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Originally posted by metalgearsolid Its integrity? They are corrupting the CIS and installing puppet regimes. They are acting a lot like USA. I don't remember providing ANY link. And no Im not ok with what Georgia is doing. My story? Ok, I think Russia is focusing too much of its foreign policy. And nothing on domestic issues. Look at Russians. They are growing poorer, while the rich getting richer. In one yr the number of billionaires exploded and still not enough Russians have enough money to support themselves and their families. Have you read how the oligarches got rich? here in USA there are corporations that are owned by the government. Its a gov monopoly. Like comed for example. That is gov owned. But the fact is that they don't export to other nations. Russia on the other hand wants corporations that export to other countries. Do you know why? B/c they are more focused on international market than domestic market. Alright-Im done-I have nothing to say anymore. /rant

Hey hey hey! For once I liked what you wrote there. Yes, Russia is focused too much on foreign policy than domestic (should be vice versa). Yes, Russia has big problems with corruption and greedy oligarghs - I was happy to see how Putin cracked down on those same oligarhhhhs Berezovskiy and Gusinskiy. There was some much evidence against Berezovskiy, even INTERPOL NOW ISSUED AN ARREST WARRANT FOR HIM! And Yukos - how many billions of dollars in back taxes they didnt pay? 5 billion? 10 billion? Russia is not making it up, its the truth ... those criminals are living off average people.

And when Putin cracked down on them, he's the "oppressor". Oh, but he's not angel either, so dont get me wrong on that, he's got his own shady side too. But his main goal is to strengthen the country, to keep it together, because EU and NATO/USA want Russia divided and in flames to control it better. Remember what happened to Soviet Union? They want the same thing to Russia.

Putin has passed many great laws, like providing a large financial assistance to mothers with 2 or more children, raising pensions for retirees and veterans, lowering military service to 1 year, making it illegal for conscripts to fight in a war (only contractors now), amassing huge projects like building bridges, tunnels in Siberia, Chechnya, etc. HE SIGNED A LAW GIVING 2 BILLION DOLLARS OVER 10 YEARS TO FIX CHECHNYA'S INFRASTRUCTURE! etc. etc. etc.

Sure the government is corrupt, sure they dont care much about people. But what they are doing in Georgia is not act of agression - RUSSIA DOESNT WANT ANYTHING FROM GEORGIA. THERE'S NO OIL THERE, NO STRATEGIC GRIDS, NO MONEY, NO GAS ... they're just becoming a pain in the ass for Russia by agressively acting to Russian and starting up another war wave in Southern Caucasus. Instead of focusing on peace and rebuilding, these Georgian politicians are BUYING UP massive stockpiles of weapons, clearly for a war so that they can win political support to do a quick fix for their problems. And seizing Kodoria was the first step.

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Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

Magnetonium, I like what you are saying, but I think you are too strict and partly blind.

I have just one question to you.

What have you left Russia? Why don't you live there now?



I'm Russian, I don't like my country because of bullshit like that which is going on there constantly. That's why I left this country and I won't ever comeback live there again.

I think it's a Fasism that Russian authoritaries are doing at the moment. I fully understand that Georgia and its goverment is a piece of shit too. But Russia must not do SUCH ugly things towards this country.

I don't understand why yesterday ALL Georgia's criminals who are in Russia at them moment were living in HAPPINIES AND HARMONY and NO BODY WAS GIVING A FUCK about them, but today they are pursued by local authoritaries who were COVERING them up and TAKING BRIBES from them yesterday.

I don't understand that SHIT.

Even US with all its stupidy in the goverment at the moment, does not allow to stuff like this happens.

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Originally posted by star-traveller Magnetonium, I like what you are saying, but I think you are too strict and partly blind. I have just one question to you. What have you left Russia? Why don't you live there now? I'm Russian, I don't like my country because of bullshit like that which is going on there constantly. That's why I left this country and I won't ever comeback live there again. I think it's a Fasism that Russian authoritaries are doing at the moment. I fully understand that Georgia and its goverment is a piece of shit too. But Russia must not do SUCH ugly things towards this country. I don't understand why yesterday ALL Georgia's criminals who are in Russia at them moment were living in HAPPINIES AND HARMONY and NO BODY WAS GIVING A FUCK about them, but today they are pursued by local authoritaries who were COVERING them up and TAKING BRIBES from them yesterday. I don't understand that SHIT. Even US with all its stupidy in the goverment at the moment, does not allow to stuff like this happens.

