Windows to Russia

Icon and Stalin

Hello,

One of our readers named MattMacL brought my attention to an interesting subject in Russia that is happening at a time when anti Stalin sentiments are running rather high in the old Soviet areas.

An interview of Father Yevstafiy can be found at the Georgia Daily by Paul Goble of Window on Eurasia. (Link)

His superiors in the Russian Orthodox Church denounced this action as “inappropriate.” And story after story on Russian television (www.islamnews.ru/video-view-184.html), the print media (www.newizv.ru/news/2008-11-26/102216/) and the Russian blogosphere (www.mk.ru/blogs/MK/2008/11/27/society/383332/) played up the debate.

In comments to “Novyye izvestiya,” Father Yevstafiy stood his ground. “The feeling that Stalin is the father of the peoples, that he is thus in part my high father has never left me in the course of my life. I thus have two fathers, besides the Heavenly Father: one is my father in the flesh and the other is the father of the peoples who was strict” and may “have made mistakes.”

Any attacks on him are wrong and inappropriate the dissident priest continued, and he said that he “remembers Iosif Vissarionovich in all services where this is appropriate, especially on those days when he died, was born and when he celebrated the common Victory of our people.” And he insisted that Stalin was “a believer.”

But at the same time, Yevstafiy was careful to specify that “this is not an icon glorifying Stalin. This is an image of. Matrona of Moscow. And Iosif Vissarionovich is one of those people whom she blessed. She blessed many people,” the priest said, including “a well-known architect and a well- known composer of those times. And Stalin too.”

Now we are not really here to debate the good and or bad about Stalin. I am finding out that this is getting to be a heated argument around this part of the world.

I have no right to say much myself because American history painted a whitewashed picture of the Soviet Union during the WWII times, America needed the help of the Soviet Union and slam dunking Stalin was not the way to get help. The history books held a mild opinion of him for many years. Even with a minor in History the class that I took in collage on WWII hardly touched the subject of Stalin.

My wife has said nothing about her feelings of the Stalin era nor about her Mothers feelings of that era.

So if anyone has more information then please present it!

Kyle & Svet

RBC, 27.11.2008, Moscow.Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev has arrived in Venezuela on a first visit in more than 150 years of relations. Opening the Russian-Venezuelan talks, Medvedev announced that he considered Latin American countries to be Russia’s friends enjoying “privileged relations.”

RBC, 27.11.2008, Moscow.Russian shares were rising steadily at the opening today. Around 10:45 a.m. on MICEX, Gazprom and Rosneft climbed 4.5 percent each, and LUKoil gained 3.8 percent. The MICEX index was up 3 percent at 607 points. On the RTS, LUKoil increased 1.6 percent. Federal Grid Company was among the best performers on both trading floors, having soared 12 percent on MICEX and 21 percent on the RTS.

RBC, 27.11.2008, Moscow.Russia and Venezuela have agreed to use national currencies – rubles and bolivares – in bilateral trade and even discussed the possibility of creating reserves in national currencies, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was cited by the Mayak radio station as saying after talks with his Venezuelan counterpart in the country’s capital Caracas today. The Russian leader also noted that Russian-Venezuelan cooperation was not directed against other countries. He also pointed out that Russia might join the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), the international organization aiming for integration between the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Russia is ready to discuss membership in the ALBA, probably as an associate member or in some other status, if it is good for Latin American countries and consistent with the idea of a multipolar world.

RBC, 27.11.2008, Moscow.Most Russians (72 percent) approve of President Dmitry Medvedev’s initiative to increase the controlling powers of the State Duma, obliging the government to report to it on an annual basis, a poll conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center showed. Roughly two thirds of Russians (68 percent) welcome the president’s suggestion on legislation ensuring media coverage of the State Duma parties’ work. Similarly, 62 percent of Russians approve of the initiative entitling local legislatures to remove mayors from office. However, a mere 30 percent of Russians approve of the move reducing the number of signatures required by parties to take part in State Duma elections.

RBC, 27.11.2008, Moscow.At the close of today’s special dollar trading session for tomorrow deals, the U.S. currency’s exchange rate rose RUB 0.05 to 27.41 RUB/USD. Thanksgiving Day celebrated in the United States today calmed down speculative moods on the Russian market, where commercial bank activity was low today. The trade volume stood at USD 3bn as of 1 p.m. The stabilization of oil prices at USD 50 per barrel and the 6-percent rise on the stock market eased negative expectations of the ruble’s fall, experts point out.

