Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Whether or not “hybrid war” is the right term — a battle probably lost for the moment —Russia is indeed waging an essentially political struggle against the West through political subversion, economic penetration, espionage, and disinformation. To a degree, this reflects the parsimonious opportunism of a weak but ruthless Russia trying to play a great power game without a great power’s resources. It also owes much to Moscow’s inheritance from Bolshevik and even tsarist practices. But a third key factor behind it is the very nature of the modern Russian state... - Russia’s Hybrid War as a Byproduct of a Hybrid State - by Dr. Mark Galeotti

Whether or not “hybrid war” is the right term — a battle probably lost for the moment —Russia is indeed waging an essentially political struggle against the West through political subversion, economic penetration, espionage, and disinformation. To a degree, this reflects the parsimonious opportunism of a weak but ruthless Russia trying to play a great power game without a great power’s resources. It also owes much to Moscow’s inheritance from Bolshevik and even tsarist practices. But a third key factor behind it is the very nature of the modern Russian state... 

nature of the modern Russian state - Google Search

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Russia's Hybrid War as a Byproduct of a Hybrid State

War on the Rocks-5 hours ago
But a third key factor behind it is the very nature of the modern Russian state, as I discuss in my new report, Hybrid War or Gibridnaya Voina: ...
Not the self-evident truth
Duke Chronicle-Dec 5, 2016
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Turkey's PM says year-long halt in Russia ties "over"

TRT World-7 hours ago
At a conference on Tuesday at the Moscow State Institute of ... Due to the nature of the region, we [Russia and Turkey] have a crucial duty.
One-year halt in Turkey, Russia ties 'over': Turkish PM
International-Hurriyet Daily News-10 hours ago
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Russia's Hybrid War as a Byproduct of...

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Russia's Hybrid War as a Byproduct of a Hybrid State

War on the Rocks - ‎2 hours ago‎
Whether or not “hybrid war” is the right term — a battle probably lost for the moment —Russia is indeed waging an essentially political struggle against the West through political subversion, economic penetration, espionage, and disinformation. To a ...

EU-Russia's-Modern-Military

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The Kremlin and the US election

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FILE In this file photo taken on Tuesday, March 18, 2008, Russian troops are seen near truck-mounted Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missiles as they rehearse for the Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square, at a training field in the town of ...

Russian Applications For US Asylum Surge Again In 2016

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Anecdotal evidence and internal accounting from lawyers working with sexual minorities suggest a sharp rise in the number of LGBT individuals from Russia seeking U.S. asylum. Activists warn of a growing number of hate crimes. Share. Share on Facebook ...
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Russia’s Hybrid War as a Byproduct of a Hybrid State

