Thanks to the superb work of the Russian Team, it is my huge pleasure to present you with one of the most interesting interviews about the war in the Ukraine and the global struggle for the future of the planet and the views of one of the best informed men in Russia: Sergei Glaziev.
Glaziev is an advisor to President Putin and a close friend. I personally believe that the western media is either wrong or deliberately lying when then say that Dugin is Putin’s ideological mentor. I am not sure that Putin has – or needs – any kind of mentor, but over the years I have found that Glaziev seems to say out loud what Putin does not, but seems to be acting on.
Glaziev, who was born in the Ukraine and who is an economic himself, has a superb understanding of the behind-the-scenes power plays in the Ukraine and in Russia. This man really *knows* what is going on. Furthermore, he is one of the leading “Eurasian Sovereignists” and he is therefore absolutely hated by the pro-US circles in Russia. He is equally hated in the USA who put him on their recent sanctions list for no other reason then the fact that they don’t like what he has to say.
I urge everybody to listen to this 15min interview which is one of the most interesting ones I have ever had the pleasure to post here.
Enjoy!
The Saker
(please turn on the subtitles by pressing on the ‘cc’ button)
position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, under the fire of the Castle! Saur-Mogila_Amvrosievka! 17/08/2014
▶ позиции ВС Украины,под огнём Града! Саур-Могила_Амвросиевка!17.08.2014 – YouTube
great interview.This man tells it like it is.
I watched an interview with him and was impressed.
▶ US is militarizing Ukraine to invade Russia. Sergei Glazyev – YouTube
Dugin is a tool of the empire. I am 100% certain of this. Not only that, he is a satanist. How can I be sure? His 8 pointed symbol is a semi-occult satanic symbol representing the 8 “black sabbaths” of the year, among other things. Just pick up any “satanic bible” or encyclopedia. Its all there. Just look at how many corporate logos use the 8 pointed “star”, NATO anyone? . His calls to violence and stupidity kind of out him as well. It aint smart to get lost in the symbolic rabbit hole, but its good to know some basic stuff, the satanists ALWAYS advertise their identity to “the faithful” and to their victims.
Don’t be ridiculous.
Strange that he implies that Nazis were the ones behind the Katyn forest massacre. The historical accounts have been revised. It was the Soviets who perpetrated this crime.
My guss is that Glazyev is aware that Jews are influential in the West and he is tailoring his rhetoric toward that audience.
Very important for everyone to send this link to all their rational friends and relatives. Glaziev is a very important thinker on the world scene. He is direct, uses very precise language and is a clarion for comprehending the dynamics of the global threats to every human on the planet.
Thanks to the Russian team.
One suggestion from a film maker with four decades of experience.
The subtitles space between, when no block of text is on screen, could be reduced from one cut to the next, allowing more reading time for the extensive blocks of text.
Other than that. Great work, and great thanks to all who made this possible. Thanks, Saker.
Now I’m sending the link to all on my email list.
MH17:
here is a “Freedom of Information Act” inquiry to the German ministry of defense regarding pertinent AWACS reconnaissance data in Germany’s possession.
Link: https://fragdenstaat.de/a/6792
Status: posted 28.7.2014, info denied 13.8.2014, denial appealed 18.8.2014. Pending.
Partial translation:
Subject: reconnaissance data of AWACS aircraft air space of Ukraine of 17 July 2014 concerning the flight of Malaysia Airlines MH17 [# 6792]
Date: July 28, 2014 21:41:09
To: Ministry of Defence
Status: Waiting for response
Application under the IFG / UIG / VIG
Dear Sir or Madam,
Please send me information to answer the following questions, which are related to flight of Malaysia Airlines MH17 and reconnaissance data from the AWACS aircraft of the Luftwaffe regarding the air space of Ukraine on 17 July 2014:
1 What other aircraft were airborne over the territory of Ukraine near the crash of flight MH17?
2 Where have these other planes taken off?
3 What was the content of the radio traffic of these other planes?
4 What missiles were located over the territory of Ukraine in the vicinity of the flight MH17?
5 Have any missiles disappeared from the radar near the flight MH17 ?
6 From where were any missiles launched?
7 What types of missiles have been identified?
According to your former Minister of State Mr. Willy Wimmer and his statement published on 07.28.2014 you are in possession of such data (source: interview Willy Wimmer with KenFM on 28/07/2014, URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctmbfig00tw). In view of the public interest in an investigation of the plane crash of MH17 you have a legal and moral obligation to disclose this information.
…
Best regards
I did not know that Sergei Glaziev was born in Ukraine.
His Wikipedia entry says so, and classify him as an Ukrainian-Russian.
Interestingly, he was a founding member of the Rodina party, just like Rogozin.
I like the fact that Putin, although against allowing Rodina to compete with United Russia, welcomes some of its leading figures as Kremlin insiders.
Btw, I say that Putin is against Rodina competing with the United Russia party because in the 2005 Moscow City Duma election, the party was banned from taking part in elections because it used slogans such as “Let’s clean the Garbage!”, referring to the growing mass of Caucasian migrants to the once pristine Slavic city.
Anonymous said…
Strange that he implies that Nazis were the ones behind the Katyn forest massacre. The historical accounts have been revised. It was the Soviets who perpetrated this crime.
He mentioned the Khatyn massacre in Belarus by the 118th Schutzmannschaft Nazi battalion made up mostly of Ukrainian nationalists from Western Ukraine, not the Katyn massacre of Polish officers. They are two different massacres.
OT, but the markets continue to go vertical.
Oil and gold continue to get pummeled.
There is no end to this insanity.
Very well said. The US military industrial complex with the help of its European poodle wants to start WW3 to write off trillions of it debts. Russia only needs to turn off the gas this winter to send the EU economy deeper into recession, even without fighting war yet! In the event of WAR, the EU economy will collapse, subjugated and indebted to the US for another half a century, and the 1% protect their ill-gotten wealth in the new world order that emerge. We European citizens need to open our eyes and reason quick, write to every MPs stating the obvious. We don’t want sanctions, we don’t want war which in my honest calculation, would be Nuclear in the end!
This is indeed and interesting interview.
