Did you watch the Olympics while Georgia was burning?

Georgia’s Primeminister Saakaschwili made a huge mistake by provoking the Russians by trying to get back the rebel provinces.

Anyone following Putin’s dirty politics in Chechnya should know better.

The whole affair is a disaster for all sides:

Georgia is no a damaged and destabilized country. I am pretty sure that the US and EU got the Russian message: no NATO membership for Georgia.

Russia has now another war at it’s hand and confirmed it’s reputation not to be trusted. It’s just as imperialistic as the US - although for other reasons.

It’s always good to have some old people handy for mine sweeping.

The EU has also confirmed it’s reputation - for being a toothless club of rich people. The EU is extremely dependent on Russia’s gas and oil supply. If Putin would cut supply most of Europe would face a very cold winter - just Ukraine did several years ago.

The US also could only watch as Georgia went up in flames - and sent some help afterwards. The US has hardly any influence over Russia. Any moral or political high ground is lost since the invasion of Iraq. Putin’s Russia is currently only repeating the policy George W. Bush has implemented years ago: regime change in a country they dislike.

At least I will have gas to heat my flat in winter …

And let’s not forget the huge oil pipeline that is running through Georgia which is highly important for all parties.

It all once again shows that national interests are still brutally pushed through.

Nobody really cares  about the "global village".

China will support Darfur as long as they get something from it. The US will stay in Iraq as long as they get something from it. And Russia will invade small countries as long as the get something from it.

Peace? Nah …

Click image for a larger version.

I think the Russians built beautiful rockets. The Soyuz series is just fascinating - they really look like space rockets!

One of our first steps into outer space: Yuri Gagarin made the first trip around earth and was the first human to see our blue planet like on the photography above. A lot of firsts here …

And I like his famous sentence: “I don’t see any God up here.”

He was a great hero and propaganda item for the Soviet Union. His death was less gracious and heroic.

Expanding NATO is a good thing. Expanding NATO to get new cannon fodder for war that has hardly anything to do with NATO is a bad thing.

When America attacked Afghanistan after 9/11 NATO stood behind the US of A and pledged it’s support with troops and money.

It was understood that America would take the military lead and the Europeans would do the whole nation building stuff (together with the brave Canadians and Australians) - like they did in Kosovo.

But instead of finishing the job in Afghanistan the Americans rushed off to fight another little war in Iraq and dropped the ball. Suddenly the rest of NATO found itself in the hot zone.

Once again Bush showed is incompetence building alliances and offending his allies. And still Afghanistan doesn’t get the support it needs to rebuild the country and provide security - and some European countries should do more … it’s not all the Americans fault …

Still looks very modern, like the duo tone setup and composition. I am just wondering if that was a generic template they would reuse for every great leader? Can’t wait for the Putin version …

Too much artistic power was wasted in the time of the Soviets for stupid propaganda. But this poster still is looking great and very modern.

The Economist: An ugly victory

Russia is a tragedy - after Communism these people would deserve a break from nasty politicians, abuse and false promises. But only the names and labels seem to have changed.

Sure - it looks like Putin has recovered Russia’s economy fortunes - but that isn’t true. Already before his first election it was on a rebound. Today the state controlled economy is back - and the country is even more addicted to oil than the US. Russia’s current upswing is solely based on it’s energy exports. Under Putin all other industries have suffered and repressions are considered worse now than before he took power. So all that talk that he sorted out Russia for good is rubbish.

Alexander Rodchenko started out as a painter and later became a brilliant photographer. He was one of the greatest Russian photographers of his time …

The Leica is equally legendary - it was the first 35mm camera in wide use. Rodchenko is credited being the first artist to make her use popular in Russia.

This is one odd picture: the Russians have resumed their long-range bomber flights - which they stopped in the 1990’s because the country and their military was broke. Here you see a Tupolew Tu-95 followed by a hypermodern American F-22 Raptor. The first TU-95 flew 1953 (!!!) and the F-22 have just entered the service (2005).

Ten years in military technology is a long time, twenty years are a generation - but fifty years …

But don’t be fooled: the first mighty B-52 bombers entered American service 1955 - and they upgraded models are still killing people today. To anyone without modern missiles or AA guns such an ‘old’ machine is still deadly.

Time Magaine’s choices for the person of the year haven’t always been ‘nice’ ones. People like Hitler made the list. But this is not about being nice, but about being influential.

