We Respect. We Remember. We Hope

You might not speak Russian, however, it won't prevent your enjoying the wonderful 360-degrees video.

Because war speaks one language.

As the country which suffered the true total war unleashed by Hitler, we have sincere and deep respect to all those who fought Nazis, whatever language they spoke and uniform they wore.

Hopefully, the lessons of early 1940s and 1975 will sometimes be learned. We could be allies against evil and for the progress of mankind; that means, so we can in the future, sooner or later.

Sooner is definitely better.

Save Breedlove

The Independent has offered quite a piece of reading: "Nato commander calls for return to service of U-2 spy plane to help conduct surveillance on a resurgent Russia".

Well, I am not going to discuss the evident fact of Russia being resurgent; I'm rather into another evident fact: this is an insufferable event for some of the big guys around there, and Philip Breedlove is not an exception.

The very idea of bringing back U-2 for surveillance over Russia sounds as kind of a mental diagnosis to a formerly brave US fighter pilot and presently NATO supreme allied commander, who is to step down this spring.

56 year ago, on May 1, 1960 a U-2 did a great service in breaking US-USSR relations; Gary Powers did not commit suicide... Surely, for the US military those were good old times and bright hopes; a great war seemed to be round the corner. Luckily, then, in the sixties, big guys succeeded to overcome all crises and kept the strategic peace till now (I am not talking about local wars; those bloodsheds did not threaten the very existence of life on Earth).

Now, in 2016, the Breedlove's idea is not only desperately outdated; it puts under question the very ability of the high-ranked military to perceive reality adequately.

Will Europe Stop It? Or What?

Having read first coverages of the terroristic attack in Brussels (I love this city; I was thereto about 30 years ago, in 1985 and 1986. I undertsand the city has surely changed meanwhile, yet I do love the you know sweet remembrances of youth) in major media, I remembered an old piece from the Washington Post. It's rather small; I quote it in full.

Why Russia can't stop terrorists
Thursday, January 27, 2011; 8:04 PM
THE HORRIFIC suicide bombing at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport on Monday underlined a couple of sad conclusions about Russia's battle against terrorism. One is that the country's security services, unlike their counterparts in Europe and North America, have failed to develop the means to uncover terrorist networks, prevent attacks or protect public spaces such as airports and subway systems. No country's police can guarantee security. But in Russia over the past decade, as Vladimir Putin has cited the threat of terrorism in consolidating a domestic police state, Moscow alone has suffered eight major attacks, along with the destruction of two airplanes that took off from Domodedovo. Casualties have been heavy: At least 35 died and more than 200 were injured in the latest strike.
Second, Mr. Putin's autocratic form of rule and imperialist policy toward non-Russian nations has made it impossible for him to resolve - or even seriously address - the underlying problem that fuels most of the attacks. That is the restiveness of the mostly Muslim republics of the North Caucasus, including Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan, which for the past two decades have been seeking more autonomy from Moscow. Russia's brutal response, including Mr. Putin's scorched-earth campaign in Chechnya, fueled the rise of Muslim extremist groups that have been growing steadily stronger despite nonstop counterterrorism operations. According to official Russian reports, the number of terrorist attacks in the Caucasus doubled in 2010 - though the bloodshed gets little attention when it occurs outside Moscow or other Russian cities.
Mr. Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev sometimes seem to recognize that sweeps by security forces will never stop the terrorists. Mr. Medvedev has blamed the "economic backwardness" of the Caucasus, and Mr. Putin has promoted a development plan under which the central government will invest $13 billion in the region over the next decade. That could do some good if the programs don't fall victim to Russia's endemic corruption. But the Kremlin leaders won't seriously address the issue of self-rule for the republics. Nor are they willing to take on the federal secret police and other security services, which are more skilled at protection rackets and the persecution of political dissidents than in detecting terrorist plots. It was telling that in the aftermath of the bombing, Mr. Medvedev blamed the management of the privately operated airport rather than federal officials responsible for counterterrorism.
What's particularly worrying about the regime's failures is that Russia is due to host the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, on the edge of the Caucasus. The International Olympic Committee's unwise decision to accept Russia's bid means that athletes and governments around the world have to depend on the Putin-Medvedev regime to prevent terrorist disruption of the Games. Monday's attack was a reminder of how risky a bet that is.

