Showing posts with label "other West". Show all posts
Showing posts with label "other West". Show all posts

Sunday, February 8, 2015

My reply to the deluge of letters from the "other West"

Oh boy, when I posted my recent exchange with "Carpenter" along with my thoughts about the "other West" and the danger of war I had no idea that I would trigger such a deluge of comments and private email.  In less than 24 hours I got well over 100 emails, often long and heartfelt ones too.  First, and this really saddens me a lot, believe me, but I have to begin by saying that I physically cannot answer such a deluge of letters.  I am very, very, sorry about that, as every one of them would deserve a lengthy reply.

I physically cannot reply to you all, please forgive me for that.

like submarines in the desert
Second, the intensity of the replies just comforts me in my belief that there really *is* this other west, that even though we all feel like submarines in a desert, we are very far from being alone.  Frankly, I am *awed* at the level of sober and profound comprehension in find in the letters I have received over the past 24 hours.  There are a lot of people who really see through it all, and that is nothing short of terrific news.  This tells me that while it appears that that imperial propaganda machine has succeeded in turning us all into passive, compliant and stupidified zombies, it has really failed with a lot of us.

What also amazes me is how many letters I got from former Cold War "warriors" who today oppose the AngloZionist Empire on exactly the same grounds that they opposed the Soviet Union.  I very much include myself in that group.  Sure, now I know that we were naive, that we were lied to, that "our" side was no better than "their" side, but even if we were mislead and naive in identifying "our" side with values such as freedom, human rights or self-determination, we were not wrong in our desire to stand up and defend these values.  In my more goofy moments I imagine creating an organization for Cold War veterans called something like "Cold Warriors for Putin" or "US patriots for Russia".

I think that it was Gilad Atzmon who said in an interview that "future politics must be ethics-based" or something very similar.  I agree.  We should not defend a country, a flag or a "side" - but only specific values even if these values have been hijacked by despicable ideologies.  Take, for example, "democracy".

I think that we can all agree in saying that "democracy" is at best a sad joke, and that in reality "democracy" is just a means to maintain the total power of the plutocracy which rules the Empire.  But in itself, the notions of government authority stemming form the consensus of the people, of popular participation in political decision-making or of a free competition of ideas are good ones.

At a time when Russia is clearly turning away from "the West" and towards the South and the East, I find a lot of comfort that there is a good part of that "West" which is doing exactly the same thing.  Does that make sense to you?  Because if, God willing, a full-scale war does not happen, then we might see a very complex reality building: the comprador "elites" in the East and the South will keep their gaze and hopes on the "West" while those in the "other West" will instead keep their eyes and hopes on the East and the South.

We can call that a "civilizational struggle" and a "class struggle", as I believe both of these categories fully apply here.

I feel very privileged to have been granted the opportunity to start a blog and a community which can bring together very different people united not by nationality, ethnicity, ideology or religion, but by a common stance in this "civilizational and class" struggle which truly defines out time.

I am immensely grateful to all of your for your kindness, support and understanding.  Let's keep up the good struggle!  I don't know that we can prevent a war from happening, but I know that we have to try as hard as we can.  And if we do, then maybe God will have mercy on us all.

Kindest regards,

The Saker

There is hope and there is "another West"

I have said that many times on this blog and I will say that today: there is "another West" which we, all those who oppose the Empire, should never forget.  This is a West which you will never *ever* see in the corporate media and it is formed a innumerable individuals who don't go into politics, don't organize demonstrations and who simply live a life of spiritual freedom, away from the degenerate, ugly, deceptive and evil order which the so-called "elites" have imposed upon us all.  I mentioned this "other West" in my Submarines in the Desert post and I won't repeat it all here.  I will just say that I get amazing letters from that "other West" almost every day.

Letter which, if I posted them here, nobody would believe are genuine and I would be accused of making them up.  I show some of them to my wife, but even to her I say that "if I showed you how many such letters I get you would probably have a hard time believing me".  I can sincerely say this: these letters have changed my view of humanity, quite literally, and now know, I really *know* something crucial: we are truly everywhere (as David Rovics put it) and there is a lot of us (even if we often feel isolated).

