Why so afraid of Russians?

[miciz]

I'm wondering why are people so afraid of russians? Is it cause of US cold war propaganda? Is it cause of Tv&entertainment always shows them as a bad guys?

 

[JackLuis]

I'm wondering why are people so afraid of russians? Is it cause of US cold war propaganda? Is it cause of Tv&entertainment always shows them as a bad guys?

Most likely because they scare the shit out of the Europeans because they have such a large population and are capable of over running Europe in six weeks, without American Military power backing them up.

Other than that the fact that their Government not much better than La Cosa Nostra is kind of scary.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I'm wondering why are people so afraid of russians? Is it cause of US cold war propaganda? Is it cause of Tv&entertainment always shows them as a bad guys?

The best way of predicting future behavior is by looking at past behavior. With that in mind, we can look at Russian actions toward Poland, Finland Hungary and the rest of Eastern and Central Europe and Southern Asia.

What you call "propaganda" was mostly history.

 

[oggbashan]

I'm wondering why are people so afraid of russians? Is it cause of US cold war propaganda? Is it cause of Tv&entertainment always shows them as a bad guys?

Ask Georgia. Ask Ukraine which has had Crimea taken away from them and is fighting so-called Russian-backed rebels in the East of Ukraine. The rebels are using sophisticated Russian armour and equipment, more Russian troops and equipment is just over the border (or crosses it daily).

Ask the Baltic states.

All of them know that Russia is capable of a military attack anytime President Putin wants to do it.

Ask Syrians opposed to President Assad. They are being bombed daily by Russian airpower that is supposed to be attacking only "terrorists" like the Islamic Caliphate but is bombing even Western-backed moderates.

Ask Turkey, whose air space is frequently violated by Russian military aircraft.

Even ask other countries in Europe who track and intercept Russian military aircraft testing NATO's defences, and Russian submarines intruding into their territorial waters.

 

[AlwaysHungry]

Ask Georgia. Ask Ukraine which has had Crimea taken away from them and is fighting so-called Russian-backed rebels in the East of Ukraine. The rebels are using sophisticated Russian armour and equipment, more Russian troops and equipment is just over the border (or crosses it daily).

Ask Syrians opposed to President Assad. They are being bombed daily by Russian airpower that is supposed to be attacking only "terrorists" like the Islamic Caliphate but is bombing even Western-backed moderates.

Oggs, this is a bit laughable. After the US, with Cameron whispering in Obama's ear, spent an acknowledged $6 billion to overthrow a democratically elected government in Ukraine and replace it with a puppet regime of unrepentant neo-Nazis ("Yats is the guy" -- Victoria Nuland), you want to complain of Crimea "being taken away"? I suspect that the Crimeans are not the only ones that would like to escape from that disaster which the Anglo-Americans imposed on that suffering nation.

In Syria, there are 80 different nationalities represented among the "Western-backed moderates," probably the most diverse, and expensive mercenary force in modern history.

And do you not detect the irony in the argument that you are making -- that rebels in Ukraine, who are real Ukrainians, are despicable, while the rebels in Syria, who are well-paid foreigners, are heroic?

In answer to the OP's question: the neo-con doctrine of Paul Wolfowitz, which is just the latest make-over for the British Empire, insists that there must be a unipolar world, where no other nation must be allowed to become strong enough to represent competition for the declining Anglo-Americans. Therefore, the BRICS nations -- Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa -- will be continually demonized in the English-speaking press, and the British and American governments will continually look for pretexts to provoke them into proxy wars and eventually direct military confrontation -- nuclear war. All because the Anglo-Americans refuse to give up the folly of trying to run their economies almost purely on financial speculation, and they cannot possibly compete, in the long run, with nations committed to scientific and technological progress, industrial and agricultural production, and modern infrastructure (like what the US stood for before our country went nuts.)

 

[someoneyouknow]

Oggs, this is a bit laughable. After the US, with Cameron whispering in Obama's ear, spent an acknowledged $6 billion to overthrow a democratically elected government in Ukraine and replace it with a puppet regime of unrepentant neo-Nazis ("Yats is the guy" -- Victoria Nuland), you want to complain of Crimea "being taken away"? I suspect that the Crimeans are not the only ones that would like to escape from that disaster which the Anglo-Americans imposed on that suffering nation.

Another Russian troll to ignore. Thanks for the use of key words which every Russian troll uses when trying to defend Heir Putin.

The "rebels" in East Ukraine are nothing but Russians in disguise. They're funded by Moscow, receive arms and supplies from Moscow and have fought along Russian troops, including at the Debaltseve where "rebel" commanders admitted they could not have violated the agreed-upon ceasefire without the Russian troops, as well as at the Donetsk airport where Russian state tv showed Russian marines, with their insignias, fighting.

http://www.ibtimes.com/east-ukraine-war-russian-state-tv-purportedly-shows-russian-troops-inside-donetsk-1788520

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz5qHK3o8hQ

But please, keep trying to deny the truth of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. After all, there is no word for truth in the Russian language.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Oggs, this is a bit laughable. After the US, with Cameron whispering in Obama's ear, spent an acknowledged $6 billion to overthrow a democratically elected government in Ukraine and replace it with a puppet regime of unrepentant neo-Nazis ("Yats is the guy" -- Victoria Nuland), you want to complain of Crimea "being taken away"? I suspect that the Crimeans are not the only ones that would like to escape from that disaster which the Anglo-Americans imposed on that suffering nation.

