Just a quick note here (since I am inundated by emails about this): there is no way I can put a positive spin on the fact that Putin has re-nominated Medvedev as Prime Minister. I am personally bitterly disappointed and so are many others. A comment I just saw on the YouTube chat of the inauguration was succinct and to the point: “Путин кинул народ – мы не за Медведева голосовали” or “Putin betrayed the people – we did not vote for Medvedev”. This is going to be a very widely shared feeling, I am afraid.
Now, there are a number of explanations for this development including that Medvedev is an effective manager, that he has been weakened by the corruption scandals in Dagestan, that the new task-centered management doctrine of the Russian government makes personalities less important, etc.
Frankly, I don’t buy any of them. First and foremost, the re-nomination of Medvedev is a hugely important symbolic act which says the following: there will NOT be a purge of the Atlantic-Integrationist IMF/WTO/WB type, of the 5th columnist inside the Kremlin and that the (very unpopular) “economic block” of the Russian government will stay in power. In fact, this re-nomination will only pour more fuel on the fire of rumors saying that Putin/Russia will “cave in” in Syria or the Donbass or that the internal economic course will continue to remain what is politely known as “liberalism”. The devil is always in the details, but I have to say that seeing Medvedev re-nominated is, at the very least, a PR-disaster. If that is how Putin begins his term, it scares me to think of what might come next (Kudrin? Chubais?)…
At this point in time, I am NOT saying that this will happen. But we are all aware of the alarmist rumors circulating all over the Internet about this for many days now and what I am saying is that this re-nomination will only strengthen these rumors. Such rumors are, I believe, very dangerous because I think that one of the techniques most effectively used by Putin’s enemies it not to criticize him directly but, instead, of accusing him of showing weakness and lack of resolve. Do you remember how some pseudo-patriots accused Russia of “disarming Syria” when the Russians stopped the planned US attack and removed the (totally useless) chemical weapons the Syrians had? Or how many times we have been told that Russia will “sell out” the Donbass? Or how Russia “was allowing” Israel bomb Syria (here is my reply to this thesis: https://www.unz.com/tsaker/
But with this re-nomination of Medvedev Putin himself has given a lot of credence to these rumors! Why would he do that? Could it be that he had no other choice? One thing is sure: he cannot be unaware of the fact that Medvedev is unpopular and that most Russians hoped to see a new face. Yet Putin ignored this public sentiment. That is a very worrying sign, in my opinion.
Nonethless, I suggest that we wait for a few days to see who the new (old?) ministers will be. If, as some rumors are suggesting it, Shoigu and Rogozin are out – then this will only further fuel the current panic. As for the appointment of Mutko to deputy prime minister overseeing construction, it sounds like a bad joke.
I personally don’t want to make any forecasts (I am not a prophet), but I do have to admit that things look pretty bleak right now.
The next 24 hours should bring some clarity to what is really talking place.
But yeah, things look pretty bleak to me.
The Saker
Saker,
Any thoughts on Bibi’s invitation to Moscow for Victory Day?
Re: Bibi’s invite?
Sorry, but at the very beginning of the RF’s intervention in Syria years ago the statement was made, here i think, that the Russian communications would be routed via israel, for me this was huh? & i think i said it then. Why anyone now is questioning Syria’s division or Bibi the hero is….well i won’t be rude.
Sorry again but israel & zionist(for want of a better word)international finance are today’s untouchables. Enjoy.
(Pardon me for my second comment on this thread)
Here’s a few of my own guesses….
1) Since “the west” does not celebrate the defeat of the Nazis, and generally seems to ignore the day, this was a symbolic visit along that regard.
2) Inviting someone to a military parade does not mean friendship. It would depend a lot on what is said between the parties at the parade. And this could range from anywhere between “would you like to buy some of those weapons which are better than what the Americans can sell you?” to “doesn’t this military look strong? You’d better watch your step or the next place you might see them would be marching down the streets of Jerusalem.”
“Since “the west” does not celebrate the defeat of the Nazis, and generally seems to ignore the day, this was a symbolic visit along that regard.”
All of them do, may be with the exception of Germany.
Just where in the world is VE day still celebrated? It’s only in some former USSR countries that we see the defeat of Fascism celebrated, whilst others, like Latvia celebrate the Fascists.
Поздравляем с Днем Победы!
France on the 8th of May.
Western Europe celebrates VE day on May 8th. Russia and others on May 9th. That doesn’t mean that Western Europe does not celebrate VE day.
It’s almost certain that most of the Western nations would refuse an invitation to participate in Victory Day celebrations.
Netanyahu probably will attend, because in way that’s a show of power. Israel is important, it gets invited to Moscow despite tensions. It would however rub neocons the wrong way, though they’ll choke on their silence.
Russia stances is always that it’s willing to talk, so long as its interests are considered. For that reason, probably ever leader of every nation gets an invite.
Well, Putin is not a communist or a socialist, Putin believes in capitalism, specifically liberalism. Not liberalism as politics of course, but liberalism in the sense of the free-er the market the better. Putin has promised economic growth, to achieve this he will bring in economic liberalists to reform the economy, and push out economic nationalists, he will also use the economic liberals to try negotiate and appease USA and EU… There is a lot of people wishing radical things from Putin.. But he is not a man that does radical things if there is any other option. What Putin wants more the anything is a good economic relationship with EU and also with USA if that is possible… All these people ranting that Russia will “shift to the east” is nonsense.. I mean of course Russia will develop its ties as much as possible with east-asia, both as a buffer and both because there is a lot of growth there. But what is most important for Russia is Germany and western Europe.
Each time when I’m reading statements like this All these people ranting that Russia will “shift to the east” is nonsense.. I mean of course … most important for Russia is Germany and western Europe. I’m wondering if people are aware that Russia is a multi-ethnic country. Why should Russia want closer ties with the West instead of closer ties with the East? Foremost the answer to this question should be answered by Russians themselves. From my point of view it’s arrogant Westerners who think that Russia needs the West. It’s the other way around. Without Russia (more specific Russian resources) the West will go down.
For some strange reason didn’t my rebuttal get published. I pointed out several aspects that make Germany a less than desirable partner of Russia.
I’m myself German and would like to have closer ties to Russia, but this would be a bad deal for the Russians. For years I see greed dominating wherever I look. If Germany is most important for Russia, then Russia needs China since many German companies moved their production to China. It’s just a question of time when the Chinese will dominate car manufacturing (and development). Chinese car manufacturers already recognized the potential of electric vehicles, while German ones pushed for Diesel, Diesel, Diesel. Yesterday I heard on the radio that Audi had to stop production of A6 and A7, because they (surprise, surprise, …) used software for manipulation. The latest trend that is pushed in Germany is autonomously driving cars. Who needs something like that? I’ve got to admit that Germany did some excellent PR, but the Chinese seem to be more reliable and don’t have their focus on making quick profits (for example they pushed Volvo to the top again, they still keep Osram open, while Siemens today announced to lay off some more workers).
Check the above mentioned facts and ask yourself. Are ties to Germany (and/or Western Europe) really more important than ties to the East? Or shouldn’t the Russians try to get along with everyone?
A private meeting is scheduled between Nutsy and Putin after the parade. I think his visit to the parade is pretty much a cover story. I would imagine they will be discussing the limits of Israeli aggression against Syria and Iran before Russia would strike back forcefully. Perhaps Israeli attack planes using USAF transponders to confuse the Russians. Also discussing Russia’s surface to air missile sales to Syria and Iran.
Bibi is embodiment of the state of Israel here, not the person he is
Whatever current relationship might be, Russia claims that defeat of Third Reich was the most important point in 20th century history.
And thus all the states that want to share this sentiment and join the ceebratio nare welcome to do so.
Israel included, we did not broke diplomatic relationship with them, so they are welcome to this specific event just like others.
Netanyahu was only invited to the Victory Parade because he wanted an urgent working meeting with Putin in Moscow. When was the sooenst most convenient date? May 9 with Putin in Moscow for the Victory Parade. Netanyahu was then invited to attend purely out of courtesy. The Russians would have done the same for Trump or any other foreign leader in Russia at the time. It does not reflect Netanyahu’s pull over Putin/Russia, rather the reverse.
“It does not reflect Netanyahu’s pull over Putin/Russia, rather the reverse.”
It reflects the ‘optics’ for the historical TV record — my guess is all of the above but also primarily a message to Iran to cool it on post-Trump dump. More than likely Nutanyahoo is playing H. Kissinger and taking the official and unofficial Putin response back to DC.
What a great idea – a leader of extreme apartheid come to Moscow to triumph over Nazis. Bloody hypocrisy !
Almost a definition of irony.
Almost a definition of irony. The leader of the country which most closely resembles Nazi Germany in the contemporary world, a racist settler state based on a belief in in their racial superiority and conducting a vicious campaign of ethnic cleansing, attending a parade to celebrate the defeat of everything they believe in.
I lost it when I saw him
My wife and I have not spoken since – she is Russian and we always have watched the Parade together
But – I lost it and walked out
She is upset – but – I just cannot beleive what I saw – Putin and Bibi hand-in-hand
it appears that the relation between israel and russia is intimate more so now that it has ever been perhaps we have read or been fed information to the contrary all wrong :)
Uh ho, having watched a few minutes of celebrating Bibi before I could look no more, I sensed the Russian invincibility shield falling away as I watched, So sorry RF you had a beautiful few years in the light, now darkness has fallen enjoy the neo kingdom of Zion
Maybe to remind, and gratitude is due, to the country and the people who defeated at terrible cost to themselves, the Jew exterminating nazis. Remembering those times, marching with the Russian parade, sons and grandsons of those that fought.
Well as you say Saker lets wait and see. So far Medvedev has put the following in as deputies:
“Dmitry Medvedev nominated to the Prime Minister’s office puts forward candidacies of Maxim Akimov, Tatiana Golikova, Olga Golodets, Alexei Gordeev, Yuri Borisov, Vitaly Mutko, Dmitry Kozak and Konstantin Chuichenko to positions of deputy prime ministers, a participant in the meeting of Medvedev with Edinaya Rossiya parliament members in the State Duma told TASS on Monday.
Akimov will be in charge of transport, communications and digital technologies. Borisov will supervise the defense industry. Golikova will be responsible for healthcare. Golodets will oversee culture and sports. Gordeev will be in charge of agriculture. Mutko will oversee the construction sector. Kozak will be responsible for energy and industry. Chuichenko is intended to be appointed as the chief of staff of the government.
The acting prime minister nominated Anton Siluanov to the office of the first deputy prime minister. Siluanov is also expected to remain the Finance Minister”.
http://tass.com/politics/1003189
and
“The presence of acting Finance Minister Anton Siluanov in the new line up of the Russian government would be a positive signal for investors, head of the Research Institute of Finance at the Finance Ministry Vladimir Nazarov told TASS.
On Monday, acting Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev held consultations with the parliamentary factions in the State Duma, lower house of parliament. He announced the proposed line-up of the new government. In particular he proposed appointing acting Finance Minister Anton Siluanov as the first Deputy Prime Minister.
“There is a hope that Anton Germanovich (Siluanov – acting Finance Minister – TASS) will work in his new capacity as efficiently as he works in the Finance Ministry,” Nazarov said…..”
http://tass.com/economy/1003219
VVP may be thinking at this time that it is best to keep things on an even keel for the time being esp. with the heavy sanctions and keeping the largest party in the Duma happy. The parliament decides – not him – he nominated DM.
Also listen to his inauguration speech – have faith!
What I find interesting is who isn’t coming back……
Addition: For example – Igor Shuvalov, ex deputy prime minister; Arkady Dvorkovich, ex deputy prime minister…..
Lavrov, Shoygu, Rogozin are probably leaving
I expect you’re being sarcastic – good point.
Putin is not the Rider on the White Horse – he’s just a guy that lives in the 21st century and doesn’t want to see Russia dominated by the West.
I am not sarcastic, they are leaving. For those who demand “link to source, please”, no internet, live source directly from Moscow. Rogozin is already out. Lavrov soon. They were never part of the inner Putin-Medvedev circle anyway.
To make such statement one has to have a chip on one’s shoulder.
And still nothing given as a source, nor as evidence. Its just talk on the internet, which doesn’t even contain hot air so you can’t even use it as heat.
Anonymous
Are you sure about that ?
Of course they are not “sure of that.”
No sources given. Not even the “unnamed sources close to the mens room” that dominate the western media. And I believe The Saker has commented in the past on if Putin is going to leak anything (and he rarely does), then it would not be to a western media. It would be to Russian media.
@Veritas,
From your list (if accurate), I have the impression that Mr Putin got really worried about what these guys could do to destroy his final administration, had he removed them… The 5th column in Russia is its Deep State, and it would be enlarged by these guys. Unless – I said – unless, these guys have just a less influential role on the foreign decisions (as they do), and their permanence wasn’t really a big problem for Mr Putin the Statesman, the Great.
I will only doubt Mr Putin’s decisions when I see that they were definitely NOT the best ones for Russia. And I believe that, due to the unbelievably awful world situation, I think that ‘what is best for Russia is best for the world, as well’.
The acting Kremlin spokesperson has reacted and urges the public not to rush and judge new Cabinet until ministers are appointed –
“the Russian government will consist exclusively of highly-qualified professionals……He stressed that the objectives for the future Cabinet set by the president had been enshrined in the Executive Order on Russia’s National Goals and Strategic Objectives to 2024 signed on Monday…..”Wait a little bit, there is no Cabinet yet, no appointments, no distribution of powers, so these questions are premature now,” ………
http://tass.com/politics/1003312
So as above – let’s wait and see. Medvedev performed well and that is why he is back – no other roles are announced yet – apart from DM’s choices under his remit.
