On the Rise of the Neo-Soviet Union

Publius Pundit ^ | 8-7-06 | Kim Zigfeld

[M. Espinola]

Do the members of the Russian Wives Club get threatened with Siberia if they do not properly & always type the stated Putin line? :)

[detsaoT]

I'd characterize the Kremlin's policies as "pro-Russian" rather than "anti-Western," though the result may end up appearing to be the same. Regardless, Putin's not as bad as some of the alternates are, so count your blessings there. :)

[M. Espinola]

With Putin whether it's "pro-Russian" or "anti-Western," it comes comes out the same. Putin is not in America's interest and that's phrasing mildly :)

[detsaoT]

I reckon, but like I said—we'd be FAR worse off with some of the OTHER CRETINS that are vying for power in the Kremlin. Compared to them, I'm more than happy with Putin.

Also, most of the arms sales coming from Russia are "off the books"—much like everything else, anything in Russia is for sale, at a price. Fortunately, these types of transactions are most certainly NOT the official Government position. Unfortunately, the end result is the same regardless of what the official position is. My point is, "Russia selling arms to Islamic nations" does not necessarily imply that Putin himself is handling the details, savvy?

Have you read Joel C. Rosenberg's take on the Russia-Iran relationship? I think he's got the situation down fairly well, and recommend checking it out if you haven't seen it.

[GarySpFc]

Down in the Kuban, somewhat close to the Black Sea. You're absolutely correct in your understanding - it's quite a different way of life than I'm used to seeing here in the West, but it was truly a pleasant experience. :)

My first trip to Russia was in 2000, and I was shocked. This was not the communist country I had heard so much negativity about. My best friend is a UMC pastor, who spent a couple of years in Moscow during the later eighties, and now returns almost yearly to teach in a seminary. I asked him about Russia being communist, and he laughed. He said, "Gary, things have changed radically since I attended school there in the eighties. Russia is not communist." Now, you cannot tell that to the Russianphobes on Free Republic. They are determined to have their conspiracies.

We have an apartment in Volgograd, and every time I return I see major improvements. My last trip was in November and December of 2003, and I was stunned at the number of large new warehouses around Moscow. That told me the economy was booming. I checked, and it had been clipping along at 7%, and so I looked for a mutual fund which targets Russia, and invested in it. I was not disappointed.

[spanalot]

Yes - they will continue to regurgitate the party line while wrapping themselves in the American flag and making a mockery of our men who lost their lives in battle.

---

“Russia’s roster of deadly censorship continues to grow with no sign of relenting,” CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. “In light of authorities’ record of impunity in journalist killings, CPJ calls on prosecutors to pursue every lead and conduct a detailed and transparent probe into the brutal murder of our colleague Yevgeny Gerasimenko. Considering his recent investigative work, the professional motive in his killing should be investigated thoroughly.”

At least 12 journalists have been murdered in contract-style slayings since 2000 in Russia. All of the cases remain unsolved. For more information: http://www.cpj.org/Briefings/2005/russia_murders/russia_murders.html

[spanalot]

Thats notwhat this site says - it says that Putin is becoming a worse tyrant than Stalin.

http://www.russophobe.blogspot.com/

[FreedomCalls]

famous opera diva Anna Netrebko [poster's note: major hottie]

Pics:

[Romanov]

Gary - Moron Alert Ping.

[GarySpFc]

I already knew he was so full of venom it had affected his brain. Love blinds, but hate is far worse.

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Je 17:9

[M. Espinola]

It's true there are other hardcore Soviet generals who would love to nuke US off the face of the map, but lack Putin's 'diplomatic skills'.

I have on hand Joel C. Rosenberg's "The Last Days" (hardback of course :) and it's good reading and the way things are going with Iran the book could become reality.

In terms of Russian arms and Putin being beyond aware, here is just a sample from today's news.

Syria Transfers Deadly Russian Weapons to Hezbollah — Paper
MOSNEWS, Russia - Aug 7, 2006
... that Russia was transferring modern anti-tank weapons to Syria and on to Hezbollah were received ... The Russian response was that in the absence of a serial ...
Hezbollah may be using Russian-made weapons - Israeli media Interfax-Religion
Russia Denies Supplying Hezbollah with Anti-Tank Armaments MOSNEWS
all 4 related »

Newstalk ZB

Israeli minister says Russian weapons arming “terrorists’ Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates - 12 hours ago ... we know quite well about Hezbollah’s direct ... government imposed sanctions on Russian jetmaker Sukhoi ... monopoly Rosoboronexport, citing their weapons sales to ... Missiles Are Hezbollah’s Deadliest Weapon Christian Broadcasting Network all 29 related »

Hezbollah Supplied With Russian RPGs
Jawa Report, TX - Aug 7, 2006
... modern anti-tank armaments to the Middle East, so Hezbollah militants cannot ... on the belief that there would be many more casualties if Russian weapons were used ...

Iran to Provide Hezbollah with Anti-Aircraft and Other Weapons ...
The Conservative Voice, NC - 23 hours ago
... much more accurate than those in Hezbollah's current arsenal ... to Jane's, a shipment of Russian-made surface ... Russia and China have been selling weapons systems and ...

European press review
BBC News, UK - 23 hours ago
... Another Russian paper, Sovetskaya Rossiya comments on reports in the Israeli press that say Hezbollah has been using Russian-made RPG-29 anti-tank weapons. ...

Unholy Triangle: Russia Suports Iran which Supports Hiizboella
Counterterrorism Blog, New Jersey - 23 hours ago
... over its soft approach to Iran, Hezbollah’s prime ... has imposed sanctions against two Russian companies and five ... toward Iran’s development of weapons of mass ...

We must brace for years of violence in the Middle East: Steyn
ABC Online, Australia - 26 minutes ago
... It has an Air Force, it has Russian tanks, a Bulgarian ... t simply say we have intelligence, they are sending weapons into Lebanon to Hezbollah and it ...

Israeli Soldiers Find a Tenacious Foe in Hezbollah
CGGL.org, Lebanon - 16 hours ago
... The most feared weapons in Hezbollah's arsenal, they ... Israeli commanders say Hezbollah has obtained its sophisticated ... them, some Iranian, some Russian," said Maj ...

Hizballah UAV Further Illustrates Iranian Support
Counterterrorism Blog, New Jersey - 5 hours ago
... analyst John Waage also noted that "[t]he Russian made Metis M anti-tank missile, supplied by Iran, is among the most deadly weapons in the Hezbollah arsenal. ...

and on & on & on

[M. Espinola]

Even you may want to review this one.

The Great Secret of the Russian Middle Eastern Policy Dangerous liaisons: covert ''love affair" between Russia and Hezbollah

[G8 Diplomat]

“the International Council for Democratic Institutions and State Sovereignty

Oh, right Putin /sarcasm....the Russian word for council is "SOVIET"....