> other organization with a dress code that requires a gun Sounds a lot like organized crime, is it supposed to have that undertone?
> Sounds a lot like organized crime, is it supposed to have that undertone? As does "Department of Homeland Security". That was the first federal agency named that way, and prior to that people would have thought that sort of naming to be associated with the Stassi or a totalitarian regime. I suppose it is commonplace now.
"Federal Bureau of Investigation" or "Secret Service" aren't particularly friendly sounding names either...
"siloviki" is literally a "men of power" ("sila" in Russian is "power" in English) => these include the FSB (an FBI equivalent, or the ex-KGB in practice) and MVD (the police). That's it.
“sila” is strength, not power. Power is “vlast.”
I think "force" would be the best translation in this context.
I’ve been a paid subscriber of FT for years. It’s horrifically expensive and worth every penny.
I was a subscriber for ten years, but gave up on them over mediocre coverage of important issues in the US and East Asia, about which I had some knowledge. Relying on their reporting risked costing me money in my investment decisions.
This sounds like an instance of the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect. At the end of the day, it’s still journalism.
Are you sure about that? I know Google Translate says "vlast" but I speak a Slavic language and "vlast" means motherhood/home in my language. Could be just the online translation not being accurate?
He's right, for the most part. I think the Czech cognate would be vláda, with a somewhat closer meaning.
What he states is historically true, and if you oversimplify it you might come to the conclusion that Russia simply had to invade Ukraine. But that's bullshit, nothing good ever came of it. The dumb part is that the West financed this war, not that they caused it.
What can I say.. in this era we keep watching back to find who did what.. and international relationships history is a dumpster of vague talks, mild backstabbing, potential manipulations.. and kilotons of paranoia. I can never find any clarity in this. I kinda agree that the putin logic is far fetched..
Even Putin agrees, he's been wandering from one pretext to another hoping that something will stick. Let's see if any 'Ukranian' planes bomb Belarus or there is some ridiculously farfetched dirty bomb plot that will allow yet one more country to not only be bullied to accept Russian troops (though I don't think Lukashenko needed much bullying) but to actually incur casualties for what isn't their war at all. Obviously, when Putin draws in other countries it is fine, but when Ukraine asks for help that's cause for WWIII.
Evaluation of Russia by Finnish Intelligence Colonel (subtitles) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kF9KretXqJw I think this is something you should watch if you are interested in how russia works. It's very straight talk and clarified russian mindset a lot for me at least.
Also a long and great Twitter thread: https://nitter.net/kamilkazani/status/1501360272442896388
Enjoying the notion of cartels as protostates. Makes a lot of sense!
I was a subscriber for ten years, but gave up on them over mediocre coverage of important issues in the US and East Asia, about which I had some knowledge. Relying on their reporting risked costing me money in my investment decisions.
I was a subscriber for ten years, but gave up on them over mediocre coverage of important issues in the US and East Asia, about which I had some knowledge. Relying on their reporting risked costing me money in my investment decisions.
Indeed. FT used to be a must-read 15 years ago with investigative journalism and decent counterpoints on any issue. Now it's mostly one-sided opinion with little more information than you can read everywhere else. It's very sad.
I feel like everything is this way nowadays.
Apparently the only real news left is embassy cables.
I was a subscriber for ten years, but gave up on them over mediocre coverage of important issues in the US and East Asia, about which I had some knowledge. Relying on their reporting risked costing me money in my investment decisions.
Do you have an opinion on Asia.Nikkei.com?
Wasn't asked but wanted to chime in as well: I think they share some of the content now that the FT is owned by Nikkei. I notice some Nikkei bylines in the FT from time to time.
For the record, I find the East Asia (and Europe) coverage decent. It's their US section that I'd say is in dire need of an improvement. Overall, a lot boils down to individual correspondents/writers: some are great while others not so much and thus best skipped (although the comments can also provide a lot of insight if the topic as such is interesting).
Are you sure about that? I know Google Translate says "vlast" but I speak a Slavic language and "vlast" means motherhood/home in my language. Could be just the online translation not being accurate?