The two countries above long expressed a duality of power and cultural antithesis from the end of WW2, and although that was perhaps not a genuine description of global power then or now, America's seeming loss of prestige recently and Russia's astounding economic and military failures have increasingly led to other political structures emerging centre stage.
Is this a valid interpretation and, if so, what next?
Ruben, nuclear powers, if a country cannot beat a smaller one. A lot of small countries, like North Korea, have nuclear weapons.
The US aide Russia have massive nuclear forces capable to destroying any opponent they chose (though it may costs them dearly, if not suicidally). The US has a globe spanning economy. Russia is able to finance its war on the Ukraine and organize allies to do so. If there are any superpowers, the US, Russia nd China fit the bill.
Michael, although Russia has nuclear weapons it has nothing else, its economy is very low and less than the economy of New York, with only 500 holding the real wealth and the rest of the population in dire poverty.
Michael, if your criterion is nuclear weapons, North Korea is a world power too even though its people are worse off than Russia.
I think power its shifting towards proxy and perimeter power and away from the old culprits.
Good line hon North Korea! Yes, that remains THE CURRENCY in which military and political power is mentioned. It sure gives lease to the Israelis to court havoc in the Middle East.
Clearly, there are different dimensions of national power. The economic surely underlies most of them.
At the same time the notion of a Superpower – as opposed to a Great Power – emerged in the unusual situation of the origins of the ColdWar. When the USSR's economy was a shambles, I would add. Maybe we're hunting for unicorns where only horses remain??
Michael, great rhetoric....we're hunting for unicorns where only horses remain??
I think that's what I'm getting at.
I'm sure you've seen the problems Russia is experiencing with frozen cities, which may be a direct product of its war economy. Russia's power has since Putin's reign began been about projection, threats, attitudes and attacks on smaller local countries. It's punched above its weight, depending on its USSR past.
USA is a great power and superpower for many reasons, actually almost all reasons. Russia, a substantial country today, is a great power for one reason, stockpile of weapons of mass destruction. The second emerging superpower is now China. India wisely does not threaten needlessly and develops its economy. EU has needlessly confused itself and others, dangerously. There are no other players.
Dominic would that the world was so straight forward. If things had not changed, why has usa done nothing about venezeula?
Iran is a local power,as obama called russia-he was accurate. Russias stockpole of weapons has not proved adequate and would have been degraded already n a fight with a genuine power
While Iran has proxy military institutions in Hezbollah and Hamas, Russia is developing such institutions in Africa and these can be seen as military developments for the future. As USA has not used its power or influence in South America its global effect may be more limited, perhaps out of choice. It has been and is being blocked by India and China in their 'regions of influence'. Emphatically, Russia is no longer a world power, its effects only of nuisance value. Having a nuclear arsenal, even a decrepit one, cannot give a country global status alone as can be seen in the status of North Korea. A power that cannot be used cannot add to the position of the country with nuclear power as, as seen with Russia, the bluff is called.
This, I suggest, is the world of the late departed Kissinger who, bear in mind, was Putin's guru.
Given the rapid demise of the UN has been due to the giving of the veto to so-called great powers, thereby preventing them from facing challenges, the present state of several arch's of power may equally be down to them. While these arch's are not equal in power or effectiveness, they are for regional purposes.
In a sense yes. but both the position of the United States and Russia is weakening. However, Russia could also find its place in the emerging multipolar world order, provided that the signed truce between Russia and Ukraine would be satisfactory for the Russian Federation. I encourage you to read my article entitled: Turkish-Russian Relations in the Context of the Vision of the Great Turan and the Emerging New Global Order.
Małgorzata Skura too much is made of this new global order, which I see as not emerging from the old gang but beyond it, employing different methods to make the claim. Shaking dice with the old names is not perhaps the way things will evolve.
Dominic, this fixation on Russia given all recent developments is interesting but little more than that. My recent claim is that Russia has learnt from terrorist Islamic states to project power, but resources, if there is no capacity to reveal and use them, remain resources. The problem with resources is that extracting them costs.
The notion of Great Power comes into force here, in this discussion, as, in the way you describe, a western trope, extended into the geopolitics of Henry Kissinger and his ºuglyº real politic, fascism in some ways from another angle. (I hate to use fascism but its recent misuse by Putin reencourages it), state power in legal and illegal fashions. Kissinger's immediate disciples are Chomsky and Mearsheimer, both of whom were and are caught up in the geopolitics of the cold war. Although USA still very much counts, Russia doesn't and only Putin's constant reminders of Russia's existence makes us feel it does. Putin has orchestrated a mirage, and too many buy into it.
