101–110 of 193 posts
Is 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?
Money? I'm sure the people needed to keep that whole show going are getting paid quite well.
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…
I imagine the geographic environment has something to do with it.
Earlier 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…
This is perfectly fine view if you're Russian (who wouldn't want to control giant serf armies?), but it's pretty depressing to see it take off the western discourse.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
And IntelliJ IDEA of course, which I think many HN visitors are using in one form or another. This still doesn't change the original point that Putin regime has been very damaging to Russia.
It's true that Jetbrains has lots of developers in Russia, but Jetbrains s.r.o is Czech and was founded in Prague under the name Intellij Software.
jetbrains is a russian company with russian owners. The very fact they (similarly to wargaming of belarus) etablished venues in czech, cyprus etc, were:
1. to whitewash 'russia' label from they brand
2. to avoid potential economic sanctions (esp. post 2014 and Crimea)
3. tax evasion (yeah, cyprus is hq, truly like egshell apple/google ireleand is not for tax evasion)
4. able to recruit some westerners which were needed for sales/marketing to out-of-russia markets (skills, local market, local connections).
to make it clear: I consider both products really good, and both companies successfull and well managed on a worldwide scale. They success can be also measured by the very fact that you fell prey to their marketing strategy 'we're not russian company'. they are.
For those interested in trying to understand more of the context of modern day Russia, and more particularly, Putin's rise to power, I highly recommend 3 books. 1) Catherine Belton: Putin's People https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VMZYK13/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?... 2) Bill Browder: Red Notice https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O30HFT2/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?... 3) Masha Gessen: Several books, but I particularly liked Man withou…
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…
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,…
“It found that Russia was the least popular G-8 country globally. ... Overall, the percentage of respondents with a positive view of Russia was only 31%.“
That supports the wider point quite well. Though Russia has very positive relations with a small number of countries. For example providing China with massive aid in living memory.
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…
The fact of:
1. Sings of long term preparation, and surveillance were there.
2. His hospital room is now "guarded" by KGB agents out of Moscow who appeared out of nowhere within a few hours. That's pretty much a very deliberately displayed smoking gun.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's negative portrayal of a violent corrupt dictatorship.
It started long before Putin and long before communists.
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.
>"Traitors will kick the bucket, believe me. Those other folks betrayed their friends, their brother in arms." [0]
>"Whatever they got in exchange for it, those 30 pieces of silver they were given, they will choke on them.” [0]
>"Treason is the gravest crime possible and traitors must be punished. I am not saying the Salisbury incident is the way to do it, but traitors must be punished." [1]
They cloak themselves with plausible deniability in many cases, but for turncoat intelligence personnel, they seem pretty explicit: at some point, no matter where you are, you will die an untimely, slow, painful death. It's definitely an attempted deterrent.
[0] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/vladimir-put...
[1] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/vladimir-puti...