However Glaziev – in my pov is wrong in many key elements:
a. the new phase of technology: medical and others will not need a lot more labour and since less labour is required less value is produced. Therefore he does not get the crisis we are under. He only gets that the old system is over.
b. He is right about the role of Ukraine: they are used to start a war in Europe w/ Russia
c. The losses to Western Europe b/c of the sanctions will be – thus far – a lot smaller. He is – at least right now – overly dramatic. However those sanctions can be enough to push Europe and others deep into recession.
d. Forget the idea that Europe is an American colony. Way too simple! They BENEFIT from their links/friendship/dependency to the USA and they know it!
e. Forget younger European politicians. They are same breed like the old ones: the run the show for the rich guys who think USA is best for their business.
f. The last elections in Europe have shown one thing: people – especially people with money and coming from the more wealthy regions of Europe tend to vote for parties that are right wing, conservative our outright neo-Nazi. Always the same game: people who are middle class vote “right” if they are threatened to lose something (because of the economic crisis). This is NO progress. Same time: the left is dead and offers no alternative.
g. Glaziev said that Russian capital left Russia big time BEFORE the crisis. He should ask why! The answer: because they could make more money speculating in other places. Here you see again that capitalism has not many options left to invest and make a “good” of money – that is the bases for the crisis btw.
h. Capitalism – the system that needs to exploit people and its labour – has become too productive for its own sake. This issue he does not understand and this issue IS THE REASON why the USA is behaving like they do. It is a reflex to the crisis. In other words: The needs of capitalism are the puppet masters that uses the US as a puppet that uses its sub-puppets and friends aka Ukraine, Europe and others.
i. As long as one personalizes things – aka “Putin”, “Obama”, “Jews”, “Americans” he shows only that he/she does not get what really makes those ppl/countries tick.
I must say I am disappointed about the interview.
WW from Germany
I too am puzzled by the actions of the western European politicians. As Glaziev implied “why don’t they work in the direction of EU and Russian common interests”. (Lisbon- Vladivostok) I am wondering about the effect of NSA spying and e-mail intercepts. ie. Just how many EU politicians are open to bribery or blackmail as a rsult of US data collection?. That 50 UK politicians are reputedly involved in pedophilia (From Margaret Thatchers time) is a possibilty, and has been discussed on the web. Cahuzac (Fr.) and others are caught in a web of deceit and corruption. Just how far does corruption go?
Note that ALL the data that NSA collects also goes directly to Israel.
It is obvious that if Russia continues to tell the truth, and the US lies – then normal people will finally notice.
This is a very interesting interview with a DPR fighter. Among other things, he says Ukie soldiers do not want to fight and their families are being threatened with death. He and a friend tell the interviewer Ukraine forces are slaughtering people, removing their organs and then burying the bodies in mass graves. This appears to be an authentic account of real war crimes. Many have witnessed this.
Nazi Safaris in Ukraine: Militiaman Fighting Against Government Forces Speaks Out – “Some Are Willing to Pay to Hunt Insurgents”
http://www.globalresearch.ca/nazi-safaris-in-ukraine-militiaman-fighting-against-government-forces-speaks-out-some-are-willing-to-pay-to-hunt-insurgents/5396524
pat
Indeed the Sergei Glaziev interview is sadly disappointing – as ‘WW from Germany’ above notes – and a bit weird and inexplicable – like so much Russian policy these days. Yes Glaziev hits on Saker-popular themes – Nazi Ukraine, bad EU leadership, need for Russian economic independence of the West –
But if we look past our ‘Yeah, he’s on our side!’ bias, Glaziev in fact sounds a bit ridiculous, as if in a fantasy world, strangely detached from reality, with self-contradictions and cognitive dissonance.
Glaziev acts as if blind to the structural, embedded nature of corruption and the difficulty of fighting it, ‘hoping’ people will just see the light … and he has a kind of schoolboy fantasy of ‘new technology’ that will somehow change things for the better.
Either Glaziev is intellectually weak … or he is a propaganda bull-shiter trying to put some clothes on naked emperor Putin as he lets thousands of Russian speakers get killed in Ukraine.
Most disturbingly, Glaziev obscures and deflects from the NWO nature of the EU … and thus seems to be another pointer that Putin is NWO, too.
Glaziev starts with the non-Anglo grand Eurasian dream – from Portugal to Siberia – which Charles De Gaulle voiced decades ago. Yes, nice dream, we can agree.
But then Glaziev talks about Kiev going under the thumb of a very, evil destructive Brussels … and Glaziev quite fails to note the structural forces behind EU leadership corruption … and does not seem to realise his ‘Evil EU’ theme, makes the Eurasian ‘project’ a fantasy that is near-impossible without revolutionary upheaval.
Glaziev very weakly ‘analyses’ the corrupt EU as due to US troops in Germany, and EU leaders not updating their anti-Soviet thinking (!) – hahaha … there is much deeper corruption / bribery / intimidation than that.
Glaziev very weakly ‘hopes’ for new EU leaders of a ‘new generation’, Glaziev ‘hopes’ that EU leaders will come to see the Kiev junta are Nazis – as if Glaziev does not understand modern media control at all. In the end, Glaziev is spouting hopey – hopey nonsense, silly wishful thinking, when malicious, deviously scheming butchers are killing thousands … Glaziev unfortunately is another indicator supporting the idea that Putin is NWO.
Great interview and extremely informative.Russia suffering the same ills of outsourcing we do…
Imagine that!!
I found by turning off the sound it was easier to read the translation and not have it interfere with what we hear and don’t understand anyway.
Many thanks to the translators.
“Who armed ISIL? Diplomatic sources said ISIL has been ordering anti-tank weapons, rockets, mortars, body armor and communications from Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Ukraine, through fronts in Europe via Turkey.”
Read more here: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=697_1408372233
Saker,
You are right about this interview. A truly great 15 minutes filled with knowledge.
Is there anyway we could get a copy of the transcript used for the subtitles. I want to sent this speech to all my contacts. Most will not watch a 15 minute Youtube video, but will read a short transcription.
Thanks again for having this channel of information available to those of us here in the US.
Its disappointing that the Russian leadership repeatedly reaches for empty terms such as ‘Nazi’ to describe its opponents and justifies itself by references to the mythologies of the past. A glaring example in this interview was the reference to Babi Yar – a supposed crime scene never investigated in 70 years! Thousands of bodies? Lets see em! At other times the Russian leadership will blame the Germans for 26 million dead Soviets – missing between the censuses of 1936 and 1959 – as if Stalin did nt disappear a few million! I will have more respect for the Russians when they address their own canards. Having said all that I wish them every success in the struggle against US imperialism. Their fight is our fight too.
