“Nor-r-r-r-r-r-m!”

You’re right, that is a highly amusing obituary.

Gosh, that was rough. Spot on though, sad but true. I thought of him previously as ‘a bit dodgy’. No wonder my wife curses him.

Too bad Taibbi doesn’t write as much about the FSU. A lead media person expressed this very same view in private.

Does anyone remember his Russia Journal critiques of the talking heads and his spat with Michael McFaul?

The hatchet on that particular has been apparently burried. This isn’t to say that other problems don’t exist.

There should be many more such critiques. Without them, there’s a greater likelihood of ongoing fault lines.

Well, I think this obituary is neiter amusing nor hillarious. It is rather derogatory and tasteless.

What does this “Nor-r-r-r-r-rm!” refer to ? ????? ????????? ?

Derogatory and tasteless it may be, but sadly, the harsh truth is that much of it is all too accurate. I loved Yelstin but he was a bandit. Lebed’s rant against him however is surely coloured by the fact that Yeltsin used him to get re-elected then disposed of him when he was no longer of use. I know from people in Krasnoyarsk that Lebed was no saint either, though he was instrumental in the end-phase of the first Chechen war in 1996. I dont buy Taibbi’s line though that Yelstin was just an opportunist – that being the case, he was waiting a long time for his ‘opportunity’ from the late 80’s onward, and getting fired from the Communist Party might have ended much more badly for him than it did. I do believe still that Yeltsin was a reformer of sorts. And there’s a train of thought even among Russians that much of hs misbehaviour were the machinations of his cash hungry daughter, Tatyana Dyachenko.

Although I was saddened to hear of his death, the reality is he governed Russia very badly and that is reflected by how Russians feel right now – they feel nothing towards him. And they know him better than we do. He wasnt our leader.

I think -I may be wrong – ‘Norm’ refers to a character from the tv comedy ‘Cheers’. The character was great fun and a ferocious drinker.

Ger,

regardless whether Yeltsin was a crook or a saint.

One does not piss into a dead man’s grave !

Thanks for the “Norm” – hint. I don’t watch US Sitcoms or “comedies” at all.

Its true. The man is hardly even in the box yet.

But I’m sure there are plenty of people in Grozny, Argun, Gudermes, Vedeno and Urst Martan who would have no objection to any of the piece. They werent paid any eulogies by western leaders when they died and had their corpses eaten by dogs, followed by the rape of their daughters. In fact, they were conveniently forgotten by western leaders.The same goes for the destitute in Moscow, begging on their knees in Arbat Square. Dead or alive, the man is covered in blood. And not because he was evil – because he was incompetent. Being dead doesnt excuse his behaviour.

Pardon the rant, my small knowledge of the Chechen war has just come back to me, and suddenly this drunk old clown, who gave the Irish such a laugh at Shannon, isnt really funny anymore.

You guys are joking, right? I mean as historians, you know that to comment on an entire era and a presidency, you need facts — all the facts — and not just adolescent one-liners and posturing. Right?

I’m not a historian, I’m a chemist, and I’ve given enough roubles to starving babushkas and seen enough young shell shocked Russian squadies with no arms and legs to know a fuck up when I see one. Yeltsin was great entertainment for the West and immediately after his death I was saddened. But try asking for remorse for him from Russian mothers whose sons heads ended up propped on lamposts in Grozny or fatherless children all over Chechnya. You’ll get a fine run-down of the ‘Glorious Nineties’ era from them I’m sure.

Taibbi is an excellent polemicist, but suffers the flaws endemic to that profession, e.g., hyperbole and sloppy thinking. There are a lot of ajectives I can think of too describe Brezhnev, but “monster” is not one of them. Also, this piece uses a lot of “Yeltsin was alleged to have done x.” Big deal, I can allege anything about anybody. Doesn’t make it true.

Dear Anonymous, may I underline that I didn’t comment on Yeltsin’s presidency but rather on the style of writing applied by Taibbi.

Again, I think his obituary is neiter amusing nor hillarious. It is rather derogatory and tasteless.

I leave the assessment of Yeltsin’s political legacy to the scholars and historians. I simply say that the dead should be respected, not mocked.

I like Tiabbi’s style. Harsh, derogatory and tasteless it is, but at the same time refreshing considering all the fluff that has come out in the last few days. And most importantly it’s readable. He is certainly influenced by Hunter S. Thompson. I have to wonder how much Thompson’s obit of Nixon inspired the tone for Taibbi’s.

The Irishman is right to note Chechnya. The topic has been mentioned in obits about Yeltsin, but it has been completely overshadowed by hyperbole about him as a democrat. It’s nice that Yeltsin knew he fucked up on that one, but that doesn’t absolve him from the brutality he’s responsible for.

Yeltsin certainly was a reformer, but that term doesn’t necessarily means his reforms were all positive.

I was going to mention the Nixon obits. I guess there was almost the same range (from odes to hatchet jobs), although Hunter S. may have been more alone on the trashing end of the spectrum than Taibbi is with Yeltsin. I think that’s just because Nixon’s scandalous political career had been over for some time when he passed away, whereas Yeltsin’s was closer in memory. And while I guess one could say that Nixon “picked his successor,” Ford wasn’t still in the White House when Nixon died.

Anyway, on the Yeltsin coverage, I see that now the “analysis of the analysis” pieces are starting to come out. While I remember my own blind outrage about the goings-on in mid-to-late-’90s Russia, I’m more interested to see what people have to say about BNY in 20 to 50 years. I hope the hagiographies like Leon Aron’s book stand corrected, but I also hope there can be some perspective.

The thing I found to be really distasteful about Taibbi’s piece was the attempt to draw some kind of parallels to Yeltsin’s upbringing (“raised in shit,” etc.) – it was too pat and didn’t acknowledge the complexities of the man and the possibility that he might have had some goodness inside him. In this way, Taibbi’s simplification was like those who paint Yeltsin as a tool of the “West” from day one.

But since reading it yesterday, I wanted to thank you for posting it, since in time it may well become Yeltsin’s equivalent to the HST obit of Nixon and I might not have seen it so soon otherwise. Do you know if it’s going to be in the print Rolling Stone, or just on the website?

I didnt like the tone either, it was very rough and not necessary at all. I also dont swallow his idea that Yeltsin was a total bandit from birth practically, who just rode a wave. My arse he did. He was ostracised and vilified after he was thrown out of the Communist Party and was always causing grief for the authorities. Its too easy to write that off as opportunism. Maybe Taibbi is playing to an audience of some sort. Taibbi also fails to take into account that Yeltsin was seriously injured in plane crash in Barcelona in 1989, which hardly helped his health, and taking as verbatim word from Alexander Lebed is, well…enough said. But the thrust of his essay was sadly fairly to the point.

I am puzzle that anybody can possibly appreciate Taibbi’s style of writing. After all, Yeltsin was a human being and leaves a family, loved ones and friends behind.

I sincerely hope that no-one of the Yeltsin family has to read this “obituary”. And I also hope that no-one, presently so in appreciation of Taibbi’s style, will ever lose a loved one and then has to read such a stuff.

Well folks, enjoy it, I simply can’t. Regardless who or what Yeltsin was.

Why did you find absolutely necessary to link to this mud-and-shit piece by old Matt, Sean? (Drug abuse seems to work wonders for his skin, judging by that mugshot.) This is the same eXile school of copro-journalism whose fruit are tolerable, and sometimes amusing — even highly so — only under the eXile header. eXile! is a warning sign; in its absence, the reader begins to take seriously the whole “born in shit,” “raised in mud” and “generations of drunk peasants” business. (Note he’s writing not about Central Russia but the Urals — drunken peasants in the Urals, come on! — Taibbi can’t even tell the difference.) But then again, turn off your ethics radar, hold your nose, and you’ll enjoy Matt’s scribble just fine.

Three reasons.

1) I think that Taibbi is a talented writer like H. S. Thompson and Jim Goad.

2) I was curious about people’s reactions to a piece that flies in the face of most articles on Yeltsin.

3) I have an affinity for the tasteless and I wanted to share.

1) I think that Taibbi is a talented writer like H. S. Thompson and Jim Goad.

If the other two are as “talented” as Taibbi, then they aren’t worth reading. If Taibbi is “talented”, then I really don’t want to read any of the “untalented”. Even Averko’s style of writing is better than that.

2) I was curious about people’s reactions to a piece that flies in the face of most articles on Yeltsin.

It doesn’t only fly in the face “of most articles”, it flies in the face “of most people”. I hope your curiousity is satisfied.

3) I have an affinity for the tasteless and I wanted to share.

Sean, you have the permission to be an egoist (from time to time) and do not have to share everything.

I am disappointed. Whenever I encounter an American seeming, by the first impression, to be cultured and civilized he comes up with something like that and openly admits that he enjoys it. What a pity.

@Heribert:

Ok, so it’s not ok to assume that all Russians are “drunk peasants.” It is, however, ok to imply that all Americans are without culture and uncivilized? This is not the best of logic. I am disappointed with you. What a pity.

Look, I didn’t really find much positive to say about the Taibbi piece as is and was rather appalled by much of it. For precisely these reasons, I think it could easily prove good provocation for conversation — especially, for example, in an undergraduate discussion section at the university…. and I may just use it as such in the near future. Do you recall Gorky’s treatise on the Russian peasantry, by the way? It’s a similarly good provocation piece for students…. and, you can’t blame us “cultureless Americans” for it either.

Seriously, I believe Sean can post whatever he wants for whatever reasons he wants without your or anyone else’s permission… and I, mind you, don’t always agree with him. I do remember, however, that this is, of course, his blog.

In the meantime, continue to think of all of us Americans as stupid, obese, uncivilized, overconsuming peasants. I dare say, however, that you would justifiably be displeased if Sean or any other American around here referred to all Germans as Nazis. And in the meantime, you’re overlooking an obvious point: Sean’s posting of the obit in question has already sparked discussion.

I like Tiabbi’s style. Harsh, derogatory and tasteless it is, but at the same time refreshing considering all the fluff that has come out in the last few days. And most importantly it’s readable.

I’m with Sean here. Nobody is saying that the article is particularly good, or that it should be used as any sort of reference for a discussion on Yeltsin, or even that the author knows his subject: it is simply an article which gives certain people a laugh, even if you know it is tasteless and the facts therein suspect. Certainly it’s not to everyone’s taste, but as a bit of light entertainment not to be taken seriously, it works for me.

Mark Steyn is excellent at this kind of stuff: even his political enemies who vehemently disagree with his writings read him just because every other paragraph has a highly amusing turn of phrase.

I should point out to Herr Schindler that a large measure of being a talented writer is the ability to adopt a voice and provoke a reader reaction. In this sense, Taibbi is a talented writer – even if you find his style coarse.

Even Averko’s style of writing? Gee, I’ve thought of Mike Averko as many things – an agent provocateur, a fly in the ointment, a gadfly, or sand in the vaseline – but never would I have considered him particularly gifted with writing, per se.

In any case, there is no point in confusing substance with style. You may not care for the substance, but it is presented with a particular style.

A back pedal from what Wally Shedd had previously said. Oh well.

During that period, yours truly didn’t change.

His description would therefore appear more appropriate for himself.

Viewpoints are important factors to consider as well. There’re some great technical writers with zilch to say.

Greater names than Wally appreciate my work; writing style included. That’s my gauge.

On the subject of Taibbi, wasn’t he the one who poked fun at Michael McFaul’s frequent spelling errors?

Excerpted with no distortion from Wally Shedd’s blog:

http://accidentalrussophile.blogspot.com/2006/10/conversation-with-mike-averko-russia.html

Thursday, October 05, 2006
Conversation with Mike Averko: Russia vs. Georgia
I subscribe to Mike Averko’s Quick Takes email newsletter (if you are interested in Russia you should be doing the same). I find Mike routinely points out interesting and provocative (in a good way) articles and thoughts regarding topics and viewpoints in the Russian sphere. I truly think this is the role of a very good journalist or columnist – the discussion should make you think and the very best writers challenge your preconceived notions.

With that being said, Mike’s October 5-6 Quick Takes had the following point to make regarding the current Russian-Georgian conflict:

Outside View: The Russia-Georgia Divide
A number of individuals were aware of these realities awhile back. In some circles, such realities only become acknowledged when the media elites controlling the editing process decide that it’s okay to release what had been obvious.

Dispute With Russia Threatens Georgia
This NYT article has a noticeably different slant from the one linked just before it.
So, let’s see what each of these articles has to say. From the World Peace Herald article by Victor Litovkin, Georgia’s Illegal Actions, cited above:

The circus show, poorly orchestrated and performed by the Georgian security services, is over. The four arrested Russian officers were deported to Russia after five days in prison, and arrived in Moscow safe and sound.

Nevertheless, Russia’s economic, transport, bank and postal blockade of Georgia in response to what President Vladimir Putin called an “act of state terrorism”, has not been lifted. Nobody can guarantee that the Georgian authorities will stop their illegal actions against Russian citizens in Georgia.

The outrageous impudence and brazen provocations of the Georgian leadership towards Russia and its citizens have become typical of what the West still calls “Georgia’s most successful democratic government.” It is hard to judge of “the successes of the Georgian economy” if the very existence of the Tbilisi ruling elite depends on the aid of its Western sponsors.

As for the “democratic” character of President Mikhail Saakashvili and his ministers, the arrest of the Russian officers speaks for itself. The officers arrived in Georgia a couple of months ago to organize troop withdrawal. They were accused of spying, establishing an espionage network, preparing a coup d’etat, and staging acts of terror at power transmission lines in Kavkasioni. They were also charged with the explosion of a car in the town of Gori last year, as a result of which three people died and 18 were wounded. The officers must have been very busy!

No conclusive evidence was presented to buttress these accusations. There was only a poorly doctored tape with a recording of some car conversations, whereby one officer handed money to the locals — either for spying, or as payment for chacha (Georgian home-brew).
And from the NY Times article Dispute With Russia Threatens Georgia by Daria Vaisman (International Herald Tribune) cited by Mike:
Marina Tutberidze’s husband works in Moscow, illegally, at a construction site, sending home much of the money he earns. Now an escalating confrontation between Georgia and Russia has left that support in doubt, along with much of Georgia’s economy.

Russia’s decision to sever transportation links — including flights, trains and ferries between the countries — has left Georgians and their businesses scrambling to cope with the disappearance of their country’s biggest and closest market. Millions of dollars in Georgian goods are languishing at customs terminals, even as Moscow-bound travelers seek ways around the transportation disruptions.

In Russia, Georgians faced investigations that have already closed several businesses, including a second Georgian-owned casino on Wednesday. The Russian news media have been almost universally hostile to Georgia in their reports, comparing Georgia’s president, Mikheil Saakashvili, to Hitler or to Lavrenti P. Beria, the secret police chief in the Stalin era. President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia also made the Beria comparison this week.

Russian newspapers reported that the authorities were checking lists of Georgian migrants and would soon raid dozens of businesses. Ms. Tutberidze, speaking through an interpreter, said her husband feared arrest and deportation if he left his living quarters.

Russia has shown no sign that it intends to ease the pressure, despite the release Monday of four Russian military officers, whose arrests last week precipitated the latest deterioration of relations. In Moscow on Wednesday, Mr. Putin warned Georgia in unusually harsh terms. “I would not allow anyone to talk to Russia in the language of provocation and blackmail,” he told parliamentary leaders.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe appealed to each country to tone down the war of words and actions, but Russian lawmakers vowed to toughen, not ease, the economic sanctions against Georgia, their southern neighbor.

Additional steps could include a ban on all money transfers to Georgia, which could hit hardest the poorest Georgians, who rely on money from an estimated 500,000 Georgians who live and work in Russia. The World Bank has estimated that that money amounts to 10 percent of Georgia’s gross domestic product. In Georgia, officials sounded defiant and resigned. Mr. Saakashvili and others have said that the country would learn to do without Russian trade, if necessary. The chief of the central bank, Roman Gotsiridze, told Reuters that Georgia would seek to block Russia’s bid to join the World Trade Organization as long as the sanctions were in effect.

The current sanctions followed several punitive trade barriers, including a Russian ban on wine and mineral water, the major Georgian exports to Russia. “Businesses were ready for the worst-case scenario after the problems with wine and water,” said Giorgi Isakadze, the leader of the Georgian Business Association. Russia closed the principal land crossing into Georgia, Kazbegi, in July, forcing Georgian exporters to find other ways.

“The border has been closed for some time,” said Esben Emborg, the Georgia country director for Nestlé. Amy Denman, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Tbilisi, said that Russia’s new sanctions would raise shipping costs for international companies like Nestlé, Colgate, Motorola and Philip Morris. “The embargo has definitely irritated them and made their life more difficult,” she said. The sanctions could force companies to look outside Russia for markets and supplies, she said, adding, “The feeling is that Russia is shooting itself in the foot a little here.”

Even so, Georgians fear that Russia could exert more pressure, particularly on the gas supply. Russia’s gas monopoly, Gazprom, has promised to maintain supplies to Georgia, but many here recall the brief shut-off last winter after a mysterious explosion on a gas pipeline that Mr. Saakashvili blamed on the Russians.

But for now Russia’s tough stance has strengthened support for Mr. Saakashvili, who has vowed to steer Georgia free of Russia’s influence, at times with provocative words and actions of his own, like the arrests of the Russian officers last week.

Even opposition groups that have previously attacked Mr. Saakashvili have portrayed Russia’s actions as a punitive response to Georgia’s desire to be integrated into Europe and NATO. That, some say, could build Mr. Saakashvili’s political support.

“Having Russia as an enemy was used before and is used now as a unifying factor and a symbol of strength,” said Tinatin Khidasheli, leader of the rival Republican Party. “The higher voice you use against Russia, the braver you appear.”

Reading both articles, I found myself having more questions about the obviously critical or sarcastic tone of the first article – rather than the sympathetic tone of the second article. What do you expect, I’m an American and opinions are shaped by reporting. The first article is an alien (in this case, Russian) point of view for most Americans.

