December 31, 2010 — Contents

FRIDAY DECEMBER 31 CONTENTS

(1)  EDITORIAL:  China is the New Russia

(2)  EDITORIAL:  Potemkin Putin Exposed

(3)  EDITORIAL:  Another new Low in Russian Humiliation

(4)  OP-ED:  The Lingering Mystery of Politkovskaya

(5)  The Collapse of the Russian Army

(6)  The Total Failure of Putin’s “Power Vertical”

(7)  CARTOON:  Christmas for Pooty

NOTE:  La Russophobe wishes all her staff, contributors and readers a happy, healthy and prosperous, hopefully Putin-free, New Year!!

 

EDITORIAL: China is the New Russia

EDITORIAL

China is the New Russia

“Russia’s military bonanza is over, and China’s is just beginning.”

That was the conclusion of a recent report in the Wall Street Journal, finding that the chickens of Russia’s foolish decision to sell advanced military hardware to China have finally come home to roost:

After decades of importing and reverse-engineering Russian arms, China has reached a tipping point: It now can produce many of its own advanced weapons—including high-tech fighter jets like the Su-27—and is on the verge of building an aircraft carrier.

Ouch.

EDITORIAL: Potemkin Putin Exposed before the Russian Nation

EDITORIAL

Potemkin Putin exposed before the Russian Nation

Dr. Ivan Khrenov

Meet Dr. Ivan Khrenov.

On November 9, 2010, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin visited the hospital in Ivanovo where Khrenov works in cardiology.  Then days ago, Khrenov was selected as one of the questioners in Putin’s latest installment of his annual propaganda festival, where he pretends to respond to issues phoned in by ordinary citizens.  But Khrenov threw Putin a curve ball, and departed from the pre-arranged script to ask Putin whether he was aware that his visit to the hospital had been rigged, a total sham, a Potemkin village designed to deceive.

EDITORIAL: Another New Low in Russian Humiliation

EDITORIAL

Another New Low in Russian Humiliation

Valentin Yudashkin

Meet Valentin Yudaskhin. A so-called Russian “fashion designer,” Mr. Yudaskin was hired by Vladimir Putin to design fashionable new Russian Army uniforms after Putin heard complaints that Russian recruits thought they looked like third-world idiots.  In doing so, Yudaskin boldly declared he was creating a “uniform for victors.”

Take a look at him. Think about the fact that he’s Russian, working for a neo-Soviet regime run by a proud KGB spy.  Now we ask you:  How do you think this scheme worked out?

If you didn’t guess that people started dying, shame on you.

OP-ED: The Lingering Mystery of Politkovskaya

Anna Politkovskaya: The Lingering Mystery

by Hannah McKale

Exclusive to La Russophobe

One of the last photos of Anna Politkovskaya, taken by a surveillance camera near her apartment only moments before her murder

Anna Politkovskaya was a journalist and author in Russia until her murder in 2006. She was found in her apartment complex’s elevator, shot four times with a Makarov pistol. Most mainstream publications generally concluded the murder must have been a contract killing, but there are many theories attempting to explain who ordered her killing. There is a great variety of points of view which create a murder case shrouded in mystery. Since her murder, other events have transpired which add more intrigue into the entire case. One of Politkovskaya’s colleagues, Alexander Litvinenko, claimed Putin had ordered her murder. Two weeks after these allegations had been made, Litvinenko was poisoned with Polonium, and shortly thereafter died in the hospital.

The Collapse of the Russian Army from Within

Defense expert Alexander Golts, writing in the Moscow Times:

General Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff, caused a stir last week after he said to journalists: “We aim to create a professional army. We can’t make it happen in a short time period, but year by year there will be an increase in the number of contract military personnel.”

Interestingly enough, only one month ago Makarov said the exact opposite. “We will not switch to a contract-based army. Instead, we will be drafting more soldiers …” to fill the gap.

The Total Failure of Russia’s “Power Vertical”

Russian professor of economics Konstantin Sonin, writing in the Moscow Times:

There are some people who love making speeches about Russia’s so-called power vertical and democratic institutions, and there are other people who would benefit greatly from them in their daily occupations — if only the vertical and democratic institutions actually existed.

Here is one example.

CARTOON: X-mas for Pooty

Little Pooty in PJs is rushing to find the Khodorkovsky verdict under his Christmas tree, left there by a helpful judge who delayed the decision just so it could be so.

Source:  Ellustrator.