Yesterday I got such a letter and it deeply moved me.  I replied to it's author and ask for his permission to share it with you (without revealing any personal details).  He agreed.  So here it is:
Dear Saker, 
I am sorry to write you because I know that you are very busy and you provide such a valuable service to me and so many others that are seeking the truth about Ukraine. I hope my message does not burden you and disturb your work or leisure.

I am an American, so totally disgusted with my country and it's leadership. What lies and propaganda that are directed at Russia, Novorussia, it's citizens and its determined and honorable soldiers makes me ashamed of my country. In addition when I try to explain the truth to people just how the war in Ukraine started with our usual coup tactics I get blank stares of disbelief. No one wants to hear that our government is driven by evil desires that is ruining the lives of so many innocent people. It is so very sad.


I have been reading your site for a long time and just now have added Fort Russ, Novorussia Today, Colonel Cassad, and some others that are speaking and showing the truth.
 
I am a carpenter, but have no work now. I have not had work in many months and am on the verge of losing my home.  I have no savings and feel sad that I can not contribute to your site or to the victims in East Ukraine that my country is helping to kill and destroy. Often at night as I try to sleep I think about those who are suffering so, that are being attacked by our stooge government in Kiev. It eats at me and makes me so sad for humanity, I have no way to help and my fellow Americans, or at least most of them seem to not care at all. 
Please forgive me for reading your precious truth and insight and not sending you your rightful due. I promise, if I shall get work or become employed I will not forget you and never will I forget my brothers and sisters in East Ukraine. May God bless you always and may he distribute justice to my evil American government. 
Sincerely your eternal friend, 
"Carpenter"
I also want to share with you a part of my reply to "Carpenter" because beyond him, this is what I want to say to all those, especially Americans, who have written to me with the same anguish and pain:
Dear "Carpenter"

Your beautiful letter moved me to tears but also filled me with joy because it showed me something I already knew: that nationalities and borders are not really real, that there is a brotherhood of mankind which goes much, MUCH deeper than the language we speak or the passport we carry.  I knew that - but your letter still felt like an explosion of humanity in a world gone crazy.  I have one favor to ask of you:

Never be ashamed of your country or your people.  They are the first victims of a worldwide system of evil which enslaves us all.  For decades Russia was ruled by the Soviets and I often felt ashamed for my people, but now I see how much good they are capable of.  Don't ever allow your shame about the regime in power in DC make you lose your respect for the millions of innocent Americans who are no more guilty for what their rulers do then I was for what the Soviet regime did.  Always remember the words of Saint Paul "
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms".  The people of Russia and the people of the USA have the same enemy and that makes them allies.  We are all struggling together against the same evil.
When I wrote that I was moved to tears and that Carpenter's letter felt like an "explosion of humanity" I was not exaggerating.   To be very honest, I often get this horrible feeling in my stomach that the psychos ruling the West are, whether they realize it or not, cheerfully walking on a path which will lead them into a war with Russia.  Yesterday I felt particularly distressed by all the ridiculous rhetoric coming out of the western capitals.  And, as if so often the case, in these moments of anguish I felt very alone.  Carpenter reminded me that my loneliness was an illusion and that there were Americans out there who were very close to my own, Russian, heart and mind and even though I dare not hope that some of them are in positions of power high enough to prevent a war from happening, I cannot rule that out either.  In truth, whether we all - Russians and Westerners - can prevent a war from happening I don't know, but what I do know is that I feel that it is a vital task in my life to show the world that there is "another West" and that, in reality, our struggle is "against the rulers" only, and never the people.

I have to confess that I am still under the shock of what happened with Lavrov in Munich.  I told my wife that I simply *cannot* imagine that the western leaders really, seriously, truly and deliberately want to go to war with Russia.  Call me naive, but I cannot conceive that.  But when I look at what these so-called "leaders" are actually saying and doing then, to my own horror, I come to the conclusion that they are doing exactly that: cheerfully walking down a path which will lead them to war.  A war which they will lose - that I can guarantee you 100%.

I cannot think of something more stupid: triggering a war which Russia most definitely and categorically does not want, and a war which the West will most definitely and completely lose.  How evil and crazy is that?

The tragedy is that western analysts and politicians are completely misreading Russia: they see Russia's efforts to avoid a war as a sign of fear.