The old maxim “Keep your friends close, and keep your enemies closer” does come to mind.
I agree. Also, there is no discussion of the possibility that Lavrov, Shoigu et al have asked to retire, and that they have spent the last ten years training replacements.
If Putin has 12 years left he needs to spend that time subduing his detractors by putting them in a position to benefit most from holding together what he builds. And he needs new blood well established and experienced by then.
Over here, a great, charismatic farmer often turns his efforts and acquisitions to ash in the next generation for failing to hand the reins on early enough. Farms and countries are built and then ruined ruined by big egos failing to give even the bad boy sons real responsibility early enough.
BTW in tems of mere domestic PR keeping Mutko is 100 times worse disaster than keeping Medvedev.
Note to readers: The Deputy PM’s are Medvedev’s choices as per the article.
True.
But how much freedom Medvedev actually has in making such high level choices, rather than pretending to have, is anyone’s guess.
My personal guess is that “everything is fixed”.
Since the outcome of the election was well known even year ago, i believe all the current assignments were prearrenged and agreed upon way before electons as well. y all the eite factions, including Putin.
Medvedev now should be just formally legislaing the long made consensus.
And the worldwide Kabuki is going forward. Aim of the whole process is to partition the earth in production/consumption/destruction zones while eliminiating any serious danger of a mass equality movement by installing a technocratic governance.
I’m not very familiar with many Russian politicians, the name Alexei Kudrin doesn’t ring a bell with me. Staying with the topic of bells I would like to point out that my alarm bells are ringing when I have to read that Medvedev had been re-nominated. I share your opinion that he would deliver the Russian people and the countries resources to the West. It would be the 1990’s all over again. Getting back to the first politician I had mentioned. Paul Craig Roberts wrote an article about possible nomination of Alexei Kudrin as Vice President: https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2018/05/05/russia-washingtons-next-vassal/
I would like to add some positive news. Considering patriotic actions Russian officials just did that and kicked out a German NGO called “Europäische Plattform für demokratische Wahlen” (European Platform for Democratic Elections – EPDE). (Source of information in German: http://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/deutsche-ngos-in-russland-schluss-mit-dialog-im.2165.de.html?dram:article_id=417068)
Very good, very good, one zio-LGBT cell sent back to Merkel. I’ll drink to that news!
Anonymous
As I have written before, Dr. Paul Craig Roberts is an excellent analysts, especially when it comes to US plans regarding Russia. However, when it comes to Russia itself, he does occasionally exaggerate Russian “non response”, like stating – correctly – that NGO’s in Russia could instigate a color revolution. Well, they tried that and failed miserably. However, Dr.Roberts forgets that Russia expelled quite a number of NGO’s, including Soros.
As for Alexei Kudrin, Dr.Roberts mentions him as a possible Vice-President. This news was picked up by other analysts. I don’t know how Dr.Roberts derived at the name of Kudrin, but to me this has a fishy smell of being disinformation, planted by Russian liberals. At any rate, we shall see. Appointments are in the process of being made. I just don’t see Putin reversing, or destroying everything he has worked for the past 18 years.
Dr. Roberts got this information from Russia Insider (read my other comment below) and John Helmer, but he points out that nothing is for sure. You have to read the article for yourself. It also mentions that Pepe Escobar thinks that president Putin is moving into the opposite direction from Kudrin. The information is as certain as the information The Saker published in this article. Both articles are dealing with rumors of possible nominations. And both articles may cause too much fear.
I didn’t notice that Dr. Roberts exaggerates Russian non response, but I’ve observed that the diplomatic speech of Russian officials irritates him (“our Western partners”).
In a few days we’ll have some more information about the ongoing process.
Anonymous
“Russia Insider” is not a Russian publication.
I referred to my comment below: Anonymous on May 07, 2018 · at 7:19 pm EST/EDT in which I said that afaik Russia Insider was started by Western expats living in Russia. It would be nice if you could point out where I wrote something different. Even prior to that comment I warned Isabella from putting too much trust into Russia Insider (read the comment: Anonymous on May 07, 2018 · at 5:55 pm EST/EDT).
These comments are now closed – they are off-topic and should be in the MFC not here. Any further will go to trash. Mod
It is unpleasant to see Dr. Roberts consistently egging Putin to sometimes more forcefully confront or at other times disengage with “Western Partners”.
And yet, Mr. Roberts himself lives in the democratic west where his voice, disagreements and criticism of western policies should have a more effective impact or audience than democratic liberal press or even Russian press afford people like Navalny.
Don’t bark at Putin, bark at your own senators and congressmen.
I am not Russian, it’s none of my business, but I am shocked and disgusted. I thought I understand Putin or at least have full faith in his very pragmatic way of politics. None of these any more.
He makes PR points with a national Kortezh car, but does not dismiss Medvedev as a symbol of rotten 5th column?
I am afraid the army will step in, what worse – some generals.
Wake up Wladimir! The people gave you a “carte blanche” to make Russia great again.
the master
Lets not dramatize things. We still don’t have the full picture of what is happening.
The fact that Putin is nominating Medvedev as an old/new PM, while everyone is aware Medvedev represents pro west, liberal side in Kremlin, should already gives us the full picture.
Big disappointment, especially at the time when Russia is under tremendous attack by the west.
Medvedev represents Putin, he is groomed to be the next president. What and who then represents Putin,I will leave to your common sense.
Here is another viewpoint on the Prime Minister and Cabinet http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com.au/2018/05/about-russian-government-fast-thoughts.html
> but does not dismiss Medvedev as a symbol of rotten 5th column?
whoooop!
re-read this!
what you assert here is that Putin should dump Medvedev not for some real misdeeds (of which Dagestan is probaby a tip of the icebrerg) but because he is – symbol
just that, if X is symbol then Putin must hurry up and ditch X
But WHO is known to brilliantl create fake symbols, false reality?
Clintons and their globalist masters.
Okay, let’s assume Putin creats the precedent of allowing himself to be controleld by perception management masters and would agree to dismiss persons just for becoming symbols of this and that. Then who next would be made into a symbol?
Putin is KGB-man. He is stern on being opaque and unexpected. He insists on having full freedom of decisions. Including truning all the Russia into an ilusion of “gas station in tatters”.
Why would he willfulyl create a precedent that some foreign force he does not control would be able to strike out any person from his team by creating symbols (activity they are much too experienced in)?
Indeed.
Sometimes things are not always what they seem.
And sometimes they are.
Which is which?
Uncertainty may be read in various ways.
Hubris will always read it to assume ‘victory’.
Let it.
“Medvedev as a symbol of rotten 5th column ” ? Do not laugh my ….
It is a very good decision to leave Medvedev as a PM . I applaud V. Putin , and I trust him . As to those who criticize him, for the choice ( like Anonymous ) : who is he to judge what’s good for Russia ?
That’s right . You are not Russian . I’m happy – you are not .
Another “positive” spin on this would be that things are too volatile now to make abrupt changes. It may be that six months to a year on, Post-World Cup and after both the external and internal situations are clearer, and Putin identifies a successor to groom, changes could be made.
But yes ideally this would have been the time.
Additionally, Mr Putin can use the possibility of change as a negotiating advantage…
There is a chance that we don’t know what is really motivating Putin to keep things the way they used to be. Perhaps, he understands his enemies’ way better than we do and knows how to deal with them in this particular formation. Some also saying that, with all his ineptitude and weak mindedness, Medvedev is a Putin’s loyalist. Saying that, I concur, Medvedev has to go, and the sooner, the better.
What motivates Putin is irrelevant, he is an elected president, not a tsar. Russian people voted for Putin because he promised to change the rotten government. I read Russian and I read today thousands comments on Russian forums full of bitterness, disapointment and sense of being betrayed.
Where, exactly, did Putin “Promise to change the government”?
Please provide a link – if it’s in Russian I can translate.
I followed much of what was said – and it was all about creating a Russia with a better economic sector, pushing innovation, production and housing. I read not one world about “promising to change the government”.
Can you provide links to some of these “bitter, sense of being betrayed” comments??
Well, RT published another very good Neil Clark [he really knows what he’s talking about] article about France needing a de Gaulle.
It is very simple; de Gaulle’s (economic) policies were good. Neoliberal [= Rothchild Zionist-Trotskyite-Fabian-Nazi-Neocon] economic policies are absolutely catastrophic, and destroy (enslave) countries.
So Paul Craig Roberts (or Glazyev), The Saker, Ramin Mazaheri, and so forth, are right about that, and it is good they say so.
Instead of misleading the public here with questions why don’t you go read the comments of Russians at least in the government RIA (See, I am not sending you to the opposition media) regarding Medvedev nomination. Then you will know about Russian’s sense of being betrayed. Putin made numerous promisses to change the government if re-elected before the elections, if you need links to Twitter or Facebook, I cannot give you those.
Good point about “changes “, Isabella.
He wouldn’t be able to provide any, since there is none such .
And the second point ” Some also saying… ” of his ; would be nice to learn what kind of sources he is reading . That’s the way gossip and disinformation is made .
Change your source of info. and you’ll find much more support of the Russian President, and optimism of Russian people .
We all think that we understand Putin and the Russian internal dynamics.
So far, I have seen no one who can explain how Putin has not jettisoned DM and put forth a Putin government.
Not a word of prediction, nor a word of explanation.
Putin had the huge victory and has proposed a great leap forward, while tying it all to this albatross.
My explanation is the Liberal power+ oligarchs is too large with the threat of another color revolution.
We don’t know how much underground activity has gone on, but you can bet the US would spend 50 Billion Dollars on financing the internal upheaval. They spent one-tenth that preparing Ukraine.
So, he holds the Liberals as hostages, shields against more trouble.
That’s all I can think of at the moment.
And sadly, another Aerospace tragedy in Syria. A helicopter gunship went down. Both pilots killed, in East Syria.
The alternative is simply that Putin is a Liberal at heart, with a strong desire to have good relations with Europe and especially Germany. Fortunately, Putin has a brain besides a heart and knows that pure Liberalism would lead to the destruction of Russia.
We have a say in Brazil about football: ‘don’t touch a team that is winning’… Yes, I think Mr Putin knows what he is doing.
> My explanation is the Liberal power+ oligarchs is too large with the threat of another color revolution.
There is another thing.
We tend to idealize siloviks because we tend to idealize Putin and by proxy all the KGB
But look what siloviks do in USA now. Can you sai CIA and NSA are “knights in shining armor”?
Doesn’t absolute power corrupt absolutely?
And wasn’t it KGB who knew about USSR rotting and dissolving and let it come without much opposition?
Andropov is rather foggy figure himself.
————-
Putin – as any other ruler – needs a force to check very other force. That makes him arbiter with freedom to maneuvre.
Supressing all power groupd by one is possible – but that would make Putin a mere talking head. A hostage of the situation.
Remember how Putin in 2001 was saying how Yukos is a great company with a bad owner and how Yukos would be kept for the Russian people.
The oligarchs laughed at Putin and carved tasty peaces of Yukos faster than he could end his speech.
Putin spent almost 20 years building kind of equilibrium where he can pull any string he would want to.
He hardly would want to undo it and became himself the puppet on the strings, not even the puppet of siloviks.
I am worried too – and disappointed. I had expected better – of the so called Alt-media.
I am noticing a trend suddenly, and I am no longer able to think of it as accidental. As the old saying has it, “once is happenstance; twice is coincidence, three times, it’s enemy action.”.
We are facing a new enemy action, but one the Alt Med seems unable to see.
We had the whole “anti-Putin” thing built on the meme that Putin was terrible threat – the Iron Man of Russia, the strong man who could rig your elections, destroy your democracy, turn off your power, just about affect the sale of fish food for home aquariums.
However, I think somewhere in the depths of Deep State, it has dawned on someone that the world actually likes a strong leader they can trust.
So, the meme turns.
Now, Putin isn’t strong. He’s weak. He’s a turncoat.
I read articles in Russia Insider saying that Putin has let down Syria, Armenia, and “his credibility is shot”. I read on ICH that Putin will happily shop Iran and let Israel destroy it for some hoped for gain – leaving Russia all alone when America and its’ military come to call.
I read the worst of insane hysterics from Paul Craig Roberts and John Helmer that Putin is about to “surrender to Washington” via appointing Kudrin as the man to negotiate the surrender.
I wonder what in Gods name they are using for brains.
There’s an old saw “the best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour”
It’s true. Very true.
Is it at all possible that people can look at what Putin has done for the past 18 years; at the man he has clearly shown he is; at the devotion to Russian sovereignty which he has given his life to build; at his integrity and personal stubbornness – as if he would ever hand over the reigns of Russia future to Kudrin to give to the USA for Gods sake!!
And now – Saker. Putin stated in his address to the outgoing parliament that Russia has made considerable gains in the last few years, and they are mainly due to the actions Medvedev has taken. I knew then that he would want Medvedev back. He does stick with those who he trusts, and who have proven themselves – and he knows what he’s doing
I have, however, a greater concern about this hysteria that “Putin is weak” Do you really want to convince the mad fools of Washington and the Pentagon that this is true? As America hovers on the brink of an economic collapse of catastrophic proportions and can see no way out but war – do you really want them to add to their belief that Putin was bluffing in his March 1st speech, and doesn’t have game changing weapons.? Do you realise how little it would take these madmen to go to war with Russia.?
Telling them that Putin is weak and being led by Atlantic traitors is just about the worst thing anyone could do right now – and I’d suggest we dont do it.
