Putin In Charge
- From: PaPaPeng <PaPaPeng@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:58:36 GMT
Bear baiting
Washington and its allies are playing a foolish game by casting
Putin's economically resurgent Russia as a potential security threat
Soumaya Ghannoushi
April 4, 2008 8:30 AM
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/soumaya_ghannoushi_/2008/04/bear_baiting.html
To say that Russia's image in the British and American media is
negative would be quite an understatement. Read press reports on the
country and the impression you will get is of a semi-rogue state run
by a power-crazed 21st-century tsar, who oppresses dissidents at home
and threatens countries abroad.
What is missing from this chilling narrative, however, is that Putin,
the former KGB agent dismissed as a new Stalin, saved Russia from
disintegration and Yugoslavia- style mayhem. He succeeded in putting
an end to the vortex of European and American foreign interventions
that transformed his country from the world's mightiest power to a
ludicrous caricature epitomised by a drunk president, who specialised
in making a fool of himself and his country, bumbling, dancing or
stumbling at international gatherings.
It is ironic that the man who presided over Russia's collapse was
feted, while opprobrium is heaped on the one leading it through its
recovery. For much of his rule, Yeltsin was hailed as a hero and
embraced by western statesmen - sometimes literally. Clinton even
campaigned for his re-election. This proceeded as he transferred his
country's wealth to gangs of thieves while his people went hungry,
while GDP plummeted (by 50%), over a quarter of Russians sunk into
poverty (an estimated 30%), and mortality rates rose by 50% (see this
report, pdf). He was even cheered in western capitals when his tanks
besieged the Duma - after it refused to pass his drastic
liberalisation reforms - shelled and almost destroyed the building
with the elected legislature inside. As long as he did Washington's
bidding, he could do no wrong.
In the space of a few years, Putin transformed Russia from the world's
latest sick man to a confident, resurgent power. Russia is back on its
feet after the terrible decade of US/IMF blessed "shock therapy", of
rampant corruption and comprehensive decline. For the last eight
years, GDP has steadily increased, rising by the highest percentage
since the fall of the Soviet Union at 8.1%. Inflation has fallen to
under 10%, and Russia's trade balance has increased threefold in four
years. Last year, the World Bank declared that Russian economy had
achieved "unprecedented stability".
Many British and American economic analysts compete in playing down
Putin's role in Russia's economic resurrection, maintaining that it
has more to do with high oil prices than with any economic reforms he
has introduced. What these conveniently overlook, however, is that,
had it not been for Putin, the country's enormous oil and gas revenues
would still be flowing into the accounts of Shell, BP and other
foreign companies. And were it not for his audacious pursuit of the
oligarchs who looted the country to starvation in the mass
privatisation of the Yeltsin era, the country's riches - over 70% of
the economy - would still be in the hands of Khodorkovsky, Lebedev,
Berezovsky, and the other titans of the Yeltsin era.
What is seldom said in the European and American media is that, far
from being a threat to the West, Russia is, in fact, a country under
threat. Since the fall of the iron curtain, the US has been tightening
the noose around its neck in an attempt to drive it outside the
international equation altogether. Analysts love to speak of Russia's
new aggressive tone under Putin. But what is rarely ever mentioned is
that rather than being on the offensive, Russia is defending its vital
interests and national security from a continuous encroachment by
Washington and its European allies.
In December 2001, the US announced its withdrawal from the 1972
anti-ballistic missile treaty with Russia. The treaty, President Bush
declared, is "now behind us"; missile defences will be deployed "as
soon as possible". In defiance of Russia's virulent opposition to the
move, the US proceeded to announce plans to deploy a radar facility in
the Czech Republic and a missile base in Poland. Through Nato, the US
has worked to isolate Moscow, admitting its former eastern European
and Baltic client states into the organisation.
As a result, Russia today finds itself militarily encircled, with Nato
at its western frontiers and a ring of military bases planted in
central Asia on its southern borders. After a string of colour
revolutions, the US has further encroached into Russia's geopolitical
zone by supporting Kosovo's independence.
And yesterday, Bush set the stage for the coming Nato summit by
announcing his intention to "support Map for Ukraine and Georgia" (Map
being Nato's membership action plan for future members), despite the
reluctance of Germany and France. In response, Putin warned that
should the plan go through, "one can't theoretically exclude the
possibility that Russia will have to point its warheads at Ukrainian
territory."
Is it any wonder Russia looks angrily westward? As a Russian
politician put it, "Russia can't just twiddle its thumbs when it sees
the Americans taking root in the Baltic and Caucasus countries and
strengthening their positions in East European countries ... When
Nato's steam engine is directed toward us, we simply must respond."
Today, as Putin prepares to vacate the Kremlin - and move next door -
Russia looks healthier and stronger than it did for years. Not only
did he succeed in halting the cycle of decline and disintegration
unleashed by his predecessor, he has driven his country forward
economically, politically and militarily, restoring its confidence and
sense of itself as a global power. Important lessons can be drawn from
this episode of the history of western-Russian relations. One of these
is the following: if you see a world leader greeted with open arms in
Washington, or London, then beware. Most likely, his services are not
for his country or his people, but for those who applaud and cheer
him.
.
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