Show #57: Vladimir Putin: 'Dictatorial Thug' or Anti-Imperialist Stalwart?

[Joe]

Sunday March 16th, 2014: Vladimir Putin: 'Dictatorial Thug' or Anti-Imperialist Stalwart?


In recent weeks Russian President Vladimir Putin has gone from being a relatively obscure leader of the Russian Federation to a house-hold name around the world. As part of that process, he has been subjected to 'trial by Western media', and the judgement is conclusive: he's a 'thug' determined to reestablish the Soviet Union at the expense of the people of Ukraine who simply want some good old fashioned freedom and democracy.

But is the portrayal of Putin accurate, or even close to accurate?

From his political origins as an agent of Russia's FSB, to his nomination as Prime Minister amid 'Chechen terrorist attacks' on Russian civilians, to his current confrontation with the American Empire over Ukraine, Crimea and much more, this week we'll be delving into the details and asking the question, 'Who is Vladimir Putin?'

Join us this Sunday March 16th, 2014 from 3-5pm EST (12-2pm PST, 8-10pm CET)

 

[Dis]

In recent weeks Russian President Vladimir Putin has gone from being a relatively obscure leader of the Russian Federation

I expect from SOTT

 

[Dis]

That should have been I expect better of SOTT.

Oh the irony, I expect better of myself in regards to grammar. :)

 

[Nienna]

...he's a 'thug' determined to reestablish the Soviet Union at the expense of the people of Ukraine who simply want some good old fashioned freedom and democracy.

That's rich, isn't it? From those who have their fingers in just about every country, controlling the nations' resources, financial establishments, ruining the lives of its citizens pushing them into poverty. Gads! What hypocrites these monsters are.

Okay, now that I have that off my chest, this ought to be another very interesting show.

 

[Joe]

In recent weeks Russian President Vladimir Putin has gone from being a relatively obscure leader of the Russian Federation

I expect from SOTT

You don't agree with that statement?

 

[Dis]

That the third term president of the Russian Federation is a relatively obscure figure? No, of course I don't agree with that. Next you'll be telling me an African-American is president of the USA (/sarcasm)

 

[Joe]

That the third term president of the Russian Federation is a relatively obscure figure? No, of course I don't agree with that. Next you'll be telling me an African-American is president of the USA (/sarcasm)

Well the operative word there is "relatively" (relative to Obama for example) and keeping in mind that we are speaking from and to a 'Western' perspective.

 

[Dis]

I seriously doubt many members of this forum couldn't name the last three (at least) presidents of the USA or Russia.

Do I really have to invoke Sun Tzu on the site that indicates ponerology and 6% to explain the state of the world?

Know your enemy.

 

[Lilou]

From my perspective, here in the good ol' (ahem) USA, people do not know who Vladimir Putin is and he would be described as obscure by many. Now that the mainstream media has been demonizing him in the press, he's the new public enemy #1. So, people still do not know who Putin is. Many would say "he's that commie, who's trying to take back Russia's break away republics."

Given all the one-sided press on Putin in the western media, a fresh perspective is welcome. I'm looking forward to the show. :)

 

[Dis]

here in the good ol' (ahem) USA, people do not know who Vladimir Putin is

and those same 'people' would not be on SOTT and Cassiopaea.
It does still amaze me how insular the USA and Americans are.
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

 

[Keit]

I seriously doubt many members of this forum couldn't name the last three (at least) presidents of the USA or Russia.

Do I really have to invoke Sun Tzu on the site that indicates ponerology and 6% to explain the state of the world?

Know your enemy.

Hmm...I think you misunderstand the meaning of "obscure" here. There is one thing to know the name, and another to know the person. And here lies the difference in mentalities. USA mentality is to make a show out of everything, including their president and his family. And Russians only recently started to adopt this approach (the whole thing about Putin's dog or Medvedev's cat), but still, they prefer to keep the attention low, especially with Putin and his team being ex-KGB and such. Hence, "obscure"...Another example, would be Putin's recent divorce, that wasn't too publicized either (except for scandalous rumors), especially since the reason for it was(the official one, anyway), that his ex-wife Ljudmila disliked publicity and barely saw her husband.

Oh, and by the way, I am Russian, but still find Putin as a leader quite obscure. He also does his share of shows (fishing, diving, or flying on helicopters,etc.), but the essential stuff is still shrouded in mystery. Judging from the tone of your replies, you probably know quite a bit about Putin? Essencial stuff, I mean. If so, care to share it with us?

 

[Lilou]

and those same 'people' would not be on SOTT and Cassiopaea.
It does still amaze me how insular the USA and Americans are.
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

Maybe, maybe not - but that does not preclude the need to discuss Putin and discern the lies from truth. And yeah, it is rare to find people here in the USA who know anything about what goes on in the world. That's why SOTT keeps putting out a signal, it does eventually reach a few. :)

 

[Dis]

I have no insider knowledge to share, Keit :)

I'd posit that my original contention with the description of the show stands. None of us know the real natures of the 'leaders' of the world and perhaps the audience here doesn't need to be told that we aren't being told the real state of the game.

The exception I took was as a native English speaker to describe Putin as obscure was inaccurate. Obscure indicates, in modern English parlance, unknown to a wide audience, not as you put forward, an unknown quantity. I would expect to have it taken as read, especially on this site, that all the political 'leaders' of the modern world have a public image quite separate to their personal and (true) political selves.

 

[Nienna]

I have no insider knowledge to share, Keit :)

I'd posit that my original contention with the description of the show stands. None of us know the real natures of the 'leaders' of the world and perhaps the audience here doesn't need to be told that we aren't being told the real state of the game.

I bet that there are quite a few of us that are very interested in what the co-hosts of the show have to say. Just because you are not that interested - at least that is how it sounds - does not mean others are not interested.

The exception I took was as a native English speaker to describe Putin as obscure was inaccurate. Obscure indicates, in modern English parlance, unknown to a wide audience, not as you put forward, an unknown quantity. I would expect to have it taken as read, especially on this site, that all the political 'leaders' of the modern world have a public image quite separate to their personal and (true) political selves.

I think that there may be a wide audience, at least here in the U.S., to whom Putin is an unknown quantity. And even though I've read a lot of what has been put down here on the forum, and on SOTT, I'm still interested to hear what the co-hosts have to say about him.

Ya know, if you're not interested, you don't have to tune-in.

 

[SeekinTruth]

Really looking forward to this one!

Dis, I don't know why you're nitpicking about the description of the show. Is there something more going on? Might want to look into what that might be. It just seems interesting that you've been a forum member for almost 4 years and 6 of your 10 posts came in this topic in, again, what seems to be a rather nitpicking tone.