (in this case world trends).
6. “vague riddles a person could ascertain whether you can contribute anything useful ” — as for riddles, get over it — it’s called art and referred to as the Cassandra effect. And, btw, I don’t contribute my 2-cents worth for you to sit and pass judgement. I contribute to help with the process of understanding better what is emerging in our world. If you think something is crap or irrelevant then simply move on. Impressions are made and some will find value.
Have a great day.
“guide cult behavior from personal to national levels”
Perhaps you were being diplomatic in your limited examples cited?
Of course. I focus on ‘cult’ behavior because that is what we are experiencing at present in many domains — and it might be the cult of management, for example.
However, the point is more generally about belief systems and their role in limiting behavior — and hence also informing structured thinking about possible futures and preferred strategies etc (e.g. across STEEP – social, technological, environmental, economic, political).
For example, if a majority of the population under review believe the earth is flat (as did much of Europe until a small band ailed out counter intuitively in the wrong direction to ‘India’ and discovered the Americas) then it is possible to make informed opinion about what that culture will or won’t do under certain stimuli based on these beliefs and mental models.
Anyone interested in an example of structure thinking can look up CLA — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causal_layered_analysis
Another entertaining example of good practice (imo) is Gerald Celente — http://trendsresearch.com/
e.g., see (10/23/15) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5_tysXJ-dE
“”Of course.”
Hopefully not a chorus of “We hold these truths to be self-evident….”
May I suggest that the missing piece in your jigsaw and that of the “authorities” which you cite is lateral dynamics.
I realise that this is partly a function of the half-lives of notions and practices inherent in the opponents’ division of labour, in addition to being a necessary ideological underpinning of the opponents’ systems and their “sustainability”.
These notions you cite appear rational/sustainable to those who have not had the opportunities to regularly test hypotheses in practice – Mr. Glaziev in his interview with Mr. Pozner makes this point in a slighly attenuated form.
Scenario planning to use only one example, is a linear approach even if a less primitive type of linear approach.
Perhaps you can extrapolate this into other fiat practices?
The opponents are at war with the biosphere which encourages aggregations of challengers.
This is in part facilitated by cults such as “The United States of America”; in this thread of particular reference is the opponents “anti-intellectualism” which is illustrated in this blog.
Given that the opponents’ regime is based on unequal and different it is quite understandable that some can imbibe these notions against their own interests through a process akin to osmosis, since this has formed/informed their practice – the re-enforcement by doing scenario. Consequently for some it is difficult to perceive equal and different.
However ideology like all opiates require increasing dosage for the fix which becomes increasingly dangerous to the host.
“MoA site comments — the quality of a blog site is related to its content. This includes the topic du jour and the comments sections which can be more or less relevant to world events (in this case world trends).”
Evaluation is not restricted to MoA as you are probably aware.
Art is it? And the Cassandra Effect -well, forget predicting the future, I think many on here would be happy if the media would actually report on events happening right now, instead of ignoring or distorting them.
“And, btw, I don’t contribute my 2-cents worth for you to sit and pass judgement”
Sorry to disappoint you but everything that anyone (including both you and I) writes here is subject to judgement by others.
Pepe Escobar? Love him, and here we might agree -fabulous writer, particularly since English is something like his 4th or 5th language. Is he always right? No; a classic case was Gaddafi’s fall in Libya. Does it matter that he is sometimes wrong? Not at all; he has wonderful insight and on the ground experience.
As you imply in item (2), I am ignorant -I am what you might call ‘simple folk’, so please help me here. You state that you ‘contribute to help with the process of understanding better what is emerging in our world”
You see, try as I may to sift through your original ‘Anonymous’ admonishment of the Saker and find some evidence of ‘helping with a process of understanding better what is emerging in this world’ I can’t spot it.
Perhaps you can enlighten me?
Sorry, but only you can enlighten yourself.
Proving a frame and context for you to display your thoughts and passions is a form of service.
The only serious question for broader reflection is: how representative is your position in the flow of things (i.e. what % of others, ranked according to levels of influence and/or control etc)?
I have posted another comment elsewhere above (yet to appear at time of writing this) in reply to a point where I also give some useful links — perhaps these may help you see more clearly what I’m referring to?
Proving a frame and context for you to display your thoughts and passions is a form of service.???. Say what?
Sounds llike pompous high-order hooey. How do you ‘prove a frame’? Did you perhaps mean ‘provide’?
Trust me, I don’t need any frames and contexts or any other ‘crutches’ provided by you or anyone else in order to ‘display’ my thoughts. I doubt anyone else does either.