For Russia s financial system to be saved (and maybe worlds) a decoupling of the dollar system is basic. Russia can not do it by itself but since even China (and eventually the rest of the BRICS)are under threat from the Empire this could be accomplished. Europe will not dare to go against US but when signs of unity are displayed by the BRICS could be that some European country like Germany may dare to break and the rest will probably follow. This may avoid a big war something that the Anglo-Israeli-American seem to pursue to any price.
I for one would vote for a free trade area from Lisbon to Vladivostok because it makes sense. Instead of our politicians supporting the Nazi Fascist unelected Ukrainian parliament in their war on their own citizens together with NATO expansion eastwards they should be recognising that a new world order is quickly emerging. Worldwide citizens are recognising, mainly via the internet, that all the current warring factions are the cannon fodder puppets of US UK NATO policies. My neighbour recently told me that I supported Russian economic policies. I agreed because I am tired of seeing nothing but bloodshed when I occasionally switch on UK TV news. Possibly today we are seeing the end of the New American Century. I live in hope. I challenge anyone to watch this video and not agree with its conclusions.
Again someone who completly overstates the importance of Ukraine. The Krim was the only thing of value the country had to offer aside from cheap parts for weapons.
Like Glaziev I too find it very strange the insistence of EU politicians in following the Washington line to the detriment of their own citizens and economies. I simply fail to follow their thinking, if indeed they do think at all. I know in Britain this tendency has been pronounced since the Tathcher years and took an exponential leap under Blair. It has become painfully obvious to the ordinary man in the street that their leaders do not represent them. I personally had always believed that each country or nation gets the government it deserves. By that I mean that if a people see their so called “representatives” acting in a manner that brings hardship and pain to the masses whereby even making ends meet becomes a daily struggle and they are still willing to put up with it, then they get what they deserve as our so called political “elites” can in no way govern without our consent. Its our taxes that fund their dangerous adventurisms worldwide and its the blood of ordinary citizens that gets shed in their numerous wars for the petro dollar.
However over the last 20 years or so I have begun noticing a marked convergence of all western political thinking in a simply unprecedented manner that I have never seen before and I very much doubt that this is a good sign for the ordinary citizens of Europe. Over the last 20 years Washington has used its 5th columns in Europe to take over the EU leadership, because that’s all these so called EU “leaders” are, nothing but corrupt and morally bankrupt agents of Washington, traitors one and all to their own peoples and countries. Can the citizens of Europe wake up in time from their slumber to smell the coffee and see the great threat to their very existence ? Im afraid to say I very much doubt it. Here in Britain John Q public is too busy blaming Romanian or Bulgarian or any other immigrant for their troubles, or so called “benefits scroungers”, to see who their real enemies are. And I am sure that scenario is being repeated throughout the EU. Divide and conquer, it works every time.
Thanks to the superb work of the Russian Team
Yes thank you and I can see how he made the list.
I will pass this on. Wish I had more rational friends and relatives to send it to.
This is on Global Research today:
VIDEOS: Ethnic Cleansing as a US Sponsored Political Tactic, Trashing Ukrainians
by Eric Zuesse
– See more at: http://www.globalresearch.ca/videos-ethnic-cleansing-as-a-us-sponsored-political-tactic-trashing-ukrainians/5396344#sthash.LNSJRZAc.dpuf
pat
It is clearly Nazism again, and US is constantly lying….I am waiting for the unbiased analysis of the crash of the plane.
Each understanding person should start working with resistance groups to spread the truth, to motivate people in each country.
I couldn’t disagree more with Mr. Glaziev. Everything he mentions is glossy fluff, while the fundamentals of an economy are neglected. He has a woman’s idea of a healthy economy.
With its horrible demographics, Russia’s main problem is that it is running out of Russians. Careful attention to fundamentals and promotion of basic production is needed, to put men back to work so they can support their families, and also to wean Russia away from an extractive economy, where she depends on the sale of oil, gas and natural resources in the International market. Instead, people like Mr. Glaziev want to pursue chimeras. While the high-rise glass boxes go up in Moscow and everyone wears ‘power suits’ the steel industry vanishes.
Absolutely nothing destroys a country more than an extractive economy. The classic example is Spain, which had the most vibrant and productive economy in Europe, until she developed her colonial empire in the New World. Thereafter, Spain became a fossilized bureaucratic state, where everyone became dependent on the gold shipments from the New World and the domestic economy atrophied. Spain has not recovered to this day.
The U.S. is the leading country to pursue this ‘new economy.’ Meanwhile half the country is unemployed and the basic infrastructure is falling into ruin. Men are unemployed while the women are trotting off to meaningless ‘new technology’ office jobs where nothing is produced except paperwork and bullshit.
WW from Germany said,
“I must say I am disappointed about the interview.”
Oh you can always ask The Saker to post what you are not disappointing off! :-). In a more lengthier post, you could have put forward your choices. I am guessing you would not be disappointed by the interview and/ or press conference by the goofers like Marie Harf and who was that previously, Sorry to say but I do like their opinions. You can always watch them in MSM. Sorry to tick you off.
When someone is able to explain the world political and economic situation so precisely, although there may well be areas within it for disagreement, it makes me wonder if what we hear from our western politicians and media can really be defined at this point as “propaganda.” It just seems so much more devious, hence our repulsion to it.
OK I have one question for inhabitants of North America:
obviously you are overdeveloped in all areas (technology, banking etc).
What has eaten that enormous potential emerged from great technological evolution that started first with electricity and then with advance of automobile an related industries (up to aerospace)?
Where that enormous wealth has gone?
By gone I mean pillaging for some shale gas fields in Ukraine or pushing bio tech crops to the population of earth-to name a few…
I agree with Anonymous 16:50: I found this disappointing too.
On the one hand I found it very pretentious: Glaziev claims to know all the cycli the world is going through where the rest of humanity keeps discussing.
On the other hand I believe that much of America’s foreign policy is opportunistic. If they would have such concrete plans to control Russia as Glaziev claims: why didn’t they grab their opportunity when Yeltsin was around?