Russia is not what it used to be. Ukrainians patiently destroyed the aggressor who came to our motherland, to our country for 2 years. During this time - On the Ukrainian-Russian front line (over 1,500 km), the Ukrainians destroyed: 1) more than 356,000 experienced Russian soldiers and officers, 2) 329 military aircraft and 324 helicopters, 3) 5,940 tanks, 4) 11,015 armored infantry vehicles, , 5) 8,391 powerful artillery units, 6) 617 powerful air defense complexes (air defense), 7) 935 salvo artillery systems (Grad type), 8) 23 naval ships and boats (including the flagship of the Russian fleet "Moscow" and 1 submarine, 9) 6,503 unmanned aerial vehicles. Ukrainians will continue to endure, defending their homeland with the support of our allies who help us with weapons
Ukrainians are probably one of the few nations in the world that are not afraid of the "Russian bear". But fighting bears with stones and sticks is difficult. Think about the following questions:1 ) How many countries in the world could fight with Russia for almost 2 years 2) Why can Russia pay huge sums of money to its soldiers, but Ukraine cannot? 3) Why Ukraine is not helped with the necessary weapons (planes, long-range missiles, even shells in sufficient quantity, etc.) 4) Are the sanctions against the Russian economy effective? 5) Will Europe be able to fight Russia if Ukraine falls? Having answered these questions for yourself, you will be able to understand at least a little the feelings of Ukrainians. GIVE US ALL THE WEAPONS WE NEED and you will see the results of this patriotism!
It's about the first days of Russia's attack on Ukraine (video) -
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0Ji7KqqEqg&t=0s 2) -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSSiPrF8GoM
More details here:
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Russian_Ukrainian_war_or_a_special_military_operation_SVO_in_2024_arguments_views_and_facts_of_Russians_and_Ukrainians_and_not_only/19
How Russia (and not only) deceived Ukrainе (the "Budapest Memorandum") - Until Ukraine gave up the Soviet nuclear weapons stationed on its soil, it had the world's third-largest nuclear weapons stockpile... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Memorandum
More details here:
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Russian_Ukrainian_war_or_a_special_military_operation_SVO_in_2024_arguments_views_and_facts_of_Russians_and_Ukrainians_and_not_only/19
Vladyslav backing up my overall points. If Russia gains necessary weapons from North Korea and Iran, surely a case can be made that these two are the Great Powers and not Russia? The last of these gains its superpower status from its past, not its present. That past included half of Europe in a serf like affiliation.
I want to interpose a small corrective to the over-appreciation of Russia and Putin that goes on too much in public, based as it is on Putin's unconfirmed assertions. On Russian TV recently he gave a talk on economics, on the high price in Russia of chickens and eggs claiming it was because Russians had much more money as the Russian economy is doing so well. Of course if people really had much more money, they'd purchase more expensive value-laden food such as beef. leave chicken and eggs to the very poor.
This economic imbecility goes along with my claim that Putin did nothing as President beyond stealing state funds and shoring up his power. He understands little and has few, if any, ideas. His great idea of global anarchism is merely gangsterism and banditry.
To : Stanley Wilkin. Ukrainians are very grateful to the people and government of Great Britain for supporting our struggle against Russian aggression. Much of what we did - we did thanks to the weapons provided by Great Britain. May God give you all health and happiness, and prosperity to Great Britain! You are the real leaders of Europe!
The status of a country as a great power is not only determined by its military strength or economic power. |Other factors such as diplomatic relations, cultural influence and values plays a role as well.
Ukrainian "Bradley" shoots Russian tank "T-90M": epic video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3MVw1ZW37k
Russians together with Putin have lost their minds from their "greatness", which Russian propaganda has been telling them about 24/7 for many years. They really believed it! They imagined themselves as the Soviet Union. And for some reason, many foreigners began to identify Russia with the USSR (hence the talk about its greatness). But for some reason, everyone forgot that the USSR consisted of 15 republics, most of which were independent states for the last 33 years. All of them TOGETHER in the past made the powerful potential of the USSR (this is what made it a great power). During the times of the USSR, Ukraine had the second potential after the RSFSR (Russia). You can now observe the strength of this potential in the form of strong Ukrainian resistance to Russian aggression. Do you know many states that would be able to hold off an attack by the Russian army for 2 years? The Russian army could not capture the small town Marynka (where 10,000 inhabitants lived before the war) for 2 years. Ukrainians not only restrain the "second army of the world", but in 2 years they liberated 49% of the territories occupied by Russia. What great power (Russia) can we talk about? The presence of nuclear weapons in Russia does not make it a "great power". If a monkey finds a grenade and holds it in its hand, it will still not turn into a human. Russia is a monkey with a grenade, not a great power.
