As you know I love to post articles about these wonderful Russian Tall Ships that Russia seems to have a lot of. So today lets talk about one called Sedov, it is starting its first around the world trip…
The Sedov is a 4-masted steel barque and the first sailing ship with an modern auxiliary engine, to help it navigate. The Sedov originally known as Magdalene Vinnen II was from Germany and as with many of the Tall Ships Russia has, it was acquired as reparation after WWII was over in 1945…
I am not sure how many ships like this Russia got, but it seems that it was more than a few and Russia has valued them highly over the years…
The Sedov’s route will be nearly the same as the route of the first Russian world trip on a sailing vessel, which took place in 1803-1806. That legendary expedition was headed by Ivan Krusenstern. Sedov’s trip will last 14 months. It will cover more than 42,000 miles in the Arctic, the Pacific and the Indian Oceans, and visit more than 30 foreign ports…
Things always come out in the end. I wrote an article about Putin sending a message to Obama, when he declined the G8 meeting at Camp David and now the NATO meeting in Chicago. His refusal took the surprise move by America off the shelf and all that happens is that NATO loving Russian hating cretins, babble for joy as we work our way toward WWIII in the future…
Now it makes sense and while the Russian haters are dancing in the street for joy at what NATO Secretary-General Fogh Rasmussen says, “The European missile shield is up and running!” (Link)
Now you know why Medvedev was sent…
The Western Empire will not let the “Cold War” die a peaceful death and are trying everything in their power to revive the “Cold War…”
The G8 Summit was a total disaster and farce as was the NATO meeting. Riots and and cops where the real name of the game. What did come out of all this though is that it looks like after the G8 Summit and NATO meeting, that Russia and China are very close on positions in and on the world issues! It is also amazing to see the difference in presses, between Russia and America. Russia actually gives equal time to opposition and government. (In fact many times it is slanted to the opposition!) It is so pro-government in American media, that it is almost scary…
I know from what I am seeing by my eyes personally, is that Russia is definitely leaning toward relations with China…
But then why not? It is win win for Russia and China both…
Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia!
PS: I find it interesting that American main media makes a bigger ta-do out of Russian rallies than they do about the ones at home. The image above looks a lot like a Russian rally except it is in Chicago. The main stream media reported that the rallies were peaceful for the most part in Chicago and how wonderful the police are. The blogs reported the truth and showed the picture that the main media does not want to be shown…
The County Attorney says, 9-year-old Anton Fomin was killed a fire out in Davey. They say they’re still investigating the child’s death and the cause of the fire but neighbors say they heard a loud explosion.
Investigators won’t say much other than the explosion possibly came from a propane tank.
“At this time the information we have is very limited and the investigation is on-going. We know there was a family member inside the home at the time of the fire. Pending autopsy results, we’ll have further information at a later time,” said LSO, Chad Bryant.
Fomin’s brother and grandfather were there this morning to speak with deputies. Again, the cause of the fire and any other information have not been released. (Link)
But the Russian news has this…
Anton Fomin, a 9-year old boy from Russia, adopted by US parents, has died in a fire.
This came in a statement by the Russian Ombudsman for Children under the Russian President, Pavel Astakhokv.
He asked Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to assume personal control over the ongoing investigation and find out if the foster parents are to blame for the boy’s death.
According to US officials, the fire broke out late at night, when the boy was possibly locked in the basement and could not get out into the open on his own. (RIA)
I found it interesting that there is no mention of the fact that the boy is Russian and the fact that he was locked up in the basement in any of the American news items I found, but in the news on this side of the world there is a whole lot more information and it seems that Russia is having some issue with what happened…
I will keep an eye on this one it has caught my interest…
Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia!
Update: A day after firefighters find the body of a 9-year-old boy in a charred home, now those who knew the boy are asking questions.
Those who knew Anton Fomin and lived near him say they are shocked and saddened by the death of the 9-year-old.
One viewer who sent us an email says she fondly remembers Fomin. She said, “Anton was a sweet lovable little boy.”
Because the case involves a death, the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Lancaster County Sheriff have referred us to the Lancaster County Attorney.
We are waiting an update from County Attorney Joe Kelly as to the cause of the fire and the cause of Fomin’s death. Officials told us this is standard operating procedure when a death occurs.