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Whether or not “hybrid war” is the right term — a battle probably lost for the moment —Russia is indeed waging an essentially political struggle against the West through political subversion, economic penetration, espionage, and disinformation. To a degree, this reflects the parsimonious opportunism of a weak but ruthless Russia trying to play a great power game without a great power’s resources. It also owes much to Moscow’s inheritance from Bolshevik and even tsarist practices. But a third key factor behind it is the very nature of the modern Russian state, as I discuss in my new report, Hybrid War or Gibridnaya Voina: Getting Russia’s Non-Linear Military Challenge Right.
One distinctive aspect of recent Russian campaigns, from political operations against the West to military operations in Ukraine, has been a blurring of the borders between state, paramilitary, mercenary, and dupe. The Putin regime evidently believes that it is at war with the West — a geopolitical, even civilizational struggle — and is thus mobilizing every weaponizable asset at its disposal. This extends to mining society as a whole for semi-autonomous assets, from eager internet trolls and “patriotic hackers” to transnational banks and businesses to Cossack volunteers and mercenary gangsters.
When William Nemeth posited the notion of hybrid warfare in the context of the Chechen war against the Russians, it was rooted in his belief that Chechen society was itself a hybrid, still somewhere between the modern and the pre-modern. Traditional forms of social organization, notable the family and the teip (clan), could be used to mobilize for war in ways that need not distinguish between “regular” and “irregular” forms of war, spanning conventional war, insurgency, and terrorism. Hence, a hybrid society fought a hybrid war.
The “hybridity” of Russian operations likewise reflects a conceptually analogous if operationally very different hybridity of the Russian state. Through the 1990s and into Putinism, Russia either failed to institutionalize or actively deinstitutionalized — however you choose to define it.
Today, Russia is a patrimonial, hyper-presidential regime, one characterized by the permeability of boundaries between public and private, domestic and external. As oligarch-turned-dissident Mikhail Khodorkovsky put it:
[W]hat distinguishes the current Russian government from the erstwhile Soviet leaders familiar to the West is its rejection of ideological constraints and the complete elimination of institutions.
Lacking meaningful rule of law or checks and balances, without drawing too heavy-handed a comparison with fascism, Putin’s Russia seems to embody, in its own chaotic and informal way, Mussolini’s dictum “tutto nello Stato, niente al di fuori dello Stato, nulla contro lo Stato” — “everything inside the State, nothing outside the State, nothing against the State.” Parenthetically, Mussolini sent what could be called “little blackshirt men” to Spain in the 1930s to fight on Franco’s side during the civil war. All notionally opted to do so of their own volition (as the Voluntary Troops Corps) and initially without insignia.
In Russia, state institutions are often regarded as personal fiefdoms and piggy banks, officials and even officers freely engage in commercial activity, and the Russian Orthodox Church is practically an arm of the Kremlin. Given all that, the infusion of non-military instruments into military affairs was almost inevitable. Beyond that, though, Putin’s Russia has been characterized — in the past, at least — by multiple, overlapping agencies, a “bureaucratic pluralism” intended as much to permit the Kremlin to divide and rule as for any practical advantages. This is clearly visible within the intelligence and security realm, from the intrusion of the Federal Security Service (FSB) — originally intended as a purely domestic agency — into foreign operations, as well as in the competition over responsibility for information operations.
When “information troops” were formed following the Georgian war, for instance, the FSB at first publicly denounced plans by the military to develop its own capability. Under a 2013 presidential decree, the FSB was tasked with securing national information resources. Since then, this apparent monopoly seems to have eroded, as there is much anecdotal evidence suggesting Russian military intelligence units active in information warfare in Ukraine.
Moscow must also be considered the master of “hybrid business,” of developing illegal and legal commercial enterprises that ideally make money, but at the same time can be used for the state’s purposes, whether technically private concerns or not. Russian commercial institutions not only provide covers for intelligence agents and spread disinformation, but acting notionally on their own initiative, they are also used to provide financial support to political and social movements Moscow deems convenient. For instance, Marine Le Pen’s anti-European Union Front Nationale in France received a €9 million loan from a bank run by a close Putin ally. Similarly, the election of the Czech Republic’s Russophile President Miloš Zeman was partially bankrolled by the local head of the Russian oil company Lukoil — allegedly as a personal donation. Fighting in Syria is spearheaded by “mercenaries” who are simply deniable Russian troops, while even organized crime groups are pressed into service from time to time when the needs of the “hybrid war” demand.
So, it is not simply that Moscow chooses to ignore those boundaries we are used to in the West between state and private, military and civilian, legal and illegal. It is that those boundaries are much less meaningful in Russian terms, and they are additionally straddled by a range of duplicative and even competitive agencies. This can get in the way of coherent policy and create problems of redundancy and even contradictory goals, as evidenced by the 2016 hack of U.S. Democratic National Committee servers, in which FSB and GRU military intelligence operations appear to have been working at cross purposes. However, it also creates a challenge that is complex, multi-faceted, and inevitably difficult for Western agencies to comprehend, let alone counter.
Of course, there is blurring even within these blurred categories and a degree to which these hybrid actors also represent a threat to Russia. “Patriotic hackers” mobilized or hired by the state today may steal from Russian banks tomorrow, treating their role in Putin’s undercover war as their “get out of jail free” card. Businesses may be helping the Kremlin launder, move, and disburse money in Europe, while at the same time enthusiastically embezzling from the federal budget. In many ways, this is the quintessence of the Putin “total war” approach to governance: the absence of legal, ethical and practical limitations on the state’s capacity openly or covertly to co-opt other institutions to its own ends.
Moscow should be careful of the lessons it is teaching the West (or China and other potential future rivals). An over-geared, under-invested, over-securitized, and under-legitimate Russia may well be extremely vulnerable to at least some of the very tactics it uses so profligately abroad. Should they choose to, the United States and its allies possess formidable opportunities to fight their own “political war” inside Russia, including through cyberattacks, deeper and broader sanctions, propaganda campaigns, and encouragement of elite conspiracies. Alarmist rhetoric aside, in the long term, this so-called “new way of war” may well prove to be more of a threat to Russia than to the West.
Dr. Mark Galeotti is Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of International Affairs Prague, and Principal Director of the consultancy Mayak Intelligence. He has been Professor of Global Affairs at New York University, a special advisor to the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office and head of History at Keele University in the United Kingdom, as well as a visiting professor at Rutgers—Newark, Charles University (Prague), and MGIMO (Moscow). Read his new report, Hybrid War or Gibridnaya Voina: getting Russia’s non-linear military challenge right.
Image: Russian MoD
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Trump’s Threat to the Constitution - The New York Times

"Ловец Человеков": Connected? The halo is there. And the Book is there. And the disciples are there. But where is the Light of Understanding, in this big curved dark tunnel of a vision? Where is the big red dot? Where is the new beginning?

