Note the very different tone here between this discussion about russia and previous discussions about china. Strangely calmer and less troll-swamped, this.
The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary
91–100 of 193 posts
Re: The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary
#92He was poisoned, and survived thrice, and was also jailed for really insubstantial periods of time. I think the Kremlin is very much content with having such a plaything opposition, which tacitly plays along, and does nothing to really challenge it. The few other people who ever were a credible threat to the regime in Russia were dealt with much more unceremoniously: gunned down in the broad daylight. I think the KGB…
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Re: The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary
#93Is there a book written by a soldier that explains why people defend/enforce the power of evil people? Putin himself is not poisoning these people, someone is doing it for him. Why? Doesn't have to be from Russia. Any soldier defending any evil person - why?
Well, this question is similar to foreigners cannot understand how any Americans can support racist/sexist/amoral Trump. For Putin’s supporters , his is the only person who can make Russia great
Re: The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary
#94People like Putin and Trump play dirty because they think that's what you have to do to win
It doesn't matter why they play dirty. The question is how they get away with it. What are the motivations of the people who back them up and enable them? Someone like Trump would fade away as a kind of comical narcissistic egomaniac sideshow (which he was before 2016) if it wasn't for the fact that there are powerful people benefiting from him being in the Whitehouse. That combined with identifying real grievances among working class people, which the so-called "left" in the US promises but fails to remedy ... it's a recipe for disaster.
Hitler rose to power from the virulent fear of communism combined with the chaos and ineptness of the Weimar republic. Trump has risen to power because of the latent racism in the United States combined with the incompetence of the two political parties in the US and the fallout from the 2008 crisis. Among other things.
Playing dirty only happens when there's nobody there to stop you. This we all know from the elementary school playground.
Re: The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary
#95Earlier quoted context omitted.
> [Putin] consolidated all the political and judicial power. Destroyed, physically, politically or judicially all the opponents. You are writing in English, and thus aimed at a US/UK audience - the president of the US (Clinton) and PM of the UK (Major) celebrated the 1993 shelling by the military of the Russian parliament that consolidated Yeltsin's power, and that of his chosen successor, Putin. Putin didn't consoli…
Yeltsin certainly began the process, but it's hard to argue that Putin hasn't acted very aggressively to consolidate power. The idea that just because it was a process that started under a previous ruler, the currently ruler shouldn't be blamed for embracing and expanding the corrupt policies makes no sense. Also, what is the encroachment you are talking about against Russia? Are you talking about allowing the people…
Just remember what happened when Cuba followed some domestic policies US didn't like in 1962.
Re: The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary
#96He was poisoned, and survived thrice, and was also jailed for really insubstantial periods of time. I think the Kremlin is very much content with having such a plaything opposition, which tacitly plays along, and does nothing to really challenge it. The few other people who ever were a credible threat to the regime in Russia were dealt with much more unceremoniously: gunned down in the broad daylight. I think the KGB…
This. I strongly recommend a book called “Nothing is true and everything is possible”. It describes how State media operates in Russia (and you could make a point many other countries have learned a thing or two from the book). Basically there needs to be an opposition, in order to be a triumphant democracy. But you need to keep it weak and under control. Seeing an opposition gives hope to people. Then they loose ele…
I've read that book, and it's very entertaining.
But the actions described in that book include setting up political parties to co-opt various movements do not describe what Alexey Navalny was doing. Navalny is the exception to what was the norm in Russia: an actual opposition, albeit a very weak one.
Re: The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary
#97I remember an essay a few years ago (it was the Ukrainian poisoning?) where the author essentially said that Russia's brand has basically been spoiled for outsiders. (political brand certainly, but maybe overall as a country). As in, Russia is no longer a trustworthy seeming, interesting, attractive place to want to go visit or collaborate with or be associated with. I mean, of course it depends on the level of detai…
It depends on how you define "outsiders". Look at the 2019 poll table in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Russian_sentiment#Statist...
The Five Eyes countries, Germany, Poland, and Japan have overwhelmingly negative views (easy to explain for historical reasons).
But you see overwhelmingly positive views of Russia in China, India, Nigeria, Mexico and Indonesia; and ambivalent views elsewhere in Asia, Latin America, and the Mediterranean.
Re: The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary
#98Earlier quoted context omitted.
Russia definitely has the talent.
Had Name any political, cultural, economic, literature, sports achievement in last 30 years to come out of Russia. That's right Internet trolls which are an evolution on kgbs psyops
"KGB psyops"
Wish people would stop trying to play pretend RU experts.
If you want details on actual cough "Psyops", one can read a book like Active Measures by Thomas Rid.
Re: The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary
#99He was poisoned, and survived thrice, and was also jailed for really insubstantial periods of time. I think the Kremlin is very much content with having such a plaything opposition, which tacitly plays along, and does nothing to really challenge it. The few other people who ever were a credible threat to the regime in Russia were dealt with much more unceremoniously: gunned down in the broad daylight. I think the KGB…
That's crazy to think about, but you definitely may be right. I suppose that is a very Chekist way of trolling.
Although I certainly think it's very likely some aspect of the government is involved, what are the odds that some of these instances have just been the actions of diehard Putin supporters who acted totally alone? I know full well Putin's and his security services' despotic and cruel nature, but I also do want to know (to some degree of confidence) when they are or aren't involved with something.
Re: The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary
#100Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well Saudi Arabia is hundred times worse than all we have in Russia on every point you mentioned. But guess who get all the sanctions?
Most of the current sanctions against Russia were a direct response to Russia's paramilitary invasion of a peaceful neighbor and theft of a large portion of their country. If Saudi Arabia were to commit a comparable offense, I assure you they'd face a comparable response, or worse (remember what happened to Saddam Hussein).
Good thing SA did not invade Yemen, had nothing to do with Khashoggi "suffering a paper cut" and absolutely nothing to do with 9/11 neither