Tag Archives: Russian Leadership

Bar Nunn – By Jeffrey Lewis | Foreign Policy

It is a funny sort of paranoid fantasy, the notion that the United States might place nuclear weapons on missile defense interceptors and use them to decapitate the Russian leadership in Moscow. But I suspect this is the rub. The simplest explanation for Russia’s overwhelming concern with missile defense is that the General Staff fears that Russia is much, much more vulnerable to an attack against the country’s command-and-control infrastructure — what used to be called decapitation — than we realize.  Part of this is a fear missile defense interceptors could be armed as offensive missiles, part of it is that missile defenses could mop up a disorganized Russian retaliation.  Most of it, however, is probably sheer terror at the persistent technological advantage held by the United States in light of Russian vulnerabilities.

This is what makes our failure to extend arms control beyond mere reductions so dangerous. The Russians are, I suspect, convinced that they cannot count on being able to command their forces following an attack  They believe they are dangerously, provocatively vulnerable. And, as a result, they make strange, dangerous, and seemingly irrational decisions. Which brings us to Perimeter.

Bar Nunn – By Jeffrey Lewis | Foreign Policy

With Russia’s military industrial complex effectively falling apart, I think Russian leaders are very worried about persistant and probably expanding technological lead of the Americans. Regardless of its plans, it appears that Russia is having a harder time keeping up. And the future may bring a time where Russia becomes vulnerable to an America first strike.

Putin’s New ‘Fortress Russia’ – NYTimes.com

AS members of the Russian punk-rock band Pussy Riot appeal their two-year prison sentence for a political protest in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, a pale of repression is settling over their country. This crackdown is wrapped in legislative garb, but the iron grip of authoritarianism is unmistakable.

Vladimir Putin’s tightening of the screws is a part of a broader pattern, which includes a return to confrontation with the United States and NATO. The United States must specifically recognize that its “reset” policy of see no evil, hear no evil has contributed to the trampling of human rights in Russia.

Moscow is cozying up to China, supporting the Assad regime in Syria and ignoring the Iranian nuclear race. The Kremlin is hard at work to create a sphere of influence along its periphery and a “pole” in the multipolar world that would stand up to Washington.

Recent developments have an unmistakably flavor of the 1920s and 1930s, …

Putin’s New ‘Fortress Russia’ – NYTimes.com

Some call Russia a fascist state. I prefer to call it a mafia state with Don Corleone Putin as its leader. In Bible prophecy circles some people are suggesting that Putin just might be Gog. I think they are on to something. Putin is an evil leader who is capable of doing anything – even initiating nuclear war. I have already documented on this website several threats and hints of nuclear war coming out of Russian leadership since the Russia-Georgia war.

Another way to look at Putin is as the arrival of a modern day Stalin.

20 years after Russia kissed Communism goodbye, Mikhail Gorbachev has called out Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as more “Stalin” than savior.

As The Daily Beast outlines in “Gorbachev Lashes Out at Putin,” Gorbachev has very publicly accused Putin of “’dragging the country into the past, when it is on fire with modernization.’

Gorbachev Calls Putin ‘Stalin’

Joseph Stalin

Joseph Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 until his death in 5 March 1953. Among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the Russian Revolution in 1917, Stalin held the position of General Secretary of the party’s Central Committee from 1922 until his death. While the office was initially not highly regarded, Stalin used it to consolidate more power after the death of Vladimir Lenin in 1924, gradually putting down all opposition. This included Leon Trotsky, the principal critic of Stalin among the early Soviet leaders. Whereas Trotsky advocated world permanent revolution, Stalin’s concept of socialism in one country became primary policy as he emerged the leader of the Soviet Union.

Joseph Stalin – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NATO activates missile shield despite Russian anger

NATO leaders launched Sunday the first phase of a US-led missile shield for Europe, risking the wrath of Russia which has threatened to deploy rockets to EU borders in response.

