No one should expect the Alt-Media Community to correct the false perceptions that “Potemkinism” associated with Russian policy towards Israel in the minds of their audience over the years.
It's projection. Russia is a leading rival to the US Empire, so some of those who oppose its policies project their own hopes and dreams on Russia or China or Iran or anyone else who resist sthem.
Just like many Americans are projecting their hopes and dreams on either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, even when neither candidate actually gives a damn about those hopes and dreams. Consider it a combination of desperate hopes for things to get better and ignorance of Russia and its history.
True, it's a projection to a certain extent, but one of my main points is that it's allowed to proliferate without any behind-the-scenes nudging to push influencers in the direction of reflecting Russia's actual policy due to the "Potemkinist" strategy.
That top influencer who I referenced has misled many about Russia's policy on this, which its diplomats have worked hard to promulgate on Putin's orders, yet those who host him here think that he's done a great job getting people to love Russia (albeit on false pretexts).
Whether you agree with Article 282 and the National Guard helping to fight anti-Semitism, the fact is that these policies do indeed exist, yet they're selectively enforced as proven by the example that I mentioned of him regularly talking about "Talmudic psychopaths".
No average Russian or foreign guest could amplify such rhetoric through social media to more than 200,000 people (his combined X and Telegram reach) without fearing that they'd get in serious trouble.
He's also only referencing a Jewish Holy Book and not the Muslim one, which is another reason for the selective enforcement, since he wouldn't be able to post about "Quranic psychopaths" all the time while here in Russia or he'd most likely get in serious trouble.
So what we see is that there's a lack of consistency, and that's because those who are involved in "Potemkinism" (whether they're conscious of it or not, all that matters is that those who host them here are) are able to say and do what average people here can't.
Again, it's unimportant whether you agree with Russia's legal policies, my only point was in drawing attention to the inconsistency with which it's applied in order to further prove my hypothesis about "Potemkinism", which is my personal conclusion and not any "inside info".
I confess I know nothing about the alt-media figure you focused on, but I do know something about the people who tend to believe such things. There’s a lot of wishful thinking about Russia and China among disaffected Westerners, and that lends itself to projection of their hopes onto those 2 countries.
The thing is that nothing you said about Russia’s real intentions surprised me at all. Winston Churchill said that Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, but just MAYBE there was a key—Russian
national interests.
Anyone who studies Russian history, and tries to empathize with the Russian perspective, doesn’t find Vladimir Putin mysterious at all. In a way, he’s the easiest type of Russian leader to predict because he is a patriot.
Andrew obviously doesn't know anything about Russia at all. I recommend reading moon of Alabama and Martyanov to get a real idea of how the Kremlin thinks. Putin uses judo tactics that he learned in the KGB when he plays chess. The Kremlin is only pretending to support Israel to get bibis guard down and than when the time is right Shoigu will strike and Palestine will be free (Shoigu is still running the military, Putin just pretended to fire him to trick Mossad and the CIA).
"...the impression that casual observers have is that there must be some truth to it otherwise corrective action would have already been taken..."
Impressions, important though they are, aren't always helpful. It's quite possible even casual observers, 'casual' though they may be, understand more than might be superficially apparent.
"...no one should expect the AMC to correct the false perceptions that “Potemkinism” associated with Russian policy towards Israel."
No, fair enough. But no-one has to expect anything of anyone to wonder how Putin reconciles, "...Russia (has always) support[ing](ed) a two-state solution..." with "...Israel’s collective punishment of the Palestinians...".
"...Israel’s destruction and the imposition of sanctions against it that aren’t first approved by the UNSC."
'Destruction' is rather an emotive word. If the conditions on which a state was founded by the UN really do prove impossible to implement, given decades of sincere attempts, 'disbanding' the state to rebuild in on a basis more likely to be successful could hardly be considered 'destruction'. Something like 'resurrection' might be more appropriate; something like what happened to Russia, when the 'Soviet Experiment' proved unsuccessful?
As far as I'm aware, neither Putin nor anyone else has really addressed this question directly. In such an information vacuum it's hardly surprising people, like those representing the AMC, struggle to find sense in the confusion.
Putin directly addressed Ahmadinejad's call to destroy Israel, which he was informed was a misreporting but still stuck to his strong condemnation of that rhetoric and the idea behind it:
“Vladimir Putin: A response to your question could take hours. It’s so complex. I will try to be as concise as possible. First, I have repeatedly voiced Russia’s official stance – Iran has the right for a peaceful nuclear program and it cannot be singled out for discrimination. Second, we need to be aware that Iran is located in a very challenging region. I have told our Iranian partners about that. That’s why Iranian threats made towards neighbouring countries, in particular Israel, threats that Israel can be destroyed, are absolutely unacceptable. This is counterproductive.
Oksana BOYKO: This is not a proper quote of the Iranian president.
Vladimir Putin: It doesn’t quite matter whether it’s a proper quote or not. It means it’s best to avoid a wording that could be improperly quoted or could be interpreted differently. That’s why the focus on Iran does have a reason behind it.” – Visit to Russia Today television channel, 11 June, 2013
I also explained here how my personal reading of the Kremlin's policy is that it's against fundamentally revolutionizing the current nature of the Israeli state because of how this process could be weaponized against Russians in the Near Abroad:
(^^^ I got the quote above from this analysis that I published back in mid-2018)
Putting it all together, my impression is that he might think that risks "ethnic cleansing" given how sensitive he is towards Jewish interests, which is also why he volunteered to condemn terrorism against Israel yesterday despite not being asked about it.
