I am not buying the argument that killing Russian citizens who are fighting for ISIS in the Middle East will prevent the growth of terrorism in Russia. If anything, Putin's stance may be a propaganda tool for ISIS to recruit more sympathizers to continue to avenge Putin. With the proliferation of terrorist propaganda, it just seems that for every slain terrorist, ten more new recruits pop up to replace him. Second, Chechnya is unfortunately a smoldering powder keg in Russia because pro-independent forces there can always rear their ugly heads next time they sense an opportunity. The proof is that Chechnya and Daghestan continue to be the breeding ground for terrorists fighting for ISIS in Syria today.
Rather a pathetic and depressing sentiment of the "average" Russian depicted in this piece. When the average Russian is certain that there will be "no change" in direction for Russia in Syria, it is really an admission that the Russian citizenry is powerless to influence the actions of its government, even when 220 of those citizens are killed by an obvious terrorist act prompted by Russia's support of Bashir Asad, who is equally loathed by all sides in the conflict.
Not only is the Russian government on the wrong side of history on this one, but it cynically plays to its citizens' sense of woeful fortitude. I don't want to hear anymore about Obama's "weakness" in not doing more in Syria. This tragic incident befalling the Russians is proof enough that the cheap bravado of another Russian tyrant is not a reason to question America's tenuousness at taking sides in a conflict far more complex than President Putin wants his people to believe it is.
Not only is the Russian government on the wrong side of history on this one, but it cynically plays to its citizens' sense of woeful fortitude. I don't want to hear anymore about Obama's "weakness" in not doing more in Syria. This tragic incident befalling the Russians is proof enough that the cheap bravado of another Russian tyrant is not a reason to question America's tenuousness at taking sides in a conflict far more complex than President Putin wants his people to believe it is.
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Russia needs a higher oil price. Count on that and expect Russian attacks/disruption of Middle east oil. [watch out ypu Saudis who secretly fund/bribe ISIS]
"Avenging" Russia's bombing in Syria ? Be advised: Russia is invited into Syria by the government and coordinating with their Leaders - if the alphabet soup of terrorists supported by SA, Qatar, Turkey and the US don't like the outcome then it's understandable taking out passenger jets is war by another means.
It's interesting that the source of the action via investigation comes within days when the data is in the hands of those who want discovery as apposed to MH17 where the specific facts and data are not allowed to be released after 18 months given the origin of the perps. The air traffic controller in Kiev has not yet surfaced - why?
It's interesting that the source of the action via investigation comes within days when the data is in the hands of those who want discovery as apposed to MH17 where the specific facts and data are not allowed to be released after 18 months given the origin of the perps. The air traffic controller in Kiev has not yet surfaced - why?
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All in all, an admirable attempt to muddy the waters, but if you're such an expert in the events around the shooting down of MH17, you should know that they were in touch with air traffic control in Dnepropetrovsk, not Kiev, when the missile hit. Very sloppy.
Using phrases like "wriggling up" indicates a lack of objectivity and bias. If this is an opinion piece it should be marked as such. Many people all over the world are relieved to see a check to NATO impunity. Having our leading newspaper of record sprinkling demeaning and insulting descriptions, which are not really even appropriate in context, will not do us any good when the real new world order emerges, a world order where we must seek to coexist and not dictate. I am as pro American as the next person, but these subtle insults will be remembered, as they accumulate, and will leave us in a worse condition at the end of the day.
This conflict has zero to do with NATO and doesn't "check" it in any way. Russia is not fighting NATO in Syria. You are seriously confused.
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I wanted to say how interesting it is the author draws the differences between the Russians and the Americans and the similarities--we are so different yet so the same--kind of like comparing all the people in two neighboring cities too! As for the author's comparisons respecting the ways the two country's press works it seems to me there isn't much difference--disinformation and information presented with an agenda is, ultimately, the same no matter how passionately the "establishment individuals" in the respective states believe. However I would like to point out that when the author writes that public opinion is formed in Russia by the State control of the press to conform to State policy but formed here in a different way, this is completely missing the forest for the trees. These things may be carried out differently, but they work out the same--both States control public opinion; perhaps in Russia public opinion just takes a little longer to effect change the Russian being of a deeper more sedentary intellect as well as having social systems resistant to change with the American more mercurial, shallow & impressionable; public opinion formed by a State/Corporate partnership viz the revolving door here between the two
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Unfortunately in many respects you are correct. The decline of integrity in America is biggest problem.
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"Putin is notoriously averse to external pressure and often acts perpendicularly to it....he responds at his own pace and often when attention and expectations have shifted".
ISIS is probably making a mistake by bragging about taking down the flight, whether it is true or not. As the article correctly states, Mr. Putin will react when he is ready and how he wants. And always by his logic.
ISIS is probably making a mistake by bragging about taking down the flight, whether it is true or not. As the article correctly states, Mr. Putin will react when he is ready and how he wants. And always by his logic.
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There's nothing that is happening in today's world that hasn't happened before. Vladimir Putin is the same thing as Slobodan Milosevic. Putin's military adventures in Georgia, Ukraine, Syria and Chechnya are almost exactly the same thing as Milosevic's adventures in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. And in the end everything is going to be the same: Sooner or later Russians will realize that they are the ones paying the price for such adventures, in the same way Serbs paid a heavy price for Milosevic's unsuccessful wars: a ruined economy, international isolation and refugees. In the future, I don't know how much time it will take, Russia will have a ruler like Gorbachev to try to fix all of Putin's wrongdoings.
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Don't exactly understand which actions took Molosevic toward Croatia, Serbia or Bosnia. Can please list them?
The only events that may cause a decline in Putin's popularity would be a significant number of casualties from military action in Syria, or a longterm drain on the economy from protracted conflicts in Ukraine and/or Syria.
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WOW!
What a powerful piece, Julia.
Excellent article, showing the mindset of Russians. Years of tragedies have immune them to more heinous acts. Is that a good thing? I don't know myself, but I feel as if their tough-minded personas is good thing.
Having such control over your emotions prevents you from succumbing to anger. And anger can cloud judgment.
Perhaps, through anger--after the tragedy of 9/11--was why we launched our wars.
For the Russians, they're as thick-skin as a bear. The terrorists will have to do more poking to get this bear's attention. (But it's always a bad idea to mess with a bear.)
What a powerful piece, Julia.
Excellent article, showing the mindset of Russians. Years of tragedies have immune them to more heinous acts. Is that a good thing? I don't know myself, but I feel as if their tough-minded personas is good thing.
Having such control over your emotions prevents you from succumbing to anger. And anger can cloud judgment.
Perhaps, through anger--after the tragedy of 9/11--was why we launched our wars.
For the Russians, they're as thick-skin as a bear. The terrorists will have to do more poking to get this bear's attention. (But it's always a bad idea to mess with a bear.)
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A terrible tragedy and a reminder that our own airports are not very safe. The threat of an inside job by airport staff/contractors is very real and countermeasures should be implemented immediately.
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There is an unthinking reflex to criticize Russia and Russians. Give them time to sort it out. I am glad someone with an actual strategy is intervening in the Middle East. G-d knows we've made a mess of it.
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