Investigators continue to look into the cause of the fire which destroyed the home.
Taylor lives next door to the home where Fomin’s body was found.
“I just knew they had some kids and he was a truck driver but we never really got a chance to meet them. It’s tragic that happening to any family.”
And those who knew the boy say they want answers. That same viewer who emailed us said,” I hope your reporters keep digging into this tragedy.”
Hmm! Still nothing that is conclusive. As I said I will keep after this and as I find information I will print it….
Update:
U.S. EMBASSY MOSCOW, RUSSIA Media note
May 22, 2012
Statement on the Death of Russian-born Child Anton Fomin in Nebraska Fire
U.S. Embassy Moscow was deeply saddened by the death of Russian-born child Anton Fomin. According to media reports, nine-year-old Anton died on May 17 in a fire at his foster parents’ home in Davey, Nebraska. We understand the Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire. The death of any child is a tragedy, and our condolences go out to Anton’s family and community.
Contrary to unsubstantiated reports, however, Anton immigrated to the United States with his biological parents, not through intercountry adoption. While the Department of State has no official role in this case, we will provide Russian officials with all available information and help them liaise with the Nebraska authorities.
I also have discovered that it was positive? (according to Western media) that his dad (Russian) died years ago and his mother who is Russian was not able to care for him. He was in the household of a church family and as of right now he was left alone in the house. Russia seems to have jumped the gun on one thing about adoption, but it also seems that he was definitely not with his correct family when he died. Confusion to Russia was the fact he was not with his real parents or parent at the time of death…
Why was he left alone in the basement? and where was everyone else? he was 9 years old…
Like I said from the beginning the stories did not match up and I am seeing an issue get bigger and bigger here. I hope we find out the truth…
I want the answer to was he locked in or not…
Kyle Keeton
Update: Just a few hours ago this was printed:
The United States government tried to head off a diplomatic row with Russia on Tuesday after Russian officials demanded an investigation into the death of a Russian child in an adoptive American family. American news media reported last week that Anton Fomin, a nine-year old Russian child adopted into a Nebraska family, died in a house fire while his parents were gone. On Monday, Russia’s children’s rights ombudsman, Pavel Astakhov, demanded an investigation, saying that American investigators had established that the child had been locked in the basement. “Either the boy was punished or he was neglected and got into the basement accidentally,” Mr. Astakhov said, according to RIA Novosti news service. “Why the boy was locked in the basement and why he could not get out, we will ask the U.S. attorneys about this.” The United States Embassy in Moscow expressed its condolences to the child’s family on Tuesday, and corrected what it called “unsubstantiated reports” that he was brought to the United States through an adoption program. “Anton immigrated to the United States with his biological parents, not through intercountry adoption,” the statement said. Russian authorities have repeatedly criticized lax checks on adoptive American parents after a spate of high profile deaths involving negligent and abusive families. Last December, Mr. Astakhov threatened to demand a moratorium on adoptions by Americans after a Pennsylvania court released a pair of adoptive parents with time served after they were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a child. (Western News source: New York Times)
This is getting interesting and we at Windows to Russia are going to follow this for as long as it takes. Something is rotten and I know it. Lets find out which side is rotten…
I thought that the comments that I am seeing by the hundreds are government sponsored and now with a diplomatic row heading up over this! Hmm…
Kyle
Update: US Embassy urges Russia to avoid scandal over orphan’s death: Russian Today…
The US Embassy in Moscow is trying to prevent a new adoption scandal, following the death of a nine-year-old Russian orphan in Nebraska.
Anton Fomin was killed in a fire at the house of his adoptive parents on May 17, prompting renewed calls for a clampdown on the number of US adoptions.
The Russian ombudsman for children’s rights urged Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to take the case under his personal control and find out if the adoptive parents are to blame for the accident.
The US Embassy has deplored Fomin’s death, stressing that contrary to unsubstantiated reports, the child immigrated to the US with his biological parents, not through inter-country adoption.
“The death of the child is a tragedy, and our condolences go out to Anton’s family and community,” the embassy said in a statement on Tuesday. “The Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.”
Officials promised to share “all available information” on the accident with Russian officials, helping them “liaise with the Nebraska authorities.”
