Russia and the Kremlin Are Nearly Everywhere There is Conflict, Nearly Always with the Bad Guys.

 

     Wherever there is conflict in the world it seems as if Russia is involved in instigating it. From meddling to help Maduro after the recent faked Venezuelan election results, to arming Libyan rebels, to helping the brutal RSF (formerly the Jangaweed) in Sudan, to propping up the brutal Syrian regime, to meddling in Georgia, Moldova, and elsewhere, to their own fake elections, to mercenaries in Africa meddling in local skirmishes and mining projects, to strong military cooperation with pariah countries like Iran and North Korea, to assassinations of dissidents, to routine jailing of foreign nationals and trading them for murderers and terrorists, to jailing and torturing opposition leaders, to suppression of human rights, to conscription in a brutal war using ‘meat grinder’ tactics, to a vast multitude of war crimes in Ukraine and Syria including 4000 reported occurrences of chemical weapons use in Ukraine, to routinely weaponizing oil and gas and manipulating markets, to routinely meddling in elections, to frequent nuclear threats, to routine sanctions-evading tactics, to so so much more. The list is very long. Wherever there is brutality and unfairness in the world it seems the government of Russia is there helping along the brutality and unfairness.

     Russia also has a very widespread propaganda machine with a long reach. Socialists in Latin America, communists in Vietnam, China, and North Korea, socialists in Europe and even in America, fellow authoritarians, and other nefarious and deluded groups participate in spreading what are in many cases insidious lies and bad arguments. Other countries like India participate as well. Russia has exploited African discontent with past colonialist errors to gain influence and make countries more suspicious of Western governments. Those on the extreme political right and the extreme political left are most likely to be aligned with Russia

     The husband of recently freed Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva noted that Russia does not place a high value on human life. We can see that distinctly as the Kremlin sends young men to slaughter in Ukraine and mistreats them in other ways. In turn, the Russian army mistreats and tortures prisoners and is brutal on recruits as well. 

     From Russia’s perspective, there are friendly countries and unfriendly countries. Some of the friendly countries are strongly supportive. All from that camp are oppressive and rogue countries: Syria, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, North Korea, Belarus, and occasionally China. Then there are the friendly countries that are trying to be neutral like India, UAE, South Africa, and also China. Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and India – all friendly to Russia, lead the world in cybercrime.

     Before Putin decided to full-scale invade Ukraine, he had it made. Russia was selling record amounts of oil and gas to Europe with continued profit in the years ahead looking likely. The sanctions after the first invasion that took Crimea and parts of the Donbas in 2014, were light and easily endured. In 2021-2022 a false narrative was concocted about Ukrainian Nazis mistreating Russian-speaking Ukrainians in the Donbas. It was untrue but played well in Russia and support for the invasion was kept up. We don’t hear much about the Ukrainian Nazis these days, although maybe an occasional reference.

     Anyway, this post is about how Russian geopolitical projects are not helping the world but harming it. It is simply hard to deny. The perennial ‘bad boy’ Putin did have it made. He was well tolerated even respected, before he invaded Ukraine. He did not deserve to be tolerated nor respected. He was never a good guy. There are, however, good guys in Russia, or in some cases, no longer in Russia. I was happy when Kara-Murza was set free. He is a courageous, smart, sensible, and compassionate guy. Navalny was a stalwart of courage. These guys and many others are the real Russian heroes. As this post suggests, a free and democratic Russia would be a great boon for the world. Will it ever happen? It is hard to say. Kara-Murza thinks it will but that it will take time.

     Just think, a free and democratic Russia. That alone would instantly solve many world problems. It would make Islamic extremism again the number one bane, one that Russian menacing seems to have overtaken. But both are forms of authoritarianism, one military-political and the other religious, neither useful for humanity.

     To top it off Russia wants to create a worldview that competes with the so-called ‘rules-based Western order.’ Their worldview is not based on following rules, but rather on some sort of might-makes-right threat-based order. I will say the bottom line loudly: No Brutality! No Cheaters! F%#k Russia and F&%k the Kremlin! For the good of the world, let them fail and fall! 

Addendum: September 16, 2024.

Russia Using Ukrainian Farmland to Fuel a Global Black Market.

     A new report from Straight Arro News says that Russia has been selling stolen Ukrainian grain on the black market to Iran, Syria, and the UAE. The grain is rerouted through Russia to disguise its origin. It is another sanctions evasion maneuver. Russia basically took over business operations in occupied Ukraine, making a once legitimate industry illegitimate. People also should have the right to know from where they are getting their products. There is also evidence that the profits are supporting Russia’s war effort. 

References:

Russia is using Ukraine's farmland to fuel a global black market: Report. Straight Arrow News. September 16, 2024. Russia is using Ukraine's farmland to fuel a global black market: Report | Watch (msn.com)