More details here:
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Russian_Ukrainian_war_or_a_special_military_operation_SVO_in_2024_arguments_views_and_facts_of_Russians_and_Ukrainians_and_not_only/19
To: Małgorzata Skura "...provided that the signed truce between Russia and Ukraine would be satisfactory for the Russian Federation..." Don't you want to ask the Ukrainians what they think about the agreement with Putin? Do you want to give Putin what he wants (part of Ukraine at first, and then, after a break and accumulation of strength, all of Ukraine)? And are you ready to believe Putin's promises that Poland will not be next? Well, well... I'm very glad that the Polish government is a little more far-sighted than some Polish scientists. Sorry, if it sounded rude. I didn't mean to offend you. I'm just surprised by this fear of the Europeans before the Russians. Why are you so afraid of them? Give us (Ukrainians) enough weapons and we will rid you of this fear!
More details here:
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Russian_Ukrainian_war_or_a_special_military_operation_SVO_in_2024_arguments_views_and_facts_of_Russians_and_Ukrainians_and_not_only/19
Vladyslav Honcharenko
European fear before Russia, even apprehension, interestingly ignores evidence of the last two years but does fit in with Putin's policy of projecting power rather than being powerful. I agree with the silliness of the remark, but many people are struggling to catch up with the reality of present-day Russia, begging from Iran and North Korea is not a good look but one ignored by many commentators.
Look at its size they proclaim, but most of the land is unusable. A giant with weak muscles can look intimidating until you hit it.
Vladyslav Honcharenko
I never understood the identification by westerners with the USSR, although many identified with Communism as against their own class ridden or money ridden countries. The USSR was imperialist. I recall Lenin stating (somewhere)that if the population resist change shoot them. That murderous tendency towards their own population never went away, and can actually be found in medieval Muscovy. Although Solzhenitsyn, wrote that communism was foreign to Russia, its oppressive attitudes were a reflection of past Russian societies. I have written elsewhere that most revolutions are merely for a change of elite, as the Russian one was for middle class wanna be intellectuals without the ethical education of Western intellectuals (not that this made them necessarily better but they knew mass murder was wrong).
I am appalled by some Western personalities identification with Putin and his government, a bunch of criminals masquerading as politicians. From 1991 Putin was under investigation by the St. Petersburg police for embezzling 120 million from local government.
What can be negotiated with Russia? Ukrainians are fighting in Ukraine to live peacefully in their homes. Russians are fighting in Ukraine to live in the homes of Ukrainians. What to agree on?
Vladyslav,
Their behaviour on taking over Crimea indicates this as Russian colonisers were sent in, taking over Ukrainian businesses and homes. The evidence indicates that Donetsk has become a gangsters' paradise when before it was evolving into a prosperous part of the region.
The gangster attributes of Putin and his greedy cabal mean that, not only with their army, they came to rob and pillage leaving behind ragged husks. Riches in Russia are mainly in the hands of the top 500, with little going to ordinary citizens, and those top 500 are actual gangsters, ex-KGB and Putin's friends. Even without the war, such cronyism with the formation of dynasties within the running of industries, would have led eventually to the country's impoverishment and collapse, as it is similarly eating away at the larger and more sustainable economy of China. With Russia, war is established for business reasons. Putin, evidenced clearly by recent remarks, has no understanding of economics, and by 2007 had run out of ideas for the economic health of Russia, and turned back to Russia's past. he seems to consider himself the new Ivan the Terrible.
Placing small men, both physically and mentally, in charge of modern polities is a disaster for economic growth as well as peace.
Vladyslav, this is exactly what Russia did in crimea,sent in russian colonisers and donetz is considered by many commentators to be a lgsters paradiße
Chauvinist Medvedev believes in the future of Ukraine! How else can one interpret his words? (about the fact that Russia will continue to fight with Ukraine in 50 years!) Here he honestly admitted Russia's desire to destroy the state of Ukrainians. -https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/01/17/7437637/
There is no doubt that is what Russia (Putin and his criminal gang) intend doing. They will lose their positions, and possibly their lives and fortunes if they fail.