In Syria, there are 80 different nationalities represented among the "Western-backed moderates," probably the most diverse, and expensive mercenary force in modern history.

And do you not detect the irony in the argument that you are making -- that rebels in Ukraine, who are real Ukrainians, are despicable, while the rebels in Syria, who are well-paid foreigners, are heroic?

In answer to the OP's question: the neo-con doctrine of Paul Wolfowitz, which is just the latest make-over for the British Empire, insists that there must be a unipolar world, where no other nation must be allowed to become strong enough to represent competition for the declining Anglo-Americans. Therefore, the BRICS nations -- Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa -- will be continually demonized in the English-speaking press, and the British and American governments will continually look for pretexts to provoke them into proxy wars and eventually direct military confrontation -- nuclear war. All because the Anglo-Americans refuse to give up the folly of trying to run their economies almost purely on financial speculation, and they cannot possibly compete, in the long run, with nations committed to scientific and technological progress, industrial and agricultural production, and modern infrastructure (like what the US stood for before our country went nuts.)

a puppet regime of unrepentant neo-Nazis; Yes far right Neo-Nazis were present on the barricades. They represent themselves as protectors and usually have a tendency to violence, so not surprising to see them manning barricades when authoritarian forces move in.

It is very easy for any movement to be hijacked by extremists. Especially in the media. The west saw the huge crowds, Russia saw the Nazis on the barricades. Soccer was embarrassed by Ukrainian Nazis during a game just previous to beginnings. Many eastern Europe nations seem to have extremist groups of some sort. I think the time spent under Communist rule was a total null for many advancements. Especially in society's tolerance.

the most diverse, and expensive mercenary force in modern history: And not really showing any obvious signs of success.

who are real Ukrainians, are despicable, while the rebels in Syria, who are well-paid foreigners, are heroic? Same guy in Afghanistan shooting at Soviet troops as a youngster, shot at American troops as an old man. For the same reason.

eventually direct military confrontation: We don't like direct military confrontation. Never have. Not since French sent us packing from Calais. India was conquered with Indian troops. China was destabilized by opium. Disease did a lot of work for us in NA. Nukes are scary. Big force multiplier.

run their economies almost purely on financial speculation: Once the insurance companies figured out the math to profitability and some degree of customer satisfaction, that was it.

with nations committed to scientific and technological progress, industrial and agricultural production, and modern infrastructure: They are committed to the things we already have!

Britain and even more so early England was never a match for European populations. Britain was never considered to be rich in resources. Technology invented by it's people and the cultural things they developed is what made the British Empire. We may not be right on the economics view but from a civil liberties point, we should rule. Be a whole lot happier world for it.

Russia is not the force it was during Soviet days. Breakup of the USSR took away a big chunk of population. They had 250 million at one point. Down to 150 I think. Aging demographics is hitting Russia hard too.

 

[AlwaysHungry]

The "rebels" in East Ukraine are nothing but Russians in disguise.

The same argument was made by those who insisted that the Jews were not real Germans, even though they were born there and had lived there all their lives.

 

[someoneyouknow]

The same argument was made by those who insisted that the Jews were not real Germans, even though they were born there and had lived there all their lives.

The difference is the facts are on the ground in Ukraine. We know for a fact many of those "rebels" are from Russia and more keep moving back and forth across the internationally recognized Ukraine/Russia border because Russia refuses to honor a single line of every single agreement they've signed to date.

We know Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine from all the fresh graves sprouting all over Russia. We also know Russian soldiers have been fighting in Ukraine because they've been stupid enough to take pictures of themselves in recognizable locations inside Ukraine, their phone calls have been traced to inside Ukraine and Russian soldiers have been captured inside Ukraine.

This is why no one trusts Russians.

 

[AlwaysHungry]

Many eastern Europe nations seem to have extremist groups of some sort.

The difference in Ukraine is that they run the government, they don't sit on the fringes. Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, during visit to Germany, stated that the USSR invaded Germany during the Second World War, which is a most peculiar and revealing re-write of history.

with nations committed to scientific and technological progress, industrial and agricultural production, and modern infrastructure: They are committed to the things we already have!

Correction -- things we used to have. Our industrial base and infrastructure are on their last legs. We used to have manned space flight -- Obama shut it down (Wall Street is hungry and needs the money). China will fill the vacuum.

Britain was never considered to be rich in resources. Technology invented by it's people and the cultural things they developed is what made the British Empire. We may not be right on the economics view but from a civil liberties point, we should rule. Be a whole lot happier world for it.

