I think that the Russian people and the people of the United States could be the best of friends if our governments would get out of the way.  The Russian submarines patrolling off of our eastern seaboard are not a good sign.  The Russian strategic bombers in Venezuela are not a good sign. 

As a veteran of the Cold War, I do not wish to see our nations return to such postures...yet, we will not be cowed.  The Russians are a great people, but they need to realize that the Americans, despite our many flaws, are also a great people.  We will not go quietly into the night.

Vladimir Putin's tough-guy swimming technique

...as of yesterday, official photographs of Vladimir Putin's annual outdoor adventure break have appeared.

In the past, Putin has been presented to us smouldering at the end of his fishing rod, or simply stripped to the waist in some outdoor idyll, ready to wrestle a bear or kung-fu kick a small bush. This time the holiday snaps show Russia's prime minister swimming. And not just floating on his back, or doing a serene, albeit vaguely emasculating, breaststroke. Putin, of course, is doing the butterfly.

This makes a lot of sense. The fly is the most aggressively athletic of all the strokes. It requires both arms to rotate simultaneously, combined with an unremittingly difficult two-legged kick. It is not something many mere mortals would attempt in the hotel pool.

...

There are also problems with the fly. It may have a fug of raw, sweating masculinity about it, but it's also the most irritating of all strokes. It's splashy and unsociable, an uncompromising stroke that pays no heed to the elderly gentleman choking on chlorinated backwash in the neighbouring municipal lane.

And so, as ever with these propaganda pictures, it's tempting to look for deeper meaning. Isolationist, prone to aggressive display and not afraid of making waves: could Putin's fly also be a kind of aquatic metaphor for the way his Russia is heading? And if so, what does the one where he's feeding a horse mean?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/06/vladimir-putin-butterfly-stroke


(Message edited by donnknow On 08/07/2009 07:57:59)

A Decade of Putinism

In Russia, self-censorship has become a matter of survival.

 Ten years ago on Sunday, Russia's Duma confirmed Vladimir Putin as prime minister. The vote took place only one week after then-President Boris Yeltsin had nominated the little-known former KGB operative for the post. Yeltsin's surprise resignation only four months later left Mr. Putin as acting president and paved the way for his election as head of state in March 2000.
...
Over the past decade Vladimir Putin has used the instruments of the state to forge what is known in Russian as a "vertical of power," a governance model in which authority is tightly consolidated at the top.
...
The system's core features include the political control of the country's dominant energy sector, the quest to restore Russia's global power status, and a heavy-handed reassertion of Russian influence in former Soviet states.

The most striking quality of Putinism, though, is its hostility to free expression. This decade-long assault on a fundamental human right is not a reprise of the uniform, all-encompassing ideological control that was the hallmark of the Soviet period. To give Russia the veneer of a liberal society and simultaneously create a useful societal steam valve, authorities have come up with a new, selective censorship model. In this system, the state tries to censor information of true political consequence while allowing a certain amount of independence at the margins. 

...

The few brave journalists and activists who still dare to criticize the government—particularly those who try to expose state corruption and human-rights violations—live in constant danger.

Less than two weeks after President Barack Obama's July visit to Moscow, Natalya Estemirova, of the Russian human rights group Memorial, was kidnapped outside her home in Grozny, Chechnya. She was found dead later that day in the neighboring Russian republic of Ingushetia, with two bullet wounds in her body and one "control shot" to her head. The 50-year-old Estemirova was a leading human-rights activist who openly criticized Chechnya's Kremlin-backed strongman, Ramzan Kadyrov, and his repressive methods. A week later, human rights activist Andrei Kulagin was found dead in a sand pit near the northwestern city of Petrozavodsk. And just this Tuesday, Zarema Sadulayeva, the head of a children's charity in Chechnya, and her husband were found murdered in the boot of a car.

These most recent murders were preceded by a string of other still unsolved killings, including that of Stanislav Markelov, a well-known human rights lawyer, who in January was gunned down not far from the Kremlin, along with Anastasia Baburova, a journalist for the newspaper Novaya Gazeta. Anna Politkovskaya, a famous Novaya Gazeta reporter who worked on human-rights abuses in Chechnya, was murdered in her Moscow apartment building in October 2006.

