In Europe the Russia-bashing campaigns come and go with the regularity reminiscent of times. Let’s try to recall some of them (in not particular order): Berezovsky as a “persecuted” businessman, Politkovskaya “murdered by KGB goons”, Khodorkovsky jailed for his love of liberty, the “Pussy Riot” “prisoners of conscience”, Litvinenko “murdered by Putin”, the homo-lobby’s call to boycott Russian vodka, the homo-lobby’s call to boycott the Sotchi Olympics, Magnitsky and the subsequent “Magnitsky law”, the Snowden affair, the “stolen elections”, the “White Revoluton” on the Bolotnaya square and the new “Sakharov” Alexei Navalnyi, etc. etc. etc. I am probably forgetting quite a few.
What is certain is that as soon as Putin came to power in 2000 and all throughout the past 13 years the western plutocracy has fought a sustained, if not very effective, political propaganda campaign against Russia in general and against the “Eurasian sovereignists“. In response to that campaign, Putin has very successfully responded with a kind of a “judo-move” in which he turned every one of these campaigns into an electoral argument in support of his policies by showing the Russian people how utterly absurd these Russia-bashing campaigns were, And, truth be told, these were absolutely ridiculous, every single one of them, and this is also why none of them ever had any bigger impact than a wet firecracker.
This time, however, the latest Russia-bashing campaign is qualitatively different in which it links a non-issue (the non-existing pollution threat to the Arctic from the new Russian oil drilling platform) with a very real and even strategic issue: the future of the Arctic.
I have to provide some context here.
The crucial context to understand current events
For the last decade Russia has embarked on a very ambitious plan to fully exploit the immense potential of the Arctic. Call it a unintended but positive impact from the Global Warming phenomenon, but it has now become possible use the so-called “Northern Route” to link Europe and Asia by a maritime corridor along the northern coast of Russia. Russia has also developed a unique type of oil drilling platform which can operate in waters saturated with drifting icebergs. A few years ago, a Russian submarine placed a Russian flag on the North Pole as a clear sign that Russia was claiming its share of the polar resources. Needless to say, the US, Canada and the EU are not happy at all about it. But there is nothing much they can do, if only because Russian polar technologies are way ahead of what exists in the West. Not only are Russian submarines far better suited for polar operations than their western counterparts, the Russians also have unique nuclear icebreakers which make it possible for them to open routes in very thick ice (more are currently being build). Western technologies have always been far more “equator oriented”. For example, the US GPS navigation system is more accurate on the lower latitudes while the Russian GLONASS is more accurate in the polar regions. Most of the US Navy’s power is centred on warmer regions of the globe. In contrast the most powerful and best equipped Russian fleet has always been the Northern Fleet which is used to operate in polar conditions.
Under Putin, Russia has embarked on an ambitious plan to defend its interest in the Arctic: old abandoned polar bases are now being reopened and a special Arctic motor-rifle division is being created. The Russian Air Force has resumed an intensive program of Arctic operations while the Navy has embarked on a cycle of regular Arctic manoeuvres involving its most advanced surface vessels.
The flagship of the Northern Fleet: the nuclear heavy guided missile cruiser Petr Velikii – here on manoeuvres escorted by four (unseen) nuclear attack submarines. |
What can the West do about it?
The fact is that the West has neither the know-how nor the money needed to try to match the Russian moves. But what it still has is some very useful Cold War era tools: the “independent” non-governmental organizations.
In this context, the recent move by Greenpeace to create yet another Russia-bashing PR campaign, this time combined with a campaign to shut down the first Russian Arctic oil drilling platform. We all know what happened after that: in the course of their second attempt at boarding the oil rig, the Greenpeaceniks were arrested by security forces and their vessels seized.