Dear WW from Germany or, Mr. Interested-and-Disappointed-at-the-same-time: What are your qualifications to make such a broad and all encompassing critique of the Glazyev? I really am curious, because by my count, in order to make such a bold case to discredit him, you would need to match is qualifications, professionally; and not with just one or two specialties/vocations, but several. For example; your statement ‘a’ indicates that you have a degree in engineering, biology(MCDB for example), and or economics. Your comment ‘b’ would indicate History cum Political Geography; ‘c’ would show market analysis and Business Admin; ‘d’, ‘e’, and ‘f’ – social studies of some sort (maybe sociology? Are you a polling analyst?); ‘g’ & ‘h’ – Economics and Financial Analysis. So can we assume that you have degrees, or work, in Engineering, Biology, Economics, Business Admin, Sociology, History, and Political Geography, with specialties in Market Analysis, Financial Analysis & Bio-engineering? Where ever did you get the time to watch the video? And if your CV would really reflect all of that – well, then I think I’d have to give Immanuel Wallerstein a shove and put you up on my hero-pedestal.
My idea of how the EU could work:
http://www.economist.com/news/christmas/21568659-old-empire-offers-surprising-lessons-european-union-today-european-disunion-done?fb_ref=activity
A question:
If Russia is so against Nazi/Fascism how come it supports unequivocally Serbia which is in process of re-branding Chetniks as patriotic movement (by the way the president is Duke of Chetniks, also as per secret service statement – used to slaughter old people in Croatia during deployment in ethnic cleansing)?
some links for the brave readers:
http://espressostalinist.com/genocide/chetniks-collaboration-genocide/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust_in_Serbia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=nGwmRH-8vsw#t=148
http://translate.yandex.net/tr-url/hr-en.ru/www.dnevno.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/116264-video-jovica-stanisic-tomislav-nikolic-licno-je-ubio-10-15-baba-u-hrvatskom-selu-antin-nikolic-skruseno-postoji-mogucnost-da-sam-nekog-ubio.html
(Baba – old grannies, babushkas)
just looking for some logical explanation of this paradox which in my mind stains any foreign policy statement involving Russia. don’t you get that 12 million citizens of former Yugoslavia will trust nothing coming from Russia as per above paradox?
I don’t know which Katyn massacre Glaziev is referring to, but there is plenty of evidence that shows that the official story of the infamous Katyn massacre is just Nazi propaganda. Professor Grover Furr has a lot of material available on this question on his “Katyn Forest Whodunnit” page: http://msuweb.montclair.edu/~furrg/pol/truthaboutkatyn.html
His most recent article on the subject documents how Polish and Ukrainian archaeologists identified remains of supposed Katyn victims in known Nazi mass graves discovered in 2011 and 2012. http://msuweb.montclair.edu/~furrg/research/furr_katyn_preprint_0813.pdf
Some things haven’t changed much in the last 75 years. One should always be careful about believing German, US, British, NATO, etc. stories that make Russia look bad.
Glaziev’s mind and expression are candid. Since Internet revisionists may wonder why he candidly assumes the holocaust narrative, I suggest that those who articulate the contemporary Russian mind have no working memory of Stalinist atrocity. In patriotic eyes the Soviet past is brave and good.
Since Russians are not blind morons I suggest a religious cause of this mindset, specifically, that the just good God does not want Holy Russia to see the truth of her tribulation and role in the most terrible century until her long prophesied holy destiny becomes manifest.
What destiny?
Few know because few care that the God hating conspirators at the Second Vatican Council did successfully eradicated the Roman priestly hierarchy, and the validly ordained Orthodox sacerdotal hierarchy will rebuild it. Russia will rebuild the bedrock of the civilisation that overwhelmed the world, the Catholic Church presently “crucified dead and buried,” presently an open sewer.
When will her destiny be visible? When Pope Francis, currently a love blinded dangerous fool, finally obeys Our Lady of Fátima and consecrates Russia to her “Immaculate Heart,” that is when!
Since Russian patriotism is rooted in religion, interested bloggers may anticipate a tectonic impact on the mind of President Putin’s 87% popular support, when the long rejected fountain head of Church authority, when Cephas the Rock calls upon the Mother of God to retrieve Russia to the bosom of her divine Son.
So, to paraphrase, there are none as blind as those from whom God withholds the grace to see.
The US aim is to push the envelope of world domination as far as possible without accidentally pushing the nuclear button or an one else pusinh the button for the matter by mistake.We see US meddling in all corners bo the world militarily and economically. Germany truly is beholden to the US like no other country apart from Japan so it has to do as it is told.Our friend from Germany’s nit picking is understandable for example the hope for a new breed of European will never happen.You don’t get into a position of power unless you follow the script.He’s correct on that point which is the only point I think he’s got right
@stonebird:
“I am wondering about the effect of NSA spying and e-mail intercepts. ie. Just how many EU politicians are open to bribery or blackmail as a rsult of US data collection?. That 50 UK politicians are reputedly involved in pedophilia (From Margaret Thatchers time) is a possibilty, and has been discussed on the web. Cahuzac (Fr.) and others are caught in a web of deceit and corruption.”
With the more recent revelations of Germany spying on Turkey..etc. I have a hunch that there’s actually a sort of MAD situation out there wrt blackmail…
1. World oil production minus US tight oil has been level since 2005
http://crudeoilpeak.info/iea-report-implies-us-crude-production-may-start-to-peak-2016
2. US tight oil production will peak 2015/16
3. World growth is coming to an end and will start to decline soon
(18 Nation European Q2 growth was zero)
4. The World needs growth or the world financial Ponzi scheme collapses.
5. The US is shit scared. Financial collapse = Ferguson x 1000 x right to bare arms shit
6. The countries that will weather the coming storm are those rich in fossil fuel resources and low in debt. Russia is one of those countries.
6. The US spends more on the military than the whole World put together.
7. Last/desperate hope. Europe/Russia and/or China/India must be made to collapse before the US.
The strategy is called ‘the last man standing’. The US aims to be that last man.
Remember. It’s all about oil. Get that and you understand geopolitics.
