Dear friends,
I would like to announce that I will be recording the next Saker Podcast #3 the coming week-end and, hopefully, make it available here by Monday morning on the (temporary) Saker Podcasts home page:
https://sites.google.com/site/sakerpodcast/home
Please note that thanks to the kind help of a wonderful lady “A” the Saker Podcast #1 transcript is now available for download from Mediafire (one zipped file containing the transcript in ODT, PDF and RTF formats). Just click on the link above and then click under the transcript download link under Saker Podcast #1.
“A” is now transcribing the 2nd podcast and will be providing transcripts in the future.
Now is the time to post your questions for the next podcast. Please do not email me your questions, but post there in the comments section under this post. Important: questions do not have to be about the Ukraine or any one specific topic: this podcast is for *you* so you ask whatever you want on any topic you want and I will try my best to reply to it. I will be accepting questions until Thursday December 4th at 1800 GMT.
As we have agreed upon, I am using the opportunity of this podcast to remind you to send in your donations to support my work and this blog. I have to report that the feared “donor fatigue” syndrome has apparently kicked in and that donations were very, very small this month (sorry! I had to tell you). Please don’t let that happen and help me keep putting in the work-hours needed to do it all!
The following contributors have sent me donations in November via PayPal:
AN, MW, AB, RA, BG, MD, JT, AW, DS, GSH, PZ, HRS, PM, DK, PB, JDB, SF, RM, SD, ND, MM, KK, VF, DF, MM, MM, JMC, MD, RZ, RA, SM, GS, RH, HPO, SB, DK, GC, BS, KG, DK, BP, AV, TRH, DN, SE, BS, JC, HPO, JH, JL, AW, HMK, SC, VED, AA, JEM, KS, VA,
The following contributor has sent me a donation in November via Amazon:
MD
Speaking of donations,
A supporter of the Saker blog has offered me and the community a nice way of supporting my work. Here is what he offers:
Hello everyone. I am a small leatherworking business owner and when Saker reached out to the community a while ago I decided to show my support. In collaboration with Saker, my girlfriend and I introduced to our store our new line of promotional Vineyard of the Saker hand-crafted Leather Key-Chainand Coffee Coasters. Purchasing any of these items will see 30% of your purchase donated to Saker directly, and we also offer 20% discount coupon code on any item in the store (save promotional items) as further gratitude after purchasing one of these items – thanks for your support!
To purchase, simply click on the links in “Key Chain” and/or “Coffee Coaster” here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/212498318/vineyard-of-the-saker-key-chain?ref=related-0
https://www.etsy.com/listing/212506505/vineyard-of-the-saker-coffee-coaster?ref=shop_home_active_1
One more good thing to report:
With the help of two very kind friends, I have begun working on an book to try to explain the *real* Russia to the western public, the one the MSM tries so hard to hide. It is too early for me to provide details about this major project yet, but I have been asked to completely block all my Wednesday mornings for this work. So on Wednesday mornings, starting tomorrow, there will be no posting and no moderation of comments. I apologize for that interruption, but I think that once you found out the details, which are still being finalized, you will completely approve of this decision.
Speaking of books, Pepe Escobar has recently released a book of his own, entitled Empire of Chaos and which you can now get as an ebook from Amazon for pennies ($3.99!!):
http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Chaos-Roving-Eye-Collection-ebook/dp/B00OYVYD3G/
I have seen a draft version of this book and I can sincerely say that I recommend it with unqualified enthusiasm. Yes, sure, Pepe is a friend, but his book, a collection of essays is a fantastic compendium of all the crazy, vile and sometimes even comical stuff the Empire is busy doing world wide. And, of course, Pepe wrote it all in his direct, deliberately non-academic style, while producing analyses which very few academics, if any, could match. Pepe is really “Da man” right now, one of the best informed sharpest analyst out there, and this book is most definitely a “must read”. The only bad thing is that it comes with Amazon’s friggin DRM “defective by design” restrictions. Well, no big deal. Just get the book, pay the few pennies this costs – it is well worth it – then do a little research here and there (sorry, I legally cannot say where exactly) and this problem can easily be removed.
