generalspeaking

Friday, December 05, 2014

Proud, Sovereign, Unbeatable, Broke

"If for many European countries, sovereignty and national pride are forgotten concepts and a luxury, then for the Russian Federation a true sovereignty is an absolutely necessary condition of its existence. I want to stress: either we will be sovereign, or we will dissolve in the world. And, of course, other nations must understand this as well.[National pride and sovereignty are 'a necessary condition for survival; of Russia."
"The quality and size of the Russian economy must correspond to our geopolitical and historical role. We must get out of this zero-growth trap and in the next three or four years raise our growth to above-average global levels."
"We have a huge internal market and resources... capable, intelligent people. Our people have demonstrated national strength, patriotism - and the difficulties we are facing create new opportunities."
"There is no doubt they [the West] would have loved to see the Yugoslavia scenario of collapse and dismemberment for us - with all the tragic consequences it would have for the peoples of Russia. This has not happened. We did not allow it."
"The politics of containment were not invented yesterday. ... The more we retreat and justify ourselves, the more brazen our opponents become and the more cynically and aggressively they behave. No one will succeed in defeating Russia militarily."

"This year, as in many fateful historical moments, our people clearly displayed national revival, firm resistance and patriotism. And the difficulties we encountered will create new opportunities for us. We are ready to accept any challenge of our time and be victorious."
Russian President Vladimir Putin

I am convinced that if these events had not happened, they would have come up with another excuse seeking to restrain Russia’s growing potential,” he said. The efforts to thwart Russia, he said, “have existed for decades if not for centuries.” - See more at: http://heralddemocrat.com/news/international/kremlin-economy-speech-putin-rails-west-tries-avert-russia-recession#sthash.l6BbYECW.dpuf

Russian President Vladimir Putin gives his annual state of the nation address at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014. (AP / Pavel Golovkin)

Ever the showman. Ever the confidence-man. What remains to be seen now is how the Russian people -- so independent-minded that the state propaganda apparatus, its control of the news, how it is presented and whose viewpoint it represents makes little impression upon them, so much so that they sturdily applaud all of the actions that the Kremlin under the redoubtable Putin has taken -- will now begin to react.

The pride-bursting event of the Socchi Winter Olympics with its treasury-breaking price tag of $50-billion, and the incidental enrichment of President Putin's cronies, certainly showed the world that Moscow could put on a party that few other countries could manage. Nor wish to emulate, in actual fact. But, Mr. Putin did them proud, he most certainly did; even the sternest critics of Mr. Putin's politics stood up and cheered, right?

And of course, Russia's oil wealth most certainly had a place and a purpose in updating the country's military arsenal, so a proper show of pride could be mounted when the latest missiles and advanced intelligent munitions and war machines swelled the hearts of Muscovites with joy and pride. Let no covetous countries think that Russia was a pushover; take that Western Star Wars fanatics!

And yes, there is a huge cost associated with giving encouragement (minus of course weaponizing and training and sending in troops and motorized armour) 'pro-Russian' peoples of eminent valour in eastern Ukraine to help them help themselves out from under the fascist yoke of the government in Kyiv. But look what Russia regained, after all, possession of its very own 'Temple Mount' in Crimea.

The dastardly West, conniving through the European Union and NATO did their utmost to make Moscow cringe, but they could not succeed, even with those damnable sanctions, and never will succeed. Moscow will not permit it. Vladimir Putin will not allow it. Russia's self-respect, its prestige on the world stage as a global power and influence will carry the day.

Russians are tough, they've seen out rough times in the past, and they'll do it again; together, with pride and solidarity. The value of the ruble has fallen, but it isn't Russia's fault, after all, but the result of Western machinations and interference in Russian affairs. Intolerable, but this is the way of the world, this is Real Politik, and Russia can play the game as well as any other.

Russian banks are flailing and failing, and require a bit of aid, well, isn't that what state reserve funds are for? Didn't America fund their floundering financial institutions in the 2008 global recession which they themselves caused and foisted on the rest of the world? Russia, at least, keeps its temporary misfortune within itself, in forecasting a recession for 2015.

With oil's value decreased about 40% with the present glut and some countries now which shall be unnamed, damn them, finding alternative methods of extraction to make themselves as capable as Russia of providing for itself and generously providing for others, the commodity has ceased generously funding the economy. Falling below the cost of production, unfortunately.

The fact of the matter is, with oil and gas responsible for 16% of Russia's GDP and over half its federal revenues, it's clear that with this in mind Saudi Arabia led the Gulf States into a pact to reduce their revenues by dropping prices and Russia's plight represents an [un]intended consequence of the conspiracy to reduce their Shiite rival Iran's oil income to cripple its ambitions.

That Russia aids Iran in its nuclear file and will build additional nuclear installations on contract, and that Russia supports tyrannically bloodthirsty Syria has made it clear which Islamic sect it prefers. There are enemies everywhere in this world of politics and religious intrigues. Russia will persevere and emerge victorious? Didn't the great man say so?