After a decade of Putinism, a deep chill on free expression has set in. Self-censorship has become a matter of survival.
...

Early hopes that the new president, Dmitri Medvedev, would bring more openness and liberalization have been shattered. Even though Mr. Putin has returned to the premiership after an eight-year hiatus, it seems he—rather than his hand-picked successor—is still calling the shots.

Given the continued censorship, human-rights abuses and lawlessness in Russia, it would almost be worse for the country's reform prospects if Mr. Medvedev really were in full control of his presidency. It would mean that Putinism is now so entrenched, it no longer needs Mr. Putin to enforce it.

By CHRISTOPHER WALKER The WSJ

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203863204574345792268649298.html


(Message edited by donnknow On 08/14/2009 08:25:16)

Truck bombs and a barrage of mortars have killed at least 75 people and hurt at least 310 in central Baghdad in the deadliest series of attacks in months. One vehicle exploded outside the foreign ministry near the perimeter of the heavily guarded government Green Zone, reportedly leaving a huge crater.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8208976.stm


why to struggle with terrorism in Baghdad, if terrorists trained in KGB camps still get orders from tutors.


(Message edited by donnknow On 08/21/2009 06:00:32)

 http://www.pravda.info/news/68191.html

article in russian. shortly, hijacked "Arctic Sea" ship was used for secret transportation X-55 rockets into Iran for strenthening it  in future conflict with Israel. somebody took off cargo with force.


(Message edited by donnknow On 08/24/2009 09:47:30)

 http://www.politonline.ru/pato/1463.html
article in russian, anonymous source. report-2007 about defensive strategy of Russia.

1. new army 2.0 should consist from 2 components defensive and assailant(offensive).
2. innovative regiments should be created, with purpose of ideological struggle and diversions at high technological field and internet.
3. zone of vital russian interests is not only former USSR territory but also Eastern Europe, Turkey, Iran, Northern China.
4. second priority target of army is defence of oil&gas delivery lines close to customer.
5. enumeration of geopolitical threats: NATO, China, potential loss of Kaliningrad and other weak points.


p.s. it seems international pressure changed Kremlin's plan about Georgia.


(Message edited by donnknow On 08/28/2009 20:44:15)

 A central Moscow subway station reopened this week after a painstaking, yearlong restoration of its initial Stalin-era luster, complete with gilt-trimmed words of praise to the Soviet dictator spelled out around the vestibule’s rotunda.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/28/world/europe/28iht-moscow.html?_r=3&partner=rss&emc=rss


(Message edited by donnknow On 08/29/2009 21:46:15)

Pride and Power

 Russia is obsessed with being recognized as a "Great Power."
..
It costs nothing to defer to her claims to such exalted status, to show her respect, to listen to her wishes. From this point of view, the recent remarks about Russia by Vice President Joe Biden in an interview with this newspaper were both gratuitous and harmful. "Russia has to make some very difficult calculated decisions," he said. "They have a shrinking population base, they have a withering economy, they have a banking sector that is not likely to be able to withstand the next 15 years." These remarks are not inaccurate but stating them publicly serves no purpose other than to humiliate Russia.

It is significant that when our secretary of state tried promptly to repair the damage which Mr. Biden's words had caused, Izvestiia, a leading Russian daily, proudly announced in a headline, "Hillary Clinton acknowledges Russia as a Great Power."
..

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203550604574358733790418994.html#articleTabs_comments%26articleTabs%3Darticle
Richard Pipes is Frank B. Baird Jr. professor of history, emeritus, at Harvard University. In 1981 and 1982 he served as Director of East European and Soviet Affairs in President Reagan's National Security Council.


(Message edited by donnknow On 08/30/2009 06:28:15)

 it's risky to live here, ruling conditions favourable only for former kgb clans. in outer Russia merchendises with heavy drugs and nuclear weapon. there are other reasons why such state must die as soon as possible.