RBC, 27.11.2008, Moscow.The Bank of Russia has deposited roughly RUB 1.2 trillion (approx. USD 43.9bn) with commercial banks, Deputy PM and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin told a briefing following today’s cabinet meeting. He noted that the Central Bank had increased the maximum amount of uncommitted funds it could deposit to RUB 3.5 trillion (approx. USD 127.9bn). The minister also reiterated that the maximum amount that the Finance Ministry could place had been reduced from RUB 1.5 trillion (approx. USD 54.8bn) to RUB 400bn (approx. USD 14.6bn), “as the Central Bank has taken on the main part of the burden.”

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

PM Putin to get tough on monopolies

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Hello,

That morning cup of coffee gathered this tidbit of information. Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili says he won’t run for the position of head of state again and that his current term will be his last. This was stated after a strong opposition to him received blessings from the West….

“This is my last term and I am not going to ballot for president again. Of course, after this I do not intend to die. I and my colleagues believe that the first and most important task of the current government is the peaceful restoration of the territorial integrity of Georgia, and the second is building sound and stable public institutions,” Mikhail Saakashvili said. (Link)

The rumor of blessings from the West is former parliamentary Speaker Nino Burjanadze visited Europe and the U.S. and that the West sent her a clear message: “Georgia is located in the zone of the West’s energy interest, and it cannot allow the country to be governed by a leader who may jeopardize the region’s security.”

Things that make you go Hummmm…

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and thinking about the article that RIA and Russia Today printed last night. I also found that CNN, BBC and Rueters printed the same article today.

It was a an article that our favorite Free world Leader Saakashvili of Georgia has fabricated to induce interest and hatred for and against Russia!

Russian and South Ossetian authorities are denying any involvement in an alleged shooting incident near the President of Georgia’s motorcade. Both Russia’s Foreign and Defence Ministries called the suggestion ‘a provocation’.

After celebrating the fifth anniversary of Georgia’s Rose Revolution, the country’s president Mikhail Saakashvili took his guest and long-time ally, Polish president Lech Kaczynski, on a tour near the war-ravaged region of South Ossetia.

Shortly afterwards, the Georgian leadership says its convoy was ‘fired upon’ by Russian soldiers.

The Polish president claims he didn’t see anything because it was dark but believes he did hear something.

Kaczynski said: “A group of armed men have opened fire from machine guns some 30 seconds after we got out of out cars. Probably they were shooting in the air but I cannot fully assess that because it was very dark and we were about 30 meters away.” (Link)

The Polish President said that he requested to go near the borders! Well I do not believe that either president would go anywhere that they did not have plenty of planning to do so.

The facts are that Saakashvili is a most wanted in South Ossetia! Also many Georgians are wanting a change in government in Georgia’s leader.

Maybe the world needs to think about the mentality levels of the two Presidents (Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and Polish President Lech Kaczynski) and that their countries need to give them psychiatric evaluations for traveling near unstable zones.

But I look at it this way: “If someone wanted them dead they would be dead! No questions asked!”

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcomed.

Russian Orthodox Church!

Hello,

I have read several Blogs and News organizations ranting -n- raving about the rumors: “The Orthodox Church is creating a army to combat crime in the streets of Russia!” OMG you would think that Russia is a quagmire of criminal activity and seedy characters after these reports from multiples of sources of journalism.

The Orthodox Church says: “The Russian Orthodox Church is not creating its own private army to help maintain order on the streets, a senior church official said on Friday.”

“The church is not setting up a private army and would never attempt to do so. It is nonsense. The Russian armed forces already consist of 80% Orthodox believers,” said Dmitry Smirnov, who is in charge of the Moscow Patriarchate’s military relations department. (Link)

These statements were said after Kommersant, a Russian business daily, reported in an article on Friday that the church had proposed setting up Orthodox vigilante teams to help police patrol the streets and fight crime in Russian cities.

After I read all the Doom & Gloom that the Masters of Disasters wrote for the last few days, I was feeling depressed. So I went outside to see if Russia was as bad as they all say. For you see I live in Russia and I know that in America it was a big issue that Governor Sarah Palin was able to see Russia from Alaska, but I can see Russia as I walk around.

Here is what I found: I found lots of babushkas (Grandmas), mothers, children and lots of people walking their dogs! I found my favorite grocery store extremely busy as always. I bought a can of diet coke that cost me 16 rubles. I watched a team of ambulance drivers try to get a drunk woke up and on his feet, instead of laying in the snow. I saw 5 flats getting new windows and I found over a dozen snowmen made and at least a dozen being made. (by kids and adults) I also found the peace and quiet that I always find in Russia!

What I did not find was: The quagmire of criminal activity and seedy characters everywhere. (I did find a rude, crude and socially unacceptable driver that drove down the side walk honking his horn and flashing his lights to make people get out of his way. )

I was very glad that Russia was and is still Russia…..

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.