Putin's Secret Strategy: If You Can't Bedazzle Them With Your Brains, Then Baffle Them With Bullshit
It's a simple poker strategy - if you've got a worthless hand, then bluff your way to victory. Putin's opponents are for the most part ignorant, low-information dullards in expensive suits...
I’ve seen this play out in the recent Great Plague - scores of people on all of the sides of the debates that they endlessly generate have made tons of money through writing interminable books, papers, official pronouncements, speaking at conferences, and so on ad nauseam, spewing out tons of nonsense and making bank. The answer is simple - the virus has the same epidemiology as the yearly common flu, and like the flu vaccines, the vaccines proffered and whose use is coerced by various means are worthless - they don’t prevent infection and don’t stop spread. Natural T-cell immunity is the answer, along with for RNA-dependent-RNA-polymerase viruses, zinc acetate and a zinc ionophore such as quercetin. Game, set, and match, you need no longer watch any Youtube videos, listen to podcasts, read books or papers or any of the rest of that crap, either from the government or “alternative researchers” - the game is over if you want it to be.
Same case for Putin - his strategy is to lay out long disquisitions on history that he’s made up partially from fact - enough to hook a low-information television entertainer like Tucker Carlson - and a bunch of self-serving fiction, easily detected by anyone who has actually bothered to read the history. And it’s easy to show - as I’ll do below - that that long disquisition is a smokescreen, a cloud of sepia ink in the water, to obscure the truth of the matter - that Vladimir Putin’s land claims to Ukraine are easily demonstrated to be utterly without basis in history or law. And I’ll show that below, in sufficient detail to make my case. And if Putin doesn’t have actual knowledge of any of this, he has constructive knowledge, as his is the successor government to that which made the most recent treaties in 1991.
In the Carlson interview, Putin asserts that “Ukraine is an artificial state that was created at Stalin’s will”, amongst other similar statements - see
This is remarkably similar to what Aleksandr Dugin had asserted 26 years ago in his work, Foundations of Geopolitics, on which Putin is basing his policy, namely:
“On the key question of Ukraine, Dugin underlines: "Ukraine as a state has no geopolitical meaning. It has no particular cultural import or universal significance, no geographic uniqueness, no ethnic exclusiveness" (377). "Ukraine as an independent state with certain territorial ambitions," he warns, "represents an enormous danger for all of Eurasia and, without resolving the Ukrainian problem, it is in general senseless to speak about continental politics" (348). And he adds that, "[T]he independent existence of Ukraine (especially within its present borders) can make sense only as a 'sanitary cordon'" (379). However, as we have seen, for Dugin all such "sanitary cordons" are inadmissible.” https://tec.fsi.stanford.edu/docs/aleksandr-dugins-foundations-geopolitics
And Putin follows this perfectly, his geopolitics are very nearly the same as Dugin’s, as for the European areas, especially the Black Sea coastline. Putin opposes Ukrainian nationalism - calling it “de-nazification”, because for him, as well as for Dugin, the independent existence of Ukraine as a sovereign, independent, and autonomous state is a real problem - an “enormous danger”. And if Putin can fool the West into supporting his position, he solves this problem, and removes an obstacle to achieving his aims - which are the same as Dugin’s aims.
And, as it is with Dugin, Putin is preparing the ground for the defeat of his overarching enemy - the United States:
“Employing the "strategy of the Anaconda" (a term borrowed by Dugin from inter-war German geopoliticians used in reference to Britain), the United States and its close allies are seen as exerting
unrelenting pressure on all Eurasian coastal zones (103, 110). Following precepts enunciated by Francis Fukuyama among others, the United States seeks to implant its own political and economic model throughout the globe (127). Moreover, following the prescriptions of Paul Wolfowitz, the United States attempts to reduce Russia's role to that of a lowly "regional power" (199). In cynical fashion, the United States wants to "transform Russia into an 'ethnic reservation' so that it can receive full control over the world" (169).
How is a revived Eurasian--Russian empire to bring about "the geopolitical defeat of the U.S." (260)? An appropriate response to the looming Atlanticist threat, Dugin contends, is for the renascent Eurasian-Russian empire to direct all of its powers (short of igniting a hot war), as well as those of the remainder of humanity, against the Atlanticist Anaconda.