Putin isn’t weak – he just has a very different way of doing things to what anyone is used to, thats all.
Don’t put too much trust into Russia Insider. A while ago RT published an article about Russia Insider: https://www.rt.com/op-ed/416804-anti-semitic-russian-insider/
I hope you’re correct and alt-media had been fooled. The Saker already mentioned this in the article. Let’s wait and see.
Anonymous
“Russia Insider” is a US publication. It’s actual name is misleading.
“Russia Insider” is a US publication.”
A right wing u.s. publication.
The whole “alt-media” are US publications, indeed…..except for perhaps Red Voltaire and some few more….
If I’m not mistaken then it started as a publication of expats living in Russia. Somewhere I had read that the founder lives in Canada again. Is the domain Russia Insider still in use? Since the article appeared on RT I didn’t visit the web site of Russia Insider anymore, but I watched a few reports of life in Russia on the re-named youtube channel Russia Insight.
Bausman is definitely not Jewish. He wrote an article about himself, saying that his family is old Christian stock that came to North America, if my memory serves me correctly, around the time of the American Revolution and his family are patriotic Americans. He lamented the fact that, after having lived in Russia for some years, when he saw his old home town, it had been invaded by untermenschen, well that was not his term, it was poor Central Americans, who had ‘taken over’. As the Native Americans whom his family displaced had not existed, and how they must have felt when the Europeans moved in.
He claims to have been involved in investment finance before starting Russia Insider, and begs for money to keep it going. He and his former colleagues could easily finance it.
The Duran, which was founded by Peter Lavelle of RT, and the website, Fort-Russ, both severely criticized Russia Insider. It still has some good reporting IMO, but other stuff is not so great. His pinning the world’s problem pretty solely on “the Jews”–as if Karl Marx, and the Rothschilds and everything in between all represent the same faction seems misplaced to me. Sure, there have been some Jews who undermined Russia, but others fought for Russia. Needless to say, as Saker has pointed out, the history of Jews in Russia is not a bed of roses, but Bausman’s article seemed unbalanced.
So Russia Insider is a mixed bag. We take truth where we can find it, think for ourselves, and draw out own conclusions.
Although I don’t like Bausman affinity for R. Spencer, it doesnt mean that their attack against him wasn’t under the belt. There are also some pro-Russian authors who consider that Jews should be above criticism as a group (but not individually) “because of the Holocaust”. They are comfortable with the taboo, I’m not. Whether Bausman had in the mind “Jewish race” and not “Jewish culture” in his article, I can’t know, but if he didn’t write it….
Was that the one in between the sex bots story and the animal tortured to death story?
Please, don’t cite RT. Thanks.
On the subject, it looks like an “aint broke don’t fix it” move. Besides, targeting the foreign oligarchs is stirring up trouble These people aren’t about to work for patriotic causes.
I saw a strange video the other day on “russia insider.” A banker asks Putin during some kind of press conference to allow the bank to take money directly from his account for tree planting. Putin agrees. Banker rushes up to where Putin is seated with a contract in hand. Putin is taken aback.
First thing, tree planting is a joke and does not save forests. Leaving the land alone saves forests. Second, this was not about tree planting.
There is nothing antisemitic in those articles! Critics mostly only picked up on the title of sine of them. One does not have to agree with everything, but it is logical and factual: absolutely no hate speech.
Dear Anonymous
I’d say it doesnt’t make sense to blame or condemn a media outlet / a journal / a blog / … generally.
Rather trust or condemn a specific *author*
.
Russia Insider contains articles in which I disagree from authors I do not trust, but RI also brings / reposts very interesting articles from “good” authors.
(And the same is true for a bunch of other “channels”.)
Good points. In addition to that, Putin knows Russian history. It is a huge country that can only be steered in the right direction very, very slowly. The majority of positive “radicals” ended up dead way before they could do anything of value. He has to cut out these cancerous cells with a very fine scalpel, or the whole project might die.
Isabella
i think we can all accept the fact that Vladimir Putin knows what he is doing. I agree with what you have written. The West, using liberals in Russia, has apparently reversed tactics, placing disinformation, portraying Putin as “weak”, “surrendering” to Washington, “betraying” Syria. Good old fashioned false news, hoping it would be picked up and believed. Russia is on the rise, China is on the rise. Why would Putin reverse his policies ? To reincarnate the Yeltsin period ? I think not.
Russians (at least some of them) seem to be affected by a residual populist ‘apocalyptic’ mentality that lurked in their collective psyche since the ‘evil westernizing reforms’ of Peter the Great, the ‘Antichrist’ bent to destroy a rather mythical ‘Old Russia’. Any ‘times of troubles’, of which Russia was never deprived, is viewed through the lenses of the ‘end of the world’. But we should be more aware that these bouts of ‘apocalyptic’ hysteria are psy-ops of the ‘West’ trying to foment the revolution.
Gains? Russia now has one of the slowest growing economies in the world, which means that it will lose relative power compared to the rest of the world. With time, this will lead to large gap between Russia and the rest of the world. The truth is, sanctions hit Russia pretty hard. And there could be more, as Haley mentioned. It is too much for Russia. So the russian government is preparing for a deal.
“Where there is smoke, there is fire.”
Russian Senators to soften sanctions against US
RBC: Russian senators to water down Moscow’s response to US sanctions. Two Federation Council members told the newspaper that the final version of the amendments to the ‘anti-sanctions’ bill initiated by State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin and leaders of all parliamentary factions, will be “quite mild.”
More:
http://tass.com/pressreview/1001647
Ryabkov:
Russia interested in meeting between Putin, Trump. We will work hard so that our colleagues in the US administration come to the same conclusion.
More:
http://tass.com/politics/997761
Russia now has one of the slowest growing economies in the world
But look at the actual numbers, compare Russia with “the West”, and a different picture emerges.
Skipping over the countries with negative GDP in 2017 (which includes the KSA), and skipping over the twenty-odd countries beneath the RF (which include Brazil, Switzerland, South Africa, Greece, and Italy), the RF posted 1.5% growth.
Compare that with Japan at 1.7% and France, Norway, Somalia, Columbia, and the U.K. all with 1.8%. The U.S. posted 2.3%, which is less than dozens of other countries. Liberia, Ukraine, Peru, and Germany are all at 2.5%.
For the industrialized nations, the numbers are generally bad — Germany, “the economic powerhouse of Europe” is performing the same as Ukraine, while the U.S. is preforming worse than both.
And what would the numbers for the U.S. be like if tables turned and the EU imposed economic sanctions on par with what we see today against Russia?
The picture that emerges is that Russia is growing slower than even the West and industrialized developed countries in general. Russia was growing faster than the West before the sanctions and is growing slower than the West after the sanctions. Thus the sanctions did their job. But even Iran registered better growth during 2000 – 2015 compared to current russian growth even though it was under harsher sanctions than Russia, so Russia’s current “achievement” is nothing to be proud of. Such “growth” is very small for a developed country, even under sanctions.
Russia growth (sanctions period)
2014 2015 2016 2017
0,7 – 2,5 -0,2 1,5 average – 0,5
World
3,6 3,5 3,2 3,8 average 3,5
Advanced Economies
2,1 2,3 1,7 2,3 average 2,1
Iran growth rate 2000 – 2015 (sanctions period) average 3,1
In other words Russia is one of the fastest declining countries as share of the world economy, and is declining even faster than the West. While other countires such as Iran, who were under far severe sanctions performed way better than Russia.
The picture that emerges is that Russia is growing slower than even the West and industrialized developed countries in general.
That’s what I love about neo-liberal economics. Everyone is focused on growth instead of considering the whole picture.
1. You stated that the Russian economy grew (it grew slower, but it grew nevertheless). So, from a neo-liberal point of view this should be good news.
2. Looking at the whole picture I would like to point out that we’re living on a planet with finite resources. Endless growth is impossible. Without obsolescence (either by shitty designed products that fail right after warranty ended or by an “old-style” design that pushes people to get a better looking one) growth would be way lower. Does everyone need a car for each weekday or is it okay to own just one car (or none)? Except for food and some articles of daily use saturation of consumer demand will eventually slow down growth. One way to create new demand is to smash old items for example by starting a war. Bankers will earn twice: First by financing weapons and second by financing reconstruction. That’s quite a smart idea, but people are catching up and realize how those games are being played.
3. I doubt that the US economy could show any growth at all (maybe in finance, but that’s no real economy anyway). About 40 million US citizens are on food stamps (probably another million got kicked off the program). Those people can’t supporting the domestic market at all. The others whose wages had been declining/stagnating since the 70’s aren’t supporting it as well. A year ago I had read that about 25% of the large supermarkets will close in the near future. That doesn’t look like a growing market either. Where does “growth” come from if it’s not some fraud (by fake statistics)?
Garbage in= garbage out.
USA GDP has been contracting since 2001,deducting true inflation rather than the fudged number
used as the deflator.
Shadowstats.com has the real figures removing the revisions used to hide the truth.
Removing another 40% which is financial engineering and bloated govt. spending and the US economy is about
the size of Germany and Holland combined.
Governments lie,Uncle Scam more than most.
The petrodollar is the only thing propping up the USA.
Perhaps we should wait a few more days before bringing final judgement. It should be born in mind that Medvedev is the Chiarman of the United Russia political party, which has given support to Putin. It was Medvedev who replaced Putin as President after Putin finished his second term as President. Putin obviously owes something to Medvedev. None of us know what discussions and arrangements were made behind the scenes.
As a president of Russia, Putin is supposed to owe everything to Russian people and only to Russian people.
Anonymous
I think he knows that. I also think he has been representing the Russian people. Look what russia was under Yeltsin, and look what it is now.
Or perhaps wait six more years in hope.
This op-ed has some valid points (I don’t agree with all of them but the author does present some very interesting ideas, especially the younger generation of leaders).
https://www.rt.com/op-ed/426037-putin-president-russia-kremlin/
I just hope that Kudrin is not in the picture – most toxic personality. Perhaps Glaziev would be better suited for the post of Finance Minister.
There was an article on Southfront a while back that maybe Shoigu was being prepared for the post of PM. That would be more acceptable than Medvedev.
Glaziev ? The Alfa-bank team player who repeatedly call to sell off all Russian mineral resources for fixed price ?
God save us from such a choice!
It should be clarified that Putin nominated Medvedev as Prime Minister before the Russian Parliament. He did not appoint him. The Parliament will decide. It’s debatable if he could have nominated anybody else, bearing in mind the influence of the United Russia political party.
Well bad as meds is, he is a 1000 times better than a trump, or a clinton, or a pence, or a may, or a macron, or a trudeau, etc. He must serve some useful purpose in the position.
Right now I am more concerned about the circumstances of the recent loss of an Su-30 and Ka-52 in Syria.
I agree VT – even if the next 6 years is ‘more of the same’ – its pretty good.
“Right now I am more concerned about the circumstances of the recent loss of an Su-30 and Ka-52 in Syria.”
Don’t be. Just part of the ongoing drama. If “Russia” had really wanted to end the Syrian war that would have happened long ago.
Putin in Palmyra – bulls**t.
Anonymous
Your last sentence is both incorrect and disgraceful. You know who liberated Palmyra.
It seems that a certain ‘Anonymous’ is indeed trying to make Mr Putin look bad…
I disagree. In his Inaugural Speech, Putin clearly put the onus on allRussians to work together to attain the rather ambitious goals set forth, which sets up anyone acting to delay/deter/sabotage those goals as a traitor to the Fatherland–how many times did Putin invoke that term and its synonym, homeland: 9! Nor is it the number of times but rather the context of their use that provides the proof for my assertion and my disagreement.
The obvious traitors to Putin’s vision for Russia’s future were those few out in the street financed by the Outlaw US Empire as they totally dissent from the consensus Putin’s developed within Russian society.
Sorry, I don’t see the problem. Russia’s economic tendency is NOT the same as Western debtism. Russia is strengthening its own industries and farmers, not destroying them, not offshoring jobs. The central bank allows high interest rates, which discourages debt. Both government and private debt remain among the lowest in the world. Russia has kicked out Soros NGOs.
This is the OPPOSITE of US/UK/EU economics.
There may be a 5th column trying to bring back Soros and Goldman, but it’s not very effective!
Psalms 146: 3 Do not put your trust in princes Nor in a son of man, who cannot bring salvation.
I don’t understand you people
Well you have 6 years…..
Imo, & i’ve said it before, VVP or whoever will not fight the untouchable israel and therefore, or because of, it’s untouchable backers international finance, ie. you-know-who. So enjoy the show…. the $20trillion(just for the US) debt frauds are untouchable. So imo, an ‘independent’ RF will obey important decisions everywhere, remain a convenient ‘ogre’, and a sweet ‘independent’ spin will be spun ….for the boys to negative gear it, not pay tax & become rich beyond belief….for some. We are but obedient servents for the trickle down pennies – yes sir thank you sir for your benevolence, lick lick.
Everything i’m looking at on the web and elsewhere, high to low, is fraudulent, so ‘fraid i’ve lost interest, fakery not my thing, so sorry.
I think Russia wishes to trade with Europe, especially Germany. I think Putin will keep the hand extended, lines of communication open, while standing firm – as he has all these years. Even if there is open conflict at some point I don’t think this stance will change.
In fact, he is so interested that Gerhard Shroeder ( it was him, I guess, in spite of the overburnt face which made him almost unrecognizable ) was palced in the very front of the first row, more forward than even Patriarch Kyril or Medvedev himslef….