Informative interview with disappointing overtones. Technology is not the solution to our global problems. Capitalism is surely not the solution. A new system based upon a Hospitality economics is needed. If humans were trained and rewarded for generosity towards others with the most generous and magnanimous reaching the highest positions of respect and collaboration through worker-owned endeavors, we would have a chance at survival as a human species. Additionally if man began seeing himself as a member of a natural system that requires shepherding and care rather than exploitation we might have a chance. Otherwise our current trajectory looks bleak and all strategies of current oligarchs self defeating in the long term.
WW from Germany makes an error imm’y in para a: He says that when labor is saved less value is produced.
I’m happy to have heard Glaziev’s views, especially his determination to become economically independent in form. He mentions controls over currency and banking. This is exactly what is lacking. There is no reason to borrow the worthless fiat currency of the West in order to issue credits to Russian businessman. Public Banking– per Ellen Brown.
Most impressive speaker with obvious, in-depth grasp of current crisis.
Why doesn’t Russia somehow make more use of him for PR?
I feel that Russia itself could develop a much more audible, visible and up-front voice to counteract the western propaganda.
I don’t know how that would be done, but just as the west gets constant showers of propaganda – as Glaziev put it – we could do with more showers of truth.
Many people are thirsty and wait for such showers.
Voss:
” He has a woman’s idea of a healthy economy”
What does that even mean?
Also re: Russian demographics – show the pop. decline has been reversed.
Farflungstar in Zio Occupied AmeriKa
Mr. Saker,
Thanks for this interview. Concise overview. As close as one can get to understanding Mr. Putin’s strategy.
. . . . .
Is there any substance to this claim by an “in the know” commenter [in this link to an article first published at Marketoracle co, uk and now at ZH?
IF substantiated, could be a huge game changer.
“soldiers transferred to Trans-Carpathia to put an end to seperatist desires there.” “1,200 soldiers are being sent today.”
“This news just came across on a very reliable Canadian Twitter Feed. It caught my attention because just two days ago the same Twitter account linked a video speech given by Russian Speaking and Hungarian Speaking representitives of the local government there. In the dual language speech. it was made clear that this Trans-Carpathian region of Ukraine would no longer send it’s young men to Kiev’s military draft call up. Mentioning that 100 local boys are already listed as killed in combat, with Kiev demanding 80,000 local young men report for the war!
They went on to declare Kiev a fascist state with no right to rule, and that as of two days ago, Trans-Carpathia will NOT accept dictates or secret police attacks from Kiev.
In the 10 minute speech, The Russian and Hungarin ethincs vowed that they had lived in peace for 1,000 years and would unite together to fight the Kiev Fascist EU coup government.”
. . . . .
The article Ukraine’s Next Crisis? Economic Disaster is interesting.
http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article46960.html
[The author’s disclosure: his firm is the majority shareholder of Ukraine’s third largest gas producer. ]
Ukraine’s next crisis will be a devastatingly economic one, as violent conflict destroys critical infrastructure in the east and brings key industry to a halt, furthering weakening the energy sector by crippling coal-based electricity production.
The Ukrainian military’s showdown with separatists in the industrial east has forced coal mines to severely cut production or close down entirely. This has led to an electricity crisis that can only be staunched by cutting domestic production along with exports to Europe, Crimea, and Belarus — or worse, getting more imports from Russia.
In the coal centers of Ukraine’s industrial east — Luhansk and Donetsk — fighting has forced the full closure of an estimated 50 percent of coal mines, while overall coal production has fallen 22 percent over the same period last year.
Key industry sources say they will potentially run out of coal in less than three weeks.
For Ukraine, the second largest producer of coal in Europe, this will have a devastating impact on the energy sector, which is in a state of emergency, unable to get coal to thermal power plants that provide some 40 percent of the entire country’s electricity.
(snip)
~ ~ ~ ~
Kiev intends to carry on.
Many commentators on this blog anticipate that the economic collapse of Ukraine will encourage a resolution with the militia. However, economic collapse followed by Western financial support is exactly what empowered the Nazis in Germany prior to World War II.
The expectation that financial collapse bring about a resolution of the conflict is sadly misplaced. By selectively empowering certain sections with in Ukraine following an economic crisis, the Empire will be able to determine the path that Ukraine follows.this represents a grave danger to Putin and to Russia.
Hi WW from Germany, I’m Lumi from Germany. I’d like to point out why I think you’re wrong on a couple points, which you are … well, wrong on. :)
(d) Whether a particular European country “benefits” or doesn’t from a link or so-called “friendship” to the US has to be examined for every particular country.
Let’s take the case of Germany. The answer is a clear and resounding NO!
We’re running a huge trade surplus vs the US, and we’re not getting anything in return. The Bundesbank can’t even use a trade surplus to compensate for a (theoretically assumed) future deficit. The mountains of electronic dollars that German companies bring to the Buba are simply shreddered. They’re not in the Bilanz, they don’t exist. Call it surreal, but that is the way it is. How do you think it is possible that with our enormous surplus we’re seeing more and more poverty in Germany?
The brain drain is real, not imaginary. Then there’s a knowledge drain due to spying. There’s political sabotage, political assassinations.
Make no mistake about it: “Partnership” with the United States of America is VERY BAD FOR GERMANY!
By the way, do you think Italy benefits? Do you think Greece benefitted when the Amis installed the dictatorship? Do you think the peoples of Yugoslavia benefitted? Do you think pumping drugs from Afghanistan through Kosovo into Europe benefits our societies? Do you think Ukraine benefits?
“Partnership” with the USA benefits the corrupt elites.
(f) France voted Marine Le Pen and Front National. From what I know, she’s a Gaulliste. Great news for France, good sign for Europe. Re-educated petty slander minions in Germany will denounce that as some bad sort of -ism, but everyone who cares about Europe will know que c’est le bon choix! And by the way, you seem to still be captive of the left/right paradigm which has been dead for a long time.
(h) “Too productive.” Sorry, this is a HUGE perceptive error. Productivity is great, it allows large parts of humanity to benefit. Why does that not happen? Why do people in many parts of the world labour like slaves? Because the world is ruled by the Empire of Greed. It does not want wealth for the masses. This is what Greed is about. The “needs of capitalism” you’re talking about is yet another perceptive error. You’re anthropomorphizing a mere system, which humans have crafted to exploit whole nations, and you fail to see that it is humans who are in charge and could devise another system, and it would work. Remember: The system is for humans, not the other way round.
