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Re: Armenia and the information war
The following commentary is essentially the continuation of my previous two blog entries. I would like to ask the reader to pardon certain redundancies in rhetoric. In my opinion, repetition of certain facts and reinforcement of certain assessments are needed. Certain truths as well as common sense have been skewed as a result of the decades long propaganda campaign we have all been subjected to.
Russian-Armenian relations has become a cause of anxiety in certain circles. The primary complaints are that Armenia is too dependent on Russia and that Armenia's top leaders are operating under orders from Moscow. Many would like to see the severing of Armenia's umbilical cord with Russia. Believe it or not, so do I. Many would like to see truly independent and nationalistic leaders in power in Armenia. Believe it or not, so do I. Despite what some of our well-meaning compatriots think, however, if today's Moscow-backed regime in Yerevan is somehow ousted from Armenia - Armenia will not turn into an "independent" republic and it wont be Armenian nationalists taking over control. Simply put: those poised to take control once Armenia's current system of government is toppled are political xxxxxs seeking to serve the energy/business interests of the Western alliance. For the foreseeable future, our small, impoverished, landlocked, remote and blockaded nation surrounded by enemies in one of the most volatile places on earth will not be able to survive without Russian military protection and economic aid.
The following commentary is essentially the continuation of my previous two blog entries. I would like to ask the reader to pardon certain redundancies in rhetoric. In my opinion, repetition of certain facts and reinforcement of certain assessments are needed. Certain truths as well as common sense have been skewed as a result of the decades long propaganda campaign we have all been subjected to.
Many Armenians these days are of the mindset that Armenia needs to curb its dealings with Russia. These political illiterates claim: Armenia is "too dependent" on Russia. Many Armenians these days also think that Armenia needs to move closer to the West. These intellectual midgets claim: Armenia is "not close enough" to the West. Many Armenians these days think that Russia is the source of all problems in the region. These self-destructive peasants claim: Armenia will only be truly"free and independent" once Russia pulls out of the Caucasus. Many Armenians these days think that Russia is the primary problem in the Caucasus and that without Russian meddling Armenia can become fully independent. Needles to say, there is a lot of delirium amongst Armenians these days, not to mention suicidal tendencies.
Those tasked with sounding the Russophobic alarms in the Armenian community know this troubling political reality very well and that is why they are doing their best to drive a wedge between Yerevan and Moscow. Do not trust does who preach closer integration with the political West. The level of engagement Armenia has already gotten into with Western powers is already at its limit; it cannot go beyond. Due to its geographic location, its lack of wealth, its size and its historic rivalries it has with certain neighbors, Armenia does not serve the interests of Western powers. On the other hand, as long as Turkic, Islamic and Western interests threaten Russian interests in the south Caucasus, Moscow will continue seeing the small, remote, impoverished and landlocked Armenia as a very valuable strategic asset in the region. Armenia is thus an obstacle for Western interests, an important geopolitical player for Moscow.
As long as Moscow continues treating the Caucasus as one of its most geostrategically sensitive regions, it will continue jealously and aggressively protecting its foothold in Armenia. Despite the best efforts of our proudest nationalists, without Russian boots on the ground in the south Caucasus, the entire region would again turn into a Turkic/Islamic cesspool as it had been for nearly a thousand years before the Russian Czars set their imperial sights on the region beginning in early 19th century. Anyone that does not understand this nature of the region in question needs to seek professional help. All self-respecting Armenian patriots want Russian boots on the ground in the Caucasus! Geopolitical realities of our troubling times has compelled some of our more responsible politicians to remain firmly under Moscow's protective umbrella.
Consequently, it's natural that Yerevan may at times be forced to take directives from Moscow. The Armenian state, as it currently exists, cannot dictate its political will on the international stage. Armenians need to swallow their pride and realize that Yerevan will be playing second fiddle for some time to come. When it comes to the Caucasus, Moscow is the officially recognized maestro of the region. Despite what our proud patriots think these days, the only alternative to taking directives from Moscow - is taking directives from Washington, London, Ankara, Tel Aviv, Tbilisi and Baku. Therefore, official Yerevan needs to concentrate on learning how to navigate in Russian waters. This is not be a matter of patriotism or nationalism, this is a simple matter of understanding the geopolitical reality of Armenia and simply dealing with it.
