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Friendly Fire
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Evgeny Khrushchev's blog
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09 April, 2010, 20:34 The special forces opinion
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The latest spike of the terrorist attacks against Russia by doped explosive zombies, DEZ, has unmasked the true nature of the Western attitude vis-à-vis Russia.
The knee-jerk reaction from neocons and militant liberals was fast & furious – a poisonous cocktail of compulsive Russophobia, gleeful Schadenfreude, highfalutin kibitzing and jihadist eulogy.
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I’m very grateful to my brother-in-arms, Green Beret vet, whom I met in ’90s at Fort Bragg JFK Special Warfare School, for opening his heart and speaking his mind on this anti-Russian ankle-biting, led by the US Congress Helsinki Commission:
“Imagine if, after 9/11, Putin had expressed sympathy with the US (don't forget, he was the first to call Bush, expressing sympathy and condolences, and offering help), but then in the same breath, also stated that the attack ‘serves as a cry for help to end the violence and poverty in ["the occupied territories of Palestine"] and neighboring regions that engender the desperation that makes these sorts of incidents more likely.” Or something similar.
It is this hypocritical, arrogant and holier-than-thou neocon attitude that rubs so many people in the world (and in the US) the wrong way. There is a time and place for everything. To express such remarks in such a way and at such a time is a real slap in the face to Russia, and to those who died as a result of these heinous terrorist attacks. One could say the same about almost ANY terrorist attack anywhere in the world, as there is always some beef, some complaint, some point that the terrorists are trying to make to bring attention to their cause. To mention such words virtually in the same breath, and in an official statement of a government entity (a Congressional committee), is myopic and unconscionable. I am quite sure that the same Congressional committee would never dare to make such a statement after a Palestinian (Hamas or otherwise) terrorist attack on innocent Israelis.
Al-Qaeda supports terrorists, Chechen or other, within Russia. Chechen (and other groups from within Russia) Jihadists have fought and do fight in Afghanistan, Iraq, etc, and receive training in other countries. Instead of criticizing Russia, the US Congress would do a lot better to encourage mutual support against a common enemy.
God bless the US troops for their great sacrifices in fighting terrorist forces. To automatically assume that Russians are incapable of also making great sacrifices in fighting terrorists is just plain wrong.
I believe that the US has the best military in the world, because I was part of that military, and I know how hard we try to do the right thing, minimize civilian casualties, etc. I too helped to train foreign forces to behave in a professional manner worthy of a "democratic" country. It's good and right to be proud of one's own, and to think of one's military, sports team, or other entity as being "the best." But to go around telling (or signaling) others that "we are the best" should be proven with actions, not words. Mutual respect must be upheld. It is okay for the US (or Russia, or any other country) to believe it is "the best”, but all must guard against racism and exclusive elitism to the denigration of others. We need more humility in this world. This world is filled with too much unhealthy (as opposed to healthy) pride, and not enough humility. In SF we take pride in being "quiet professionals”. I think the US should go back to Teddy Roosevelt's "speak softly, but carry a big stick."
Please excuse my wordy and emotional extemporaneous outburst. But I have seen too much in official US policies in the last 20 years that I am simply ashamed of. It didn't used to be that way. I hope and pray that the US will find its way ‘back home’."
PS.
On April Fool’s Day STRATFOR issued a stern warning that “a statement by the US Congress Helsinki Commission…will certainly worsen the already tense relations between the two countries, and will set the tone for US President Barack Obama’s summit with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Prague on April 8 that will include the signing of a new START treaty."
I’m glad to note that STRATFOR’s dire prediction didn’t materialize.
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27 March, 2010, 10:15 NATO disinformation operation
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Russian Counterdrug Tsar General Ivanov has given NATO a last chance to prove its mettle in Helmand against opium poppy cultivation – but the alliance has blown it again – after its patent failure in counterterrorism & counterinsurgency ops in Iraq & AfPak.
With tacit prodding from the US viceroy of Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke, NATO, instead of unleashing IO and psyops to support defoliation of Helmand killing fields, opted for lobbying narco-farmers’ interests and has launched a gray propaganda campaign against Russia’s unyielding stance to nip the Afghan opium in the bud.
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To get the difference between the Russian position and Western brainwashing, compare both sides of the same story:
TimesLive claimed that “According to figures cited in Ivanov’s speech, Russia was the single largest consumer of heroin in 2008, with 21 per cent of world production ending up in its territory.”
And this is what General Ivanov actually said, referring to Afghan drug stats:
“International heroin consumption in 2008 amounted to: 21 per cent in Russia, 26 per cent in Europe [wake up, NATO, this is you!]”…
“It’s shocking that annual civil losses in the NATO countries due to heroin overdoses are 50 times higher than their military losses in Afghanistan. This is confirmed by the data provided by UNODC Director Antonio Costa regarding annual death of 10,000 citizens of the North Atlantic Treaty countries caused by Afghan drugs.”
NATO: US propaganda enforcement agency
NATO spokesman James Appathurai perfectly parroted US poppy-centric policy: "We cannot be in a situation where we remove the only source of income for people who live in the second-poorest country in the world without being able to provide them with an alternative. That is simply not possible."
