See the speech or the summary at the link (in English):
Vladimir Putin takes the gloves off http://boingboing.net/2014/10/30/vladimir-putin-takes-the-glove.html
I’m too tired today but tomorrow I will comment on Putin ‘ s speech.
Putin on the Collapse of the Nation-state
Clarissa's Blog 
Progressive’s view on Putin’s speech:
“I find it utterly remarkable, no, incredulous, the western media, in its continued demonization of Putin, had almost nothing to say about Putin’s speech at Valdai. It may well prove to be his best speech ever and go down in history (no joke) as the most important speech yet of the 21st century. Yes, it was that good. And important.”
http://www.correntewire.com/while_the_west_sleeps_putin_wows_at_valdai#more
It will be interesting to hear your comments.
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I’m interviewing today but I will publish an analysis as soon as I can.
By the way, people who keep asking me where I see liberals who adore Putin: see the link provided by NG.
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Unfortunately, I felt more respect for this speech than for my PM’s drawings of Iranian bombs in UN OR for Obama’s “Arab spring … democracy… let’s all be friends…” La La land. (To be fair, I haven’t checked Obama’s speeches now since it would take a lot of time. If I am mistaken, tell me. That’s the impression I got regarding American rhetoric.)
I find listening to a speech about interests, “mechanism of checks and balances” and “a rational reconstruction” as more respectful of my intellect and closer to reality than “Middle East will become democratic soon and we’ll help it.” Of course, Putin’s speech includes lies, and what is harder to detect and thus more dangerous, numerous half-truths. Regarding lies, the most ironic phrase is “letting the strong bully and suppress the weak,” considering the events in Ukraine.
Btw, as I was reading the speech for the first time, I caught myself wishing Netanyahu could talk more like that. Of course, I meant something specific, not that I would want him to turn into Putin.
I checked what’s going on in Jerusalem today:
Clashes erupt in East Jerusalem, West Bank after Friday prayers, Hamas march
Temple Mount opened amid heavy Israeli security presence, as police brace for ‘day of rage’ in already tense Jerusalem.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4586479,00.html
Look at the part towards the end, sub-titled “Playing with fire.” After reading:
“this is our land … We (the youths of East Jerusalem) want you to go back to where you came from. Only then will there be peace in Palestine. If not – there will be no calm”
I began thinking whether Putin as Israeli PM would be more successful in managing the conflict and forcing “the youths of East Jerusalem” to obey the Israeli law and confront the reality that Jews aren’t going anywhere. That this is our country.
Note: “Palestine” = “all land, including Israel” and “go back” = “go back to Europe.” Funnily, they “forget” Jews from Arab countries, who were expelled.
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What do you think about
“Only the current Egyptian leadership’s determination and wisdom saved this key Arab country from chaos and having extremists run rampant. ”
?
People in the West talked about Egyptians desiring democracy, but I can’t be sure that Putin is wrong here.
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When I posted my previous comment, I read twice the first part of the speech. Now am reading the second part, in which he refers to Ukraine directly, as I have just seen.
Liked the first part better, to say the least.
I wanted to ask several questions, regarding the 2nd part of the speech. May be, you could answer them here or in your response to the speech, and lessen my ignorance.
\\ this dangerous process was launched by the United States of America when it unilaterally withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002, and then set about and continues today to actively pursue the creation of its global missile defense system
What were the reasons for American withdrawal? Do you think it was a right step?
\\ the Eurasian Economic Union’s formation […] I will add that we would also have welcomed the start of a concrete dialogue between the Eurasian and European Union. Incidentally, they have almost completely refused us this as well, and it is also unclear why – what is so scary about it?
Haven’t heard about EEU till today. I checked it’s Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and now Armenia joined too (officially, it will become a part on 1 January 2015).
Found something interesting on wiki. Clarissa, you said America had been blind regarding Putin’s ambitions, but
In December 2012, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton claimed “It’s not going to be called that [Soviet Union]. It’s going to be called customs union, it will be called the Eurasian Union and all of that, but let’s make no mistake about it. We know what the goal is and we are trying to figure out effective ways to slow down or prevent it”.[wiki]
I have always thought Obama understood everything, that it wasn’t the matter of “America doesn’t have good specialists on Russia.”
My question is about the meaning of the phrase “a concrete dialogue.” What specifically does Putin want from EU?
\\ I have always thought and still think today that politically motivated sanctions were a mistake that will harm everyone
Naturally, it’s extremely self-serving statement.
However, on this blog I heard that sanctions against Iran weren’t the way to go.
I don’t think sanctions would force Israel into making any big steps, aka taking large risks.