Vladimir Putin has changed Russia and put it back on the world stage - after that drunken and chaotic Boris Jelzin a big change. (See also this BBC News video)

He certainly was one of the most dominating characters of 2007. See also Time Magazine’s other choices …

Just watching and controlling all these Non-Americans …

The US has over 700 military installations worldwide. In contrast to that India opened it’s FIRST foreign military base in 2006 in lovely Tajikistan (do you know where that is?). China has not a single foreign military base. And on a funny side note the even lovelier country of Kyrgyzstan has a Russian and an American military base.

Not many countries can afford to keep military bases in other nations - and not many nations are willing to have foreign soldiers in their soil. (List of military bases by country)

Many American bases go way back to WWII like those big ones in Japan, Britain and Germany, but also to the cold war like in Turkey, Korea or Spain. Russia has closed down most of it’s bases since the end of the Soviet Union - most of the remaining ones are based in former parts of the Communist Empire. Britain and France have kept some bases in some former Colonies.

But nobody spends as much money, influence and hardware as the USA. Read this excellent article Chalmers Johnson on garrisoning the planet to get some deeper insights.

Comrades: We already rule Wal-Mart and Africa! And America can’t finance any war without us. There is no need for a stinking war …

Faced with such a staggering difference in the balance of power and obsession with keeping the upper hand - is anyone surprised that the US is accused of Imperialism? During the Cold War it made sense for NATO to keep a huge network of bases around the world, but this war is over.

And neither Bin Laden nor China or Russia will be contained by military force.

For terrorists military bases are excellent advertising for American Imperialism and they also make yummy targets to blow up. China understands that going to war is stupid and is way too busy to build up it’s already huge industrial and financial muscles - that is why the US is lending money from the Communists to finance it’s war in Iraq. And finally Russia - who also no longer needs a huge military presence anyway, because it can use it’s energy reserves as much more effective weapon.

Got some change for me Dude? I need to buy some bullets … this whole war thing is pretty expensive you know.

Imperial overstretch can destroy great Nations (here are two great essays related to that: part 1 and part 2). The American infrastructure, social fabric, educational system and manufacturing base is already showing serious signs of underdevelopment. And it’s mighty military has huge recruitment and moral problems.

The military industrial complex is destroying it’s own base. But the rich and mighty can always move on to another country and new wars to fight.

More? No-Bases.org

BBC News: Russians vote in general election  

An election of superlatives: 11 time zones, 107 million voters, 95.000 voting stations, 300 international observers, 450.000 policeman ‘guarding’ the elections, eleven parties to choose from and one clear winner already - Putin.

Russia’s power elites and oligarch have the country firm in their grip. There is no free press, there is no choice and there is no democratic exchange.

A sad day for Democracy!

We are marching for new gimmicks!

Telegraph: Vladimir Putin rearms his Cold War military

Tsar Putin’s strong man rhetoric is a necessity of Russia tough internal politics. Showing strength and determination is important for a country that has lost it’s strength and social integrity.

So Putin’s plan to massively update the Russian armed forces makes perfect sense: since the fall of the Soviet Union the formerly huge Army, Navy and Airforce is in total disarray. Many ships, tanks, atomic subs and airplanes are no more than scrap metal and often a health hazards for soldiers and civilians alike. In the darkest days after the fall of the Soviet empire soldiers went for months without pay - the troops moral and integrity totally wrecked.

From the Telegraph article.

Russia desperately needs modernization and a moral boost. So the oil money from the recent years is used to buy new military hardware, upgrade the infrastructure and show strength - internally and externally.

I need new legs!

Compared to the US budget the Russian military spending is a joke. Plus the US has military bases all around Russia. Many former satellite states - which have been like buffer zones - have broken away. Many of them are now in bed with America and some are even host to US military bases. So no surprise the Russians feel the extra need to boost their own military power.

More? Wikipedia for Russian Armed Forces

Shock and Awe Georgian style. A troubled former Soviet state still under the influence of Russia. Most of the former satellites struggle to keep their nations and democracies running - like the Ukraine.

Georgia actually is a very old nation - goes way back to antiquity. We can only hope for the best and support these emerging states to find their own peaceful way. One way is to oppose Tsar Putin and offer these vulnerable countries trade and security treaties. The EU and the US have both been slow to give staunch support. (And no, giving a missile shield and military bases to some of them is rather a military provocation to Russia instead of steady trade and exchange).

AP: Iran says it’s safe from US attack

Yeah, right. I think this must be a generational problem in Iran. All current political and military leaders have fought through the Iran-Iraq war, which was mostly a bloody ground war - almost all WWI style. This old (revolutionary) guard still clings onto their belief that they can hold their own against a US ground attack.

But the US won’t commit any ground troops. Like with Serbia it will bomb Iran back to the stone age. Sure - Iran has many missile defenses (bought from China and Russia). But the US has many missiles and bunker buster that thirst for war.