Putin and his bureacrats are very ignorant. They let mafia and gangs do all they want ... but only with a rule that they dont get in government's way. Horseshit, eh? Putin is no angel as I said before, thats a different topic though ... Putin got tired of Georgian provocations and decided to put pressure on Georgia to make them understand that they shouldn't bully Russia because it has politial muscles. In a way its "bullying". But what Georgia did is provoking Russia using its own "bullying" or "provocations". Luckily Russkies didnt go as far as Americans would in this situation - economy and gas are still flowing into Georgia. No economic embargo is placed, other than on piss-poor-quality wines and alcohol.

USA has its own corruption and shit, and it all starts with something in Congress called "lobbying" which is another world for "bribing" pretty much

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Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

I support Russia dominating these smaller countries. All this long they helped people in these countries by giving them subsidized oil, gas, food, technology, bizness, employment etc.. and now since the inception of EU all these countries just want to do is join them. Bunch of hypocrites.. thwart them; withdraw all subsidies and show them where they stand in reality.

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Look the more they dominate these countries; the more, the west will view Russia as negative. Not only Western governments, but also the western people.

And seeing as to how only 700k tourists from foreign countries go to Russia. The most likely chance is that people will believe what they hear about Russia and the Russian people.

Mag, Im moving to Cheboksary.

It looks so beautiful compare to Sochi.

On a smilar note...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5416218.stm

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Chechen war reporter found dead Anna Politkovskaya, a prominent Russian journalist known as a fierce critic of the Kremlin's actions in Chechnya, has been found dead in Moscow. The 48-year-old mother of two was found shot dead in a lift at her apartment block in the capital. A pistol and four bullets were found near her body and a murder investigation has been launched. Ms Politkovskaya's murder has all the hallmarks of a contract killing, says the BBC's Emma Simpson in Moscow. The award-winning journalist became ill with food poisoning on her way to report on the Beslan school siege in 2004, which some believed to be an attempt on her life. Ms Politkovskaya, who worked for the newspaper Novaya Gazeta, was known for exposing rights abuses by Russian troops in Chechnya. She also acted as a negotiator with the Chechen rebels who held a siege in a Moscow theatre in 2002. The head of Russia's journalism union described her as the conscience of the country's journalism. She was one of the few remaining high-profile, independent journalists in Russia - and her death will cause widespread anger and shock, says our Moscow correspondent. 'Honest journalism' Ms Politkovskaya was killed at around 1630 local time (1330 GMT), Dmitry Muratov, editor in chief of the Novaya Gazeta said. Vitaly Yaroshevsky, deputy editor of the newspaper, believes she was killed because of her work. "The first thing that comes to mind is that Anna was killed for her professional activities. We don't see any other motive for this terrible crime," he told the Reuters news agency. Moscow deputy prosecutor Vyacheslav Rosinsky has said investigators are considering the link between the journalist's death and her work. "We think that one of the leads of Politkovskaya's intentional homicide is her public duty," he told Russian agency Itar-Tass. Oleg Panfilov, director of the Moscow-based Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations, said Ms Politkovskaya had frequently received threats. "There are journalists who have this fate hanging over them. I always thought something would happen to Anya, first of all because of Chechnya," he told the Associated Press news agency. "Whenever the question arose whether there is honest journalism in Russia, almost every time the first name that came to mind was Politkovskaya," he added. In 2001, she fled to Vienna, Austria, after receiving e-mail threats claiming a Russian police officer she had accused of committing atrocities against civilians wanted to take his revenge. In an interview two years ago with the BBC, Ms Politkovskaya said she believed it was her duty to continue reporting, despite receiving such death threats. "I am absolutely sure that risk is [a] usual part of my job; job of [a] Russian journalist, and I cannot stop because it's my duty," she said. "I think the duty of doctors is to give health to their patients, the duty of the singer to sing. The duty of [the] journalist [is] to write what this journalist sees in the reality. It's only one duty."

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Originally posted by star-traveller Magnetonium, I like what you are saying, but I think you are too strict and partly blind. I have just one question to you. What have you left Russia? Why don't you live there now? I'm Russian, I don't like my country because of bullshit like that which is going on there constantly. That's why I left this country and I won't ever comeback live there again. I think it's a Fasism that Russian authoritaries are doing at the moment. I fully understand that Georgia and its goverment is a piece of shit too. But Russia must not do SUCH ugly things towards this country. I don't understand why yesterday ALL Georgia's criminals who are in Russia at them moment were living in HAPPINIES AND HARMONY and NO BODY WAS GIVING A FUCK about them, but today they are pursued by local authoritaries who were COVERING them up and TAKING BRIBES from them yesterday. I don't understand that SHIT. Even US with all its stupidy in the goverment at the moment, does not allow to stuff like this happens.