Russian authorities have long been unsatisfied with the ever-growing amount of US adoptions of Russian children – due to the huge number of scandals that have broken involving the mistreatment of Russian children by their adoptive parents.
In May 2010, Russia froze all adoptions by foreigners after an adoptive mother from the US put an unaccompanied seven-year-old boy on a one-way flight to Moscow, saying she could no longer handle the stress of raising him.
In another scandalous case, a seven-year-old Russian boy was allegedly beaten to death by his adoptive parents in the US. American doctors found more than 80 injuries on his body.
Russia is one of the largest sources of foreign adoptions for US families. About 400 Russian children are currently living in adoptive families in the US.
Kyle Keeton
Updated: May 24th, 2012…
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 9-year-old boy originally from Russia who was killed in a Nebraska house fire has been laid to rest, but prosecutors and the Russian government are seeking more information about his death.
Nearly 200 people gathered at a Lincoln church Wednesday to mourn the death of Anton Fomin, who was alone when his legal guardians’ house caught fire May 17 in the town of Davey, Neb.
His death prompted a Russian government official to call for more information about the case, while the U.S. Embassy in Moscow emphasized that the boy immigrated to the United States with his biological parents before he was placed with a different family.
However, the boy hadn’t lived with his parents since 2005, according to court records. His father died of cancer in August 2008, and friends said he asked for his son to live with a family from church because of his wife’s mental health issues.
Church officials who knew Anton, his parents and the boy’s legal guardians said Russian officials were unfairly comparing the child’s death to other high-profile U.S. cases that have involved abuse of adopted Russian children.
Anton’s legal guardian, Slavik Sinchuk, told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday that earlier media reports about the boy being locked in a basement were untrue.
Pavel Astakhov, Russia’s ombudsman for children’s rights, sent a statement to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday seeking more information about the case.
“It is necessary to determine whether the adoptive parents were at fault in the death of the child,” he said. “Adoptive parents should be required to bear greater responsibility for the life and health of their children.”
Fire investigators referred questions to prosecutors. Chief Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon said Wednesday that his office won’t have much information to release until the investigation is complete, which could take 30 days because toxicology tests are being performed to determine how the boy died.
It’s also not clear what caused the fire.
Officials with the Russian consulate have asked prosecutors in Lancaster County for information on the case. Condon said the county attorney’s office will provide it after the probe is done.
Anton’s youth pastor at House of Prayer Church in Lincoln, Oleg Stepanyuk, and Sinchuk said the boy was asleep before the fire started. Stepanyuk, who often served as an English translator for the boy, said Anton had grown to love the family that had become his legal guardians.
“He was loved. He loved being there,” Stepanyuk told the AP. “He was feeding chickens and dogs there, and really, the last three years he lived there were some of the happiest of his life.”
Sinchuk said he and his wife left home to visit Sinchuk’s father in Lincoln and let Anton stay asleep in his basement bedroom because they didn’t want to disturb the boy.
They returned 30 to 45 minutes later and found the house burning, Sinchuk said, adding that he didn’t know how the fire started. He said neighbors reported hearing an explosion shortly before the blaze.
Church pastor Bogdan Stebanyek said Anton’s father, while dying of cancer, asked that the boy be placed in the care of another family because Anton’s mother had mental health issues.
Stebanyek, speaking in Russian with help from an English translator, said the church tried to connect the boy with a member family that had children his age. Anton went to a family that had four other children. Another family took in Anton’s older brother, Mikhail, now 20 and enrolled in a community college.
Stebanyek said Anton left the family that took him after one year. The man of the house was a truck driver and often was away from home, and the woman struggled to care for all the children.
The woman’s sister — Sinchuk’s wife — offered to take Anton.
Russia has long demanded that the U.S. tighten controls over Americans who adopt its children, in the wake of high-profile cases that infuriated top Russian officials.
Last week, an American woman who adopted a Russian boy and later sent him back on a one-way flight to Moscow was ordered to pay a sum of $150,000 and an additional $1,000 per month in child support until he becomes an adult.