This time around, however, its Greenpeace which skilfully put a “judo-move” on Russia by turning the arrest of its activists into an international campaign to free these “political prisoners” and, unlike the previous Russia-bashing campaigns, this one appears to have more traction with the western public opinion, primarily because the western media does not provide the context which I gave above. Simply put, this is not about pollution, its about who will get to use the Arctic resources. As Roger Waters used to sing: “can’t you see? it all makes perfect sense, expressed in dollars and cents, pounds shillings and pence…”
Regardless of whether the arrested Greenpeace activists realize this or not (they probably don’t), they are the pawns, the “useful idiots” used by western plutocrats in their fight against Gazprom and Russia.
And this morning I read that the Dutch cops seemed to have gone totally apeshit and actually assaulted and beat-up a senior Russian diplomat in The Hague. Clearly things are getting ugly. So what could Russia do?
Hit them where they care: their money
I think that Russia should not bother with the Greenpeace activists who, at any rate, are probably all sincere and naive folks who really care about the Arctic and pollution and who are utterly unaware of being used. Russia should simply expel them and ban them from re-entering into Russia of a decade or so. That would deflate the “innocent prisoners of conscience” crap. But what Russia should also do, is seize all the equipment used in this operation and, in particular, the main Greenpeace ship used, the Arctic Sunrise. That would hit these folks where it counts: their pocketbooks. In fact, Russia should make that a policy: all the equipment used by foreign nationals to illegally cross the Russian borders or to violate Russian law should be automatically confiscated. I bet you that this would very rapidly have its intended effect.
Having myself worked in a major humanitarian organization (which I am unwilling to name at this point in time), I can attest to the fact that the vast majority of the people working there are absolutely honest and sincere folks who have no idea at all of how they are being used. The people who do know that are at the very top of these organizations, they are those who are officially in charge of fundraising. They spend most of their time speaking to “generous donors” and they are very much attuned to the, shall we say, “sensitivities” of their donors. All you need to do to understand who is using what organization is take a look at the list of donors, in particular the top five or so and everything will become immediately clear. Just “follow the money” and all the naive talk about noble causes vanishes in thin air.
It is precisely because these so-called non-governmental and humanitarian organizations are used by their donors that countries which are the target of these operations should aim their responses at the financial aspect of these operations. Holding the militants/volunteers makes no sense. In fact, I can attest to the fact that the top brass of these organizations considers the “basic” volunteer as canon-fodder for good PR (because good PR means more money from the donors).
So, Russia – do the right thing: let the dummies go home, but seize all their gear and assets and impose huge fines on the organizations. Hit them where it really hurts!
The Saker
I doubt that the Russians would be able to seize the ship and it’s equipment legally, as it was arrested in the international waters and escorted in Murmansk, but they sure can and I hope will prosecute the participants, no matter how naïve and good intended they were. The best way to deal with naïve, silly and extremely determent people is to make them face the dire consequences which should inevitably follow should they dare and fool with the bloody Russians. No one in Russia would give a darn about just another attempt to portray it as a ruthless and lawless land, the scarier the better. It’s like dealing with terrorists, no mercy, no trading. Just punishment. The flow of those wide eyed naïve individuals will dry eventually when they will realize that their fate will inevitable bring them to spend a few very unpleasant months in the Russian jail. We are talking about big thing here – the Arctic resources, one can not afford to play soft here, especially the Russians.
Here is a description of a Russian jail made by a Finnish guy in relation with protests in Finland demanding a release of a Finnish activist arrested among others, he published it in a Finnish newspaper to enlighten perspective participants in future actions against Russia what they should expect should they be foolish enough to play hide and seek with those bloody Russians on their own territory.
http://www.uusisuomi.fi/kotimaa/62846-suomalaistahti-jarkyttyi-venajalla-en-kavellyt-punaisia-pain-kuukauteen
http://www.inosmi.ru/world/20131007/213629290.html
the original is in Finnish, the second link is in Russian there is a google translator for those who do not speak either tongue.