I must say I’m disappointed anyone would remain captive of such a mechanized and inhuman world view. But then, this is how we’re taught to think by our mindless educational system, in order for us to become useful and respectable cogs in the machine.
“Most disturbingly, Glaziev obscures and deflects from the NWO nature of the EU … and thus seems to be another pointer that Putin is NWO, too.”
Absolute rubbish.
“…and does not seem to realise his ‘Evil EU’ theme, makes the Eurasian ‘project’ a fantasy that is near-impossible without revolutionary upheaval.”
Paris-Berlin-Moscow will unlikely happen any time soon. But why the rush? This is a long term project. Revolution? Just look at Ferguson to see what is brewing in the US, the next USSR/Yugoslavia. Balkanization as a result of ethnic conflict.
And then there is the revolution in the ME, with the potential to eliminate one of the merely two gasstations Europe has.
“Glaziev very weakly ‘hopes’ for new EU leaders of a ‘new generation'”
That is a realistic hope. Marine le Pen heads the largest party in France, is a Gaullist, wants to leave the West and turn to Moscow.
http://deepresource.wordpress.com/2014/06/09/rt-interviews-marine-le-pen-again/
http://deepresource.wordpress.com/2014/05/23/greater-europe-ruined/
http://deepresource.wordpress.com/2014/05/14/large-majority-germans-support-putin-over-ukraine/
En visite à Moscou, Marine Le Pen
http://youtu.be/OeTa5SFELFo
http://deepresource.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/paris-berlin-moscou-transparent.png
“Glaziev does not understand modern media control at all. “
Who cares about media? Most inyelligentvpeople get their information from the web and discuss it, like on this forum.
Most people have missed one important actor in Glazievs’ interview – vision. So often we get tired and used phrases that do not lead anywhere. So his Lisbon-Vladivostok “axis” is one that is easily understood and could form the basis of an “aim” for Eurasia. Something we have been lacking for a long time.
@Zapster,
Blackmail between friends? Who would have thought. I seem to remember a Russian spy called “Chapman”, who made the whole spying thing look good.
WW from Germany answers:
@ Penelope Powell: smile. I was waiting for someone to point out:
„WW from Germany makes an error imm’y in para a: He says that when labor is saved less value is produced.“
Many people do think this is a mistake, but it is not. The reason is simple: only labour creates value. If you need less work/time to create the same product then lets say 100 years ago, this product indeed has less „value“ (as in work incorporated). This has actually nothing to do with the price tag. (Abstract concept of value).
Then: „I’m happy to have heard Glaziev’s views, especially his determination to become economically independent in form. He mentions controls over currency and banking.“
That means going back to Soviet style economy. I would call that no progress.
„There is no reason to borrow the worthless fiat currency of the West in order to issue credits to Russian businessman“
And how about the Russian currency? Is it backed by WHAT? Gold, Oil, Gas? Don’t you see your answer is a bit weak?
@Joe Perez: My qualifications to have a different opinion then Glazyev? I am a human being. That should be enough. Or do I have to apply to some government body to be allowed to disagree with some1?
Besides: all new technology is highly automated. Same with genetic testing etc. It does create very little new jobs. From a pov of capitalism that is bad and does not help since the fuel of capitalism is labour. And there is less and less fuel being needed. Something you also learnt in former USSR.
@Wim Roffel: The US is indeed after Russia because it needs to grow and there is nothing left to dump its products. In this phase of declining capitalism robbery (of other countries) becomes the name of the game.
@Biswajit: I could not care less what Harf says. Why do people only think in black or white?
Just a quick response to the naysayers that cannot see beyond the neoliberal economics view that has been pushed for decades.
To understand what is being stated, look back to the period between approx 1865-1907 and one can ponder how the “Industrial Revolution” was guided by the barons of the day paying close attention to Tesla and how his visionary research and technologies could have created a more prosperous and more inclusive future. For the most part, the Morgan Dynasty effectively bought the U.S. with the Rockefeller Dynasty finishing second after the manufactured Panic of 1907. The creation of the Fed along with WW1 assured that the AngloBarons would never again need to pay for their own sins and could trickle the costs unto the citizenry. The true birth of the MIC was in 1900 and all conspiracy theories that date after that were planted to cover their crimes against humanity…
Btw: @Nora, thanks for your kind words in the other thread and sorry but time did not permit a proper reply ’cause cointering the Harper Regime’s opaquely transparent neocon lie factory is a time consuming endeavour. :)
DumpHarper!
With regards to labour being the sole creator of value, this might have been in the initial stage of capitalism. It is knowledge that produces value, this is why contemporary capitalism is supportive of science: for its transformation to tech products that are commercializable. There is another reason for supporting sciences (plural,not unified). It plays the fundamental ideological role of construal of a mindset: divide and conquer! The political crises of the world is associated unseparably with the cognitive disocciation that the broken sciences produce!
Not to mention the concealment that all religions have a common origin in natural processes, such as cyclical events associated to the precession of the equinoxes. Climate change, indeed, but to claim that they are of the making of human activity, is a completely different issue:-)
Kind regards,
Patagonian
@Lumi: I am sorry. I guess I expressed myself wrongly! What I was trying to say was that THE ELITES in Germany, Italy and so on – aka the politicians and most of big capital think THEY profit. It explains THEIR actions. Or have you seen any major protest by politicians or the media or the big shots of Germanys rich guys? Do you really think they are ALL remote controlled by the USA? That is a bit simple! I was not talking about common people. I am sorry if I did not express myself precisely enough.
Secondly: I disagree w/ you on Le Pen etc. It is at best the “new right” at worst the old one. There is no point in discussing this at this point of time.
Thirdly: “Too productive.” Sorry, this is a HUGE perceptive error. Productivity is great, it allows large parts of humanity to benefit.“
YES! In every system but NOT in capitalism. That is the problem. You – and many – do not understand capitalism and its underlying principles.
„Why do people in many parts of the world labour like slaves? Because the world is ruled by the Empire of Greed.“
It is called capitalism and not „Empire of Greed“ – and nothing new!!
„It does not want wealth for the masses“ – of course not. That is why I criticized it because it always was a. inhuman and b. is now in crisis.
„You’re anthropomorphizing a mere system, which humans have crafted to exploit whole nations“
NO! It was „crafted“ to exploit people. The system does not really care about nations – it cares about profits and to them it is okay to do it to ppl in your own country, or other nation’s ppl or ppl from planet Mars.