In November 2011, Russian officials reacted with outrage to what they considered a lax sentence for a Pennsylvania couple originally charged with murder for the death of their 7-year-old son adopted from Russia. Michael and Nanette Craver were sentenced to 16 months to four years in prison for involuntary manslaughter.
Russian officials have claimed that at least 17 adopted Russian children have died in domestic violence in American families.
Associated Press writer Lynn Berry in Moscow contributed to this report.
The truth is coming out like a slow trickle of water and it looks like most of what Russia has said from the beginning is true…
I will also say I have slaughtered with deceitful and hateful comments for printing this story and I am amazed at the amount of pressure that is being used to try to get people like me to change the story. This is a big cover up and I want to know what happened…
On the eastern, ascendant flank of Eurasian continent, the Chinese vertigo economy is overheated and too-well integrated in the petrodollar system. Beijing, presently, cannot contemplate or afford to allocate any resources in a search for an alternative. (The Sino economy is low-wage- and labor intensive- centered. Chinese revenues are heavily dependent on exports and Chinese reserves are predominantly a mix of the USD and US Treasury bonds.) To sustain itself as a single socio-political and formidably performing economic entity, the People’s Republic requires more energy and less external dependency.
Domestically, the demographic-migratory pressures are huge, regional demands are high, and expectations are brewing. Considering its best external energy dependency equalizer (and inner cohesion solidifier), China seems to be turning to its military upgrade rather than towards the resolute alternative energy/Green Tech investments – as it has no time, plan and resources to do both at once. Inattentive of a broader picture, Beijing (probably falsely) believes that lasting containment, especially in the South China Sea, is unbearable, and that – at the same time – fossil-fuels are available (e.g., in Africa and the Gulf), and even cheaper with the help of warships.
In effect, the forthcoming Chinese military buildup will only strengthen the existing and open up new bilateral security deals of neighboring countries, primarily with the US – as nowadays in Asia, none wants to be a passive downloader. Ultimately, it may create a politico-military isolation (and financial burden) for China that would just consequently justify and (politically and financially) cheapen the bolder American military presence in Asia-Pacific, especially in the South China Sea. It perfectly adds up to the intensified demonization of China in parts of influential Western media.
Hence, the Chinese grab for fossil fuels or its military competition for naval control is not a challenge but rather a boost for the US Asia-Pacific – even an overall – posture. (Managing the contraction of its overseas projection and commitments – some would call it managing the decline of an empire – the US does not fail to note that nowadays half of the world’s merchant tonnage passes though the South China Sea.
Therefore, the US will exploit any regional territorial dispute and other frictions to its own security benefit, including the costs sharing of its military presence by the local partners, as to maintain pivotal on the maritime edge of Asia that arches from the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean, Malacca and South China Sea up to the northwest-central Pacific.) A real challenge is always to optimize the (moral political and financial) costs in meeting the national strategic objectives. In this case, it would be a resolute turn of China towards green technology, coupled with the firm buildup of the Asian multilateralism. Without a grand rapprochement to the champions of multilateralism in Asia, which are Indonesia, India and Japan, there is no environment for China to seriously evolve and emerge as a formidable, lasting and trusted global leader warships.
Opting for either strategic choice will reverberate in the dynamic Asia-Pacific theatre. However, the messages are diametrical: An assertive military – alienates, new technology – attracts neighbors. Finally, armies conquer (and spend) while technology builds (and accumulates)! At this point, any eventual accelerated armament in the Asia-Pacific theatre would only strengthen the hydrocarbon status quo. With its present configuration, it is hard to imagine that anybody can outplay the US in the petro-security, petro-financial and petro-military global playground in the following few decades. Given the planetary petro-financial-tech-military causal constellations, this type of confrontation is so well mastered by and would further only benefit the US and the closest of its allies.
Within the OECD/IEA grouping, or closely; the G-8 (the states with resources, infrastructure, tradition of and know-how to advance the fundamental technological breakthroughs), it is only Japan that may seriously consider a Green/Renewable-tech U-turn. Tokyo’s external energy dependencies are stark and long-lasting. After the recent nuclear trauma, Japan will need a few years to (psychologically and economically) absorb the shock – but it will learn a lesson. For such a huge formidable economy and considerable demography, situated on a small land-mass which is repeatedly brutalized by devastating natural catastrophes (and dependent on yet another disruptive external influence – Arab oil), it might be that a decisive shift towards green energy is the only way to survive, revive, and eventually to emancipate.
