The Emerging Russian Giant Plays its Cards Strategically

[New Governor Of Alaska]

The Emerging Russian Giant Plays its Cards Strategically

by F. William Engdahl
The September 2006 summit in Paris between Russia’s Vladimir Putin, French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, underscored the re-emerging of Russia as a major global power. The new Russia is gaining in influence through a series of strategic moves revolving around its geopolitical assets in energy—most notably its oil and natural gas. It’s doing so by shrewdly taking advantage of the strategic follies and major political blunders of Washington. The new Russia also realizes that if it does not act decisively, it soon will be encircled and trumped by a military rival, USA, for which it has little defenses left. The battle, largely unspoken, is the highest stakes battle in world politics today. Iran and Syria are seen by Washington strategists as mere steps to this great Russian End Game.

READ MORE - The Emerging Russian Giant Plays its Cards Strategically (http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=3408)

Iran, Russia to integrate power grids
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
Iran and Russia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to integrate their power grids and enhance ties in the field of electricity.
“The Russian president's visit to Tehran has opened a new chapter in the relations between the two countries,” IRNA quoted Fattah as saying.
READ MORE - Press TV - Iran, Russia to integrate power grids
(http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=43878&sectionid=351020103)



Russia-China Peace Mission-2007 exercise
August 17, 2007.

http://img.rian.ru/images/7258/93/72589385.jpg

President Emomali Rakhmonov of Tajikistan, President Kurmanbek Bakiyev of Kyrgyzstan, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan and President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan (left to right) at the Chebarkul training ground before the start of the counter-terrorism exercise sponsored by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and code-named “Peace Mission-2007.”



Upswing in Russia-India military ties
Successes of Russian-Indian military-technical cooperation are obvious — the two countries have started implementing joint projects to develop and produce a fifth generation fighter aircraft and a multi-role cargo plane. The programme licensing the Indian production of SU-30MKI aircraft (NATO reporting name Flanker-H) and their AL-31FP engines is continuing. The two sides have also launched a project for licensed production of the RD-33 (series 3) aircraft engine and to continue joint building of warships in Indian shipyards.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/16/stories/2008021654781100.htm

http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/oct2006/putin_03.jpg

Russian bombers fly within striking distance of U.S.

http://www.cnn.com/US/9907/01/russia.pentagon/

[New Governor Of Alaska]

Russia, Turkey say they are united on Iran's N-right.
Wed, 20 Feb 2008

Russia and Turkey say they have always held a similar standpoint on Iran's legitimate right to attain peaceful nuclear technology.
In a press conference in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his visiting Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan voiced support for Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

“Moscow and Ankara share the same opinion on various international issues including the crisis in Iraq, Middle Eastern state of affairs and Tehran's nuclear case,” IRNA quoted Lavrov as saying.

Babacan, for his part, hailed his country's positive economic relations with Russia, describing Moscow as Turkey's second most important trade partner.
“We attach utmost importance to cooperation with the Russians on energy. Turkey and Russia are two important countries that can help transfer oil and natural gas to different markets. It is important for us to complement our efforts in energy with the Russians," Babacan noted.
"We consider the Russian Federation as a strategic neighbor whose friendship and cooperation we value highly," the Turkish Foreign Minister concluded.

http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=44014&sectionid=351020104

http://www.kremlin.ru/dyn_images/img80808.jpg

December 6, 2004
Ankara, Building of the Union of Turkish Chambers and Stock Exchanges. President Putin with chairman of the Grand National Assembly (parliament) of Turkey Bulent Arinc (right).

http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/text/images/80809.shtml

http://www.kremlin.ru/dyn_images/img80810.jpg

December 6, 2004
Ankara, Grand National Assembly of Turkey. With Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/text/images/80811.shtml


http://www.kremlin.ru/dyn_images/img107881.jpg

June 29, 2006
THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW. With President of Turkey Ahmet Nejet Sezer.
http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/text/images/107929.shtml


http://www.kremlin.ru/dyn_images/img97369.jpg

November 17, 2005
SAMSUN, TURKEY. Examinating Durusu gas terminal with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/text/images/97370.shtml


http://www.kremlin.ru/dyn_images/img97380.jpg

November 17, 2005
DURUSU GAS TERMINAL, SAMSUN, TURKEY. With Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/text/images/97388.shtml

[New Governor Of Alaska]

Libya signs deal with Russia's Gazprom on oil and gas production
22/ 02/ 2008

http://img.rian.ru/images/9967/52/99675206.jpg

MOSCOW, February 22 (RIA Novosti) - Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) signed on Friday an exploration and production sharing agreement on an oil and gas field with Russian energy giant Gasprom, the Libyan company said.

