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"PUTIN'S TEN BLOWS"
[A PROGRESSIVE RUSSIAN VIEW of AFGHANISTAN & OTHER DISASTERS]
by Vyacheslav Tetekin [posted 15 December 2001]
This article originally appeared in Russian in "Sovietskaya Rossia" (Soviet
Russia) on 10 November 2001.
Vyacheslav Tetekin, pronounced 'Tetyokin,' is a leading Russian writer on
foreign affairs. "Sovietskaya Rossia" is the most influential left-patriotic
daily in Russia.].
=======================================
President Putin's recent visit to the USA finalised a major turn in Russian
foreign policy towards full subordination to the West. The symptoms of this
major turn were evident right from the start of Mr. Putin's term in office.
One may recall the ratification of the START-2 treaty that might deprive
Russia of its heavy missiles - the cornerstone of our security. But the
presidential decisions to support US operation in Afghanistan, and to close
Russian bases in Vietnam and Cuba made the sharp turn in the Kremlin's
foreign policy evident.
It becomes clear that the intention to join NATO expressed by Mr. Putin in
an offhand manner last year reflected a long-matured idea of a far deeper
(than in Mr. Gorbachev's or Mr. Yeltsin's case) "integration into the world
community". It fact the intention is to squeeze Russia into the Western
economic, political and military system. Even as a junior partner. Even at
the price of sacrificing independent foreign policy.
For the time being Mr. Putin was just testing the ground. Evidently he was
waiting for a pretext to make a strategic turn publicly. The terrorist
attacks in the USA provided such a pretext. The commitment to joint struggle
against "international terrorism" signaled the move to "the other side". Of
course the Kremlin will deny even the idea that they have dropped an
independent foreign policy. But their actions speak to the contrary.
A recent statement by a group of public and political figures referred to
"Putin's Ten blows" against Russia, i.e. destructive 'reforms' of land,
labour, education, health, housing, the military, energy, transportation and
other systems.
Now one can talk of 'Putin's ten blows' against Russia's international
interests.
FIRST BLOW
The main threat to Russia's security originates not from 'international
terrorism' but from NATO expansion to the East. (1)
The November, 2002 NATO summit in Prague will obviously admit a number of
East European countries including Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to the
Alliance. If this happens we shall get NATO air bases close to Moscow, Saint
Petersburg and other centers of Russia. This is very dangerous. The sad
experience of Yugoslavia confirms that quite convincingly. (2)
But the Kremlin does not even show signs of real opposition to NATO
expansion. More than that, Mr. Putin's statements during his recent visit to
Helsinki were perceived as a go-ahead for NATO membership not only for the
Baltic States but also for traditionally neutral Finland and Sweden.
SECOND BLOW
The threat to Russia's security is increasingly felt from the South. And not
from the Muslim world but from NATO which is penetrating the zones of
Russia's vital interests in the Balkans (3), in Transcaucasia and in Central
Asia. But instead of reinforcing our Southern frontiers the Kremlin is
withdrawing Russian troops from Abkhazia, Adjaria and Transnistria despite
protests of the population, which is anxious to retain an alliance with
Russia. There is an impression that the recent fighting in Abkhazia was a
long-awaited pretext for the Kremlin to speed up its departure from that
strategically important region.
THIRD BLOW
Yugoslavia was Russia's only ally in Europe. Mr. Yeltsin contributed to its
defeat by refusing to supply anti-aircraft weapons. Mr. Putin refused
Yugoslavia political and economic support by cutting gas supplies right
before the 2000 presidential elections. (4) Slobodan Milosevic, committed to
friendship with Russia, landed in prison. Power in Belgrade was taken over
by persons fully dependent on the West, primarily Germany. The present
Germany achieved what Hitler failed to achieve, i.e. the conquest of
Yugoslavia. And then the Kremlin declares 'a new stage of relations with
Yugoslavia.' Absurd? No. It reflects a strategy aimed at Russia's withdrawal
from the Balkans.