Had an idea, which may be a wrong one:
Regarding Russia, sanctions would hurt EU more than Russian people. I am not sure Putin and his friends would be influenced to stop by sanctions, instead of attempting to try to achieve more power in the long term by raising tensions till the other side blinks. They know that nobody wants a war and that EU and American citizens would never agree to suffer any inconvenience as the result of sanctions on Russia or on somebody else.
Empty threats only lessen the reputations of countries who make them, so making them was a mistake.
In a today’s global world imposing sanctions may be harder because of numerous other trade partners. When the world becomes even more global, enforcing sanctions may become impossible.
How effective are sanctions in your eyes?
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“How effective are sanctions in your eyes?”
– Not at in the least. Just as I predicted on the day when they were introduced and on every day when a new round was introduced.
“I am not sure Putin and his friends would be influenced to stop by sanctions, instead of attempting to try to achieve more power in the long term by raising tensions till the other side blinks. They know that nobody wants a war and that EU and American citizens would never agree to suffer any inconvenience as the result of sanctions on Russia or on somebody else.”
– Which is exactly what I’ve been saying since February. Because it’s exactly how it is. Now a question: if you and I see this, how come Merkel and Obama don’t? Answer: of course, they see it as well. So what conclusion can we draw?
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“I have always thought Obama understood everything, that it wasn’t the matter of “America doesn’t have good specialists on Russia.””
– Then why is he sitting on his hands? Why such a supreme indifference to the goings on in Eastern Europe? Why such a look of boredom whenever he is asked a question about Ukraine? He knows but doesn’t care?
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\\ . Now a question: if you and I see this, how come Merkel and Obama don’t? Answer: of course, they see it as well. So what conclusion can we draw?
I am not sure I understand what your conclusion is.
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I hate my conclusion and want somebody else to offer a different one. My conclusion is that they like Putin, like what he is doing, and are ready to give world leadership over to him. I’m not very knowledgeable about Merkel but Obama is an American Liberal, and American Liberals adore Putin.
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I think both Obama and Merkel are politicians who know that their citizens are against entering into any serious conflict with Russia, and would swiftly vote any politician out of his office, if s/he did that.
Also, they don’t expect Russia to seriously threaten them, even if it succeeds to revive FSU to some extent. In the new world, history won’t repeat itself. Any FSU revival would be weak and short-lived, imo.
Will Germans and Americans live worse, if Putin preys on and/or influences third-world countries surrounding Russia?
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“Will Germans and Americans live worse, if Putin preys on and/or influences third-world countries surrounding Russia?”
– Read the speech. he makes it as clear as it is humanly possible that his goals lie far far beyond those “insignificant little places.” He is after global leadership and very openly against the system of democracy. He just said it in the speech. What more do we need?
I hate the Hitler analogy but (and I’m not saying that Putin and Hitler are the same, they are not) should Hitler have been dismissed as somebody whose depredations into the “small and insignificant” Poland didn’t impact the well-being of Americans a whole lot?
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\\ He is after global leadership
As long as Russia is a third world country, how will it achieve this? Putin may want a lot, it doesn’t mean he’ll get it.
It’s not like millions of Russians are eager to die for ‘their country’s glory’ either. Putin had to pay for people to go fight in Ukraine. The world has changed from WW2 days.
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“As long as Russia is a third world country, how will it achieve this?”
– At this point, the greatest contenders for world leadership are China and Russia. Belonging to the third world makes the goal easier, not harder for them to achieve.
“It’s not like millions of Russians are eager to die for ‘their country’s glory’ either. Putin had to pay for people to go fight in Ukraine. The world has changed from WW2 days.”
– Exactly. The world has changed. Remember, the new state form doesn’t require for soldiers to die en masse at the battlefront. Something else is needed today, and Putin seems actually to have it.
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// Belonging to the third world makes the goal easier, not harder for them to achieve. […] Something else is needed today, and Putin seems actually to have it.
Could you write about the topic? America spends huge money on wars abroad and also spends millions on foreign aid. Where is Russian money?
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Russia is a very rich country, even if its citizens are poor. But the country is enormously rich in resources. None of this relates to the point under discussion, however.
Putin has a vision. It is a consistent and appealing vision that he has shared very openly in this speech (as well as in may others.) The appeal of the vision is that it offers relief from the scary, fluid, rapidly changing modernity. He is telling people, “You feel scared, confused and lost? I have a recipe for what is ailing you. The problem isn’t that you are backwards, barbaric, uncivilized and incapable of keeping up. The problem is that this fluid world is the product of American efforts and ideology. I can offer you an alternative. I will not force you – like the evil Americans do – to accept this new reality. I know what to do to take you back to the times when you didn’t feel as lost and confused.
Thank you for great questions, as always!
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Perhaps, another data point in support of Clarissa’s theory of the decline of the nation state?
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2014/s4136006.htm
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Thank you for the great link.
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