Somehow, these idiots in the US and NATO have convinced themselves that their own propaganda is true and that Russia can be bullied by its putative fear of NATO.  They are getting something very, very wrong here:  Russia does not fear the US or NATO, Russia fears war as such.  Unlike western politicians, Russian know that there is no such thing as a "good war", but at the same time, they are also willing to fight, really fight, if forced to defend themselves.  No offense to anybody here, but the West as long lost this capability to truly fight to the end.  It is one thing to "fight" in a cockpit or with drones, and quite another to really fight like Russians do when forced to.  NATO generals cannot even *imagine* the kind of resolve, rage and determination a Russian 3rd class construction battalion solider will muster if he becomes convinced that he is standing up for his Motherland.  Folks in the West have that illusion that a "real warrior" is some kind of Navy SEAL.  In Russia everybody knows that wars are not won by photogenic Rambos, but by the "makhra" - the regular skinny and inelegant kids of the infantry who, when push comes to shove, will show a courage, determination and self-sacrifice no Navy SEAL can even imagine (I know, many American readers will shake their heads in disbelief at my words, but every single Russian who actually saw combat in his life knows that what I say is 100% true).

And yet, the western 1%ers apparently also believe that their fancy military toys will defeat the Russian "makhra". They have apparently forgotten the warning of one of the greatest generals in British history, General Montgomery who told the Lords "Rule 1, on page I of the book of war, is: "Do not march on Moscow". Various people have tried it, Napoleon and Hitler, and it is no good.
The people of Russia don't want and don't need this war but if give no choice they will fight.  To the end,  even if that means a global nuclear war (which Russia is much better prepared to survive then Europe of North America).  I warned about that almost a year ago, and I will repeat it here: Russia is ready for war.

Of course, the vast majority of the people in the West also don't want and and don't need this war.  The problem is that while in Russia most people are acutely aware that war has now become a real possibility (this is regularly discussed on TV and by senior politicians, including Putin himself), folks in the West are never told that war is coming closer and closer to us all.  Those who like "Carpenter" fully see where this is all heading and are horrified are isolated form the mainstream public discourse.  So there most definitely is "another West" but it is a silenced, suppressed and, I would argue, even an oppressed one.

We are living in extremely dangerous times.  I would argue that Obama the worst and most incompetent President in US history: he failed at literally everything he did and he betrayed every promise he made.  I would not trust him with any task - he seems to screw-up everything he touches.  As for EU politicians, they are just spineless imbeciles who don't even have the lucidity to admit to themselves that they are playing with fire and for whom I have less respect than for used toiled paper.  But my heart goes out to the "other West" whose people are treated like serfs by the 1%ers and whom I will always see are allies of Russia and of any other country or group of people who are opposing the kind of 'in your face' evil the AngloZionist Empire now embodies.

I suppose that the "West" can really be divided into three groups: the 1%ers at the top, the "Charlies" who have been zombified by the elites and the "Carpenters" who see through the smokescreen and understand it all.  I don't know which group will prevail, but I will keep hoping that by some kind of miracle the "other West" will prevail and save us all.

The Saker

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Open letter of the members of the French Resistance to President Hollande


The voice of France, the UN and Russia, an open letter to Monsieur le Président de la République

Monsieur le Président de la République

Fascisme is reemerging everywhere in Europe, singularly in countries which have been freed from the USSR where powerful and dark forces are using NéoNazism as an ideological vector for their national emancipation and their territorial sovereignty .In these circles and beyond them, the Ukrainian crisis, which is politically and diplomatically overexploited to undermine the Russian Federation is used as a pretext for multiple attempts to rehabilitate the Third Reich, especially in the Baltic Countries, where monuments commemorating the 1945 victory are often desecrated with the covert or overt complicity of the concerned governments.

The Western world is in no way immune from these dangerous overflows. In defiance of it's historical status, the European Union tolerates within itself, political movements which have been able, with impunity, to send to the EU Parliament, legally elected deputies, although self styled Nazis.

In face of this situation, which is fed and worsened by a never ending economical crisis on the old continent, Russia submit every year to the general assembly of the United Nations, a resolution calling for the refusal of « this glorification of Nazis and their collaborators who, waiving Swastika banners and marching with their right arms held up, are overtly promoting xenophobia and racial superiority.