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 
Matthew 4:19 - King James Version (KJV) 

“И говорит им: идите за Мною, и Я сделаю вас ловцами человеков” (Матф. 4:19)

Image result for god's finger

Во время посещения предприятия «Этерно». С членом совета директоров Челябинского трубопрокатного завода Андреем Комаровым (слева) и председателем правления УК «РОСНАНО» Анатолием Чубайсом.

Connected?

Во время беседы с рабочими предприятия «Этерно».

The halo is there: St. Wolodimir... 

С рабочими предприятия «Этерно».

"I don't care about the "elites" that much, the "people" love me." 
Well, it might or might not be so, or it might be temporary and passing, or it might be questionable, depending on your definitions and the methods of research. Generally speaking, the Russians are quite "loving" and "forgiving" people, up to a certain point, and this particular young crowd of workers appears to be healthy, intelligent, and well balanced. The question is, how permissible is it to exploit their trust, their tendency to believe without doubting too much, and how permissible is it to manipulate their minds and their future? 

Во время беседы с рабочими предприятия «Этерно».

And The Book is there. 
To hold The Book, even close to your heart, does not always mean to know and to understand it truly, or to act and to live by it truly. Sometimes it is used just as the convenient foil and cover, and often in these situations, without even the awareness of this substitution.

Совещание в Государственном ракетном центре имени академика В.П.Макеева.

And the disciples are there. Mr. Borisov, usually you wear an exceptionally nice, genuine, warm, intimate, humorous, and, somewhat charmingly, the most petulant smile. Move your laser pointer in the right direction, por favor, sir... 

Во время посещения предприятия «Этерно».

And the sign on the wall, regarding the "association of collaborators" is there. 


Во время посещения предприятия «Этерно».

And the hint is there. 

Перед началом беседы с рабочими предприятия «Этерно».

And the swagger is there, among all sorts of the outer and the inner tubes... 

Во время беседы с рабочими предприятия «Этерно».

And his own, nice, somewhat mysterious, promising "Mona Lisa smile" is there. Too mysterious, or not mysterious enough? "Nu, Zika, pogadi!" 

Image result for mona lisa smile

What would you say, the Mona-Lisas? I think they unanimously approve my post. Smile... 

Во время посещения предприятия «Этерно».

But where is the Light of Understanding, in this big curved dark tunnel of a vision? Where is the big red dot? Where is the new beginning? 

___________________________________________

See also, from the same series

Соболезнования Президенту США Бараку Обаме - 5 декабря 2016 года, 16:45,

Владимир Путин выразил соболезнования семьям погибших в результате аварии в Ханты-Мансийском автономном округе - 4 декабря 2016 года, 20:10,

and s-s-s-e-e-e also the other news. 

Keep informed. Keep updated. Keep in touch. 



Dionne Warwick - That's What Friends Are For

____________________________________

The Interpreter's Comments: 

Usually I do not do the interpretations for the other side, and the other side should not be under any illusions that it is not "the other side"; it is, for many, the very long standing and the immutable reasons. However, just this one time I feel that I should make an exception. Besides, if I make the interpretations for my side: very direct, sometimes very painful and even cruel in their irreverence, cutting to the bone, etc., etc., why shouldn't I make the interpretations for the "other side"? 

The truth, as it comes from the interpreter's mouth, pen, or mouse, is still the truth. But it is the interpretative truth, it is always, despite the best efforts and honesty, hypothetical and highly subjective, it is the subtype of the Delphic truths, it is different from the "scientific" and other similar types of truths, although very often they are just the interpretations also. The Interpreter and the Interpretation are the Dancer and the Dance, they are inseparable, one and the same: 

"O chestnut tree, great-rooted blossomer,/ Are you the leaf, the blossom or the bole?/ O body swayed to music, O brightening glance,/ How can we know the dancer from the dance?" 

Joseph, the interpreter of dreams, was first of all Joseph, and then the master interpreter of dreams, biblical figure, and everything else. 