@Anonymous: I doubt that the Russians would be able to seize the ship and it’s equipment legally, as it was arrested in the international waters and escorted in Murmansk
Why not? I am not a lawyer, much less so one specialized in maritime law, but by the fact that the Greepeaceniks attempted to illegally board the Russian platform they committed an act of piracy, did they not? Of course, it was not their intention to steal the platform or rob anybody on it, but by the letter of the law that kind of boarding after the captain of the Russian “vessel” (platform) repeatedly told them to say away is an act of piracy, I think. Now, in the past, I remember the Russian Navy actually shooting at and sinking pirate vessels (after having taken prisoner all the pirates, of course, nobody was hurt). So why can the Russians sink Somali ships and not confiscate the Greenpeace vessel? Furthermore, they can probably impose huge fines in punishment for the costs of interception, towing, legal costs, and God only knows how many Russian law violations.
If its impossible, then its impossible, but I much rather the Russians let go for the more or less innocent Greenpeaceniks and not turn them into yet another set of “martyrs of the Kremlin’s despotic and barbaric policies”. And I also think that punching the Greenpeace “donors” into their financial “balls” would be fair.
Can anybody clarify for me what the laws foresees in this case?
a description of a Russian jail made by a Finnish guy
Interesting article, thanks! Ville Haapasalo is absolutely correct, by the way, when he says that had this occurred on a US platform the media would have ignored it and the activists would have been in heaps of trouble.
As for Russian jails, they can be terrible, especially if the investigating cops want you to have a bad time in them. But if you have good connections and the cops are nicely bribed, they can turn into rather comfy hotels. Everything is decided by these two factors a) your connections b) corruption of officials.
Many thanks and kind regards,
The Saker
Dear Saker,
First of all you are always welcome to contact me by email on any subject. My address is alexandermercouris@hotmail.com.
Secondly and very bizarrely I received your message as I was returned home from a Crosstalk discussion with Peter Lavelle precisely on the Greenpeace issue.
Our views are very similar. The Russian authorities in my opinion do have a prima facie piracy case against Greenpeace (though there are surely defences including a defence of proportionality). I am sure however that they will not want the whole thing to escalate. I suspect that some sort of a plea bargain will eventually be done whereby the activists will be released. It is however by no means impossible that the ship and its equipment could be confiscated. As a vessel used to carry out a criminal act (including possibly piracy) in my opinion there are legal grounds to do it.
Spot on Saker.
Here’s some more of the said context:
Denmark Boosts Resources for Arctic Security
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20131008/DEFREG01/310080012/Denmark-Boosts-Resources-Arctic-Security?odyssey=nav|head
@Alexander: thanks a lot for your expertise and thanks also for your email. I sent you a short email 2min ago.
@K: very interesting, thanks. The truth is that everybody is getting more and more involved in the Arctic, but Russia has a huge and probably permanent headstart in terms of means. Russian geography also is the best one as everybody else is either very far away (Denmark is a good example) or has little or no solid and permanent infrastructure (US, Canada). And in terms of military power, nobody even comes close to Russia because the Arctic is to Russia what the Pacific is to the USA.
We can all expect much much more international activities in the Arctic, that is absolutely certain.
Cheers,
The Saker
NGO’s, NGO’s these are in some cases almost akin to terrorist organizations!!! These people bank on using the suffering faces of unfortunates and other assorted events to destabilize and bully REAL governments. One if these is the Robert Kennedy Foundation for Human Rights. These outfits verily out for blood. Look at the NGO’s in Haiti, these perpetuate a viciously vicious cycle.
Fernando
PS
What is your opinion concerning the current case being presented against Dominican Republic at the Interamerican Court for Human Rights?
I consider this organization merely a tool in the USA’s destabilization arsenal.
@Fernando:What is your opinion concerning the current case being presented against Dominican Republic at the Interamerican Court for Human Rights?
I did not even hear about it. To my great shame, the lack of time severely limits the scope of events I try to understand or follow. Generally, I don’t like the OAS one bit. I am much closer in outlook to the ALBA nations.
Cheers!
The Saker
The problem is that Western media is hysterically anti-Putin, so not much will actually work in terms of changing Western views.
By the way, regarding your article on the struggle between Atlanticists and Eurasianists in Russia, you might want to update things with the idea that Putin’s apparent victory in Syria and bringing Iran in from the cold, plus the seeming problems inside the US make it look less risky to go with a non-UKUSA approach.