Unfortunately, The United States of America, Canada and the Marshall Islands, systematically oppose this text and the European Union - among which is France-, choosing in that respect to renew with the disastrous spirit of Munich, chose to refrain.Opponants and abstentions, put forward as an excuse... Respect for freedom of expression, to justify their decisions. Under the same pretext, they block the passing of similar decisions within the OSCE. This attitude is pitiful and dangerous and can be considered as a signed blank paper for the Fascists to keep on with their criminal activities.

This year, the pretext put forward for a 'no' vote or abstention to the resolution, is the Ukrainian crisis and the « annexation » of Crimea. Putin should be made to understand that the West won't tolerate an expansionist Russia. This is of course only a pretext because in November of 2013, as the Ukrainian crisis was just unfolding, their was no separatists claims of any sort in Eastern Ukraine or in Crimea. The vote had been the same. Most noticeable is the 2010 vote, during which the Russian President was Medvedev, known to be closer to the West than the actual President.

The fact that the Russian diplomatic initiatives are thus subjected to contempt is unacceptable. The tremendous death toll paid by the USSR during the second world war, morally forbid it. Resistants in Europe and especially in France, know what they owe to the Red Army. Without the decisive victories over Hitler, the world battle for liberty wouldn't have been possible and the allies would have never landed in Italy nor on the Coast of Normandie. Must it be reminded, that on the D Day, June the 6th of 1944, the Werhmacht was collapsing everywhere on the East front and that Hitler had thus already lost the war ? Must it be reminded that, without the Soviets sacrifices, France would have never recovered it's freedom ? Must it be reminded that without Moscow, Stalingrad and Koursk's victories – the mains Nazis military defeats- the world could never have freed itself from fascism and the United Nations Organisation would have never existed ?

We would also want to remind you, mister President, that during the spring and summer of 1942, the General De Gaulle had, in vain, tried to persuade the allies to open a « second front ». If the General De Gaulle had been heard, millions of people in the Soviet Union and in the concentration camps, wouldn't have lost their lives. Must we remind you that the landing in France as suggested by the General de Gaulle, was replaced by a landing in North Africa and that the first version of the now famous American « regime change » took place at that time, the Americans having chosen the General Giraud instead of De Gaulle.

France, which as a member of the Security Council, have a right of veto, must not forget history and the lessons it teaches. France must not forget the responsibilities which have been bestowed to her by the fact of having been able to sit at the winners table. France must not forget that without the resistance movement, without the commitment of the General De Gaulle saving the honor of our country from London, France wouldn't enjoy the diplomatic weight and prestige which it has acquired. Consequently, it's voice, which is heard, when relying on historical principles, used and exalted by the National Resistance Council, it's voice must be heard in the fight against the rebirth of Nazism, which is to say, in fact, it's own values. Values that you invoked during your multiple public interventions, especially during the commemorations of the landings in Normandie and Provence.

As a Head of the State, it thus belongs to you to break the guilty and spineless caution of a Europe which flimsiness in foreign affairs never stops to tarnish the brilliance.

Consequently, the signatories request from you, that next year, the signature of France be added to those of the nations having already backed the resolution of the Federation of Russia.

Armand Conan, Résistant, membre du Comité Départemental du Morbihan
René Jassaud, Résistant, ravitailleur du maquis « camp Robert » dans le Var
Colette Lacroix, Résistante, membre du réseau SOE « pimento » dans l'Ain
Antoine Payet, Résistant, membre du groupe de St Fons dans le Rhône
Paul Raybaud, membre du réseau Camp Robert dans le Var

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Prominent German Signatories – Open Letter: Another war in Europe? Not in our name!

First posted on, and translated by, the website War Is A Crime.org


Letter published first in the german newspaper DIE ZEIT on December 5th, 2014

https://cooptv.wordpress.com/2014/12/06/very-prominent-german-signatories-another-war-in-europe-not-in-our-name/

Nobody wants war. But North America, the European Union and Russia are inevitably drifting towards war if they do not finally halt the disastrous spiral of threat and counter-threat. All Europeans, Russia included, jointly hold responsibility for peace and security. Only those who do not lose sight of this goal are avoiding irrational turns.