If the Russian people find out the numbers killed, and there is nothing to show for it, even they might start thinking.
To all Russians and their supporters, read slowly and try to extrapolate this to your own behavior. "Great-power chauvinism is a certain kind of ideology and system of political views, which is based on the idea that one dominant (title) nation is more important than others in a multinational state. Great-power chauvinism is especially strongly manifested in states that used to be empires, and where the spirit of imperialism still lives. In simple words, this means that the big-power chauvinists believe that all the former colonies that were under the power of the empire still belong to them".
A great power I suggest needs to be able to run a regional war and maintain its infrastructure. Russia cannot do that. What Russia does, and Putin in particular, is talk a good fight rather than fight one. Russian propaganda, its effects now diminishing because understood better than at this war's beginning, spearheaded by Putin has created a mirage of efficiency, still referenced by peripheral observers rather than more sophisticated ones, and gets eulogised over in a 'wait until the Russians start fighting', which, of course, they did two years ago. Putin's repeated claim that the war is over and Ukraine finished flies against reality (although I have heard it referenced by a number of self ordained experts like Mearsheimer, an academic grifter whom many quoted and quote). Putin may be actually deliberately misinformed by those around him who wisely want to keep the old lunatic happy, that is until all Russian windows are properly fixed.
Imagine if USA had begun to fall apart as regularly Russia does when faced with resistance. Is this the reason Russia mainly attacks civilians? All these factors present the reality of the Russian state and its inability to build up efficient infrastructure due mainly to the cronyism and nepotism within the elite.
I support everyone in this discussion. Maybe I'll finally come to some sort of conclusion. I'm from the constellation Veronica's Hair. I came to you on Earth through a wormhole. And you have nothing to do on Earth but kill each other? For what? Not enough land, not enough military glory, not enough dead bodies from disease?
"I do not agree with a single word you say, but I am ready to die for your right to say it" (variant: "I do not share your beliefs, but I am ready to die for your right to express them") - a winged expression about the principles of freedom of speech attributed to Voltaire (without specifying the work).
I consider, P.F., killing the most appalling of acts. This war is the most appalling of wars and one simply dependent on a single deranged ego. Those engaging in it must take maximum responsibility whether they help its continuance by deflecting responsibility, or simply being unable or unwilling to think. P. F that means you too.
Reuters makes correction: Russia's war against Ukraine no longer labeled as "Ukraine Crisis" - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/01/19/7437974/
Vladyslav,
When this war began many experts exclaimed 'what is Russia playing at, it has only the economic clout of Italy'-Obama rightly called it a regional power, while soon the ill-informed squealed endlessly about its nuclear weapons, thereby parity with superstate recognition. Mearsheimer still, while playing the clown, waits longingly for the real Russia to show up. Sadly, it has, through passages of barbarism and incompetence. Putin talks a good talk, and talks a good fight. He doesn't though fight a good fight!
America in the meantime has proved relatively timid and listens to Putin's empty boasts and internalises Russian propaganda. Amongst its people are Far-Right Republicans who believe Russia is Christian (more fools in their pie than blackbirds) demonstrating thereby how education cannot provide intelligence, and one now powerful Republican, not long before unknown, who thinks God is relaying orders to him.
What a shambles, what a mess!
Are the US and Russia still great powers?
First of all, we should talk about three types of power: economic power (EP), military power (MP) and geopolitical power (GP) as the resultant of the economic power and military power. According to my own formula in 2021 the results were as follows (world power = 100):
- EP - USA = 14.87; Russia = 2.49;
- MP – USA = 23.02; Russia = 3.60;
- GP – USA = 20.3; Russia = 3.23.
Regarding economic power the United States is a great power; Russia – a local power. In terms of military and geopolitical power, the United States is a superpower, and Russia is a regional power.
In terms of nuclear power both countries are superpowers, there is a strategic balance between them.
More about the methodology and results see: Łukasz Kiczma, Mirosław Sułek, NATIONAL POWER RANKINGS OF COUNTRIES 2020, Warsaw, July 2020.
Miroslaw,
As your understanding largely fits mine, arrived at more intuitively, yes I can only praise your methodology. But the Nuclear area may not be completely satisfactory. As we have seen that Russia did not correctly store its tanks etc, leading to immense functioning problems when used on the battlefield is it not likely that much of its nuclear stockpile will not work? Added to this is the decline in Russian technology and technical expertise. Given these factors, I suggests comparative between the nuclear armoury of the West and Russia are more hopeful than true. If even half work (enough I grant you) then Russia will or would be fortunate. The added problem would be explosions when engaged, which may have a devastating effect on Russia itself.