"At the basis of the geopolitical construction of this [Eurasian] Empire," Dugin writes, "there must be placed one fundamental principle--the principle of 'a common enemy.' A negation of Atlanticism, a repudiation of the strategic control of the United States, and the rejection of the supremacy of economic, liberal market values--this represents the common civilizational basis, the common impulse which will prepare the way for a strong political and strategic union" (216). The anti-Americanism of the Japanese, "who remember well the nuclear genocide and the disgrace of political occupation," must be unleashed, as well as the fervent anti- Americanism of fundamentalist Muslim Iranians (234, 241). On a global scale, Dugin declares, "the main 'scapegoat' will be precisely the U.S." (248).
One way in which Russia will be able to turn other states against Atlanticism will be an astute use of the country's raw material riches. "In the beginning stage [of the struggle against Atlanticism]," Dugin writes, "Russia can offer its potential partners in the East and West its resources as compensation for exacerbating their relations with the U.S." (276). To induce the Anaconda to release its grip on the coastline of Eurasia, it must be attacked relentlessly on its home territory, within its own hemisphere, and throughout Eurasia. "All levels of geopolitical pressure," Dugin insists, "must be activated simultaneously" (367).
Within the United States itself, there is a need for the Russian special services and their allies "to provoke all forms of instability and separatism within the borders of the United States (it is possible to make use of the political forces of Afro-American racists)" (248). "It is especially important," Dugin adds, "to introduce geopolitical disorder into internal American activity, encouraging all kinds of separatism and ethnic, social and racial conflicts, actively supporting all dissident movements-- extremist, racist, and sectarian groups, thus destabilizing internal political processes in the U.S. It would also make sense simultaneously to support isolationist tendencies in American politics" (367).
Dugin's Eurasian project also mandates attacking the United States through Central and South America. "The Eurasian project," Dugin writes, "proposes Eurasian expansion into South and Central America with the goal of freeing them from the control of the North" (248). 48 As a result of such unrelenting destabilization efforts, the United States and its close ally Britain eventually will be forced to leave the shores of Eurasia (and Africa). "The entire gigantic edifice of Atlanticism," Dugin prophesies, "will collapse" (259). He believes that this could happen unexpectedly, as occurred with the sudden collapse of the Warsaw Pact and the USSR. Expelled from the shores of Eurasia, the United States would then be required to "limit its influence to the Americas" (367).” https://tec.fsi.stanford.edu/docs/aleksandr-dugins-foundations-geopolitics
So now we finally get to the keystone of all of this - Putin’s assertions about Ukraine:
Vladimir Putin, President of The Russian Federation Has Claimed That Ukraine Has No Independent Existence, That It Does Not Exist, Has Never Done So, And That The Land On Which It Is Alleged To Exist Is Part Of Southern Russia
I. Ukraine is not Russia, Ukrainians are not Russians
A. The Ukrainian language is significantly different from Russian in its spoken and written forms - such that treaties and official documents by the two states must be written and communicated in Ukrainian and Russian, respectively
B. Ukraininian orthography - the alphabet - is different from Russian, Ukrainian spellings are distinct from Russian spellings, and have been so, since before the creation of Russia. The Primary Chronicle, composed by Nestor, an Orthodox monk in Kherson in 1133, can be read by modern day Ukrainians, not so by Russians. Russia would not exist for another century.
C. Ukrainians are a separate ethnic group from Russians, even though Stalin, by his importation of ethnic Russians, tried to erase the Ukrainian ethnos - just as he tried with the Crimean Tatars (and with every other ethnically distinct area colonized by Russia).
II. Ukraine is a sovereign, independent, and autonomous nation, separate from Russia and from 1922 onwards, recognized by Russian governments as such:
A. The Russian Empire and its land claims ended with the execution of the last Emperor, Nicholas II, and his family, in 1918, by the Bolsheviks
B. In 1918, Ukraine formed an independent state under governments formed by Nestor Makhno, a Ukrainian anarchist.
C. In 1922, that government was overthrown by Bolsheviks, who created the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. The Bolsheviks did the same thing in Belorussia, creating the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, and in Russia and its colonized territories, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
D. In 1945, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, operating in their independent, autonomous, and sovereign capacities, were amongst the founding members of the United Nations, see https://research.un.org/en/unmembers/founders
E. In 1991, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the successor states to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, namely Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, respectively, acting in their independent, autonomous, and sovereign capacities, became the successors in right, title, and interest to their respective prior states which they replaced, and were recognized by the other members of the United Nations as such - including Russia, on the Security Council, see https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL(1994)054-e
F. In 1991, Russia and Ukraine, amongst others, acting in their independent, sovereign, and autonomous capacities, became signatories to the Belovezha Accords and the Alma Ata Protocols, in which certain mutual guarantees and recognitions were made:
And here are the relevant Articles of the abovementioned Accords, wherein Belarus, the Russian Federation, and Belarus mutually guarantee their sovereignty and independence:
“AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING THE COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES
We, the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation (RSFSR), and Ukraine,
as founder States of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and signatories of the Union Treaty of 1922, hereinafter referred to as the High Contracting Parties, hereby declare that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as a subject of international law and a geopolitical reality no longer exists.