A NATO official told AFP that US President Barack Obama and his allies “just decided” at a Chicago summit to put a US warship armed with interceptors in the Mediterranean and a Turkey-based radar system under NATO command in a German base.

AFP: NATO activates missile shield despite Russian anger

Everybody is worried about Russia’s reaction – how mad will it get, or what will it do? Does this sound like a friend? Doesn’t it sound more like Russia views NATO as an enemy and a threat? Does that sound like the Cold War is over?

Russian experts agree that the missile defense system poses little threat to Russia. Russian leadership is making such a big deal over the missile defense system because it views NATO as an enemy and a threat in general. The missile defense system represents a symbol of this threat, even if not a real threat.

NATO and the West needs to start mirroring Russia. It needs to view Russia as an enemy and a threat, and it needs to act accordingly.

Why does the West need missile defense?

Who helped North Korea and Iran develop their missile and nuclear programs?

Clearly, both Russia and China secretly helped (directly or indirectly) both North Korea and Iran with their missile program and nuclear weapons program. It is outrageous for Russia to then start complaining about the West’s reaction.

How did North Korea get its missiles?

Now, Robert H. Schmucker and Markus Schiller of Germany have come up with an answer: the North Koreans didn’t do it on their own. In a draft paper just posted at the missile proliferation blog Capabilities times Intentions, the two experts argue that North Korea managed to procure the technology from the former Soviet Union and Russia.

 They don’t offer proof, but their paper is likely to raise questions once again about how much know-how and how many rocket scientists leaked to Pyonyang as the Soviet Union imploded. In The Dead Hand, I described how the Russian authorities stopped a group of designers:

How did North Korea get its missiles?

Who helped North Korea develop a modern nuclear program?

Pyongyang’s nuclear program would have been impossible without Beijing.

The North Koreans told Mr. Hecker they had developed all of this indigenously. I asked Thomas Reed and Danny Stillman, both former nuclear-weapons designers and authors of “The Nuclear Express,” an excellent history of nuclear proliferation, what they thought were the chances of that. Answer: “Zero.”

[Who helped North Korea develop a modern nuclear program?]

Which leaves China, the “most likely” provider of the North’s new toys, according to the authors. “There is no possibility,” they say, “of North Korea achieving what nuclear capability it has without Chinese help.”

Stephens: China Joins the Axis of Evil – WSJ.com

Did you think the Cold War was over with the fall of the Soviet Union. Look at Russia’s behavior in 1997 which was before Putin was elected president.

Russia was helping Iran with its missile development program in 1997

By providing advanced missile technology to the radical Islamic regime in Tehran, Russia is threatening vital U.S. interests and violating an international arms control agreement. Its assistance to Iran, the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism, threatens to alter the long-term balance of power in the oil-rich Persian Gulf region and endangers such key U.S. allies as Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey and other NATO members. In just three to four years, these countries and U.S. military forces in Europe and the Middle East could be vulnerable to attack by Iranian medium-range missiles developed with Russian aid.

Russias Dangerous Missile Game

More work from our friends – Russia and China – in the 90s. Clearly, the Cold War never ended but only went undercover.

Iran’s nuclear program helped by China, Russia in the 1990s

The foundation of Iran’s nuclear program can be traced to extensive Chinese and Russian cooperation in the 1990s, according to a former U.S. intelligence official who specialized on Tehran’s program.

“Russian and Chinese cooperation in the 1990s with Iran created the foundation of the Iranian nuclear program today,” said Susan Voss, a former nuclear engineering analyst with Los Alamos National Laboratory who has worked closely with the U.S. intelligence community.

Iran’s nuclear program helped by China, Russia – Washington Times

After reading about the help provided to North Korea and Iran by Russia and China, one has to wonder – at least I wonder – why the West is not preparing for nuclear war with Russia and China? Why is the West gutting its nuclear arsenal given this past behavior?