"...analysis that I published back in mid-2018..."
Not to deride the value of your analysis, but six and a half years is a long time.
"... my impression is that he might think that risks "ethnic cleansing" given how sensitive he is towards Jewish interests, which is also why he volunteered to condemn terrorism against Israel yesterday despite not being asked about it."
More to the point, I value your impressions, having familiarised myself with your work, no less than I do your analysis. Thank you for sharing!
Questions of ethnic cleansing and Jewish interests, I would have thought, must be subject to some significant revision recently, particularly in view of the way the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon (soon to include Iran?) have evolved. Condemning terrorism isn't the same as condoning ethnic cleansing. I can't believe even the most doggedly 'proud lifelong philo-Semite' could abstain from reviewing the situation (forever).
"Putin directly addressed Ahmadinejad's call to destroy Israel..." Visit to Russia Today television channel, 11 June, 2013
Yes, I had seen that before, thanks for pointing it out again. What an excellent interview! Funnily enough, it seems even better now in retrospect than it ever has before (and I've seen it several times). Actually, I think that's probably always been the case: it seems to get better and better each time I revisit it. Again, thanks again for pointing it out!
Arguably, evolution is the reason and basis for everything (natural). Logically, it applies to politics, and the ideas of even the greatest statesmen may not be cast in stone, untouchable and unchanged by events and forces any more than anyone else's. I'm sure Putin would agree. Все мы ходим под Богом.
a_week_is_a_long_time_in_politics) and a decade is even longer! I'm sure Putin's most fundamental ideas about the concept of 'destruction' (as Boyko pointed out was, "... not a proper quote...".) remain essentially unchanged. This was, however, a human's feasible short-term gestation period (eight months) before the morons of McCain et al unleashed their 'Revolution of Dignity' on the Ukraine; on the eve of the US President's (then Obama's) visit, about which Putin was painfully aware: "So right on the eve of my meeting with Barack Obama, you are pushing me to make some serious statements…". If memory serves, this was a year or so before that very same President declared he had reduced Russia's economy to 'tadders' as punishment for actions it had been forced to take in the Crimea; long, long before they'd likewise been forced to stick to a similar line, after some 16+ thousands of casualties inflicted by NATO (supported) shelling of the Donbas. I find it difficult to conceptually drive any belief system to support the idea Putin's, EVEN Putin's, most fundamental perceptions of many, many things haven't evolved and changed in all this time.
Furthermore, and more importantly, I disagree that "Putin directly addressed Ahmadinejad's call to destroy Israel...". Whichever way I read it, it's more about Iran's "...right for a peaceful nuclear program..." than it is about underlying issues in the region. I blame Boyko for this: her question tried to encompass so much that she left too much room for Putin to effectively avoid answering. Simonyan played an equally important role, "She’s our tough guy.". Together they gave Putin more than enough latitude to slide around the issue without ever really addressing it directly.
I posit and maintain: this information vacuum still exists.
Only partially related. I found that you have an extra grasp and sensitivity about words and semantics, perhaps linguistics as well. It is interesting to read your writings.
What a wonderful compliment — thank you very much!
To avoid false modesty, I should say Russian did this for me: had I not learnt Russian, I might have remained as ignorant of language — semantics and psycho-/socio-linguistics — as I had been before I'd started.
Yeah, I hear you, and in principle/by spirit am inclined to agree. I think Putin errs to giving excessive leeway, which I'd like to hear him admit. It might be a mistake. Nonetheless, I follow his lead here and risk erring to an unfairly lax attitude. It's so difficult being a parent: spare the rod and spoil the child, or undermine credibility... ? But, yes, I hear you.
"The consequent confusion is exacerbated among those who are aware of Article 282 from the Russian Criminal Code prohibiting the “Incitement of Hatred or Enmity, as Well as Abasement of Human Dignity”"
All of which Israel is guilty of in spades, and which can't have gone unnoticed by the Russian public. I'm assuming public opinion carries some weight in Russia and is factored into their policies, but all that aside, of what value to Russia is the state of Israel?
Not much that I can see. Iran, with ten times the population and a vastly larger territory, much of it undeveloped, should be of much greater interest I'd think. Add to this that China gets about 15% of its energy from Iran and nothing at all from Israel, and again it seems like Iran should weigh more heavily in the equation, given Russia's close relationship with China.
Then there's the Muslim factor - 10% of Russia's population, which in the present circumstances I'm sure heavily disapproves of Russia's relationship with Israel. Also consider that the Zionist element in the USA are major architects of the war on Russia itself, via their proxies in Ukraine.
All of this begs the question: how much Zionist influence is there in Russia? Quite frankly I'm disgusted to see Israel treated as if they were somehow of importance to Russia and not as the pariah they truly are. Granted there are Russians living there, but they made their choice. Russia is very emphatic about patriotism, so how is it those dual citizens get a pass when their loyalties are obviously divided, and now that the chips are down they want to come home? They made their bed. Let them lie in it.
Article 282 and the National Guard cracking down on anti-Semitism in cooperation with the Federation of Jewish Communities isn't relevant to what anyone is doing outside its jurisdiction.
My point in referencing them is to show that selective standards are being applied when it comes to enforcing these legal policies. An average Russian or foreign guest here couldn't express themselves like that.
