Day: November 26, 2008

What is Russia Up to: November 27th, 2008!


Looks like Russia has been busy this week. To start with:

PM Putin to get tough on monopolies

The government will use anti-monopoly laws to improve competition in Russian business. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin discussed an action plan with Russian entrepreneurs. He called for tougher penalties – singling out the natural monopolies.

While Putin continues to terrorize the big boys in Russia a:

Crazy grandma hijacks off-road car

A pensioner has hijacked an off-road vehicle in Russia’s Republic of Karelia. The owner of the Hyundai Santa Fe was near his car when all of a sudden a 57-year-old woman jumped in and drove off.

So while a Babushka was stealing a car a interview of a well known professor in Russia stirred some Western peoples attitudes.

Professor Igor Panarin: When America fell to pieces the shouting was outrageous

As early as autumn 2009 the economic crisis may lead to a civil war in the USA and then to its division into parts. Igor Panarin, doctor of political science, dean of the foreign affairs department at the Diplomacy Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry, presented this forecast ten years ago. At that time his forecasts seemed unrealistic, but now many of them are coming true.

During the car theft and American bashing, Toyota is crossing their fingers and hoping that Russia still buys cars at the furious pace that they are buying them at:

Toyota counts on Russia as sales wilt

The world’s biggest automaker, Toyota, which recently lost its AAA rating from Fitch is counting on Russia to save its global business from operating at a loss.

Now while Toyota and other car manufacturers are dreaming of a profit we do not have to dream if we have enough missiles in the world, Russia has made sure they have up to date ballistic missiles so that they can launch up to date nuclear weapons:

New missile can beat any defence system

Russia’s military has tested a new-generation of intercontinental nuclear ballistic rocket. Defence sources say the RS-24, capable of carrying multiple independent warheads, can penetrate any defence system.

Speaking of Military: Looks like Ukraine and Georgia are have NATO issues…

’Ukraine and Georgia will wait a long time to join NATO’

It is unlikely Ukraine and Georgia’s admission to NATO will be fast-tracked, says Russia’s envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin. He was commenting on the latest US attempts to bring Kiev and Tbilisi closer to joining the alliance.

Russia seems to keep the fires stirring and they always seem to have fun doing it…

Kyle & Svet

PS: Medvedev is running all around Latin America making good friends and selling Gazprom. He also has made a visa free deal with Brazil! (Pretty cool huh)

PSS: Happy Thanksgiving world from Windows to Russia!

comments always welcome.

Russia: Shooting Provocation Staged by Georgians


Poland has dismissed last week’s shooting incident involving the motorcade of the Georgian and Polish presidents as a stunt. Special services in Warsaw say the alleged attack near the South Ossetian border was a provocation staged by Georgians.

A report by Poland’s Internal Security Agency (Agencja Bezpieczenstwa Wewnetrznego – ABW), published by the Dziennik newspaper, claims Georgia staged the incident for propaganda purposes.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Russia: Professor Igor Panarin – America is in Decline!


Professor Igor Panarin

Hello,

I have spent a few days studying a news article that was printed by the Drudge Report. The Drudge Report has headlined a study by a Russian analyst who predicts the collapse and ultimate breakup of the United States. Time seems to be telling, and the warning should not be ignored: (Link)

RUSSIAN ANALYST PREDICTS DECLINE AND BREAKUP OF USA
Tue Nov 25 2008 09:04:22 ET

A leading Russian political analyst has said the economic turmoil in the United States has confirmed his long-held view that the country is heading for collapse, and will divide into separate parts.

Professor Igor Panarin said in an interview with the respected daily IZVESTIA published on Monday: “The dollar is not secured by anything. The country’s foreign debt has grown like an avalanche, even though in the early 1980s there was no debt. By 1998, when I first made my prediction, it had exceeded $2 trillion. Now it is more than 11 trillion. This is a pyramid that can only collapse.”