So, friends, please keep Pepe and myself in the business of informing you and thanks in advance for any help you can provide!
Kind regards,
The Saker
I would like to hear what is going on in Moldova, specifically after the elections?
Also more on the turkey and ASSAD post turkstream, and nuclear deals with russia?
Lastly how the hell can Putin get rid of the Central Bank R-tards? Ideally they are the ones that need to go first.
Thank you so much for doing this. I have a few questions.
1) do you believe that hezbollah won the 2006 war?
2) do you believe that Israel will start another war with hezbollah?
3)israel wins wars because of their air superiority, how is hezbollah going to deal with the Israeli air support and why doesn’t hezbollah get manpads to deal with them?
4) will hezbollah be successful at getting the support of the whole lebanon?
Thank you very much!
A good thing to get for doing podcasts is a pop shield. Get one from any music store. They are attached to the mic stand. Place in front of the mic. It stops sudden bursts of air hitting the mic and causing audio distortion when you use certain words.
Here is one advertised on Amazon for a few bucks.
http://www.amazon.com/Dragonpad%C2%AE-Studio-Microphone-Flexible-Gooseneck/dp/B008AOH1O6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417548419&sr=8-1&keywords=pop+shield
Dear Saker,
What is your take on environmental issues in general and climate change in particular? Is there any way this planet can be saved from utter environmental degradation?
Zuzim
I recently read that a Russian bank has given a multi-million franc loan to Le Penn’s Front National party.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/russia-loan-marine-le-pens-front-national-does-murky-deal-kremlin-bank-1477135
I also noted that several far right party members from EU countries were invited to observe the Crimean referendum e.g. from the (mis-named) Austrian Freedom Party.
I was shocked to see that Russia Today invited a member of the far right anti-immigrant UKIP party as a guest on Crosstalk some weeks back.
Is this Putin playing the US’s game of “enemy of my enemy is my friend”?
Is this an attempt to encourage the break up of the EU? I can see a certain twisted logic in that from Russia’s point of view.
However, it appears to me that this is playing with fire. Some of these parties have their origins in neo-Nazism (Le Penn).
The leader of the far right British National Party Nick Griffin–who was a leader of the (openly Nazi) National Front in the 1970s–has joined UKIP as his own BNP party has all but collapsed. So we see former street fighting thugs like Griffin donning suits and pretending to be respectable politicians.
I don’t want a far right party in the UK (or any other European) government and it concerns me that the Russian government might be assisting them in an attempt to undermine the EU from within.
I would be interested in your view about the extent to which this is official Russian government policy or not
What is your take
I would like to hear more about Russia, Turkey, and Syria. This thing with Syria seems big. Did Putin peal them from NATO?
Also I heard that Baron Ivan Rothschild ended up with all the Yukos stock that some court says Russia owes $100 billion in fines on. How did this happen?
What is you opinion on the historical and societal context of Germans in Russia and Germans from Russia in America?
Imperial Russia provided a passing refuge in times of famine and war to many who settled in villages throughout Russia including Volhynia, alongside the Volga, the Black Sea coast, the Caucasus, etc. My German ancestors emigrated from Marinovka-on-Gorin in Volhynia, approximately fifty miles from the city of Rovno, circa 1900. Berrien County, Michigan was their emigration magnet which was very much like their former homeland.
I am interested in the Russian perspective. I learned Russian in the military from native speakers and become impressed with their culture. I have also enjoyed your historical discourses.
“The German is like a willow. No matter which way you bend him, he will always take root again.” – Alexander Solzhenitsyn. What could be his context for saying so?
Unfortunately I cannot donate through credit card or paypal. Why not set up interac e-transfer?
To the Saker:
I recently tried to buy the flags of Novorussia,suprise,suprise,Flags- are-us…no can do!
Can you supply? or give a link?.
cheers.
Dear Shoes:
Israel got angry and bombed a lot of innocent civilians when they kept getting urinated on by Hezbollah in 2006.
Hezbollah destroyed 140 Israeli tanks and almost sank an Israeli warship. Hezbollah killed Israeli soldiers, Israel, as is their usual practice, killed many Lebanese civilians by bombing civilian infrastructure because Hezbollah was accused of hiding their manpads near these places.