An important part of the US-Japan security treaty is the US energy supply lines security guaranty given to (the post-WWII demilitarized) Tokyo. After the recent earthquake-tsunami-radiation armageddon, as well as witnessing the current Chinese military/naval noise, Japan will inevitably rethink and revisit its energy policy, as well as the composition of its primary energy mix.
Tokyo is well aware that the Asian geostrategic myopias are strong and lasting, as many Asian states are either locked up in their narrow regionalisms or/and entrenched in their economic egoisms. Finally, Japan is the only Asian country that has clearly learned from its own modern history, all about the limits of hard power projection and the strong repulsive forces that come in aftermath from the neighbors. Their own pre-modern and modern history does not offer a similar experience to other two Asian heavyweights, China and India. That indicates the Far East as a probable zone of the Green-tech excellence and a place of attraction for many Asians in the decade to come.
Anis H. Bajrektarevic, Geopolitics of Energy Editorial Member
Windows to Russia has been online with out being knocked down for over two weeks now. I am not saying that they have not tried, but it looks like it takes much more resources than they like to expend, to take me offline now. Yesterday we got slammed and we were attacked heavily by the TSA/DHS again for the hundredth time! They tried for 6 hours to knock us offline and then gave up. They had 6 different stations at 6 different government installations in America and they kept a constant barrage going…
XOXXOOXO – TSA/DHS – I love you too…
It is easy to see where we host now and as we speak I am getting set up an even better back up host. This has become a matter of principal and I will not give up. I will not mention my hosting as you should be smart enough to be able to figure out that for yourself. It is definitely offshore and offline from America and how sweet it is…
The constant e-mails that threaten me have stopped as the jurisdiction is no longer available to them to easily try to use scare tactics anymore. Other words Windows to Russia has gone offline on the corrupted and disgusting Internet system that is being played as a facade by the USA…
My last e-mail that I returned to a Lawyer in Rd Island in the name of a government entity! Has died in its tracks as soon as they found out that Windows to Russia was no longer under the USA jurisdiction that is GoDaddy for domains. They tried to gag order me on an article that in US’s eyes was not conductive of appropriateness in government statutes…
You just do not know what always goes on behind closed doors – do you?
Well Windows to Russia is stabilizing and starting to experience growth again. It took a hard hit and lost a huge amount of audience due to many restrictions by many countries such as Ukraine, USA, Canada, Britain, France and twenty others. Now it has been opened back up and is being seen all over the world again…
Tidbit of information: Your website may be hosted offshore, but unless your domain is moved offshore, you are not safe…
Our host has a saying: “Big Brother is Watching You!” and that is the truth…
Thanks to all the readers, Sveta and I appreciate you…
I use to get tons of hate, hate, hate, hate, hate and more hate e-mails. They still come (But very few and file thirteen is their home!), but I have finally stomped them in the bud. But I get tons of e-mails and I now get tons of e-mails that are from people who do not know what to do and are crying out for help in someway or another…
And it just gets WORSE = How much more can the 99% take America to all intents and purposes is now like a third world dictatorship. But with billions $ used by the state to OPPRESS its OWN citizens. You aren’t free America – No American can now criticize other countries or “lecture them” on FREEDOM=DEMOCRACY and the ability to speak out against your 1% helping government. How much more can you take???
Or maybe this one…
Dear Windows to Russia!
Please help me to leave the USA! I have become sacred! Seems we have followed the Orwell book 1984! Contact me!
+############ phone
Sam
or this one…
Dear Sir,
I am US citizen and follow my ip and it will show you where I live. I follow your blog and find it refreshing. I have problem that maybe you could help me with.
I try to get passport and they tell me that I can only have a passport card. How did you get a real passport? Could you help me to get a passport? I want to leave US and go to China. Passport card does not work for that. Help me get a passport! ********@gmail.com
Marky
Okay so not that exciting to you? Well they should be, because I get hundreds a week like this! This is what they all look like in some form or another. They all ask for help and information. They all tell how they feel! They all want some advice and want to understand. Many ask to leave America and how to get out from under the control. I get hundreds of them a week and I really do n0t know what to do with them all. They are all from the US and from all over the country. They are from people who are really worried about the state of affairs in America…
I have had some very wealthy people contact me about Russia. They are looking all over the world and deciding where they want to go and relocate to. I have always been bombarded with all the facts trying to point out how Russia is having a brain drain and why do people always leave Russia?