The paper said Panarin’s dire predictions for the U.S. economy, initially made at an international conference in Australia 10 years ago at a time when the economy appeared strong, have been given more credence by this year’s events.

When asked when the U.S. economy would collapse, Panarin said: “It is already collapsing. Due to the financial crisis, three of the largest and oldest five banks on Wall Street have already ceased to exist, and two are barely surviving. Their losses are the biggest in history. Now what we will see is a change in the regulatory system on a global financial scale: America will no longer be the world’s financial regulator.”

When asked who would replace the U.S. in regulating world markets, he said: “Two countries could assume this role: China, with its vast reserves, and Russia, which could play the role of a regulator in Eurasia.”

Asked why he expected the U.S. to break up into separate parts, he said: “A whole range of reasons. Firstly, the financial problems in the U.S. will get worse. Millions of citizens there have lost their savings. Prices and unemployment are on the rise. General Motors and Ford are on the verge of collapse, and this means that whole cities will be left without work. Governors are already insistently demanding money from the federal center. Dissatisfaction is growing, and at the moment it is only being held back by the elections and the hope that Obama can work miracles. But by spring, it will be clear that there are no miracles.”

He also cited the “vulnerable political setup”, “lack of unified national laws”, and “divisions among the elite, which have become clear in these crisis conditions.”

He predicted that the U.S. will break up into six parts – the Pacific coast, with its growing Chinese population; the South, with its Hispanics; Texas, where independence movements are on the rise; the Atlantic coast, with its distinct and separate mentality; five of the poorer central states with their large Native American populations; and the northern states, where the influence from Canada is strong.

He even suggested that “we could claim Alaska – it was only granted on lease, after all.” Panarin, 60, is a professor at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has authored several books on information warfare.

Developing…

The Drudge Report is a conservative United States-based news aggregation website run by Matt Drudge. The site consists mainly of links to stories from the U.S. and international mainstream media about politics, entertainment, and current events as well as links to many columnists. Occasionally, Drudge authors news stories himself based on tip-offs.

Igor N. Panarin (Russia)

Doctor of political sciences, professor of the Diplomatic Academy Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russia.
Prof. PANARIN is the author of nine books, «Infowar and power”, “Infowar and world”, “Infowar and election”, and others, and of many political essays published in various journals.

Prof. PANARIN often take part in different political discussions on the Russian TV on the main problems of Russian policy, development of relationships between USA and Russia and many others.
His main interests are history, philosophy, psychology, computer science, communication, election technology, conceptual problems of globalization, the theory and practice of infowar.

I have followed this column for years, just more thoughts to make you go Hummmm…

Kyle & Svet

Russian News: November 26th, 2008!


Hot News!RBC, 26.11.2008, Moscow 12:43:51.The average oil price is expected to be $96 per barrel in 2008, Deputy PM and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said during today’s Federation Council session. He added that although the figure currently stood at $98.7 per barrel for the year to date, the current price was $46.7 per barrel.

RBC, 26.11.2008, Moscow 11:48:09.The Federation Council has approved a presidential amendment to the Constitution granting the State Duma more control over the Russian government. As reported earlier, the document stipulates that the Duma will have the right to hear annual reports by the government over the results of its work during the year, including on issues brought forward by the Duma. The amendment has yet to be approved by two thirds of regional legislatures, after which it will be effective upon its official publication.

RBC, 26.11.2008, Moscow 11:34:13.The Federation Council has approved amendments to the Constitution extending the presidential term in office from four to six years and that of the State Duma to five years. The amendments are to be made to Article 81 and Article 96 of the Constitution, respectively. However, they have yet to be approved by at least two thirds of regional legislatures, after which they will come into force upon their official publication.

RBC, 26.11.2008, Vladikavkaz 09:59:03.Mayor Vitaly Korayev of Vladikavkaz, capital of North Ossetia was shot dead at around 9 a.m. today. According to a source in law enforcement, the mayor was injured and died on his way to the hospital. The site was closed off and an investigative team has launched a probe into the murder.