„Remember: The system is for humans, not the other way round.“
That is my point!!! But THIS system is not for humans.
„But then, this is how we’re taught to think by our mindless educational system, in order for us to become useful and respectable cogs in the machine.
I am „like a scientist“ describing how I think it functions – don’t confuse it with what I want!!
In order to even have a shot at your enemies you need to understand them! That does not mean you agree with their methods!
WW from Germany
As an added “economic” factor with regards to Germany, one must acknowledge that since exports far outweigh imports, it must be crushed by the neocon free trade resource rape extortionists.
The only way to achieve that is to “push” it into the Ukie dilemma which will force them to accept any/all free trade deals with the neocons in the U.S. and Canada and Mexico by way of NAFTA and facilitated by the U.K. and the City of London cabal.
Either way the target is indeed Germany and it’s Euro funded projects and only once the German citizens realize this, can any real push back gain traction.
In other words, Germany is the problem and Germany is the solution at the same time. History teaches us that the Ukie diaspora in the “West” did the bidding for the City of London cabal in both WW’s and the Ukie ultra-nationalists did the dirty work on the ground to fuel the fires between all sides.
Keep in mind, a manufactured people, aka: Fiat People, can always be used to place blame on whomever the international banksters decide.
Summary, crush the economies, loot the treasuries, control the people. it’s easy as 1, 2, 3…
DumpHarper!
patagonian:
it is true that in these days knowledge is a necessary requirement for modern production. like oil to smear was the steam engine. But not more.
Knowledge is as services are totally dependend on production. without production both would carry no value by themselves.
For those getting hung up on Katyn, Sergei Glazov is actually referring to Khatyn in Belarus, rather than Katyn Forest which is near Smolensk
Re: “cointering the Harper Regime’s opaquely transparent neocon lie factory is a time consuming endeavour”
Where is this countered? While nothing to do with the present thread, I’d be glad of a link? Thanks.
Putin to America “you don’t know Jack”
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-08-19/putin-considers-banning-jack-daniels
@WW from Germany
I’ll take Glaziev’s straighforward statements over your confused semi Marxian ramblings any day.
In his case, I understood everything he said and could easily discern where I disagreed.
You remind me of Dugin, except when Dugin talks nonsense it has the advantage of sounding smart.
a. Less labour does not mean less value. I have no idea what point you’re trying to make.
b. Stating the obvious does not bolster the rest of your nonsensical ramblings.
c. “Will be” is the future and “thus far” is the past. What the hell are you talking about?
d. Calling Europe a “colony” gets Glaziev’s point across nicely. Wealthy parasites benefit from the present system wherever they mat be while productive people always get the shaft.
e. Agreed. Young or old, all good people are excluded from the political system as a rule. The good news is you qualify to run for political office.
f. People with money vote for right wingers — this is a revelation — how old are you?
g. You need to ask yourself the same question; about why Russian wealth fled. It fled because the flood gates were opened by gangsters and thieves. This is how capitalism works: you rewrite all laws to permit unlimited stealing by lawyers and ‘businessmen.’
h. You don’t understand productivity nor do you understand that people, not systems or machines, are always behind everything.
i. You are a cultural marxist, which pretty much explains your total confusion about everything including your dislike of this exceoptionally clear thinking an honest man.
I dream of hearing a Western politician speak to me as Glaziev speaks to Russians. Thanks for the drive by trolling but you’re really not up to the task.
Quote:
The world today is shifting to yet another cycle [..] This cycle lasts centuries [..] We are now moving from the American cycle of capital accumlation to an Asian cycle.
Well, it’s obvious that the current cycle, if it has already been lasting for centuries, cannot be “the American cycle”, but must be called something like “the European cycle”, whereas the last 100 years saw the cycle centered around the “Europeans in America” aka “the Americans”. It seems Glazov is using his language carefully to not give the impression he is targeting the European peoples, so that the peoples “from Lisbon to Vladivostok” won’t get antagonized.
So even if wrong, strictly speaking, it’s probably a good choice of words.
Honk
Never figured out how to “turn on cc caption”…
I have a mobile phone (iphone).
Alot of people use mobile phones these days, so how do “turn on cc caption” when using iphone? (Or android).
Where-Wolf – why are you so aggressive? Why the personal attacks?
WW from G makes some valid points.
>>Less labour does not mean less value. I have no idea what point you’re trying to make.
Makes a lot of sense! Maybe you just don’t get it!
@Where-Wolf:when Dugin talks nonsense it has the advantage of sounding smart.
Bwahahahaha!! This one made me laugh, thank you!
Seriously, Dugin is smart. Very smart and very well-educated too. But he is an ideologue and that is what I dislike about him. He makes some claim and does not give a damn about the consequences. You know, the kind that will burn down a forest if he feels that making a barbecue is a good idea. Then I really don’t care for his mix of ideologies: Bolshevism, Nazism, nationalism. A noxious and toxic brew imnsho. Frankly, I think that he is a nutcase. But a smart one.
Cheers, and thanks for the laugh,
The Saker
Concern that Putin is an agent of the NWO seems impossible to square with his actions.
If Putin were intent on destroying Russia as a sovereign nation state, i.e., as a distinct ethno-cultural entity, why does he not embrace the multi-culti, mass immigration, devolutionist policies of France, the UK, etc., rather than talking about a common cultural space across the Russian Federation; about pulling Russia out of a demographic hole; and about restoring Russia’s Orthodox faith?
And why not simply apply for admission to NATO and the EU. Russians would be welcome to abandon their democratic form of government for the EU bureaucracy and dictation by NATO’s Fogher Rasmussen.
And what would be in it for Putin? As a long-serving, immensely popular head of one of one of the most powerful states on earth, why would he seek to destroy the power of that state and earn the undying hatred of the vast majority of patriotic Russians?
The logic of suggesting that Putin is an agent of the NWO seems to be that if you do not hate him as an opponent of the NWO, then hate him because he’s secretly an agent of the NWO, i.e., don’t worry about the facts, just hate Russia for whatever reason works for you.
Anonymous said…
“If Russia is so against Nazi/Fascism how come it supports unequivocally Serbia which …”
You confused Serbia with what I think is your homeland Croatia.
Hallo The Saker,
very interesting video.