FOURTH BLOW
In the Middle East the Kremlin's inconsistent policy in the Arab-Israel
conflict pushes further away traditionally friendly Arab countries allowing
Israel to play 'the Russian card' against both Arabs and the West, which is
no longer prepared to unconditionally support Israel.
FIFTH BLOW
Opening Russian air space for the U.S. Air force and supplying intelligence
information, as well as the silent agreement to allow recruitment of
mercenaries in Russia, means the Kremlin is directly involved in the U.S.
war in Afghanistan. The Americans have gotten the Kremlin's backing for a
permanent U.S. presence in Central Asia - that is, in the zone of Russia's
vital interests. Russia is being encircled by U.S. military bases.
The premature and unconditional support by the Russian president of US
retaliatory action is a major foreign policy error as he failed to assess
even the short-term consequences. It is evident that the Muslim world is
angrily protesting the US repressions against their brothers and that U.S.
Western allies are trying to avoid participation in the 'operation' by all
means. Meanwhile, the main deliveries of drugs into Russia comes not from
the Taliban but from the 'friendly' Northern Alliance.
SIXTH AND SEVENTH BLOWS
Another major blunder is Mr. Putin's intention to close the Russian Naval
base in Vietnam and the Electronic Surveillance Center in Cuba. It is
impossible to think of a bigger gift to the USA. Russian public opinion is
shocked. The damage to Russia's interests is so great that even the
pro-presidential newspapers find it quite difficult to explain these
decisions.
EIGHTH BLOW
Let's add Mr. Putin's nearly religious desire to get Russia into the World
Trade Organization (WTO) which will completely open Russian borders for the
expansion of powerful Western capital and will totally eliminate Russian
industry and agriculture already only half alive as a result of 'reforms'
started by Yeltsin and continued by Putin. (5)
NINTH BLOW
There is no doubt that sooner or later the Kremlin will stop resisting
'modification' of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, i.e. will simply agree
to creation of this Star Wars system. Naive attempts to get a simultaneous
reduction of U.S. nuclear warheads will lead nowhere. U.S. leaders are well
aware of the pitiful state of the Russian nuclear force. Soon even without
any treaty Russia will not be able to have more than 1.5 thousand warheads.
Why should the US reduce its nuclear arsenal if the Russian arsenal will
collapse by itself?
TENTH BLOW
Russian-Chinese relations will inevitably be spoiled as Russia previously
promised China to take a firm position on NATO and ABMT. China is obviously
watching with deep concern Russia's surrendering of these positions as well
as the appearance of the U.S. Air Force close to its borders in Uzbekistan,
Tajikistan and Kyrgyz. One does not easily forget such things.
Everything that Mr. Putin has earned by spectacular improvement of relations
with China, India, Vietnam, Cuba and some other countries collapsed nearly
overnight. What has surfaced was Gorbachev's primitive concept of 'common
human values' - i.e. subordination of Russia's interests to those of the West.
Recently Mr. Putin visited Germany and Belgium. We have not seen for a long
time such an overt desire to please the West. It was a vintage Gorbachev -
like 1989 when he surrendered everything to the applause of Mrs. Thatcher.
The humiliating desire of the current host of the Kremlin to get the
acceptance of the West has become completely shameful. (6)
We have not yet returned to the 19th century Sacred Alliance in the
framework of which the Emperor Alexander I put the interests of European
monarchies above those of Russia. But when the head of the Russian State
plunges into the creation of the alliance against "international terrorism,"
one recalls that the Sacred Alliance led to the 1854 Crimean War of Britain,
France and Turkey against Russia.
The West readily accepts this no-lose game. The artificial flattery of the
Russian leader, who staunchly marches into the mousetrap, allows the West to
solve strategic tasks without spending an extra penny, without endangering
the lives of their soldiers.
Furthermore the flow of money from Russia to Western banks continues
non-stop, softening the effects of the economic crisis in the West.
And what does Russia get in return? Nothing. The Kremlin seems to enjoy
demonstrating a selflessness that confuses even cynical pro-presidential
journalists.
