Political rant
Today I'm feeling political. It just annoys me so much to watch the government in Russia use its usual aggressive bully-boy tactics of international relations against Ukraine. I wish I had some time to get in depth here, but I'm at work and must be brief.
Russia (as a nation - don't call me an anti-Russian, I have plenty of Russian friends and I love much about their culture) clings heavily to the paranoia that the 'West' is commited to the destruction and dismantling of its sphere of influence. Putin has openly stated that the end of the Soviet Union was the 'greatest tragedy of the 20th century' and has blatantly whitewashed and denied the horrors inflicted upon former Soviet satellite states by the Soviet regime, making it clear that his long term plan is for a new Russian empire. His school-bully style tactics against the government in Ukraine are typical of his behaviour towards any ex-soviet country. The gas issue is complex, and Ukraine will eventually have to pay higer prices (and yes, they have not been angels in this issue either) but if Russia wants to regain its influence in the region they surely must realise that intimidation will only make their former colonial subjects run faster towards secure relations with Western nations.
Lets not forget that Russia still officially denies that they invaded Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and many other countries and annexed them, nor does it officially recognise the deportations and genocide inflicted upon their peoples. If the Putin government doesn't admit to this, what does it say about their future intentions for Russian foreign policy? ..no wonder the Baltic nations (and most of the European ex-communist states) are so keen to become members of the European community.
I'll have to continue this another time, there is so much involved in all this, and I wanted to finish my spiel on a positive note and not just whinge.. eek, i better get back to work.
Russia (as a nation - don't call me an anti-Russian, I have plenty of Russian friends and I love much about their culture) clings heavily to the paranoia that the 'West' is commited to the destruction and dismantling of its sphere of influence. Putin has openly stated that the end of the Soviet Union was the 'greatest tragedy of the 20th century' and has blatantly whitewashed and denied the horrors inflicted upon former Soviet satellite states by the Soviet regime, making it clear that his long term plan is for a new Russian empire. His school-bully style tactics against the government in Ukraine are typical of his behaviour towards any ex-soviet country. The gas issue is complex, and Ukraine will eventually have to pay higer prices (and yes, they have not been angels in this issue either) but if Russia wants to regain its influence in the region they surely must realise that intimidation will only make their former colonial subjects run faster towards secure relations with Western nations.
Lets not forget that Russia still officially denies that they invaded Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and many other countries and annexed them, nor does it officially recognise the deportations and genocide inflicted upon their peoples. If the Putin government doesn't admit to this, what does it say about their future intentions for Russian foreign policy? ..no wonder the Baltic nations (and most of the European ex-communist states) are so keen to become members of the European community.
I'll have to continue this another time, there is so much involved in all this, and I wanted to finish my spiel on a positive note and not just whinge.. eek, i better get back to work.
posted by mrlederhosen at 8:45 am
2 Comments:
All world of democracy needs to support Russia's democratic "forces" - persons and movements which are not political but more independent and free in mind. These potency of Russia are only way to gain democracy there. Putin fears these potency very much and its why nongoverment organizations have big problems right now there.
right now, i just hope that putin and china's president start to pressure iran's ayatollahs to remove that lunatic from power to prevent a war.
democracy will eventually reach china and russia. it will take many years, but they can't stop the winds of change that globalization helps to spread!
cheers mr, speak with you soon!
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