Why this is important to be aware of is because it serves as proof of my "Potemkinism" hypothesis, which to be clear, is my own personal conclusion based on close observation as I explained and not any "inside info".
I agree with your main premise. Russia allows a distorted view of their foreign policy to go unhindered as they believe it somehow advances their cause. Have I got that right?
My point is that their actual policy sucks because it involves a double standard. In short, a nation's foreign policy should reflect its fundamental values. That doesn't mean they should interfere directly in another nation's affairs - that's the US approach - but neither should they turn a blind eye to the kind of horrors being perpetrated in Palestine as we speak.
Frankly I don't understand Putin's apparent love of Israel. If ever there was a Potemkin village, Israel is IT, and recent events are just icing on the cake. The hallmark of a true intellect is to admit when you're wrong, and Putin seems incapable of doing that. Surely he must be aware that the problems Russia faces in Ukraine are a product of US Zionists and their Ukrainian counterparts - the same people that unconditionally support Israel.
I don't know if 10-07 was a surprise or it was allowed to happen to advance a larger agenda, but in either case Hamas forced the world's attention on what Israel has always been - an apartheid state founded on British perfidy and Zionist ambitions. Putin may not recognize that, but I'm sure most Russians do, in particular the Muslim population, which raises another point. A significant number of nations considering membership in the BRICS alliance are culturally Muslim, and by not calling out Israel he risks undermining their trust. What's he going to do when Chechens start answering the call and are seen fighting alongside Hezbollah? Condemn them as antisemitic? Arrest them on their return to Russia? Again it begs the question: how much influence do Zionists have on Russian foreign policy?
That's correct, you understand my point about Potemkinism.
Russia and Putin haven't turned a blind eye to the humanitarian horrors of this conflict and routinely condemn it. The exact formulation that they use is condemning Israel's collective punishment of the Palestinians.
I explained in one of the hyperlinked analyses in my article why Russia and the Resistance will never fully agree on Palestine, which partially accounts for its stance.
As for Russian Muslims, like I also wrote, the National Guard is now tasked with cracking down on anti-Semitism and I'm sure that the domestic security services are following all such manifestations in that community which could pose a threat.
It is really unfortunate that Mr. Korybko keeps peddling the Zionists assertion that Israel is in mortal danger and all around want to destroy it. For years that has not been the case, with Palestinians willing to accept either a two state solution or a one state solution with everyone having equal rights. Israel's security is not under threat. What is under threat is its ever expanding borders while conducting ethnic clensing and maintaining apartheid within its borders with its own Arab citizens (I suggest Mr. Korybko reads Amnesty International or B'Tselem's reports concluding without any doubt that Israel is an Apartheid state).
And there is no case to be made about assertions of "Talmudic psychos" as being hate crimes since this is right on the spot, for everyone that has ever watched Israeli made interviews with certain members of Israeli government or other characters imbued with messianic fervor. The Zionists are very proud of their actions and don't hide their hand any longer, it is all over the internets and one can see their glee - there are now libraries about it and documentaries being made. Palestinians or Iranians want the end to Apartheid (Zionist entity), which is legalized in the Israel's Basic Law. Israel has consciously avoided so far to have a Constitution... But the present war has shown to the entire world the true face of the majority of Israelis... I would challenge Mr. Korybko to watch all these manifestations and then describe them with words, and then compare with what he acuses of being hate speech and then see where he would stand...
As for Russian position, it is quite clear and not very unusual. Not different from any of the GCC members and also not hypocritical either, like Canada or Hungary, for instance (Canada more than Hungary). At the last legal pronouncement of ICJ, at the behest of UNGA, on the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands, both Canada and Hungary have submitted legal opinions on support of Israel's occupation. However, while Hungary has done it on the record, for the whole world to see and hear, Canada has done it via a sealed package, to be read only by the judges and ICJ secretariat. Such forqued tongue, on one side affirming the two state solution and on the other hand, on the legal front, defending Israel's occupation. Something Russia never did. Also, Azerbaidjan sells and ships oil to Israel via Turkey, both muslim countries...
You are extraordinarily legalistic in your approach. Unless you have some secret access to Russian, thinking, I see no justification in your criticism of the AMC. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. I know of no evidence that Russia is supplying Israel with arms or defense systems. Nor am I aware that Israel has supplied arms or air defense systems to Russia. On the other hand, Russia has supplied these items to Iran and vice versa. That is what counts, not legalistic diplomatic language. Russia wants to be seen as following the rules laid out in the UN charter and in traditional international relations since the US and NATO allies, and Israel I must add, make their own rules. Russia is not stupid. Putin knows Israel is the USA’s catspaw. The people you are criticizing (attacking?)
aren’t stupid. You take things at face value instead of analyzing events. Your impugning pecuniary motives to the thought leaders of the AMC community only makes you look petty.
Just this past summer, right in the middle of the Israeli rampage in Gaza, Putin sent congratulations to a Jewish event that celebrated the Salvation and Liberation Day. So did Netanyahu and Herzog. Putin condemned anti-Semitism, radical nationalism and xenophobia as per usual, of course:
"Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent congratulations on Salvation and Liberation Day, the youngest Jewish holiday celebrated since 2013 in honor of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the salvation of the Jewish people from the Holocaust. The holiday was established on the initiative of Vice President of the Russian Jewish Congress, President of the International Charitable Foundation of Mountain Jews STMEGI German Zakharyaev, and the date chosen for this day is 26 Iyar (this year it is June 3).