The Ukraine-conflict shows that the addiction to power and domination has not been overcome. 1990 at the end of the Cold War, we were all hoping for that. But the successes of the policy of detente and the peaceful revolutions have made us sleepy and careless, in the East and the West alike. For US-Americans, Europeans and Russians the guiding principle to banish war permanently from their relations has been lost. Otherwise, the for Russia threatening expansion of the West to the East, without simultaneously deepening cooperation with Moscow, as well as the illegal annexation of the Crimea by Putin, can not be explained.

In this moment of great danger for the continent, Germany has a special responsibility for the maintenance of peace. Without the will for reconciliation from the Russia people, without the foresight of Mikhail Gorbachev, without the support of our Western allies and without the prudent action by the then Federal Government, the division of Europe would not have been overcome. To allow German unification to peacefully evolve was a great gesture, shaped by reason from the victorious powers. It was a decision of historic proportions.

From overcoming the division in Europe a solid European peace and security order from Vancouver to Vladivostok should have developed, as it had been agreed to by all 35 Heads of State and Government of the CSCE Member States in November 1990 in the “Charter of Paris for a New Europe”. On the basis of agreed established principles and through first concrete measures a “Common European Home” was supposed to be established, in which all the States concerned should have equal security. This post-war policy goal has to this day not been redeemed. The people of Europe have to live again in fear.

We, the undersigned, appeal to the federal government of Germany to assume their responsibility for peace in Europe. We need a new policy of détente in Europe. This is only possible on the basis of equal security for all with equal and mutually respected partners. The German government is not following a “unique German path”, if they continue to call, in this stalemated situation, for calm and dialogue with Russia. The Russians’ security requirements are as legitimate and just as important as those of the Germans, the Poles, the Baltic States and Ukraine..

We should not look to push Russia out of Europe. That would be unhistorical, unreasonable and dangerous for peace. Ever since the Congress of Vienna in 1814 Russia has been recognized as one of the global players in Europe. All who have tried to violently change that have failed bloody – the last time it was the megalomaniac Hitler’s Germany that set about a murderous campaign to conquer Russia in 1941.

We call upon the Members of the German Bundestag, delegated by the people to deal appropriately with the seriousness of the situation, to attentively preside over the peace obligation of their government. He, who props up a bogeyman ascribing blame to one side alone, exacerbates tensions at a time when the signals should call for de-escalation. Inclusion instead of exclusion should be the leitmotif for German politicians.

We appeal to the media to comply with their obligations for nonbiased reporting, more convincingly, than they have thus done. Editorialists and commentators demonize whole nations, without crediting their history. Every able foreign policy journalist will understand the fear of the Russians, since NATO members in 2008, invited Georgia and Ukraine to become members of the alliance. It’s not about Putin. State leaders come and go. What is at stake is Europe. It’s about taking away the people’s fear of war. Towards this purpose, a responsible media coverage based on solid research can help a lot.

On October 3, 1990, on the Day to Commemorate German Reunification, German President Richard von Weizsäcker said: “The Cold War is overcome; freedom and democracy will soon be put in place in all countries … Now they can conduct their relationships within a compact and secure institutional framework, from which a common life and peace order can arise. For the people of Europe a completely new chapter in their history begins. The goal is a Pan-European project. This is a huge challenge. We can archive it, but we can also fail. We face the clear alternative to unite Europe, or in line with painful historical examples, to fall back again into nationalist conflicts in Europe. “

Until the Ukraine conflict we thought we here in Europe were on the right track. Today, a quarter of a century later, Richard von Weizsäcker’s words are more relevant than ever.