I found the show quite courtesane, as if a tsarist-style court would be come back, the patricians ( amongst whom it was D.Medvedev ) were all plenty of themselves, full of proud and pleasure, as if they would had achieved a long lasting goal…..The only discordant note in that consagration of the new capitalist Russia was the Gosudar himself, who, coming from the lesser noble part of The Kremlin, remained with his eternal humble appearance……The conservative ladies behind Medvedev with already embittered faces in their 30s and their closed to the neck sober dresses were like a metaphore of the end of the party for the majority of the Russians, as if they were the stepsisters of a proletarian Snow-White bringing the later´s dreams suddenly to an end….
I left slide some few tears remembering the old bolsheviks who before him populated and worked in those less noble parts of The Kremlin, since, in spite of them dying in poverty for the benefit and better future of the Russian population, I felt a hunch that, finally, their effort was in vain, because the socialist dream is buried for ever, outside of The Kremlin walls, proscribed, like Koba in the Immortal Regiment of this year…Bad auguries, I tought….What was good to hope after such outrage?….
I do not know if it was The Saker who said that Russia was already recovered and free of revolutions after the miracle brought about by Putin….But revolution will come back, because still, after so much suffering, it is not the time of the empoverished….but the powerful and rich stil have not ceased to have a momentum…..
Your criticisms are not unique to Russia as the same could be leveled at any such gathering in Europe, the USA, China… From a technology and trade perspective Europe is important, as is the US. The fact that Russia has been making do without easy and free trade because of the sanctions has helped the native industries develop. Beyond that, fighting a hot war is bad for everyone and nukes are bad for the planet. I don’t expect to see a utopia in my lifetime. I wish to see a more balanced, civil world with generally less mayhem visited on the poor, but I’m not expecting it. In 10,000 years we heven’t managed so far.
I thought of including some of your sentiment into my comment above. Here’s what Russia’s PM is responsible for:
” As the head of government, Russian prime minister duties include administrative roles under the President. He is mainly responsible for:
Purposing the structure of federal bodies and submitting it to the President.
Submitting proposal to the President for the selection ministers and Deputy Prime Minister.
Assigning responsibilities to the ministers of the government.
Heading the session of the Constitutional Assembly of Russia.
Making and submitting suggestions for the punishment and rewards for the members of government.
Presenting his suggestions to the President over government issues.”
As I noted above, Medvedev must be in consensus with Putin, otherwise he’d have been dismissed long ago. Perhaps the Good Cop/Bad Cop dynamic is a façade put in place to fool/mislead, or the partnership exists to satisfy some otherwise unknown political aspect that’s hidden from most. Whatever the case, Medvedev’s the current placeholder and nominated to remain in place.
If what you say is true, Mr Medvedev will deserve a prize when everything is clarified – he is a good actor/agent.
If Medvedev deserves a prize, it is only for his fast and resolute actions in Abkhazia and south Osetia during the Georgian attack. He was a president and chief in command then and acted before informing the then prime minister-Putin.
….or so it was made to surface
however, when Saakashvili decared his war on Osetia in the dead night 7-to-8 Aug 2008 – the Russian 58th army was already concentrated and ready to move as soon, as Georgia creates a pretext
the intelligence did its job back then
when Georgia moved – Russia was not hastily imporvising and pulling units from all the provinces to hack up some expidition corps, like ut was with Chechen wars. That was probably what Saakasvili planned upon, when Russia would finally gets her mind together – the war would be over already.
He miscalculated. Russian army was prepared and “ready in the wings” yet before Georgian army moved. It only waited for Georgia to foolishly create a casus belli.
….but that implies that both Medvedev and Putin knew what wa coming.
If logistical decisions were implemented in advance – then so were political decisions.
When Saaksashvili committed to some resolute and irreversible action, all Medvedev had to do, figurativey speaking, was coming to the safebox #4 and unsealing the folder #6 and sign the readymade precalculated and agreed in advane plan into implementation
Putin has accomplished an enormous amount during the past 6 years with Medvedev as PM. So perhaps Putin. Does not want to change what has been working so well. Somehow the Russian economy survived (perhaps even thrived) despite sanctions and low oil prices. Maybe the Medvedev government deserves some credit.
It is also very plausible that Medvedev himself has changed his views regarding the west. A lot has happened in the past 6 years to disabuse anyone of the notion that Russia can reconcile with the west as it is today.
Lastly, Putin probably has not given up hope that eventually Europe will break free of US domination, especially now that Trump is about to reneg on the Iran deal and causes US credibility to plummet on every front, with the Skrypal affair being a huge embarrassment to the UK and the April 14th strike on Syria and subsequent proof of the false flag nature of the chemical attack. Putin may have calculated that finally the gap between the US/UK and the rest of Europe is widening and keeping Medvedev around will help make the most of it.
So I am prepared to be hopeful until further information. Now if Shoigu gies it will be a different matter.
Some time ago, I don’t remember when, maybe a couple of years, I recall reading a Medvedev quote that showed (convincingly) the he was aware that the RF was under attack from the west. I assume that the Russian leadership will be increasingly focused on relationships w/China, Pakistan, Japan, etc., at the expense of relationships w/the very fickle West (excluding Germany). Maybe Medvedev will be useful in this area.
What I saw when Putin singled out at his inauguration the head of Russia’s biggest oil company was the recognition a leader would give to a general who had successfully performed in a great battle on behalf of the nation. Not subservience on the part of Putin, but acknowledgement of the role that had been played in staving off the defeat the west has been striving towards.
I don’t know the ins and outs of Russian politics at all. But I think of the old adage: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
And right now it ain’t broke, and Medvedev was part of it being unbroken. I thank Putin and all who with him are putting their country ahead of personal ambition. It is beautiful to see.
Paul Craig Roberts has been right all along. His only mistake being that he was given for way too long Vladimir Putin the benefit of the doubt while most of us, cold headed skeptics, lost any hope he would be any different than Medvedev or even Yeltsin already five or six years ago. After all the Vlad apple doesn`t fall far from the Boris tree. I myself lost any hope when he refused to go bat for Syria at the beginning of the U.S. engineered “civil war”. No self respecting Russian or Soviet leader would have ever done that, to leave a friend, a trustful ally, hanging to dry. And if any doubt there was still left about where his lotalties lie, he did it again when he abandoned a friendly government in Ukraine to let it fall to a U.S, sponsored putsch, so allowing NATO to come (for the first time since 1941 we may add) to a few hundred miles from Moscow. I think those skeptics like me about the “chess master” are being vindicated now, even PCR has already lost any hope he still had on the men in the Kremlin. What i think myself is that, all what VP has been doing all these years is not trying to make Russia rise to a status as an indepedent world power, as the USSR was, as the pretends he is, but simply to improve the conditions under which it will surrender to Washington. In other words, he has been trying to prove to Washington that Russia could be a US ally (read vasal state) far stronger and reliable than any other among the herd. After all, he has said himself many, many times, that his main priority when it comes to foreign policy is to have the best possible relations with Washington. Wow, and to think that most of us fools think that such priority must be the best interest of our own country. if you still don`t get it, well, it is your fault. Surrender has been in the cards all along.
There is a bit too many gold diggers calling themselves friends….
Putin himself said that Asad paid more visits to Paris than to Moscow.
> when he abandoned a friendly government in Ukraine to let it fall to a U.S, sponsored putsch
lol, the pro-american government fallen out of their master’s favor and should be saved by Russia
this propaganda myth of American puppet Yanukovich being “Russia-friendly” is so annoying.
if anyone was supported in 2009 election by utin, it was Yulia Timoshenko (who visited Kremlin then for financial support like Marine Le Pen did year ago). And when American pupept Yanukovich took the power what did he do? He throwed her in jail. As American puppet regimes do with susected “Putin agents” around the globe.
if anyone was supported in 2009 election by utin, it was Yulia Timoshenko …
Are you talking of that Yulia Timoshenko (the female oligarch) who got thrown into a prison cell during Yanukovich’s presidency. Is this the same Yulia Timoshenko that Merkel (the prime example of a good vassal to the US government) desperately tried to get out of prison? I’m wondering why Yanukovich ended up in the Russian Federation and not in NYC like Saakaschwili.
The whole game of thrones, err … alliances is quite confusing.
Imho Yanukovich was neither pro US (or EU) nor pro Russia, he was up for sale.
I forgot to mention Timoshenko’s way of showing gratitude for her “Russian support” was the proposal for building the pipeline “White Stream” that would’ve bypassed “South Stream”.
Atlantic integration is Putin’s preferred policy option.
The reason it is not followed is that the terms of the other side are not acceptable. Should this change and an acceptable offer is made from the US/Europe side the current tilt to Eurasia will change.
Hence Medvedev- keeping the option open.
Sounds quite believable.
re: “At this point in time, I am NOT saying that this will happen. But we are all aware of the alarmist rumors circulating all over the Internet about this for many days now and what I am saying is that this re-nomination will only strengthen these rumors. Such rumors are, I believe, very dangerous because I think that one of the techniques most effectively used by Putin’s enemies it not to criticize him directly but, instead, of accusing him of showing weakness and lack of resolve.”
But he has shown a lack of resolve on the economic side for a very long time. Or maybe it is just that Putin would prefer integration with Europe/Germany, and not fighting the oligarchs at home. And perhaps that explains some of the mysteries of Russian foreign policy over the Putin era, such as being fairly pro-EU, but anti-NATO. To most of us here, both the EU and NATO are tools of the Western financial oligarchy, just with a different focus.
I am looking forward to a more detailed analysis from the Saker on the balance of political forces in the RF (post election) and what the key people in Putin’s team represent and what this indicates for the direction that the RF will take in the next 6 years. This rant is OK as a first reaction.
The next 6 years are critical for everyone. It is make or break time for the Empire and it will be clear which way it goes during this time.
As the Saker says- the Empire knows only one thing, and that is to double down every time something does not go according to plan.
Hang on to your seats- rough times ahead.
One thing that worries me is the absolute silence of RT and the Russian media as we count down to Trump’s decision tomoorow to give a greenlight to Israel to attack the Iranians. Look at the zionist media and they are full of this. Some outlets did notveven mention last week’s airstrike near Aleppo that targeted and killed Iranians. My worry is that the Kremlin is going to stand aside as the Empire foments war against Iran. After all, it is (not yet) an attack on Russian terrotory.
In this regard I increasingly am with Paul Craig Roberts.
I see this not so much critically but the predicament of a Russia that does not want to be th3 one to take us into a global conflagration.
Damned if you do and damned if you don’t
What it’s been all along, keeping a nuclear exchange at bay until Russian airspace is truly impenetrable. So, more oil on the waters until the vastly more capable S-500 (currently being manufactured) is deployed over the next several years. Years of an increasingly desperate west. Keeping the western globalists thinking they have a chance to swing Russia ‘peacefully’.
That’s what’s really going on.
We must always wait for tomorrow but it never comes.
Being the conspiratorial type My thoughts
The The slavic Russian zionist lobby. In The colonial outpost known as Palestine and throughout the Russian federation including the enigmatic Nubyana the Treasury minister are all part of this kabal . The Kudrins and Chubias follow the money dwell into the rabbit hole and one would have an even money chance that this is a reality.
If Shogyou and Garismirov from the MOD get sidelined than yes the slavic /Russian zionist have taken over the Russian federation and Ciao bella Ciao .
What happens in the Donbass will be a barometer of things to come. Novarussiya has enough assets to defend themselves.This will be the nail in the Kiev coffin and a great blow to the anglo-zionist.
Syria well the Damascus project has been defeated notwithstanding the occupation of east of the Euphrates. I suggest people read Elijiah Magniers blogg .
Lebanese elections was a disaster for the anglo-zionist and the resistance forces gained seats. Hezbullah has pulled back and left Syria and gone back home. The PMU in Iraq has basically been integrated into the Iraq ministry of defence. Hence the anglo-zionist and the sell out Kurds have all cornered themselves to an inevitable demise. Iran, Syria, Novarussiya,and Lebanon will not succumb to the anglo-zionist trap . If they want a war then come and attack and invade us we will not bite.
Tik Tok the clock has started Trump regime is so predictable along with his anglo-zionist handlers. Iran deal will be canned oil will go to 100 dollars. The war drums keep going.
Wolfawitz doctrine has been in motion in pax-americana since 2003 so move on sit back and watch pax-american crumble because Cathargo delenda est will be there demise. Obsessive compulsion and lack of reason and logic will be a nail in the anglo-zionist hell whole they have created since the US civil war.
“Such rumors are, I believe, very dangerous because I think that one of the techniques most effectively used by Putin’s enemies it not to criticize him directly but, instead, of accusing him of showing weakness and lack of resolve. Do you remember how some pseudo-patriots accused Russia of “disarming Syria” when the Russians stopped the planned US attack and removed the (totally useless) chemical weapons the Syrians had? Or how many times we have been told that Russia will “sell out” the Donbass? Or how Russia “was allowing” Israel bomb Syria (here is my reply to this thesis: https://www.unz.com/tsaker/why-is-putin-allowing-israel-to-bomb-syria/)? The tactic used against Putin is simple: do not attack him for being patriotic, but attack him for being NOT PATRIOTIC ENOUGH. These rumors are particularly effective a demoralizing those who support Putin and his efforts against the Atlantic-Integrationists. Finally, these rumors weaken Putin’s support amongst those who support him.”
It’s part of the zionazi-gay psywar. One sees it from pundits and from comment spamming. The version of this directed at western readers is to turn people off from supporting Russia in the west as an alternative to the dismal, totally debased and corrupt govno they see at home.