The US Army is certainly very busy and overstretched at the moment with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - but the US Airforce and the Navy felt a bit left out of loop and want some of the action too. This would be their chance to shine and show that all these supergimmicks they have bought in recent years are quite nice too.

The Iranian defense budget (2005 = 6 billion Dollar) is a joke compared to the American. Check out also the lists of Weapon systems of the Iranian Navy, Army and Airforce. Most stuff is actually American made and was bought by the Shah an totally outdated.

Some newer stuff is from Russia - but hardly in huge numbers or very sophisticated. It’s navy is hardly larger or as powerful as an American carrier group.

And the Americans have had a lot of practice the recent years …

Usually I dislike simply linking to big image dumps in some forums, but this one is special. Great shots from rural Russia. (I guess? Anyone out there can help me there?)

Like van Gogh the photographer took some time at the grace and beauty of normal life, age and the landscape. It takes some love and an open mind to see that we are all beautiful, even in the most forgotten places on earth …

The world media and it’s viewers hardly seem able to follow more then five events at a time. The war in Chechnya is still on, freedom fighters or terrorists (depending on where you stand) still try to kick Russia out of their country.

The suffering is still on, but unless the Chechnyan Rebells stage another bloody incident hardly anyone will notice.

Mr Putin stop this war!

BBC News: Russia urges US missile ‘freeze’ 

How many times can you ignore requests from allies and enemies alike? Europe doesn’t want the missile shield - although it will be ‘protected’ by it. Russia is against it, because it’s installed right at it’s front door. And the people who live close to the suggested bases hate it already.

It’s simply stubborn US military politics.

I still find it highly amusing that a scientist from the Soviet era ‘discovers’ the conditioning reflex. Somehow rulers and animals trainers / breeders knew this before. But as a scientist he at least ‘proved’ it’s existence and documented it. Oh well …

From Wikipedia:

In the 1890s, Pavlov was investigating the gastric function of dogs by externalizing a salivary gland so he could collect, measure, and analyze the saliva produced in response to food under different conditions. He noticed that the dogs tended to salivate before food was actually delivered to their mouths, and set out to investigate this “psychic secretion”, as he called it. He decided that this was more interesting than the chemistry of saliva, and changed the focus of his research, carrying out a long series of experiments in which he manipulated the stimuli occurring before the presentation of food. He thereby established the basic laws for the establishment and extinction of what he called “conditional reflexes” — i.e., reflex responses, like salivation, that only occurred conditional upon specific previous experiences of the animal. These experiments were carried out in the 1890s and 1900s, and were known to western scientists through translations of individual accounts, but first became fully available in English in a book published in 1927.

Pavlov was a dextrous operator who was compulsive about his working hours and habits. He would sit down to lunch at exactly 12 o’clock, he would go to bed at exactly the same time each evening, would always feed his dogs at exactly the same time each night and he would always leave Leningrad for Estonia on vacation on the same day each year. This behavior changed when his son Victor died in the White Army — after which he suffered from insomnia.

Unlike many pre-revolutionary scientists, Pavlov was highly regarded by the Soviet government, and he was able to continue his researches until he reached a considerable age. Pavlov himself was not favorable towards Marxism, but as a Nobel laureate he was seen as a valuable political asset, and as such was lavishly funded. After the murder of Sergei Kirov in 1934, Pavlov wrote several letters to Molotov criticizing the mass persecutions which followed and asking for the reconsideration of cases pertaining to several people he knew personally. In later life he was particularly interested in trying to use conditioning to establish an experimental model of the induction of neuroses. He died in Leningrad. His laboratory in St Petersburg has been carefully preserved.

Want to watch something unusual? Apparently the book was very popular - the movie flopped a bit. I am just happy that Elija Wood is getting proper roles instead of being the eternal Hobbit. Trailer is here and I like the music a lot.

Pictures from the old Soviet Union always feel alien and almost dadaistic. It must have been a strange society.

BBC News: Russia tests giant fuel-air bomb

Every major Nation develops and tests new arms. Russia just just another big bang for publicity. Mr Putin is hardly a saint, but his harsh words for Bush’s America and it’s aggressive imperialism strike a chord with many people.

For example the American Missile shield in eastern Europe is rubbish (some more insights here). It’s no surprise that Russia feels threatened by the US and abandoned by Europe. That is why Russia retreats from important international arms control treaties.

Russia is hardly in good shape these days - the nation is rich, but shrinking fast. Mr Putin needs big bangs for external propaganda as well as building up morale at home.