Britain was responsible for the worst genocide in recorded history, the deaths of 800 million Indians during British rule. Britain was not rich in resources -- they ruled the way Venice did, through espionage, predatory finance, and manipulating their competitors into wars (as they are presently doing with the US and Russian and China.)

 

[neci]

It is the silencing of Russian citizens, the artists, poets, anyone GLBT, anyone anti-state, which worries me the most. A world power known to jail any voice within it, is one the world should be wary. They have made it know they will not put up with anything outside of their world view. That is backed by weapons. A country not afraid to die. To give oneself to the motherland, the ultimate sacrifice. the motherland says beat the fucking gays, then beat them and arrest them when they try to drive a car away. Jail the song singers. Lock them away where no one can photograph them. Then, you know, lend military aid to the most war torn parts of the world. Take over a country here and there. Spread the Russian seed across the world. Nope. No reason to be afraid. Sure a little concerned.

 

[AlwaysHungry]

It is very educational to visit other parts of the world and get a sense of how the US is viewed. Obama has launched military attacks on 7 nations during his administration, which puts him way ahead of any right-wing Republican president we have had. He has overthrown or attempted to overthrow many national governments, either through direct military attack as in Libya, the use of proxies as in Syria, or simply using a tsunami of cash as in Ukraine. It's amazing that so many people think of him as a liberal. But generally, the US is considered to be petulant, irresponsible, and trigger happy. Can you imagine Obama showing the kind of restraint that Putin did, if Turkey had shot down one of our military aircraft? Compare the US military budget with that of Russia (or any other nation.) We have Russia and China completely surrounded with our military installations -- would you tolerate it meekly if either nation were to do that to us?

 

[BotanyBoy]

would you tolerate it meekly if either nation were to do that to us?

Obama would let them take out the west coast and not do shit except write them a check for a cool trillion and ask them nicely not to do that anymore. Then he would draw a red line telling you that if you cross it he'll have to write you another check to show you how mad he is.

Then he would go back to playing games in SW Asia.

 

[someoneyouknow]

It is very educational to visit other parts of the world and get a sense of how the US is viewed. Obama has launched military attacks on 7 nations during his administration, which puts him way ahead of any right-wing Republican president we have had. He has overthrown or attempted to overthrow many national governments, either through direct military attack as in Libya, the use of proxies as in Syria, or simply using a tsunami of cash as in Ukraine. It's amazing that so many people think of him as a liberal. But generally, the US is considered to be petulant, irresponsible, and trigger happy. Can you imagine Obama showing the kind of restraint that Putin did, if Turkey had shot down one of our military aircraft? Compare the US military budget with that of Russia (or any other nation.) We have Russia and China completely surrounded with our military installations -- would you tolerate it meekly if either nation were to do that to us?

7 nations? Nice rewrite of history. Unlike Bush, Obama has not invaded a single country. The only thing he has done is continue Bush's escapades in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Overthrow governments? One and that is in Syria which at this point, with Assad's desire to exterminate entire populations, indiscriminate barrel bombing of civilians and use of chemical/biological weapons, wouldn't be a bad thing.

Though it is funny you should talk about overthrowing governments considering that is exactly what Putin has tried twice with Georgia and Ukraine.

As to the restraint after a plane was shot down, considering Russia knows it deliberately violated Turkish air space after repeated warnings, they had no choice but to say nothing. They were in the wrong and they knew it.

And finally we come to the canard about how Russia is "surrounded". Russia is not surrounded. They can move freely in and out of their borders, can trade with whomever wants to trade with them. The only thing Russia can't do is dictate to its neighbors as it had done under the Soviet Union and that annoys Putin because it makes him look impotent.

Any of Russia's problems are caused directly by Putin and his oligarchs who feel the need to threaten their neighbors, attack and invade their neighbors, use (or used) economic threats to bully its neighbors and the endemic corruption inherent in Russia's business climate. Putin didn't amass his billions which he has hidden overseas by working for the government. He got his wealth through theft and bribery.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

The same argument was made by those who insisted that the Jews were not real Germans, even though they were born there and had lived there all their lives.

No Jew is anything but a real Jew. They don't assimilate. They learned the hard way that Jews are like the ATMs of the worlds tyrants. I come from King David of long ago but my pedigree don't cut it with any Jews I know of, and that's okay. I am what I am, and so are they. If Hitler had any brains he shoulda cleared out Poland and set the Jews up in business there.

 

[AlwaysHungry]

7 nations? Nice rewrite of history.

Seven nations: Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, Syria. I said "military attacks," acts of war, which would include assorted bombings and drone attacks. Here's some documentation:

http://www.poynter.org/2014/fact-checking-the-war-comparisons-between-obama-and-bush/272471/

As loathsome as Bush was, Obama is worse. Note that legally, economic sanctions are also considered an act of war, and Obama has racked up an impressive number of those as well. Meanwhile, Putin and Xi are too busy with developing their economies to go all over the world bullying other nations. Therefore, they are the enemy.