Another consideration is that the true and "correct", or rather the "grammatically", properly, (according to the intuitive art and the unwritten science), constructed interpretations do usually and naturally go forth and back, from the center to the periphery and back to the center, in the almost endless circle, not the vicious and closed one, but the beneficial, knowledge and insight gaining, and the open one. This is called "the hermeneutic round or the hermeneutic circle". That's how the obscure, usually the religious texts are interpreted, and it is also the feature of the psychoanalytic-psychotherapeutic and other interpretations. These interpretations are the endlessly open metaphors, branching out from the depths of the Unconscious to the celestial and mythological heavenly realms. 

This natural and mutual "all encompassing" roundness and circularity are the basis for my argument in favor of making this interpretation for the "other side". I went to all these great lengths to explain my reasoning for presenting this interpretation because I want to be understood correctly: it is not to insult anyone or to offend anyone's sensibilities but to share my understanding of my subjective truth in this interpretation. 

I speak and interpret for myself, and for myself only, not on anyone's behalf or prodding or stimulation, and the responsibility is entirely mine. Usually, I do not go to these lengths to explain myself to my side: I know that my motivation and thinking will be understood correctly; with gnashing of teeth, and sometimes with the rendering of garments, in great pain, disbelief, and sorrow, but correctly. In this instance, I want the "other side" to try to understand my interpretation correctly also if they can. 

The final and maybe the most decisive argument for making and presenting this interpretation to the "other side" is that the bitter truth might make the distance between these two sides shorter, and might eventually contribute to the development of the common and better understanding of the events and their symbolic significance, and also, hopefully, to help in promoting the healthy changes, including the attitudes and directions. And also: "The controlled explosions are always much more preferable to the uncontrolled, unmanageable, escalating, dangerous, real explosions."


Key words: 

Ханты-Мансийск–Тюмень


Interpretation: 

Хан ты! 

Ман-сийск: 

The man who seeks out the others ("сыск") for his own evil purposes: 



And also the search for and the investigation of this man himself.

ловец человеков библия

“И говорит им: идите за Мною, и Я сделаю вас ловцами человеков” (Матф. 4:19)

Что значит быть «ловцами человеков»?
"Словом “ловец” в древнеизраильском государстве называли людей особой профессии. На Востоке при царских дворцах было принято содержать зверинцы с различными животными. Зверинцы при дворцах восточных правителей были очень распространенным явлением. Дворцовые ловцы не только отлавливали животных, но и занимались их содержанием при дворце. И чем богаче и обширней было царство, тем больший зверинец был при дворце. Был зверинец и у древнееврейского царя Ирода, правившего во время проповеднической деятельности Иисуса Христа. Зверинцы при дворах восточных владык насчитывали большое количество особей. Держать зверинец при дворце было престижно. И правители очень щедро платили дворцовым ловцам за пойманных животных. Но поймать животное так, чтобы не повредить его и целого и невредимого доставить в дворцовый зверинец было делом непростым. В этом деле необходима была сноровка и знание. Ловля происходила различными орудиями и приспособлениями, но чаще всего животных ловили на приманку. И ловцу необходимо было знать, какая приманка нужна, чтобы привлечь внимание животного. После поимки, животных доставляли в дворцовый зверинец. Иными словами ловцы с помощью приманки (то есть того, что интересует и привлекает внимание животного) ловили и доставляли животных. Но ловцы знали не только как ловить, но и как содержать животных. То есть знали, что необходимо животному для нормального существования. После отлова животные могли подвергаться обучению (дрессировке)."

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 
Matthew 4:19 - King James Version (KJV) 

"The phrase "fishers of men," also at Mark 1:17, is one of the most well known lines in the entire New Testament, and the most important metaphor for evangelism. The image probably had an important role in the adoption of the Ichthys as a symbol of early Christianity. The reference has also often been moved from the disciples to Jesus, with him being called the "fisher of men," and the image of Jesus as a fisherman is second only to that of Jesus as a shepherd.

The translation "fishers of men" is well known and used by most authors, but not wholly accurate. In the Greek it is halieis anthropon, but modern scholars realize that anthropon does not just refer to men, but to all of humanity. Translators also prefer to avoid the word fisher. While it was a word common at the time the KJV was written, today it is not a standard English word; fisherman is the standard term. For several centuries quoting this verse was one of the only times the word fisher would be used. In recent years fisher has gained some currency as a gender neutral term for fishermen.