All the Western hysteria with human rights awards to Russian criminals and concern for ridiculous crap like Pussy Riot has helped Putin. But the problem is more like how to deal with the Ukraine.
There was the incident where the Iranians had seized Royal Navy Personnel in 2007.
The personnel were released after a long delay, the Iranians were on Naurooz holiday and nobody was answering the phone at the concerned ministry for a week.
The equipment was seized by the Iranians. When the British kept insisting that they wanted it back, the Iranians released a simple statement “this incident is now part of our history and we will preserve these artefacts in our museums for posterity.” Try arguing with that.
Perhaps the Russians can try something similar
Mindfriedo
I certainly have a lot more time for the Greenpeace activists than I do for the Pussy Riot bimbos. They should be released. Confiscating the ship yes by all means if it can be done legally.
Russia is pushing back against Western human rights imperialism quite effectively by giving a platform to US dissidents like Abby Martin on RT.
Most countries have human rights abuses going on and raising the issue always invites the charge of double standards
My your arse is so grimy said the kettle to the pot.
message to Fernando
At my place I regularly call for NGO’s to be shunned like the pariahs they bloody well are!
Now to the Saker piece…..
Very astute to point out this latest round of ‘oh bad russia’ wrt Greenpeace.
I see little difference between Pussy Riot bimbos and the Greenpeace activists
If you are going to be a whore
then you are a whore
that’s it.
I realize that some of these people are well meaning(duped)
but, you got to think for yourself
what are you doing, really, in that situation? What are you allowing yourself to be used for?
What purposes?
What political moves? Gain?
Whatever?
If it was not lost on you, Saker
or myself or any of the other astute commenters
Can this tit for tat be lost on the Greenpieceniks?
Are they so blinded by an ideology or belief they cannot see the facts of the matter?
I don’t know?
Anyway… good post saker
now back to home renos
sigh
Oh wait OT, but, did you know Muslim Brotherhood was an NGO in Egypt?
I say was because they just lost that status, but, how could they ever have been?
shakes head
Looks like the russians are doing just that, hit them in their wallet.
Following statements from sanitary regulatory authorities concerning irregularities in the quality of dutch dairy and tulip imports to russia, warning on a possible ban on such imports, the Dutch foreign minister decided to recognize that Holland violated the diplomatic imunity rules from the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and finally apologized to Russia. Of course, as usually in such western embarrassments, it’s not being reported by the msm. Should the russian police arrest a diplomat in his house, it would make headlines for weeks.
Furthermore, the russians are claiming they found drugs and “dual purpose equipment” aboard the Artic Sunrise. That could be further motive to conficate the vessel.
It will be interesting to see how it develops.
@Penny:I see little difference between Pussy Riot bimbos and the Greenpeace activists. If you are going to be a whore then you are a whore that’s it.
With all due respect and friendship, I have to disagree. Or, rather, depends whom you are referring to. Here is why: in order to be a whore, you first need to be *aware* that you are a whore. I am quite sure that the rank and file Greenpeacnik is actually sincere in his/her desire to protect the planet from pollution, unsustainable growth, corporate greed, etc. As I mentioned, I used to work for a very well-known NGO and I promise you that at the time I really honestly did believe the bullshit which was fed to me. And I can also attest that 90% of my fellow “humanitarians” also did. However, if you are referring to the TOP political brass, the fundraisers, the board members, etc. then yes, I agree with you. In fact, I find that they are WORSE than whores because at least a whore does not pretend to be a saintly virgin and at least with her, you get what you paid for. The folks running these NGOs are far worse then whores, they are *POLITICIANS* who do not hesitate to send naive young people into dangerous missions even if that means that these might get killed (and often, they do). My 2cts :-)
@estouxim: the russians are claiming they found drugs and “dual purpose equipment” aboard the Artic Sunrise.
Well, coming from Holland and with a ship full of Greenpeaceniks, I am not surprised that the Russians found some dope. And they could have easily ignored it. But when the Dutch decided to disregard their ultimatum for an apology they “suddenly” found these drugs. It’s too bad the Dutch did not take their growl seriously, and now the Russians had to bare their fangs a little.