"I congratulate you on the holiday - the Day of Salvation and Liberation," Vladimir Putin said in his message. "The 26th of Iyar is one of the most important, significant dates in the centuries-old history of the Jewish people. It connects eras and generations, embodies the unfading memory of the Great Victory, the immortal feat of the soldiers and commanders of the Red Army who crushed Nazism, saved the Jewish and other peoples from the threat of destruction. And, of course, this is a tribute of deep, sincere respect for the people who, in the most difficult trials, showed fortitude and courage, did not submit to the cruel and merciless enemy. I am confident that the widespread celebration of the Day of Salvation and Liberation enriches the historical, religious, cultural traditions of Russian Jews, promotes the advancement in society, especially among the youth, of high spiritual, moral, patriotic ideals and values. Serves to consolidate efforts in countering radical nationalism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism. I wish you success in implementing your plans and all the best.""
How many Jews are in Jordan? But they put planes in the air to defend Israel against the Iranian attacks... The word is that Russia might have provided targeting info to Iranians this last round and that they are helping with AD systems against a potential Israeli/US attack...
1. When Putin or any Russian official says something that aligns with AMC priors, then he is taken at his word. When a Russian official says something that contradicts those prioritizing, it's a headfake.
This is QAnon logic, repurposed for a different set of fantasies.
2. There is no eleven dimensional chess here, no master plan, no secret Russian omnicompetence, and pretending otherwise will not change this.
You're just butthurt because the alt media disagrees with Russia's position on Israel. The public sees the injustice and suffering of the Palestinian people so it will never agree or support Russia's position which is two faced in this regard.
Riiight, I, the same person who was defamed by the State Department as an anti-Semite for my anti-Zionist analyses in mid-2020, am "butthurt" because other people don't agree with Russia's position on Israel:
Get real. I don't care whether anyone agrees or disagrees with it, what I'm against is misportraying its policy by pretending that Russia is anti-Israel/-Zionist and pro-Palestinian when it's neutral, and if anything, it leans towards Israel (Putin is a lifelong philo-Semite).
You're blocked for personally attacking me ("You're a Zionist apologist"), which I have zero tolerance for. I encourage respectfully expressed contrarian views, court them even, but I won't allow trolls to disrespect me here and toxify the community that I'm building.
It's very dishonest of you to now pretend that the prevailing narrative among the Alt-Media Community is that Russia isn't allied with Israel against Iran. You can reference Pepe Escobar, Maram "Syrian Girl" Susli, and other big names as proof of "Potemkinism" in practice on this subject.
You won't dare direct your anger at Russia's regional policy against the country itself, Putin, or his officials since you know you'll be "canceled" by Alt-Media, so you instead abuse me as a scarecrow who you can attack with impunity. That's unacceptable and weak. I have zero respect and those like you.
You could get two articles for the price of one, wait a week and just substitute China and the appropriate names and it would be a close fit for all items but the impact of the diasporas. This isn't just a "Middle East" war, but a war against the East.
I don't understand your point: my work is free to read, though I deeply appreciate all those who become paying subscribers. I've never paywalled my work nor plan to.
There also is no analogous example of "state-adjacent" top AMC influencers misportraying Russia's policy towards China-India, for example, which is as sensitive as Israel-Iran.
I don't believe that anyone here would think it's in Russia's soft power interests to falsely portray it as taking a partisan stance towards their tense dispute.
They tolerate this happening with Israel/Iran because the global masses are anti-Israel/-Zionist and they hope to piggyback off of that to later push pro-Russian talking points to them.
I consider it a crude and unprincipled approach, which goes against my ethics and values, since I don't believe in deceiving anyone about anything.
I also don't believe that people here should turn a blind eye towards "state-adjacent" influencers misleading people about Russian policy.
They have a responsibility to inform these people of the actual policy so that it can be articulated and advanced, not lied about it and contradicted.
These influencers can still support whatever they want, but continuing to misportray Russian policy after being told the facts about it should disqualify them from invitations to official events.
"You could get two articles for the price of one, wait a week and just substitute China and the appropriate names and it would be a close fit for all items but the impact of the diasporas. " Too glib, I have to admit. I can only plead coffee deprivation on a Saturday morning, but the remark is aimed at how limited the playbook is in Washington, they recycle the same method.
AMC(?). China is deeply penetrated by US educated/trained "technocrats", far worse than Russia. Russia was lucky that the Soviet Union left it a first rate education system all the way through to post graduate studies. China starting in the 1970s began to ship large portions of it's brightest students to the USA, UK, France, etc. to be educated and then gave them preferential treatment upon return. Xi Jinping's own daughter has received a very thorough brainwashing. I'd need more time (and caffeine) to elucidate more, but there's a damn good reason the USA dropped it's pants for China and not for Russia up until recently, and why in so many ways the USA is much more conflicted about this war with China, which is there are large numbers still in China who'd sell out at the right time. Perhaps Xi's own daughter in her behavior alerted him to this risk, but this really is speculating. Xi is as hated, if not more hated, than Putin by some powerful factions in the USA because they see him as a direct threat to their network in China.
It's projection. Russia is a leading rival to the US Empire, so some of those who oppose its policies project their own hopes and dreams on Russia or China or Iran or anyone else who resist sthem.
Just like many Americans are projecting their hopes and dreams on either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, even when neither candidate actually gives a damn about those hopes and dreams. Consider it a combination of desperate hopes for things to get better and ignorance of Russia and its history.