It's an unsigned editorial piece; I take it for, say, an official position and viewpoint of the editorial office.


Having the recent events in Brussels on mind, I dare to put up some notes and questions, going backwards through the text above.

Thinking of Responsibility

About 10 days ago, at the conclusion of the ASEAN summit in California Barack Obama said, in particular:

Russia is a major military. Obviously a bunch of rebels are not going to be able to compete with the hardware of the second-most powerful military in the world.

Surely, sounds not that bad for Russia. Furthermore, in fact, it sounds like Mr. President talks about a kind of counterweight to the first-most powerful military that helps the world to balance on a thin edge of peace (I mean the absence of a world war; unfortunately, all we know there are many local hot and bloody spots in the world).

But just 23 months ago we heard him describing Russia using quite a different wording, the US News and World Report reminded in the same publication. He said then Russia was "a regional power that is threatening some of its immediate neighbors, not out of strength but out of weakness".

However, Russia is simply tooooo huge to be able to change itself in the course of just two years. There were no revolutions in Moscow; the Western world conducted just the very same, old as mammoth shit, politics of trying to squeeze Russia out of her spheres of interests. Russia has been remaining just the same, and in more or less the same geopolitical circumstances that some powers always try to make unfavourable.

Thus, a question rises.

There are lots of campaigns for  responsible doing this or that: responsible driving, responsible caring of pets and bringing up children, responsible using natural resources, etc, etc.

And all that responsibility stuff is very important for human beings dwelling on our little Earth, indeed. But there are things that are even more important. Do people care of a responsible presidency in the most powerful military? Do people prefer responsible cooperation to confrontation?

And if they do, why it seems they do not?

Is Erdoğan a Man of His Word?

Yesterday Al-Jazeera quoted Recep Tayyip Erdoğan:

I will say something very strong here. If such a thing is proven, the nobility of our nation would require that I would not stay in office.

So he commented recent Vladimir Putin's accusations that Turkey had shot down the Russian Su-24 to protect oil supplies from ISIL.

Meanwhile, earlier today Elissa Smith of Pentagon told RIA Novosti:

We reject the assumption that the Turkish government is in arrangement to IS for oil smuggling. We didn't see any proofs in support of such charges.

Come on, people, here are the proofs as presented today by the Russian Ministry of Defense.

History Repeats Itself

The UK government says they are going on providing assisiatnce to the Ukrainian army.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon today (19 November) informed Parliament that the UK will provide a £971,000 gifting package as part of our non-lethal support being provided to the UAF.
The equipment being gifted includes 170 large tents, 170 heating units and 600 sets of cold weather clothing...

Well, I am a bit surprised 170 tents + 170 heaters + 600 sets of winter clothes make almost one million pounds. It smells like some guys are making good business. Anyhow, that's what Capitalism is all about; this is nit the point I am going to discuss.

Having read this piece of news, I remembered a story that took place almost exactly a century ago, in 1919. And it was also about the British military assistance to a fighting side in Russia (which Ukraine is just a part of; maybe except for its Western part).

Here is how Major General W.S.Graves of the US Army told that story in his book "America's Siberian Adventure (1918—1920)":

Most of the uniforms for the mobilized Russians were supplied by the British. General Knox stated that one hundred thousand uniforms had been supplied by the British for Kolchak forces. This was partially substantiated by the number of men in the Red Army wearing British uniforms. General Knox was disgusted at the Reds wearing British uniforms and later is re-ported to have said that the British would supply nothing more to Kolchak because everything they supplied reached the Bolsheviks. The men found in the Red Army wearing the British uniforms were the same men, generally speaking, to whom these uniforms were issued when they were with the Kolchak forces. The great mass of these men had no heart for fighting for Kolchak.

The methods used by the Kolchak people to mobilize these Siberians created a resentment not easily removed. They went into the service embittered by fear, not of the enemy, but of their own forces. The result was, as soon as they were armed and equipped they deserted by regiments, battalions, and individually to the Bolsheviks.

We will see how many of the stuff Fallon says about will make its unsurprising way to Novorossia.

Putin's Direct Speech on ISIS & Other Matters

Vladimir Putin is one of those whose opinion well deserves being listened to.

It's a real pity when those who are obliged to do so and act correspondingly, do not listen to the voice of reason.