A Kremlin Made of Sand – By Leon Aron | Foreign Policy

Instead, what we may be seeing is a Russian version of a familiar post-authoritarian democratization that swept through Greece, Portugal, and Spain in the 1970s, South Korea and Taiwan in the 1980s, and Mexico in the 1990s. Having reached unprecedented prosperity and personal freedom, the middle class in each of these countries began to demand a say in how its country was governed.

This is not just a political conflict. It is a clash between two moral sensibilities, two political moralities, and two visions of what constitutes meaningful and dignified citizenship. This means that neither side is likely to give up, retreat, or compromise. It will be a struggle to the bitter end, no matter how long it takes.

But it may not be that long. …

A Kremlin Made of Sand – By Leon Aron | Foreign Policy

If a fight to the bitter end is at hand, could that lower Russian leadership resistance to a nuclear war? Since the leadership may possibly be dead or serving life in prison in the next five years, perhaps nuclear war isn’t so bad. Yes, the country will be devastated, but the regime will survive. Otherwise it might be the other way around.

How many millions of Russians did Stalin kill for his regime survival? It turns out that Putin is a fan of Stalin. Stalin wasn’t that bad. And besides, the US is worse than Stalin, Putin said. Perhaps we have another Stalin on our hands. Except the new one makes the old one look like a piker.

Michelle Van Cleave: Russian Spies Haven’t Gone Away – WSJ.com

‘He acts like he thinks the Cold War’s still on,” Vice President Joe Biden said when Mitt Romney recently called Russia America’s No. 1 geopolitical foe. “I don’t know where he’s been.” Actually, he’s been right here—paying attention.

The vice president may be surprised to learn that there are as many Russian intelligence officers operating in the U.S. today as during the height of the Cold War—it is arrests and criminal proceedings that have fallen off.

We had nine full-blown Russian espionage cases in the 1980s, seven in the ’90s, one in 2001 and then . . . nothing. It’s been 11 years since the last Russian spy was arrested inside the U.S. government. But if you think that’s good news, think again.

Michelle Van Cleave: Russian Spies Haven’t Gone Away – WSJ.com

Mitt has been paying attention about Russia. Most of the rest of our leaders have been sleeping. Russia is our No. 1 enemy, and we should treat it that way. Calling Russia just a geopolitical foe is being polite.

Some call Russia a fascist state. I prefer to call it a mafia state with Don Corleone Putin as its leader. In Bible prophecy circles some people are suggesting that Putin just might be Gog. I think they are on to something. Putin is an evil leader who is capable of doing anything – even initiating nuclear war. I have already documented on this website several threats and hints of nuclear war coming out of Russian leadership since the Russia-Georgia war.

10 Ways Obama Has Made War More Likely | FrontPage Magazine

Facing the Dragon with an Empty Hand

The last time that we got into a war with a major Pacific power it was because Japan thought we were stunting its regional ambitions. This time around swap China for Japan and we are likely to be facing the same war all over again. Except China is in a better position than Japan was and Obama’s drastic cuts to the military, particularly to the navy and air force, put us in a much weaker position to play defense.

Last year Obama showily insisted that the United States is a “Pacific Power”, even while he was stripping away our ability to be one. It’s one thing to provoke the dragon, but another to do it when you don’t have the weapons to fight him.

Obama has insisted on baiting China while weakening the United States. It’s a bad combination that can only lead to disaster.

The Hungry Bear

Russia hasn’t gone away just because Hollywood stopped featuring it as the villain in action movies and neither have its territorial ambitions. …

The Syrian Solution

… But that reality check is failing and it seems as if the United States is headed to another war in which we have everything to lose and the Brotherhood has everything to gain.

10 Ways Obama Has Made War More Likely | FrontPage Magazine

Russia is prepared for nuclear war if the US interferes in its interests.

“This is very significant. Right now the present Russian leadership believes that a war with Nato is very much possible,” Pavel Felgenhauer, a Moscow-based defence analyst, told the Guardian. “This is the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union that the Russian military is actually preparing for an all-out nuclear war with America.”