I wrote the following questions to Mike, hoping to hear his response (he is usually quite good in replying if you take the time to ask his opinion).
Read through the NY Times and Victor Litovkin on World Peace Herald that you cited. The tone is definitely different, but the Litovkin piece left me with these thoughts.

I wonder … when Russia arrested those Brits last year with scant evidence and accused them of spying … if that was also an “act of state terrorism” and an “illegal action” and “outrageous impudence and brazen provocations of the (Russian) leadership towards (the United Kingdom)”?

Would the UK have been justified to treat Russia in the wake of that fiasco – as Russia is now treating Georgia? Should the UK have kicked out all Russian citizens, withdrawn their diplomats, and cracked down on all Russian business enterprises in the UK? Even my Russian friends in Moscow didn’t believe all that business about that “rock” being some high-tech gadget.

And, as regards the accusations that the Georgian leadership is being propped up with Western monies (maybe they mean the 1.5% of Georgian GDP that comes from the oil pipeline) – one has to wonder if such an accusation would need to be made, if Russia had not done everything in its power to squeeze the Georgian economy? I mean, after Putin always making a show of having a glass of Borjomi on his table – now you can’t even buy it (legally) in Russia? If the West now did give some generous economic aid to Georgia (very unlikely given that it didn’t happen with Ukraine), doesn’t it become a self-fulfilling prophecy on the part of Russian officials?

I’ve really been struck with how Russian anger and response towards Georgia far exceeds the Georgian “provocation”. There is an emotional factor in play there that exceeds reason. Perhaps some of this is historical between Georgia and Russia.

My feeling is this all goes back to the BTC oil pipeline, and the Russian government being pissed off that they are being bypassed somewhat in the pipeline game. Russia has refused pipeline sharing agreements – maybe for good reasons, as they want to assert more control over their oil assests and the price in the marketplace. Western powers, being the purchaser of oil and gas, seek to have as many suppliers as possible – are directly opposed to this.

The BTC pipeline – particularly if it is expanded and tied into by Kazakhstan (Aktau-Baku Oil pipeline and Gas pipeline projects) represents some threat to Russia being able to assert greater price control in the oil and gas marketplace.
Mike appreciated the comments and felt I brought up some good points:
Nice reply, which I ‘d like to post with a detailed follow-up [...]

Actually, the Russian government isn’t pleased with Britain’s harboring of Boris Berezovsky and Akhmed Zakayev.
Whatever happened with that rock incident?
As you know, I previously likened Mikheil Saakashvili as Russia’s Hugo Chavez in the sense that both like to stick it to the power in their neighborhood.
There’s something to your fossil fuel connection. I sense that there would still be tensions were it not a factor.

——————————————————————————–
As a footnote, Global Voices Online has commentary from around the blogosphere regarding the current conflict between Russia and Georgia. It is also well worth reading.

Posted by W. Shedd at 11:07 AM

4 comments:
Sotarikollinen Vladimir Putin vastuuseen Holocaust said…
White trash-tahot ja KGB-taustat omaavat jälkeläisineen, vierasperäisyyttä ihannoivat rotupetturihyysärit eivät ymmärrä omaa parastaan http://www.kavkaz.fi ja http://seppo-lehto.blogspot.com kertovat kansakunnan taistelusta roskaajiaan vastaan

4:54 AM
Anonymous said…
You tell only one side of the story about Averko. Here’s the other side:

http://russophobe.blogspot.com/2006/05/mike-averko-legend-in-his-own-neo.html

12:11 PM
W. Shedd said…
I don’t tell any side of a story about Mike Averko. I believe his credentials are self-evident. His opinions are his own.

Personally, I find LR to be a pig-headed, hateful bigot who is a poor candidate to criticize anyone. People in glass houses should not cast stones …

1:18 PM
Michael Averko said…
anonymous is likely LR.

LR’s site is pathetic as shown by the obviously bogus posts which to the trained eye appear to be his/hers.

@ Nazi

In the meantime, continue to think of all of us Americans as stupid, obese, uncivilized, overconsuming peasants. I dare say, however, that you would justifiably be displeased if Sean or any other American around here referred to all Germans as Nazis. And in the meantime, you’re overlooking an obvious point: Sean’s posting of the obit in question has already sparked discussion.

Signing a comment with “Heil Heribert” proves that the Nazi ideology wasn’t and isn’t limited to Germany. It must be deeply dug into your mind as well.

Where do you read stupid, obese, overconsuming peasants in my comment.

Uncivilized ? Yes. Stile over substance ? Yes. The discussion was “provoked” by my comment, not by the initial post. It is quite obvious, from your comment, that it is “talented writing” and “hillarious and amusing” when an American writes tasteless, derogatory and offensive articles or comments. How can possibly dare anybody else, non-American, a German after all, write anything similiar ? There comes the “Nazi-Bat”, there is that “Heil *****” signature again.

Too fucking scared to sign with your own name ? How much more prove of my assessment uncivilized and uncultured, besides what you provided yourself, do you need ?

Lyndon is correct by writing on the other post that one day Americans will wish to have been nicer to the other kids on the block. Geez, you display such a behaviour for decades and then wonder why people possibly want to fly planes into buildings ? Wake up !

sean – how many people who read this do you think know who the hell tim goad is?

but nevertheless…

in this reporters opinion, history will not be kind to mr. yelstin.

JBB

As per Ariel Cohen and some others who on the following point I agree with: if Russia becomes a Western style democracy he’ll be seen positively.

Heribert

If I was really a mean spirited SOB, I would tap dance over your latest error.

The word was “Herr” and not “Heil”.

That’s why I’m the analyst unlike yourself. Couldn’t resist.

Mike,

http://seansrusskiiblog.blogspot.com/2007/04/nor-r-r-r-r-r-m.html#472251568815386605

The commenter used the name “Heil Heribert”, this is what I referred to. This much to you being an “analyst”

Yes and no, as you didn’t point out which comments you were specificaly referring to. I took it to mean Wally Shedd.

That person you were targetting does nevertheless raise a valid point about your censoring ways.

Regardless, I’ve yet to come close to committing the buttheaded act that was recently displayed at Siberian Light by someone who openly displayed a “pea sized intellect” as was described to me by one of my list subscribors.

Let me see what Lyndon has rehashed over at the Va Tech post.

Note how Averko converts every post into some way to feed his ego and talk about how great he is. Much as a tapeworm does with the biological material of its host, converting it into its own sustenance.

Mike, I think everybody here would appreciate it if you didn’t pollute comment threads with monstrous copy/pastes.

Why don’t you take five minutes and learn how to hyperlink things?

Note how Chris Doss continues to carry on like a running dog hack, by not noting how I was replying to comments pertaining to myself.

Like his pundit friend, he doesn’t practice fair play.

db, I was providing documentation for the purpose of clarifying the raised points. It’s easy to cut and paste my submitted links for further referencing.

Mike, the proper way of “providing documentation for the purpose of clarifying the raised points” is hyperlinking. Extensive copy/pasting only betrays your inability to learn even the simplest things.

It must be very difficult to type, given that you have no hands, or indeed limbs of any sort, and are physically located your host. I’m impressed how you manage to pull it off.

@ Heribert,

Geez, you are not on top of your game with the comments here. I see that I touched a nerve.

Signing a comment with “Heil Heribert” proves that the Nazi ideology wasn’t and isn’t limited to Germany. It must be deeply dug into your mind as well.

Nice try at deflection. Nowhere in my previous comment did I suggest that all Germans are Nazis. Please read my original words again: In the meantime, continue to think of all of us Americans as stupid, obese, uncivilized, overconsuming peasants. I dare say, however, that you would justifiably be displeased if Sean or any other American around here referred to all Germans as Nazis.

Where do you read stupid, obese, overconsuming peasants in my comment.

I didn’t. I read your comment about us Americans being without culture and uncivilized. Not a huge leap.

Uncivilized ? Yes. Stile over substance ? Yes.

Your words, not mine. Hence, my question: If it is ok to assume that all Americans are uncivilized, is it ok, then, for anyone to assume that all Germans are Nazis? Or are you just a victim of your own style-over-substance critique?

The discussion was “provoked” by my comment, not by the initial post.

You’re starting to sound like Averko. And no, you didn’t spark the discussion, Sean’s original post did. Funny how you earlier referred to Sean as the egoist.

It is quite obvious, from your comment, that it is “talented writing” and “hillarious and amusing” when an American writes tasteless, derogatory and offensive articles or comments.

Did you miss the part when I said I didn’t like the Taibbi piece?

How can possibly dare anybody else, non-American, a German after all, write anything similiar ? There comes the “Nazi-Bat”, there is that “Heil *****” signature again.

I’ll leave you to ponder your own words yourself. This is not your finest hour.

Too fucking scared to sign with your own name ? How much more prove of my assessment uncivilized and uncultured, besides what you provided yourself, do you need ?

Why do you need my name, Heribert? Aren’t I just another uncivilized American? A blurry face in amidst the masses?

Geez, you display such a behaviour for decades and then wonder why people possibly want to fly planes into buildings ? Wake up !

Who said that I wondered about this? If you’re going to enlighten those of us who are “less civilized” than yourself, you may want to try a little harder. For now, you’re simply preaching to the choir.

Hmmm … not sure how or why my name is being bandied about. Did Mike Averko take what I wrote as some sort of slight or insult?

I think I’ve at least twice used the word provocative as regards his writing. I wouldn’t attribute that to his writing style. If that is either contradictory to something I said earlier, or somehow seen as insulting, I apologize as insult was not my intent.

Whoever this idiot hiding behind Hello Heribert or Heil Heribert might be, I give a flying shit.

My worst hour is still better, any time, than your best. You stupid coward do not have the guts to post under your own name (or linking to your own blog). This indicates that you are nothing but a coward and an anonymous poster.

Well, feel free to hide behind your cowardly anonymous “American identity” lacking the guts to stand up to your words.

You are simply to fucking stupid (hey, I start to like the American way of debating ) to understand what I’ve written.

I didn’t write that Sean is an egoist, I wrote that he has “my permission” to be one and doesn’t have to feel the need of sharing all of this derogatory, ignorant and tasteless commentary like the stuff the other guy wrote.

@ Heribert:

Why do you keep ducking the question?

If it is ok to assume that all Americans are uncivilized, is it ok, then, for anyone to assume that all Germans are Nazis? Or are you just a victim of your own style-over-substance critique?

By the way – since when does Sean need your permission on anything?

You fucking coward are still unbable to post your real name and identity ? Now, that’s typically American.

I don’t care what you think. You aren’t capable of thinking anyway.

Sean may do whatever he thinks is appropriate on his blog. My comment simply indicated that I do neither care nor mind him doing so.

I only considered Sean, given the converstaion via blogs and e-mails, to be better (more intelligent and educated) than the usual stuff posted by the one and only super-power, gung-ho, best of all, Americans I read all over Blogoshpere and Internet.

Keep on dreaming !

@ Heribert

Well, dear Heribert, you sure are giving us uncivilized Americans a lesson in culture and civility aren’t you?

In case you’ve forgotten, you wrote: Whenever I encounter an American seeming, by the first impression, to be cultured and civilized he comes up with something like that and openly admits that he enjoys it.

Dear, dear, what a pity that you so easily inserted your foot in your mouth.

Funny that you should comment on other people’s intelligence and education. You seem only capable of thinking in stereotypes and expletives. Yes, what a pity indeed that this is your vision of “culture” and “civilization.”

In the meantime, you still have not answered the question:

If it is ok to assume that all Americans are uncivilized, is it ok, then, for anyone to assume that all Germans are Nazis? Or are you just a victim of your own style-over-substance critique?

I don’t expect that you will. Yet, ironically you feel yourself qualified to wax poetic on others’ cowardice.

As long as you coward do not have the guts to post your real name and identity I have no obligation to answer any of your (whatsoever) questions. Untill you won’t say who / what you are …. Fuck off you legend in your own mind.

PERIOD

I’ve seen so many of your American Heros. The average German, Polish, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Russian, …. , conscript was / is far superior to anything you Yanks fielded in the past 50 years.

The British deserve the title “Soldier”. But nothing that came from the Northern American Continent ( besides Canada). And those who came, well, many Green Card Holders among them. Is that the best you can send to the field today ?

Win Iraq and Afgahistan before you are entitled to lecture any European (from “A” like “Austria” to … whatever … ) before you display that American superiority complex.

I only have to switch on the tv-set to see what a brilliant fighting force you Americans are.

I see those mentally and physically wrecked / crippled lean mean American fighting machines whenever I pass the Landstuhl US-Military Hospital.

You do not even have the guts to fly your woonded and PSTD-wrecked troops to the USA directly. You hide them in Europe first.

You guys are merely a legend in your own minds, not in your own time.

The US military, the laughing stock of the 21 century. An ragged-headed bunch of sandniggers (as you Americans tend to call Iraqis and Afghanis) whips your asses all day long ?

Mission acomplished ? We have prevailed ?

Chris Doss wrote a rather incoherent last post, indicative of a mentally challenged individual, with possible physical limitations.

db I do in fact know how to hyperlink as is shown with my Quick Takes email list. I’ll gladly send you copies of it on reuest.

As for what I do here – well, it’s somewhat of an informal environment. In addition with your not posting your name and some prior comments of yours, you’re in no valid position to second guess my credentials.

F*** you Heribert, with your cheap shot remark. Now, you can go to your stupid blog and lie again about how I said (not) that I threatened to f*** you. You pathetic fraudster.

Glad you clarified that as such Wally. My writing isn’t a negative. It could be better, which is why I keep at it.

FYI, if you didn’t know, Chris Doss is a good friend of that pundit PL.

My wrting here is short hand asd opposed to my articles which are more formally written.

@Heribert:

Well, my first instict after reading your bitter gibberish was: this man is thoroughly insane.

On second thought, things became clearer. The real issue here is not “our” (all Americans’) so-called “superiority complex,” but rather your (Heribert Schindler’s) inferiority complex.

And then a question popped into my head: Why does Heribert publish his blog in English?

And then that question floated away as quickly as it appeared. You’ve proven yourself not worth the time nor the interest.

I pity the ignorant who mistake the grievous Bush administration as being representative of all Americans…. just like I pity the ignorant who would say that all Germans were/are Nazis… just like I pity anyone who would refer to Afghanis and Iraqis with the insult you’ve so graciously referenced in your previous comment.

By the way, if I told you that my name is Norm Peterson would it change anything?

I fare thee well in your quest to “civilize” the world.

Sigh…

Mike, I was merely expressing my admiration for the fact that you, a humble tapeworm, have managed to overcome the physical deficiencies of tapewormhood, risen to the challenge, and succeeded in surfing the Internet. This is a major accomplishment for a tapeworm-nay, for any invertebrate–and I for one applaud you. No longer shall the tapeworms be the butt of jokes among the octopuses, squids, and the rest of the hoidy-toidy mollusks at their snooty parties. No, from now on, invertebrates everywhere will be able to proudly point to Mike Averko, a simple tapeworm who made it big against all odds, the Yuri Gagarin of invertebrates, as proof positive that invertebrates can indeed reach the stars, ot at least the Internet.

At least I know now who Jim Goad is, and I’ve just read Hunter S. Thomson’s Nixon obit. Thanks for that, Sean. Regarding the brutality in Chechnya you mention, sure enough Yeltsin is responsible for the botched invasion of 1994, but I doubt that either he or even my unbeloved Putin is responsible for the brutal conduct of the war. Rather, brutality is inevitable in an anti-guerrilla operation, especially one by the Russian (read Soviet) Army, especially in its 1990s condition, especially in Chechnya.

Goad is an writer who published an influential underground magazine called Answer Me! in the 1990s. Jim is a sick fuck, but an amazing writer.

As to the brutality in Chechnya, if we can’t hold leaders accountable for brutality, torture, and mass death, then who can we? A few generals and scapegoat soldiers? I don’t buy it.

I’ll cop to not having known who Jim Goad is. I guess I can avoid feeling totally culturally illiterate as I’ve read and enjoyed lots of HST’s work, including a favorite dog-eared paperback copy of Fear & Loathing on the Campaign Trail ‘72 that I picked up used somewhere in Durham years ago. Was the movie about him (with Johnny Depp, IIRC) any good? I never saw it.

The ‘72 campaign was a different era. Fear and loathing, though, are unfortunately timeless and will always be with us, as shown by blogs like LR and some of the comments here. I wonder what HST would have to say about the blogosphere? He’d probably take a huge dose of something and say F it. And would perhaps be all the wiser for doing so.

Brutality is inevitable in counterinsurgency warfare. It is in the nature of the beast. Once the war is started, it is going to happen. (I was not surprised at all at Abu Graib — OF COURSE stuff like that is going to happen! How naive can people be?)

That does not mean counterinsurgency war should never be waged, since sometimes one must choose the lesser of two really bad evils. But it does mean you’d better think damn long and hard before you start one.

(Personally I think Chechen War I was unjustifiable. Chechen War II has a much stronger case.)

Yes, Goad is impressive and not nearly as obnoxious as Taibbi.

We can hold leaders accountable for those things that depend on them. The way the Soviet Army conducts a war has always depended on its generals and officers more than anyone else. Not even Stalin could stop the wave of pillage and rape when the Red Army entered Germany until it subsided of its own.

As to the brutality in Chechnya, if we can’t hold leaders accountable for brutality, torture, and mass death, then who can we? A few generals and scapegoat soldiers? I don’t buy it.

I’d thought this thread was tapped out as far as substance, but that is a pretty damn important question. Relatedly, who has the authority to hold anyone accountable at all? What I mean is, since in situations like Chechnya there’s often no domestic justice (excluding the most egregious cases, like Budanov, which has so far been unique, I believe), does the international community have the right to hold anyone criminally accountable? The efforts in that direction (to create an International Criminal Court to try individuals) haven’t exactly been popular in the US or in Russia.