I’d love to dialogue with you further on transcendent vector facilitated inter-personal dynamics but I think I have had quite enough.
OK, let’s end it here before we wake the sleeping alligator.
For the record, the frame/framing is a working hypothesis and this exercise (for me) is a form of private action research.
If you wish to read it as “providing” then it can equally make sense in context.
However, I’m not providing you with a frame (unless you choose to take it) — I’m engaged to some extent in a public blog ‘dialogue’ of which you have also chosen to participate.
From that process various things may emerge including new information and insight into the world views of the participants and others — i.e., in as much as their views are displayed. I include myself in this as well.
Whether this form of ‘action research’ has a capacity to produce useful results is only proven (or dis-proven) in the ‘doing’ of it.
I believe we are talking at cross purposes and should simply leave it there.
For any other interested parties, some of this difficulty can be seen explained through the myths of Prometheus (forethought) and his brother Epimetheus (afterthought) especially in relation to Pandora’s Box.
Finito.
“Maybe if you stopped talking in vague riddles a person could ascertain whether you can contribute anything useful or are just an obfuscator -or worse.”
You appear not to understand that a blog is a broadcast medium.
The most important statistic for a broadcast is audience/(views) not comments.
At 22-00 UTC on 23rd October 2015 the registered views on this thread were 5737 and the registered comments 118.
The percentage of comments to views is therefore 2.05%.
Although you exhibit a sense of entitlement held by the opponents, perhaps you will start to understand that the comment was not necessarily addressed to you.
Thanks for your condescension and lack of logical thinking and hectoring manner – ‘you appear not to understand’ ‘you exhibit a sense of entitlement’ ‘ignorant’, etc.etc.
You reveal much about yourself and I regret to say much of it is really not good. Those that truly know their stuff and have a feeling of self worth have no need to puff themselves up by putting others down and rarely need anonymity.
I love analysis and must thank you for allowing me to drag the comments out; the better to understand your character.
@SanctuaryOne
‘Condescension’.
With that word you’ve nailed it.
Apparently ‘equal but different’ doesn’t include peer-to-peer communication.
To the Anonymice Lateralizer: I am all too aware of the ‘war on the biosphere.’ Especially in relation to the violation of natural evolution.
So much for your ‘perspicacity.’
“‘equal but different’
Accuracy is to be encouraged.
The formulation is equal and different.
No context and therefore as empty and meaningless as the vacuous soundbites coming out of the US cesspool e.g. ‘Assad must go’.
“No context and therefore as empty and meaningless”
Words have connotations mostly at the subliminal level and reflecting prevailing ideologies.
Equal but different, in this case “but” carries connotations of different being lesser or greater – reflecting the prevailing ideological underpinnings of the opponents’ system, that different is the basis of inequality. This is also the ideological basis of exeptionalism.
Equal and different, in this case “and” carries connotations of equal weight being assigned to both equality and difference. This is the basis of co-operation, since acceptance of difference is a pre-requisite of equality.
The context is the transcendence of the exceptionalists.
The practice of equal and different can be seen in many lateral challenges to the opponents.
Ideology is more dangerous than any other weapon of any destruction, as even some of the opponents will attest.
Apologies for the delay in responding as my associates and I were engaged in other practices, or to paraphrase Mr. Groucho Marx – I’ve been so busy not responding that I didn’t have time to respond to you.
Hi friend senior strategist, I am back and enjoyed a lot.
Well, how are you?
As you were commenting in your last broadcast on the resident dynasty in The Lubyanka, I was reading the life of Mr. Dzerzhinsky and I was very shocked seeing that, practically, gave his life to his work, plus they had very poor health ….
On this, I was catching up, after my absence, on the website of Mr. Putin and I noticed a photograph of Mr. Bortnikov, who looked very tired, or sick, or both at once. Tell me, it is that no one cares about him? What about his wife? It will not be that he is also sleeping in The Lubyanka as did Dzerzhinsky?
Too bad ….
http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/big2x/lAT4jAxMOE5yd2vAJJhG8hXbC67lBs9T.jpg
On the other hand, they say in wikipedia that Mr. Bortnikov is a man of Mr. Medvedev. And here in this blog Mr. Medvedev is clasified as Atlanticist, ie 5th columnist … .but….. Mr. Bortnikov is affected by the impossed sanctions on the Russian Federation and can not travel to the West…..
Look … I do not take the accounts …..
Anyway, I’m worried about Mr. Bortnikov, he has a very hard job that almost nobody wants, and that some do not perform well at all, as Beria….