Saakashvili's Georgia has shown us in recent years that raw nationalism without a clear/objective/farsighted geopolitical vision or understanding is national suicide. Even with the full backing of its British, European, American, Israeli and Turkish allies - when push came to shove in 2008, Georgia was effortlessly mutilated by the Russian Bear - as the Western world stood-by in shock and helplessness. While studying in the United States, I guess Saakashvili never took a course on international relations, or did and failed it. Nevertheless, Saakashvili's regime underscores the importance of having political foresight, sanity and humility in government - especially when the regime in question is ruling a nation that is small, dependent and its so-called friends are far away.
Due to Armenia's complex geopolitical circumstances in the Caucasus, a Saakashvilian error by Yerevan could very well cost Armenia its hard won nationhood. The Caucasus is a nasty and unforgiving place. Armenian politicians simply do not have the luxury of experimenting with different political formulations and ideas. While official Yerevan must seek cooperation with all political entities including the West, its primary political alignment needs to be with Moscow. Deeper/closer integration into Western structures was never a healthy option for Armenia. In the absence of Russia during the 1990s, nations like Armenia were forced to look Westward. The geopolitical climate of the globe has changed drastically from that of the 1990s. Dealing with a toxic entity like the Western alliance is no longer a necessity today thus should be avoided as much as possible.
For Armenia's sake, Armenian nationalists seriously need to wake-up from their fantastic dreams and begin to better understand the political world Armenia currently finds itself in. What Armenians also need to realize is that Bolsheviks are long gone and Yeltsin's Russia no loner exists. A resurgent Moscow is the main power-broker today, the king-maker and nation-breaker in the Caucasus; and it controls many levers in Armenia. Thus, any real attempt by Yerevan to break its dependency on Moscow (despite the fact that Armenia has no real alternatives to Russia) will be met with a swift and ruthless reprisal by Moscow. I reiterate, Armenians need to put aside their pride and begin seriously figuring out a way of navigating through Russian waters for the foreseeable future.
Due to the very seriousness of this very important topic, I'd like to expand on this with the following.
Some time ago Leonid Reshetnikov, the Russian director of Russia’s Institute for Strategic Studies, made some very revealing comments (see article posted below). For the sake of Armenia, Armenians need to put aside their debilitating emotions and massive egos (at least temporarily), Armenians also need to put aside their Cold War derived Russophobia and pay close attention to Reshetnikov's message. Leonid Reshetnikov is of the opinion that Moscow cannot fully trust Armenia due to the strong presence of anti-Russian and pro-American political elements within the Armenian nation. A lot can be derived from his comments. In these times of political unrest throughout the region, I personally think Reshetnikov's comments were a stern warning to all Armenians. And, in my humble opinion, Reshetnikov has made a very valid point.
I have been warning Armenians about the very point Reshetnikov raised for many years. Generally speaking, Armenians in Armenia tend to be Russia-friendly. One should not, however, try to derive political conclusions from this simply because the Russia-friendly attitude of Armenians is mostly rooted in a cultural affinity Armenians have with Russians. Armenia's political environment on the other hand cannot be considered a pro-Russian bastion in the Caucasus as many erroneously think. Great many of Armenia's politicians will even sell their mothers if the price is right and we know that Washington showers its mercenaries with money. Moreover, the Armenian diasporas of the western world and the Middle East (significant portion of the world's Armenian population) tend to be quite Russophobic.
Reshetnikov's message/warning was essentially this: due to dire sociopolitical conditions of the past twenty somewhat years a significant portion of Armenia's traditionally pro-Russia population, as well as a significant portion of Armenia's Soviet era intellegencia (or those with higher education) have settled in the Russian Federation, leaving behind a population that is politically ignorant and intellectually immature - thus susceptible to foreign manipulation.