There’s also the idea of state accountability, but that only applies if the acts affect another state. So, that wouldn’t be the case in Chechnya, but might be interesting to consider with respect to the actions of post-Soviet forces in Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh (in the latter conflict, they apparently acted sometimes as mercenaries and fought on both sides).

You can’t necessarily say those were “state actions,” because the chain of command was practically nonexistent – the troops stationed in those areas were left to fend for themselves and in some cases chose to sell their armaments and services to the highest bidder.

I’m guessing Sean is talking about moral accountability, which may be more important in a broader sense, but criminal accountability is a good way of stigmatizing an act and may have some deterrent effect. Or it may not, but at least that is the hope of the people who set up ICTR and ICTY, and the people who are lobbying for broader acceptance of the International Criminal Court. It’s hard to say how the ICC would have handled a situation like Chechnya, because there have been so few cases before the ICC to this point, but the reach of the tentacles of international jurisprudence is definitely getting longer, for better or for worse.

I have sort of a soft spot for Yeltsin. At the same time, a lot of bad things happened in many areas on his watch, and no one has really paid for those things (well, except for a few of the oligarchs, who haven’t exactly paid dearly).

Brutality is inevitable in counterinsurgency warfare.

True, but I’d like to think there are ways it can be minimized. Abu Ghraib did not have to happen; what bothered me most about the whole thing was the level of incompetence it revealed – first, they let it happen; then, they let people take pictures of it; then, they didn’t properly come clean about it and tried to hide behind legalistic “torture memos.”

Minimizing the brutality of the Russian army in 1994 would have been very difficult indeed (given the general state of collapse), but given the amount of resources the US throws at its armed forces, it is unfortunate that they can’t do a better job of controlling the yahoos who think it’s fun to mess around with prisoners and take pictures of it.

“True, but I’d like to think there are ways it can be minimized. Abu Ghraib did not have to happen; what bothered me most about the whole thing was the level of incompetence it revealed – first, they let it happen; then, they let people take pictures of it; then, they didn’t properly come clean about it and tried to hide behind legalistic “torture memos.”"

(Sorry, I don’t know how to do the italics thing.)

I think AG is actually pretty minor compared to other stuff that’s probably going on in Iraq. Civilians getting shot at checkpoints by trigger-happy soldiers, robbery by troops both Iraqi and American, etc. I’m sure there’s lots of torture going on in Iraq, lots of people turning in their neighbors in to the insurgents or to the Americans/Brits/miscellaneous minor forces out of fear or for reward. It’s counterinsurgency warfare — how could there not be?

Nevertheless, although I loathe Bush as much as the next guy, I don’t think he 1) wanted it to happen or 2) is sitting there somewhere cackling over his evil, planning out the whole thing. Now, I absolutely despise Yeltsin, but I don’t think you can hold him responsible except in the general sense of making the situation possible. And I don’t think he understood the situation of collapse in the army at the time at all.

That said, I really am somewhat in the dark about WHY Chechen War I took place at all. Was in really just a matter of business interests, as Taibbi alleges? Taibbi seems to just make a lot of stuff up.

Sorry, I don’t know how to do the italics thing.

You’re just another Averko’s sockpuppet, aren’t you?

Click here.

Thank you!

Me no understand complicated world of blogs. Complicated world of blogs makes Tarzan’s head hurt.

It is pretty amazing how a slug in the form of Chris Doss presents himself.

Chechen War One was justified. The way it was implemented is debateable.

Someone suggested that DB stands for Dumb Bell. An obrservation making perfect sense.

That was me making that suggestion. Who is DB a sock puppet of? DB uses that term to tag those supporting a certain view or person.

An appropriate slug label.

I dont know who Andrew Waller is – I have my suspicions – but ”Chechen War One was justified”? Such an easy few words to use. Hilarious.

The first Chechen war(by which I assume you mean 1994-1996, as there have been many wars before that) was most certainly not justified. What are your precise grounds for its justification? War, by which I mean the mobilisation of troops to solve what is a political issue, was just about the most innapropriate thing the Russians could have done.
Not only was it militarily a very foolhardy thing to do – poorly trained troops, winter, not enough equipment etc(several Russian senior commanders quit rather than execute the order), but invading Chechnya gave legitimacy to Dudayevs claims of an ‘Imperial’ Russia behaving just as it had done for hundreds of years previously.
Yeltsin went to the grave knowing he should have negotiated with Dudayev. Whether Russians liked it or not, Dudayev did have a quasi mandate from the Chechen people, although there’s no doubt his leadership threw the country into chaos. But here’s the rub; the Russian invasion DID NOT improve the situation on the ground in Chechnya. It increased lawlessness and the minute Russian troops arrived ordinary Chechens picked up guns in response. I cant pretend to know what was the right thing to do for the Russians in dealing with Chechnya at the time. But it is obvious sending in troops to, as the Russians put it so nicely, ”preserve Constitutional order” was clearly NOT the right thing to do. Proper neogotiations in good faith would have been a much better way to go. Dudayev himself was fully aware that Chechnya could not survive entirely independent of Russia and would have listened in Moscow if he’d been met by Yelstin. He wasnt.
As for Taibbi’s claims that it was all about money, there’s huge debate as to whether Pavel Grachev was the prime mover in sending troops in. There’s no doubt he was going to profit, but there were much more factors at play than Grachev. Yeltsin was very poorly advised at the time.

As for responsibilty, I dont swallow for a second that Yeltsin had less of that. The behaviour of troops on the ground is the responsibilty of senior officers who are in turn answerable to the President. The buck stops with both Yelstin and Putin. If they are unable to prevent their armed forces behaving like rabid dogs then they shouldnt be in charge of the country.

As for puppets, I’m thinking of having two Irish girl puppets of my own, Siobhan and Aoife here to back me up. You can guess where my hands are going to be)

Vas is los?)
Die Amerikans how can you be zo ztupid? We are ze Germans, ze best in die Vorld, you are all wrong.
I know zat you saved die Vorld in ze 1945, but now you are ze enemy.
Averko, you are die most ztupid analyst in ze whole blog-Vorld, und I zink you should be shot!!

Now I got back to my Deutscheblog to have ze attack again on ze Averko und all people who dont like die Heribert. And then I go to shisen-hausen for big pooh und ze farting. It is necessary after die Frankfurters, sorry.

Danke Schon

Heribert Von Schindler

Chris Doss:

Most stupid analyst? What about your friend and some (stress some) of the folks he has promoted?

Ger:

Andrew is right about the first Chechen war of the last decade. For three years, Moscow didn’t respond to the growing lawlessness emanating from Grozny. In retrospect, that aspect should have been dealt with sooner and more decisively. This would’ve have arguably saved more lives. Instead, the situation spirlaed out of control. I gather that the mini detente of the early 19 nineties played a role in tthe decision not to militarily respond sooner. Also, Moscow was hoping for the situation in Chechnya to self correct itself. This didn’t happen.

The Russian military was put in a tough situation with a prolonged low budget partly influencing its poor performance. This point in no way excuses any human rights abuses which happened on both sides.

Mike,

first of all, hate to say, Andrew Waller is you. Give it a rest.

Secondly – the situation in Chechnya was spiraling out of control, of that there’s no doubt, but sending in a large scale invasion force and blowing the shit out of towns and cities using MiG-29s and Sukhoi fighters is hardly the way to restore order. It easy for sitting in front of your pc to spout this pro-Moscow bullshit Mike. Throw in massacres, mass rape, even shooting cattle for fun – sound like Constitutional order to you? Chechnya needed proper financial help and support from Moscow -it got none. It didnt get any after the Russians were beaten out of Grozny in 1996 either.
There was no mini-detente. Yeltsin and Dudayev never met. Russia’s invasion was also precipitated by racism in Moscow against Chechens, who, conveniently, were getting blamed for everything criminal at the time in Moscow, inspite of the fact that statistically they were only a small part of the total gangster ‘demographic’ in Russia.
You need to read Tolstoy and De Waal (whose work your TTT plagiarised) and learn something about the region Mike. There’s a lot more to it than your pro-Russian flag waving.

Russia’s poor performance has nothing to do with lack of money. the money was there, it was just stolen as usual. Also, the Russians had total air superiority over the Chechens. They didnt win because the were incompetent and soundly beaten by a clever, resourceful and determined enemy – as always happens in such wars. Grachev, Babichev and Yeltsin couldnt organise a drinking session at the Guinness Brewery in Dublin, never mind wage a war.

What would you say if Moldovan troops moved in to restore ‘order’ in Transistria? After all, like Chechnya, it’s controlled by gun-running gangsters and is legally part of Moldova. What’s your view on that? Transnistria is legally part of Moldova, is it not?

You first point is a flat out lie. Now, give that lie a rest and try sticking with the issues.

How do you characterize American behavior in Vietnam in the 19 sixties and early seventies, Turkish manner in eastern Turkey from roughly 1975-2000 and yes some Israeli activity over the years? I’ll throw in the Serbs as well. Fighting a war against terror becomes problematical when the terrorists reside in civilian areas, where they receive support from some of the locals. It costs a lot of money to fight a “clean” war and even then such an engagement is often flawed from a human rights view.

Russia’s military has in fact been under-funded.

You lied about TTT plagiarizing de Waal’s work. Nothing of the sort happened. Sorry, but after awhile, I don’t take too kindly to fraud like statements.

Your characterization of Trans-Dniester is false and outdated. Trans-Dniester’s government in no way compares to the Dudayev and Maskhadov regimes. Kadyrov has his own negative past, as has been highlighted by others. All this shows the limits of political options in Chechnya. Despite all this, the situation in Chechnya has in fact stabilized.

Chechnya has been part of Russia for well over a century. Trans-Dniester was never part of an independent Molodova and has peacefully sought reunification with Russia.

Mike,

first of all, you are Alexandra and Andrew Waller. Saying it isnt so isnt going to make it disappear. And your excuse yesterday that you were distracted by a Slavic lady, causing you to sign a post as drrpp whatever, is one of the worst excuses I ever heard. And I’ve heard em all. I used to teach part-time at home and I remember a girl telling me one time she didnt know she had an exam for my class one day near the end of the year. That after I had went through the calculations necessary for that exam the week before- whilst she sat in front of me. She had even asked questions that day You’re fooling no-one Mike.

Mike I’m not talking about Vietnam or anywhere else at all. I’m talking about Chechnya 1994-1996. The behaviour of Russian soldiers was the responsibility of their senior officers and ultimately with Boris Yeltsin. Saying that lack of money or difficult conditions does caused it is rubbish. My limited understanding of the army is that it is all about discipline and that soldiers are supposed to do what they are told. Clearly, they werent told that murder, pillage, rape and wanton destruction were unnacceptable. It was actually encouraged it seems to me, and even validated by the Russian state. Just one officer -Bundanov -tried for rape and murder in Chechnya. Need I say more really?

Your line about Chechen independence is bullshit. Ireland was occupied by English forces for 800 years, India for two hundred, the list goes on. Does that mean they werent entitled to independence? Does Russia have some sort of special status to be allowed occupy conquered territory forever? Chechnya was a free territory for thousands of years before Alexander the First and Yermolov started the fun and games there. There’s no doubt that Chechens at the moment cant govern themselves, but their right to seek independence should they so wish is surely as valid as Transnistria’s or anywhere else. Mike, you seem to think that Russia being Russia entitles it different rules to everyone else. You’ve got to be joking. Again, read Tolstoy and learn about Ichkeria. Because it seems to me you learn your history from Kremlin press releases and that fraudulent pamphlet the TTT.

By the way, you make no response to the observation that Transnistria is controlled by gun-runners. Funny, that.

Fighting a war against terror becomes problematical when the terrorists reside in civilian areas, where they receive support from some of the locals.

Yes, it does, as the British found out in Northern Ireland. Bad though the behaviour of the British troops often was, I don’t recall us carrying out ariel bombardments of Belfast and wholesale destruction of villages.

The decision to send the army – especially that army and in that manner – into Chechnya was a terrible one, and despite the relative stability in Chechnya now, the province still resembles a bubbling pot which might boil over into the rest of Russia at any moment.

Thats exacly the point I’m making Tim. Russia’s invasion must be one of the most vicious, incompetent and ineffective in military history. Mike seems to think that because Russia is involved its, well, somehow less bad. I dont know why he’s an apologist for the Russians. I’m married to a Russian but it doesnt mean I wont have a go.

Ger:

Don’t send me anymore emails since you distort in the open what was actually said in private. Such slimeball manner speaks lowly of yourself. You in fact accepted my valid mishap on that particular post which I later acknowledged on line as myself. Others have apparently made that same input error which is understandable. The paranoid drivel about Andrew Waller and Alexandra being me is as bogus as your repeating the LIE of TTT plagiarizing Tom de Wall. Never happened.

Disciplining soldiers is all a part of training which brings into play budget. Every sane military expert on the subject agrees that Russia’s armed forces has been operating in an extremely under-funded manner. I’ve no doubt that some of what was reported was exaggerated propaganda. I recall Sergei Roy’s rebuttal to Pavel Felgenhauer’s rumor filled innuendo about a supposed atrocity in Nalchik. Roy was in the area at the time of Felgenhauer’s unsubstantiated claim. There was also Kirill Pankratov’s slam dunk of a faulty Newsweek piece by Anna Politkovskaya.

Chechnya TWICE in the last decade had independence in everything but name. Things got worse both times. That’s a fact which can’t be legitimately denied. This is why most Chechens no longer support independence.

You LIE again. I noted that the gun running claim on Trans-Dniester is outdated and not in sync with present day realities. You also LIE about the content material of TTT. You’re the propagandist and a lousy one at that.

Every sane military expert on the subject agrees that Russia’s armed forces has been operating in an extremely under-funded manner.

The exact same can be said for the Brits. When does the raping and pillaging kick in?

Not exactly. The Brit military per capita wise has not been as badly underfunded as Russia’s.

Also, in recent memory, the Brit military hasn’t come close to facing the kind of savagery as to what has been going on in Chechnya.

How great in fact, not opinion, are the broadly stated rape accounts? The Bosnian Civil war hoax on that matter is shown by how it’s rarely an issue at the NATO kangaroo court.

Regarding Trans-Dniester, see Chad Nagle’s “An American Compares Transnistria and Moldova” in The Tiraspol Times http://tiraspoltimes.com . A seasoned attorney with excellent credentials, Nagle has been to that area and his accounting IMO seems more credible than Lyndon Allin’s. It meshes well with my own sources, independent of TTT.

Also, in recent memory, the Brit military hasn’t come close to facing the kind of savagery as to what has been going on in Chechnya.

The fighting in Afghanistan and parts of Iraq is as savage as anything the Russians faced in Chechnya, with the obvious exception that the Brits are not also busy fighting members of their own side who are busy running drugs and weapons to the opposition. But the British soldiers have yet to engage in wholesale destruction of towns and villages, and there have been very few accusations of rape eminating from the batttlezones. This suggests that despite underfunding and a savage opposition, indiscriminate destruction and rape are indeed avoidable in the circumstances.

How great in fact, not opinion, are the broadly stated rape accounts?

As with all rape cases, it’s extremely hard to tell. This is made more difficult by the Russians refusing to allow independent verification of these claims by preventing foreign journalists and human rights groups access to the area.

The Bosnian Civil war hoax on that matter is shown by how it’s rarely an issue at the NATO kangaroo court.

Is this another example of your objective commentary?

The reason that rape cases have not been brought before the various courts dealing with the Balkan wars is because proving rape is a notoriously difficult thing to do, especially once a few years have passed. An absence of rape charges considered in a court is not not evidence that accusations of rape in the Balkan wars is a hoax.

First of all Mike, you publicly acknowledged that post by drrppp or whatever it was called to be yours, on the David Johnson interview post. Thats there on the post for all to see I am simply saying I dont believe that excuse, thats all. You cant rant and rave all you want; everyone can see that Alexandra and Andrew Waller are you. I’m not saying you dont have any supporters, but what I am saying is that those two are fake.

Back to Chechnya. Highlighting two dodgy stories from people who have made a career of criticising Putin, especially Politkovskaya, does not make your case. Are you trying to downplay the savagery that occured in both Chechen wars? Nalchik? Do you know what even happened in Nalchik? Trucks full of bodies of local men shot and beaten to death? Apart from that, what about the thousands of civilians killed in both wars? Are you saying that was only a small thing, is that it? Or it didnt happen maybe? Are you that blinded by your servitude to Putin that you ignore all that?

Budget has got nothing to do with discipline. Its very simple – tell soldiers its not ok to rape, sodomise, murder, shoot farm animals for fun, disembowel prisoners etc. And if they do, they’ll be court-martialled and jailed. Its very simple, nothing to it. Russian troops were never told this. Brutality towards the locals was in all likelihood encouraged if anything.

My point, as you are well aware, was not about Chechnya’s ability to run itself, it was about Chechnya’s fundamental right to someday seek independence should it so wish. It is occupied territory, like it or not. It has as much right to independence as you Transnistria.

The whole world and his dog is saying that De Waal’s piece was lifted by the TTT. What parted of ‘plagiarism’ dont you understand?

And another thing Mike, who do you think that raped Chechen women are going to complaint to? The Russian army? Is that who? Dont forget as well that for Chechen women rape is something to be ashamed of and are unlikely to be telling anyone at all in fact. I’m actually horrified at you for trying to play down what happened in both wars. Levelled cities? Mass torture and murder of Chechen men? Come on Mike, we all know you want a RT job, but can you at least be a little objective? I dont see the Brits at it in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Tim:

Are you kidding? The Brit military in Afghanistan is on a much more passive mission. The Russian military in Chechnya has had a more direct fighting role in part to protect citizens of Russia. I don’t accept your view that the Brits in Afghanistan have faced the same overall savagery.

You’re also wrong about the media in Chechnya. Recall the Western journalists who were beheaded by freedom loving Chechen or non-Chechen/pro-Chechen separatist freedom fighters. On my local Pacifica Foundation affiliate (WBAI), I recall listening to two journalists (Jordanian and French) spew a rather propagandistic line on Chechnya. One sided ,with no follow-up like the conversation here.