But it doesn't smell of selflessness. It smells of a secret agenda that
obviously corresponds to Mr. Putin's long-term personal interests. Of course
he has started thinking about the 2004 presidential elections. A favourable
attitude by the West will be beneficial…
So what is behind the radical changes in Russian foreign policy? Nothing
special. Mr. Putin has simply thrown away the veil of statements about the
protection of Russian national interests. His policy acquires a clearly
expressed class character. Pragmatism, the defense of some 'national
interests' that Mr. Putin likes to talk about at press conferences - this is
just for fools. In fact we are observing a clear shift to a policy defined
by the interests of the Russian oligarchs very closely connected with
Western transnationals and completely dependent on their Western counterparts.
If one can privatize whole branches of industry why can't one privatize
foreign policy? The Land Code allowing the sale of lands to foreigners and
the opening of Russian air space to the U.S. air force are links in a chain.
Having handed over the national economy to Mr. Chubais, Hodorkovsky, Fridman
and Co., one should forget about an independent foreign policy. But the
Kremlin hardly thinks about that. The outer expressions of independence
(receiving a red-carpet reception, and so on) are sufficient.
Russian public opinion is clearly reluctant to recognize the West as a
friend. But the Kremlin behaves like a girl in a fairy tale who, with
wonderful persistence, fails to see the sharp ears and even sharper teeth of
the wolf that has just eaten her grandmother. Mr. Putin's main principle of
running the State is, "If one mustn't do something but wants it very much
then he\she can do it". Russia will not travel far on this principle. The
president should better recall the plight of his predecessor, Mr. Gorbachev,
who at the top of his popularity did what he wanted without any regard for
the country's interests. The real hatred that the nation now feels for Mr.
Gorbachev should at least make Mr. Putin think a bit.
They say that in his youth Mr. Putin was a judo expert. He does not look
like one. He is far more skillful in playing into the hands of the other side.
(c) "Sovietskaya Rossia" 2001 * Reprinted for Fair Use Only
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Further Reading:
**************************
1) For an analysis of Washington's 'Russian' motive, see 'Why Washington
Wants Afghanistan' by Rick Rozoff, Nico Varkevisser and Jared Israel at
http://emperors-clothes.com/analysis/afghan.htm
2) Washington's interference in Belarus, which stands between Russia and the
Baltic States of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, is mind boggling. See,
'Speechless in Belarus,' by Jared Israel at
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/news/ind.htm
3) The Balkan State of Macedonia cooperated with NATO in the attack on
Yugoslavia, whose integrity has long been seen as crucial for stability in
the Balkans. And Balkans stability is crucial to Russia. Washington has
rewarded Macedonia by unleashing the KLA terrorists on that nation. See:
* 'Western Media Demonizes Macedonia' by Rick Rozoff and Jared Israel at
http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/rozoff/shrill.htm
* 'Terrorist Thug Boasts, "Thanks to Uncle Sam, Macedonians Are No Match for
Us!" This report is by Scott Taylor, a Canadian military expert who went to
Macedonia and interviewed 'rebel' leaders. It can be read at
http://emperors-clothes.com/analysis/taylor.htm
(4) Regarding the amazing level of U.S. interference in the Yugoslav
elections of 2000, see 'US Arrogance and Yugoslav Elections'
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/engl.htm
5) Ten years after the East 'embraced freedom,' the economies of the former
Socialist bloc are a shambles. The applicable advertising slogan is,
'Promise them anything, but give them misery.' In May, with the West
promising lots of aid to Yugoslavia in return for (!) former President
Slobodan Milosevic, the Socialist Party of Serbia issued a searing reply,
'Give Us Milosevic Or We Won't Destroy Your Country!' Can be read at
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/docs/fools.htm
6) During the electoral transition, the Clinton and Bush administrations
cooperated in illegally arresting a Russian diplomat, thus deliberately
humiliating Russia. Mr. Putin did not even protest. See: 'Borodin Falsely
Arrested - Washington's Excuse a Lie,' by Jared Israel at
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/news/bor.htm and 'Borodin Arrest targets
Russian-Belarus Union' at
http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/jared/borodin.htm
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