It is not a secret that there exists a serious intellectual and ethical void in Armenia today. It is also not a secret that this void is being exploited by Washington and friends. Washington is exploiting this void in Armenia by manipulating the nation's political "opposition" as well as manipulating elements within the Armenian diaspora. It is interesting to note that Leonid Reshetnikov is not the only Russian that has publicly made critical comments about the political competency of Armenian politicians in recent years. Vladimir Putin also made similar statements several years ago when in an interview he more-or-less suggested that Moscow had a very hard time in convincing Armenian officials to stay aligned to Russia.
As a fully certified diasporan Armenian of Cilician ancestry born in the Middle East and raised in the United States), and as one who cannot even put two Russian words together in a coherent manner, I happen to fully agree with the sentiments expressed by Leonid Reshetnikov and Vladimir Putin. I'll go even further here by adding that many Armenians today are once again flirting political suicide. In a region of the world where the main competing geopolitical players are Turks, Western energy interests, Iranians, Islamists and Russians - when it comes to picking an ally our newly (re)created, landlocked and dependent state has only but one choice in the matter - Moscow! The Armenian state is able to sustain itself today primarily as a result of its close political, economic and military partnership with the Russian Federation and not due to the help of its big talking but grossly under-performing diaspora. This is essentially the source of my continued emphasis on all things Russian.
My political opinions and sentiments are based on nearly two decades of studying geopolitics, military affairs and political history. I also have some military experience which helps me better understand military matters. Moreover, and more importantly, my opinions are devoid of personal sentiments, cultural biases or self-serving agendas. I assess and analyze politics rationally, objectively, without emotions and without ethical considerations.
In my opinion, the most important factor in Armenia's existence today as a nation-state in the Caucasus is the nature and character of Yerevan's relationship with Moscow. Alarmingly, very few Armenians of the diaspora seems to understands this. How many of our compatriots look to Washington for guidance? How many of our compatriots obsess over genocide recognition? In my opinion, compared to the vital importance of Armenia's strategic alliance with the Russian Federation, matters pertaining to the Armenian Genocide and the survival of the Armenian diaspora are only secondary in importance!
The following commentary is essentially the continuation of my previous two blog entries. I would like to ask the reader to pardon certain redundancies in rhetoric. In my opinion, repetition of certain facts and reinforcement of certain assessments are needed. Certain truths as well as common sense have been skewed as a result of the decades long propaganda campaign we have all been subjected to.
Russian-Armenian relations has become a cause of anxiety in certain circles. The primary complaints are that Armenia is too dependent on Russia and that Armenia's top leaders are operating under orders from Moscow. Many would like to see the severing of Armenia's umbilical cord with Russia. Believe it or not, so do I. Many would like to see truly independent and nationalistic leaders in power in Armenia. Believe it or not, so do I. Despite what some of our well-meaning compatriots think, however, if today's Moscow-backed regime in Yerevan is somehow ousted from Armenia - Armenia will not turn into an "independent" republic and it wont be Armenian nationalists taking over control. Simply put: those poised to take control once Armenia's current system of government is toppled are political xxxxxs seeking to serve the energy/business interests of the Western alliance. For the foreseeable future, our small, impoverished, landlocked, remote and blockaded nation surrounded by enemies in one of the most volatile places on earth will not be able to survive without Russian military protection and economic aid.
The following commentary is essentially the continuation of my previous two blog entries. I would like to ask the reader to pardon certain redundancies in rhetoric. In my opinion, repetition of certain facts and reinforcement of certain assessments are needed. Certain truths as well as common sense have been skewed as a result of the decades long propaganda campaign we have all been subjected to.
Many Armenians these days are of the mindset that Armenia needs to curb its dealings with Russia. These political illiterates claim: Armenia is "too dependent" on Russia. Many Armenians these days also think that Armenia needs to move closer to the West. These intellectual midgets claim: Armenia is "not close enough" to the West. Many Armenians these days think that Russia is the source of all problems in the region. These self-destructive peasants claim: Armenia will only be truly"free and independent" once Russia pulls out of the Caucasus. Many Armenians these days think that Russia is the primary problem in the Caucasus and that without Russian meddling Armenia can become fully independent. Needles to say, there is a lot of delirium amongst Armenians these days, not to mention suicidal tendencies.