You rather flippantly brought up the rape issue without citing specifics. Yes, I know a few things about those bogus rape figures having to do with how the Izetbegovic regime would phone the State Dept. and say that 80,000 were raped. Then it got down to 40,000. Then less. No proof whatsoever and plenty of non-evidence showing my objective analysis to be spot on. Being objective means having a well founded opinion that takes into account what has been said by all sides. Something I’m forced to do well, given what the elitny tend to favor.

****

For the umteenth time Alexandra and Andrew Waller aren’t yours truly. Try proving otherwise. The whole world isn’t Lyndon Allin a few other agenda driven souls and misguided ones leaning in a particular direction. TRY proving de Waal having been plagiarized by TTT. It can’t be done, because it didn’t happen.

Once again, Trans-Dniester has had a civil society at peace and a history of linkage with Russia and not with an independent Moldova. There’s no legitimate equating of the situation in Chechnya to that of Trans-Dniester. The reasons having been previously given.

Events in Chechnya shows why Russia needs a well trained conventional force. Even some not always seemingly Russia friendly analysts have acknowledged this. In any event, Chechnya is slowly but surely moving forward as a part of Russia.

Mike,

I say it again, seeing as vous ne comprenez: Chechnya is an occupied country. Until the mid 18th century it was divided relatively peacefully among Chechen clans who had a highly democratic decision making process, using village councils and elders. Russia invaded, killed, murdered and deported variously on numerous occasions. Again, just because you feel you should be working for RT and feel the need to tow Moscow’s line at very turn, does not mean Chechnya is any less entitled to someday run its own affairs should it so wish. No-one is trying to equate Chechnya with Transnistria. My point is the Chechens are as entitled to run their own affairs as Transnistria is.

”Chechnya is slowly but surely moving forward”….hilarious. Of course it is, because if you look sideways at Kadyrov you’ll have your body parts removed without anaesthetic whilst your sister gets raped. Its easy pacify with utter, institutionalised brutality. What baffles me is that you’re an apologist for all this. And whats even more funny is that you arent getting paid

Propaganda busted:

At Steady State, there’s a hyperlink to a mischievous CBN article about Trans-Dniester. I picked up the above link from the Steady State site which Lyndon Allin had uncritically cited as if it’s a credible source, worthy of no challenge to it

I tryed posting its link in this message, but received a reply that the tag is broken and couldn’t be accepted. Whatever. Anyone can choose to check it out.

The article is short on facts.

Ariel Cohen is mentioned, but without him specifically saying where the stated arms smuggling is coming from in the FSU.

The only seemingly direct source name given is that of a pastor. The facts don’t match the story. In reality, the pastor is very pleased with progress and the work being done in the PMR. He is often allowed into prisons and other places to minister.

Like I said, I’ve my own Trans-Dniester sources other than TTT. Both of them check out and I’ve no reason to disbelieve them.

You would think that if he was oppressed and persecuted, he would not work so closely with the authorities and have near-daily access to the prisons, with permission to openly film everything inside and put it on
the web.

Ger, your applied Soviet psychiatry is very amateur.

Was Chechnya really so peaceful back then? Well, the reality is that it hasn’t been so at peace with itself in the present. Russia can’t be solely blamed and in some instances primarily faulted for that. The Dudayev and Maskhadov periods conclusively reveal this.

Under those two, Chechnya was more independent than the very autonomous Tatarstan. Yet, the situation in Chechnya worsened when they were at the helm, thereby explaining why Chechen separatism has lost its appeal.

Irishman (Ger?),

I think you’re simplifying history a bit. My understanding is that the Russian Empire interceded in Chechnya and Dagestan because the mountaineers were being used as proxies by the Ottoman Empire to harrass and enslave participants in the trade between the “core” empire and Georgia, which had just joined the Empire. Cossacks settled along the line, and their settlements were then attacked by the mountaineers, who killed, looted, and enslaved them. Hence the Caucasus Wars. It’s not like the Chechens were just sitting around bothering nobody.

My ex-girlfriend is from Nalchik BTW. She’s a kazachka. Her grandmother was a Don Cossack.

Also, Dudaev may (may) have had some legitimacy among Chechens, but lest we forget the republic at that time had a large non-Chechen population that was getting harrassed, murdered, raped and expelled. The territory west of the Terek, for instance, is Terek/Greben Cossack territory and has never been inhabited by Chechens. If you’re read Tolstoy, you know this.

Chris,

kazachka…I’m sure she was a fine, strong lithe woman, is that correct? Tolstoy was a huge fan and described them very eloquently.
He’d make you want to move to the banks of the Terek just for the women alone)

There’s no doubt the Chechens are naughty people and as the Brits say, ”have form”. But it doesnt excuse Russia’s two hundred year occupation and atrocious mistreatment of the locals. Like it or not Mike and Chris, they are an occupying force. I dont disagree that the Chechens havent been able to run their own affairs. But they werent helped by no money or help from Moscow, who actually willed disaster on Maskhadov’s attempt to make something out of the place. I know its further complicated by the fact that Chechens are lawless enough people anyway, but none of this excuses Russian behaviour or the fact that its not Russian territory. The land south and east of the Terek until Vedeno has always been settled primarily by Chechens and Moscow had no right to simply occupy the place. They could have asked the Chechens and everybody else politely for access to the road to Tiflis(and of course paid up) instead of marching in and ruining the place. Yermolov and Baryatinksii’s troops were as vicious as the modern equivalent, though admittedy minus the technology. The Cossacks themselves of course have plenty of ‘history’ in this ruthless behaviour too. Anyway, enough of my drivel, the point is historically Chechnya was not part of Russia and someday, when they can get their act together, they’re as entitled as any other occupied country to run their own affairs independent of Moscow, should they so wish.

Actually, she is fine strong and lithe. I go down to Rostov Oblast at least once a year, where the population is hugely Cossack, and I gotta say that those are some of the most physically beautiful women I have ever seen.

Anyway, I think Chechnya’s 19th-century history is largely irrelevant to current issues, except insofar as it feeds into current Chechen national myths and national identity. Dagestan and Ingushetia have pretty much the same history, but for them it’s long ago in the past. Chechen society seems to have a very strong need to live through its myths, for whatever reason.

I have nothing against the idea of Chechen independence per se (except that it would be extremely stupid from an economic point of view). However, the objective conditions in the late 1990s and today make it an impossibility. Independent Ichkeria, which already had a certain fascist quality to it, was hijacked by Wahabbis with an aggressive policy of destabilizing the surrounding region. Oh, and then there’s the kidnap industry.

I note that the Terek Cossacks have started to move back into Chechnya, which makes me happy.

Chris,

Tolstoy gave away his youthful desires describing the Cossack women – they sound mightily impressive -and bear in mind he was from Russia himself, land of Uber-Babes. He also noted the were great fun, prone to mischief and very funny.
Where do I sign up?)

Anyway, sorry about that but first things first! Seriously though, discounting Chechen’s love of independence as ‘mysticism’ is a bit stiff. One could do that for a lot of countries, including Ireland. A semi organised Ireland is at least 2,000 years old. Ireland was occupied for more than 800 years. Wanting to run your own affairs isnt a romantic notion at all. Just because the Chechens have held on to their notions of wanting to be free of Russia and that Dagestan hasnt, doesnt make it wrong. I do appreciate there’s a viability issue and that the Chechens do not lend themselves towards being a peaceful, functioning nation. And as you mention there’s kidnapping, a national pastime and worse blood feuds. But none of that takes from their fundamental right to someday govern themselves, if they can indeed do it, which is the issue really. Economic disaster? Arent you forgetting all those duty-free planes to Dubai?) What about the oil pipelines? Guns and ammo? Britain said the Irish would go under as well economically. But everywhere needs to find its own path.

The Irish don’t run around murdering non-Irish people and trying to take over Scotland (read: Azerbaijan), and as far as I know nobody in the Irish government is in the slave-taking business. The Irish are also a modern society based on modern norms of behavior and values, whereas the Chechens (not counting the intelligentsia, who fled Chechnya during Dudaev) have a premodern culture based on exclusionary kinship networks. That is, they’re a tribal society. I see no examples of successful tribal societies in the world today. They don’t work anymore. They tear themselves apart along tribal boundaries, and lead to extremist ideologies and constant warfare with the outside, because those are the only things that can unite the tribes.

I don’t care about Chechnya’s status in the abstract; I care about the good of the region. If Chechnya is capable of governing itself without endangering everybody around it in 20-30 years, and if they want it, I say “sure, go for it.” That is not the case today.

A number of Cossacks were annoyed with Lebed’s negotiating the end of the first Chechen war. The now late Lebed himself having been of Cossack origin.

Phillip Longworth wrote what appears to be a pretty good broad history of the Cossacks.

The best artistic depiction of them being Repin’s famous painting of the Zaporozhe Cossacks writing an insulting letter to the sultan. The letter itself is somewhat hilarious. Diplomacy (or lack thereof) at its best.

Note that the Zaporozhe didn’t for the most part buy into the so called “Orange Revolution”.

A kind of early day Hells Angels. Free spirited and with different sects which are by no means ethnic based. I’ve read valid instances of some Cossacks readily approving intermarriage with Jews. Not the standard PC version of the Cossacks being anti-Jewish brutes. That existed for sure. But like a lot of other instances, it’s not always the most accurate of depictions.

Trying to take over Dagestan, not Azerbaijan.

The Zaporozhians were a different group of people that had little in common with the Cossacks of the 19th century or today, except insofar as that there is a Zap. cultural foorprint in Kuban because they relocated there after the destruction of the Sich and became part of the Kuban Voisko.

Practically everybody in Russia was an anti-Semite in the 19th century, especially peasants, of which Cossacks were/are a subclass. I don’t think they were particularly more or less anti-Semitic than the general peasant population, but probably, given that they were well-armed, made a bigger impression upon the Jewish emigrees fleeing the pogroms, which is the source of their popular image in the West.

(I love this thread drift!)

Azerbaijan was the ultimate goal, according to Kadyrov Sr. Actually having all of the North Caucasus under Chechen rule was the ultimate goal. Ichkerianism is an imperialist ideology.

The different Cossack sects have nevertheless often had a fraternity like feel to them. I understand that Pugachev for example was offered refuge by the Cossacks outside his sect in Ukraine.

Jewry in pre-1917 Russia should be gauged by other parts of the world at the time. No pogroms in Russia proper despite a large Jewish population, regardless of the Pale of Settlement, which was a paper law. Simon Poliakov, an observant Jew won the bid to build the Trans-Siberian Rail Road. If I’m not mistaken, he was awarded a nobility title in the process. Jews were well represented in the schools of higher learning and as government prosecuting attorneys. The St. Petersburg based Abraham Zack was a leading financier of Russian government causes.

Here’s the letter the Zaporozhe Cossacks wrote to the sultan as depicted in Repin’s famous painting:

Zaporozhian Cossacks to the Turkish Sultan!

O sultan, Turkish devil and damned devil’s kith and kin, secretary to Lucifer himself. What the devil kind of knight are you, that can’t slay a hedgehog with his naked arse? The devil shits, and your army eats. You will not, you son of a bitch, make subjects of Christian sons; we’ve no fear of your army, by land and by sea we will battle with thee, fuck your mother.

You Babylonian scullion, Macedonian wheelwright, brewer of Jerusalem, goat-fucker of Alexandria, swineherd of Greater and Lesser Egypt, Armenian pig, Podolian thief, catamite of Tartary, hangman of Kamyanets, and fool of all the world and underworld, an idiot before God, grandson of the Serpent, and the crick in our dick. Pig’s snout, mare’s arse, slaughterhouse cur, unchristened brow, screw your own mother!

So the Zaporozhians declare, you lowlife. You won’t even be herding Christian pigs. Now we’ll conclude, for we don’t know the date and don’t own a calendar; the moon’s in the sky, the year with the Lord, the day’s the same over here as it is over there; for this kiss our arse!

I tryed posting its link in this message, but received a reply that the tag is broken and couldn’t be accepted.

It means you made an error or typo.

Don’t give up after one failure. Calm down, take another look at the tutorial, and try again.

Practice, man, practice.

They weren’t sects, they were geographical areas. Emilyan Pugachev was a Don Cossack who moved over to the Yaitsk (later Urals) Cossacks.

There certainly were pogroms in Russia itself — in Rostov-on-Don, Kazan, and even Siberia. The fact that far fewer pogroms took place in Russia than in Ukraine or Moldova had to do with the fact that there were virtually no Jews in Russia, whereas the population of Odessa was 30-40% Jewish.

Chris,

You missed my point slightly- I dont know why you started on about the Irish – I wasnt comparing peoples or traditions at all!
Nobody is saying the Chechens are like the Irish -God Forbid! – the point I made is that wanting to be independent is not something terribly unusual. The Russians have not been in Chechnya all that long. Through 800 odd years of occupation the Irish never lost sight of wanting to run their own affairs – its perfectly understandable to want to be independent. Just because Dagestan went the pro-Moscow route, doesnt mean Chechnya is wrong for not. Nobody is talking about Chechnya being suitable for independence tommorow either. But as you say someday if they could stop knocking the shit out of each other, why not?

Is that letter above genuine? Its hilarious!)

Irishman:

Agreed.

There is some dispute about whether that letter was actually written by the Zaporozhians, but yes it one of history’s greatest-ever Fuck Yous.

Actually the Zaps had a lot of nice poetry.

Don, Kuban, Terek etc. Did they not develop their own distinct characteristics, while having this kind of fraternity feel?

Can you list these pogroms in Russia proper in terms of degree of violence? There was an extended conversation about this at another venue (the old NYT Russia forum before it was merged with eastern Europe). A poster by the name of Marabod (sour) seemed quite informative. There was a centuries old Jewish presence in pre-1917 Russia proper and not much in terms of anti-Jewish violence; especially when compared to other parts of the empire.

A Jewish rabbi from Vilnius (my father’s mother’s home) I knew, had all of the anti-Russian characteristics typical among many Polish Catholics. Vilnius having been considered part of Poland and later the part occupied by Imperial Russia. He nevertheless said the Russians are/were less anti-Jewish than the Poles, Romanians and Ukrainians.

Kishniev (Chisinau) had great violence against Jews.

We all know the Russians have world-class bad language but that letter is laugh out loud funny. The irish would be proud of such a tant. But does the name ‘Zaporozhian’ have any relation to ‘zapor’? Or ‘zapoi’? It just sounds funny to my ears)
Actually its a pity blog comments arent taken up by more of this kind off stuff. These comments are very interesting indeed. Well done Chris and Mike.

I really have no idea what the word “Zaporozhian” comes from. Good question. My area of interest is Russian Cossackdom, not Ukrainian (I used to entertain ideas about wtiting a book about the Cossack Revival Movement before I realized how much work this would entail).

The Hosts have different histories and cultures, as well as differing degrees of autonomousness. The Don and Terek and Urals Cossacks (and the Zaps) were/are the descendants of fleeing serfs, criminals and religious minorities who fled to the boundaries of the Empire and crosspollinated interculturally with the locals. Note that the pointed Terek Cossack hat, which is associated only with them, is a copy of the Chechen one, for instance. Cossacks also figure as protagonists in Chechen heroic poetry, for instance there is one poem in which a Chechen and a Cossack unite the auls and stanitsas against the Russian Empire.

As to pogroms, according to S. Stepanov in Chernaya Sotnyam in 1905 from October 17 to November 1 there were pogroms in 358 settlements, of which 339 were in European Russia, 7 in Siberia, 2 in the Caucasus, 1 in Central Asia, 2 in Poland, and 5 in territories of indeterminate administrative. Of these, 158 occurred from Oct. 21-24, the largest ones being in Kiev, Odessa, Rostov-on-Don, Vogopol, Golta, Uman, Kherson, Saratov, Ekaterinoslav, Nezhin, Izmail, Akkerman, and Krivoi Rog.

Please note that although Jews were a main target of the pogromshchiki, they were far from the only one. Students, Orthodox seminarians, anyone considered a liberal was a target. The entire faculty and student body of the University of Kiev fled the city, only to meet with pogromshchiki at the train station.

Ger – Among some others, the Hungarians and Serbs have some interesting and very unique curses.

But does the name ‘Zaporozhian’ have any relation to ‘zapor’?

No, the word Zaporozhye is derived from “za porogami”, which means “beyond the rapids”.

Some leftist orchestrated pogroms as well which were broken up by the government. I can try getting hold of an Israeli academic who acknowledged this with followup.

One of the worst pogroms was in 1648, during the uprising against Polish rule in what’s now modern day Ukraine. The Jews who settled in that territory were seen by many of the locals as Polish loyalists and better off.

Would like to see more on the actual extent of anti-Jewish violence in pre-1917 Russia proper.

Assuming one can believe Solzhenitsyn in 200 Let Vmeste, the People’s Will at least welcomed the pogroms after the assassination of Alexander II, because they thought it would turn into a general uprising against the tsarist government and capitalism.

Stepanov’s book discusses the 1905 pogroms only, as it is a history of the Black Hundreds and they did exist as such previously.

Sadly my Russian is limited to bad language and the most mundane tasks) My childish little mind of course thought of zapoi. The histories are very interesting guys. Maybe there should be a special post on cossacks. Which again goes back to you having a blog Mike, and you too Chris, neither of which wouldnt be a bad thing.

That worst pogrom in 1648 was in fact carried out by Zaporozhians* (and some Tatars). Taras Bulba is based on it. Given its scale and that it was part of the larger Polish-Cossack War, and this it’s probably more accurate to refer to it as a Holocaust rather than a pogrom.

*Although Khmelnitsky himself was not a Cossack by birth.

The Brit military in Afghanistan is on a much more passive mission.

You don’t know much about the British role in Helmland Province, do you? The fighting is brutal.

No proof whatsoever and plenty of non-evidence showing my objective analysis to be spot on.

Your analysis was not an analysis, it was a sentence. And it was objective, it was subjective. And it was not spot on, it was nonsense, as I have shown.