(Message edited by donnknow On 08/30/2009 06:31:49)

 August 31, 2009
AMERICAN and Russian teams will start another round of talks in Vienna as early as today on a new nuclear-arms-reduction pact to replace the expiring Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. Problem is Russia isn't meeting its obligations on some old arms-control agreements.
...
what are the Russkies scamming on?
Tactical nuclear weapons: ...Earlier this year, a congressional panel, the Strategic Posture Commission, reported that Russia is "no longer in compliance with its PNI commitments" -- leaving Moscow with what some say could be a 10:1 advantage in "battlefield" nukes.
Nuke testing: SPC member warned recently that Russian "nuclear labs have been growing, their budgets have been increasing and they continue an active underground test program at Novaya Zemlya, which includes the release of low levels of nuclear energy." ... (Russian doctrine puts a premium on fighting battlefield nuclear war.)
Strategic arms: Even as it negotiates a new START treaty, the Kremlin is fudging on the existing one. A 2005 State Department report points to multiple Russian violations, including restrictions on inspections of its intercontinental ballistic missiles and warheads.

There's more: One expert recently noted Russia is testing its SS-27 ICBM with multiple warheads. But START identifies the SS-27 as a single-warhead missile -- and permits testing/deployment only in that configuration.

Proliferation: Others say Russia has been cutting corners on accepted non-proliferation standards -- notably, by helping Iran and North Korea develop ballistic missiles and nuclear know-how. This is no small matter, considering the threat to America.

Indeed, the director of national intelligence sent a letter to the State Department in March 2007, stating: "We assess that individual Russian entities continue to provide assistance to Iran's ballistic-missile programs" -- which implies either Kremlin involvement in, knowledge of, or failure to intervene into these activities.

Some analysts also think North Korea got Russian help in the form of key components for its April long-range-missile test. Others see Moscow's aid to the Iranian nuclear program going beyond the reactor it's building at Bushehr.

...

Before we rush into signing onto any more arms-control treaties, we need to get to the bottom of Russia's non-compliance with existing arms-control and non-proliferation promises.

If we don't, the Russians will have little if any incentive to correctly implement any new treaty -- and every reason to find clever ways to cheat, as it looks like they're doing now, further jeopardizing our national security. 

Heritage Foundation Senior Fellow Peter Brookes is a former deputy assistant secretary of defense.peterbrookes@heritage.org

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08312009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/dont_get_scammed_by_russia_again_187296.htm

 it looks like Putin gathering strength for revenge.


(Message edited by donnknow On 09/02/2009 08:55:07)

donnknow I think it's great your in here posting the info that you are, it give's everybody an idea how an insider like yourself feels about his country your no different than we are my friend, you love your country your a proud people and rightfully so, all you want is the best for you, your countrymen and your country! After the cold war I think Russia was making great strides, but in the back ground I think Putin wasn't happy with the path Russia was taking and how the rest of the world didn't consider Russian to be such a big threat as it once was, needless to say Putin is not a happy camper! I think the younger generations in both countries want nothing but friendship and until some of these old hardcore hardliners are out of the picture it will be business as usual, my d*^# is bigger than your's.

hope u right, but i introduced with another point of view "Evil Empires built only by evil nations". why other countries did not accept communism and its consequencies?


(Message edited by donnknow On 09/06/2009 08:24:00)

In an act of publishing cowardice, Condé Nast has gone to extraordinary lengths to prevent Russians from reading a GQ article criticizing Vladimir Putin. The article, "Vladimir Putin's Dark Rise to Power" by veteran war correspondent Scott Anderson, quotes a former KGB official on the record and at length implicating Russia's shadow leader in a string of Moscow apartment bombings that killed hundreds in 1999 and were officially blamed on Chechen terrorists. The wave of fear created by the attacks played a critical role in launching Putin to power.
http://gawker.com/5352827/------gq---


(Message edited by donnknow On 09/06/2009 08:05:02)

slogan "Freedom must be conquered, not gifted" recognized as an extremist catchword by juridicial expertise in Novorossiysk.
http://grani.ru/Culture/Literature/m.157019.html


(Message edited by donnknow On 09/10/2009 08:55:09)

That is quite an interesting article.
Here is a link for the English version as translated by Babelfish
http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=slv&lp=xx_en&trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.grani.ru%2FCulture%2FLiterature%2Fm.157019.html

Hope that link works its kinda long

Jerry

Some of those computer translation tools are a little rough (hehe); having said this, it's absolutely fabulous that technology allows for such translations. Amazing times. Pretty good article too.