On the basis of the historical commonality of our peoples and the ties that have developed between them, and bearing in mind the bilateral agreements concluded between High Contracting Parties,
Desirous of setting up lawfully constituted democratic States,
Intending to develop our relations on the basis of mutual recognition of and respect for State sovereignty, the inalienable right to self-determination, the principles of equality and non-intervention in internal affairs, of abstention from the use of force and from economic or other means of applying pressure and of settling controversial issues through agreement, and other universally recognized principles and norms of international law,
Considering that the further development and strengthening of relations of friendship, good-neighbourliness and mutually advantageous cooperation between our States are in accord with the vital national interests of their peoples and serve the cause of peace and security,
Confirming our adherence to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Helsinki Final Act and the other documents of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe,
Undertaking to abide by the universally recognized international norms relating to human and peoples' rights.
We have agreed as follows:
Article 1
The High Contracting Parties hereby establish the Commonwealth of Independent States.
…
Article 5
The High Contracting Parties acknowledge and respect each other's territorial integrity and the inviolability of existing borders within the Commonwealth.
They guarantee openness of borders, freedom of movement of citizens, and freedom of transmission of information within the Commonwealth.
…
Article 14
The official location of the coordinating organs of the Commonwealth shall be the city of Minsk. The activities of organs of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the territories of the States members of the Commonwealth are hereby terminated.
Done at Minsk on 8 December 1991 in three copies, each in the Byelorussian, Russian and Ukrainian languages, the three texts being equally authentic.
For the Republic of Belarus S. SHUSHKEVICH B. KEBICH
For the RSFSR B. YELTSIN G. BURBULIS
For Ukraine L. KRAVCHUK V. FOKIN”
These Articles and the relevant parts of the Preamble show that Vladimir Putin’s land claims to Ukraine are easily demonstrated to be utterly without basis in history or law. And if Putin doesn’t have actual knowledge of any of this, he has constructive knowledge, as his is the successor government to that which made these most recent treaties in 1991.
In the Carlson interview, Putin asserts that “Ukraine is an artificial state that was created at Stalin’s will”, amongst other similar statements, and by doing this, he’s betting that the Western governments have no memory, institutional or otherwise, of the agreements to which his government was a freely contracting and sovereign party. So far as I know, there’s been no action by the Duma of the Russian Federation to repeal the above agreements and to disestablish the Confederation of Independent States (on whose website,
https://e-cis.info/, Ukraine and the Russian Federation are still shown as members), so Putin unilaterally and illegally, according to the laws of his own country, whose high officials were kept in the dark up to the point of the invasion, ordered the invasion in clear violation of Article 5, above.
Negotiating with Mr Putin is thus a foolish and irresponsible waste of time and resources, it ratifies his illegal actions and gives them the cloak of respectability, and that should never, ever occur, under any circumstances. No treaty formed with such an outlaw, who violates laws and treaties at will, will be honored so long as it is convenient for him to do so - which will be at about the time that he thinks he can gain more land and resources by further illegal acts, and where he thinks that other sovereign countries can be fooled or bullied into supporting his criminal assaults and robberies.