Signatories:


Mario Adorf, Actor
Robert Antretter (Former Member of German Parliament)
Prof. Dr. Wilfried Bergmann (Vice-President Alma Mater Europaea)
Luitpold Prinz von Bayern (Königliche Holding und Lizenz KG)
Achim von Borries (Regisseur und Drehbuchautor)
Klaus Maria Brandauer (Schauspieler, Regisseur)
Dr. Eckhard Cordes (Chair of Ost-Ausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft)
Prof. Dr. Herta Däubler-Gmelin (Former Federal Minister of Justice)
Eberhard Diepgen (Former Mayor of Berlin)
Dr. Klaus von Dohnanyi (First Mayor der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg)
Alexander van Dülmen (Vorstand A-Company Filmed Entertainment AG)
Stefan Dürr (Geschäftsführender Gesellschafter und CEO Ekosem-Agrar GmbH)
Dr. Erhard Eppler ( Former Federal Minister for Development)
Prof. Dr. Dr. Heino Falcke (Propst i.R.)
Prof. Hans-Joachim Frey (Vorstandsvorsitzender Semper Opernball Dresden)
Pater Anselm Grün (Pater)
Sibylle Havemann (Berlin)
Dr. Roman Herzog (Former President of Federal Republic Germany)
Christoph Hein (author)
Dr. Dr. h.c. Burkhard Hirsch (Former Vice-President of Federal Parliament)
Volker Hörner (Akademiedirektor i.R.)
Josef Jacobi (Biobauer)
Dr. Sigmund Jähn (Former Astronaut)
Uli Jörges (Journalist)
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Margot Käßmann (ehemalige EKD Ratsvorsitzende und Bischöfin)
Dr. Andrea von Knoop (Moskau)
Prof. Dr. Gabriele Krone-Schmalz (Former Correspondent ARD in Moskau)
Friedrich Küppersbusch (Journalist)
Vera Gräfin von Lehndorff (artist)
Irina Liebmann (author)
Dr. h.c. Lothar de Maizière (Former Minister-President)
Stephan Märki (Intendant des Theaters Bern)
Prof. Dr. Klaus Mangold (Chairman Mangold Consulting GmbH)
Reinhard und Hella Mey (Liedermacher)
Ruth Misselwitz (evangelische Pfarrerin Pankow)
Klaus Prömpers (Journalist)
Prof. Dr. Konrad Raiser (eh. Generalsekretär des Ökumenischen Weltrates der Kirchen)
Jim Rakete (Fotograf)
Gerhard Rein (Journalist)
Michael Röskau (Ministerialdirigent a.D.)
Eugen Ruge (Schriftsteller)
Dr. h.c. Otto Schily (Former Federal Minister of the Interior)
Dr. h.c. Friedrich Schorlemmer (ev. Theologe, Bürgerrechtler)
Georg Schramm (Kabarettist)
Gerhard Schröder (Former Head of Government, Bundeskanzler a.D.)
Philipp von Schulthess (Schauspieler)
Ingo Schulze (author)
Hanna Schygulla (actor, singer)
Dr. Dieter Spöri (Former Federal Minister of Economy)
Prof. Dr. Fulbert Steffensky (kath. Theologe)
Dr. Wolf-D. Stelzner (geschäftsführender Gesellschafter: WDS-Institut für Analysen in Kulturen mbH)
Dr. Manfred Stolpe (Former Minister-President)
Dr. Ernst-Jörg von Studnitz (Former Ambassador)
Prof. Dr. Walther Stützle (Staatssekretär der Verteidigung a.D.)
Prof. Dr. Christian R. Supthut (Vorstandsmitglied a.D. )
Prof. Dr. h.c. Horst Teltschik (Former Chancellor advisor for Security and Foreign Policy)
Andres Veiel (Regisseur)
Dr. Hans-Jochen Vogel (Former Federal Minister of Justice)
Dr. Antje Vollmer (Former Vice President of the Bunderstag)
Bärbel Wartenberg-Potter (Bischöfin Lübeck a.D.)
Dr. Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker (scientist)
Wim Wenders (Regisseur)
Hans-Eckardt Wenzel (songwriter)
Gerhard Wolf (Schriftsteller, Verleger)

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

The Englishman who took a bullet for Russia

I have been aware of the numerous reports by Graham Phillips from Novorussia and I knew that he had been kidnapped by Ukrainian goons not once, but twice.  What always touched me in his reports was the visible fondness of the Novorussians for Graham, and in this video below you will see them calling him "Gremchik".

