What?!

Putin accused US of being behind the attack on Ossetia as part of a plot to bring McCain and the Republicans to White House. This is merely a projection of the ‘tricks’ those in power in Russia use onto a country that is on a very different moral level. That is America.

Putin came to power on the back of apartment building bombings and a new conflict, which became a second military campaign in Chechnya. Moscow theatre siege which took 130 lives and was sanctioned by groups within the FSB in order to have carte blanch from the West as well as its own people for further violence in its breakaway regions.

This is their technique but this is not America’s technique.

Aren’t you guys giving yourselves away?

The proof for this statement was an american passport found in Ossetia in the area where Georgia special forces were located. Because that's what you do when you're on a secret mission of one level or another, take all your IDs with you.

During a long interview with CNN's Mathew Chance Putin looked small and insecure. The opposite of his usual arrogant self. Is this the card they feel they now have to play, when even China has condemned their actions not to mention the overall isolation. Scared now are we?

Russia United. Not in a good way.

To call the new wave of the anti-American hysteria in Russia, that I am encountering first hand on a daily basis, overwhelming is an understatement. It is a wide spread belief that what happened in South Osetia is America getting to Russia using ‘Georgian hands’. There is a tremendous hate for Georgians, who for so many years were like brothers to Russians, but it is separate from the bigger topic-America, the enemy. Many speak with enthusiasm (!) about the possibility of the new cold war and even, get this, a third world war. They also seem content with an idea of being in isolation from the rest of the world, with only few ‘friends’ left-Iran, Pakistan and, possibly, China. The government controlled channels are, naturally, propaganda tools, used to the full at the moment. The results are astonishing. We are told that ‘the country is now united’. Ironically ‘United Russia’ is the dominant Putin controlled party in the Parliament.

What I believed happened is Russian provoked Georgians, and this was in the making for a while. Georgians reacted very angrily and brutally, which, of course, was a mistake. And America went ‘shit, we really don’t have the money or any desire to get involved in this mess right now’.

Russians, however, will use this well. Some of it practical. Wars are very profitable in Russia for the selected few. And some if it is a massive ego boost, and ‘re-establishing its place’ in the region and the world.

Please Help a great family in trouble

This is for the Russians. Your help is badly needed for a family who lost their son in Moscow theatre siege. Their other son, Ivan, needs an eye operation and we're collecting funds. Great people in an awful situation, again. Please help.
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Khodorkovsky's appeal for early release was denied today. This will take toll on his father, who a couple of days ago told Tatyana Karpova (Nord Ost organisation) that he feels very weak.
On a jolly note, square (!) watermelons from China, at a modest price of 32,000 roubles ($1,250) a kilo, were sold out within hours.
I wish I was kidding.

Grim, very grim

We are on a brink of a catastrophe and the most shocking thing to me is that even the Russian opposition and few of my friends, brutally destroyed by the regime, blame Georgia and, most importantly, America. One is in exile in London on Ukos related charges and another one is in jail! in Russia on a fabricated case. It is hearing from them 'Americans, those bastards...' that made me feel very pessimistic. Right now I am watching Russian tanks crawling on the Georgian soil....

President Bush made a very severe comment about what's going on there is making me think some new form of cold war, something i said a year ago on a TV show will not happen, is not far away. Watched President Saakashvili almost hysterical on CNN and saying 'Georgia will never surrender no matter how many Georgians die'. Watched McCain (mispronounce Saakashvili's name) and Obama both say this is unacceptable. I felt a chill. Will this really spin out of control?

War in Ossetia, day 3

It is hard to know exactly who attacked first in the current South Ossetia crisis. And, really, it doesn't make that much difference. Of course at the center of all this is the clash between Russia and Georgia. Russia feeling terribly unhappy with the fact that's its neighbour and former 'Communist brother' is not looking in the direction of Western style democracies but is allowing US to build millitary bases on its territory. As a result of substantial financial aid from America Georgia has been booming economically. More schools and hospitals were built in the last 2 years than in the previous 20. The opposition is free to have its marches AND have media coverage. They still have a long way to go, of course, and President Saakashvili is no saint. But this is not the point. The point is that in an ideal world they would be left alone and would be free to choose their political path and their friends. Sadly, Russia does not want to allow for that happen. For Russian people, however, the idea that Georgia, backed by America, attacked Russian peace forces in Ossetia lands on a fruitful soil. The anti - American mood has always been there and has been 'helped' recently with consistent propaganda.

Even without further escalation of this situation the relationship between America and Russia will deteriorate further. And in the worst case scenario...well...

Next few days are vital.

WAR

Here we go...South Ossetia...