How Hezbollah defeated Israel: Part 1 Winning the Intelligence War
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HJ12Ak01.html
Part 2: Winning the Ground War
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HJ13Ak01.html
Part 3: The Political war
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HJ14Ak01.html
Farflungstar
Zio Occupied AmeriKa
I would like to know more about the Russian relationship with Turkey – did Putin peal them away from NATO? How is their relationship going to work with Syria?
Dear Saker,
From what I am gathering, there are many people in the West who can see behind the lies of their states and the mainstream press and are taking sides with Russia on this crisis. What should be done to co-ordinate the actions of people like us who wish to undermine our governments’ war on Russia? Do you by any chance have any suggestions? I feel that we need a pan-European organization of simple people in support of Russia against the AZ Empire.
One more question please. The Russian central bank as well as Russia’s monetary policy since 1990 strike me (in agreement with Glazyev) as mistaken if not outright treacherous. What is your take on that, and how many people in Russia (especially among high places) share this view.
best regards,
Stavros Hadjiyiannis (Matthew White is just a pen name)
Dear reputable Saker,
please state your opinion on Yevgeny Alexeyevich Fyodorov and the National Liberation Movement (НОД).
I respect your more or less independent thought process and will repeat this question every so brilliant podcast of yours, until you consider it some way or the other.
Thank you
Siggi
“The German is like a willow. No matter which way you bend him, he will always take root again.” – Alexander Solzhenitsyn. What could be his context for saying so?
That’s a nice saying…I guess it means that Germans stay German.
H Ingrian
” Unfortunately I cannot donate through credit card or paypal. Why not set up interac e-transfer?”
If I were you, I would try mailing cash…I do it all the time, and have never lost it. Just try small amounts more frequently…Saker’s address is available on the left side of the blog…
Anonymous said…
I would like to know more about the Russian relationship with Turkey – did Putin peal them away from NATO? How is their relationship going to work with Syria?
Anon, there was a ton of comments yesterday…check down a couple of articles, on the comments…very informative.
Trepper
02 December, 2014 19:58
I was shocked to see that Russia Today invited a member of the far right anti-immigrant UKIP party as a guest on Crosstalk some weeks back.
Shocked? Why? Anti-immigrant? What do you mean by that exactly?
Farage is married to a German – so it is ridiculous to call UKIP anti-immigrant.
Clearly UKIP welcomes immigrants in the UK – just nowhere near as many of them.
It appears to me UKIP are the only party that has any decent level of support in the UK who are actually standing up for traditional British values.
You really think that lightweight Cameron is standing up for your interests??? Really???
The leader of the far right British National Party Nick Griffin–who was a leader of the (openly Nazi) National Front in the 1970s–has joined UKIP as his own BNP party has all but collapsed. So we see former street fighting thugs like Griffin donning suits and pretending to be respectable politicians.
Oh please. Griffin is not a member of UKIP. They wouldn’t even let him become a member. (Where did you read that anyway? Sounds like scare-mongering propaganda).
Griffin was quoted as saying he would “hold his nose” and vote UKIP. Do you really think that is something a member of UKIP would say???
Seriously – where are you getting your news mate? It sounds all wrong.
Here is an article on the subject which seems much more accurate than your babble.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/former-bnp-leader-nick-griffin-says-hell-vote-ukip-9893376.html
The former leader of the British National Party has endorsed UKIP at the next election.
Nick Griffin said he was planning to vote UKIP to shake up the political system and because he believed it would increase the chances of an EU referendum happening.
“I will hold nose & vote Ukip because it will help break up the Westminster system. & hold Cameron’s feet to referendum fire,” he tweeted yesterday.
He however criticised Nigel Farage, referring to him as a “Toryboy” and posting a photograph of the party leader holding a mug with a picture of Margaret Thatcher on it.
“Don’t be fooled,” he added.
In another tweet this morning, Mr Griffin said: “Farage votes for GM crops in the EU Parliament. Vote UKIP to kick Cameron, but don’t be fooled.”
UKIP has sought to distance itself from parties of the far-right, banning former BNP members from joining and rejecting alliances in Europe with France’s Front National.