If Greepeace and Holland stop treating Russia like a banana republic or a EU colony, I am quite sure that this matter will be easily resolved. But if this kind of nonsense continues, things can get very ugly very fast. And what folks in the West really fail to comprehend is that Putin does not give a damn about the Western public opinion. First, because he knows darn well that he is actually quite popular with the regular folks in Western Europe and the US and because he also knows that the Russia-bashing campaign will continue no matter what he does short of putting Khodorkovsky in the Kremlin, and that ain’t gonna happen. It is absolutely amazing to me how western politicians have misread and misunderstood Putin. In fact, I might write a full piece about that before the end of the week…
Cheers,
The Saker
No problem VS.
I can tolerate dissent ;)
I have seen a heck of a lot of it in my blogging time!
And I am referring to the higher ups more then the lower rungs
After all there has to be some so called ‘useless idiots’ to lend credibility to the whole agenda
Don’t take that personally, I realize you are an x ngo’r
But that really has to be how the upper echelons look down on the bottom tier
cheers
“First, because he knows darn well that he is actually quite popular with the regular folks in Western Europe and the US and because he also knows that the Russia-bashing campaign will continue no matter what he does short of putting Khodorkovsky in the Kremlin, and that ain’t gonna happen. It is absolutely amazing to me how western politicians have misread and misunderstood Putin.”
“Russia-bashing campaign will continue no matter what he does “
It will
Khordorkovsky in the Kremlin!
Yikes
“In fact, I might write a full piece about that before the end of the week…”
That would be most interesting.
Do you think balkanization is in the cards?
That is how I am seeing the agenda.
I will check back in
ttyl
Darn. I waited 10 days for this?
I kept checking your blog for something new and anti-imperialistic. Now I find you want to destroy the planet with pollution AND your posters thus far are generally in agreement.
Very depressing. Still, I have some things to look forward to this week (and not just the Red Sox, hurrah!!). Truckers (who want to pollute also, by the way) are going to seek the arrest of Obama and/or some Congresscriters. They will be clogging up the Washington Beltway on Friday. Can’t wait!
@Penny:That would be most interesting.
Ok. Deal, I will write it before Sunday.
@Anonymous1832: Now I find you want to destroy the planet with pollution
Uh, no, not exactly. I was trying to explain that this entire Greenpeace issue has exactly *nothing* to do with pollution, preserving the Arctic or the environment. It’s all about money (did you pay attention to the Waters quote?). I guess you didn’t understand a word of what I wrote. Well, sorry, try to write clearly, but I guess your post proved that I failed miserably.
My bad :-(
The Saker
There is a tug-of-war over the Arctic resources and in the middle, ignored by all sides, is Mother Earth trampled under foot. You are on the Russian side of the tug-of-war, that is what I heard. You *said* that Greenpeace is just a tool for those on a different side. I *heard* that also. Do not be troubled, you were clear. You are on the Russian side.
-Anonymous1832
@Anonymous1832:You are on the Russian side.
There are many ways a lie can be built. It can be direct, or it can be a tad more crafty, like a lie by implication. Here your implication is this “you are on the Russian side REGARDLESS of what Russia does” or “you are on the Russian side regardless of the risks to Mother Earth”. Not only did I never imply any of that, but you compound the first lie by implication, by another lie by implication: you imply that being on the side of Greenpeace is being on the side of the Arctic or of Mother Earth. Well, I vehemently deny being on Russia’s side in a “wrong or right my country” way, and I also vehemently deny that Greenpeace has anything to do with the future of the Arctic or Mother Earth. Your attempt to “frame” the issue by distorting my position has pathetically failed only because I know the kind of tactics you are using very well. You would probably to okay in politics, but that kind of intellectually dishonest crap is transparent to anybody with an IQ at room temperature and some experience of the kind of strawman framing you used.