Sometimes it looks like the Americans do not need a lasting peace and fruitfull cooperation of nations worldwide.

Well, in fact we do know the difference between Washington and the Americans. But for how long it will be allowed to lead its crazy policies?

October Revolution Day and General Graves

Today most Russians celebrate the 98th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution — a brave attempt of some to make the life of all better. In many aspects, it was a great success, and even though the USSR failed early in 1990-s, its collapse had nothing to do with original ideas of common wealth. Old Russian calender was a bit behind of the world; the Bolsheviks adopted the common one in 1918, but the Revolution in Russia was in October, though for the rest of the world it was November 7.

As for today, I would express my sincere gratitude to General Major William Sidney Graves (1865—1940), who was in command of the American troops in Siberia in 1918—1920. His book "America's Siberian Adventure (1918—1920)" is a great evidence of what happened then in the Eastern part of our huge country. And of those 'Whites" who had nothing to do but lose the Russian Civil War, even agerssively supported and backed by foreign powers.

Admiral Kolchak surrounded himself with former Czarist officials and because these peasants would not take up arms and offer their lives to put these people back in power, they were kicked, beaten with knouts and murdered in cold blood by the thousands, and then the world called them "Bolsheviks." In Siberia, the word Bolshevik meant a human being who did not, by act and word, give encouragement to the restoration to power of representatives of Autocracy in Russia.

* * *

Semeonoff and Kalmikoff soldiers, under the protection of Japanese troops, were roaming the country like wild animals, killing and robbing the people, and these murders could have been stopped any day Japan wished. If questions were asked about these brutal murders, the reply was that the people murdered were Bolsheviks and this explanation, apparently, satisfied the world. Conditions were represented as being horrible in Eastern Siberia, and that life was the cheapest thing there.

There were horrible murders committed, but they were not committed by the Bolsheviks as the world believes. I am well on the side of safety when I say that the anti-Bolsheviks killed one hundred people in East-ern Siberia, to every one killed by the Bolsheviks.

Apology of Tony Blair

Having watched Blair's inteview to Fareed Zakaria, I didn't believe my eyes (well, rather ears) first. Tony Blair did publically admit and say apologies they had been misinformed by their intelligence about Iraq, and they had had bad plans about Iraq's future after Saddam was thrown away.

(As soon as the CNN uploads the full video, I'll replace this short extract.)

Some of his words as written by the Daily Mail:

... I apologise for the fact that the intelligence I received was wrong.

Because even though he had used chemical weapons extensively against his own people against others, the programme in the form we thought it was did not exist in the way that we thought. So I can apologise for that.

I can also apologise, by the way, for some of the mistakes in planning and certainly our mistake in our understanding of what would happen once you had removed the regime.

Of course you can't say that those of us who removed Saddam in 2003 bear no responsibility for the situation in 2015.

As far as I see it, the British ex-PM says, simply speaking, "I was a stupid bloody moron, and all the shit of today is firmly based upon those bricks I with my boss from the White House shitted out in 2003."

60+ Years of the Middle East History in 7.5 Minutes

The German humorists of "Die Anstalt" TV show remind us how did the USA improved order in the Middle East since 1953. The video was aired about 1 year ago, but it is sooo nice that it well deserves to be shared as wide as possible. And I cannot say the high hat player has somehow changed his own rules of the game he tries to play, so it is not outdated at all.

The one above is original German with English titles. This one has decent Russian titles.

Isn't it funny? Yes, and sadly so.

It looks like the USA are unable to learn on their own mistakes. But being the world-leading superpower they do not prefer to pay for their mistakes themselves, leaving the rest of the world to cope with the burden of having the USA atop and pay their bills. But this cannot last forever.

You can never extingush a fire with gas or matches.

You can never set up peace feeding terrorists, whatever moderate is their colour, with weapons.

By the way, how many refugees from the Middle East and Northern Africa have the USA (and for the matter, Canada and Australia) accepted?

Oh, really? Why so moderate?

Russian Contribution in Syria

The other day Josh Earnest, press secretary of the White House said at his press briefing:

... We would welcome Russia’s constructive contribution to the broader international coalition that’s been formed to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL. Russia has declined to make that constructive contribution thus far.