True, it's a projection to a certain extent, but one of my main points is that it's allowed to proliferate without any behind-the-scenes nudging to push influencers in the direction of reflecting Russia's actual policy due to the "Potemkinist" strategy.
That top influencer who I referenced has misled many about Russia's policy on this, which its diplomats have worked hard to promulgate on Putin's orders, yet those who host him here think that he's done a great job getting people to love Russia (albeit on false pretexts).
Whether you agree with Article 282 and the National Guard helping to fight anti-Semitism, the fact is that these policies do indeed exist, yet they're selectively enforced as proven by the example that I mentioned of him regularly talking about "Talmudic psychopaths".
No average Russian or foreign guest could amplify such rhetoric through social media to more than 200,000 people (his combined X and Telegram reach) without fearing that they'd get in serious trouble.
He's also only referencing a Jewish Holy Book and not the Muslim one, which is another reason for the selective enforcement, since he wouldn't be able to post about "Quranic psychopaths" all the time while here in Russia or he'd most likely get in serious trouble.
So what we see is that there's a lack of consistency, and that's because those who are involved in "Potemkinism" (whether they're conscious of it or not, all that matters is that those who host them here are) are able to say and do what average people here can't.
Again, it's unimportant whether you agree with Russia's legal policies, my only point was in drawing attention to the inconsistency with which it's applied in order to further prove my hypothesis about "Potemkinism", which is my personal conclusion and not any "inside info".
I confess I know nothing about the alt-media figure you focused on, but I do know something about the people who tend to believe such things. There’s a lot of wishful thinking about Russia and China among disaffected Westerners, and that lends itself to projection of their hopes onto those 2 countries.
The thing is that nothing you said about Russia’s real intentions surprised me at all. Winston Churchill said that Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, but just MAYBE there was a key—Russian
national interests.
Anyone who studies Russian history, and tries to empathize with the Russian perspective, doesn’t find Vladimir Putin mysterious at all. In a way, he’s the easiest type of Russian leader to predict because he is a patriot.
Andrew obviously doesn't know anything about Russia at all. I recommend reading moon of Alabama and Martyanov to get a real idea of how the Kremlin thinks. Putin uses judo tactics that he learned in the KGB when he plays chess. The Kremlin is only pretending to support Israel to get bibis guard down and than when the time is right Shoigu will strike and Palestine will be free (Shoigu is still running the military, Putin just pretended to fire him to trick Mossad and the CIA).
"...the impression that casual observers have is that there must be some truth to it otherwise corrective action would have already been taken..."
Impressions, important though they are, aren't always helpful. It's quite possible even casual observers, 'casual' though they may be, understand more than might be superficially apparent.
"...no one should expect the AMC to correct the false perceptions that “Potemkinism” associated with Russian policy towards Israel."
No, fair enough. But no-one has to expect anything of anyone to wonder how Putin reconciles, "...Russia (has always) support[ing](ed) a two-state solution..." with "...Israel’s collective punishment of the Palestinians...".
"...Israel’s destruction and the imposition of sanctions against it that aren’t first approved by the UNSC."
'Destruction' is rather an emotive word. If the conditions on which a state was founded by the UN really do prove impossible to implement, given decades of sincere attempts, 'disbanding' the state to rebuild in on a basis more likely to be successful could hardly be considered 'destruction'. Something like 'resurrection' might be more appropriate; something like what happened to Russia, when the 'Soviet Experiment' proved unsuccessful?
As far as I'm aware, neither Putin nor anyone else has really addressed this question directly. In such an information vacuum it's hardly surprising people, like those representing the AMC, struggle to find sense in the confusion.
Putin directly addressed Ahmadinejad's call to destroy Israel, which he was informed was a misreporting but still stuck to his strong condemnation of that rhetoric and the idea behind it:
“Vladimir Putin: A response to your question could take hours. It’s so complex. I will try to be as concise as possible. First, I have repeatedly voiced Russia’s official stance – Iran has the right for a peaceful nuclear program and it cannot be singled out for discrimination. Second, we need to be aware that Iran is located in a very challenging region. I have told our Iranian partners about that. That’s why Iranian threats made towards neighbouring countries, in particular Israel, threats that Israel can be destroyed, are absolutely unacceptable. This is counterproductive.
Oksana BOYKO: This is not a proper quote of the Iranian president.
Vladimir Putin: It doesn’t quite matter whether it’s a proper quote or not. It means it’s best to avoid a wording that could be improperly quoted or could be interpreted differently. That’s why the focus on Iran does have a reason behind it.” – Visit to Russia Today television channel, 11 June, 2013
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/18319
I also explained here how my personal reading of the Kremlin's policy is that it's against fundamentally revolutionizing the current nature of the Israeli state because of how this process could be weaponized against Russians in the Near Abroad:
https://korybko.substack.com/p/russia-and-the-resistance-axis-will
What else helps contextualize this is that Putin is a proud lifelong philo-Semite:
https://orientalreview.su/2018/05/10/president-putin-on-israel-quotes-from-the-kremlin-website/
(^^^ I got the quote above from this analysis that I published back in mid-2018)
Putting it all together, my impression is that he might think that risks "ethnic cleansing" given how sensitive he is towards Jewish interests, which is also why he volunteered to condemn terrorism against Israel yesterday despite not being asked about it.
"...analysis that I published back in mid-2018..."