Those tasked with sounding the Russophobic alarms in the Armenian community know this troubling political reality very well and that is why they are doing their best to drive a wedge between Yerevan and Moscow. Do not trust does who preach closer integration with the political West. The level of engagement Armenia has already gotten into with Western powers is already at its limit; it cannot go beyond. Due to its geographic location, its lack of wealth, its size and its historic rivalries it has with certain neighbors, Armenia does not serve the interests of Western powers. On the other hand, as long as Turkic, Islamic and Western interests threaten Russian interests in the south Caucasus, Moscow will continue seeing the small, remote, impoverished and landlocked Armenia as a very valuable strategic asset in the region. Armenia is thus an obstacle for Western interests, an important geopolitical player for Moscow.
As long as Moscow continues treating the Caucasus as one of its most geostrategically sensitive regions, it will continue jealously and aggressively protecting its foothold in Armenia. Despite the best efforts of our proudest nationalists, without Russian boots on the ground in the south Caucasus, the entire region would again turn into a Turkic/Islamic cesspool as it had been for nearly a thousand years before the Russian Czars set their imperial sights on the region beginning in early 19th century. Anyone that does not understand this nature of the region in question needs to seek professional help. All self-respecting Armenian patriots want Russian boots on the ground in the Caucasus! Geopolitical realities of our troubling times has compelled some of our more responsible politicians to remain firmly under Moscow's protective umbrella.
Consequently, it's natural that Yerevan may at times be forced to take directives from Moscow. The Armenian state, as it currently exists, cannot dictate its political will on the international stage. Armenians need to swallow their pride and realize that Yerevan will be playing second fiddle for some time to come. When it comes to the Caucasus, Moscow is the officially recognized maestro of the region. Despite what our proud patriots think these days, the only alternative to taking directives from Moscow - is taking directives from Washington, London, Ankara, Tel Aviv, Tbilisi and Baku. Therefore, official Yerevan needs to concentrate on learning how to navigate in Russian waters. This is not be a matter of patriotism or nationalism, this is a simple matter of understanding the geopolitical reality of Armenia and simply dealing with it.
Saakashvili's Georgia has shown us in recent years that raw nationalism without a clear/objective/farsighted geopolitical vision or understanding is national suicide. Even with the full backing of its British, European, American, Israeli and Turkish allies - when push came to shove in 2008, Georgia was effortlessly mutilated by the Russian Bear - as the Western world stood-by in shock and helplessness. While studying in the United States, I guess Saakashvili never took a course on international relations, or did and failed it. Nevertheless, Saakashvili's regime underscores the importance of having political foresight, sanity and humility in government - especially when the regime in question is ruling a nation that is small, dependent and its so-called friends are far away.
Due to Armenia's complex geopolitical circumstances in the Caucasus, a Saakashvilian error by Yerevan could very well cost Armenia its hard won nationhood. The Caucasus is a nasty and unforgiving place. Armenian politicians simply do not have the luxury of experimenting with different political formulations and ideas. While official Yerevan must seek cooperation with all political entities including the West, its primary political alignment needs to be with Moscow. Deeper/closer integration into Western structures was never a healthy option for Armenia. In the absence of Russia during the 1990s, nations like Armenia were forced to look Westward. The geopolitical climate of the globe has changed drastically from that of the 1990s. Dealing with a toxic entity like the Western alliance is no longer a necessity today thus should be avoided as much as possible.
For Armenia's sake, Armenian nationalists seriously need to wake-up from their fantastic dreams and begin to better understand the political world Armenia currently finds itself in. What Armenians also need to realize is that Bolsheviks are long gone and Yeltsin's Russia no loner exists. A resurgent Moscow is the main power-broker today, the king-maker and nation-breaker in the Caucasus; and it controls many levers in Armenia. Thus, any real attempt by Yerevan to break its dependency on Moscow (despite the fact that Armenia has no real alternatives to Russia) will be met with a swift and ruthless reprisal by Moscow. I reiterate, Armenians need to put aside their pride and begin seriously figuring out a way of navigating through Russian waters for the foreseeable future.