A similar reference to fishing occurs at Jeremiah 16:16, upon which this passage might be based. In Jeremiah the reference is to hunting down sinners, in the Gospels it seems to be a milder metaphor of saving souls. The basic interpretation of the metaphor as referring to the disciples working to catch souls for Jesus as they had previously caught fish is universally agreed upon, there are, however, a number of views of the exact meaning of the metaphor. The metaphor has a somewhat different meaning depending on one's view of the type of fishing the disciples participated in.
...
As such a famous verse it has appeared a number of times in art and culture. Among literary works that reference the verse are Chaucer's "Summoner's Tale", Byron's Don Juan, Tennyson's Harold, Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, and G.K. Chesterton's "The Innocence of Father Brown."[7]"

M.N.: And also "The Catcher in the Rye".

Speaking of fish, even if all the dead fish returns to the Ocean of Life, their untimely and unfair demise does "reek to high heaven", when they are caught, used, and disposed of by the rules of deceit and condescension of Man and his laws of life, and unjustified by any real need but the exercise for the sake of the exercise of flexing the special operations intelligence muscle and the very dubious and unrealistic geopolitical aspirations. And sometimes even one caught fish might be one too many, poisoning the atmosphere with its treacherous scent. 

ловец человеков замятин

"Самое прекрасное в жизни - бред, и самый прекрасный бред - влюбленность."

Ловец человеков как вербовщик, который заставляет в себя "влюбиться": страну, других людей, союзников, жертв, исполнителей, etc., etc., или всё это вместе, как "гипнотизёр"... (is associated with T. Mann's "Death in Venice", etc., or other types of social-political "hypnosis"). 

Ловец человеков как вербовщик в разведке



Путинобоязнь. Фобии западной журналистики:

"Forbes.ru. Этот французский журнал в статье Poutine, le m?le absolu (его можно перевести как «Путин: совершенный самец», но при этом теряется игра с выражением «mal absolu» — абсолютное зло) пошел по избитой колее — показал маскулинность российского президента и связь этого образа с режимом. В иллюстрациях к статье — и рыбалка с обнаженным торсом, и катание на лошадях. Корреспондент вспоминает, как методично пресс-служба президента представляет все новые образы Путина-мачо и Путина-спортсмена. «Ничто не является более телесным, чем власть», — вспоминает журналист слова философа Мишеля Фуко и добавляет, что, по Фуко, тело короля в XVII веке было не метафорой, а политической реальностью, «его физическое присутствие было необходимым для функционирования монархии». В России, по мнению Le magazine du Monde, культ личности вышел на глобальный уровень, сохраняя при этом основные особенности царской и советской власти.

Толкование, которое дает автор русского Forbes, очень трогательно, но совершенно не учитывает того, что именно изображено на этой обложке. А изображен человек (наверно, тотальный диктатор, совершенный самец, абсолютное зло), который ловит рыбу. Тут не худо вспомнить, что сказано об апостолах, которые были рыболовами, а потом стали ловцами человеков. Путин тоже профессиональный ловец (вербовщик) человеков, но, судя по французскому журналу, он злой ловец, демонический, осуществляющий диктатуру тела. Но художнику явно нравится это голое тело."

Alternative (or rather the additional facet of) interpretation of "Ман-сийск":

Man, "сий, с к": "ссы, советский коммунист": 
Piss on yourself in fear, you, the Soviet Communist! 

Тюмень: 
Тю, мень...: Look at this (Тю,), and this is for a change (мень)! 

-

Additional Key Words and Interpretations: 

from the article in "Life.ru" (one of the mouthpieces of the FSB? Almost all of the Russian media today is.):

Смерть без сопровождения. Кто ответит за гибель детей под Ханты-Мансийском?

Нефтеюганск is associated with the story of M. Khodorkovsky: 

ходорковский и нефтеюганск 

Not because of the recent accusations, but because the heart of Khodorkovsky's oil empire was situated in the oil fields around this town. So, this might be interpreted as a reminder of Khodorkovsky's affair: arrest, trial, seizure of property, etc..  This does not mean at all that M. Khodorkovsky has anything to do with this, of course he does not. 

Фото: © РИА Новости


"Возможными фигурантами уголовного дела о страшном ДТП в ХМАО могут стать и руководители детской спортивной школы, которые организовали поездку."


"Владелец разбившегося автобуса Александр Сидорук заявил, что настаивал на том, чтобы полиция сопровождала детей в поездке. По словам мужчины, к нему за помощью обратился тренер спортивной команды Александр Каленский — "попросил бесплатно отвезти юных спортсменов на соревнование". 

Сидорук: Сид-орук: "seed" - oruk: the seeds of the "dish"; also: 
"Ори, к: killer!" 

Каленский: "It is hot", "red-hot". 


