Russia has warned its citizens they might be “hunted” if they travel to the US or other Western countries. But this warning reeks of projection and gaslighting — now the hallmarks of Russia’s dealings with the West. After all, Russia has turned arresting Americans and other Westerners on trumped-up charges into a cottage industry, using… Read more.
Putin
Putin Playing America Like Puppet on a String
Nothing demonstrates what Kremlin pawns Americans have become quite like President-elect Trump having Elon Musk on his call with Ukrainian President Zelensky. Because that forced Zelensky to plead with Musk for continued US help in defending his country against Russia’s genocidal onslaught. This call makes it clear: the Trump-Musk co-presidency has already begun — and… Read more.
Genocidal Diversion: Russia Threatening Georgia and Moldova to Divert from Ukraine
Russia calls in North Korean cavalry Russia has been waging a genocidal war in Ukraine for nearly three years. Now it’s bogged down. In fact, Russian troops are so beleaguered that President Putin has reportedly bartered with fellow pariah Kim Jong-un for North Korean reinforcements. Kim offered tens of thousands of his soldiers for the… Read more.
Alexei Navalny, Russia’s Heroic Fool, Is Dead
Navalny meets his fateful end The death of Alexei Navalny is as predictable as it is deplorable. After all, any Russian who becomes a thorn in the side of Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian regime ends up dead. And Navalny was the thorniest of them all. Not least because of the way he lampooned Putin for living like a czar… Read more.
Henry Kissinger, the Iago of Geopolitics, Leaves the World Stage
Kissinger, authoritarian whisperer of realpolitik Henry Kissinger was a titan of 20th-century geopolitics. But his legacy is as complex as it is controversial. Many hailed him as a master strategist. I railed against him as a cunning narcissist. He courted praise for dispensing sage chess-like geopolitical advice. Yet, I can fairly distill his diplomatic treatise… Read more.
Russia-Africa Summit Putin Exploiting African Leaders as Props and Pawns
Russia is using food as a weapon of war again. Earlier this month, it torpedoed the Black Sea grain deal millions of Africans depend on to survive. That was the elephant in the room at this week’s Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg. African leaders as pawns and props Frankly, the solidarity African leaders showed at the Russia-Africa summit in Petersburg this week… Read more.
Prigozhin’s Failed Coup Succeeded in Exposing Putin’s Fake Power
Prigozhin’s failed coup Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenaries marched on Saturday to overthrow Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. And they seemed as hell-bent as Libyan opposition forces were when they marched to overthrow Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Everyone was rooting for those Wagner mercenaries to succeed. That is, except for the notorious few… Read more.
Secretary General Will Meet Putin to Talk Humanitarian Aid. But No Safe Haven…?
UN Secretary General Mr. António Guterres will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday. Reports are that he hopes to prevail upon Putin to allow for the safe passage of civilians from areas of conflict and the delivery of humanitarian aid to hard-hit areas. (Reuters, April 19, 2022) Never mind that this will… Read more.
‘Putin Jokes About Ruling Until He’s 120′
Putin to rule for life Last week, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi chose an ominous way to bond. During a joint press conference in Moscow, Berlusconi announced funding for research that will extend life expectancy to 120. Putin quipped: So we will be prime ministers [or president in Putin’s case] until at least the age of… Read more.
Russians treat Chávez like a rich fool
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin traveled to Venezuela a week ago today to sign a series of multibillion-dollar agreements with President-for-life Hugo Chávez. These agreements are purportedly aimed not only at helping Chávez build a space industry and develop a nuclear program but also at deepening military, energy and financial ties between their two countries.… Read more.