“On the other hand, they say in wikipedia that Mr. Bortnikov is a man of Mr. Medvedev. And here in this blog Mr. Medvedev is clasified as Atlanticist, ie 5th columnist ”
Perhaps if you test the hypotheses you may see the bad cop/good cop routine is not very illuminating – perhaps like the Yeltsin-Zhirinovsky roadshow 1994 to say 1998.
Russia is not like those of oscillating emotions might wish you to believe, and labels tend to obscure not illuminate.
It is the opponents who want belief and hagiography, my associates and I want everyone to test the hypotheses, since during transcendence armchairs may prove extremely uncomfortable, and seatbelts will likely be in short supply.
As ever things have been broadcast but not “published” which of course generates a datastream – one article wasn’t “published” 9 times.
/dreams-of-a-sleeping-alligator-dream-three-a-surrender-a-meeting-and-a-rating/comment-page-1/#comment-164058 was likely in response to that
– the analysis/hypotheses of why, why now and why in this form was also not “published” but transmitted on the 28th of October 2015.
All of the transmissions were sucessfully received though.
As to travel many have the honour of being on the no fly list, some even for a long time although to no-fly lists are to “limited destinations” – the number is increasing every day; people not destinations.
An old Siberian saying is ” Don’t judge a man by his friends, but by his enemies” although enemies should be rendered as opponents, as the connontations of enemy include but are not necessarily limited to notions of constancy/fixity and fear.
You may find some interesting commentaries on ideology in other areas.
“Anyway”
Alice a reply was transmitted.
If you don’t listen to the narrative in English but concentrate on the Russian and the framing and flow, these links on Russian Godfathers may illustrate some of the context.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLPxyDlQfBc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_LE77YFnGk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ3U5CpLU94
There are of course pieces missing including the September 1999 “bombings”, the works of Mr. Alexander Livinenko and Mr. Yuri Felshtinsky, and whatever happened to the opponents, including Mr. Bandera.
Striptease of course, but the wise watch the audience, not the stripper.
To others displaying wisdom including
/dreams-of-a-sleeping-alligator-dream-three-a-surrender-a-meeting-and-a-rating/comment-page-1/#comment-162023
a professional analyst tests what is not there as well as what is, and professional analysts generally work in teams of equal and different.
“‘ignorant’ does not appear in
/dreams-of-a-sleeping-alligator-dream-three-a-surrender-a-meeting-and-a-rating/comment-page-1/#comment-162466‘ignorant’
Ignorance is normally defined as a state of ignoring, which manifestly did not occur.
“condescension and lack of logical thinking and hectoring manner”
The greatest danger in intelligence is normally acknowledged as being mapping expectations and prejudgements on the data. A subset of this is framing.
This may be a function of your limited experience in certain fora, and hence you perceive rigour as condescension, register as hectoring, and logic not reflecting your notion of what constitutes the logical as “lack of logical thinking”.
Fortunately the opponents exhibit these lacunae facilitating the transcendence of the opponents’ wishes sometimes misrepresented as “strategies”.
Even in what some term the academy, rigour is accepted and sought, although especially in the opponents’ spheres of influence many attempts are made to curtail this, including by way of conflation/false comparison of the opponents’ practices with those of others.
In illustration I forward links that may be of interest
https://www.academia.edu/17321556/Academic_Scholarship_and_Intelligence_Vetting_Censorship_or_Saving_Grace
https://www.academia.edu/17351646/Final_peer-reviewed_submission_pre-publication_RIS_Article_Anglo-American_Development_the_Euromarkets_and_the_Deeper_Origins_of_Neoliberal_Deregulation?
But, these are links to some PDF in which is required a valid email address to get into them……
And to put there my real email would not be very intelligent and less secure, would it?
Anyway, if you consider that they could be very useful to me I´ll take the risk.
I´ll see that series on Russian Godfathers, thank you, although I remember having seen one in Spanish, with almost the same title ” Padrinos de Rusia” in the wake of which you and I started talking, when I made that comment about the laughter of Chubais and the others, do you remember?
“Alice a reply was transmitted”.
Are you calling me Alice now?
Why friend?
Perhaps is that you think that I am living in Wonderland? If this is the case, I must inform you that this is nothing more far from reality….
Well, send me a signal, please, if Mr. Bortnikov is finally well and just needs a vacation, like me.
In some very hard work areas, the holidays are not only necessary but should be mandatory, although perhaps now is not the time more adequate for him…..