____________________________________

This is a somewhat schematic description, and the schematic and incomplete interpretation, but readers can fill out the blanks, especially about the responsibility "of the leaders of Children Athletic School" in Russia, who apparently operated lately without any visible signs of restraint. Hopefully, it will be a lesson for them, and they will learn from it. Another side comment: there are the actions, and there are the reactions, and the distinction in this particular recent chain of events is very easy to make. 

Michael Novakhov, the interpreter. 

12.5.16 

__________________________________________________

Addendum and Follow-up - 12.6.16 

IX Всероссийский съезд судей.

Судьи кто?"

"Судья должен быть примером объективности, неподкупности и безупречности в своих действиях и решениях."

M.N.: Solution: Establish the International Anti-Terrorism Court - the respectable, impartial, independent, balanced, broadly empowered body with the jurisdiction in all global Anti-Terrorism and related matters, with the mandate and ability to conduct open, public, and closed, confidential hearings, if you want to bring some modicum of order into this ongoing deadly chaos. Is it not the ripe time for it? 

___________________________________

Saturday, December 3, 2016

"Под Петром сижу, Далеко гляжу!" | M.N.: What a photo! If you intend to deny this and to claim that Russia is not involved in this "bidniz" (cop killings, mass shootings, etc.), then share all the information you have about this (and you certainly do have it) with the corresponding U.S. agencies as a sign of the good will. It is only logical to expect this if the improvement in the relations is expected. The lies and the good intentions paving the road to hell won't do. The truth, and nothing but the truth.


M.N.: What a photo: So much irony, bitterness, and a poignant disappointment. And who is to blame? Not me. If a certain promise is made, be it implied and symbolic, it has to be kept. And one thing I have to say, he is known for keeping his promises, even implied; this is called "trust". If you intend to deny this and to claim that Russia is not involved in this "bidniz" (cop killings, mass shootings, etc.), then share all the information you have about this (and you certainly do have it) with the corresponding U.S. agencies as a sign of the good will. It is only logical to expect this if the improvement in the relations is expected. The lies and the good intentions paving the road to hell won't do. The truth, and nothing but the truth. 

Совещание с постоянными членами Совета Безопасности.

Совещание с постоянными членами Совета Безопасности. - 12.1.16

Послание Президента Федеральному Собранию. Секретарь Совета Безопасности Николай Патрушев.

Послание Президента Федеральному Собранию. Секретарь Совета Безопасности Николай Патрушев.

M.N.: I have a feeling that Mr. Patrushev is going to look into this issue also.

На совместном заседании Совета по культуре и искусству и Совета по русскому языку.

На совместном заседании Совета по культуре и искусству и Совета по русскому языку.

The next day, on 12.2.16: coldly condescending, self-assured, and a bit tired glance, across Alaska: "Я Царь ещё!" and will sit on my throne tight!".

Statement: 
"Свою позицию о вмешательстве в творческую деятельность, если вы обратили внимание, вчера я высказал в рамках Послания и повторю, что принцип свободы творчества считаю абсолютно незыблемым. Однако у всех свобод всегда есть вторая сторона: ответственность. И это мы с вами тоже хорошо знаем. Это, собственно говоря, во всех определениях свободы, всеми признанными в мире философами так и излагается.

И у художника, у «властителя дум», так сказать, мера этой ответственности особенно высока. С одной стороны, любые хулиганские выходки, попытки сорвать спектакль, выставку абсолютно недопустимы и должны пресекаться по всей строгости закона. Мы так и будем делать. В то же время в самой творческой среде – хочу подчеркнуть именно эту сторону дела, – именно в самой творческой среде должна быть определена грань между циничным, оскорбительным эпатажем и творческой акцией." 

Response: M.N.: 
Свобода слова как отражение свободы мысли (творческой: художественной, научной, политической - любой), абсолютно неограничена по самой своей природе, и свобода Русского слова особенно: глубокого, высокого, постоянно ищущего -  просто-напросто не может быть ограничена в принципе внешними карательными мерами. Эти свободы можно задушить и убить, на какое-то время и в каком-либо обществе, вместе с их носителями, но ограничить их невозможно: дух, как и мысль, мятежен и абсолютно свободен по самой своей природе. Поэтому даже и не пытайтесь. 

Уровень культуры не измеряется количеством читателей и зрителей, её планка - в уникальных и абсолютно свободных по самой их природе художниках, мыслителях, политиках. 

-
12.2.16

Встреча с российскими и иностранными деятелями культуры. С Министром культуры Владимиром Мединским.

В.Путин: Уважаемые дамы и господа! Дорогие друзья!