He added: “I believe we [the Russians] are sending the west a serious message. The message is treat us with respect, and if you don’t go into our backyard we won’t go into yours. Russia wants to divide the world into spheres of influence. If not, we will prepare for nuclear war.

Felgenhauer said Russia’s military was old but still effective. “Our military is backward in its development. But we still have a sizeable nuclear potential. It can kill a hell of a lot of people,” he said.

Russia challenges west with nuclear overhaul | World news | The Guardian

Attacking Iran: Putin Says Consequences Would be ‘Truly Catastrophic’ with Unimaginable Scale

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Russia is concerned about the “growing threat” of an attack on Iran over its nuclear program, warning that the consequences would be “truly catastrophic.”

In an article on foreign policy for publication on Monday, six days before a March 4 presidential election he is almost certain to win, Putin also warned Western and Arab nations against military intervention in Syria.

On Iran, Putin said that “the growing threat of a military strike on this country alarms Russia, no doubt. If this occurs, the consequences will be truly catastrophic. It is impossible to imagine their real scale.

Putin warns against ‘catastrophic’ attack … JPost – Middle East

What does “truly catastrophic” mean?

What does – “It is impossible to imagine their real scale” – mean?

We can use statements by other Russian leaders to fill in the gaps:

Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, warned Wednesday that outside encouragement of antigovernment uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa could lead to “a very big war that will cause suffering not only to countries in the region, but also to states far beyond its boundaries.

Mr. Lavrov’s annual news conference was largely devoted to a critique of Western policies in Iran and Syria, which he said could lead to a spiral of violence.

Russian Says Western Support for Arab Revolts Could Cause a ‘Big War’ – NYTimes.com

Some of the Russian leaders issuing statements on this topic: Nikolai Patrushev, Dmitri Rogozin, Sergey V. Lavrov and General Nikolai Makarov.

All these coded messages coming from Russian leadership are telling us that Russia will nuke America if Iran is attacked. Putin is up to the task: Signs Russia Would Have No Problem Nuking America.

 

Russia May Use Nuclear Weapons for Threats to Russia’s Security and Threats to Regime Security

According to Chief of the Russian Army General Staff Gen. Nikolai Makarov, Russia may use nuclear weapons to respond to threats to the country’s security. There are two key potential threats to the Russia’s security at this time:

  1. An attack on Iran from the Israel or the US.
  2. The U.S. led European missile defense system.

The Russian Armed Forces are ready to retaliate to any threat to the country’s security, including by using nuclear weapons, Chief of the Russian Army General Staff Gen. Nikolai Makarov said on Wednesday.

“If there is a threat to the integrity of the Russian Federation, we are entitled to use nuclear weapons. In that case, we will,” Makarov said in an interview with the Ekho Moskvy radio station.

The General Staff sees the nuclear element of the Armed Forces as the basis for strategic stability, he said.

Russia ready to use nuclear weapons in case of threat to its integrity – Ukrainian news. Interfax-Ukraine

A western attack on Iran is the equivalent of attacking Russia:

The escalating conflict around Iran should be contained by common effort, otherwise the promising Arab Spring will grow into a “scorching Arab Summer,” says Dmitry Rogozin, Russia’s former envoy to NATO.

­“Iran is our close neighbor, just south of the Caucasus. Should anything happen to Iran, should Iran get drawn into any political or military hardships, this will be a direct threat to our national security,” stressed Rogozin.

Any conflict on Iran is a direct threat to Russia’s security – Rogozin — RT

There is substantial concern in the Russian leadership that Putin could be the next leader to go down the path of Mubarak, Gadhafi, Assad and next would Putin.

Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution against Syria because Prime Minister Vladimir Putin fears he’ll be the next strongman to fall, one of the country’s opposition leaders said Wednesday.

“He believes that Gadhafi was in the past, Mubarak, now Assad, and next it will be Putin. That’s why to protect Assad means to protect himself,” Boris Nemtsov said at a news conference in Ottawa, referring to former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak.