Your stupid accusation “you want to destroy the planet with pollution” is a crude lie and, yes, most posters will see straight through it. You made a fool of yourself. Good thing you posted anonymously. Still, you ought to be very very embarrassed, ashamed, really.
Going diving for the next day. Will be back on Friday.
Cheers everybody!
The Saker
Well, my mistake then. You WEREN’T being clear. At least not
clear if we accept the point of view of your temper tantrum.
You may not realize it, or for a moment you PRETENDED not to recognize it, but the flavor of your post was solidly AND CLEARLY: “on the Russian side REGARDLESS…”.
My phrase *WAS* “crudely” put but no one, outside those suffering from a tantrum, believes I was attempting a lie.
– anonymous also
@Anonymous1832: another rather crude technique: referring to my denunciation of your lie as a “tantrum” twice only shows your inability to address it directly, by facts or logic.
As for my real views, I expressed them quite clearly in a recent comment I posted a couple of weeks ago (http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2013/09/further-signs-that-insurgency-is.html?showComment=1380197834869#c5761348005521458251). I wrote this: (emphasis added)
In all fairness, the Soviet Union of the 80s was a dangerous and ugly society. I did my basic training (electronic warfare) in Europe in 1986 and I know for a fact how acutely we felt the danger of a Soviet attack. Also, as somebody of Russian descent I spend a lot of time engaged in what the Soviets called “anti-Soviet activities” (like using the Soviet merchant navy to smuggle banned books into the USSR or sending help to people held in the Gulag or their families) and I still feel that it was the right thing to do. The USSR was not “THE” (only) evil empire, but it definitely was ONE OF the evil Empire(s) out there. When Khomeini called it “the other Satan” he was right.
Things have really changed now. No, Russia is hardly some kind of “saintly Empire”, but it is a ‘normal’ *country* which stands for international law, a multi-polar world, and anti-imperialism and that is what I think you are really rooting for, rather than Russia per se, no?
I think that a lot of us of the 1980s generation REALLY believed in democracy and freedom. Maybe we were naive – I sure was – but so what? Our intentions and ideals were pure. We where just lied to.
Believe it or not, I used to be a rabid right-winger, and I really believed all of Regan propaganda about the Contras, about NATO standing for the defense of Europe, about containing Communism, etc. It is embarrassing for me to admit that now – I sometimes refer to myself as a “recovering military analyst” – but I don’t see the point of hiding it.
All of us were born in a society of lies and it took us years to realize that. As for the Western capitalist system, it only PRETENDED to care about freedom, human rights, economic prosperity for all and all the rest of this crap as long as it had a USSR to compete with. As soon as the USSR collapsed, the West showed its true face: tubocapitalism, violence, lawlessness, exploitation and poverty for the masses and, basically, corporate Fascism, a plutocracy of the 1% and serfdom for the remaining 99%.
So I think that while at this moment in time we are all rooting for Russia, it is only because at this moment in time Russia stands for what is right. If tomorrow it changes its stance, I am most definitely willing to oppose it with everything I have. And I bet you that you feel likewise. Why? Because we are simply beyond patriotism – we stand for values, ideas, ethics and principles, regardless who speaks for them, is that not so?
Now I cannot prove a negative. If you want to consider me a rabid foam-at-my-mouth Russian nationalist willing to kill the planet as long as Russia makes a buck (or a Ruble) – be my guest.
I am done wasting my breath defending myself against idiotic accusations.
The Saker
(Deep breath now)
Look, I have followed your blog for some time and respect
you as a resource.
(I have to be hasty but really want to post this now).
The fact that the “real you” (whatever I mean by that) as demonstrated by your post from two weeks ago (one that I seem to have missed, by the way) is not “Russia right or wrong” does not change the “flavor” of the post in question.
I regret suggesting that you may have been “PRETENDING”.
Please forget this exchange, at least long enough to enjoy your diving. I hate it, myself, when I cannot quiet the mind and just enjoy my well deserved vacation.
@Anonymous1832:Please forget this exchange
Deal. Let’s call it a misunderstanding and turn the page.
Cheers,
The Saker