Наш Министр сразу, как в России говорят, взял быка за рога, не знаю, кто здесь бык. Тем не менее он взял инициативу в свои руки, я даже не успел с вами поздороваться. Поэтому прежде всего хочу вам сказать: добрый вечер, добро пожаловать в Россию, в Петербург, в Мариинский театр. 

M.N.: Мда-а, Я тоже не знаю... 

-

Во время встречи с Министром иностранных дел Японии Фумио Кисидой.

M.N.: Под Петром: "noblesse oblige"... 

"Под Петром сижу, Далеко гляжу!"

-

Friday, November 25, 2016

"Let us play ball!" - По завершении встречи с президентом ФИФА Джанни Инфантино. | На встрече с избранным Генеральным секретарём Организации Объединённых Наций Антониу Гутеррешем.

На встрече с избранным Генеральным секретарём Организации Объединённых Наций Антониу Гутеррешем.
7 из 8
По завершении встречи с президентом ФИФА Джанни Инфантино.

"Let us play ball!" - По завершении встречи с президентом ФИФА Джанни Инфантино.

"Catch it", - he says. "I am throwing a ball to you, let us play!" 


Image result for NATO cross
The Russian, Israeli (Why not? Israel is immensely much more the source and the part of the Judeo-Christian Civilization, than Turkey, for example, and could be the very valuable, fully fledged ally), Ukranian, Georgian, and other flags could be added to this Constellation.
In due time, and hopefully. 

This ball looks like the Orb, with the cross on it, especially the NATO cross, symbolizing the common Judeo-Christian Civilization. This cross also looks like an eagle, with its wings spread, the symbol of the stately power and the symbol of some intelligence services (along with the bat, its more earthly and "reversed" counterpart, specifically for the GRU). 

I think, Mr. Putin offers the broad cooperation, including in intelligence work. 

Sounds and looks good. We'll play! Hopefully, honestly and productively. 

Orb: "a sphere surmounted by a cross symbolizing kingly power and justice"; 

Image result for держава

Держава: "В Московской Руси и при царизме: золотой шар с крестом наверху как символ власти монарха.

На заседании Совета по стратегическому развитию и приоритетным проектам.

На заседании Совета по стратегическому развитию и приоритетным проектам. 

Заместитель председателя Экономического совета при Президенте Алексей Кудрин, специальный представитель Президента по вопросам природоохранной деятельности, экологии и транспорта Сергей Иванов и полномочный представитель Президента в Уральском федеральном округе Игорь Холманских (слева направо) на заседании Совета по стратегическому развитию и приоритетным проектам.

Заместитель председателя Экономического совета при Президенте Алексей Кудрин, специальный представитель Президента по вопросам природоохранной деятельности, экологии и транспорта Сергей Иванов и полномочный представитель Президента в Уральском федеральном округе Игорь Холманских (слева направо) на заседании Совета по стратегическому развитию и приоритетным проектам. 


__________________________________________


Thursday, November 24, 2016

Сергей Иванов (слева) на церемонии вручения премии Русского географического общества

Специальный представитель Президента по вопросам природоохранной деятельности, экологии и транспорта Сергей Иванов (слева) на церемонии вручения премии Русского географического общества.

Специальный представитель Президента по вопросам природоохранной деятельности, экологии и транспорта Сергей Иванов (слева) на церемонии вручения премии Русского географического общества.http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/53323/photos/46397

Thursday, November 17, 2016

The Solution for Crimea - by Michael Novakhov

It is difficult to see how the improvement in the Russia - US and the Russia - West relations could proceed without cutting the knot of the Crimean issue and problem. The following is the set of thoughts which might be helpful in considering the mutually acceptable solution. If this problem is resolved, Crimea will turn from a "black hole" that absorbs and destroys the good will, from a source of conflict, mutual mistrust, and endless recriminations; from a bone of contention, into the connecting bond, and for Russia, into a permanently open door, a corridor between her and the West, historically much more important and significant than the Petersburg's window, which for the overwhelming majority was just a wistful vista onto the Czar's Baltic lake. 

Establish the joint governing mechanism for Crimea with Ukraine and with the European and the Western participation, introduce the visa-free travel to and from the peninsula, for the European and other tourists, and for the Crimeans who wish to travel to the Western countries. Allow the Greeks, the other Europeans, and other Westerners to settle there freely, if they so wish. Grant greater autonomy and self-rule for the Crimeans under the joint Russian - Ukrainian - European umbrella. This is ancient and originally the ancient Greek land. Invite the respected and mutually acceptable Greek or the European politician, who, preferably, speaks Russia or Ukranian, or both, to head the local Crimean government as a prime minister for the initial transitional period or longer, introduce the new constitution accordingly, along the European lines. Instead of begging you for money and being the drain on the Russian budget, they will be awash with investments, the real estate projects of the European quality will spring up fast, the sanctions will be lifted. Agree with Ukraine on directing the repayment of the $3 billion loan to Crimea and its citizens, with the European guarantees. This money will be compensated many folds by the lifting of sanctions and other benefits. 