Russia’s Syria veto at UN to ‘protect’ Putin, opponent says – World – CBC News

The Russian foreign minister adds the threat of nuclear war across the Middle East and North Africa.

  • Russian foreign minister says war would cause ‘suffering across the world’
  • Iran says neighbours in ‘dangerous position’ if they ally to U.S.
  • ‘Iran would go guerilla in war with U.S.,’ says Pentagon-linked report

Russia has warned of a ‘very big war’ causing suffering across the world if Western countries encourage anti-government uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa.

Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said Western meddling would lead to ‘a very big war that will cause suffering not only to countries in the region, but also to states far beyond its boundaries’, the New York Times reported.

A ‘seriously worried’ Lavrov spoke yesterday at his annual press conference, where he said a military attack on Iran would trigger a ‘chain reaction’ to destabilise the world.

Russia warns of a ‘very big war’ if West meddles with Middle East | Mail Online

So this last threat is all about regime security. Heavy affecting this is the real possibility of revolution in Russia.

Russia Issues Implied Nuclear Threat Over Syria

Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, warned Wednesday that outside encouragement of antigovernment uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa could lead to “a very big war that will cause suffering not only to countries in the region, but also to states far beyond its boundaries.”

Mr. Lavrov’s annual news conference was largely devoted to a critique of Western policies in Iran and Syria, which he said could lead to a spiral of violence.

Russian Says Western Support for Arab Revolts Could Cause a ‘Big War’ – NYTimes.com

We now have the third member of the Russian leadership issuing implied threats of nuclear attack on America. This one is about a “big war” against states located far, far away. Which states was he referring to? What does “big war” mean?

First, you missed the memo from Putin to Medvedev, Nikolai Patrushev, Dmitri Rogozin, Sergey V. Lavrov, General Nikolai Makarov and probably a few others. Memo details below:

Subject: Discuss Nuclear Attack on America

Time: 12:00 Noon

This will be a working lunch – so bring your lunch to the meeting We are going to discuss obliterating those SOB Americans. We just need to find a good excuse so we can blame it on the Americans.

Vladimir

In reference to Lavrov’s coded message, “big war” means nuclear war, and far, far away means America. Russia is going to obliterate America if there is western entanglement in Syria. And now he has expanded this threat to the entire Middle East and North Africa. Western entanglement anywhere in the Middle East and North Africa will bring a Russian nuclear response to America.

Why?

I suspect that Libya has pushed Putin over the edge. Pictures of the death of Muammar Gaddafi and his bloody butt, thanks to a knife being stuck up it, have caused Putin to draw a line in the sand. Anymore interference by the west means prepare for nuclear war. Of course, Russia and its friends are free to interfere as much as they want.

Related Articles:

Russian Military Chief Warns of Nuclear War Risks – ABC News

Russia is facing a heightened risk of being drawn into conflicts at its borders that have the potential of turning nuclear, the nation’s top military officer said Thursday.

Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, cautioned over NATO’s expansion eastward and warned that the risks of Russia being pulled into local conflicts have “risen sharply.”

Makarov added, according to Russian news agencies, that “under certain conditions local and regional conflicts may develop into a full-scale war involving nuclear weapons.”

A steady decline in Russia’s conventional forces has prompted the Kremlin to rely increasingly on its nuclear deterrent.

Makarov warned that the planned pullout of NATO forces from Afghanistan could trigger conflicts in neighboring ex-Soviet Central Asian nations that could “grow into a large-scale war.”

In its military doctrine, Russia has also described U.S. missile defense plans as another major security challenge, saying it could threaten its nuclear forces and undermine their deterrence potential.

Russian Military Chief Warns of Nuclear War Risks – ABC News

Please note the general thinking – the Russian leadership is prepared for nuclear war. If it is prepared (mentally) for nuclear war involving local conflicts, then it’s not a big leap to be prepared for larger nuclear wars.

Let us attach a red flag to the end of a 2×4 and beat those in the west with it. Do you get it? The risk of a major nuclear war involving Russia and the west has never been greater.