Crowing/Eating Crow
"This is not the price we have to pay for Crimea. This is actually the price we have to pay for our natural aspiration to preserve ourselves as a nation, as a civilization, as a state."
Russian President Vladimir Putin
"After the end of the Cold War who would have thought something like this could happen?"
German Chancellor Angela Merkel
"We have probably gotten into a perfect storm. If there had been neither sanctions nor a fall in oil prices, and if we had done no foolish things, economic growth would have been 2.5 to 3 percent."
Russian Economy Minister Alexei Ulyakayev
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| Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office Agreement on the accession of the Republic of Crimea to the Russian Federation signed. |
Ah, but it is the price the Kremlin is paying for Crimea. Might as well lump in Moldova and Georgia, and while we're at it throw in Donetsk for good measure. Perhaps it's the Russian 'aspiration' to stifle sovereignty in other near-abroad nations through belligerent entitlements to grasp whatever seems desirable to inflate Russian holdings as a 'nation' but as an act of a civilized state, it somehow misses the mark.
Yet Vladimir Putin's statements appear to reflect the mindset of many of Russia's citizens who thoroughly approve of expansion of Russian territory, find pride restored in Moscow's thumbing its nose at international treaties and normatives of state behaviour in respecting the geographic boundaries of other countries. Sometimes it really is difficult to figure out what came first, the chicken or the egg.
Since it is perfectly true that in a country ruled by an autocrat who changes the nation's constitution to satisfy his own ambitions, the regime controls the news and communication media, feeding a canted version of reality to its population that celebrates the vigorous performance of its decision-making, and above all the brio of its super-powered leader.
Germany, the country whose present-day economy, social system and influence stands large within the European Union, felt justified with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union, not to mention its residual guilt over World War II -- and let's sneak the Holocaust in there for good measure -- to slash its military spending; ostensibly heralding an end to wars in Europe.
As for Russia's minister of the economy, he must of course be nursing a tremendous headache contemplating his country's financial status now in comparison to what it was like a scant few years ago, when Russia was riding high on a swell of oil and gas profits, bullying its European customers and bulling ahead with its expansionist plans to resurrect the glory of Soviet days.
Citing NATO's expansion toward the Baltic states, hovering on Russia's borders, Mr. Putin has met his nemesis, a creature of America, since the major portion of NATO wealth, arms and military prowess emanates from the United States; all other members bit players incapable of pulling their weight but capable of extruding rhetoric that they can and will.
Moscow's concern over its Black Sea fleet, and Ukraine's membership in NATO was overblown, never to be a problem, until the Kremlin's actions made it a problem, and the reaction to decisions taken that have alarmed the Baltic states and placed NATO on alert, represent Russia's own rashness and pride coming home to roost.
But is Russia concerned over its loss in economic growth and severe forecasted contraction heralding dire straits for Russians faithful to their leader's ambitions? Not the least bit, to hear Vladimir Putin's soothing outbursts of pride and justification.
Labels: Conflict, Economy, NATO, Natural Resources, Russia, Ukraine
posted by Pieface @ Monday, January 05, 2015
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