The psywar promoters invent some negative nonsense and spam it incessantly. “Weak Putin”, “incompetent Putin”, “corrupt as the west Putin”, “Russia hopelessly outgunned/manuevered”, etc. Putin and Russia being interchangeable in the output. How ubiquitous this spamming has become can be seen by looking at the comments on this website.
The main point of this psywar directed at western readers is to dissuade people from thinking there is a possibility of a better state of being, to enforce a feeling of defeat and submission. “Resistance is futile”, so drop your trousers, bend over and learn to love it.
Note that most zionazi-gay psywar/propaganda is literally about creating a false perspective among its victims. Basically, they try to force the acceptance of fiction over reality in people.
Don’t we find it strange that first three days ago one russian fighter jet “crashes into the sea” off the coast of Syria and today an attack helicopter “crashed in land” also in Syria?
Is the empire showing the kind of electronics they can use in war?
Is Vladimir Putin being sent “electronic messages” and hints as to whom he should post to important positions in his government with this crashes (and other we might not know of) ?
The helicopter went down in eastern Syria. That’s Pentagram & CIA occupied territory. That’s 3 fatal “accidents” since US via F.UK.US suffered a humiliating defeat on April the 14th.
On the other hand, US military had 8 plane “accidents” and 16 killed in April alone for some reason….
I don’t see any reason for gloom. Putin’s role was never to deal in symbols or to send messages, other than the literal words he can so clearly speak, and has.
Medvedev seems to be a capable administrator. To my eye he’s behaved himself under Putin.
As others suggest, Putin may have no real reason not to nominate Medvedev, and it is the Duma that will decide. Also, there is the thought that Medvedev may have changed over the years. He is surely close enough to the power to see how his former Atlanticist leanings are increasingly forlorn in Russia’s future.
I watched the inauguration speech. So many people, especially young people, totally rapt, listening to every word, inspired, because every word was real and held deep meaning.
Putin has laid out his objective, and it is to empower the youth of the nation to surge forward with audacity and magnify the greatness of Russia with the “breakthrough” he keeps mentioning. At the same time, he wants the elders of the nation to mentor and imbue the young with Russian values and a strong moral compass.
He says the security of the nation is assured. And barring the sky falling, after March 1 who can doubt it? Now it’s time to better the lot of domestic life, to make babies and teach them to be brilliant, and to care for the health and well being of the people. What other nation, apart from a few, can make such a plan?
It’s a long-term plan to make people happy, as the traitors within the nation wither and die, and are not replaced by the new generation.
I agree 100%.
Thanks for that Grieved.
Very much in agreement with that view.
When you come from a place ruled by t may, with the likes of bojo in tow, which to my horror, I believe is not the worst pairing in the western world, and you look east towards Russia, you are overcome with envy, and I have to say, Hope, with a capital H.
I can’t pretend to understand the man, but I believe in him, and what he stands for, and if he sees Medvedev as a piece of his jigsaw, so be it.
This world’s not perfect, never will be, you can only do the best with what you have to work with. Putin, Xi and co. have dragged the great white onto the deck, it’s thrashing and flailing around uncontrollably and everyone is, as far as possible, keeping out of the way whilst waiting for the inevitable.
Just look at the opposition, trump, may, nuttyahoo, binned salmon, and macron. For f’s sake, Medvedev is a pussycat, I also believe he may have seen the light, perhaps also on the road to Damascus !
Time will tell
Well put Grieved.
Putin has known and worked with Medvedev since the 90’s when they were in St Petersburg. Medvedev is a well-known Atlanticist but 20 years of close collaboration is more than enough to really know a guy. Medvedev’s loyalty was also tested when they swapped jobs; he delivered. I think as far as VVP is concerned, apart from being a capable PM, Medvedev is also faithful. To Putin, a man who treasures loyalty, who in an interview (the one with Oliver Stone IIRC, not the one with the American bimbo) said that the only thing he can’t forgive is treachery, that is a big plus.
On a lighter note, to a person of my vintage at least, a guy who listened (?still does) to Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath can’t be all that bad.
basil
Yes, the emphasis forward on youthful leadership was so encouraging to see as Putin reached out to them, the happy faces, he among them for a photograph out in the sunshine on Cathedral Square. That was the shining moment.
I’m curious how will deal Medvedev with the Armenian issue, his roots are Armenian.
According to the zionazi-gay psywar practitioners, Russia is failing economically. In the energy sector, Russian gas exports are taking hit after hit. Their projects with western countries are blocked and they are seeing their business drying up and replaced by western sources. Poor Russia, pretty soon, the only takers for Russian natural gas will be the Chinese…
That is the zionazi-gay psywar fictional world. What is the reality?
Money Talks: Why EU is Increasingly Buying Russia’s Gas Despite Sanctions
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201805071064225644-eu-russia-gas-sanctions/
“Russia is steadily expanding its deliveries of natural gas to Europe with Gazprom setting a new record in the production and supply of hydrocarbons in the first quarter of 2018.
“According to preliminary results of Q1 2018, an absolute monthly record of 19.6 billion cubic meters (bcm) was set for gas supplies in March to the Far Abroad countries. The previous record of 19.1 bcm was set in January 2017,” Gazprom Export reported on April 3.
Within this period the Russian energy company had increased its year-on-year supplies to Germany by 12.2 percent, to France by 11.1 percent, to Austria by 83.5 percent, to the Netherlands by 127 percent, to Finland by 15.5 percent and to Greece by 36.4 percent.
Additionally the gas giant has stepped up its production of hydrocarbons: In March 2018 the company produced 46.5 bcm, which was higher than in January and February this winter and 20.5 percent more than in March 2017. “This is the maximal volume of gas production for this month over the last six years,” the company’s official website highlighted.
In total, from January to April 2018, Russia’s natural gas deliveries exceeded 70 bcm prompting observers to suggest that in 2018 the country would sell more than 200 bcm, beating an absolute record in the history of Russian gas exports, including during the Soviet period.
In general, over the past two years Gazprom’s deliveries to Europe have been growing steadily, reaching nearly 180 bcm in 2016 and 194.4 bcm in 2017.
Almost 30 countries are currently buying Russian natural gas with three-quarters of the supplies going to EU countries, which, despite the worsening political climate, are actively increasing their purchases.
The article then describes why.
President Putin has just started his last 6 years term as a president. For Western elites this one plus Syria,Skripal,Douma,russian new weapons,etc is maybe hard to swallow.
So, some ” Medvedeev ” sauce and or “Chubais or Kudrin” brandy can help it. If the bow string is too stretched out it can break. This is kind of diplomacy.
I would be worried if they stay in power in the last years of Putins’s presidency. Russia has to postpone the war as long as possible,my opinion.
Well, I certainly hope that this does not signal that Russia will make any shameful “concessions” to the Western imperialists. However, this does show the importance of building the patriotic opposition parties inside Russia (e.g. KPRF, LDPR, Rodina, etc.) and also further development of a vibrant, patriotic alternative press. Furthermore, I would love to see a strong collective-cooperative movement in Russia (i.e. enterprises owned and managed by the workers and not by traitorous financial oligarchs). The collective-cooperatives, small businesses, and labor unions could then provide the economic base to fund the patriotic opposition.
Putin sets task to boost small and medium business workforce to 25 mln by 2024
More:
http://tass.com/economy/1003207
On matters of collective-co-operation & the labour unions, this would seem to be the way forward.. Not stemming financial leakage to oligarchs & none-vested, investors is a sure road to income transfer to the would-be, oppressor imperialists. Flattening distribution of national income is imperative.
You the Russian people have a valid chance in a world in chaos to ‘Be’ a future. Some of we in other-lands see in your leadership the exemplary..! You are fortunate indeed!
By way of noting, the engineering competence & design of the Crimean bridge, magnificent…..!
Here in Australia our stupid, US-captured, reactionary, government has just handed down It’s budget, committing hordes of tax dollars, that should have been dedicated for social purpose & handing it willy-nilly to, as we say, ‘The big end of Town’.. Morons..! Regards from Antipodes.
Hi, I’m from South America, from Argentina and I always read them. I feel admiration for the Russian people. You are the only hope that the world will have a multipolar order, without Russia the world would be an Anglo-Zionist dictatorship. I believe that Putin will focus more on restructuring his economy and Delphin Medvedev is the one indicated at the moment. Putin is pragmatic, investments in infrastructure would have to improve the Russian economy (hard work). What I see is that the United States will reduce the pressure on Russia, not beyond a mini cold war. Russia already has its armed forces restructured for the next three decades, it is time to raise the GDP.
Do not lose faith, you are not alone or isolated, Putin in the whole world is admired by people between 24 and 50 years, Putin is different, many people are reflected in it, and at the same time Putin is not a person with a syndrome of Hubris, he is seen humble and with much wisdom, he is not perfect either but before the leaders of our Western side, he looks perfect, due to the imperfections of our vassal leaders of financial power.
In the following years those young people will bring change in the world, there are few who swallow the mass media, young people are intelligent and the internet is the best tool to discern the information of the media. The key is in the Industrial Union between Germany and Russia, Schroeder is the face to that event.
Saludos
Yes! What you say makes me nervous too. Surely to god the one country in the world that has had the guts to face off with dirty Sam isn’t copping out on it!!. But maybe Putin is yet more crafty/gutsy than he has already demonstrated. Let’s bloody hope so.
Its time for Putin to start grooming a loyal and patriotic successor to take over when he leaves office.
Known 5th columnist like Medvedev should not be included this time around.
Its house cleaning time!
Selah
I wrote earlier that “nothing” will be done until after the World Cup is finished. Russia is basically on hold until after that. I was thinking a few days ago it was a shame the inauguration couldn’t have been after that.
We also must remember that Putin (for good or bad) values loyalty very highly. And Medvedev seems to have always been personally loyal to Putin.I think that means a lot to him.Then there is what many have said (even Saker I believe),and several times on CrossTalk .That Putin,who is demonized all the time by the West.Is in reality one of the most moderate (read: wants good relations with the West) members of the government. So while I’m disappointed,I’m not shocked.
Even with Medvedev as PM these last years Russia has made some progress. I just happen to believe it was the “two steps forward,one step back” kind. I had hoped to see the Glasnev economic model implemented to spur industry instead.But for whatever reason they seem stuck with the neo-Liberal model. One would think with an election landslide,and 80% plus popular support. Now would have been the time to have made those changes.But maybe the schism inside Russia I’ve written about in the past is too deep to allow that.And then maybe (on a positive note) they are just waiting until after the World Cup to make those changes. We’ll see within the next few months which it is.
hey Uncle Bob – I was wondering if the fact that you mention – Putin values loyalty – was not as correct as this –
Putin is loyal
Putin may have 80% support with the masses, but neo-liberal, financier-based economics may have 80% support within the elite – and elites determine where things go. And that’s in addition to the fact that the entire cadre of economics types in Russia are trained in the Western style, often in Western institutions. They would be signing their career death warrants to say that the current course is wrong.
Reality is what it is, but it would be better if we didn’t put superhuman or religious connotations on Putin. He has done a great job of getting the country out of the ditch and holding things together. For example, there could have been a real civil war within the elites over the Ukrainian issue, and it looks like a compromise solution was found that most elites can live with.
If you have support of 80% of the masses, then removing and replacing the entire elite class is not difficult.
Just a reply to this comment, not related to this nomination.
Very good point. I think the same. Putin has to appease the elites. This is real-politik or the reality of the planet. Voting masses is the sheep in the eyes of the elites and in fact the masses do not have the real power, as opposed to what the socialist doctrine claims. This is shown over and over again in many countries throughout the human history, west and east alike. It is simply the human nature to follow the conceived leader. Very much like a psychosis en masse. Nazism, Communism were and liberalism is all the same in this regard.
Coming back to Russia, people in the Alt-Med tend to see Putin as a super human. Yes, he did a great job for his country in terms of increasing the standard of living for the Russians, but we have to leave it at that. He knows the real power and it is not the voting masses. It is the ruling class, namely the so called elites. If he wants to keep his powers, he has to get along with certain elites and powerful clans which rule our world and realities. This is the unwritten rule for any leader in any country, without exception. There is no real independence, no real democracy, no real freedom, but just an illusion of it.
“There is no real independence, no real democracy, no real freedom, but just an illusion of it.”
Great thought ! if we look deeply at it, we came to realize that, though there were periods of “good” and “bad” times we lived in, anyway that is relative, the “good” periods lasted always too short and almost never on a global scale in the same time. As if there were places of “heaven” and places of “hell”. Even the personal perception may differ from one person to the other : what was good for me, it was bad for another person and so on…but if we generalize, your words sound realistic. Thank you.
Not to forget the Russian plane with army officers that ‘ran out of fuel’ just short of Hmeymin air base recently. Or the plane with the Red Army choir and orchestra.
As for Medvedev. I think Putin prefers to keep his friends close and his enemies closer. In many ways his policies have momentum and if the Atlanticists start acting up under his close watch he can catch them earlier.
As for Syria. Syria, unfortunately, happens to be the safety valve to keep the war from reaching Russia. I think Putin will tolerate a lot of needles there (these attacks go both ways) as long as the attacks are not directly and overwhelmingly against Russian forces. If Putin reacts to the increasing pressure against Russian forces with military means, meaning shooting at Israel or the US forces, the US will slam full on sanctions, plus more, against Russia and Europe cannot say no to the Empire or their economies are crashed.
Most of all Russia needs time since time is working against the Empire. If Russia can survive another 10-20 years the situation will look radically different. There is always time to start war, but ending war is another matter. And as we know a hot war with the US/Israel will go nuclear, no doubt about that. There is No point in going that way. Putin even stressed this point in his speech, that his mission was to ensure peace for Russia and it’s people. Sadly the sociopaths in the Empire will read that as a weakness to exploit in their insane pursuit of war. But at the end of the day Peace is not for Putin to decide. If the crazies in the US want war and attack Russia strongly enough then there is no way to avoid war.