Not to deride the value of your analysis, but six and a half years is a long time.
"... my impression is that he might think that risks "ethnic cleansing" given how sensitive he is towards Jewish interests, which is also why he volunteered to condemn terrorism against Israel yesterday despite not being asked about it."
More to the point, I value your impressions, having familiarised myself with your work, no less than I do your analysis. Thank you for sharing!
Questions of ethnic cleansing and Jewish interests, I would have thought, must be subject to some significant revision recently, particularly in view of the way the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon (soon to include Iran?) have evolved. Condemning terrorism isn't the same as condoning ethnic cleansing. I can't believe even the most doggedly 'proud lifelong philo-Semite' could abstain from reviewing the situation (forever).
"Putin directly addressed Ahmadinejad's call to destroy Israel..." Visit to Russia Today television channel, 11 June, 2013
Yes, I had seen that before, thanks for pointing it out again. What an excellent interview! Funnily enough, it seems even better now in retrospect than it ever has before (and I've seen it several times). Actually, I think that's probably always been the case: it seems to get better and better each time I revisit it. Again, thanks again for pointing it out!
Arguably, evolution is the reason and basis for everything (natural). Logically, it applies to politics, and the ideas of even the greatest statesmen may not be cast in stone, untouchable and unchanged by events and forces any more than anyone else's. I'm sure Putin would agree. Все мы ходим под Богом.
'A week is a long time in politics.' (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/
a_week_is_a_long_time_in_politics) and a decade is even longer! I'm sure Putin's most fundamental ideas about the concept of 'destruction' (as Boyko pointed out was, "... not a proper quote...".) remain essentially unchanged. This was, however, a human's feasible short-term gestation period (eight months) before the morons of McCain et al unleashed their 'Revolution of Dignity' on the Ukraine; on the eve of the US President's (then Obama's) visit, about which Putin was painfully aware: "So right on the eve of my meeting with Barack Obama, you are pushing me to make some serious statements…". If memory serves, this was a year or so before that very same President declared he had reduced Russia's economy to 'tadders' as punishment for actions it had been forced to take in the Crimea; long, long before they'd likewise been forced to stick to a similar line, after some 16+ thousands of casualties inflicted by NATO (supported) shelling of the Donbas. I find it difficult to conceptually drive any belief system to support the idea Putin's, EVEN Putin's, most fundamental perceptions of many, many things haven't evolved and changed in all this time.
Furthermore, and more importantly, I disagree that "Putin directly addressed Ahmadinejad's call to destroy Israel...". Whichever way I read it, it's more about Iran's "...right for a peaceful nuclear program..." than it is about underlying issues in the region. I blame Boyko for this: her question tried to encompass so much that she left too much room for Putin to effectively avoid answering. Simonyan played an equally important role, "She’s our tough guy.". Together they gave Putin more than enough latitude to slide around the issue without ever really addressing it directly.
I posit and maintain: this information vacuum still exists.
Only partially related. I found that you have an extra grasp and sensitivity about words and semantics, perhaps linguistics as well. It is interesting to read your writings.
What a wonderful compliment — thank you very much!
To avoid false modesty, I should say Russian did this for me: had I not learnt Russian, I might have remained as ignorant of language — semantics and psycho-/socio-linguistics — as I had been before I'd started.
{sincere attempts}... should be put in quotes. Israelis were never sincere.
Yeah, I hear you, and in principle/by spirit am inclined to agree. I think Putin errs to giving excessive leeway, which I'd like to hear him admit. It might be a mistake. Nonetheless, I follow his lead here and risk erring to an unfairly lax attitude. It's so difficult being a parent: spare the rod and spoil the child, or undermine credibility... ? But, yes, I hear you.
"The consequent confusion is exacerbated among those who are aware of Article 282 from the Russian Criminal Code prohibiting the “Incitement of Hatred or Enmity, as Well as Abasement of Human Dignity”"
All of which Israel is guilty of in spades, and which can't have gone unnoticed by the Russian public. I'm assuming public opinion carries some weight in Russia and is factored into their policies, but all that aside, of what value to Russia is the state of Israel?
Not much that I can see. Iran, with ten times the population and a vastly larger territory, much of it undeveloped, should be of much greater interest I'd think. Add to this that China gets about 15% of its energy from Iran and nothing at all from Israel, and again it seems like Iran should weigh more heavily in the equation, given Russia's close relationship with China.
Then there's the Muslim factor - 10% of Russia's population, which in the present circumstances I'm sure heavily disapproves of Russia's relationship with Israel. Also consider that the Zionist element in the USA are major architects of the war on Russia itself, via their proxies in Ukraine.
All of this begs the question: how much Zionist influence is there in Russia? Quite frankly I'm disgusted to see Israel treated as if they were somehow of importance to Russia and not as the pariah they truly are. Granted there are Russians living there, but they made their choice. Russia is very emphatic about patriotism, so how is it those dual citizens get a pass when their loyalties are obviously divided, and now that the chips are down they want to come home? They made their bed. Let them lie in it.
Article 282 and the National Guard cracking down on anti-Semitism in cooperation with the Federation of Jewish Communities isn't relevant to what anyone is doing outside its jurisdiction.
My point in referencing them is to show that selective standards are being applied when it comes to enforcing these legal policies. An average Russian or foreign guest here couldn't express themselves like that.
Why this is important to be aware of is because it serves as proof of my "Potemkinism" hypothesis, which to be clear, is my own personal conclusion based on close observation as I explained and not any "inside info".
