31-12-2010, 08:44 PM
Peter - I agree that Khodorkovsky was one of a couple of oligarchs who refused to cut a deal with Czar Putin during the counter coup (loosely) against foreign looting and plunder of Mother Russia.
Putin clearly represents Russian deep intelligence and political elements, and is able to use Russian criminal and gangster elements as his implausibly deniable footsoldiers. Putin is also able to reach some sort of "accomodation" with the western military-intelligence-multinational complex, and the links may go very deep.
Putin can be called a dictator.
To those of us with Eyes Wide Open, Putin can also be termed a modern political leader, acutely geopolitically aware, willing to say and do one thing in public whilst displaying ruthless amorality out of the public eye.
However, none of this diminishes the reality that Khodorkovsky is a crook.
As an example, his bank, Menetep, gained control of funds intended for the victims of Chernobyl and allegedly used them to fund the "purchase" of prime Russian assets for a fraction of their true value for private profit and exploitation.
My post above was not a defence of Putin.
It was a critique of Khodorkovsky and western hypocrisy in proclaiming that the treatment of its crooked capitalist son is a "barometer of (Russia's) democratic progress".
Putin clearly represents Russian deep intelligence and political elements, and is able to use Russian criminal and gangster elements as his implausibly deniable footsoldiers. Putin is also able to reach some sort of "accomodation" with the western military-intelligence-multinational complex, and the links may go very deep.
Putin can be called a dictator.
To those of us with Eyes Wide Open, Putin can also be termed a modern political leader, acutely geopolitically aware, willing to say and do one thing in public whilst displaying ruthless amorality out of the public eye.
However, none of this diminishes the reality that Khodorkovsky is a crook.
As an example, his bank, Menetep, gained control of funds intended for the victims of Chernobyl and allegedly used them to fund the "purchase" of prime Russian assets for a fraction of their true value for private profit and exploitation.
My post above was not a defence of Putin.
It was a critique of Khodorkovsky and western hypocrisy in proclaiming that the treatment of its crooked capitalist son is a "barometer of (Russia's) democratic progress".
"It means this War was never political at all, the politics was all theatre, all just to keep the people distracted...."
"Proverbs for Paranoids 4: You hide, They seek."
"They are in Love. Fuck the War."
Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
"Ccollanan Pachacamac ricuy auccacunac yahuarniy hichascancuta."
The last words of the last Inka, Tupac Amaru, led to the gallows by men of god & dogs of war
"Proverbs for Paranoids 4: You hide, They seek."
"They are in Love. Fuck the War."
Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
"Ccollanan Pachacamac ricuy auccacunac yahuarniy hichascancuta."
The last words of the last Inka, Tupac Amaru, led to the gallows by men of god & dogs of war