The deposit is located in the Ghadames Basin, near the North African country's borders with Algeria and Tunisia.

NOC said in a news release that Gazprom will invest over $100 million in the project, won in a tender last December.
Gazprom is currently running three projects in Libya. The state-controlled gas giant signed a production-sharing agreement with NOC for a sector covering 10 sq km (3.8 sq miles) in the Mediterranean. The company plans to invest $200 million in the project by 2012.

Gazprom recently obtained 49.9% in two oil concessions in Libya from Germany's BASF under an asset swap agreement.

Libya's proven natural gas reserves total about 1.49 trillion cu m, putting it in fourth place in Africa after Algeria, Nigeria and Egypt. The country's annual oil production is 80.1 million tons (588.7 million bbl), and 7 billion cu m of natural gas. A total of 83% of gas produced in Libya is consumed domestically, and the remaining 17% is exported.

READ MORE - http://en.rian.ru/business/20080222/99883039.html

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8744/mqwmapbg01.jpghttp://www.ruvr.ru/files/Image/RiaNovosti_foto/Putin/Putin(4).jpg

[klamath]

Putin wants more than just guarding against US expansion. He wants his own empire.

[Laja]

very interesting information, especially in light of the fact that i was just having a discussion with a friend about how the man behind obama (formally described as his Foreign Affairs Advisor), zbignew brzezensky, hates russia and wants to see it crushed. this bodes very badly if obama wins the election. zbig will probably cause a situation even more dangerous for us than the middle east nightmare.

[New Governor Of Alaska]

Putin wants more than just guarding against US expansion. He wants his own empire.

Putin works for the good of Mother Russia and her people.
GO PUTIN!

:)

http://www.bellona.no/imagearchive/ingressimage_putin_handsup.jpg

[klamath]

Putin works for the good of Mother Russia and her people.
GO PUTIN!

:)

http://www.bellona.no/imagearchive/ingressimage_putin_handsup.jpg

So did Stalin. The intentional starvation 20 million of his own people were for the good of mother Russia

[New Governor Of Alaska]

So did Stalin. The intentional starvation 20 million of his own people were for the good of mother Russia

I am sorry, Klamath, but are you saying it just because you are jealous of Russia's success or you just don't know what you are talking about?

Stalin did not work for Russia and her people. Stalin worked for the idea of Communism.
Stalin was building Communism with a stick.
Putin is rebuilding Capitalism with a free enterprise system.

Russia remains 'haven' of stability amid global financial crisis

http://img.rian.ru/images/9759/95/97599538.jpg

DAVOS, January 23 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's finance minister said on Wednesday that Russia was a safe haven for investors and the country's economy remained stable amid slumping global stock markets.

World stock exchanges have seen heightened volatility in recent weeks following the financial turmoil provoked by the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis and fresh signs of a recession in the world's largest economy.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum that opened in the Swiss resort of Davos earlier in the day, Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Kudrin said, "In the past few years Russia has managed to achieve economic stability piling up substantial international reserves, which play the role of an airbag. I believe Russia will soon be the focus of attention as a haven of stability."

READ MORE - http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=113827

[joelfarm]

'Like him or hate him, Putin is a clever, manipulative, smart leader. Actually one of quite a few such world leaders, many of them in the photos above. These people are shrewd, calculating and will stand their ground for what they believe in.

So, what does America bring forward to be it's "newfound" puppet-head president? Three wannabe's who would each sell out their own children for personal gain. Empty vassels of regurgitated pap for the masses. No real leadership at all. And the Nation will suffer for it.

[New Governor Of Alaska]

'Like him or hate him, Putin is a clever, manipulative, smart leader.

The only reason why MSM hates him is because Putin is not a puppet on NWO. He works for Russia and Russian people. Putin is extremely popular in Russia. Russia is strong and life in good.
I wish one day American people will get the same type of President. :)

http://kremlin.ru/dyn_images/img160595.jpg

A National Aircraft Manufacturing Centre is to be established in Zhukovsky in accordance with a Presidential Decree.

At a meeting with employees of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) at the Mikhail Gromov Flight Research Institute, President Vladimir Putin announced that he had signed a decree on establishing a National Aircraft Manufacturing Centre in Zhukovsky (Moscow Region).

