161–170 of 193 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
There always were a lot of propaganda involved since forever. Even now Russia is demonised in Western Media, mostly quite unfair.
As someone who was born and grew up under Russian occupation I can assure you everyone on the inside of Iron Curtain was aware how bad it was even back then.
I 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…
As a Russian, I have definitely felt a change in attitude towards Russia fairly recently (since Crimea probably). Overall feelings switched more towards fear, distrust and annoyance that Russia is punching above its weight (wanting to be a Great Power while having a relatively puny economy). Recent case in point that comes to mind: one of the characters in the show Devs is Russian. Spoiler alert, he is definitely not…
As an aside, when I mentioned Putin, she called herself, mockingly, a daughter of Putin. Then she said, we had no playgrounds before he was in power, now we have playgrounds. It was a flippant remark, but a telling one all the same. The west neglected the Russians when the Soviet Union broke up. Bush/Regan celebrated a Cold War victory, which was a mistake. They should have embraced Russia and recognised the potential of the Russian people. I think the Russians have never got over being treated like this, which, obviously, has echos of the Germans in the 30s.
Sorry if I went on here, I think it’s an important subject.
I 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…
This comment would be considered bigoted by some or at least when applied to some other nations. But I agree with you. I came from there about when communism crashed and had high hopes, which have now been destroyed. Russians just don't have the same wishes that people in the west do. They just want a grand and powerful nation that is feared by others. They don't mind living rather poor as long as they have nukes and…
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/002581721770737...
I believe you can grab it off of Sci-hub in case you can't access the above for free...
I 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…
As a Russian, I have definitely felt a change in attitude towards Russia fairly recently (since Crimea probably). Overall feelings switched more towards fear, distrust and annoyance that Russia is punching above its weight (wanting to be a Great Power while having a relatively puny economy). Recent case in point that comes to mind: one of the characters in the show Devs is Russian. Spoiler alert, he is definitely not…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not all are dealt with "unceremoniously." See Alexander Litvinenko[0], who was not only poisoned but in such a way that there was no plausible deniability for FSB. More than anything they appeared to be making a spectacle of their impunity. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisoning_of_Alexander_Litvine...
Also Sergei Skripal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei_Skripal Using WMD to take out a single person does indeed seem like making a political statement.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Let me reverse that question. What specific actions of NATO lead you to think that its ambitions for Russia in the 2010s differ from its ambitions for the USSR in the 1970s and 1980s? What has changed since the Cold War, in those ambitions? What specific actions has NATO taken that make it clear that those ambitions have changed? What reassurance is Russia expected to see that encirclement, containment, and isolation…
You're asking for proof of a negative? Proof that NATO isn't nefariously plotting Russia's demise? And "encirclement"? Really? The borders with NATO countries comprise like five percent of Russia's total border length. If NATO is trying to encircle Russia, they're doing a really shitty job. Honestly, I'm not interested in engaging with this prove-a-negative nonsense. In my humble opinion, invading a neighbor and anne…
I believe NATO has the capability to bomb Moscow from Latvia in minutes.
I don't think Russia rates its vulnerability by border ratio vs total NATO aligned country border ratio. They look at how fast NATO could wreck Moscow.
I 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…
This comment would be considered bigoted by some or at least when applied to some other nations. But I agree with you. I came from there about when communism crashed and had high hopes, which have now been destroyed. Russians just don't have the same wishes that people in the west do. They just want a grand and powerful nation that is feared by others. They don't mind living rather poor as long as they have nukes and…
He 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 w…
are you an alt of John Schindler?
I was born in Russia and I despise Putin. He is the reason why I emigrated. He and his cronies brough the country into the dark age, from which it may never come out. He is, without a single doubt, Hitler of the 21st century. * He consolidated all the political and judicial power. Destroyed, physically, politically or judicially all the opponents. Elections are completely fake. * He completely controls all secret ser…
This really sounds like many US politicans and public media figures.