Putin's method has been to steal Russia's wealth and spend nothing or next to nothing on improvements on the military or civilian structures. I suppose they could always dislodge and throw one of Putin's many palaces at the Ukrainians. THAT MIGHT JUST WORK!!!!! Better I suppose than human bodies!
Europeans are finally beginning to understand the danger of Russian propaganda. Screening of Russian propaganda film about war in Ukraine cancelled in Italian town - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/01/21/7438249/
Hacking assistant to vice-speaker of the Russian State Duma: agents of influence in Serbia and media campaigns in the EU - https://informnapalm.org/en/hacking-assistant-to-vice-speaker-of-the-russian-state-duma/
This has ceased to be an academic discussion about the question originally put. I'm out.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed to draw up an action plan to preserve the national identity of Ukrainians in Russia - https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/volodimir-zelenskij-doruchiv-rozrobiti-plan-dij-shodo-zberez-88469
To: Dominic Fenech Why? I would be very interested to hear your point of view. I try to give information in the context of the "greatness" of Russia and how Russian propaganda "paints" this "greatness". And that Ukrainians historically greatly contributed to the formation of the opinion of foreigners about this "greatness"
The Soviet Union was a great power because it ruled Eastern Europe. Without its conquests Russia is no longer a great power. Its aim in retrieving its lost territories is to retrieve its lost power. To be great again!
Without its centuries long conquests, it is just another state.
I've just come from another academic site and the number of Americans praising Putin is mind numbing and encourages a puke or two. I insist that they do research on the matter, but of course none will. Conspiracy theories have taken the place of informed opinion in many American minds.
Finding out about Putin and his gang of crooks takes an hour at most. Better the buzz for them provided by conspiracies, rather than the drudge and hard endeavour of genuine academic research.
Russia's new missile attack on Ukrainian town Kharkiv (video).https://youtu.be/GlVLIMuSpKI?t=21 But we continue to teach our students remotely (Moodle, Zoom). Often with the help of a gas generator and Starlink.
Prosecutors say 1,213 Ukrainian children injured and 521 children have been killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion - https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3818050-prosecutors-say-1213-ukrainian-children-injured-since-russias-fullscale-invasion.html
USAs present unwillingness to continue to aid Ukraine is an indicator of its degradation as a great state. The US prominence is over.
Trump, then Mike Johnson, sure signs.
How Russian officials and their collaborators spirit away Ukraine’s children - https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/ukraine-crisis-children/
Vlad,
Part of their reason for doing this, apart from repopulating Russia as it has the worst population plummet in the region, is because of the dubious history it believes in, recently re-manufactured by Putin, an arch criminal, but mainly by Russian nationalists in the 19th century.
The Russians usurped the Rus name and Rus history, particularly Volodymyr the Great the imagined founder of Rus culture. Russia is the only state to have a huge stature (of the above) to another culture's founder.
Defence Intelligence unit sinks Russian corvette Ivanovets in Crimea – video https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/02/1/7439888/
Mike Johnson has suggested he sign off the money for Israel but not Ukraine -a stand alone a payment-even though he has insisted that the border is the main issue.
Conclusion:
either Johnson is paid by Putin or he is getting orders from Trump, who supports Putin. Either way a shameful time for the USA.
Russian system of torture in the occupied territories of Ukraine - https://hromadske.ua/en/posts/from-kupiansk-to-melitopol-russian-system-of-torture-in-the-occupied-territories
The continued presence of Trump and the shenanigans of Mike Johnson and his supporters represent an American fascism which has been evident in American politics for decades, specifically in Republicans. In the past this can be seen as evident in the role of Kissinger in the form of Real Politic, which influenced Putin, a kind of what things look like at best rather than what they are and the absence of ethical positions. Musk is a singular representation of such fascism although he also reflects the oligarchy systems of Russia.
Musk to a great extent reflects Russian Oligarchs and their connection to power. Putin gained power by first thieving from the Russian state before becoming part of it. In the USA fascism is often, Michael Johnson again, linked to religion. Musk has given Russia the use of Skylab for over occupied Ukraine (note Vlad's piece above) and made homosexual jokes against Zelensky of a puerile and offensive nature. Will American cops be fitting him with cuffs? Of course not.