The President said that the project will involve developing an aviation cluster, establishing institutes and a united engineering centre and setting up offices of the main companies working the aircraft manufacturing and related sectors. Work will also be done to develop the industrial, transport, engineering and social infrastructure. A network of scientific venture enterprises will be established in Zhukovsky and new opportunities will be created for small business, independent laboratories, design and research centres.

http://kremlin.ru/images/photo_logo_eng.gif

http://kremlin.ru/eng/sdocs/themes.shtml#160614

Speech at a Meeting of the United Aircraft Corporation
February 20, 2008
Zhukovsky, Moscow Region Printer-friendly version

PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN: Dear Colleagues! Friends!

Today is a very important day for our domestic aviation industry. We have met to establish a National Aircraft Manufacturing Centre in Zhukovsky. I signed the decree for the establishment of this centre today.

I have asked specialists, engineers, technicians, the military and our leading experts in the Presidential Executive Office and in the Government to come here today. I would like this to be a nationwide challenge. Moreover, if we do not set this for ourselves as a goal and concentrate all our administrative and political resources on it, the way we have done for the national projects, we will not meet this challenge.

http://kremlin.ru/images/photo_logo_eng.gif

READ MORE - http://kremlin.ru/eng/speeches/2008/02/20/1524_type82913type84779_160656.shtml

[cageybee]

Putin wants more than just guarding against US expansion. He wants his own empire.

Look at a world map and tell me if Russia does not have a right to be a world empire?

Russia's becoming a world empire is inevitable.

US must recognize that and should start investing heavily in Russia instead of making idiotic moves like supporting Kosovo's independence and possibly starting a new cold war or worse.

Russia's growth has always been scaring US Globalists. They have done everything they could to make sure that Russia does not rise above all.

However, I believe this time they will not be able to do anything.

Russia has developed very strong relations with China, Iran, Venezuela, and other smaller players.

Keep in mind that Iran and Venezuela are OPEC countries.

Unlike US, Russia does not advocate offensive foreign policy. They are only on defensive.

They don't want confrontations, and instead they believe in strategic investments and partnerships.

Our current policies need a drastic change. We need to withdraw all the troops from everywhere and need to work on our economy.

Instead of threatening Iran, we need to make very strong relations with Russia and China.

Russia and China are like "mother" and "father" of Iran. Iran would never do anything harmful if Russia or China are against it.

US needs to understand this and develop brotherly relations with Russia and China.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If US will not change its foreign policy, then Russia, China, OPEC could use their Financial power to bring down US economy and then the worst will happen to the US - once all the markets crash, they will buy all US markets, and then US companies will be working for Russia, China, and OPEC.

[TheEvilDetector]

Look at a world map and tell me if Russia does not have a right to be a world empire?

Russia's becoming a world empire is inevitable.

US must recognize that and should start investing heavily in Russia instead of making idiotic moves like supporting Kosovo's independence and possibly starting a new cold war or worse.

Russia's growth has always been scaring US Globalists. They have done everything they could to make sure that Russia does not rise above all.

However, I believe this time they will not be able to do anything.

Russia has developed very strong relations with China, Iran, Venezuela, and other smaller players.

Keep in mind that Iran and Venezuela are OPEC countries.

Unlike US, Russia does not advocate offensive foreign policy. They are only on defensive.

They don't want confrontations, and instead they believe in strategic investments and partnerships.

Our current policies need a drastic change. We need to withdraw all the troops from everywhere and need to work on our economy.

Instead of threatening Iran, we need to make very strong relations with Russia and China.

Russia and China are like "mother" and "father" of Iran. Iran would never do anything harmful if Russia or China are against it.

US needs to understand this and develop brotherly relations with Russia and China.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If US will not change its foreign policy, then Russia, China, OPEC could use their Financial power to bring down US economy and then the worst will happen to the US - once all the markets crash, they will buy all US markets, and then US companies will be working for Russia, China, and OPEC.

I agree with most of what you said, except for the last bit.

US economy is doing a grand job of bringing itself down, Russia and China just need to wait a few short years.

[cageybee]

I agree with most of what you said, except for the last bit.

US economy is doing a grand job of bringing itself down, Russia and China just need to wait a few short years.

I believe Ron Paul would make not only a great president of the US, but he would bring a complete peace on earth.

American people are so blind and don't see a great "God like" leader that not only US needs, but the whole world needs him.