USMC_Kinda_Guy

 

PRUDEN: Christmas arrives early for Putin

When Mr. Obama ... decided to abandon arrangements worked out by the previous administration to base missile defense sites in the Czech Republic and Poland, he dropped amends the size of the H-bomb. 

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/18/christmas-arrives-early-for-vladimir-putin

(Message edited by donnknow On 09/20/2009 01:36:56)

 The US decision to back away from a proposed missile defence system will be portrayed as a victory for Russian diplomacy by most Russian commentators.

Russia's foreign minister denies the existence of "institutionalised" anti-Americanism in Russia, but it is rarely concealed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8261622.stm

By Steven Eke
Russia analyst, BBC World Service

(Message edited by donnknow On 09/20/2009 01:37:41)

Prime Minister RF Vladimir Putin, coming out on Friday on international investment forum in Sochi, commented the solution of the USA declared the day before to forego the plans for missile defence.
...

As noted Putin, the development of the collaboration of Russia and USA prevented by “the rudiments of previous epoch”. Premier resembled “sadly known” “CoCom lists”, which limited the transfer of high technologies in the USSR.

http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=slv&lp=xx_en&trurl=http://newsru.com/russia/18sep2009/putin_sochi.html


(Message edited by donnknow On 09/20/2009 01:31:45)

 

Writer flees after backing 'anti-Soviet' kebab shop

By Shaun Walker in Moscow

...
Alexander Podrabinek, the Russia correspondent for a French radio station and a veteran Soviet-era dissident, had his home picketed and was threatened with legal action by a pro-Kremlin youth group after he wrote an article criticising the censorship of the name of a restaurant in a northern suburb of Moscow. He claims he and his family have also received death threats from the youth group, called Nashi.
...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/writer-flees-after-backing-antisoviet-kebab-shop-1796397.html


(Message edited by donnknow On 10/05/2009 02:30:38)

article that i borrowed from neighbour topic

EXCLUSIVE: Obama loosens missile technology controls to China

President Obama recently shifted authority for approving sales to China of missile and space technology from the White House to the Commerce Department.
...
"It's as though Commerce's mishandling of missile-tech transfers to China in the 1990s never happened," said Mr. Sokolski, a former Pentagon proliferation specialist. "But it did. As a result, we are now facing much more accurate, reliable missiles from China."
...
"It was foolish for us to do this in the 1990s and is even more dangerous for us to do now," he said.
...

Gary Milhollin, director of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, which monitors export control policies, said he was surprised by the decision to shift responsibility back to Commerce -- a change that Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush did not make.

"It is shocking that it would be delegated to the secretary of commerce, whose job it is to promote trade, rather than to the secretary of state or the secretary of defense, who have far more knowledge and responsibility within their organizations for missile technology," Mr. Milhollin said.

Edward Timperlake, a Pentagon technology-security official during the George W. Bush administration, said he agrees that the new policy likely will loosen export controls on dual-use technology that could be used to boost China's large-scale missile program.

China's military recently displayed new long-range and cruise missiles during a military parade in Beijing marking the 60th anniversary of communist rule.

...

Mr. Timperlake said the new policy is "greenlighting engagement with China in very bad areas that will negatively impact United States' national security."

 several steps of current White House administration:
1. trading missile defence system in Poland for ethereal promises of Russia to stop Iran from developing nuclear technology.
2. pursuing CIA for tough interrogations.
3. tries to sell missile technology to China, an old russian partner.
4. stoppage criticizing Cremlin for breaking human rights.
5. allowing russian inspectors to check nuclear facilities.
and so on. it looks like Washington fulfills Putin's expectations.

 according to V.I. Novodvorskaya, an old russian dissident authority, the war against Georgia began at the 1990s, territories of Abhazia and Ossetia were used for KGB operations. while the hole world including America celebrated victory in the Cold War, hard working in Lubyanka never stopped.