You’re also wrong about the media in Chechnya. Recall the Western journalists who were beheaded by freedom loving Chechen or non-Chechen/pro-Chechen separatist freedom fighters.

I believe my claim was that Russia prevents foreign journalists and human rights groups from entering Chechnya. This is correct. I am not wrong.

FWIW, Stepanov lists the following casualty figures for the 1905 pogrom, broken down according to city.

Representative figures taken from “Chyornaya Sotnya”
(Black Hundreds), by S. Stepanov (derived from
hospital, funeral, and government records at the
time).

Loss of life in all the Russian Empire: 1622

Cities:

Kiev 68
Baku 51
Kishenev 53
Vilno 9
Ekaterinslav 68
Minsk 52
Orsh 28
Saratov 8
Simferopol 42
Tomsk 68
Tiflis 36
Tula 22
Odessa 618*

*figure taken from government report on the Odessa pogrom

Here is a breakdown according to nationality of victim (number killed/number seriously wounded:

Jews: 711/1207
Russians, Ukrainians and Belorussians: 428/1246
Armenians: 47/51
Georgians: 8/15
Azerbaijanis: 5/7
Poles: 4/6
Latvians: 2/1
Germans: 1/7
Greeks: 1/0
Karaite Jews: 1/0
Moldovans: 0/7
Lithuanians: 0/2
Caucasian peoples: 10/53
Undetermined nationalities: 404/932

Thanks.

I understand that there’s a Russian production in the works on Taras Bulba. Anything should be better thsan the 1962 American version.

****

What’s the Brit casualty figure in Afghanistan?

The media got limited in Chechnya for good reason. The mentioned beheadings that were overlooked in the most recent example of pious know it all type comments.

I explained the rape matter in detail. It shouldn’t be difficult to understand. It’s a problem with those subconsciously duped into believing what they want to believe.

***

I understand that there’s a Russian production in the works on Taras Bulba. Anything should be better thsan the 1962 American version.

Mike,

I’m shocked and disappointed. Are you actually trying to say that rape on a serious scale didnt occur in both Chechen wars? Inspite of the whole world knowing about this? The Chechens dreamt it up, yes? The former UN Commisioner for Human Rights, Irishwoman Mary Robinson, lambasted the Russians on the issue for nothing, right?
Just about every human rights group with any involvement with the CIS are making it all up, yes? Its all a big conspiracy to attack Russia? Is that it?
Mike, you may be a self-appointed spokesman for the Russian government. But the only person duped into believing anything is you.

If I recall correctly the new version of Taras Bulba is Ukrainian.

I wonder if they’ll just edit out all the pogrom stuff. If they took out the stuff about killing Jews and burning Polish women alive in their churches, there would be maybe 10% of the book left. That may be the most bloodthirsty book since the Iliad. Hard to believe the same guy wrote The Overcoat.

You sure it isn’t a kind of joint Russo-Ukrainian production? the 1962 Tony Curtis-Yul Bryner version kept the Jews out completely.

****

I NEVER said that Ger.

At times you’ve comprehension problems, along with flat out foolhardy comments like your earlier reference of RTTV and myself.

My views on Chechnya existed before its creation.

Moreover, were you familiar with my written material, you’d know that I’m not a self appointed or otherwise mouthpiece for the Russian government.

The rape issue with the Bosnian Civil War was proven to be a great hoax. Offhand, I suspect that rape among Russian military personnel in Chechnya isn’t massive. This of course doesn’t excuse any one instance.

Never mind the gross savagery among some of the Chechen separatists.

Russo-America relations is the topic at 9:30 AM, this morning American east coast time on CSPAN.

It will probably be repeated.

Hopefully, it will be decent.

The rape issue with the Bosnian Civil War was proven to be a great hoax.

So let’s get this straight. Are you saying that no rape occurred during the war in Bosnia, or simply that the initial claims exaggerated the scale of rape?

The media got limited in Chechnya for good reason.

Oh, so the media is limited in Chechnya! That’s odd, because earlier when I said:

As with all rape cases, it’s extremely hard to tell. This is made more difficult by the Russians refusing to allow independent verification of these claims by preventing foreign journalists and human rights groups access to the area.

You replied with:

You’re also wrong about the media in Chechnya.

Which given you latest admission that the media is restricted in Chechnya rather suggests that I was right all along.

And of course, I am sure the reason for the Russian authorities restricting access for foreign journalists and human rights groups is solely for their own protection against Chechen head-hackers and nothing whatsoever to do with trying to prevent independent verification of the worrying number of murder, rape, massacre, and human rights abuse claims against Russian forces eminating from the region.

Mike,

I dont have any comprehension problems at all. I can read your pro-Moscow and pro-Serb spin and propaganda perfectly clearly thanks.

Apologies if me and Tim dont have the names, addresses, telephone numbers and full written statements of the thousands of rape victims in both Bosnia and Chechnya. Our mistake. We’ll be sure to get them next time. In fairness, who’d believe the UN anyway? They’re always telling lies. The Serb and Russian armies? Innocent victims of deceit from the likes of me.

Can I ask you something, do you feel it necessary to gloss over horrendous wrong doing because you write for political pamphlets like Serbianna? If you were writing for Khmer Rouge Monthly or the Pinochet Digest, would you be saying they were innocent too, and that we were all ‘duped’ into believing they misbehaved as well?

On another note, has anyone noticed Heriberts blog has turned over to German only? Its on the link below.

Wow, he really seems to have taken that exchange hard.

I read German, you problems for me.

I havent a word of German. Except all the important ones -Klinnsmann, Brehme, Matthaus, Shumacher, Klose and various other football names. Its a he’s done that really.

Sorry, typo -meant to say its a pity he’s changed to German.

Nice talk on Chechnya, Jews and Cossacks.

Hi Ger! Who are you a puppet of with your propagandistic statements?

Nice shot Sa and well deserved.

Along with Tim (and some others), Ger has some convoluted notions which are in part explained by how those two (and some others) can’t grasp what has been communicated to them in perfectly understandable English. Note how I addressed all of the points they rehashed on the matter of rape in Bosnia and Chechnya.

Those two, who readily accept the misinformation about The Tiraspol Times. Does High Times have anti-pot smoking commentary? Does Front Page Magazine post pro-Gay material? Meantime, TTT has in fact carried diverse commentary, including the offer to post Lyndon Alllin’s anti-Trans-Dniester views. Lyndon refused as is his right. Note how Lyndon posted comments at La Russophobe, while refusing TTTs’ offer.

As per Lyndon and Trans-Dniester, the former has spoken of the latter as “repressive” and lacking language rights. Oh yeah? Let’s compare the language rights situation in Estonia and Latvia to that of Trans-Dniester. Never mind the recent ethnic violence evident in Estonia, care of a foolhardy Estonian government action. I know: in Estonia there’s a freedom to have ethnic violence unlike in Trans-Dniester.

As the warpedness continues.

Oh Dear, here we go again, the sock puppets come out. Mike, does it ever dawn on you that the reason you have to use puppets like Alexandra is that no-one agrees with you? You’re a lone voice of reason in a sea of fools like me. I’d love to be you.

Sadly for me, I’m stuck with the opinion that rape is wrong, even from soldiers whom people like yourself feel the need to defend. Again, its really funny, you could be working for the Kremlin, except you arent. They wouldnt hire you, as you keep telling us and claim its a conspiracy. Your words, not mine.

The difference between those magazines is that they are devoted to certain issues and presenting information regarding such and opinion on same. You, on the other hand, claim to be an analyst. An analyst is one who examines information and data and then presents an opinion. You dont do this. You analyse information and data – and then decide Russia is right anyway. And Serbia, the Brutes of Europe, are right anyway. And any other place that gives you a publishing platform. You arent an analyst Mike. You’re a propagandist. And you suffer from that most juvenile of ailments -an inability to concede that you are wrong. Most of us learnt this at 15. It clearly hasnt dawned on you yet. If you want to deny that countless incidences of rape occured in both Bosnia and Chechnya, inspite of what both myself and Tim said, and what the rest of the world accept as fact, simply because you are some sort of cheerleader for Moscow and Belgrade, then it says much more about you than anything I can say.

Ger! You’re right! You’re so great! Mike is so wrong! Hooray!

By the way Ger, would you please take your hand off my admittedly beautiful arse, please?!

Mike, you’re so wrong, and like, stupid?! Leave Ger alone! He’s brilliant!

Am I done yet? Is that like, it? And would you please take your hand off my thigh Ger?!

Much akin to Heribert Schindler’s inability to properly comprehend what has been otherwise communicated in a very clear manner. Hapless trolls be they.

Heribert’s apparent release is to leave the Eng. language section. No loss.

As the liars lie one.

Meantime, there’re bigger fish to fry.

Mike,

you made no decent or coherent argument against either me or Tim’s points on rape in Bosnia and Chechnya. You just parroted the Kremlim line – it didnt happen. You’re one of the few people I daresay who reject what happened in these countries. What precisely do you have to gain by doing this? You also didnt address my points regarding you being a propogandist, not an analyst.

Ger’s posts are the greatest things ever!

(I’m not a sock puppet, no, I’m really not.)

If only the above were true!) But only Irish women are allowed sock puppet for me!!))

Note how I addressed all of the points they rehashed on the matter of rape in Bosnia and Chechnya.

No, you haven’t. You said:

The rape issue with the Bosnian Civil War was proven to be a great hoax.

And in response, I asked you an explicit question:

Are you saying that no rape occurred during the war in Bosnia, or simply that the initial claims exaggerated the scale of rape?

Please can you answer the question directly; there are only two options here:

1) Either you say that no rape occurred during the war in Bosnia; or

2) You say the initial claims exaggerated the scale of the rape.

So which is it? 1 or 2?

Mike’s posts are so good, he gets me all hot and bothered. I want to rub my big, beautiful breasts all over Mike’s face, and then he can pleasure me until the sun comes up. Please Mike give me your phone number, I’ll be right over!

XOXO Pamela, your biggest fan

smooches!

Sean, before you kick my arse for clowning around, Siobhan and Aoife are my only sock puppets. Pamela and Court Appointed I’m not responsible for!

Stop picking on Mike, Ger. You’re just jealous ’cause he’s all the man you’ll never be and more. Only Russocentric analysts get the girls. Remember that when Mike is roaring with pleasure while I dangle my big, beautiful breasts in his face, and you’re at home alone and sad. That will be your lesson.

Pamela, what can I say only you’re right. Its time to let go. I wanted you to be my woman, and had to settle for those two Irish babes instead. You’ve left me with nothing, and left me for Mike. I suppose his analysis is more manly than I could ever manage(

I do longer have anything to do with Mike.

I don’t agree with him any more. He is dumb much like Heribert Schindler. Don’t read anything he writes.

I am tired of being a sock puppet. I am a human being. You can’t treat me like this Mike. Why don’t you ever call?

It’s OK Ger. You can have me instead of Pamela. My breasts are big and bouncy too. I am tired of Mike and want you to be my man instead. Won’t he be jealous?

I’m sorry Alexandra. You’ve spent too long with him, supporting despotic regimes, denying ethnic cleansing and complaining about JRL.

You’re too Russocentric for me! I like my girls objective!
(If you actually saw me, you’d realise how objective you’d have to be, as well as blind)!

I am also tired of being Mike’s sock puppet, and I quit.

I also offer you many nights of pleasure, at your convenience, with or without Alexandra’s presence.

My grandmother was Irish.

Andrew – no. You’ve supported him for too long. I’ve my own sock puppets!

Mike, does ”I’ve bigger fish to fry” mean ”I’m leaving because my arse was kicked”?

You BASTARD!

Oh me, oh my.

Pam:

You didn’t need all that surgery. You were hot without it.

Good to know that eXile, or maybe eXile wannabes check out SRB.

Sean:

Do I not bring them in or what? I’ll have more serious stuff.

How about that Stephen Cohen “NYU author” description regarding the upcoming WRF note?

Great PR (not)!

Ger:

I should’ve known better.

Mike,

I simply asked about how you can deny generally accepted events in Bosnia and Chechnya. I could be wrong about Alexandra and Andrew Waller, and if I am wrong, accept my public apology for that. I’ll never know if they are real people or not – only you do. It just seems to me that they seem to arrive whenver you’re under pressure. By the way I didnt pretend to be them in the recent exchanges, it wasnt me at all.
Again, if I’m wrong sorry. I dont want to be someone you consider ‘against’ you But my perfectly valid and reasonable questions on rape in Chechnya persist, and you have no answer.

I’ll never know if they are real people or not – only you do.

You could ask each to send you a blank email. If they don’t, odds are they are all one and the same person.

Tim,

I think one can put together an new email address on Yahoo in five minutes. I’d be taking emails with a grain of salt. Its just very funny how their phraseology is the same as Mikes. I’m genuinely not trying to upset the man; the question I want answered is the Chechnya/Bosnia one. There is surely nothing worse than denying atrocity because of some stupid political or national allegance.
For what purpose?

Thanks Mike. Its always nice to hear the words of a fan. You are 10 times the man that Tommy Lee is. You never forget that even when people are throwing mud at you on the internet.

Forget about Andrew Waller and Alexandra. They are 2 cheap sluts just coattailing your fame. Irish-poo-head can have them. You will always be MY little special Mikey.

Splains it all Pam.

CD cancelled my QT after a recent one that was a bit hard on two eXile pieces. This is the payback I get. I owe Paul Rimple an apology. Will the real Gary Brecher or Brechers please stand up.

Like PL – CD wants to have his cake and eat it. Some informal semi-scholarly exchanges, combined with an official wonking for the existing inadequacies.

I’m not answering your emails Ger. You’re a troublemaker of the worst sort. There’s constructive troublemaking and then there’s the troll variant. Your idea of entertainment is twisted.

It makes me yearn for Johnnie B.

Mike, you seem to have avoided answering my question. Here it is again:

Are you saying that no rape occurred during the war in Bosnia, or simply that the initial claims exaggerated the scale of rape?

This question relates to your statement that:

The rape issue with the Bosnian Civil War was proven to be a great hoax.

So, which is it?

Mike,

i said to you privately what i’ve said here too. And I apologised by email for offending you with the Aoife and Siobhan jokes. Its called courtesy.

Alexandra and Andrew Waller I believe to be you. I didnt want to fall out with you over it, but seeing as you wish it that way, so be it. Anyone can see that they are you. The writing style, the tone and the total support of what you say, which is, to be polite, often ‘controversial’. The cases are actually worse on comments on other posts you’ve written on this blog. There isnt a doubt its you and its very sad and a great pity you do this, for yourself anyway. I couldnt care less anymore. Let you be hoist on your own pethard.

Since Mike seems to feel the need to keep referring to me even though I’m not really involved in this discussion, I guess I’ll respond to a few of his snipes:

Regarding Trans-Dniester, see Chad Nagle’s “An American Compares Transnistria and Moldova” in The Tiraspol Times http://tiraspoltimes.com . A seasoned attorney with excellent credentials, Nagle has been to that area and his accounting IMO seems more credible than Lyndon Allin’s. It meshes well with my own sources, independent of TTT.

Nagle’s credentials appear to consist in part of writing for antiwar.com and working extensively for or with the British Helsinki Human Rights Group, an organization which has been disavowed by the actual Helsinki Committee for Human Rights. Mike I know you’re a fan of BHHRG, but its credibility is suspect. Aside from engaging in deceptive naming on a par with “Reebo” and “Adidos” sneakers, BHHRG likes to monitor human rights in the OSCE nations and also uses the name “OSCEwatch.” Cute. By the way, Russia and Serbia are both members of the OSCE, so the organization is not just all of those devious, democracy-promoting “Western” nations. A bit more from Wikipedia about BHHRG:

A common theme in many of its publications has been a critical view of Western “meddling in the internal affairs” of central and east European countries, notably the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Belarus.

It does appear that Nagle has spent a good bit of time in the region, and he appears to know Russian, all of which definitely lends him credibility; it’s also clear he is not entirely neutral and may have an axe or two to grind. Having read a couple of his articles, they seem to be more critical of Moldova (and the OSCE’s election monitoring there) than supportive of Transnistria. Oh, and there’s the one suggesting Yushchenko may have poisoned himself, which is an interesting thought. Anyway, I’ve never suggested there aren’t other points of view out there about the situation in Moldova/Transnistria, and I’m pleased to read one that appears to be backed up by first-hand, more-or-less journalistic inquiry.

The whole world isn’t Lyndon Allin a few other agenda driven souls and misguided ones leaning in a particular direction.

I’m personally quite happy that the whole world is not me; I’m also happy that many people exist with whom it’s possible to disagree in a civil and edifying fashion, and I’m saddened that you, Mike, are not one of those people.

At the risk of making a “pious know it all type comment,” Mike, my only agenda with respect to Transnistria/Transdniestria/Trans-Dniester and the TTT is to get all sides of the story and as much of the truth as possible out there, and your repeated dissembling about me (at this blog and elsewhere) and insults by you and your comment friends just show how much that upsets you. Just settle down and stick to the facts.

TRY proving de Waal having been plagiarized by TTT. It can’t be done, because it didn’t happen.

I have never said that TTT “plagiarized” de Waal. Let’s be clear about the terms. Plagiarism would mean they had taken his words without attribution. What they did was something that might actually be considered worse – “adapt” something he wrote about a completely different region by selectively quoting and mashing his ideas around, and then put his name on it. When he objected, they didn’t seem to care to change anything. Does pointing that out mean I have an “agenda”?

Propaganda busted:

I tryed posting its link in this message, but received a reply that the tag is broken and couldn’t be accepted. Whatever. Anyone can choose to check it out.

Here is the link to the Steady State post. Although the post does not exactly give a ringing endorsement of the CBN report, I had exactly the same thought as Mike when I saw it – citing Pat Robertson’s CBN is definitely not the best way to seem credible.