RBC, 25.11.2008, Moscow 17:05:55.The Russian government expects the inflation rate to drop to a one-digit figure in 2010 and just 7 percent in 2012. This forecast is indicated in a plan for the main areas of the government’s activities until 2012 approved by a decree of November 17. The slowdown in inflation is to be achieved by greater output, the development of competition and a competitive environment, labor productivity growth, and a slower rise in costs, the document reads. The government believes that it is necessary to implement a conservative monetary policy and encourage people to save money. It also plans a range of measures aimed at curbing price growth, particularly that of food prices.

RBC, 25.11.2008, Moscow 16:41:16.The Russian-Venezuelan joint naval exercises will improve the two fleets’ skills of holding joint operations, said head of the Russian State Duma’s defense committee Viktor Zavarzin. He reiterated in an interview today that the joint maneuvers would begin in the Caribbean on December 1. Zavarzin emphasized that the planned tactical exercises would be held in accordance with the reached agreements within 100-150 nautical miles off the Venezuelan coast. The fleets will carry out various joint operations, rescue and other training maneuvers, and gunnery practice, Zavarzin said.

RBC, 25.11.2008, Moscow 15:39:00.Gazprom and Naftogaz of Ukraine have agreed that the Ukrainian company will pay off the debt resulting from September natural gas supplies, as well as part of its October gas debt, by December 1, the Russian energy monopoly’s press office reported. The announcement was made following today’s meeting between Gazprom and Naftogaz CEOs Alexei Miller and Oleg Dubina.

RBC, 25.11.2008, Moscow 13:37:13.Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has signed a decree approving the government’s lines of activities until 2012, the government’s press office reported today. The document was drafted to improve the standard of living of Russia’s population thanks to stable development of the country’s economy, as well as ensure cooperation of the federal executive authorities in solving key social and economic problems. The document also enumerates projects to be implemented by the government in the period until 2012.

RBC, 25.11.2008, Moscow 13:44:38.Promsvyazbank’s net profit under IFRS rose 10.7 percent to RUB 3.1bn (approx. USD 112m) in the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same period a year earlier, the Russian bank said in a statement. Meanwhile, this is a 22-percent increase in net profit from H1 2008. Promsvyazbank’s total assets grew 39 percent from the beginning of the year, to RUB 407.6bn (approx. USD 14.74bn), whereas its net profit position corresponds to an annualized return on average equity of 12.9 percent and an annualized return on average assets of 1.2 percent. The bank’s cost-to-income ratio stood at 43.5 percent, while its net interest margin was 6.5 percent, loan impairment allowance to gross loans ratio 3.7 percent, and capital adequacy ratio (Basel Accord) 12.2 percent.

Russian Diplomat Motorcade in Iraq was smashed by American Armored Carriers!


Hello,

While drinking that wonderful morning cup of coffee RBC reported this tidbit of information on the TV and print:

A motorcade of Russia’s diplomats had a traffic accident in Iraq through the fault of U.S. military, spokesmen of the RF Foreign Ministry told RBC news agency.
Three armored cars of the RF embassy were heading for the international airport when a column of five armored troop carriers of the United States set to overtaking them.

“All of a sudden, the lead armored carrier maneuvered violently, overtook two of three cars of Russia’s motorcade, came abreast of the leading car and hit it to push away from the road. The embassy’s car was heavily damaged, lost control, moved by 180 degree, nearly turning over,” representatives of the RF Foreign Ministry said.

Without any agitation, the U.S. armored carriers proceeded in the previous direction, aiming guns at the diplomats, said representatives of the RF Foreign Ministry.

According to diplomats, Russia emphasizes the intended nature of the accident and demands to probe into it and punish the guilty. The RF embassies in Bagdad and Washington made the respective statements already.

Does not sound like a very friendly thing to do!

This is another thing that makes you go Hummmmmm….

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.