I’m at loss how to qualify this poison pill, sugarcoated as "a slight difference of views": highly enriched narco-propaganda or lowly depleted intelligence?
1. [Opium is] the only source of income? C’mon, James, there are plenty of opportunities for local tribesmen – that is, if you don’t consider them fast-food morons – in addition to filling jihadist job opportunities, they could create or join posse comitatus (Arbakai) against the Taliban and their feudal land/drug/war lords; enlist in the ANSF or a private army of contractors and NGOs; migrate to Pakistan or apply as “freedom-farmers” for drug asylum to NATO countries.
2. Remove the only source of income without an alternative? Don’t sweat it, partner – stop searching for a McDonald’s menu and start reading the US GAO “Afghanistan Drug Control” testimony’s fine print: “Funding allotments for US alternative development and agriculture …totaled $1.4 billion (sic!) from fiscal years 2005 through 2009.” (Page 4). Amigo, read my lips: for one-and-a-half billion bucks allegedly spent by the State Department on “alternative development and agriculture”, you could have built a Napa Valley in Helmand! Where’s the money, James?
Frankly, Appathurai deserves a standing ovation for blurting out NATO’s top-secret motto of mighty military impotence: “We cannot… That is simply not possible.”
When at last NATO is laid to rest, this will be an epitaph engraved in gold on its tombstone.
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24 March, 2010, 09:48 Afghan drug demarche
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US Marines in Marja have been farmed out to narco-farmers to ‘defend & protect’ the fruits of democracy from the American DEA and Afghan Ministry of Counternarcotics – in full compliance with the State Department ‘Afghanistan Drug Control’ poppy-centric poisonous policy.
Media-savvy General Stanley McChrystal, US/ISAF Commander in Afghanistan, dispatched a member from his Strategic Advisory Group to spill the guts to the New York Times on the ulterior motive for Operation Moshtarak:
Cmdr. Jeffrey Eggers opened up with an encouraging statement: “Marja is a special case right now.” At first I guessed he would divulge the minute details of the joint DEA/SOF ops against the Drug Devil Citadel with tones of captured deadly evidence and videotaped testimonies of detained narco-fighters, denouncing drug & war profiteering and swearing allegiance to the Constitution of Afghanistan.
I was still having a guilty trip about my misgivings vis-à-vis the State Department coup d’état against DEA counternarcotics strategy, when the messenger suddenly dropped the other shoe: “We don’t trample the livelihood of those we’re trying to win over.”
Commander, how are you gonna ‘win over’ the most dedicated drug community in the world? Do you sincerely believe that if US Marines polish Pashtu and convert to Islam the drug dwellers will chant to them ‘how sweet it is to be loved by you’?
To paraphrase one toxic Texan, you’re either with them or against them, there’s no wiggle room for if & buts.
Farewell to War on Drugs, welcome to War for Drugs!
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About author
Colonel Evgeny Khrushchev, navy brat & army lifer, is the military analyst at RT.
Contrary to the family tradition, he didn’t apply to Vladivostok Navy Academy to join the Pacific Fleet but enrolled in the Red Banner Institute special faculty Persian Team.
The dream to become a military attaché in Tehran has yet to materialize – the first foreign mission started in Afghanistan as a psyops officer of the 56th Airborne Assault Brigade in Gardez, Paktia, Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and the last one was as the First Secretary of the Russian Embassy in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Other tours of duty:
Yugoslavia
The Russian Airborne peace-keeping mission under the aegis of UNPROFOR.
The United States
The main mission: to promote rapport & rapprochement between Russian & American veterans, in close cohesion with US military attaché General Reppert and Special Forces General Metaxis.
* Led the 1st delegation of Soviet Afghan Vets to the US at the invitation of VVA & VVC
* Addressed SOLIC Command and JFK Special Warfare School
* Consulted CBS 60 Minutes on the Soviet campaign in Afghanistan
* Interviewed by ABC 20/20 and Discovery Channel
* Featured by France Press, Boston Globe and USN& WR during the 1st Moscow putsch.
Inspired by Chinese strategy, Persian Sufi poetry and British cats; addicted to Country & Blues and muscle cars.
Favorite personal/personnel carrier – KA-50 Black Shark, due to financial & social constraints, settled for KTM 950 SM.
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13 April, 2010, 13:55
While I share some of your sentiments, I don't buy into the "unmasked the true nature of the Western attitude vis-à-vis Russia" assertion. Having said that, I am one who strongly believes in having very good relations with Russia. Its truly tragic that politicians from both sides often hinder this goal. If we only look around we will find that we have more in common than most of us realize. While I've always despised the Soviet Era government, I had nothing but a deeply felt abiding respect and affection for the Russian people. We on both sides need to set aside our petty differences (and most of them are) and start cooperating bigtime on our collective security to root out these freakin terrorists, for the phrase "united we stand, devided we fall" has never been so appropiate with regards to our two countries!
Rick / USA
10 April, 2010, 11:57
I'm afraid that too many Americans take it as a given that the USA is "God's Own Country" and some will even solemnly affirm that God is an American citizen.
Ergo, if a disaster strikes the USA, it is the work of Satan but should it befall any land the USA mistrusts or dislikes, then it is the Hand of God and Divine Justice at work.
I am unsure whether this condition is treatable.