The very same day the Sputnik brought some news from Moscow about Syria:

"Over the past day, Su-24, Su-24M and Su-25SM aircraft completed 88 sorties on 86 terrorist infrastructure positions in the Raqqa, Hama, Idlib, Latakia, and Aleppo regions," [Russian Defense] ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov told reporters.
The targets included IS command posts, weapon storage facilities, and sites where the group manufactured explosives, he said.
Intercepted talks between Islamic State militants in Syria indicate that parts of the group are ready to leave the combat zone in Syria due to acute weapon shortages, Konashenkov went on to say.

There are about 30 Russian aircrafts deployed in Syria; 88 sorties a day mean our pilots do quite a job.

And... You know what? It seems it is in vain that the White House is waiting for Russia's constructive contribution in Syria.

Because instead of constructive Russia makes quite a destructive contribution.

Pinpoint airstrike of a Su-34 bomber on an ISIS command centre near Aleppo.

Exactly what the IS deserves and the world needs.

Obama's Truth on Ukraine

President of the USA Mr. Barack Obama called President-elect of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych on February 11, 2010:

President Obama called Victor Yanukovych of Ukraine today to congratulate him on his election and wish him success in carrying out his mandate. The President commended the Ukrainian people on the conduct of their February 7 vote. This peaceful expression of the political will of Ukrainian voters is another positive step in strengthening democracy in Ukraine. They agreed on the importance of continuing cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation. They also wished each other’s athletes success in the Vancouver Olympic Games.
The strategic partnership between the United States and Ukraine is based on shared interests and values. These include expanding democracy and prosperity, protecting security and territorial integrity, strengthening the rule of law, promoting non-proliferation, and supporting reform in Ukraine’s economic and energy sectors. The United States looks forward to working with President-elect Yanukovych and continuing to strengthen our cooperation with Ukraine’s government and its Parliamentary leaders.

General Hodges Says He Does Think

The other day I had a rare pleasure of reading a truly crazy text. It was an interview of General-Lieutenant Ben Hodges published recently in the German Bild under the title, which contained one of those so called Hodges' thoughts and wasa gem in its own kind, namely "Putin came to Syria to draw attention from Ukraine".

Just some extremely hot spots for you to enjoy:

BILD: Syrien, ISIS, Flüchtlinge, Putins verdeckter Krieg in der Ukraine – welche Krise sorgt Sie am meisten, Herr General?
Ben Hodges: Nach meiner Einschätzung sind diese Krisen miteinander verbunden. Egal ob es um die Terrormiliz ISIS geht oder darum, wie Russland die Sicherheitsarchitektur der Welt verändert.

General considers all cryses interconnected, either it is about ISIL militia or changing the architecture of the world's security that Russia did.

I wonder, does anyone else in this world really believe in the bullshit that it was Russia that changed the "architecture of the world security"?

Does Obama Follow Sun Zi?

Almost exactly a year ago, on September 24, Barack Obama said in his speech at the 69th UN General Assembly, in particular:

As we gather here, an outbreak of Ebola overwhelms public health systems in West Africa and threatens to move rapidly across borders. Russian aggression in Europe recalls the days when large nations trampled small ones in pursuit of territorial ambition. The brutality of terrorists in Syria and Iraq forces us to look into the heart of darkness.

Each of these problems demands urgent attention.

So, from this viewpoint, the three top threats to the world are: Ebola, Russia, terrorists (evidently, ISIL).

At the same time no one can say these problems received proper medication during the last year. We don't hear about the US' victory over Ebola; after a year of anti-ISIL airstrikes media announced just new and new acts of brutality, terror and vandalism of the ISIL, which doesn't seem to be somehow bothered by the coalition's warfare. Those 'sanctions' supposed to stop so called 'Russian aggression did weaken our national currency to the point of considerable strengthening of our domestic economy, which is not bad at all now, though, surely, could be better.

So, what we have in the world now?

Magically, the second biggest US' trouble is somehow winning over the first and the third ones.

McCain's Strong. But Crazy.

Sometimes watching Fox News makes your day.

Please go to 3:30 and enjoy.

I wonder, is it a true achievement of democracy when such a crazy old fart sits in the Senate? He evidently does not need a TV camera and questions; he needs a doctor and proper medication.