I agree with your main premise. Russia allows a distorted view of their foreign policy to go unhindered as they believe it somehow advances their cause. Have I got that right?
My point is that their actual policy sucks because it involves a double standard. In short, a nation's foreign policy should reflect its fundamental values. That doesn't mean they should interfere directly in another nation's affairs - that's the US approach - but neither should they turn a blind eye to the kind of horrors being perpetrated in Palestine as we speak.
Frankly I don't understand Putin's apparent love of Israel. If ever there was a Potemkin village, Israel is IT, and recent events are just icing on the cake. The hallmark of a true intellect is to admit when you're wrong, and Putin seems incapable of doing that. Surely he must be aware that the problems Russia faces in Ukraine are a product of US Zionists and their Ukrainian counterparts - the same people that unconditionally support Israel.
I don't know if 10-07 was a surprise or it was allowed to happen to advance a larger agenda, but in either case Hamas forced the world's attention on what Israel has always been - an apartheid state founded on British perfidy and Zionist ambitions. Putin may not recognize that, but I'm sure most Russians do, in particular the Muslim population, which raises another point. A significant number of nations considering membership in the BRICS alliance are culturally Muslim, and by not calling out Israel he risks undermining their trust. What's he going to do when Chechens start answering the call and are seen fighting alongside Hezbollah? Condemn them as antisemitic? Arrest them on their return to Russia? Again it begs the question: how much influence do Zionists have on Russian foreign policy?
That's correct, you understand my point about Potemkinism.
Russia and Putin haven't turned a blind eye to the humanitarian horrors of this conflict and routinely condemn it. The exact formulation that they use is condemning Israel's collective punishment of the Palestinians.
I explained in one of the hyperlinked analyses in my article why Russia and the Resistance will never fully agree on Palestine, which partially accounts for its stance.
As for Russian Muslims, like I also wrote, the National Guard is now tasked with cracking down on anti-Semitism and I'm sure that the domestic security services are following all such manifestations in that community which could pose a threat.
It is really unfortunate that Mr. Korybko keeps peddling the Zionists assertion that Israel is in mortal danger and all around want to destroy it. For years that has not been the case, with Palestinians willing to accept either a two state solution or a one state solution with everyone having equal rights. Israel's security is not under threat. What is under threat is its ever expanding borders while conducting ethnic clensing and maintaining apartheid within its borders with its own Arab citizens (I suggest Mr. Korybko reads Amnesty International or B'Tselem's reports concluding without any doubt that Israel is an Apartheid state).
And there is no case to be made about assertions of "Talmudic psychos" as being hate crimes since this is right on the spot, for everyone that has ever watched Israeli made interviews with certain members of Israeli government or other characters imbued with messianic fervor. The Zionists are very proud of their actions and don't hide their hand any longer, it is all over the internets and one can see their glee - there are now libraries about it and documentaries being made. Palestinians or Iranians want the end to Apartheid (Zionist entity), which is legalized in the Israel's Basic Law. Israel has consciously avoided so far to have a Constitution... But the present war has shown to the entire world the true face of the majority of Israelis... I would challenge Mr. Korybko to watch all these manifestations and then describe them with words, and then compare with what he acuses of being hate speech and then see where he would stand...
As for Russian position, it is quite clear and not very unusual. Not different from any of the GCC members and also not hypocritical either, like Canada or Hungary, for instance (Canada more than Hungary). At the last legal pronouncement of ICJ, at the behest of UNGA, on the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands, both Canada and Hungary have submitted legal opinions on support of Israel's occupation. However, while Hungary has done it on the record, for the whole world to see and hear, Canada has done it via a sealed package, to be read only by the judges and ICJ secretariat. Such forqued tongue, on one side affirming the two state solution and on the other hand, on the legal front, defending Israel's occupation. Something Russia never did. Also, Azerbaidjan sells and ships oil to Israel via Turkey, both muslim countries...
You are extraordinarily legalistic in your approach. Unless you have some secret access to Russian, thinking, I see no justification in your criticism of the AMC. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. I know of no evidence that Russia is supplying Israel with arms or defense systems. Nor am I aware that Israel has supplied arms or air defense systems to Russia. On the other hand, Russia has supplied these items to Iran and vice versa. That is what counts, not legalistic diplomatic language. Russia wants to be seen as following the rules laid out in the UN charter and in traditional international relations since the US and NATO allies, and Israel I must add, make their own rules. Russia is not stupid. Putin knows Israel is the USA’s catspaw. The people you are criticizing (attacking?)
aren’t stupid. You take things at face value instead of analyzing events. Your impugning pecuniary motives to the thought leaders of the AMC community only makes you look petty.
Just this past summer, right in the middle of the Israeli rampage in Gaza, Putin sent congratulations to a Jewish event that celebrated the Salvation and Liberation Day. So did Netanyahu and Herzog. Putin condemned anti-Semitism, radical nationalism and xenophobia as per usual, of course:
"Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent congratulations on Salvation and Liberation Day, the youngest Jewish holiday celebrated since 2013 in honor of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the salvation of the Jewish people from the Holocaust. The holiday was established on the initiative of Vice President of the Russian Jewish Congress, President of the International Charitable Foundation of Mountain Jews STMEGI German Zakharyaev, and the date chosen for this day is 26 Iyar (this year it is June 3).