In the mean time Putin does what he can to build up Russia stronger, healthier and more beautiful than ever. Again Putin spoke very lovingly of new generations of Russians born to keep Russia growing stronger. These are fighting words for the mad men and women in the US halls of power, the people who hate humanity, including Americans, with such fervor and passion and whose only ‘love’ (rather they can only feel ‘lust’) is for ‘Power’.
Thoughtful post—much appreciated
Simply Putin surrendered to Russian Jewish clans that are true rulers.
Anonymous
One has to question your motives for posting anti-Putin comments.
Unfortunately one has to question the Russian Government’s motives for still having a private Central Bank that still issues a debth based currency which Russia still has to pay interest for.
I challenge anyone to give a solid explanation for this.
… I have asked some well known economists over the years and never got a straight, concise sensible answer.
It seems the USSR was not so self sustaining also, as one would automatically conclude from a Marxist viewpoint and this matter is shrouded in secrecy also. Marx states the formation basis of every society, including small tribal society, is economic, so where is this critical information, and again, why did the USSR collapse. See the two videos I posted in the Cafe and learn a lot, but not everything.
Ironically a few weeks ago I wondered about the same question.
Once in a while Dr. Paul Craig Roberts answers to questions (mails). I remember to have read that he stated to have predicted the financial difficulties of the USSR. Either one possible answer to the financial structure can be found in one of Dr. Roberts books or he could give a short answer by mail. Nevertheless you’re asking the correct questions.
Let me explain more detailed how I came up with that topic. First I had wondered about Schalck-Golodkowski who (according to West German media) was responsible for getting foreign exchange for Eastern Germany. This didn’t make any sense.
While writing this comment I remember several aspects that I’ve read and heard with regard to Soviet economy that don’t add up. A few years ago I came across the name Armand Hammer. He got rich by doing business with the USSR (for example exporting pencils to the US). Another strange strange example is the history of the USSR watch Raketa (http://www.birthofsovietwatchmaking.com/ and https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/how-a-bankrupt-rust-belt-watch-company-kick-started-the-soviet-watch-industry-and-the-obsessive-collector-who-chronicles-their-history). There was also corporation (export as well) in automotive industries. The Ford Motor Company helped start GAZ (1929) and Fiat assisted with building a factory (in Togliatti; 1966-1970) and creating a people’s car. The USSR even supplied the US with titanium for stealth planes (read: Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years of Lockheed). Way before the USSR broke up several department stores got their clothing collection from Soviet factories. On a side note: lots of jeans were produced in the Czech Republic (which had some different status along with Hungaria).
Either the whole Socialist Soviet concept had been undermined right from the start, was a sham or was led by entirely corrupt people.
Business as usual. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
The sense of need within the peanut gallery commentariat for political catharsis within the RF at a critical time of geopolitical stress says more about the peanuts than an understanding of the dynamics of change.
Indeed, the pressure is building and every effort is being made by iFUKUS to export their internal economic issues to a foreign theater of convenience. I think Putin’s ‘steady as she goes’ approach is designed to ensue that the cracks do not appear in the RF at this time. “Something Must Be Done!” indeed. But not in Russia today.
That said, I take particular note of the ‘initial conditions’ (tone) in these symbolic events and Putin’s walk and talk has started to look a little flat and minus the usual sense of Russia rising etc. Whether this is a ploy, or an indication that VP may well be starting to fade (or at least RF’s times moving on) is less clear.
The interesting point was the myth used: Phoenix rising?
Indeed a rather universal image and symbol which Putin provides as where he thinks Russia is today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZm-9yx0uLo
“Russian president Vladimir Putin was sworn in for another six years. In his inauguration speech, Putin compared Russia to a Phoenix rising from ashes.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1684100/Video-Putin-compares-Russia-rising-Phoenix-inauguration-speech.html
With the international criminal fascist conspiracy raging and seeking any weakness to exploit, it is hardly surprising that VP’s deadpan facial expression and declaration of the start to a rising 500-years, and likely his own fading ‘last-term’ into the flames of history, is matched with a ‘nothing yet’ message to Russian peoples and the world. Those who feel disappointed in the outcome should perhaps research what this bird of fire represents in all major cultures/religions. For those seeking a more practical interpretation then perhaps ponder on the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) and what hyper-sonic missile technology means for old tin cans floating around small sea ponds.
Quote:
“Russia should be modern and dynamic, it should be ready to accept the call of the times,” he said. He made only brief reference to Russia’s international role, saying: “Russia is a strong, active, influential participant in international life.
“The security and defence capability of the country is reliably ensured. We will give these matters the necessary constant attention.”
He acknowledged the challenges facing Russia were formidable, “but we all remember well that, for more than a thousand years of history, Russia has often faced epochs of turmoil and trials, and has always revived as a phoenix, reached heights that others could not.”
End quote.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/vladimir-putin-leader-of-russia-for-all-of-the-21st-century-1.3486657
I agree with the keep the faith comment. Nobody knows what the real game at play in Russia is. Nobody knows what kind of hand Putin is holding and how and why he plays his cards the way he does. What I do know is that Putin is no fool, that Putin always seems to come out on top. That his actions generally favor the long game. It is of little consequence if I understand this nomination. Because I have faith that Putin is best in class. He has proven this over and over.
Has anyone noticed that Putin appears dislodged; lacks authority, his behaviour lacks the authority he displayed in the past. Putin doesn’t seem to be the same person of just 5-6 years ago, his body language has signs of have given in to external forces.
I could be wrong but even his eyes and facial expressions are lacking compared to a few years ago.
Don’t agree with you john, not at all.
We all change in small ways as we age and gather more wisdom, information and know-how.
Putin has been doing this job now for 18 years, really.
I feel it’s more the opposite of what you have seen – that Putin has become so familiar with the position, the job, the power it carries, that he doesn’t need to think about the authority, nor project it.
He said in 1999 that it seemed to him that no-body was seeing the position of President as the Power centre of Russia. “If I find, when I get there, that that is the case, then I will act in such a way as to show them differently” he said. [First Person: Autobiography of Putin].
He no longer needs to do that. He is I suspect aware 18 hours of 24, that he has a massive job to do – and it’s not in Foreign Relations. It’s in domestic growth and consolidation. He just looks like a man deeply immersed in his work, and getting the next 2 or 3 goals achieved before breakfast :-)
I find all this “Putin has sold out: owned by the Jews: controlled by the Atlanticists” the biggest heap of steaming dung I’ve ever come across, and God knows I’ve come across a fair bit.
I wonder what people use for brains sometimes – not what is between their ears, that’s for sure.
Explain this. Or maybe cry.
http://www.renegadetribune.com/putin-chabad-lubavitch-puppet/
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2017/11/27/the-odd-chabad-connection-between-putin-and-trump/
https://www.henrymakow.com/2018/04/-jews-israel-andrussia–brendo.html
it’s nothing new.
Russia is ruled by 10-20 families of mostly Jewish heritage.
it was, is and will be…
maybe they’re friends after all these years. Putin is extremely loyal to his friends, and you don’t get to be a friend of Putin unless you’ve earned it. I don’t think its that bad. Even if the coming term of Putin is ‘more of the same’ its pretty damn good.
You know the saying: Keep you friends close but your enemies closer… Something like that!
Q: Could this perhaps be exactly that? Putin is keeping part of the western liberal group in check by keeping Medvedev on the inside?
My thinking: Putin is (maybe) stabilizing the overall internal situation by pacifying those who are happy with matters as they are. A important group of people are likely to remain on track and continue to play along if Medvedev remains as Prime Minister. The opposite would bee to fight everybody at once. It would be a gamble choosing somebody else and now is not time for gambling.
I watched the inaugural live and some of the more observant posters are correct, especially concerning the younger citizens in attendance. Rapt attention, indeed, but not prostrating themselves at President Putin’s feet by any stretch of the imagination.
The mess V V Putin inherited when he first took office 18 years ago and his monumental efforts to bring Mother Russia from the dead made the Labors of Hercules look like child’s play. I have been here since 2006 and while I was in Orc administered territory for some time I did and do have an up front and personal view of Russian Black Sea Fleet and Russian Army stationed in and around this berg, plus the very large numbers of ethnic Russians and Russian citizens residing here. To state that the changes I observed in Russia, now including Sevastopol and Krimea, in the last twelve years are phenomenal is akin to stating that a 200 kilo rabbit is mildly horizontally challenged.
Is it heaven here? No. Is it ‘heaven’ anywhere but Heaven? No. But. Things have vastly improved and since President Putin’s speech of 01 March, there has been obvious attention paid to the quality of life in general and an extremely significant little detail seldom noticed by most is the fact that since 01 March President Putin has cut the military budget significantly, if I am not mistaken in the neighborhood of 5%. Why would he do this if he is not assured in his heart and soul the Mother Russia is now safe and can finally embark on the needed projects to improve life for all Russians instead of saddling future generations with unbelievable debt as is done in other countries?
Obviously President Putin is satisfied with the continuing progress of the state of affairs in Russia whilst making it patently clear that vast improvements are not only needed but demanded. I invite any who disagree, who know much better than President Putin how to run this vast country, to emigrate to Russia, get citizenship, run for office and do better than VVP has done and is doing.
Auslander
Author
Andrei My Orthodox Brother,
It distresses me that you are distressed about what’s going on in Moscow. For the better part of 10 years now I have looked up to Vladimir Putin as the bulwark of resistance against what I once called the Globalist New World Order but now call the Anglo Zionist Empire (your influence of course). Orthodox Russia and her seemingly fearless leader gave me hope that resistance is possible and will continue to be possible even into this future that seems to be progressing full speed ahead toward some kind of sci fi, totalitarian, dystopian nightmare. If cracks are starting to show in that bulwark then it would surely be a matter of grave concern to a good number of us in the West who have hoped that a strong Orthodox Russia would be the fortress from which the West itself could be somehow rechristened and saved. We will just have to wait and see. God willing, President Putin will not abandon the road to sovereignty and self sufficiency that the Russian people voted for when they gave him a landslide victory in the last election.
The 2018 Champions League will be played in Kiev 26th May. False flag attack scheduled for the event. The Donbass will be blamed for the attack giving the Ukies the pretext to launch the attack. Russia will be blamed for backing of the Donbass. The Anglozionists will give their unconditional support(including air support/missile strikes) to the Ukies. Severe sanctions on Russia to follow and obviously no world cup in Russia.
Trust Putin dear Saker.
I agree with Saker. It is not only a PR disaster, but it i stupid.
Why such stupid move from a mart man?
Know Thy Enemy, Sun Tzu said, and the fact that the Kremlin “wins one and loses one” shows that they don’t know Rothchild, the bloodlines of Illuminati, the Talmud and Kabbalah that constitute the Foucauldian regementality of the Enemy of humanity, and the small mindedness of the Kremlin has not connected the existence of aliens to the Liberal notion of Realpolitik (that leaves everything outside of its definition as “unreal”).
Putin’s perhaps biggest job this presidential period is to find a successor and by appointing Medvedev he is either spoiling the training of a successor. Alternatively, Putin might be concealing those he is opting for successors by appointing Medvedev. After all, it is not that the Russians are incapable of strategy, that they win one and lose one tells of a half mastered skill.
But if the latter, what is its advantage compared to the disadvantage that is Medvedev?
It’s not Putin’s job or responsibility to appoint a successor. Russians people are supposed to do that.
All ‘patriots’ are gone:
In the official television broadcast of the ceremony the Kremlin producers recorded on full screen several pretty young women, plus Medvedev, Gerasimov, former deputy prime ministers Igor Shuvalov and Arkady Dvorkovich, and outgoing foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. Dmitry Rogozin, the deputy prime minister in charge of the military-industrial complex, was recorded in a crowd; Medvedev announced later that Rogozin is being replaced.
http://johnhelmer.net/russias-new-government-puts-thinking-cap-on-to-make-breakthrough-in-spinelessness/
Well, I’m more hopeful than ever for Syria’s future and that, for me, is the litmus test. The resistance forces (Syria, Iran, Russia and Lebanon…yes, no longer just Hezbollah ;) ) have repeatedly stated that Syrian integrity is inviolable, i.e. I don’t expect a Zionist-sponsored partition. Idlib and then Zionist-occupied NE Syria will both be freed, either by diplomacy or force.
Medevdev’s selection shows that the time is still not right for any purge. Simple as that. We’re being too impatient and I type that as the Impatient One.
Liberalism is what makes a country rich, big state and communism will destroy any economy, Good choice by Putin
These occasional pessimistic and dystopian views of the Saker works like a giant magnet on the “Trolling For Shekels” Hasbara call centers in down town Tel Aviv, and it shows. They are practically invited to fester on an unnecessary imaginary wound that really isn’t there.
Stay the course Saker and Focus for G-d’s sake!!
***
Taking long view it seems that since there are zillion of Chinese with limited treasure (oil gas etc), and few Russians in vast Russian lands, and since Arctic Sea boarder NA…and numerous other factors…Since those are demographic realities Ru needs what we speak of as “the west” in order to counterweight Chin. In the time frame of decades and longer.
The so-called “leader” of the west is in selfdestructmode… Leaving the west without leadership…
In long run Ru may become leader of “the west”, and reshape it into a Russian West…either by default or by design.
This is not to advocate for that. I try never to advocate. I expect “the west 2.0” will be shaped by Ru. Europe will cotton up first, Germany and France, and as decay progresses, also the people of North America, with whatever states they have left in working condition.