There are obviously different points of view out there on the arms smuggling question, and I agree that the CBN piece looks like fairly weak reporting. It rather mistakenly calls Moldova a “U.S. ally,” and its only two sources are Cohen – who is quoted making only vague statements about arms from the “former Soviet Union” – and Oleg Serebreanu (Serebrian), who is not the parliament “spokesman” as stated in the CBN piece but is actually the leader of the Democratic Moldova party. I’ve posted a link to a French documentary film about the alleged arms smuggling here – which also has a point of view but is much more in-depth.

I’ve never suggested that Steady State is bulletproof or “objective” (Mike, you seem to think I’m puffing it the same way you’re hyping the Tiraspol Times, but that’s just not the case) – it’s simply a blog with a clear, unconcealed NGO affiliation and does not pretend otherwise, unlike Mike’s favorite interest-group website-cum-newspaper (Mike, I notice you had no trouble pasting their URL into a comment).

Meantime, TTT has in fact carried diverse commentary, including the offer to post Lyndon Alllin’s anti-Trans-Dniester views. Lyndon refused as is his right. Note how Lyndon posted comments at La Russophobe, while refusing TTTs’ offer.

Ah yes, finally, Averko rolls out the big lie – to which I’ve already responded. I guess it was a “propaganda bonanza” (to use your phrase, or was it TTT’s?) for you when LR cut-and-pasted a translation from my blog. Mike, if you want to get out your LR brush and tar everyone in a similar situation, you’d better have a big brush, because you’ll be tarring the NYT, the Moscow Times, the Int’l Herald-Tribune, the Guardian, RIA Novosti, etc., etc., all of which have had material cut-and-pasted by LR. As for “comments,” I’ve commented at LR to correct mistakes (e.g., here), but I’ve been an opponent of that blog from the beginning. The link I already posted proving this was in Russian, so maybe you couldn’t figure it out – here’s one in English.

Please give the “TTT offered you space” line a rest also. I’ve already explained why I have no desire to be associated with TTT in the form of having a bylined “op-ed” piece in that “newspaper,” and its website has no open comments section for correcting mistakes. TTT is a lie factory, Mike, and you discredit yourself by association with it. I don’t deny that it might produce some nuggets of truth, but those are just the loss-leaders, if you will, to get the suckers in the door.

Just one question, Mike – would you stop criticizing LR if s/he offered to post your views? I certainly hope not, and I have no intention of stopping my criticism of TTT, even though they’ve made me such an “offer” (always in the tone of “we’ll post your anti-independence views,” giving me no doubt about how editorial discretion in writing the headline and subheads would be used). I also have no desire to be associated with LR as a contributor, Mike, and it’s quite despicable of you and your comment-friends to tell and repeat this lie about someone who cares deeply about Russia, as I do.

Mike, you need to stop with the LR-baiting. I’ve already asked you politely, and I believe Sean has asked you as well. It appears that lies are your strongest arguments, which I guess is why you use them so frequently. The only mistake I’ve made is taking you seriously and trying to debate you on substantive points.

Lyndon -it was me who first used the word plagiarise incorrectly, when I put it to Mike about his dodgy TTT. Mike is just repeating back what i said to him, for some reason at you and not me. Sorry you got sucked into this.

Lyndon

You’re the liar between the two of us. You also carry on like a demagogue of the worst sort. Take your characterization of my “baiting” LR, whereas you “criticize” TTT.

If I correctly recall, Sean mistook my comments about you having posted at LR. I don’t have time to get sucked into your sometimes distorted hyperlinks (which at times refer to only select aspects of a given topic) and Sean has critiqued LR as well. He (again if I correctly recall) thought I meant that you made an actual post at LR, as opposed to what I said. That being your having posted comments (at least one) there. Also note your going after the AJRSS site but not LR. Once again, I don’t see the AJRSS site making the kind of collective caricatures of a group the way LR does. Having said that, I dont agree with everything at that site. Guess what? I don’t agree with everything posted at TTT. At that site, I recall someone posting that Kosovo was more democratic than Trans-Dniester. I’m as eclectic as they come.

There’s nothing wrong with valid criticism as opposed to the blatant misinformation and hypocrisy which you unfortunately engage in.

You obviously expect to receive carte blanche for such manner.

Mike,

I see you are still ducking my question. From this we must conclude that you are unable to even clarify your own statements, never mind provide evidence showing that they are true.

Little wonder that you fail to get published more widely.

He answered you Tim. You are either dim witted or willingly play the role of a fool. Do you for a moment believe that Mike is saying that no rapes occurred in Bosnia? Serbs were raped as well.

The last post under Alexandra was not mine.

Ger behaves like an internet pervert. Maybe he is a double agent for La Russophobe.

Lyndon is the liar who has not fessed up to his deceit.

Dear Pseudo-Alexandra,

You just pissed me off. Don’t pretend to be me, you bitch. I’ll take you on any place, any time. Averko has used me and abused me by making me into his sock puppet, and I will have nothing more to do with him.

I don’t know who you are, but believe me missy, you’re messing with fire. First, when I see you I will claw your sorry eyes out. Second, when Mike gets tired of you he will throw you away like a used piece of toilet paper. Don’t fall for it sister. Mike wants only one thing from you and when he’s had enough he’ll move on like the heartless bastard he is.

Damn you Averko, I loved you so much! I sold my soul for you! Look how you’ve treated me! Do you not feel? Do you not cry?

You’re the liar between the two of us. You also carry on like a demagogue of the worst sort. Take your characterization of my “baiting” LR, whereas you “criticize” TTT.

Mike, let’s be clear on terms here. The “LR-baiting” term was first used by Sean, not me, some time ago, and I think he used it aptly. He used it again yesterday, and I again agree with his usage, which is based on the US political concept of “race-baiting,” or “playing the race card”:

…the nouns race-baiting/racebaiting and race-baiter/race baiter date back to the 1970s, and the verb race-bait/racebait was first used in the 1980s. An expression with a similar meaning is to play the race card. These terms refer to provoking or inciting a person or group by raising race issues or the issue of racial prejudice. Usually it’s in the context of politicians doing it as a ploy to win votes.

You are trying to “win” an argument with me by associating me with a prejudiced website. Interestingly, it’s a much more “demagogic” tactic than methodically posting hyperlinks (tedious as you may find that habit of mine) and refuting things point by point. And by “a demagogue of the worst sort,” I assume you mean one who disagrees with you.

If I correctly recall, Sean mistook my comments about you having posted at LR.

What you said was:

I note how you’ve posted at La Russophobe. On the other hand, you decline TTTs’ offer to give you space.

Hard to escape the conclusion that you were implying I had posted something on LR as a contributor, as I was being invited to do at TTT.

It was actually “Alexandra” who said (several comments later) Lyndon does not deny having posted commnts [sic] at La Russophobe.

Can we assume that “Alexandra” was actually you, Mike, backing off from your original claim, but not without calling me an “overgrown baby”? Now, there’s some bona-fide, hard-hitting analysis.

I don’t have time to get sucked into your sometimes distorted hyperlinks (which at times refer to only select aspects of a given topic) and Sean has critiqued LR as well. He (again if I correctly recall) thought I meant that you made an actual post at LR, as opposed to what I said. That being your having posted comments (at least one) there.

Except that’s not exactly what your comment said. See above.

Mike, we’ve all critiqued LR. And while I apologize to everyone for my many long-winded comments, hyperlinking is often necessary to substantiate claims – otherwise things just turn into an unsubstantiated pissing match, as with your statement that “You’re the liar between the two of us.” Hyperlinks would help if you’d like to document my “lies,” whatever you think they have been. Do you expect me to make your side of the argument for you? What kind of a debate would that be? Oh, right, your favorite kind, where everyone agrees with you and takes your statements at face value.

I’m as eclectic as they come.

You certainly are, within a narrow range of pro-Slavic and “Russocentric” sentiment.

By the way, Mike, one of your comments to Ger above intrigued me:

There’s constructive troublemaking and then there’s the troll variant.

Which of those categories do you think your serial dissembling and sock-puppeteering falls into?

He used it again yesterday…

Actually, the day before yesterday. My bad.

He answered you Tim.

No, he didn’t. He instead answered another question which was not asked of him, which he does quite often. This is called building a straw man, and Mike does it so often he probably qualifies for some kind of agricultural subsidy.

I refer once again to my very specific question:

Are you saying that no rape occurred during the war in Bosnia, or simply that the initial claims exaggerated the scale of rape?

This question relates to Mike’s statement that:

The rape issue with the Bosnian Civil War was proven to be a great hoax.

An answer would be most appreciated; dim-witted commentary from Alexandra not so.

And while I apologize to everyone for my many long-winded comments, hyperlinking is often necessary to substantiate claims…

Indeed, and no need to apologise. The great thing about internet debating, as opposed to real-life debating, is that everything which has been said is recorded and can be verified at any one time. Oddly, this does not always prevent people from pretending that something was or wasn’t said, hence the need to supply hyperlinks to clarify the situation.

What comes across as rather foolish on the part of Mike Averko is that he behaves as if the preceding parts of the argument are not on record and are forever lost, rendering the truth a simple difference of opinion. His insistence that he has answered questions when he clearly has not, his denial of saying things which he clearly has, and his running commentary on his performance during the debate and the progress of the debate means he loses credibility almost every post with all but his most vehement supporters (which by this stage must be a dwindling band indeed).

All that is really left open to question is whether his comments are the result of numerous and clumsy falsehoods or a policy of deliberate lying. Readers will arrive at their own conclusions.

Mike, I’m sorry, but I must have another go-round with you on something I mentioned above. The CBN piece about Transnistria (which we both thought was no good for Steady State’s credibility) is what I’m referring to, as I’ve just watched the video in full (I was working from the text of the accompanying article before).

Here’s what you said about it above, in your comment where you said you weren’t able to post the link:

The only seemingly direct source name given is that of a pastor. The facts don’t match the story. In reality, the pastor is very pleased with progress and the work being done in the PMR. He is often allowed into prisons and other places to minister.

You would think that if he was oppressed and persecuted, he would not work so closely with the authorities and have near-daily access to the prisons, with permission to openly film everything inside and put it on
the web.

Here’s the problem, Mike: there is no pastor whatsoever in that video segment or in the accompanying text. Where is this film of Transnistrian prisons on the web? It certainly isn’t at the CBN piece we were discussing. Did I miss something? If not, you made it up, or one of your extra-special Transnistrian “sources” made it up for you.

I wouldn’t zero in on this, except that you so gleefully introduced your comment dealing with this video clip with the phrase “Propaganda busted.”

Please correct me if I’m wrong, or explain the discrepancy.

Tim:

In answer to your recent points directed at me, there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with my communication skills. There’s something severely flawed with your often times displayed sense of reason and knowledge.

My making mainstream venues (which happens) is an accomplishment having to do with the great existing biases. My not appearing as often at such an environment relates to those prejudices and not the quality of my work. I’m by no means exclusive to this category.

A recent example of your flawed sense of reason related to your comments about the Siberian Light exchange with Ethan Burger. I received ten replies to it, with none showing any agreement that Burger got the better of me. A politically diverse number of individuals were sent that Siberian Light exchange. In earlier posted comments of yours at SRB, you took a contrary view of that exchange. Vis-à-vis that Burger exchange, all of those taking a different position from your own display a higher level of intellect than yourself.

You recently had the gall to suggest that I encourage crank like conversation. The record at this particular discussion shows you essentially interrupted what was an intelligent discussion having to do with the topics of Chechnya, Jews and Cossacks.

As for your nitpicking rhetorical point on rape in Bosnia and Chechnya, I clearly made my view known as Sa noted. BTW, the first reported to the UN claim of rape in Bosnia came from Serbs. In another instance, an identified Bosnian Muslim rape victim gave birth to a Black baby. I don’t think there were too many if any Blacks fighting on the side of the Serbs. If that woman was raped, than the likely party involved are the UN peace keepers. I detailed how the figures were initially presented in large numbers, only to dwindle because of the sheer fallacy of them. You don’t follow the anti-Serb tribunal at the Hague. Rape is rarely if ever discussed. Trumping up numbers and-or creating other false images to instigate military action is nothing new. The Nazis employed this tact as a means for attacking Poland in 1939. Rape was committed by all sides during the Bosnian Civil War. Nothing to the extent of what was initially reported.

Lyndon:

So, now you’ve a new agenda in lieu of your unsuccessful attempt to discredit TTT. In the English language Russia watching community, no one baits more than La Russophobe. Shame on you for covering this up. Comments like “Screwball Yuri Mamchur”, “Loco Lavelle”, “Silly Sean Guillory”, “Crazy Kirill” and others. Gross distortions of events and what people have said. Hypocritical nitpicking against those having views not favored by La Russophobe. On the other hand, Pavel Felgenhauer’s and Vladimir Socor’s backgrounds don’t get the same kind of scrutinizing. On the negatives, I don’t come close to doing what La Russophobe has done and I don’t hide under a series of different names.

Posting comments at La Russophobe and turning down an offer to have column space at TTT reflects your bias. No lying on my part. Ditto how you go after the AJRSS which from what I’ve seen doesn’t caricature Jews the way La Russophobe has done of Russians. By your own definition, you’re the demagogue for defending Burger’s comments about me relative to my commentary getting picked up at the AJRSS. Note how Burger has willingly collaborated with LR.

I’m far more eclectic than yourself. If you think differently, than you really do have a convoluted perspective.

No, Alexandra isn’t me. Are you you? Do you think I’m the only one aware of LR? I don’t really look at that site so often. Rather some people periodically send me material from it. Especially when it’s about me. Comprende?

You once again go back to the past to dig up something that I’ll have to backtrack on. Recall your absurdity regarding Tom de Waal at TTT. I’ll get back to you on your last mentioned point. That’s in line with my up front, earnest m.o. Offhand, that pastor is relatively well known and has done as was noted by yours truly.

Mike,

Since you haven’t provided a straight response to my query, I now have no problem in calling you out. You are a liar. Unfortunately, Mike, when you lie repeatedly in print, it makes it impossible to take anything you write seriously. I may as well repeat that I only feel foolish for trying to have a decent conversation with you. Don’t worry, it won’t happen again.

Instead of responding to your run-on gibberish about me, let’s bring the focus back to you, Mike, which is what you’re trying to avoid. When caught in a lie, you stir the pot with a lot of nonsense. That is your m.o. I have no doubt we’ll soon hear from “Alexandra” again as well.

Let’s just stick to the issue I mentioned in my last comment, and your rather inadequate response, shall we?

You once again go back to the past to dig up something that I’ll have to backtrack on. Recall your absurdity regarding Tom de Waal at TTT. I’ll get back to you on your last mentioned point. That’s in line with my up front, earnest m.o. Offhand, that pastor is relatively well known and has done as was noted by yours truly.

How does any of that (which looks like more the product of a random phrase generator than the product of a rational mind) explain why you felt the need to integrate whatever information you may or may not have about this pastor into your comment about a report which had nothing to do with said pastor?

And you were convieniently “unable” to post the link to that report, ensuring that your lie would be undetected unless someone decided to fact-check your comment. Pathetic, desperate liar. Good-bye, Mike.

In answer to your recent points directed at me, there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with my communication skills.

No, you just fundamentally refuse to answer direct questions and behave as though the preceding dialogue is not on record for all to see.

A recent example of your flawed sense of reason related to your comments about the Siberian Light exchange with Ethan Burger.

I believe my only comment regarding this exchange was that I failed to see you displaying “excellent skills” therein, as you had claimed. If by your measure a flawed sense of reason is disagreeing with you when you describe yourself as excellent, then I am guilty as charged.

Vis-à-vis that Burger exchange, all of those taking a different position from your own display a higher level of intellect than yourself.

Again, if a measure of ones intellect is the degree to which they support your statement that you display “excellent skills”, then I am indeed rather dim.

The record at this particular discussion shows you essentially interrupted what was an intelligent discussion having to do with the topics of Chechnya, Jews and Cossacks.

Actually, the record at this particular discussion shows that I asked you to elaborate on your statement that “the rape issue with the Bosnian Civil War was proven to be a great hoax”, and you repeatedly ignored it.

As for your nitpicking rhetorical point on rape in Bosnia and Chechnya, I clearly made my view known as Sa noted.

No, you didn’t. You said that:

The rape issue with the Bosnian Civil War was proven to be a great hoax.

and I asked you, repeatedly, to clarify it. This is not nitpicking, nor is it rhetorical.

Rape was committed by all sides during the Bosnian Civil War. Nothing to the extent of what was initially reported.

Ah! Finally he answers! So, we now have it on record that althogh he admits rape occurred during the Bosnian wars, Mike Averko, the media critic and analyst, says the whole issue was actually ‘a great hoax’. Something along the lines of the Loch Ness Monster photos, no doubt, or an April Fool’s prank. Just a few rapes here and there, nothing to worry about.

This statement, which illuminates rather effectively what you mean by a ‘great hoax’, will serve as a useful reference next time you make this charge in relation to another issue.

don’t follow the anti-Serb tribunal at the Hague. Rape is rarely if ever discussed.

Yes, and I have explained why already. The entire conversation is on record remember? So I can just cut and paste like so:

The reason that rape cases have not been brought before the various courts dealing with the Balkan wars is because proving rape is a notoriously difficult thing to do, especially once a few years have passed. An absence of rape charges considered in a court is not not evidence that accusations of rape in the Balkan wars is a hoax.

Lyndon

When reading from the top to the bottom of this thread, as well as the Va Tech one at this site, all can see that you’re the liar unlike myself.

Your intellectually challenged friend Tim Newman does no help for you whatsover.

I didn’t bother reading past the opening portion of your last posted comments due to its opening consisting of your lie filled innuendo.

You can continue to lie like the Nazi concept of the big lie.

Sure, Mike, and you just keep telling lots of small ones. Funny how you recognize all of your own propaganda techniques, but only to falsely accuse others of using them.

????? ??? ??. ?????? (???) ???? ??? ??????? ?? ????????????! ??????, ??? ??????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?? ?????? – ?????????????!