The polish leader has declared 'Shame on America' for its present position against Ukraine originating with Trump and Putin. Yes, ºShame on you America.º Also, shame on you RG for your support of Trolls on here!!! Actions without ethics?
Leaving aside the troll evident on this question, the one response by genuine Americans has been 'please don't be nasty to us while Ukrainians die because of us. Lets be real.
The present impasse is a repeat of Trumps behaviour when he was president, stopping aid to Ukraine as they attempted to retake Dombass, etc. Certainly this was one of several signals to Putin to invade Ukraine itself. The means of the Biden government to hand Ukraine weapons incrementally, withholding many that were necessary to stop Russia, gas been a reason why the war has dragged on.
The argument for Europe to step up is a sound argument, as although many have done better (in fact European involvement made genuine contributions, stormshadow for example) many, like France, still refuse to understand the dangers posed by Putin and Russia in their attempt to reignite Russian power.
In the recent Tucker Carlson interview with Putin, putting aside that collusion with a war criminal makes the participant one, Putin claimed that Poland started WW2.
There are several issues to be examined here. The first would be Putin's claim that Russia's (USSR) attack on Poland at the same time as Germany's was in order to help them and not as Hitler's ally. That Hitler said the same give or take was no coincidence. The separation of the Communist and Fascist state was not easy then as now, except of course Russia under Putin has dropped its disguises and is openly fascist. This is in line with Putin's attack on Ukraine, that resistance to attack is a form of attack.
I have not seen the interview as by its nature it is worthless, but other commentators have remarked on Putin's intellectual ordinariness, although why they should be surprised, surprises me. Have they not seen his declarations on economics whereby Russia's removal from world finance systems is the road to wealth, and one successfully applied by North Korea for example. This economic system protects the power of a small corrupt elite, and allows them access to extraordinary wealth while starvation reigns elsewhere.
But he is onto one essential economic insight. The less economic interaction gives the Ruble stability as Putin and his government decide what its level is. Taking it out of certain exchange mechanisms can provide stability through the absence of comparison. At present, the Russian economy is judged on its increased salaries entirely due to monies given to enlisted men, who before enlistment were earning very little. Of course, their short life spans on these increased earnings presents a problem, largely met by future enlistments.
Military support to Ukraine should have no restrictions – Dutch Defence Minister - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/02/10/7441279/ This is a very wise and far-sighted thought. Unfortunately, not everyone in Europe understands this yet.
Vlad, this has to be agreed but I wonder why many Americans, mainly Republicans, fail to see the effects of their actions. They view, I suspect, their actions as limited to American politics and cannot grasp the effect on others watching from the sidelines. American expats I know in Lisbon are appalled by what has occurred and have to explain Mike Johnson to their Portuguese friends.
As you can guess, I see it as a line of thinking connected to the past, to institutional racism and oligarchal structures, Musk and Trump, that reflect Russian oligarchies. That is money must equal power. Something which until Trump was largely limited in American politics. Of equal interest is the manner that American right-wingers reflect the views and language of Putin, possibly sharing the same limited cognitive and educational aspects -evident in both Trump and Mike Johnson.
THE KREMLIN'S OCCUPATION PLAYBOOK: COERCED RUSSIFICATION AND ETHNIC CLEANSING IN OCCUPIED UKRAINE - https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/kremlins-occupation-playbook-coerced-russification-and-ethnic-cleansing-occupied
Vlad, yes they are doing all that and the tragedy, and indeed the most frightening part, is that neither the Russian public nor Russian supporters care. And that's what we need to understand. After Hitler and his criminal court we have another and yet nothing has changed after all the discussion, books, documentaries. It continues to happen. Where in human beings does this come from?
Stanley - yes for those nations not complying with the NATO treaty in regard to defense spending.
To the original question, yes America's "power" has diminished. Its cowardly exit from Afghanistan, its expensive but too-cautious support for Ukraine, its timidity in the Middle East with its craven begging Iran's good behaviour, its open borders with its own social and economic consequences. A significant factor that accelerates is the growing debt - exceeding GDP.
Navalny's death? What he said before Putin killed him:
'They can only win through your inactivity'
Phil, you're going to stop getting paid soon. Your curators were exposed - The Kremlin is conducting a large-scale disinformation campaign against Ukraine: a detailed analysis of the methods, tasks and salaries of the "troll factory" from WP - https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/16/russian-disinformation-zelensky-zaluzhny/
Trump's position is clear and can be clearly seen and heard on one of the videos I've uploaded over the past two days, that he will withdraw US from NATO. From that we can conclude he would engage with Putin, perhaps against NATO.