On the other hand, the freedom of speech is the great achievement indeed. If you can add 1 to 1, the conclusion is straightforward: if Russia acts against ISIS and Al-Qaeda, US stands for these brave and courageous powers. Because it's not terrorism that is the US' real problem; as Obama said not so long ago, these are Ebola... and Russia.

The idea of shooting down Russian planes is a bit dangerous, men. You'd better find and kill that brain-eating virus apparently existng in the Senate and/or the White House.

No Amnesty for Hypocrisy

In their recent news release, the Amnesty International inform about current situation with Syrian refugees.

Refugees in the region

More than 4 million refugees from Syria (95%) are in just five countries Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt:

• Lebanon hosts approximately 1.2 million refugees from Syria which amounts to around one in five people in the country
• Jordan hosts about 650,000 refugees from Syria, which amounts to about 10% of the population
• Turkey hosts 1.9 million refugees from Syria, more than any other country worldwide
• Iraq where 3 million people have been internally displaced in the last 18 months hosts 249,463 refugees from Syria
• Egypt hosts 132,375 refugees from Syria

Woe Is the Land of Gen. Scales

Let me speak from my heart: I have honour to consider ex-US Army Major General Robert H. Scales a dumb fuck, a purulent lues, and a pure great shame of America.

Listen to and watch what this brave, yet retired warmonger shits out of his dirty mouth (go straight to 3:17).


I transcript his words for those who still don't believe their eyes and ears.

... The only way the United States can have any effect in this region [Ukraine/Donbass] and turn the tide is start killing Russians. Killing Russians by… Killing so many Russians that even Putin’s media can’t hide the fact that Russians are returning to their motherland in body bags...

I don't know how he got his stars. I don't know what he was taught at West-Point and if he had a course of world's history there (or anywhere else).

But the truth is that Americans do have already a certain experience of killing Russians.

Transnational Disease of Ignorance

When you catch those people on spot, they make their eyes wide open saying that doesn't matter.

It does, though.


We support our (US) troops! Here's a good old Soviet T-34-85 in decent condition for them! Someone stole the frontal machine gun, but look at brand-new wheels: the tank is surely from the post-WW2 production series, that is real high quality.

 

How to Fire an Afro-Latino Gay Activist?

You have just wait till he says something indecent about Michelle Obama, the Daily Mail explains.

Neither being gay, nor being civil activist protecting minorities' rights, nor being a (once) respectable award-winning TV host can prevent you from losing your 17 years long carriere if you say something that the White House hosts dislike.

I wonder:

1. Will we see a kind of "JesuisFigueroa" campaign over there?

2. What would happen in case Rodner Figueroa made some comment of he like regarding some Jewish-American personality? Some WASP American personality? Some native American personality? Some Chinese or Japanese one (both American and 'homeland')? What reaction would be if he joked about the Russian first lady? Well, in fact I know Putin is divorced, so let the question be abut the first man? Or the German Chancellor, the first lady of herself? Does there exist a list of "sacred cows" American journalists have no right to touch somehow negatively? Can I have honest answers, please?

A Dialog with McFaul

I've just had in Twitter.

I find it quite exemplary. I believe it's a good approach for children or, well, private persons willing to calmly reside in their privacy.

But Michael McFaul is an academic and diplomat, ex-ambassador to Russia in 2012—2014. Now he is a Professor of Political Science at Stanford University. And I also believe that such a person cannot afford such a childish approach. Adult politicians usually know: if they close their eyes, world won't change. If they don't listen to this or that opinion, that does not mean this or that opinion doesn't exist. But to take wise, reasonable steps and measures, adult politicians should see the full picture, know the whole spectrum of opinions.

Unfortunately, for the political beau monde of the most powerful country in the world it's not the case. They prefer to hear and know only things they enjoy, things that fit their pattern of good and evil. As a result, from time to time they do wrong steps trying to take care of 'disgusting things' that do happen in the world. And it cost the world human lives.

Well, I don't know who killed Nemtsov yet. Moreover; I am not sure I shall. Shit happens; JFK was assassinated about 52 years ago, but who on Earth can say he or she knows for sure who killed him? We just know who was sentenced for that.

What I know for sure, such an approach to politics is a fault. Not only McFaul's fault, but fault of the very system based on the idea of one country's supremacy.