(Message edited by donnknow On 10/21/2009 01:43:22)

donnknow

Has Russia issued a Cold War Medal? If so can you provide any information about it? Maybe a picture
or a link to a newspaper article

Jerry

 

Ingushetia Opposition Figure Is Shot Dead in Car

A longtime opposition figure in the republic of Ingushetia was killed Sunday morning when his car was strafed with gunfire as he drove along a federal highway, adding another name to the list of activists who have been killed recently in the Northern Caucasus.
...
Last year, after the opposition journalist Magomed Yevloyev was shot to death in police custody, Mr. Aushev offered to take responsibility for Mr. Yevloyev’s Web site, Ingushetia.org.
...
“You see how they kill journalists and human rights workers, it continues, and there is no real investigation into any of them,” said Mr. Mutsolgov, whose organization, MAShR, tracks violence in the republic.

...

Mr. Aushev had survived a kidnapping attempt in September, and during a recent interview with an Australian television station, he spoke of receiving “very strong information that I was going to be killed.” His colleagues said he remained at odds with Mr. Zyazikov’s relatives and continued to criticize the tactics of Russian special forces stationed in the region.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/world/europe/26ingushetia.html?_r=2&hpw



(Message edited by donnknow On 10/28/2009 07:48:46)

interview
Pavel Stroilov: Al-Qaeda and FSB connected through egyptian terrorist Aiman-Muhammed-az-Zavahiri

Pavel Stroilov, friend of Alexander Litvinenko and translator of his book "Allegations". Being in Moscow, he studied history of soviet period although archives classified as secret and restricted until now. In the beginning of 2000 year Stroilov managed to get archives of Central Commettee of Gorbachov's and earlier period. Before Cremlin suspected what is going on, Stroilov got copies and sent them to the West.

-Contemporary russian regime is based only on primitive revanshism,- he says, - as germans after World War, russian chekists did not humbled with USSR defeat and in particular with independence of Georgia. they gratify themselves with legends that their empire perished because of treachery of the leaders. And empire can be rebuilt. While chekists lead Russia, Cremlin will never submit loss of Georgia and other spheres of influence.
...

-After death of Alexander Litvinenko, you and your associates published a book. What about is it?

-There are many themes, war and genocide in Caucasus, chekist regime, FSB connections with russian and international terrorists, FSB activity against other countries, political prisoners and political murders, including Litvinenko himself. He predicted such possibility. This book is important for understanding russian regime and ways of struggle against it.

-You have russian archives in London, deserving of attention. Are you intended to publish it?

-it was madness to publish it being in Russia. I would disappear without trace and use. ... But i must publish it, i do not consider the copyright of the state to it. in 2005 i was granted political asylum in Great Britan, and now i'm trying to introduce publicity with the documents.

-You told about connection between FSB and A-Qaeda...

-i'm repeating what the late Alexander Litvinenko has told. ... Central figure in mutual relations of Al-Qaeda and FSB is egyptian terrorist Aiman Muhammed-az-Zavahiri, the first person after Bin Laden and FSB agent at the same time. it is possible that he had connections with old KGB earlier. in 1990 he was condemned to death in absence and hided. in 1997 this terrorist was sighted in Moscow. Next year he went to Afghanistan and became right hand of Bin Laden. What was he doing in Russia? Officials said he was not recognised by FSB and was set free. very doubtful explanation. ... As Alexander Litvinenko said, az-Zavahiri studied half-year special trainig course at secret base in Daghestan. ... he is not russian spy, but influence agent, messenger. Litvinenko knew about it from officers who worked with az Zavahiri.

-Is there clue, connecting az-Zavahiri, FSB and September 11 2001?

-We have no evidence. but while bin Laden was main ideologist, az-Zavahiri worked with strategy. ... he was managing all terrorism acts and initiated all operations. ... May be Moscow was not initiator, but it was brought to date.

-Is there in Guantanamo prison terrorists controlled by KGB?

-I do not know, but it is possible. relations between KGB and world terrorism has half-century history.
...

-You wrote about connection between KGB and former italian prime-minister, former president of Council of Europe Romano Prodi. Do you have evidence? What can you say about Berlusconi?