Another person who looked terrible was Mr. Assad in his recent visit to Moscow, I must confess that seeing him so deteriorated a few tears slid down my cheeks….. but he still retains some light in his eyes….He could have been a posh boy but does not seem at all a bad person….
http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/big2x/pDbAjLPyNk4dAUjW7mT7sLeLFfAGVaeu.jpg
Glad to see you back here and to continue learning about Russia with you. We will talk.
In this thread it seems that the possibility of response will be exhausted soon.
See you in another thread, ok?
“But, these are links to some PDF in which is required a valid email address to get into them……
And to put there my real email would not be very intelligent and less secure, would it?
Anyway, if you consider that they could be very useful to me I´ll take the risk.”
Don’t take the risk; it was recommended to those in Sanctuaries: /dreams-of-a-sleeping-alligator-dream-three-a-surrender-a-meeting-and-a-rating/comment-page-1/#comment-164058
and an illustration of edit/placement as is
/dreams-of-a-sleeping-alligator-dream-three-a-surrender-a-meeting-and-a-rating/comment-page-1/#comment-165127
“do you remember?”
Hence the links.
“Perhaps is that you think that I am living in Wonderland? If this is the case, I must inform you that this is nothing more far from reality….”
“As ever things have been broadcast but not “published” which of course generates a datastream – one article wasn’t “published” 9 times. ”
The count is now 10, and there are others.
Really?
“Another person who looked terrible was Mr. Assad in his recent visit to Moscow”
Appearances can be deceptive
/dreams-of-a-sleeping-alligator-dream-three-a-surrender-a-meeting-and-a-rating/comment-page-1/#comment-165189
“See you in another thread, ok?”
/dreams-of-a-sleeping-alligator-dream-three-a-surrender-a-meeting-and-a-rating/comment-page-1/#comment-165089
and
/dreams-of-a-sleeping-alligator-dream-three-a-surrender-a-meeting-and-a-rating/comment-page-1/#comment-161714
Try not to do a Victor Jara.
Enjoy the journey.
So sorry, friend, without words……only mourning for you and your people……
God bless you all and give you calm and patience.
Hugs,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik8ktuRwIRo
Perhaps the requiem was sent to the wrong address.
We are always calm and patient, as well as flexible in achieving purpose.
Enjoy the journey.
“Perhaps the requiem was sent to the wrong address”.
Yes?, then, could you please send it to the correct address?
I would not dare, plus it could well be a sovereign imprudence, considering that I, always, follow your advice, and try to “not to do a Victor Jara” , especially when ” transcendence” is coming and “armchairs may prove extremely uncomfortable, and seatbelts will likely be in short supply.”
I’d like to keep traveling and still have many journeys to do, don´t you think?
In any case, I am aware that I have already done many imprudent things in this blog….as having made my email address visible to more people than I would like….but , if so afraid…. ever I move from my home, as is promoted by some regulars in this blog today …..
Anyway…..I will continue traveling, while having health, strenght and funds for it …. and even without these…. I will continue travelling…. mentally …..but never locked at home …of so scared ….
Nobody can live forever…. I own a few things…. and no person…. when I go out on travel I always leave someone in charge of my stuff in case I do not return…. and I travel always with light luggage….as the children of the sea …..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3UqusEWGeo
Dear Saker,
I am not a flag-waiver and I am with you in being cautious. I did not yet state any personal opinion because the Russian engagement in Syria is no easy walk, of unknown duration and outcome. In one word: risky.
Controversial opinions are among the best motivators for writing comments. I guess this is the reason why flag-waivers appeared in such majority. :-)
Never mind – I like your caution.
Regards,
Marcel
I haven’t read the comments but I read the piece re flag waving; my suspicion is that people are just so dang exuberant that someone is standing up to world bully USA while at the same time watching the most despicable nut job mercenary wahabbi terrorists in the world on the run, or getting blown to bits, so that the surprisingly successful blitz of the first few weeks of Russian action gave birth to an initial excitement that is yet to fade. Let em rejoice, it’s been a long time since we had anything to get excited about. I’m too concerned about the reaction of tbd real nut jobs, aka neocons, but mostly I’m just relieved that Syria won’t be turned into another Libya. I will admit to some extreme schadenfreude bordering on giddiness when it comes to seeing US policy and the fake war on ISIS exposed as the duplicitous farce it is though. And since among my peers, friends and family, I alone called it like it is from day one when the bombing policy was announced that Assad was the target, the flag waving here is more tooting my own horn :-)
The Russians and Iranians/Chinese will attack us first with submarines off our coasts.
“The Russians and Iranians/Chinese will attack us first with submarines off our coasts.”