What’s your view on Pakistan and its role in regards to Russia, China and Iran?
I believe the ultimate enemy of the US is not Russia, but China. The US will try to exploit the differences between rich China cities and poor countryside and divide the country; basically, the old British plan. What is your take on it? Are the current Hong Kong protests genuine or perhaps a coloured revolution?
Just bought a coaster. Very nice work!
My question is similar to Mikhail.
Why hasn’t V. Putin shut down the central bank?
The state has the power to issue and control the supply of money.
The Turkish connection is an interesting development, given that Istanbul had been Constantinople, whence came Orthodoxy into Russia by way of Kiev.
I am remembering that Turkey did not allow GWBush to invade Iraq from the north, and I wonder if you have any thoughts on how this relationship with Russia may develop.
I also remember that the deployment of US missiles in Turkey was a hidden factor in the Cuban missile crisis resolution, and to me Putin
reminds me of Kennedy a great deal. Is this a similar confrontation, but this time with even larger stakes, and might there be any hidden factors to give us hope for the future?
anon ‘What’s your view on Pakistan and its role in regards to Russia, China and Iran?’
I sure can hardly wait until Pakistan is invited to join one of Russia’s organizations.
And then Palestine.
Please give some incite as to why would Russia allow the US to send John Tefft as the ambassador? This guy is their professional colour revolution expert so is it to keep an eye on him?
Thank you for this opportunity Saker.Q.
What Rus intelligence networks, organisations officers operated by Rus officially and unofficially will be working in Ukr, Donbass and further afield say Kharkiv, Mariupol, Odessa, how do they work, will they be acting as communications between Donbass and Moscow in a political sense as well as military, will satellite info etc be sent to separatists ,will they be orchestrating or just “assisting” ANR in any ways, what has Ukr got operating in Rus vica versa? Should you not wish to reveal/explain this info to protect separatists I would respect that.
very best wishes.
BRUSSELS, December 3. /TASS/. The joint statement of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, which attempts to shift the blame on Moscow for the crisis in Ukraine, is counterproductive and highlights double standards, Russia’s Ambassador to NATO Alexander Grushko said on Wednesday.
“This statement is a flagrant manifestation of double standards,” he said in an interview with Russian journalists.
Grushko said the statement is also “irrelevant” as the foreign ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) are expected to discuss the Ukrainian conflict at a meeting in Basel, Switzerland, on December 4-5.
Again Rus stating Eu mechanisms are not working, prejudiced etc, so Rus can do what it sees fit.they may “test” out OSCE too?
I would like to hear your opinion on why is Russia making so much less effort than the West to affect the public opinion in Serbia. For example, all TV stations and newspapers were bought by big western companies. Two weeks ago CIA even opened a new Full HD TV chanel called “N1”, which really is CNN for the Balkans and it’s owner is the previous CIA director David Petraeus.
Another example – until a year ago we had dozen of big western banks, and not even one Russian. We now have SBERBANK but it looks like the old German management from Volksbank remained. They even use ONLY Latin letters! Latin! In Russian bank in Serbia!
I could go on and on about how much effort does West put into forming public opinion in Serbia. Russia would need much less effort to neutralize all of it so I wonder why they are so passive? Why don’t we have for example TV station “Русија Данас” (Russia Today) in Serbian? People in Serbia have no choice but to follow CIA made news only.
My Ipod question:
The EU leaders are clearly acting against their peoples, and their countries interests, under US pressure.
If it was one, or a few smaller countries, like Bulgaria, it is somewhat understandable they would give in.
But of all the EU countries, at least 2/3 of them must have serious misgivings.
These leaders must be talking amongst each other. United I would think they should be able to resist US pressure, at least against sanctions and other nasty moves against Russia and Novorossiya.
Are these EU leaders all true believers, or what kind of unimaginable bribes/ threats are being pressed upon them? Because their behavior does not seem rational at all!
Thank you.
Saker, I agree completely with your view of VV Putin. I think he is the most important, most professional, and most valuable leader on the world stage today, and the greatest source of hope for a better life for everyone. But I don’t think he arrived in 2000 as president of Russia so fully developed. I am interested in his journey, in how he became the person he is today. He seems to have acquired great insight and wisdom about what is wrong with the current world order/structure and where we collectively need to go to make life fairer and safer for everyone, and I agree with his vision. Is this a subject on which you feel you can comment?