Jake Broe on Speaker Johnson
Russia Had Their WORST DAY of 2024 (So Far)
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Jake Broe
Is the House Speaker REALLY A Russian Agent?
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334K subscribersCombat Veteran Reacts
Today is 10 years (!) since Russia's military invasion of Ukraine (capture of the Crimean peninsula) and the beginning of the occupation of Ukrainian territories (Crimea, Donbas). Unfortunately, many have already forgotten about it.
Phil, i do not talk to you as you know but I did not expect you to compliment me. Still, I have only marginal respect for Christian ethics, I do not accept its logic. but although you know I think, rightly, that you are simply a troll but otherwise you place me in good company. I place you at best with Trump and Putin, the worst possible company at present.
let me bless you. my son.
Russia's recognition of the true causes of the war - the desire to seize Ukraine and destroy Ukrainians. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev promoted Russia’s extensive territorial objectives that expand deep into Ukraine’s territory. Medvedev gave a lecture on March 4 called “Geographical and Strategic Borders” at the Russian World Youth Festival, a Kremlin-organized event that includes attendees from more than 100 foreign countries, during which he claimed that “Ukraine is, of course, Russia.” More details here - https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-4-2024
Vlad,
The only ones to doubt that are conspiratorialists and the Trump brigade. In fact, Putin was always upfront about his reasons and intentions and has been since he believed Ukraine would become part of the West. But it was already. He has unsustainable historical views that many in Russia now hold, that there was a definable region called Rus and that region belongs to Russia, a late, hybrid state, largely Tatar, outside of the original East Slav region.
The Russian soldiers dying in Ukraine believe it seems, where they believe anything at all, that they are retrieving Russian land stolen by Western Nazi and thereby are not mass murderers but liberators. The benefits of authoritarianism, cease to educate the population significantly (seen also in some states of America which then produce a Mike Johnson, who believes dinosaurs were on the ark) cutting them off from science and academia.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the commanders of Russia's long-range aviation (Serhiy Kobylash) and the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation (Viktor Sokolov) as part of the investigation into the consequences of Russia's war crimes in Ukraine, committed between October 10, 2022 and March 9, 2023. - https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-ukraine-icc-judges-issue-arrest-warrants-against-sergei-ivanovich-kobylash-and
Well, Vlad, unless Europe fully wakes up and America re-enters the game there will be far worse war crimes coming up. The German reticence again greases Putin's murderous intentions and there may be no choice for Western Europe but to send in its armies.
The involvement of troops from China and North Korea is given a pass, while Germany and others doze. Putin is a killer, he has no moral threshold. We are looking at wholesale massacre! BECAUSE OF AMERICA!
What did the Ukrainians do with the former powerful Russian army? India says it uncovers trafficking racket duping people into fighting for Russia in Ukraine - https://www.reuters.com/world/india-says-it-busts-trafficking-racket-duping-people-into-fighting-russia-2024-03-08/ and https://twitter.com/umasudhir/status/1764569416636010739
Baiting the bear is my favourite nonsense saying employed by many Americans as a reason not to be involved in the present struggle, although they appear not to realise the bear is now a panda, 16 years to beat Chechnya (pop. under 2 million), only succeeding by not fighting it but by bombing the s----t out of it. We had a saying as a child-cowardly, cowardly custard. Brave, brave nation.
But I doubt the Western pop. wants to fight as they are not slobbery Russian degenerates mired in vodka with nothing in their lives running after a tiny gangster like wolf cubs after a mother wolf.
Kremlin's global disinformation war (about Russian troll factories). The Washington Post- "... The Moscow strategists also had price lists for planting pro-Russian commentary in prominent Western media and for paying social media “influencers” in the United States and Europe “willing to work with Russian clients.” The documents say the Russians were willing to pay up to $39,000 for the planting of pro-Russian commentary in major media outlets in the West...“Practically everywhere this will be columnists, leaders of public opinion, former diplomats, officials, professors and so on,” a note attached to the price list states.... The plans led to hundreds of articles and thousands of social media posts translated into French, German and English..., the document trove shows..." - https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/16/russian-disinformation-zelensky-zaluzhny/
Consider “Shrinkflation” https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/s-shrinkflation-cookie-monster-draws-right-wing-anger-taking-bite-out-corporate-greed Maybe the idea of Nationalist power has given way to that of Plutocrats and oligarchs? My point is that borders are no longer relevant to the corporate sovereignty of deregulated markets. Why else is their MSM relentless in their critique and censorship of any voices that threaten their hegemony e.g.