?????????: ?? ?????????? ? ??????? ?????? ???????? ?????-???????? ???. ?????? ?.?. ??????? ??????? ?? ??????? ?????? ?????????? ????????.

?? ??????????? ??????? ???!

Your intellectually challenged friend Tim Newman does no help for you whatsover.

Can we assume that you have abandoned political discussion and its accompanying practice of adducing documentary evidence to claims in favour of the more speculative realms of online psychology because you were struggling to cope with the rigours of the former?

Mike,

first of all I’m disappointed that you try to connect me now with LR. Its an underhand tactic that I’m suprised you’d stoop to. It was me whose constant questioning of LR on her blog forced her to change her comments policy. I wouldnt let up attacking her astoundingly lie-filled and slanderous statements. I did the same at Andy’s blog – I just wouldnt let go. Fair enough, maybe I harrassed her too much, but I couldnt let go. Again I’m suprised and disappointed, but you’ve tried the same tactic with Lyndon and failed utterly.

If being a huge admirer of the female form and having women as a priority makes me a pervert, then I am guilty as charged.

Actually Tim, it was you who abandoned a reasonably civil discourse. Carry on in a chippy manner and you’ll get it right back with no apologies.

As per your stated excuse for not being able to verify the mass rape claim during the Bosnian Civil warwar: according to the reasoning you posted, no rape victim would be able to come out and testify. As we all know rape victims successfully testify. Therefore, it wouldn’t be difficult to prove the mass rape claim by Serbs in Bosnia. It hasn’t been done because it’s untrue.

”As we all know rape victims successfully testify”

I have heard it all now. I really have.

According to that reasoning, there has been only one rape in Chechnya by Russian forces in more than ten years – that of Budanov.

Marvellous.

The following beats Tim Newman’s comments any day:

http://antiwar.com/malic/?articleid=8549

February 15, 2006
A Resurgence of Lies

by Nebojsa Malic
Fabrications Persevere, Return

As the world continued to ponder how cartoons could provoke deadly rioting, an important anniversary almost slipped under the public radar on Monday. It was four years since the “trial” of Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic opened before the Hague Inquisition, with Head Inquisitor Carla Del Ponte laying out the kitchen-sink indictment against the man systematically demonized in the media for years as Hitler Reborn.

One of the reasons few remembered the “trial” was the paucity of media coverage. Plentiful during the early stages of the process, when enthusiastic reporters presented prosecutors’ spurious allegations as known facts and omitted the subsequent, systematic disqualification of prosecution’s witnesses in cross-examinations, once Milosevic actually began his defense, trial coverage abruptly ended. The only exception was last summer, when videos touted as “proof positive” of Serb crimes in Srebrenica were shown in court – but the story received no follow-up after serious questions were raised about the film. When someone in the legacy media does mention the Hague Tribunal, the story is almost always a rote recitation of prosecutorial pabulum.

So it was with the article published in The Independent on Monday, written by their veteran Balkans correspondent, Vesna Peric-Zimonjic. Worth examining here in detail, it was just one example of how the image of the Balkans in the minds of the Western public is composed largely of lies and fabrications, with the media replacing the old, exposed ones with the new, without breaking stride.

The Trial

Titled “Five Years On, Milosevic Is Still in the Dock,” Zimonjic’s piece starts plaintively, noting that it is taking four-plus years to pass a verdict on what everyone knows is true (namely, the prosecution’s “facts”). To hear her say it, Milosevic is accused of “genocide against Muslims in Bosnia, war crimes and grave breaches of international conventions in the military offensives that led his forces into Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo.” (Emphasis added)

Why of course, every Serb militia representing the two-odd million Serbs who used to live in today’s Croatia and Bosnia was under direct command of Milosevic in Belgrade, and so was the Yugoslav Army, which only in theory answered to the Croat-led federal government. Never mind all the evidence to the contrary, the ICTY says so! And Kosovo, recognized as part of Serbia by a 1913 peace treaty and even by the UNSCR 1244, which blessed the illegal NATO occupation of the province in 1999, is somehow a territory that “Milosevic’s forces” invaded. Again, never mind the reality. There’s a story to be told here.

Also, ignore the incongruity of countries that flagrantly violated dozens of international conventions to bomb Serbia in 1999 and occupy Kosovo now putting Serbia’s president on trial for it. For the first two years of the Milosevic “trial,” the presiding judge was from the UK – a key participant in the 1999 aggression. The ICTY is chiefly funded by NATO members, and its enforcers on the ground are NATO troops. All of that is established – but it gets in the way of the story.

Zimonjic dismisses Milosevic’s defense as rants about an “evil world conspiracy against the Serbs.” In fact, the prosecution has claimed an evil Serb conspiracy against everyone else in the Balkans, masterminded by Milosevic. She says that the “prosecution and Mr. Milosevic have called 350 witnesses since February 2002.” Perhaps, but 293 of those witnesses were called by the prosecution, which rested its case in February 2003, after not a single one of those witnessed proved anything in the indictment. No mention is made of the six-month hiatus, during which the presiding judge died and was replaced by another. If the trial is taking too long, as most Tribunal partisans complain, it’s because there is no evidence to convict Milosevic of anything, much less of what the indictment claims.

In the end, perhaps to create a veneer of truthfulness for her fanciful tale, Zimonjic mentions recent claims of a Bosnian investigator who revised the commonly adopted media meme about 250,000-plus dead in the Bosnian war to 100,000, 75 percent of whom were Muslims. Yet she makes no mention of a study commissioned by the Hague Tribunal, which came up with a figure of 102,000 two years ago, and a rather different ethnic breakdown. Manipulation of the numbers of Bosnian dead goes so far that recent agency stories about Bosnia don’t mention the 100,000 number, but focus on the alleged 8,000 dead in Srebrenica and 10,000 in Sarajevo – figures as arbitrary as the previously “official” death toll of 250,000.

The people putting Milosevic on trial aren’t interested in the testimony of those who saw Osama bin Laden visiting Bosnian Muslim leader Izetbegovic during the war, or those who have credible evidence that Albanian refugees from Kosovo were fleeing NATO bombing on orders from the terrorist KLA, rather than the phantom Serb expulsion. Yet they consider credible the testimony of the former Bosnian viceroy and admirer of Izetbegovic, who supposedly saw Serbs shelling Albanian villages from places where no such sightings were possible.

Well-Informed

Even as it finds itself embarrassingly unable to prosecute Milosevic, Head Inquisitor Carla Del Ponte is baying for the blood of two wartime leaders of the Bosnian Serbs, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. She’s been insisting for years that she knew the whereabouts of both – Mladic in Serbia, Karadzic in eastern Bosnia or northern Montenegro. But during her visit to Bosnia last week, she publicly admitted she had no clue where Karadzic might be: “I can confirm that Mladic is in Serbia. But Karadzic, I don’t know where he is.”

Not that this is going to prevent the Empire from pummeling the Bosnian Serbs for their supposed failure to catch Karadzic.

The problem with Del Ponte’s “information” is that it comes from the same sources that “informed” her indictments. So well-”informed” is the ICTY, it once indicted a fictional character for war crimes and rape.

Propaganda as Art

Rape – more specifically, the systematic, organized mass rape of Muslim women – was one of the many propaganda canards emerging from the Bosnian war that was adopted as fact without a shred of evidence. Nonetheless, it was embraced by Western feminists as a compelling argument for military intervention in favor of the Bosnian Muslims. While there were certainly incidents of rape in Bosnia, involving women of all ethnic groups, even the most cursory examination of allegations that it was systematic revealed them to be fabricated. Even elementary logic argued against a supposed “genocide” through forcing women to have babies… But logic, facts, and reason have proven to be no match for propaganda.

Just over 10 years after the Bosnian war officially ended, a young Bosnian director has made a feature film based on the premise of “systematic rape.” Currently a hit at the Berlin film festival, Grbavica by Jasmila Zbanic is a “tear-jerking story of a Muslim woman” trying to hide the truth from her daughter (Reuters). Zbanic told the reporters in Berlin: “Rape was a war strategy to humiliate these women. … They were kept in concentration camps until abortions were no longer possible.”

A rave review of the film in the Hollywood Reporter bears as much semblance to reality as Grbavica itself does. The incongruities in the review suggest its author simply pasted in notes from the film’s promotional literature; only someone completely ignorant of Islam would translate shaheed as “war martyr” without noting that the war had to be jihad, the holy war for Islam. Only someone completely ignorant could say that the Sarajevo suburb of Grbavica – which is the film’s setting – was “heavily damaged and then used as an internment camp” during the war. It was never an internment camp, and while it was heavily damaged, the damage was done by the supposedly unarmed Muslims – Grbavica was a part of downtown Sarajevo held and inhabited by Serbs. The final proof is the Reporter’s comparison of “sensitive, God-fearing ilahijas” with aggressive Serbian “turbo folk.”

Confronting the Source

Lies about the Balkans don’t ever seem to die – they vanish from sight when the spotlight of scrutiny is too hot, only to reappear later, repackaged, perfumed, and presented yet again as unquestionable facts. Trying to deal with them individually is almost entirely futile; there are too many, and exploding one merely means another will appear in its place. Only by exposing and confronting their authors – people who desire dominion over others and hold the “reality-based community” in contempt – can one ever hope to put an end to a time when murder is declared liberation, travesty is elevated as justice, and war is lauded as peace.

A slam dunk on the Bosnian rape hoax:

http://www.balkan-archive.org.yu/politics/rape/html/marlino.html

RAPES: NUMBERS IN QUESTION
Jacques Marlino (France 2)

Le Point March 13, 1993 (no.1069)

(Translated from French into English by Vesna Crnjanski)

There was a time of horror. Then, the time of doubt. And finally, a time of “malaise”. The time of horror took place between November 1992 and the end of January 1993. First, there were rumors, then official reports, indicating that between 20,000 and 40,000 Muslim women were raped by Serbs. The time of doubt came right after that, when, after using some common sense, one questioned the numbers themselves and their sudden appearance. Today, we are at a time of malaise: all those who, in France, work on ex- Yugoslavia, know that those numbers are false, because they are not based on a serious inquiry. Everybody knows it, but does not dare say it. It is difficult to go backwards!

First, rumors appear towards the end of November 92. They inflate very fast and take enough momentum to have the topic put on the agenda of the European summit in Edimbourg, December 11. Heads of State and governments meeting in the Scottish capital, are stunned by what they hear, and decide to send to Croatia and Bosnia a fact-finding commission. Members of the commission are quickly selected. The commission is headed by a former British diplomat, lady Anne Warburton, president of Lucy Cavendish College in Cambridge. The commission is comprised of six women, among them Simone Veil. They go to Zagreb and stay there only for four days, from December 20 to 24. After the holidays and the writing of the report, everything is ready for the public announcement of the results at a press conference on January 8, 1993, in Bruxelles. The day before, late into the night, a serious discussion opposes members of the commission. Simone Veil stresses the weaknesses of the inquiry, advises caution and is astonished by the virulence of the German representative.

Simone Veil is not listened at, and in front of the journalists it is Anne Warburton who speaks. She takes a couple of precautions, but estimates to 20,000 the number of Muslim and Croatian women raped by Serb militia. The number is immediately broadcast by radios and spread by press agencies. The headlines of the newspaper Liberation read: “Systematic rape. The report that accuses the Serbs”. The paper Le Figaro gives the information in conditional but the magazine Paris-Match makes a double page with a picture of three women crying, and a title: “Like them 60,000 women in Bosnia have been raped by Serbs.”

The American press (Newsweek) gives the numbers of 30,000 to 50,000 rapes and complements the information by giving its sources: the Bosnian commission of war crimes and the Interior Ministry of Bosnia-Herzegovina. As if these two government bodies, active participants in the conflict and isolated in Sarajevo, could have some credibility!

The numbers have circulated in the world before anyone has actually read the report of the European Commission. This report, classified as confidential, is however interesting to read.

The report remarks first that the mandate of the mission is limited to Muslim victims. Serbian women are automatically excluded from the inquiry. The report then indicates its sources: leaders of the religious Catholic and Muslim communities, representatives of Croatian and Bosnian governments and local and international non-governmental organizations. There are no direct witnesses’ accounts by the victims themselves: the commission collects rumors, what others say.

A second fact-finding commission, sent this time by the United Nations and headed by Tadeusz Mazowicki, continues the work from January 10 to 17. The commission’s report is given to the Security Council on February 10 under the reference E/CN4/1993/50. This reports mentions thirty direct witnesses’ accounts of raped women, specifying that the women in question are Croat, Muslim and Serb. It evaluates to 19 the number of pregnancies after rape and, estimating that there would be one pregnancy for 100 rapes (on what criteria are these estimates based?), it gives the number, a total of 12,000 of rapes.

As a special envoy, Jerome Bony was send to inquire in the field traveling to Tuzla, a town mentioned in all the reports. He tells about his astonishment in a France 2 program on February 4th: “When I was at 50 kilometers from Tuzla, I was told: “Go to the gymnasium of Tuzla, there are 4,000 raped women.” At 20 kilometers, the number diminished to 400. At 10 kilometers, it was only 40. And in Tuzla, I met only 4 women who wanted to witness.”

Mike,

the above copy and paste job would be wonderful, were it not, funnily enough, written by…A SERB!

My,my, Surprise, surprise! Isnt that something! An article with no proper stats, denying genocide, ethnic cleansing and systemic rape, written by…A SERB!

Some rapes are more advertised than others:

http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/News/Trifkovic04/NewsST091304.html

September 13, 2004

RAPES IN BESLAN: IN MUHAMMAD’S FOOTSTEPS
by Srdja Trifkovic

The media in the United States have been oddly fastidious in failing to report one aspect of last week’s horror in Beslan: that several Russian girls were raped by Muslim terrorists in front of their parents and classmates. The failure to report rapes in the Russian school was at odds with the eagerness of American journalists, a decade ago, to report ad nauseam on the entirely fictitious “rape camps” supposedly run by Bosnian Serbs in which Muslim women were allegedly subjected to similar degradation.

That Muslim propagandists and their Western abettors should have resorted to this particular whopper is especially galling in view of Islam’s encouragement of violence against women in general, and its explicit blessing of rape of captive non-Muslim women by Muslims in particular. The behavior of Chechen terrorists in Beslan, disgusting in every gory detail by the standards of civilized humanity, was justified by the tenets of Islam and by the personal example of the cult’s inventor, Muhammad.

Having established himself as the ruler of Medina, Muhammad attacked the Jewish tribe of Banu-‘l-Mustaliq in December of A.D. 626. His followers slaughtered many Jewish tribesmen and looted thousands of their camels and sheep. They also kidnapped 500 of their women. The night after the battle Muhammad and his brigands staged an orgy of rape. As one of the brigands, Abu Sa’id Khudri, later remembered, a legal problem needed to be resolved first: In order to obtain ransom from the surviving Jews for the captive women, Muslims had pledged not to violate them:

We were lusting after women and chastity had become too hard for us, but we wanted to get the ransom money for our prisoners. So we wanted to use the Azl [coitus interruptus]. We asked the Prophet about it and he said: “You are not under any obligation not to do it like that.”

Having ethnically cleansed and robbed of property all but one of three Jewish clans in Medina, in A.D. 627 Muhammad decided to deal with the last, Banu Qurayzah. He offered the men conversion as an alternative to death. Upon their unsurprising refusal, some 900—exact numbers are unknown—were decapitated, one by one, in a ditch surrounding their encampment, in front of their women and children. Muhammad’s Einsatzgruppen worked hard: Torches had to be lit so that the slaughter could be accomplished in one day. The women, thus widowed or orphaned, were raped that same night. Muhammad chose as his concubine one Raihana bint Amr, whose father and husband were both slaughtered before her eyes only hours earlier. (Such treatment of the victims had been duly sanctioned by a prophetic revelation in the Kuran.)

In his early years, as a powerless and often ridiculed outsider in Mecca, Muhammad had enumerated the series of temptations which could enslave human beings: The passion for women, the desire for male children, the thirst for gold and silver, spirited horses, and the possession of cattle and land (Kuran, 3:12). Once enthroned in Medina as the head of a theocratic statelet, he wanted to possess them all. Muhammad freely admitted that two things in the world, women and perfume, attracted him—so much so that he departed from his own laws in pursuit of both. Contrary to his own regulations he had at least 15 wives (some sources claim up to 25). The youngest was Aisha, who was seven years old when Muhammad—44 years her senior—”married” her. Two years later, 53-year-old Muhammad consummated this liaison and raped the girl of nine left under his control.

The sordid story of Muhammad’s “marriage” to Aisha reflected a mind-set and a lifestyle. Rape of enslaved women came naturally to Muhammad. A Christian slave woman by the name of Maryah aroused his passion for nights on end, which provoked a rebellion in his harem. Divine assistance was, in the end, needed to restore order in the household, with the Kuranic verse duly advising Muhammad not to restrain himself from “that which Allah has made lawful” (66:1–3).

Even more scandalous was the case of Zeinab, the wife of Zayd, Muhammad’s adopted son. Lusting after her, Muhammad ordered Zayd to divorce her and took Zeinab as yet another wife. The deal was soon sanctioned by another revelation from Allah: “there should not be any fault in the believers, touching the wives of their adopted sons, when they have accomplished what they would of them” (36:37).

These examples indicate that the status of women in Islam is comparable to that of the human rights in Cuba: theoretically exalted, deplorable in practice. The sources of true Islam—the Kuran and Hadith—provide the basis for theory and subsequent Shari’a practice regarding the role of women. When a judge in Pakistan recently sentenced a young woman to death for “adultery” by stoning after she had been raped by her husband’s brother, he had merely followed the Kuranic law. The fact the woman, Zafran Bibi, was raped was of no consequence: She was still guilty of “having intercourse outside of marriage.”

