Western "Experts" On the Attack
Reading the garbage that passes for "experts" on Russia, such as the acclaimed Ian Bremmer and his brainless hit piece
Putin’s puppet show shows why the West is in the straights that it is in. The man is described, on Reuters as:
the president of Eurasia Group, the leading global political risk research and consulting firm. Bremmer created Wall Street's first global political risk index, and has authored several books, including the national bestseller, The End of the Free Market: Who Wins the War Between States and Corporations?, which details the new global phenomenon of state capitalism and its geopolitical implications. He has a PhD in political science from Stanford University (1994), and was the youngest-ever national fellow at the Hoover Institution.
But yet, when one reads his work, one understands why if this is the advice that the US or UK or any other nation listens to, that there should be no doubt as to why these states are in foreign policy dire straights that they are in.
The piece is an absolute hit piece, low on facts, high on stereotypes and with absolutely zero credibility, meant for the internal consumption of the Anglo audience. First and foremost, it is made as an "expert" opinion to underline a basis for a new Anglo Cold War on Russia. Why? Well, why not, when the news at home is disaster 24/7?
For those of us in Russia and Russian speaking, those who actually put boots on the ground, have a grounding in the economy and listen to more then the big headed opinions of clueless academics glowing in the light of their own high self opinions, the glamour of wisdom is quickly replaced by their blight of stupidity, showing them for what they really are: little men, with big titles and no knowledge but a snake oil salesman's charm and wit.
Lets break this down:
People talk about the Russian presidential election like it really matters. But it doesn’t. The supposedly big news and debate right now is whether or not Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will run for president again in 2012.Substitute that Russia for America and we'll see how much any of this matters. US elections are the most rigged elections in the West, where the kabooky theater presents the voter with a Democrat-Republican dialectic which is in truth a elite owned one party two branch system of theft and corruption. The great parliamentary elections of 2010, with the Tea Party, yet another actor of the theater of the absurd, hyped to change everything has once again showed to change nothing. Most of those Tea Party people fell right in line with their big brothers and big donors before they even got to Washington, but they did do a good job of taking the wind right out of the sails of those who still thought they could do something.
Just like the 2008 elections presented only two differences in basically the same platform: a young half black, well he's actually half arab but who's arguing, man and an old, white guy. Otherwise, what was the platform difference? Yes, one needs to scratch most of the hair from one's own head to figure out a single real plank of difference between the two big spending, pro-illegal alien, war war war socialists. Any real politicians, like Dr. Paul, were shut up and marginalized early on.
While Medvedev looks like he is trying to distance himself from Putin — he has taken a different stance on Libya and is pro-US and Europe and pro-private sector — Medvedev, as much as he may be interested in running again, is not going to run against Putin if Putin puts himself in the race.Actually, dear Ian, no he is not trying to distance himself and has said exactly that, on numerous interviews, that he and Putin and those around them are on one team.
Historically, Russia has had show trials; this is a show election.Um, again, dear bright fellow, the Soviet Union had show trials, similar to the US sponsored ones in the Hague, though I doubt you'd have noticed, the Hague being outside of your "Eurasian" studies, I am sure.
But this presidential election is feeling much too like the Khodorkovsky trial, yet another show trial that failed to prove that fair trials exist in Russia. Ahh, the Khodorkovsky trial, the favorite of any Russophobe. Funny, the European Court of Human Rights sure did not seem to share your bias or views that this was either a political trial or a show trial. But this is the typical beaten horse of the Russophobes, who no doubt will now try to say that they do not hate Russians, just the government that Russians put in place, those stupid untermensch slavs.
Despite a handful of people and media publications who see right through Russia’s vexing charade, there is a deep rooted reason why they continue to put on such a show — Russia’s insecurity complex. It is exactly that complex, and the diverted energy to cover it up, that makes Russia continually bluster any meaningful political and economic reform.He is still talking about poor Misha, no not Saakashvili. Gee, maybe this still goes on because there is appeals and new evidence and new crimes being uncovered as the rot of Yukos continues to be aired. This is called a judicial process, dear Ian, you would do well to look it up.
Despite Russia’ desire to compete with the West, the fact is their economy is not growing – in fact, banks are starting to pull out of the country. Yet Russia is so desperate to be considered a superpower and accepted as an advanced Western nation that they continue to flex their muscles. In the end, this only makes them look yet weaker , especially against the backdrop of their next door neighbor, China, which is growing, along with its confidence.Really Ian? Well best tell that to Simons, which just signed contracts to build one of their biggest plants in the world here, to manufacture locomotives. Best tell that to Boeing, NASA (they buy ion engines and data cables and connectors), Emerson, Halliburton, Baker Hughs, Ford, Chevy, GM, Renault, Toyota, Nissan, IBM, Intel, Erkison, McDonalds, Burger King, Subway, TGI Fridays, Wendies, Catepiller, Hyndai and dozens of other companies who have invested heavily or are investing heavily in Russia and most with new factories.
As a matter of fact, if our dear "expert" actually came to Russia and visited the manufacturing plants, he would notice that most are working 24/7 with 3 shifts and orders out for 18 or more months. This "expert" might realize that it is a 3-6 month wait period for a new car from any of the two dozen auto plants, all in the midst of rapid expansion, and not from lack of sales and work but from the massive orders coming in. This "expert" might also notice that banks like Citibank and Raeffaisen are booming all over, along side some hundred other Russian banks. He might notice the cranes everywhere constructing new factories, new apartment buildings, new roads and new shopping centers. He might drive around to the thousands of new European style housing complexes sprouting up like mushrooms or notice that the unemployment rate is at a point most Westerners only drool about. But no, our "expert" who sits in his comfortable office and writes ridiculous rubbish, believed by others who have no real knowledge or reality and published by a mouth piece of the Anglo-Elites, is not aware of any of this.
or now, the outcome of who’s going to run for president is probably already predetermined, but it looks nice for Russia to have foreign speculation of plurality in their country. Contrary to common wisdom, it would be a mistake to count Medvedev out. While Putin is still quite popular and could easily get reelected, going back as president shows weakness on his part and it’s great to have Medvedev be his plausible deniabilityThe closing is the biggest gibberish yet. Mr. Bremmer, did you actually take the time to return and reread this before posting it? Come now, is your hubris to great that you are that blinded to the utter stupidity of the statement?