I miss Russia ... I miss my beautiful Sochi. I'll be back, I had many beautiful moments there. I won't get into detail, but I really really miss it.

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Originally posted by Purple I support Russia dominating these smaller countries. All this long they helped people in these countries by giving them subsidized oil, gas, food, technology, bizness, employment etc.. and now since the inception of EU all these countries just want to do is join EU [& NATO]. Bunch of hypocrites.. thwart them; withdraw all subsidies and show them where they stand in reality.

THANK YOU! FINALLY someone sees it the way I do! Its the truth ...

As for Russia pushing these CIS countries around - USA (CIA, actually) paid around 50-70 million dollars "to BRING DEMOCRACY TO UKRAINE in 2004 elections" (LOL, how can you BUY democracy???)

Same with Georgia. These presidents have regularly met with Bush, CIA directors, they're playing the American game. The Americans OVERTHREW these regimes in their favour!

When BUSH travelled to Georgia a year or so ago Saakashvilli called him his brother, man!!! American MILITARY ADVISORS and WEAPONS, TRANSLATORS have been seen in Georgia ...

There's no denial in that, USA simply calls it a helpful gesture to bring democracy to Georgia.

___________________
Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

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Originally posted by St_Andrew On a smilar note...

Corruption is appalling in Russia. In 1990s when I lived in Sochi, Russia we joked about how police needs protection after gunmen chased police chief and his driver around the city, firing at him. No help came in for him. Eventually they got him to stop, and fired 3 rounds of AK-47 bullets in the driver and him, and wrecked the car.

But I never heard that on western news. All they care about is the Chechen war. We in Russia had bigger problems, with mafia mainly and how the government refuses to fight this cancer.

___________________
Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

Oh, I also recommend reading about the actual dictator Saaaaakashvillu. He emigrated to USA in 1990s, got training and education there, came back later with money and American support and overthrew Shevargnadze (another dictator). He's been American puppet ever since ;-)

Metalgearsolid - I am sorry but my Sochi kicks your Cheboksari anyday, though I've been in that beautiful and well-off city in Russia (economic prosperity):

Sochi photos (many more at http://www.sochi.ru/info/foto.htm ), click around the photo gallery links:

___________________
Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

Last edited by Magnetonium on Oct-08-2006 at 02:07

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Originally posted by Magnetonium All wars involve acts of crimes, and yes the Russian soldiers committed crimes too. BUT so did Chechen fighters. WHat about Beslan, Nord-Ost, the suicide bombings, and apartment bombings in 1999? WHAT ABOUT THAT?

The suicide bombings are truly reprehensible but they are not even on the same scale as 80,000 dead civilians; "all wars involve war crimes" in no way absolves a party from being held accountable for crimes against humanity

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Have you seen the recent developments in Chechnya? Grozny is getting rebuilt, new bridges and telephone lines, Russia declared amnesty for fighters in the mountains, many troops have been withdrawn and only internal police/MVD is left. Things are becoming quite peaceful. Stop living in the past and look AT THE CURRENT PICTURE.

This is great news, however i wonder if Russia will do an investigation into the many mass graves around Chechnya? I wonder if the relatives of civilians who have been tortured, killed, and dissapeared are happy with the current picture?

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Look at Iraq, and there's way worse things going on there and noone is talking about how USA should pull out of there, its perfectly fine. Oh, and Australia is supporting this INVASION too with troops!

Half the people on this forum have said that the USA should pull out of Iraq, especially after incidents like Abu Garib and Haditha. The US and other countries have committed war crimes in Iraq but a large percentage of the civilian death count has been caused by sectarian violence. Contrast this with Chechnya where the civilian death count is caused almost solely by the Russian military and death squads.

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And so you think USA didnt commit any war crimes in Iraq?

Yes they have, and i strongly disagree with my own country being involved in this war (it is possible to be patriotic and disagree with your countries actions you know )

ps. Criticising Russia does not mean i'm defending the US, i'm well aware of the suffering their foreign policy has caused

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Originally posted by Magnetonium quote: Originally posted by Purple I support Russia dominating these smaller countries. All this long they helped people in these countries by giving them subsidized oil, gas, food, technology, bizness, employment etc.. and now since the inception of EU all these countries just want to do is join EU [& NATO]. Bunch of hypocrites.. thwart them; withdraw all subsidies and show them where they stand in reality. THANK YOU! FINALLY someone sees it the way I do! Its the truth ...

Sorry to say this man, but that's complete hypocrisy. You have no right to criticize the US with a double standard like that.

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"The Greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge." -Stephen Hawking
"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me— and there was no one left to speak out for me." -Martin Niemöller