The Russian military, located in Crimea, will benefit also: the value of their real estate holdings will increase several folds. Share the naval base in Sevastopol with the NATO navies. It will establish the much-needed trust and will start the productive cooperation between the militaries.The confrontation and opposing the West is the greatest, irrational and exitless nonsense. The continuing intelligence war will not bring you victory or the world domination, it will just create the endless tensions and hostility. Do not take the Westerners and the Americans for the fools or weaklings, they are not at all, and you know it very well, but you console yourselves with these feelings out of envy and hostility. There no, really. reasons for these feelings, neither good nor bad reasons; they stem from the old Soviet traditions and the historical Russian xenophobic habits. Do not interfere negatively with the Ukraine's and other former Soviet republics' European choice, just the opposite, support them and support their independence, you will only benefit from it in a long run. One, two, or three new or old puppets do not the summer make, let the chips fall wherever they may, allow the history to take its course freely, otherwise the pent-up pressures and tensions will explode, and, as always, into your own faces, with the unpredictable and bad results. 

The big, historical, strategic changes require the big historical, strategic, and bold decisions, the bold thinking on the part of the really, historically big politicians. Think broadly, this broadness, "shirota", had always been one of the most appealing features of the Russian national character and the most beneficial feature of her historical figures-politicians' thinking. Peter the Great is probably the best example. The world will only welcome and admire this. I do not think, that anyone will try to take advantage of this broadness and openness, I do not think that anyone will try to f**k you up. Unreasonable fears hurt the security; the natural alliances, fixed by the common historical, cultural, and religious roots and bonds, enhance it. 
Think it over, start with the first, small, baby steps, develop them gradually, and walk proudly and freely within and among the historically parental community of the Western nations. 

I really do not see any reasonable or viable alternatives to this type of the proposed solution in a long run.

Michael Novakhov

11.14.16

Совещание по вопросам мобилизационной готовности ОПК

На совещании по вопросам мобилизационной готовности оборонно-промышленного комплекса. Фото ТАСС
17 ноября 2016 года Сочи

M.N.: Looks as fit as ever, and somewhat angry.

I hope, that the problem is solved. We'll live, we'll see. If it is solved, thank you, Vovchik. And, probably, thank you, Donald, too. This might be the benefit of the business approach: fast, swift, and to the point: it probably took just one phone call, at the right time, and to the right place, after four or more years of inaction and non-sequiturs. When it is fair, it is fair. I am the first one to criticize but will be the first one to say thank you, when it is deserved. 

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

You have a beautiful smile, Mr. Shoigu. You look much better when you smile, than when you are "surly - burly". - M.N.

You have a beautiful smile, Mr. Shoigu. You look much better when you smile, than when you are "surly - burly". - M.N.

Министр обороны Сергей Шойгу на совещании с руководством Министерства обороны.

http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/53262/photos/46299http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/53262/photos/46299

Шойгу подумал: "Вот приебался! Прям как мои шаманы: и "мальчиший круг" ему, и "чу-чу-чу", и Gloria! и Hallelujah!" Вот неймётся же человеку! Язык без костей! И хоть бы дело делал, а то так, болтовня одна.
Спасибо, однако, на добром слове. Доброе слово, оно всем приятно."

(Just joking!)

                         


Smile! And the world smiles with you.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

"Обсуждались итоги работы... на Московской кольцевой железной дороге."

С президентом ОАО «Российские железные дороги» Олегом Белозёровым.

Владимир Путин провёл рабочую встречу с президентом ОАО «Российские железные дороги» Олегом Белозёровым. Обсуждались итоги работы компании в текущем году и ситуация с пассажирскими перевозками на Московской кольцевой железной дороге.
17:30
Москва, Кремль


Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Как верёвочке не виться, а конец будет

The Russian Lesson: Learning the Proverbs

Как верёвочке не виться, а конец будет. / Long curls the rope, but there will be an end to it.  

Or so they say. It sounds like there is some "noose part" of it, somewhere there, too... 
M.N.

Совещание с постоянными членами Совета Безопасности


Monday, November 7, 2016

M.N.: Appoint Trump an Ambassador to Russia! They love him. He will be out of sight, out of mind, too.

Confident Clinton looks ahead to post-election bridge-building