Gaziev says that Ukraine is a very important partner for Russia and the “Eurasian” Customs Union and Common Economic Space. But you don’t agree this point, I believe. For you is Ukraine only a security’s problem, if I understood well your point of view. Can you specify this point?
Greetings and thanks for your work
Sankara
Thoughts on Russia from an American anarchist. This is the first time in my life I’ve admired or understood the value of a ‘nation’ . . . the Russian people, I believe are moving in the direction of the ideals of communism and christianity . . . bringing it all back home. Only the Russians, in partnership with people of good will from all over the planet, have the strength and compassion to move humanity forward towards a future of peace and cooperation.
And to the self defense of Novorossiya: thank you for your resistance. You have inspired and united a movement worldwide that was thought lost since 1991.
All support to the Russian people, the Soviet people, and towards a New America, a New Europe and a New Russia.
CanSpeccy, Have you read this? The argument is that Putin may be an unconscious agent of the NWO: http://www.corbettreport.com/the-great-decoupling-how-the-west-is-engineering-its-own-downfall/
Cheers
@Saker
:)
Yes Sir! Dugin is a fire-starter, a very smart one for sure.
>>Less labour does not mean less value. I have no idea what point you’re trying to make.
Makes a lot of sense! Maybe you just don’t get it!
===============================
It makes a lot of sense according to the Marxist view of economy, that is, it makes no sense at all.
The economic value of a good is not in the labour needed to produce it, but in its marginal utility for a buyer (Menger).
No matter how much labour you would deploy to produce windmills today, they would be worthless for any industrial concern.
(but they could have some value for a romantic retired couple as a piece of real estate)
Ballistic missile hitting Donetsk today http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74DIzC5a9Rk
(the first 1:35 min are apparently from a failed launch)
You can be assured of Glaziev’s importance. Count the troll attacks and the length of their blather.
Fear seeps from the towers of the Empire. The distraction work the trolls attempt is laughable.
This man, Glaziev, and his analysis is so far over their pointy heads . . . god, it’s a riot.
@CanSpeccy said…
Re: “cointering the Harper Regime’s opaquely transparent neocon lie factory is a time consuming endeavour”
Where is this countered? While nothing to do with the present thread, I’d be glad of a link? Thanks.
The “short” answer to your question can begin by visiting our primary hub located at the link below:
https://dumpharper.wordpress.com/
To elaborate a bit further, we are a very loose collaboration of disconnected and interconnected individuals and groups that seek to rid our nation of the neocon plague that is the Harper Regime.
While there are many that may be aligned with “party’s” to a certain extent, we do not advocate on behalf of any. We are a rather diverse cross section that spans our nation from First Nations to the very last immigrant that has found themselves here.
We have various “official” portals and social media appendages that are available as well as unofficial alliances that dare not be publicly associated with us, especially those within the conservative caucus.
In addition, we utilize the wise words and writings of many “philosophers” and strategists, from ancient civilizations up to the modern day.
As to not distract from the thread, we will leave you with a couple of “quotes” that, more or less, sums up our collective, it’s mission and strategy as taught by Sun Tzu (circa 6th century BC) via The Art of War…
“If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.”
“Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent’s fate.”
DumpHarper!
And thanks Saker for fightin’ the good fight and for allowing all of us the opportunity to join together!
@Levantine:
re: Putin the NWO, and James Corbett.
Corbett is surely right in saying:
“The inescapable conclusion is that the NATO powers have helped to create their own enemy.”
But I believe that the West has created enemies and increased their power to harm the West out of stupidity, cupidity and the belief that, in the end, all the billionaires, Russian, Chinese, American, whatever will come together to sacrifice the interests of the people.
This, however, is a mistake. Money is power, but state power can trump the money power.
Putin directly and explicitly restricted the money power from politics, thus the corrupt western form of “democracy” where money buys the elections seems to have been avoided in Russia and there is no obvious reason why that should not remain the case indefinitely.
Why, after all, would those who control the power of the state wish to become mere puppets of the money power?
Rather, it seems to me, those who control the Russian state will cultivate the support of the people as a bulwark against the power of oligarchs.
As guardians of the interests of the people, those such as Putin reap many rewards in the esteem of the public, in the use of public resources, palaces, aircraft, security, etc. What reason would they have to exchange all that for the reputation of a Tony Blair or Hillary Clinton, however great the cash payoff.
@Levantine:
re: Putin the NWO, and James Corbett.
Corbett is surely right in saying:
“The inescapable conclusion is that the NATO powers have helped to create their own enemy.”
But I believe that the West has created enemies and increased the power of those enemies to harm the West out of stupidity, cupidity and the belief that, in the end, all the billionaires, Russian, Chinese, American, whatever will come together to sacrifice the interests of the people.
This, however, is a mistake. Money is power, but state power can trump the money power.
Putin directly and explicitly restricted the money power from politics, thus the corrupt western form of “democracy” where money buys the elections seems to have been avoided in Russia and there is no obvious reason why that should not remain the case indefinitely.
Why, after all, would those who control the power of the state wish to become mere puppets of the money power?
Rather, it seems to me, those who control the Russian state will cultivate the support of the people as a bulwark against the power of oligarchs.
As guardians of the interests of the people, those such as Putin reap many rewards in the esteem of the public, in the use of public resources, palaces, aircraft, security, etc. What reason would they have to exchange all that for the reputation of a Tony Blair or Hillary Clinton, however great the cash payoff.
Re: dumpharper.wordpress.com
Thanks v. much for the URL
CS
This is total disaster, moreover this is very scary, not the interview but the reaction of readers who are excited by what Glaziev has to say.
The whole interview appears as just non-stop flow of primitive brainwashing masquaraded as knowledge and understanding.
It is targeted to russian mob and scary thing is that it appears it works (by reading comments here). It is scary because next thing these guys would do is to prohibit foreign currency accounts, close the border and russians are back to soviet union and saying thank you for this… worse there will be war.
I only hope that this will not happen anytime soon…
Of course smart people in russia are seeing through it and record outflow of capital is happening now. Everyone who can will leave especially if it gets serious.
To the admirers of Glaziev I highly recommend reading or listening audio version of:
Will Durant
Lessons of history.
People never learn, it really is the same all the time, same opium for the masses and record popularity of Putin.
I am surely not pro-american but this is not a case in point.