Due to the very seriousness of this very important topic, I'd like to expand on this with the following.
Some time ago Leonid Reshetnikov, the Russian director of Russia’s Institute for Strategic Studies, made some very revealing comments (see article posted below). For the sake of Armenia, Armenians need to put aside their debilitating emotions and massive egos (at least temporarily), Armenians also need to put aside their Cold War derived Russophobia and pay close attention to Reshetnikov's message. Leonid Reshetnikov is of the opinion that Moscow cannot fully trust Armenia due to the strong presence of anti-Russian and pro-American political elements within the Armenian nation. A lot can be derived from his comments. In these times of political unrest throughout the region, I personally think Reshetnikov's comments were a stern warning to all Armenians. And, in my humble opinion, Reshetnikov has made a very valid point.
I have been warning Armenians about the very point Reshetnikov raised for many years. Generally speaking, Armenians in Armenia tend to be Russia-friendly. One should not, however, try to derive political conclusions from this simply because the Russia-friendly attitude of Armenians is mostly rooted in a cultural affinity Armenians have with Russians. Armenia's political environment on the other hand cannot be considered a pro-Russian bastion in the Caucasus as many erroneously think. Great many of Armenia's politicians will even sell their mothers if the price is right and we know that Washington showers its mercenaries with money. Moreover, the Armenian diasporas of the western world and the Middle East (significant portion of the world's Armenian population) tend to be quite Russophobic.
Reshetnikov's message/warning was essentially this: due to dire sociopolitical conditions of the past twenty somewhat years a significant portion of Armenia's traditionally pro-Russia population, as well as a significant portion of Armenia's Soviet era intellegencia (or those with higher education) have settled in the Russian Federation, leaving behind a population that is politically ignorant and intellectually immature - thus susceptible to foreign manipulation.
It is not a secret that there exists a serious intellectual and ethical void in Armenia today. It is also not a secret that this void is being exploited by Washington and friends. Washington is exploiting this void in Armenia by manipulating the nation's political "opposition" as well as manipulating elements within the Armenian diaspora. It is interesting to note that Leonid Reshetnikov is not the only Russian that has publicly made critical comments about the political competency of Armenian politicians in recent years. Vladimir Putin also made similar statements several years ago when in an interview he more-or-less suggested that Moscow had a very hard time in convincing Armenian officials to stay aligned to Russia.
As a fully certified diasporan Armenian of Cilician ancestry born in the Middle East and raised in the United States), and as one who cannot even put two Russian words together in a coherent manner, I happen to fully agree with the sentiments expressed by Leonid Reshetnikov and Vladimir Putin. I'll go even further here by adding that many Armenians today are once again flirting political suicide. In a region of the world where the main competing geopolitical players are Turks, Western energy interests, Iranians, Islamists and Russians - when it comes to picking an ally our newly (re)created, landlocked and dependent state has only but one choice in the matter - Moscow! The Armenian state is able to sustain itself today primarily as a result of its close political, economic and military partnership with the Russian Federation and not due to the help of its big talking but grossly under-performing diaspora. This is essentially the source of my continued emphasis on all things Russian.
My political opinions and sentiments are based on nearly two decades of studying geopolitics, military affairs and political history. I also have some military experience which helps me better understand military matters. Moreover, and more importantly, my opinions are devoid of personal sentiments, cultural biases or self-serving agendas. I assess and analyze politics rationally, objectively, without emotions and without ethical considerations.
In my opinion, the most important factor in Armenia's existence today as a nation-state in the Caucasus is the nature and character of Yerevan's relationship with Moscow. Alarmingly, very few Armenians of the diaspora seems to understands this. How many of our compatriots look to Washington for guidance? How many of our compatriots obsess over genocide recognition? In my opinion, compared to the vital importance of Armenia's strategic alliance with the Russian Federation, matters pertaining to the Armenian Genocide and the survival of the Armenian diaspora are only secondary in importance!
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