Too bad that the idiot McCain is winning the hearts of the majority of the stupid republicans. I don't understand why Ron Paul even associate himself with them.

McCain is very negative towards Russia. I believe he would destroy our relations with Russia and will probably start a war with them. The only problem is that war with Russia will bring an end to billions of lives.

Although, I believe that if Russia, China, Iran, and Venezuela will feel that McCain is about to become a president, they may not give him a chance and will crash and bankrupt the US economically.

I think they are waiting right now to give us a chance to pick a president that is right not only for US, but for the world, but the moment that they'll feel threatened - they will pull the plug.

We must make sure that Ron Paul is our next president.

P.S.

U.S. sees Russia, China and OPEC financial threat - Yahoo! News

The United States is worried that Russia, China and OPEC oil-producing countries could use their growing financial clout to advance political goals, the top U.S. spy chief told Congress on Tuesday.

Such economic matters joined terrorism, nuclear proliferation and computer-network vulnerabilities as top U.S. security threats described by National Director of Intelligence Michael McConnell in an annual assessment.

McConnell said U.S. intelligence agencies had "concerns about the financial capabilities of Russia, China and OPEC countries and the potential use of their market access to exert financial leverage to political ends."

Russia, bolstered in part by oil revenues, was positioning itself to control an energy supply and transportation network from Europe to East Asia, and the Russian military had begun to reverse a long decline, he told the Senate Intelligence Committee.

China has pursued a policy of global engagement out of a desire to expand its growing economy and obtain access markets, resources, technology and expertise, McConnell said.

It seeks a constructive relationship with the United States and other countries, but as its influence grows "Beijing probably will increasingly expect its interests to be respected by other countries," he said.

Russia and China have long been able to target U.S. computer systems to collect intelligence, he said. "The worrisome part is, today, they also could target information infrastructure systems for degradation or destruction."

In the energy sector, a weak U.S. dollar had prompted some oil suppliers, including Iran, Syria and Libya, to ask for payment in other currencies, or to delink their currencies from the dollar, McConnell said. "Continued concerns about dollar depreciation could tempt other producers to follow suit."

TERRORISM THREAT

McConnell and other U.S. security officials told the committee that the global threat of terrorism remained.

Al Qaeda had suffered some setbacks and its international reputation was diminishing, they said.

But its affiliate in North Africa was gaining strength and the global network, with its leadership reconstituted in remote tribal areas, has begun to present an internal threat to Pakistan. Pakistan's military still lacks the ability to counter an insurgency, officials said.

In Iraq, violence had declined and al Qaeda in Iraq had been weakened, but the capabilities of Iraq's security forces remained limited while sectarian distrust was still high, McConnell said.

Among other top worries, Iran still had the potential to develop nuclear weapons, despite stopping work on nuclear warhead design, he said. A finding by U.S. intelligence agencies last year that Iran had suspended design activities led conservative critics to charge the report undermined U.S. efforts to pressure Iran over its nuclear program.

McConnell did not alter the assessment of Iran, but said he should have tried to explain it better.

"I may have put it up front with a little diagram, what are the component parts, so that the reader could quickly grasp that a portion of it, I would argue maybe even the least significant portion, was halted and there are other parts that continue."

He said that despite North Korea's shutting down it its Yongbyon nuclear facility, U.S. intelligence agencies "remain uncertain" about its commitment to full denuclearization. It is believed to continue uranium enrichment and proliferation activities, he said.

Discussing Cuba, McConnell said in event of Fidel Castro's death, "the political situation is likely to remain stable at least in the initial months."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080205/pl_nm/security_usa_threats_dc_3

[New Governor Of Alaska]

Russia says UN may hold Kosovo status talks
06/ 03/ 2008


NEW YORK, March 6 (RIA Novosti) - The United Nations may convene a special meeting to discuss Kosovo's independence, Russia's envoy to the UN said on Thursday.

Viltaly Churkin said Russia, which took over the UN Security Council presidency in March, was "attentively following the situation in Kosovo," and that he did not exclude that the Security Council would convene a session on the issue.
Churkin was speaking after a meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic in New York.
The Russian diplomat did not specify any possible dates for the Security Council meeting. A source in the Serb delegation said however that the issue of a UN Security Council session could be resolved next week.

A previous Security Council session, held shortly after Kosovo declared independence on February 17, ended without agreement on a resolution or a joint statement regarding the "world's newest state."
READ MORE - http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080306/100861061.html