Not even Graham (terrible!) British accent could be an obstacle for the respect and affection the Novorussians showed him (and in this video, they are clearly upset and distressed at the fact that he got hurt).  I know that Graham did not truly "take a bullet for Russia", but that he probably took it for the cause of honest journalism and I would say for the Truth.  But I am also quite sure that for the Novorussians it was "our Gremchik" who took a bullet for "us".

In my opinion President Putin should bestow the medal "for bravery" to Graham just as he did to that other fantastic reporter, Anastasia Popopva, for her truly heroic reporting from Syria.

Check out the video of how Phillips was wounded below.

He took a shrapnel wound to his lower back and his life is not in danger.

I wish him a prompt recovery and I hope that his work will finally get the recognition it deserves.  And even if his courage and integrity are never recognized in the West, his example proves one more time that there is this "other West" which is not hostile to Russia at all and which is principled and honorable.

The Saker

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Letter from a friend in Austria or what the media does not want you to see

Dear friends,

I just got this email from Austria. With my friend's permission, I removed some personal details and share it with you now.

The Saker
 
-------
Dear Saker,

I just came home from witnessing president Putin putting down flowers in honor of the Russian soldiers liberating Austria from fascism at Schwarzenbergplatz in Vienna. Now I arrived at Schwarzenbergplatz, the site of our monument in honor of the red army liberating Austria, approximately two and a half hours before Putin and his entourage arrived at the site. What I can tell you is the following.


Even before the Police built a perimeter around the square, a good 50-something demonstrators waving Russian flags and some waving Russian and Syrian flags were present at the square. Everybody was in a cheerful mood. Everybody was united in their support for Putin. Even the police was very friendly and and only about an hour and a half before the arrival of Putin did they ask us kindly to leave the square and get behind the perimeter. Now the perimeter was no more than 100 to 150 meters away from the monument. It surrounded the square in an oval shape. All along the perimeter, people started to gather in order to see Putin and cheer for him. All in all I would say between 1000 and 2000 people were standing around either to catch a glimpse of Putin or to chant in support of Putin. Many Russian and Syrian flags where around, as well as many st.George ribbons were visibly worn by attendants. The composition of the crowd was quite interesting. I would say about one third were native Austrians, one third were Russians or Belorussians residing in Austria with a good command of the German language, and about one third of the people in support of Putin were of mixed eastern European descent as well as Syrian. I spoke to people from Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Czech and Poland and Syria who were all in support of Putin. When the military chapel played their song when Putin put down the flowers, our chants of Rossija and of Slava Putina and sa putina were louder than the music. He turned to our side several times and waved towards us. At the very top of the square, 20 or so galician demonstrators were shouting their slogans an waving their flags. They were vastly outnumbered, and the atmosphere was nevertheless peaceful and rather relaxed. They called us Putincy or Putinzi I didn't quite understand. Anyway, guess who got all the media mentions? Besides the Galicians, there was also a separate anti Putin protest by Hosi, the interest organization of the gay, lesbian and transgender people in Austria, but they had their separate thing, and were nowhere to be seen around Schwarzenbergplatz. Also at the top of the square, at the point where all the official cars entered and exited through were maybe 10 Georgians waving Georgian flags and also some Chechen who were anti Putin. The point is that they were vastly outnumbered by happy peaceful pro-Russia people, but they got all the attention. Also Greenpeace did a separate little protest against Putin, because he refurbishes some nuclear power plants in Hungary. Public opinion is violently opposed to nuclear power in Austria, and so am I, but Greenpeace of course was scoring cheap political points against Putin.

Anyway. There was a really refreshing mix of people at the square. Syrians, Russians, eastern Europeans, Austrians of right and left political persuasion. The most noteworthy occurrence was this American couple however. So a guy and a girl in their late twenties dressed like tourists walked up to all the different groups of the pro Russia people. The guy asked us for our names, and asked us why we were in favor of Putin. While he was asking us these questions, his girlfriend took pictures of us without asking. To us they said they were tourists on a trip through Europe, the next group they told they were journalists. The guy had a notebook in his hand and wrote down everybody's name, and their views. When a group of Russians standing next to us involved them in a heated debate they stood there arguing in Russian, not English, and the girl also spoke very good German to me. Unusual language skills for Americans. Anyway when one of the Syrians came up and started asking them if they were tourists or journalists, and who they were writing for and if they could provide credentials they took off very abruptly.