Is this evidence of further fog in foggy bottom or perhaps desperation?
Desperation. Many would welcome change, even a kind of post Apocalyptic free for all. Maybe especially. The wheels have fallen off in the ‘States’ for many. Being on food stamps, eating junk food, being disenfranchised in the land of the free, while observing the wealthy on TV, is not ‘living the dream’, but is the state of huge numbers of poor. Then there’s a huge swath of the population trying and pretending they are not, to avoid the lower strata experience. Credit is maxed. Combined we are talking the majority. Oh things are grim there. Primed. It would only take one good catalyst………..
A reminder on “United Nations Day”.
http://fortruss.blogspot.ru/2015/10/putins-urgent-message-to-west.html
We are seeing some of this in Syria.. And I wonder if a lot of myths are base don this as well…
We will not name the author of this material, as he is an active officer of the armed forces of Russia, but he perfectly described the situation – What would happen if the Ukrainian military faced the Russian army?
The first sign – failure of all means of communication, full discharging of batteries in vehicles, tanks and other equipment, at the same time, discharge of batteries in mobile phones, the targets, and radio stations. Then, there is a rapture of electric circuits throughout all the equipment – all of it. This is EMP. All engines stall, no way to restart. This is how the system “X” works (in order to protect the author we do not specify the name), with a range of up to 20 km.
Second – complete failure of all systems using LCD monitors, the failure of all target-locating devices of the air defense system. This is how the complex “Altair” works (this is a known complex in the world, we can name it).
Third – a failure to deploy any kinds of guided missile weapons – from MANPADS to PTURS [anti-tank guided reactive missile]. Upon launching, the ammunition liquidates itself.
This is a battalion complex “Z” – on the basis of MTLB [multi-target light armored transporter]. Range – 15 kilometers.
Fourth – it is impossible to use a drone and low-flying aircraft. Their on board electronics will fail. This is system “Y”. Then there is a complex “Avtobaza”, which can forcibly land a drone.
http://fortruss.blogspot.de/2015/10/fort-russ-remembers-xyz-what-would.html
There used to be a time when we watched a play so we could forget reality and live in a fantasy world for a while… Movies, tv shows reality shows or even go to a play land park.. In many of them they would really exaggerate the personalities and make them more colorful.. Kind doubt you could make Hitler any more colorful especially in a British production but it still had that knuckle buckling and fight tightening and yelling..
I am watching Madam Secretary.. And some thing just hit me.. The psychos in the real world running the planet.. Crazy pucks like Hillary.. I mean Clinton is not much better but at least he looked sane.. Hillary actually looks like an insane loco bitch. She has contempt for the authorities that question her and shows she feels that contempt for putting her through things beneath her. Amazing to see the aristocrats in the US actually showing their stripes.. Then we have the barrel bomber who keeps on dropping barrel full of turd and the other guy running around with his red tape..
The show actually shows these people as sane.. I mean it has now come to the point that we have to watch a TV show to make us feel rational and sane. It even makes the crazy ukies look civilized. What has this world come to where we watch TV so we can feel sane for a few hours. Where reality means we have to listen to nut jobs and crazies..
All I can say is WOW.. If you really want to feel upside down, watch Madam Secretary where the crazies actually make sense, the logical ones are actually authoritian dictators and imperialism does improve the lives of the poor the world over.. They should bring the writers of this show and The Brink.. Supposedly satirical but I watched that one and go, you know I know lots of people and been around lots of cultures and that is how they really act.. Even the US military guys are mostly nuts.. They can be professional but that is only at work.
Tiger Forces
Cheetah Forces Advancing at Several Axes in East Aleppo: the Race to Kuweires Airport Begins
When this happens….the beginning of the end for Deash in Syria, Iraq next.
http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/cheetah-forces-advancing-at-several-axes-in-east-aleppo-the-race-to-kuweires-airport-begins/
Some of you doubted what I said in the video re Russian superiority. I fact checked. Clearly with subtitles one is limited, i.e impenetrable air defence was artistic licence, its almost impenetrable. Pepe Escobar says the S500 will be lock out.
Things have changed. US supporters are and will be in shock. This following means Russia wins. Read the article. Heres a teaser.
“Russia now has the capacity for jamming all NATO communications. It has now become the primary power in terms of conventional warfare’
http://www.voltairenet.org/article189043.html
Saker gives up:
Er….don’t…..trolls and armchair generals are hazards of things like this. Folks
have illusions that you often have to puncture to get on to the reality of things
hangin there…..its gunna be a long war after all….sigh.