1-Are there other gas deals that Russia can make to move away from Europe? Any hopes for Putin in India?
2-Are there any signs that you think we should look for that show that Putin is gaining ground in the war against the pro-West types and fifth column?
I read where Kiev’s court approved their nationalizing Russia’s gas pipes in UA. However haven’t read anything more on this. Have you? If this is true, what is Russia’s reaction? Or what do you think their reaction would be if this happens in the near future?
Thank you!
Saker,
Will Odessa and Mariupol stay in Ukraine?
Is the border of Novorossiya now the way it stays and is it viable?
Is Putin waiting for another Ukie offensive in order to change all the facts on the ground?
Syria and Iran are customers for Russia. Is there any other future for these nations or do you see them always under NATO, EU and US and Saudi, Qatar war plans?
Is the United Nations as worthless as OSCE?
Would Putin ever break the Russian laws and Constitution if he felt he had to to save the nation economically or to clean out the government and make it more efficient and responsive?
Saker, I just finished watching Putin’s annual address to the Federal Assembly, kindly translated into Spanish by RT.es.
I loved, generally, subject to the tax amnesty for great capital returning to Russia ( Let see, if necessary in order to repatriate capital and avoid blocking funding in international markets, okay. But I do not like these people, the big capitalists, always getting their way, evaded taxes when they left and now they save when they return..Bad exmple for the average taxpayer ( I understand it is only temporary and will only happen this time, VV Putin said.). In Spain, this measure amid dramatic cuts for the working class, especially for public employers ( which are the basis of the tax collection system, ie, those who can never evade a single euro for control of their payrolls by state ) was interpreted badly, like a bad joke.
Putin also spoke of the health system and the necessary quality controls and access to a quality system for all citizens. I’ve seen this week that people rallied in Moscow by the public health system.
Saker, could you explain how the current Russian health system is, if it is public, private or mixed? The public system has what capacity? What do you think, Saker, which should be the health system in Russia?
Thanks a lot in advance.
Thank a lot too to lady A for the transcription of the podcasts. Great! Fits me vey well!
In your opinion why does Russia not call in its loans from Ukraine?
I know Putin said he does not want to collapse their economy, but with the west aggressive behavior when do you think is the time to to play hard ball?
Comments on the Ukraine government having non Ukrainians now would be welcome.
Dear Saker,
I am trying to think of an intelligent question to ask you for your podcast and can’t but will enjoy listening to others and to you as per usual!
Hope you received the eagle painting print birthday card and small donation for your birthday…
@Anonmymous: Hope you received the eagle painting print birthday card and small donation for your birthday…
Yes, indeed, I did – lots of thanks for both, the print is superb!
I hope that you will like the next podcast.
Kindest regards,
The Saker
could you asner this question please ” China renders political support to Russia. However, there is an opinion that it benefits from this conflict situation. China’s declarations and statements, including in the UN, are often vague and unspecific. In your opinion, what is China’s actual position and interest?”
Many thanks
Dear Saker,
Maybe I have mentioned this before, but since it is now the number one issue for Russia, what is your position on Russia’s monetary policy in general and its exchange rate policy in particular. A brilliant British economist by the name of John Ross* has long argued that Russia should take a lead from the successful Chinese example of imposing capital controls and maintaining a fixed exchange rate for the ruble. It seems to me, that Russia since 1990 has been under the carcinogenic influence of dogmatic economic liberalism and that has brought catastrophic results (especially in the horrifying 1990s, but even since 2000, I sense that excessive market romanticism has hindered Russia’s renaissance) Seeing as Sergey Glaziev has also been critical of Russia’s Central Bank, shouldn’t Russia take advantage of the current crisis and emergency and finally adopt the Chinese currency exchange system?
* John Ross correctly predicted since the 1980s that China’s economy would keep growing by leaps and bounds for decades to come. He also advised Russia in the early 90s to not adopt the economic prescriptions of western economic “experts”.
Stavros Hadjiyiannis