What do I take home from this event? That Putin took note of this spontaneous outpouring of support of ordinary people. I think nobody supports him in everything he says or does, but honor where honor is due for standing up to empire and hypocrisy. We dig that, and we were able to show it to him.

Hope all is well with you, and I hope to get some more pictures of the many people with Russian and Syrian flags. There was also a German camerawoman among us filming stuff for ruptly.tv newsagency, so there is a chance that these pictures will eventually make it to rt.


XXX

Monday, May 26, 2014

The "other West" - one more example

Alexander Solzhenitsyn liked to say that "one teaspoon of sea water gives you the taste of the ocean".  Today I would like to post here the text of a letter to the Russian embassy in Germany by a private person which is exactly that: the letter of (only) one person.  However, the feelings which it conveys are, I believe, shared by a lot of people in the "West".  It would well be that this letter is like Solzhenitsyn's teaspoon and that it gives us the taste of an ocean of people which the imperial propaganda machine is trying to hide from us.

Here is how this person explained to me the motive behind the writing of this letter:
Earlier this month I wrote an e-mail to the Russian Embassy in Germany. I thought I'd share it. It isn't much, but I felt I need to send out some peaceful "signals". Our leaders are completely controlled by the US agenda. They do not take the calls for deescalation and peace serious, and many in Germany speak out for that. I find it incredibly sad how our country is a hostage of the US. No idea how we can ever get out of that strangle hold.
Does it make sense to write such personal letters?

I strongly believe that it does.  First, it will be read by somebody in the Russian diplomatic corps and that somebody is most definitely in need of moral support in these times of rabid russophobia.  Second, Russian diplomats understand that for one person who put pen to paper there will be one hundred who did not, but who feel likewise.  But third, and that is most important, this person freed himself from the burden of passive collaboration, of being a silent accomplice of what is being done in his name.  That kind of soul-cleansing immensely profits the person who performs it.  Most of us do not have the power to really affect the outcome of what takes place around us, nevermind changing the course of history, but we do have the power to refuse to let the "system" (for lack of a better word) survive through us.  That individual refusal to support the system is what brought down the Soviet Union and which, I strongly believe, will bring down the AngloZionist Empire.

The Saker
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Translation of the original letter (written in German):

Dear Sirs and Madams,

In consideration of the ever increasing tensions between Germany and Russia, I would like to apologize for the behavior of our government. Right from the start I was assailed by a very bad feeling due to occurrences in the Ukraine. I am a German and also a US citizen and feel great shame for the foreign policies of both Nations. To me, just like to many Russian people, it is unfathomable that Germany and the United States would openly support Fascists in the Ukraine and that our political leaders can not be dissuaded from doing so. There are more and more attempts at making Russia seem like the guilty party on the world's stage, which is another thing troubling me. One is forced to conclude that certain influential circles in „the West“ intend to provoke an armed conflict with Russia, a cause for great concern. It is my hope that things will not go that far, since Germany would certainly be at the center of events. Hopefully people in Russia are aware that the majority of Germans do not want a war with Russia and that many people here are increasingly disillusioned with the policies of our Government, NATO and of the United States. The outrage is growing. The words and deeds of our Chancellor drive home the fact of the US's predominance also in Germany. Surely you can imagine that it is painful for me to say such things, since I was born in the United States and therefore have ties to the country and the people. Peace and understanding between peoples have greater personal meaning than blind patriotism and nationalism though. And it is clear to see that Germany needs strong and positive ties with Russia. Whether the US leaders will realize that is doubtful. I can only question the rationality of some American officials. In the past days I have voiced my opinion on some social networks, including the page of the German Secretary of State. Unfortunately I was blocked there, as many others who voiced their criticism. Apparently political leaders here in Germany, have abandoned the public's opinions, the same can be said of the media here. It has turned out to be the worst propaganda in a long time and is reminiscent of the days before World War II. Hopefully the tensions will decrease, instead of rising further. And I hope that President Putin will continue to act in a level-headed manner. I can not help but call Merkel's and Obama's behavior insane.

I would appreciate if you could forward this mail to the correct recipients. Thank you in advance.

Kind regards,

XXX