Well they maybe leaving Russia also and you can spend your time pointing fingers as you look the other way, but first you should worry about the brain drain that I am seeing leaving America…
Russia is the least of your worries and only a fool looks at the other side of the fence to ignore his issues and problems…
Every since I have squelched the hate and disgusting comments that belittle people who are sincere about commenting and steered everyone to the e-mail system. It has been a whole bunch better and people can express themselves without fear…
America is experiencing “Brain Drain” and the government does not want you to know about it…
As you know I have about twenty + articles on this horrible excuse for a woman, mother and animal, whose name is Torry Hansen. I have not changed my opinion since this American person sent a little boy back to Russia like a discarded suitcase, after adopting him and deciding she did not want him. She actually sent him alone with a note saying she did not want him, on a jet back to Russia…
Well after a lot of time and effort Russia has gotten some form of satisfaction for the boy and his rights…
A court in the state of Tennessee obliged a U.S. woman, who sent her adopted son back to Russia, to pay some $150,000 in damages, child support, and legal fees, local NewsChannel5 television reported.
Torry Hansen was living in Tennessee in April 2010, when she put Artyom Savelyev, then seven, on a flight to his native Russia unaccompanied, with a note saying she did not want him because he was “psychotic.” She had adopted the boy from a Russian orphanage in 2009.
Hansen, who now resides in the state of California, was sued in March for unpaid child support by her adoption agency, World Association for Children and Parents (WACAP).
A judge in Tennessee ordered “Hansen to pay her adopted son $58,000, the adoption agency $29,000 and attorney fees of nearly $63,000 as well as $1,000 a month in child support,” NewsChannel5 said.
There are a whole bunch more, just search the blog…
I have no respect for this woman at all and I really feel she should have been imprison and most likely will be, because she will not be able to pay child support and believe you me Russia will not let it lay silent…
This incident became a matter of principle and the fact that America had no rules to keep a situation like this from happening was beyond comprehension. In fact this has stimulated years of meetings between America and Russia as the ground work for adoption processes is being laid as you read this…
I like a special saying for an occasion like this: “There is more than one way to skin a cat!”
Torry you got skinned finally and you deserved it for sending an 8 year old boy back to Russia after you discarded him like a sack of trash…
Russian love egg salad and one thing that Russians have in the villages is eggs and more eggs! When you drive Russia and see the sights, you will come to understand that chickens are everywhere and the village roads are sometimes clogged with stupid chickens… 🙂
So lets try an egg salad that is as close to Russian as I can get. This actually is a recipe of mine and I have altered it some for the occasion. In Russi, mustard is horseradish based so keep that in mind as you make it.
Lets make Salat Iz Yaits or Russia Egg Salad…
Ingredients
120ml/4fl.oz. of real mayonnaisep90ml/3fl.oz. plain yoghurt
1 tsp spicy mustard
salt to taste
1 garlic clove, crushed
6 hard boiled eggs, diced
2 tbsp finely chopped spring onion greens
1 tbsp finely chopped pimento as a garnish before serving
Instructions
Place the mayonnaise, yoghurt, mustard, salt and garlic in a small mixing bowl and mix well first. Then place the egg and spring onion greens in a the same serving bowl and mix well. Chill before serving and in fact make this the night before, then refrigerate and allow flavors to blend. Then it is exceptionally better…
Garnish with the pimiento just before serving. Feeds 4…
Found this cartoon as they call it in ChinaDaily.com! It hits the point just right and the state of affairs right now is sliding quickly to the bottom. I find it interesting…
Oh by the way! Medvedev is going to the G8 summit and he has plans on meeting Obama and it is a short meeting. From what I understand, Medvedev is going to pass a few words from Putin along and from what I understand these words have much to do with the way Obama respected Putin, when Obama came to Russia. We all know that Obama acted like a ass in Russia and that was a major turning point in relations…
I always think of this quote: “If an ass goes traveling he will not come home a horse.” by Thomas Fuller…
The G8 meeting is worthless and Putin knows it. Obama is only worried about reelection so he will miss the important APEC meeting for no reason other than spit back at Putin. Putin will be at the G20 meeting which is the meeting that counts, compared to the G8. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a summit that America can not afford to snub and by doing so they will slide down the power pole a little farther. Asia is the future!