The position of oligarchs has certainly grown in terms of geography and political power, although in Russia they are circumscribed, submissive to Putin's power, but beyond that they rule or want to. Although it is possible to point to Trump and Musk, who certainly are borderless, Murdoch decades ago pre-empted them wielding private power in Australia, Britain and USA, in Britain causing Labour leaders to bow to his whims.
The children of the war in Ukraine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2_wJJRODvg
Kyrgyz support the struggle of Ukraine. They are closer in spirit to Ukrainians than Russians, who call themselves brothers of Ukrainians. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRi-wIEIltM
Russia - "great power" :) - Gabonese Firm Supplied $1.5 Bln in Aircraft Parts to Russia in 2023 - https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/03/28/gabonese-firm-supplied-15-bln-in-aircraft-parts-to-russia-in-2023-a84667
Russian propaganda network paid MEPs, Belgian PM says - https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-disinformation-propaganda-members-of-european-parliament-belgium-alexander-de-croo/
Russian Orthodox Church calls invasion of Ukraine "holy war", Ukrainian church reacts - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/03/28/7448650/
Germany says Russia has intensified disinformation against Ukraine in Europe - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/04/1/7449149/
Deportations and repressions: How Russia conducts ethnic cleansing of Ukrainians in occupied territories - https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/analytics/deportations-and-repressions-how-russia-conducts-1712129914.html
The continued degradation of Russian society can be easily found online and although because Putin is paying his army very good money, for Russia, its economy seems healthy but the eye on the ground does not lie. This is a society facing extreme poverty.
Speech of the President of Ukraine (video, English) - "...Ukraine is not asking for too much. We need air defense systems and combat aircraft that can protect our cities from Russian terror..." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWIXSQY19tk
Russians react to the rise of billionaires in the country
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HEADSHOT
A film by a Russian company. A village near Rostov. Frightening. A country claiming to be still great and fighting a war. Look at the faces!
Biden speaks after Senate passes aid for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and TikTok bill — 4/24/2024 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdCLMzxeG5w
The video is for those who continue to believe in the greatness of Russia and despise Ukraine and its people. The unique Ukrainian submarine impressed the whole world. First look at Kronos - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIz6GbRkz38
Gazprom's Massive Loss Signals Bankruptcy
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296K subscribersINSIDE RUSSIA
Dear Stanley Wilkin, Russia has not been a superpower for a long time, precisely since the second half of the 80s of the last century. The decline began with the deployment in European territory of the Soviet SS-20 (medium-range missiles equipped with tactical nuclear warheads) followed by the deployment in European territory, by OTAN, of the US IRBM Pershing-2 missiles and cruise missiles BGM-109 Tomahawk. The USSR could not economically sustain an arms race in the long term. For this reason and many other factors, the USSR and the Warsaw Pact symbolically disintegrated with the fall of the Berlin Wall. It seemed, initially with Gorbachev, that Russia was peacefully moving towards democratization in the Western sense. Unfortunately, things didn't go that way and Yeltsin and especially Putin turned back the clock. Russia has no room for expansion since to the south-east there are China and India (emerging superpowers that claim their zones of influence and their territorial integrity) to the south-west there is the revived and strengthened OTAN from the entry into the alliance, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, of Sweden and Finland, traditionally neutral countries. However, Russia still plays an important role in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caucasus and has powerful allies such as IRAN, North Korea, and perhaps some South American countries. India and China, despite being "friends" of Russia, are careful not to displease the rich Western markets, their only hope for commercial expansion and economic growth.
In recent weeks, the Russians have intensified their shelling of Ukraine, including Kharkiv Many destructions and deaths, interruptions with electricity and water. Therefore, I was busy with more important things than writing posts in RG. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xsIdIEL1AA (there are not 2 dead, but more than 20 and many wounded). And this is how the Ukrainians destroy the Russians on the front near Kharkiv https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfM3LEdvXEY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fik-nfMCsro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4mdRMxbgG4
And this is a miracle technique of the Russian army, which is feared by the whole world, but not by Ukrainians :) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdYpI2LNyvI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aniDvQ5QDwM
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