And it doesn’t stop with Ukraine - Putin’s bad faith and wrongful intents extend to the whole of Europe, the UK, NATO, and the United States:
Here’s the December 17, 2021 document referred to in the video:
“Министерство иностранных дел Российской Федерации
№
17.12.2021 13:26
Соглашение о мерах обеспечения безопасности Российской Федерации и государств-членов Организации Североатлантического договора …”
Original Russian version at https://mid.ru/print/?id=1790803&lang=ru
The English translation:
”17 December 2021 13:26
Agreement on measures to ensure the security of The Russian Federation and member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Unofficial translation
Draft
The Russian Federation and the member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), hereinafter referred to as the Parties,
reaffirming their aspiration to improve relations and deepen mutual understanding,
acknowledging that an effective response to contemporary challenges and threats to security in our interdependent world requires joint efforts of all the Parties,
determined to prevent dangerous military activity and therefore reduce the possibility of incidents between their armed forces,
noting that the security interests of each Party require better multilateral cooperation, more political and military stability, predictability, and transparency,
reaffirming their commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the 1975 Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, the 1997 Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between the Russian Federation and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the 1994 Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, the 1999 Charter for European Security, and the Rome Declaration "Russia-NATO Relations: a New Quality" signed by the Heads of State and Government of the Russian Federation and NATO member States in 2002,
have agreed as follows:
Article 1
The Parties shall guide in their relations by the principles of cooperation, equal and indivisible security. They shall not strengthen their security individually, within international organizations, military alliances or coalitions at the expense of the security of other Parties.
The Parties shall settle all international disputes in their mutual relations by peaceful means and refrain from the use or threat of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.
The Parties shall not create conditions or situations that pose or could be perceived as a threat to the national security of other Parties.
The Parties shall exercise restraint in military planning and conducting exercises to reduce risks of eventual dangerous situations in accordance with their obligations under international law, including those set out in intergovernmental agreements on the prevention of incidents at sea outside territorial waters and in the airspace above, as well as in intergovernmental agreements on the prevention of dangerous military activities.
Article 2
In order to address issues and settle problems, the Parties shall use the mechanisms of urgent bilateral or multilateral consultations, including the NATO-Russia Council.
The Parties shall regularly and voluntarily exchange assessments of contemporary threats and security challenges, inform each other about military exercises and maneuvers, and main provisions of their military doctrines. All existing mechanisms and tools for confidence-building measures shall be used in order to ensure transparency and predictability of military activities.
Telephone hotlines shall be established to maintain emergency contacts between the Parties.
Article 3
The Parties reaffirm that they do not consider each other as adversaries.
The Parties shall maintain dialogue and interaction on improving mechanisms to prevent incidents on and over the high seas (primarily in the Baltics and the Black Sea region).
Article 4
The Russian Federation and all the Parties that were member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as of 27 May 1997, respectively, shall not deploy military forces and weaponry on the territory of any of the other States in Europe in addition to the forces stationed on that territory as of 27 May 1997. With the consent of all the Parties such deployments can take place in exceptional cases to eliminate a threat to security of one or more Parties.
Article 5
The Parties shall not deploy land-based intermediate- and short-range missiles in areas allowing them to reach the territory of the other Parties.
Article 6
All member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization commit themselves to refrain from any further enlargement of NATO, including the accession of Ukraine as well as other States.
Article 7
The Parties that are member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization shall not conduct any military activity on the territory of Ukraine as well as other States in the Eastern Europe, in the South Caucasus and in Central Asia.
In order to exclude incidents the Russian Federation and the Parties that are member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization shall not conduct military exercises or other military activities above the brigade level in a zone of agreed width and configuration on each side of the border line of the Russian Federation and the states in a military alliance with it, as well as Parties that are member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Article 8
This Agreement shall not affect and shall not be interpreted as affecting the primary responsibility of the Security Council of the United Nations for maintaining international peace and security, nor the rights and obligations
of the Parties under the Charter of the United Nations.
Article 9
This Agreement shall enter into force from the date of deposit of the instruments of ratification, expressing consent to be bound by it, with the Depositary by more than a half of the signatory States. With respect to a State that deposited its instrument of ratification at a later date, this Agreement shall enter into force from the date of its deposit.
Each Party to this Agreement may withdraw from it by giving appropriate notice to the Depositary. This Agreement shall terminate for such Party [30] days after receipt of such notice by the Depositary.
This Agreement has been drawn up in Russian, English and French, all texts being equally authentic, and shall be deposited in the archive of the Depositary, which is the Government of ...
Done in [the city of …] this [XX] day of [XX] two thousand and [XX].” https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/rso/nato/1790803/?lang=en
And another interesting bit from the BBC:
There’s really no other conclusion to be made - as with Hitler in World War II - the Russians, in collusion with Putin’s illegal scheme, must be defeated and brought to justice, by their own government - a successor to Putin’s - and by that of Ukraine, whose sovereignty they have invaded, in violation of Article 5 of the Belovezha Accords, cited above. Criminals should not be a party to negotiations, they must be brought to justice and the rule of law preserved and upheld.