"I congratulate you on the holiday - the Day of Salvation and Liberation," Vladimir Putin said in his message. "The 26th of Iyar is one of the most important, significant dates in the centuries-old history of the Jewish people. It connects eras and generations, embodies the unfading memory of the Great Victory, the immortal feat of the soldiers and commanders of the Red Army who crushed Nazism, saved the Jewish and other peoples from the threat of destruction. And, of course, this is a tribute of deep, sincere respect for the people who, in the most difficult trials, showed fortitude and courage, did not submit to the cruel and merciless enemy. I am confident that the widespread celebration of the Day of Salvation and Liberation enriches the historical, religious, cultural traditions of Russian Jews, promotes the advancement in society, especially among the youth, of high spiritual, moral, patriotic ideals and values. Serves to consolidate efforts in countering radical nationalism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism. I wish you success in implementing your plans and all the best.""
https://rjc.ru/ru/news/2659-lideryi-rossii-i-izrailya-pozdravili-evreev-s-dnem
How many Jews are in Russia? There's your answer.
How many Jews are in Jordan? But they put planes in the air to defend Israel against the Iranian attacks... The word is that Russia might have provided targeting info to Iranians this last round and that they are helping with AD systems against a potential Israeli/US attack...
1. When Putin or any Russian official says something that aligns with AMC priors, then he is taken at his word. When a Russian official says something that contradicts those prioritizing, it's a headfake.
This is QAnon logic, repurposed for a different set of fantasies.
2. There is no eleven dimensional chess here, no master plan, no secret Russian omnicompetence, and pretending otherwise will not change this.
You're just butthurt because the alt media disagrees with Russia's position on Israel. The public sees the injustice and suffering of the Palestinian people so it will never agree or support Russia's position which is two faced in this regard.
Riiight, I, the same person who was defamed by the State Department as an anti-Semite for my anti-Zionist analyses in mid-2020, am "butthurt" because other people don't agree with Russia's position on Israel:
https://x.com/AKorybko/status/1726133288509538416
Get real. I don't care whether anyone agrees or disagrees with it, what I'm against is misportraying its policy by pretending that Russia is anti-Israel/-Zionist and pro-Palestinian when it's neutral, and if anything, it leans towards Israel (Putin is a lifelong philo-Semite).
You're blocked for personally attacking me ("You're a Zionist apologist"), which I have zero tolerance for. I encourage respectfully expressed contrarian views, court them even, but I won't allow trolls to disrespect me here and toxify the community that I'm building.
It's very dishonest of you to now pretend that the prevailing narrative among the Alt-Media Community is that Russia isn't allied with Israel against Iran. You can reference Pepe Escobar, Maram "Syrian Girl" Susli, and other big names as proof of "Potemkinism" in practice on this subject.
You won't dare direct your anger at Russia's regional policy against the country itself, Putin, or his officials since you know you'll be "canceled" by Alt-Media, so you instead abuse me as a scarecrow who you can attack with impunity. That's unacceptable and weak. I have zero respect and those like you.
"Putin is a lifelong philo-Semite". OK but, theoretically, this should not influence his or Russia's policy in the Levant.
No comment.
You could get two articles for the price of one, wait a week and just substitute China and the appropriate names and it would be a close fit for all items but the impact of the diasporas. This isn't just a "Middle East" war, but a war against the East.
I don't understand your point: my work is free to read, though I deeply appreciate all those who become paying subscribers. I've never paywalled my work nor plan to.
There also is no analogous example of "state-adjacent" top AMC influencers misportraying Russia's policy towards China-India, for example, which is as sensitive as Israel-Iran.
I don't believe that anyone here would think it's in Russia's soft power interests to falsely portray it as taking a partisan stance towards their tense dispute.
They tolerate this happening with Israel/Iran because the global masses are anti-Israel/-Zionist and they hope to piggyback off of that to later push pro-Russian talking points to them.
I consider it a crude and unprincipled approach, which goes against my ethics and values, since I don't believe in deceiving anyone about anything.
I also don't believe that people here should turn a blind eye towards "state-adjacent" influencers misleading people about Russian policy.
They have a responsibility to inform these people of the actual policy so that it can be articulated and advanced, not lied about it and contradicted.
These influencers can still support whatever they want, but continuing to misportray Russian policy after being told the facts about it should disqualify them from invitations to official events.
"You could get two articles for the price of one, wait a week and just substitute China and the appropriate names and it would be a close fit for all items but the impact of the diasporas. " Too glib, I have to admit. I can only plead coffee deprivation on a Saturday morning, but the remark is aimed at how limited the playbook is in Washington, they recycle the same method.
AMC(?). China is deeply penetrated by US educated/trained "technocrats", far worse than Russia. Russia was lucky that the Soviet Union left it a first rate education system all the way through to post graduate studies. China starting in the 1970s began to ship large portions of it's brightest students to the USA, UK, France, etc. to be educated and then gave them preferential treatment upon return. Xi Jinping's own daughter has received a very thorough brainwashing. I'd need more time (and caffeine) to elucidate more, but there's a damn good reason the USA dropped it's pants for China and not for Russia up until recently, and why in so many ways the USA is much more conflicted about this war with China, which is there are large numbers still in China who'd sell out at the right time. Perhaps Xi's own daughter in her behavior alerted him to this risk, but this really is speculating. Xi is as hated, if not more hated, than Putin by some powerful factions in the USA because they see him as a direct threat to their network in China.