We have a saying in America that Obama has seemed to never have learned…
“What Goes Around Comes Around…” The “reset” dies a little more in a spiraling death…
The fear of the West is back: Putin does not respect, nor is scared of the Western Empire…
The media war with the West was lost the day the Syrian uprising began, President Assad told a Russian broadcaster. The authorities appear ready to start another round by showing to the world the foreign mercenaries captured in Syria.
A number of key questions have arisen since Assad gave his last interview over half a year ago. Assad answered them all in a new interview with Rossiya-24 TV channel.
‘West outplayed Syria on media battlefield’
Assad admits that Syria is losing the media war against the West, but says “the reality is what really matters” and not “the illusions” created by the media.
He said that the media outplayed the Syrian government in the very beginning of the conflict by making up stories and spreading rumors. But in the long term the media cannot beat the reality, he added, and eventually the circumstances have changed because what is really happening is very much different from what the media reports.
Assad also said that the Syrian government repeatedly tried to express its point of view to numerous international journalists, but the agencies kept sending to Syria only those people who would stick with the same lies and false picture created in the first days of the conflict.
Not so Free Syrian Army
Assad says that the Syrian National Council, an “opposition” operating from abroad, has from little or no influence on what is happening in Syria and does not have any kind of significance within Syria. Though on the ground the Free Syrian Army is widely considered to be the core of the armed and organized opposition movement, Assad believes the FSA has not much to either with freedom or the organized army.
“First of all they are not free,” the head of state said, explaining that they will never be free while they are supplied with guns and funded from abroad.
He described the Free Syrian Army as a crowd of convicted criminals, comprised among other things of Al-Qaeda type religious fanatics, extremists and terrorists and to some extent of foreign mercenaries, predominantly from other Arab states.
Assad revealed that Syrian forces had captured a number of foreign mercenaries who were fighting for the opposition. He explained the authorities had not advertised the fact until now because they did not have enough evidence to prove the fighters were indeed mercenaries.
“Some [of the mercenaries] are still alive,” he said. “They are being detained and we are preparing to show them to the world. Many of them have been killed.”
Syrian rebels are also known to have gone to Kosovo to study partisan warfare tactics, Assad added. “There is information that a group of people who call themselves opposition went to Kosovo to train in organizing military intervention by NATO into Syria,” he told Rossiya-24.
Western sanctions and UN mission – both one-sided
At the moment there are 212 military observers and 68 civilian staff working for the UN observer mission in Syria monitoring the implementation of Kofi Annan’s peace plan.
Assad says that a decrease in direct military confrontation with the opposition due to the redeployment of the military was the only positive result of the mission’s arrival. At the same time, he says, the number of terror attacks targeting civilians has sharply increased and is now at its highest level since the beginning of the crisis.
The West keeps talking “about violence, but violence from the side of the government, not a word about the terrorists,” the Syrian leader said. “Mr. Annan will come to Syria this month, and I will ask him about this matter.”
Slapping Syria with all sorts of sanctions and embargoes is another one-sided decision by the West, Assad believes.
“Sanctions affect only ordinary people, not the government,” Assad explained.
He said that the world is wide enough not to focus only on the US and Europe.
“We are finding alternatives to overcome these difficulties,” he said. “We have wonderful relations with the greater part of the world, except for the West.”
Not a regime but a form of government
President Assad believes that what Russia and China, who repeatedly expressed their support for Syria and backed the country in the UN Security Council, are in fact supporting is neither the regime (Assad prefers the expression “form of government”) nor Assad as the head of state, but international stability.
Both Russia and China have a good grip on the geopolitical situation in the region and they understand that without their support not only Syria but a lot of its neighbors will plunge into chaos, Assad explained.
“It is not a question of Syria, it is a question of international stability,” Assad said.
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