-Primary source of information about Romano Prodi and FSB relations is Alexander Litvinenko. I was translator and editor of his posthumous book with all his interviews and articles. from his colleaque general Trofimov Litvinenko found out that Prodi cooperated with KGB and performed its commissions. he said that Prodi was known in KGB as "our man in Italy".
...
Berlusconi is another history. his relations with KGB and Putin are new. it based on self interest and has nothing hidden. it is shamelesness of Berlusconi to be friendly with such a man.
...
-Is Hamas in the list of FSB friends?

-Of course. Moscow openly supports Hamas, and arms it. KGB connection with palestinian terrorists lasts several decades.

-KGB of the USSR was arresting dissidents and creating agents. After deaths of Litvinenko and Politkovskaya, what does FSB is occupied with?

-For the most part, with enrichment. somebody counted 2 years ago that Putins wealth equal to 40 billion dollars. Men with lower status got income pro rata. in other thing, as usual: suppressions inside country, subversions outside, genocide in Caucasus and sometimes making fools from americans.


20/10/2009
Merkviladze, New-York - London.
http://www.apsny.ge/interview/12560669113.php
in russian


(Message edited by donnknow On 10/28/2009 08:05:03)

Jerald, In response to your question, posed earlier...I don't know if these are real or official, but I found the as offerings on E-Bay.  They infer that they were awarded to Soviet military personnel in recognition of Cold War service. "Has Russia issued a Cold War Medal? If so can you provide any information about it? Maybe a  picture or a link to a newspaper article?" bELKNAP

COLD WAR - EAST GERMAN MILITARY SERVICE MEDAL Enlarge

0 Bids

$9.95 +$2.50 shipping

3d 11 h 43m

Soviet Warsaw Pact SS-20 nuclear peace medal Cold War

0 Bids

$9.99 +$5.95 shipping

6d 6h 8m

Russian Veteran Medal International Cold War Conflicts Enlarge

For general interest, this is a MSNBC web site article on historical preservation of Cold War era bunker in England.

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33506583/ns/world_news-fall_of_the_berlin_wall_20_years_later

Young Russians’ About-Face From the West

When the Berlin Wall fell, young Russians clamored for all things Western. Now they rail against anything that is.

By Owen Matthews and Anna Nemtsova | Newsweek

When the Berlin Wall collapsed, most young, educated Russians aspired to what could broadly be described as Western values: democracy, free speech, anti-imperialism.

...

What a difference a few years make. ... thanks to a decade of anti-Western fervor propagated by the Kremlin, a new generation is growing up strikingly out of sync with the West.
...
"The generation who grew up in the Putin era have a completely different mentality. Modern pro-Kremlin youth groups are so well fed by the state that they've grown faithful as tame dogs." The result is a generation that not only buys into the Kremlin's world view, but is also deeply distrustful of anybody who thinks differently.
...
Surkov and other top Kremlin ideologues quickly ordered a slew of anti-Western television propaganda casting George W. Bush's campaign to spread democracy in the Middle East as an attack on Russia.
...
"Putin's television anti-Western propaganda has done its dirty business," says Lipman. "Young Russians are cynical people who believe that Russia is surrounded with enemies, that the West does not want Russia to grow stronger."
...
Russia's dwindling number of Boris Yeltsin-era liberals find such attitudes scarily reminiscent of Soviet-era groupthink. A recent campaign mounted by Nashi activists in Moscow against a dissident journalist likewise shows that the Kremlin-backed youth groups are growing more powerful than ever, and that they're repeating the kind of harassment of independent thinkers common in the 1970s.
...
"Moscow's politics is now concentrated on finding the most talented young people in the regions who will be able to save Russia from economic crises," says Evgeny Nizhnik, 31, a charismatic youth leader who has been involved in youth politics since 1991. "Chaos, cheap drugs, alcoholism, and racism were the result of unlimited democracy in the 1990s. Russian youth needs a strong grip in order not to get lost in chaos." Of course, another side effect of that strong grip is to prevent dangerously independent thoughts that could challenge the Kremlin's hold on power. It's a sad outcome for those who hoped to see a young generation use the new freedoms won after the fall of the Berlin Wall to embrace liberal values.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/221210/page/2


(Message edited by donnknow On 11/09/2009 05:20:03)