None of that is expression of desire or will, simply the salient factors define what must happen.
Mr M is a single brick in this effort of building…which may take many years.
Your comment reminds me of the “divide and conquer” tactics. Why should Russia join with the West against the Chinese? Nobody needs a “leader”. We all need sane governments (which seem to be in decline for decades) who’re able to cater to the needs of their citizens as well as to engage in fair trad with other countries.
I have been reading through the comments and I think that, among the negative views, some expectations about Mr Putin and the Russian government are not realist, while others seem to be just destructive (if not attempts at character assassination…).
Commenters that are genuinely worried should remember that, yes, the world is changing; but global changes of the type we are looking for do not happen fast. There will be decades before the ‘paradise’ we envision for Russia – and the rest of the world – will be possible. Many negotiations/struggles will occur before it happens. With Mr Putin as President of the Russian Federation, however, the tipping point of a historic change in the world socio-economic system has been reached – and conquered! Obviously, China deserves similar recognition for its role in such an epic event.
We should be happy to be alive in such a splendid time in history! But, we want to see more…
History, however, does not give large steps very fast (and our lives are too short…). It goes according to the dominance of the forces competing. There are ups and downs… We can expect, however, an acceleration of the process of change in the next years/decades.
I trust Mr Putin and his team – they know what they are doing, they are serious, professionals with an enormous responsibility in a very difficult time (they do not have to smile for the cameras). I profoundly admire them.
Like Kim Jong-un getting along with Moon Jae-in , Putin is dreaming to do the same with Trump.
Paul Craig is claiming that Putin does not want to acknowledge that it is impossible to make a deal with the Anglo-Zionist Empire because trying to do a deal with the Devil is a nonsense. At the end of the day, the Devil will eat you.
With the Anglo-Zionist Empire, Putin is not facing rationale people but a bunch of fanatics as crazies as the djihadists from ISIS. Putin seems to be too pragmatic and too materialistic to understand that the final battle is an emotional battle: a battle between the good and the bad. Without faith, Putin will be corrupted by the Devil and Russia will become another dominion of the Empire like the old Europe.
Wrong! You missed the point: the Koreas made peace without the US participation. That is, the West was excluded! And Mr Putin started the process when he sent a military group to convince NK to do so. Since hten, everything went smoothly.
And one more interesting detail is that DPRK team – both sprotsmen and officials – going to RK for Olympic games (and unofficial negotiations) was arranegd when Trump was scorning “rocket man in his Twitter.
Basicalyl that should mean that
1) either Trum wwas out of the control loop and while he tried to derail Korea’s talks – he was ignored even by USA nomenklatura (which largely was pro-DPRK negotiations)
2) or Trump intentionalyl playd drama with threats and sabebr rattles to divert hawks attention before first very fragile handshakes in Korea will grow strong enought to surface
Let us not panic.
The best so far has been VVP; based on his record, he deserves a little bit more ‘faith’.
The cast is not yet set, and he knows what he is doing better than…. perhaps anybody.
It’s rough water, but we’re still on the good part of the wave; doubt and faltering can be catastrophic when surfing.
I recommend patience.
Ride it.
Let’s see how it actually comes down.
To anyone who feels that Putin’s now suppin with the devil, has sold out etc etc, take cognisance of the fact that, no one ever predicts what VVPs next move will be, so far he’s come up trumps so keep the faith and no pun intended.
Business as usual in Mat Rassiya since JudeoBolshevic Revolution. Nutandyahoo goes to Moskwa to coordinate the strategy for the ME for next six years. There will be a lot of goodies to analyzed and write about.
Putin’s institution speech was bunch of hay for the Ruskis. As article on transhumans points out the stupidity become evil and favorite tool of Satan. As long Put is In not Out the suit will go on.
(via machine translation)
The Fair Russia faction does not support Dmitry Medvedev’s candidacy, but members of the faction are allowed to vote freely if they wish to support him, head of the faction Sergei Mironov said following the meeting with Dmitry Medvedev.
_______
“Our faction will vote against the candidate submitted by the President during the voting in the state Duma. Yes, we supported the Russian President, but we believe that the Russian Government under the leadership of Dmitry Medvedev, from our point of view, will not cope with the tasks set by the President,” he said.
_
Sergei Mironov added: “yesterday our faction unanimously supported the following decision: the overwhelming number of members of the faction will vote against, but some of our colleagues we gave the opportunity to vote freely. You will see it in the voting today, it is a conscious, normal democratic and friendly position.”
dumagovru https://www.instagram.com/p/Big7wKQlndk/
The appointment of Medvedev is not really surprising. Stability is what Putin wishes to create, and keeping Medvedev in this time at the beginning of the era of massive shift in geopolitics is maybe the best option. Who else could realistically be chosen?
The USA, UK, Japan, Ukraine and Israel are now the only core members of the ‘west’ and they all have massive internal problems and debts. Their economies are all in crisis, a politcal culture that is suicidally Fascist in ideology, and thats why we should all be very worried, as they have less and less to lose by starting physical war against Iran, China and Russia.
Russia has self sufficency in food, oil, gas, military, heavy industry etc not to mention huge stores of Gold and Silver. This is the best position to start from…
CONFIRMED: Rogozin is officially out (https://www.rt.com/politics/426148-duma-supports-putin-medvedev/) and wikipedia(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry_Rogozin) replaced by Yuri Borisov. Lavrov and Shoigu to follow suit most probably (did not read it yet, still rumors).
All in all it means that there is an operation going on against the traditionalist (Euroasianist) in between the walls of Kremlin. A deal with a certain western liberal (Atlanticist) elites seems to be struck (I suspect Rockefeller elitists, which prominent Russian politicians belong to like Medyedev). Putin was always close to this group since the very beginnings of his career, while administering the traditionalist forces up to this point.
Possibly wide differences in opinion and philosophy between this liberal group and the traditionalist has brought events to this point of no return (Remember dismissals of A.Dugin and Ivanov).
Putin had to make a choice, so he did and used his hand on behalf of the liberal-Atlanticist.
There is no return from this point on. Russia is firmly aligned with this elitist world power which includes names like Rockefeller and other big shots like Kissinger, Trump, Netanyahu, Adelson etc. This is a group which is against the so-called Neocons of Rothschild elites. This group is also not all that cozy with China (read Trump) and does not like Chinese expansionism at all.
Expect bunch of policy changes in Russian foreign affairs. Netanyahu has already been invited a a guest of honor to the Victory Day parade, possibly along with Kissinger (rumors).
Seems to me that the fight among the western elites is intensifying on the sidelines. (read http://www.moonofalabama.org/2018/05/black-cube-first-denies-than-obfuscates-its-spying-on-iran-deal-negotiators-.html#more). Also Netanyahu corruption trial, Weinstein affairs (Adelson’s favorite), Russiagate, Scripal posion case etc. etc. are all related and part of this elitist fight, it seems.
How will the next (and only) superpower China will react? And how will Russian-Chinese relations will be affected following this quiet coup d’etat in Russia? Will be very interesting to see how this global chess game of the world elites will develop.
God have mercy on Syria.
This is a group which is against the so-called Neocons of Rothschild elites.
As far as I know are the neocons extremely pro Israel and try to push the US into assisting Israel’s political moves. The neocons pushed for the destruction of the Middle East (Yinon Plan). Didn’t Trump just announce the withdrawal of US troops from Syria (forgetting to mention contractors and the creation of a 30000 strong unit)? In US politics there doesn’t seem to exist any difference between neocons and non-neocons anymore.
Matthiew,
No way. Neoliberal and neoconservative agendas are very similar – sometimes, these labels are used as synonyms. Besides, your explanation is too simplistic and absolutely implausible.
We do not know yet what is going on. We do not have yet information. We can only speculate, yes; but, we have to be realist.
Criticizing Putin is of course necessary, but running him down and questioning his leadership then begs the question – what better leader do his critics have in mind? Of course many of us armchair analysts would like to volunteer our own services to manage the immense complexity of Russia in the modern world. I would echo what I hear the Saker saying – let’s not be in a hurry to judge this complex situation. Putin has helped bring Russia to this point, let’s keep open to his competence as the best we have to navigate the turbulent waters ahead.
Re; Re-Nomination de Medvedev
Considering all the lies that are being spread around about and sanctions against Russia isn’t it possible that Medvedev himself has made 180 degrees turn? Or perhaps Putin convinced him that is was a dead end to continue along that pro western route and have come to a better understanding?
A somber analysis with which I must concur.
I wrote this on a related piece on our blog (The Greanville Post):
The Medvedev choice is also a reminder of something even more worrisome and disconcerting about Putin, and that is that he may not be capable or see the necessity at this point of pushing Russia away from capitalism. With an acute, virtually terminal ecological crisis upon us, time is severely short to implement even rearguard actions in the hope of slowing down the natural catastrophe wrought by a myopically greedy and simply stupid humanity, but such measures must be introduced at once, and that is impossible under a regime of capitalism. This is one of the reasons why, structurally, China leads the world in the velocity of ecological transformations. Socialism—when well managed—assures an efficient, unified system of policy execution. This, capitalism, an inherently chaotic system, more akin to feudalism with its innumerable fiefdoms and power centers, than a truly modern approach to governance, just cannot do. And there’s more.
For one thing, capitalism, with its historically demonstrated complete disregard for the environment, is and has always been, by definition, on a collision course with nature. Capitalist culture, from the executive suites to the consumer in the streets, is built on short-term thinking and selfish myopia about the broader consequences of our actions. Not to mention that no one to this day has ever found a solution to the signature dynamic of capitalism which no matter how promisingly it may start eventually generates grotesque wealth inequalities and enormous, corrupting imbalances in social and political power, making democracy impossible. Add to this the equally undeniable fact that as capitalism develops it triggers the birth of its malignant spawn, imperialism, and this in turn guarantees endless war, exploitation and enslavement on a breathtaking scale. All of this is by now clear and a matter of record with numerous examples in all sorts of cultures and civilizations, nations large and small, poor and rich in natural and human resources. Capitalism is a disease, whose true evil definitional characteristics could not be fully foreseen by theorists and statesmen in the last 200 years, but which are now evident and irrefutable to any well informed human being. It follows that any responsible statesman should treat it that way.
That we fail to see such awareness in Putin is more than just regrettable, it is tragic. It carries with it, as The Saker, Paul Craig Roberts, Michael Hudson and other thinkers have warned, the seeds of a possible destruction of the Putin legacy, and an unraveling of Russia’s very hard won right to prosperity, sovereignty, and peace. While Putin has sometimes openly declared his rejection of the Soviet period, we still believe that due to his basic decency he may be quietly accepting of many socialist principles, the only thing that can assure a healthy future for the brave Russian people.
(From The Russia beat: CBS lays another egg; Putin inexplicably chooses notorious Atlanticist Medvedev as PM, by this commenter. https://www.greanvillepost.com/2018/05/08/the-russia-beat-cbs-lays-another-egg-putin-inexplicably-chooses-notorious-atlanticist-medvedev-as-pm/
“in the hope of slowing down the natural catastrophe wrought by a myopically greedy and simply stupid humanity”
There is nothing greedy, or stupid about humanity. I get very irritated when the so called “elite”, that is committing every ecological crime out there, always managing to push the blame onto the rest of us. This is a classic NLP trickery that is not so difficult to spot. Interesting thing, is that just 48 hours prior to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the CEO of BP and Goldman sold out all their BP stocks. Accident? Hardly. The amount of toxic chemicals that were sprayed all over (to contain the spill) was enough to cool down the currents. Absolutely deadly, and absolutely intentional crime.
I don’t know where you’re living, but I’ve encountered several greedy persons in my live. Some were plain greedy, others wanted to be better than others (as if they were compelled to be in competition with everyone else – higher, faster, further, …) and some people acted plain stupid. Those persons I’ve encountered can hardly be considered “elite”. Luckily there are still normal people walking on the face of the earth, but their numbers are in decline.
Greed does not exist in nature, and greed does not exist in “primitive” societies. It is a 100% social construct. From very early age. our kids are taken away in to all sort of indoctrination camps, (day care, schools, universities) and getting molded into creatures that become incompatible with nature. All under the mask of “education” and “future opportunities”. We’re not like this inherently. Add to this mixture some psychotic computer gaming, pharmaceuticals, and TV brainwashing etc…and you get those creatures in human form that cannot exists in balance with nature, and whose goals are misaligned with a healthy state of spirit.
Humanity being manipulated and distorted. These are not our natural traits.
Karl Marx, Theses on Feuerbach, 1845.
Thank you to the Saker and others for commenting on this. I live in a country where the democratically elected government has made some similar decisions, decisions which run contrary to public opinion. I finally concluded that the government may be using a strategy to engage members of the public in political discourse and policy making. So the government may be relying on citizens to voice concerns directly to members of the government and become more active as grassroots lobbyists. It’s a way to broaden the political class (which is likely broadly corrupted.) I think it’s a strategy to combat political opposition. Maybe something similar is happening in Russia.
You do trust politicians, don’t you? Perhaps, you shouldn’t…
Trust them to what? Act in their own interest, I think. (By the way, I am not referring to the USA, which I consider to be a police state, or any other major power in my comment.) So if politicians make decisions which openly weaken their position with the electorate, without glossing the decisions over with histrionics about terrorism or whatever, then it leads to questioning how they may be benefiting by those choices. If they’re deliberately acting in a way that will result in the silent majority that supports them to have to speak out, then maybe that is exactly the effect they are trying to provoke – to their own benefit. It is also dangerous for the silent majority to remain silent if their leaders openly violate their wishes on a key domestic issue. Sets a bad precedent (again, not referring to USA or any other major power.)
I don’t bite that, Anon… It is a too sophisticated – and unlikely to succeed – governmental strategy to take ‘decisions which run contrary to public opinion’ with the purpose of engaging ‘members of the public in political discourse and policy making, as you suggest…
Here’s finally Andrei martyanov’s take;
About (Russian) Government. Fast Thoughts.
MOSCOW, May 8. /TASS/. The Russian government will consist exclusively of highly-qualified professionals, Acting Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. He stressed that the objectives for the future Cabinet set by the president had been enshrined in the Executive Order on Russia’s National Goals and Strategic Objectives to 2024 signed on Monday. When asked whether the new Cabinet, which is expected to consist of those deputy prime ministers who had previously held senior positions, will be able to fulfill these goals, Peskov noted that the government had not been formed yet. “You haven’t heard (the candidates for) the ministers, wait (until they are appointed),” he said.
It seems that there is a lot of panicky and gloomy mood about re-nomination of Dmitry Medvedev as Russia’s Prime Minister and speculation about new (old?) Cabinet configuration. For those who are in such a mood, read below:
Any Russian Government will do whatever Vladimir Putin and Russia’s National Security Council tell it to do.
Dmitry Medvedev is a technical Prime Minister, literally—a caretaker and he was such for a very long time now. He knows his bureaucracy better than anyone, despite the fact that he can sometimes be clumsy and underwhelming. But some preliminary info on the Vice PMs is not bad and appearance of, as an example, Yuri Borisov in such a position is a very good sign. Unlike Dmitry Rogozin, who is a journalist by the education, Borisov offers an immense command, scientific-engineering (Doctor of Sciences) and industry background. In the end, it was him, not Rogozin, who really ran Russia’s Military-Industrial Complex and we all know what this complex can do. The same positive goes towards removal of Shuvalov and Dvorkovich from Cabinet. Now, this rumor about Kudrin—he is not going to be, if he appears at all, in any position of power to formulate any policy in government, not to mention nationally. Certainly not as a liaison for negotiation of “surrender” to the West as some suggested. People sometimes simply forget that in modern day Russia it is Putin and his immediate team who formulate policies. I see no signs of him “surrendering”. Quite opposite, actually.
My main interest is who will become (if rumors are true) a new Defense Minister instead of Shoigu—that is a huge one. And, of course, one has to ask the question if Lavrov comes back. These questions are by far more important than some speculations on Kudrin. Let’s face the cold hard fact—Russia is not building communism. For all nostalgia about those times, overwhelming majority of Russian people do not want a complete return of that system. Taking best form it—and there was a lot of good in it—absolutely! Deal with oligarchs and return stolen wealth? Sure! But the times of total state-control, and ownership, are gone and Russia’s reproach with socialism this time around is already very different—it is a way of evolution towards real social state and it is inevitable, Russian culture and history considered. So, my suggestion—just calm down and simply observe actions, not words. In the end, there are many (in fact, very many) tangible successes in the last 4 years—hardly a sign of people not knowing what they are doing, especially with West waging a very real war against Russia. Just buckle up.
Didn’t Lavrov state his intentions to retire recently? Can’t say I blame him if he wants to as that post must be quite the challenge these days. Whether he returns to service, or someone else takes his place, he/she would well do to drop the “our western partners” rhetoric.
There are some readers who have doubts about Putin or Russia , if this is the case,the race might be over for them.
Forest Gump long run scene:
https://youtu.be/QgnJ8GpsBG8
Meanwhile, things are going well in Yarmouk camp, Al Rastan pocket is going to be liberated, some good incentives in southern Deir Ezzor against ISIS. After that Idlib or maybe Daraa and Golan Heights, slowly but surely.
Let’s see if Donald gets out of the deal with Iran or only reinstates some sanctions. Either way is good for Russia ( 2 billion dollars for Sukhoi 100 superjet already )
Just listened to Trump’s speech pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal. Sounded like something written by Bolton with help from Netanyahoo. Looks like Trump is going to lead us into WWIII very rapidly now. What a complete failure as a human being he is! Our work as lovers of peace is really cut out for us now. The world is plunging deeper into crisis with increasing speed. One cannot help wishing those responsible for this nightmare would just disappear, but that is not going to happen. We are left with trying to help the almost possible to happen, giving peace a chance in a world careening into war………..
Kim would be crazy to make a deal with Trump now, and so would China. If the major powers decide to appease the Empire, it will be a classic mistake, leading to WWIII nuclear. Only if Russia and China stand up to the US with conventional forces, will there be a chance that nuclear Armageddon can be avoided. Iran should be considered the red line to be defended at all costs in this resistance to Empire; anything less will be suicidal.
At this stage, with these new circumstances – by the way, waited for Mai 12 – I think Lavrov will stay in place as Russian Foreign Minister. He was there at the signing of the deal (five+1) in 2015 I don’t see any other person replacing him now. Even Shoigu visited Iran and has good relations – hence a lot of experience – why should be replaced now, is too high for me (and he is still young). My view is that he will remain. A change at those two vital positions now, at this stage is too dangerous and probably “inappropriate” (to live with Putin’s words) , of course, in my view.
I would go farther and say that Syria should also be defended at all costs. With the rapidly escalating pressure from the Empire, there will be no way to buy time in hopes the resistance will strengthen, and the Empire will weaken. The Empire realizes that this is their last best chance to achieve total global domination, and is pushing it’s potential victims to either respond or be driven into a weakened stance, and then conquered.
Mike K, could you take the Syria comments to the correct article as its off-topic here. Mod
US , Israel and KSA are looking for trouble. It is obvious now that Israel put Donald Trump as president of US. And Israel keeps him alive and well kicking.
For Jerusalem embassy move and Iran foreign policy. The withdrawal from the nuclear deal.
Of course, the right ( hand) and the left ( hand ) belong to the same man. And they play games and create the Show.
Now Israel has attacked Syria again. With Bibi being in Moscow as a guest to Putin. So much arrogance…but let’s wait and see .
This World Cup is gonna kill us all. I hope it is the last one Russia will host in this kind of crazy world.
Putin has done a superb job balancing the internal affairs of state and the conflict it finds itself in. Skripal and White hat allegations were pursued and proven false, and they did not allow knee jerk-reaction to start the was that the axis of zion is doing their best to provoke. Perhaps he is just stalling for time until the collapse they bring upon themselves takes hold. Why not enjoy a few games in the meantime while your football hooligans kick the snot out of Boris Johnsons fan base?
The Russian national game is chess…
> If, as some rumors are suggesting it, Shoigu and Rogozin are out – then this will only further fuel the current panic
questionable.
Rogozin is a great talking head, but his popularity is somewhat shallow.
Check what SmoothieX12 wrote on him
Shoigu also has his deal of controversy.
http://survincity.com/2012/09/shoigu-awarded-the-highest-achievements-of-malta/
Putin: The time is right to decouple the Russian economy from the US dollar and to improve Russian economic sovereignty. Russia will continue to diversify its foreign exchange reserves – ie goodbye unilateral dollar, hello multilateral trade.
https://z5h64q92x9.net/proxy_u/ru-en.en/rusvesna.su/economy/1525798146
(This is a Russian Spring article translated by yandex translate. Mod)
And meanwhile, here in America we see who has recently been approved as “Secretary of State” and “Director of the CIA” . Good Lord Almighty. This world is being thrown into the abyss by some truly snake-like creatures.
‘Alexei Kudrin, candidate right now to be the second most powerful official in the land, was not recorded on film or in the Kremlin website’s photo album. It was his script which Putin read out in the inauguration speech. It was not Shoigu’s, nor Gerasimov’s, nor Rogozin’s.”
“The breakthroughs which Putin made the keynote of his speech, repeating the word no less than seven times, are Kudrin’s recommendations, not those of the Stavka…..”
http://johnhelmer.net/russias-new-government-puts-thinking-cap-on-to-make-breakthrough-in-spinelessness/
If the above is true (and its looking pretty true so far). Then Saker’s worry is not just justified,but an understatement.Its looking like the Atlantist’s are firming up their power.
You are absolutely right. In the article you quote it’s author says this about Kudrin and his bid for the vice-presidency –
Kudrin, a St. Petersburg economist with Putin in the mayoral administration of Anatoly Sobchak in the mid-1990s, has been Putin’s Svengali for austerity budgeting, privatization of state assets, and oligarch control of the economy for twenty years. His record for enriching himself has been attested by sources inside Alrosa, the state diamond miner, whose board Kudrin controlled when he was finance minister.
He also means to implement sharp cuts in defence spending, and a policy of withdrawal from the Ukraine and Syrian fronts on the terms demanded by Washington.
He favours a massive sell-off of state assets to the oligarchs, whose capital export Kudrin has long protected, and whose bailout by the state banks Kudrin directed in 2008 .
When Kudrin uses the word reform, he means a privatization of the state’s assets to the oligarchs, and nationalization of the oligarchs’ losses and liabilities.
Last week too, Kudrin advertised that he and Medvedev had met for a discussion, which the prime minister’s spokesman characterised as focusing on “his proposals on improving the system of public administration.” In fact, they discussed how to form a united front in the bidding for Putin’s decision.
To show Putin he has the support of the anti-Russian alliance in the West, Kudrin arranged for the Financial Times to report yesterday that his promotion is a near certainty.”
The more you learn about Kudrin, the worse it seems. However he does face challenges –
” The Kudrin scheme is being opposed as capitulation by the leadership of Russia’s defence, military and security forces.”
How many Kudrins are there in Moscow?
I am sure the Russian military would fight to the last man to defend Russia if need be but what is the pojnt when you have an administration stuffed full of out and out traitors?
If WHAT is true? Who is John Helmer and why is everyone so accepting of his claims?
FYI- in 2011, Kudrin was FIRED for insubordination when he was part of the government. Medvedev publicly rebuked him. Here is that exchange caught on camera. There was obviously a very hefty disagreement on policy between them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDYbT2PgwVw (voice over in english)
btw, even the liberal Moscow Times says Kudrin is out
https://themoscowtimes.com/news/your-guide-medvedevs-new-cabinet-61388
Please disregard my info in Moscow Times. I made a mistake about them indicating he is out.
I don’t think the descriptions of Kudrin are in any way inaccurate and if appointed vice-president he would be the second most powerful man in Russia.
The US state propaganda radio station clearly likes him perhaps amongst other things for his support of the stage managed anti-Russian government protests –
“In comments to reporters hours after Putin spoke on Thursday, Kudrin made it clear that at the moment his sympathies lie with the tens of thousands of anti-Kremlin protestors who took to the streets on December 10 to protest electoral fraud — and plan to do so again on December 24”
https://www.rferl.org/a/putin_kudrin_russias_real_tandem/24424519.html
I think that if the western media are praising this guy and see him as an opportunity to break Russia, these facts alone never mind his history of sell out policy proposals are surely enough to show how dangerous this man is, if he gets the v.p. post.
There seems to be talk now that Kudrin “himself” may not be appointed to a post. Too many Russians hate him.But instead several of his devoted followers are entering the government. I don’t see an improvement there.Him being the “man behind the curtain” is not less,but maybe more of a threat.Only time will tell us the whole story.
How is it a “breakthrough” for the “Atlanticists” if Russia dumps the US dollar for multilateral trade? So much smoke and scaremongering – so little trust in Putin and his, and his team’s, life work.
In fact the Trump’s stupid move to negate the Iran deal is already a spectacular failure as it plays right into Putin’s plans. Including pushing the sane people in Europe towards the Russian sphere of interest. The US, Israel and UK can hardly be an easy sell for even the most convinced “Atlanticist” anymore.
“so little trust in Putin and his, and his team’s, life work.”
exactly…
Do you remember how some pseudo-patriots accused Russia of “disarming Syria” when the Russians stopped the planned US attack and removed the (totally useless) chemical weapons the Syrians had? Or how many times we have been told that Russia will “sell out” the Donbass? Or how Russia “was allowing” Israel bomb Syria ……Duh or how Putin did not warn Iran before the Israeli bombing attack ……………..
Christian W nails it. consider:
the issue is US escalation rationalized by Israeli provocations attacking Iran- purportedly to prevent nuclear proliferation. more broadly (tho this is a much larger topic) to contain defection from the Empire of Finance.
acc to Larry Wilkerson (i paraphrase), everything this administration does is for domestic effect; there is no foreign policy. ie, at this point within the US, re the US, and vis-a-vis the US, appearances NOW are the formative factor; vis-a-vis the US, not the rest of the world. so what happened?
Putin publicly re-orients Russia to domestic reform and development.
Trump withdraws US from multilateral treaty with Iran … over EU objections.
Iran states it will honor the treaty anyway if other signatories do.
rift btw EU and US just grew wider.
rift btw EU and Russia just narrowed.
the Silk Road project just became more inclusive: Russian econ development, stimulus to German industry,
capitalization thru the Euro (this gets big fast); now Turkey chooses.
how this affects NATO i leave to your imagination.
so what’s left of Israeli aggression? who has, as opposed to who admits to, the S-300’s? am i correct in understanding the progression from the S-300 to the 400 as (mostly?) a software upgrade? these are defensive systems.
the world just became a better place.
it’s a core weakness of this site that you don’t understand the centrality of Finance. serious constraints come with being the world’s reserve currency.
Larry Wilkerson on the Israel Lobby:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXOSJU80A00
Although I love The Saker (the blog!), I agree with you that is would be a good idea to include some financial/economic discussions…