Violence against women is also condoned, even mandated, in Islam. Allah mandates that the disobedient wives are to be beaten (4:34). As the authoritative Azhar University scholars in Cairo explain, “the Qur’an bestows on man the right to straighten her out by way of punishment and beating, provided he does not break her bones nor shed blood.” Physical violence against one’s wife is divinely ordained and practically advised in Islam. In Muhammad’s rendering of the story of the righteous Job, Allah ordered him to beat his wife: “Take in thine hand a branch and smite therewith and break not thine oath” (38:44).

Some Muslim apologists claim that the Islamic teaching and practice is in line with the findings of clinical psychology. Beating is beneficial to them, we are told, because “women’s rebelliousness (nushuz) is a medical condition” based either on her masochistic delight in being beaten and tortured or sadistic desire to hurt and dominate her husband. Either way,

beating is her remedy. So the Qur’anic command: ‘banish them to their couches, and beat them’ agrees with the latest psychological findings in understanding the rebellious woman. This is one of the scientific miracles of the Qur’an, because it sums up volumes of the science of psychology about rebellious women (The Australian Minaret, Australian Federation of the Islamic Councils, November 1980, p.10).

Islam stands or falls with the person of Muhammad, a flawed man by the standards of his own society, as well as those of the Old and New Testaments (both of which he acknowledged as divine revelation). He was flawed even by his new law, of which he claimed to be the divinely appointed medium and custodian. The horror unleashed by Chechen terrorists on Russian children in Beslan, and the rape of adolescent girls in particular, is the fruit of Muhammad’s example.

The problem of Islam, and the problem of the rest of the world with Islam, is in its claim that the words and acts of Muhammad provide the universally valid standard of morality and behavior for all time. Islam, in Muhammad’s texts and its codification, discriminates against women. It is extremely offensive. Those who submit to that faith must solve the problem they set themselves. Islam further discriminates against all “unbelievers.” Until the petrodollars support a Kuranic revisionism that does not, we must go for it with whips and scorpions, hammer and tongs.

Mike,

your obviously in the ascendency with those articles…clearly so unbiased and again written by…a Serb! And the article by the Frenchman strangely enough published in Serb propaganda!!
Hilarious!

Who’d do you think we’re going to believe, The UN Commissioner for Human Rights and Thomas De Waal, or these website nutjobs that you’ve wheeled out?

Actually Tim, it was you who abandoned a reasonably civil discourse.

Once again, I must remind you that the entire conversation up to this point is on record, so all can see that I did not abandon civil discourse. Perhaps you’d like to elaborate on exactly what you object to?

Carry on in a chippy manner and you’ll get it right back with no apologies.

I don’t expect you to apologise for anything, I have a remarkably thick skin. I have no idea what a chippy manner is, though. Is it where an illiterate cockney gets his fish supper?

according to the reasoning you posted, no rape victim would be able to come out and testify.

Your reading comprehension is almost as poor as your debating skills. I did not say proving rape was impossible. I said:

proving rape is a notoriously difficult thing to do, especially once a few years have passed.

So when you say:

As we all know rape victims successfully testify. Therefore, it wouldn’t be difficult to prove the mass rape claim by Serbs in Bosnia. It hasn’t been done because it’s untrue.

you are talking nonsense. Rape is notoriously difficult to prove, especially after the passage of time. That you don’t acknowledge this makes me wonder where you’ve been living for your adult life. Presumably not in New York.

Furthermore, rape charges are usually only brought against somebody when rape is the most severe crime committed. In the case of the Serbs, charges of murder and genocide are more serious than charges of rape and much easier to prove, therefore they are more likely to gain a conviction with a tough sentence without having to take on the very difficult task of proving rape for little additional benefit (from the point of view of the prosecutor).

The point which you repeatedly fail to understand, and hence demonstrate your inability to comment effectively on the subject, is that an absence of rape charges considered in a court is not not evidence that accusations of rape in the Balkan wars is a hoax.

Tim – I previously went into detail on your convoluted sense of reality, which you keep displaying

Ger’s bigotry is exposed. As suggested by him, Serbs can’t have a voice on the matter. Not that all of them think the same. Just look at some of those getting Soros money.

Meantime, Jim Jatras, Julia Gorin and a host of others including yours truly aren’t Serb.

Mike,

there’s no bigotry to expose really, though I’m not a big fan of Chelsea really, and Dynamo get up my nose as well. I nearly got thumped there once, never again, its rough enough at Luzhniki and I was home fan there.

I however prefer to believe sources like the United Nations and Medicines Sans Frontiers and established and respected Chechnya observers(who you referred to above as ”this Thomas person”, rather than Serb fruitcakes sitting in front of a pc. Again, it shows your willingness to support lies and spin that eminate from dubious news outlets that publish you. Funny that.

“Serb fruitcakes”. Real slick Ger. As for the so called “Doctors Without Borders”, there’s a Sorosian angle to it. Bernard Kochner is a politco. I’ll take the Ger described “Serb fruitcakes” over him any day.

Note how Ger often doesn’t deal with the facts and instead chooses a mix of bigotry, personal attack and lies.

Here’s a piece in today’s Tiraspol Times. A venue which has been baited by Lyndon Allin.

As per the below article, note the stated comparison between the Trans-Dniester and Montenegro referendums. If Ukraine can be independent, than why can’t Scotland? The issue of Kosovo independence is groundless, given the ongoing human rights debacle in that province, in conjunction with the illegal immigration (over the decades from Albania), ethnic cleansing campaigns (over the past 120 years) and the province’s historical linkage to Serbia. MMA

http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/node/785

Scotland for independence referendum like Montenegro, Transdniester

60% of voters in Scotland want a referendum on independence, with only 28% against. If it goes forward, Scotland becomes an independent sovereign state. In 2006 similar independence votes were held in 2006 in Montenegro and in Pridnestrovie (Transdniester).
By Times staff, 01/May/2007

The Scottish flag – the oldest national flag in Europe – could once again become the flag of an independent country

(Tiraspol Times) – Today, 1 May 2007, England and Scotland mark the 300th anniversary of the treaty that wedded the two within the United Kingdom. But Scottish voters aren’t celebrating. Two days from now, Scottish voters go to the poll in a vote which is expected to hand dominance of Scotland’s parliament to the separatist Scottish National Party. The SNP, as the party is also known, has called for a popular referendum on independence and sovereign statehood for Scotland.

” – I will be voting for independence,” said Alasdair Gray, a Scottish author. “A good cause is never hopeless, no matter how many times it’s knocked back.”

The SNP says that Scotland gains independence when the people of Scotland vote for it in a democratic referendum.

Such a referendum is supported two to one by voters in Scotland. 60% of Scottish voters are in favor of holding a plebiscite on their political status as suggested by the Scottish National Party (SNP), according to a poll reported by Angus Reid Global Monitor.

While 60 per cent of respondents support a public vote on Scotland’s independence, only 28 per cent oppose holding such a referendum.

However, prospects for Scottish independence are not yet certain. Even if the SNP finishes first as expected on 3 May, it is not clear if it can win enough seats to bring independence to a vote in 2010. Many things can go wrong in the meantime: The central government of the United Kingdom could, for instance, refuse to recognize the will of the Scottish voters. This would put Scotland in a situation to Pridnestrovie, the unrecognized country which is also known informally as Transdniester (in English) or Transnistria (its Romanian name).

Pridnestrovie today has de facto independence, but neighboring Moldova still pursues a 17 year old territorial claim on the unrecognized country. As part of its claim, it has pressured the international community to refuse to recognize the democratic desire of Pridnestrovie’s voters for independence. Even if 95% of voters reject unification with Moldova, the central government in Chisinau still refuses to recognize the statehood of its smaller neighbor.

2006 independence referendum in Pridnestrovie
In 2006, voters in Pridnestrovie reaffirmed their commitment to a democratic, independent future in freedom. A democratic nationwide referendum was held on 17 September 2006 asking voters:

1. Do you support the course towards the independence of the PMR and the subsequent free association with the Russian Federation?
2. Do you consider it possible to renounce the PMR’s independent status and subsequently become part of the Republic of Moldova?

Turnout was high: 78.6% of the registered voters of the country voted in the referendum. Of those, 97.1% of voters supported the first point, while 2.3% did not support it: More than 97% of the voters wanted to continue the quest for independence.

Only 3.4% of voters supported the second point, while 94.6% did not support it. Nearly 95% of the voters rejected unification with Moldova.

Russia’s Duma recognized the vote but, quite predicatably, the OSCE and many countries did not, since it was held without the approval of the neighboring government of Moldova. Nevertheless, nearly 200 international election observers monitored the vote and declared it democratic, free and fair.

2006 independence referendum in Montenegro

The status of the union between Montenegro and Serbia was decided by a referendum on Montenegrin independence on May 21, 2006. A total of 419,240 votes were cast, representing 86.5% of the total electorate. 230,661 votes or 55.5% were for independence and 185,002 votes or 44.5% were against. The 45,659 difference narrowly surpassed the 55% threshold needed to validate the referendum.

According to rules proposed by the European Union, the referendum would pass with a 55% supermajority of votes in favor of independence, along with a minimum turnout of 50%. The referendum law excluded Montenegrins living within Serbia, denying them a voice in the referendum. It was believed that Montenegrins with ties to Serbia would overwhelmingly vote against independence. The rules, which were made by pro-independence politicians in Montenegro, were designed to prevent this group from being able to able.

According to the electoral commission, the 55% threshold was passed by only 2,300 votes. If the Montenegrins from Serbia had been allowed to vote in May of 2006, Montenegro would still have been an integral part of Serbia today.

On June 3, 2006, the Parliament of Montenegro declared the independence of Montenegro, formally confirming the result of the referendum on independence.

Preparing for Scotland’s independence referendum
Now, the turn has come for Scotland to vote on its future. 60% of the populations wants that, and as Tiraspol Times columnist Prof. Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis writes, Scotland can flourish with independence. Independence is not only normal; it is also desirable. Other small European countries are much more successful than Scotland in terms of both economic growth and living standards. Independence gives those nations the powers to shape their country for the better. Scotland could have this too.

In his latest column for The Tiraspol Times, Muhammad Megalommatis gives three examples on three sides of Scotland:

Off the Scottish east coast lies Norway. Norway became independent from Sweden just a hundred years ago. Today, it is the second most prosperous country in the world.

Off the west coast lies Ireland. It became independent from the United Kingdom less than eighty years ago. Today, it is the fourth most prosperous country in the world.

Off the north coast lies Iceland. This small country of just 300,000 people became independent from Denmark less than eighty years ago. Today, Iceland is the sixth most prosperous country in the world.

As the Scots go to elect their Parliament, the people of Pridnestrovie, Kosovo, Abkhazia, Northern Cyprus and many others are keeping a close eye. Scotland can use the 2006 independence referendums of Pridnestrovie and Montenegro as examples, and – in turn – Pridnestrovie itself can learn from the Scottish experience in the years to come.

As democracy grows worldwide, small states everywhere are preparing to join the international community on an equal basis as their larger neighbors whom they once were part of. Some of the fastest growing political parties are those which are supporting this process.

” – The most powerful and enduring political movement of the twentieth century is the pursuit of democracy’s basic tenet: Self-determination,” says political leader Roger C. S. Lin, who last week advised Pridnestrovie on the steps to take for recognition of its independence from the pages of The Tiraspol Times.

See also:
» We are all Scots today!
» Why not a referendum to decide the issue?
» Landslide win for independence vote in Pridnestrovie’s referendum

Tim – I previously went into detail on your convoluted sense of reality, which you keep displaying.

I see you are still ploughing that lonely furrow into the realms of online psychology.

I suppose it is easier, although probably no less lonely, than continuing to argue that rape is not difficult to prove, and that although rape did occur in Bosnia, it was all just a ‘great hoax’.

Mike, I see you’re back to your copy-pasting ways.

At least we now know with fair precision the level of your learning abilities: it’s somewhere between copy-pasting and hyperlinking. You should consider writing for the Short Bus Times.

Mike,

what about the UN? Mary Robinson’s sincerity and human rights record are quite genuine and I’m not just saying that because I’m a Paddy. The bottom line is, you’d believe or quote Serb fruitcakes rather than accept what the UN says. Answer the question please.

Scotland is a very complex situation that doesnt lend itself to dewy-eyed nonsense like what you’ve reproduced from TTT.
I actually work with two Scots who are by no means convinced they want to leave the UK. The SNP are doing well because of other policies such as retention of the entire Scottish VAT and Income Tax take in Scotland, as well as deep unhappiness with the current government. The independence referendum is just one part of the whole picture. If you knew much about Scots, you’d realise much of their nationalism is counterbalanced by cold-eyed realism – if it’s going to hurt their pocket, they wont do it. And thats not a stereotype – I like the Scots a lot, but for them to vote for independence, you’ll have to give them a very good reason for it and not just flag waving. As well as that Scotland runs it own affairs really anyway, and has always done a lot of things differently to England or Wales. There isnt a massive incentive there at all for the Scots to leave the Union.

Muhammed Megalommatis? Is that a real name? And I dont mean the Muhammed bit, I mean the surname? Clearly someone with such a name, assuming it is real, is obviously likely to be an expert on the affairs of the British Isles. And writing in the TTT, you’d have to assume he’d be totally unbiased)

Spot the Difference? Scotland and Transnistria:

Scotland – democratic, free elections
Transistria – elections forgone conclusions, referendums recognised by nobody except Russia

Scotland – legally existing territory
Transnistria – recognized by nobody, legally part of Moldova

Scotland – exports include food, whiskey, textiles and heavy machinery
Transnistria -exports include guns, ammo, young women

Anyone spot the difference?
To be fair, on the recognition issue, Ireland was recognised by nobody until itself and Britain signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1922, after three years of battle. And there lies Transnistria biggest problem – who is going to recognize it unless Moldova agrees to part with it? Likely nobody, I’m afraid.

I’m not sure sure about Robinson’s unbiased credentials. According to Robert Bruce Ware, she refused to meet with officials in Dagestan so they could give her a Dagestani take on Chechnya, which seems pretty one-sided if you ask me.

That said, while I am sure much more nasty stuff has taken place in Chechnya than the Kremlin wants us to know about, I am also sure that there are other people with an interest in spreading stories of Huns catching babies on their bayonets.

Mary Robinson was undoubtedly biased – against Russia pulverising Chechnya. I wouldnt hold that against her. I’m totally unaware of the Dagestan incident but I could believe it happened easily enough. She’s pretty headstrong and it got her into plenty of trouble in Ireland, never mind abroad, and had a habit of taking sides. But to be honest, I’d believe her claims and those of De Waal about rape and murder in Chechnya ahead of claims by the Russian Ministry of Defence, Ministry of the Interior or Mike Averko any day.

db

To each his own. Afterall, you were allowed to make an ass of yourself in the comments section below the SRB piece on Vlasov.

———————————–

Tim:

The mass rape issue as mass advertised in mASS media has been shown to be a hoax, much like some of your feeble minded remarks here.

———————————–

Is someone unaware of the Chechen separatist attacks in Dagestan which triggered the start of the second Chechen war?

I’m not about to believe some idiot who thinks that TTT plagiarized Tom de Waal and uses such terms as “Serb fruitcakes” to describe Srdja Trifkovic and Nebosa Malic.

Ware’s big beef with the international rights organizations is that they turned a blind eye when the Chechen hostage industry buzzsaw was grinding through Dagestan and to the Dagestani IDPs created by Basaev and Khattab’s invasion, which totally discredits them in the eyes of people in the region.

BTW, note the ongoing lie about arms smuggling from the PMR. It was somewhat relevent in the first few years following the USSR breakup, which should correctly include the breakup of the 1940 created Moldavian SSR.

International observers, including Western mainstream individuals found the Trans-Dniester arms smuggling claim outdated in the present. Note that arms smuggling occurs in recognized states.

Note how Ger didn’t address the faulty Montenegrin referendum, which was clearly flawed unlike Trans-Dniester’s.

To each his own.

Just curious, Mike, what do you do for a living?

I see Mike how the only issue you attemped to deal with in my remarks about Transnistria and Scotland was gun running. Can we take it so that the rest is true? And you could you please tell me what Transnistria does to balance the books? A BBC documentary I saw last year said that arms maufacture was a huge part of the economy there. Are they just making weapons for the Transnistrian army?

We arent talking about recognised states. We’re talking abot Transnistria, whose independence claims you defend so strongly on at the ‘newspaper’ the TTT.

The mass rape issue as mass advertised in mASS media has been shown to be a hoax…

This is all rather long on the general and short on the specific, and somewhat different to your initial claim that “the rape issue with the Bosnian Civil War was proven to be a great hoax.”

As so often in your arguments, the goalposts have sprouted legs and wandered off across the pitch.

much like some of your feeble minded remarks here.

Still plumbing the depths of online psychology, I see.

Tim, the supporting evidence in my favor was posted here. You choose to ignore it. This is in line with your stated view that I didn’t get the better of Ethan Burger in a recent SL exchange. A contrary view from EVERYONE who stated an opinion on it. Once gain, all individula who have displayed a greater intellect than yourself.

———————————–

db

What’s your full and real name and what do you do for a living? Are you some kind of a spook?

———————————-

As for unspecified documentary, it’s a fact that the PMR was cleared of the propagandistic charge of “arms smuggling”. That term translates into weapons sales. On that matter, the PMR can’t be compared to a number of countries.

This is in line with your stated view that I didn’t get the better of Ethan Burger in a recent SL exchange. A contrary view from EVERYONE who stated an opinion on it. Once gain, all individula who have displayed a greater intellect than yourself.

Erm, you’ve said this already, and I have replied. Once again, you are simply repeating yourself over and over in the vain hope that I will have some sort of road-to-Damascus like revelation and realise that your not-so-excellent skills are, in fact, excellent; Ethan Burger has slit his throat and is allowing himself to gently bleed to death in a bin somewhere through shame of being humbled by you; evidence in the form of propaganda pieces cut and pasted from highly-contentious websites now constitute evidence.

It’s not going to happen, so you might as well stop repeating yourself.

What really isn’t going to happen? Your making sense on a regular basis?

Do you not now confirm the obvious on that raised point? Never mind how you’ve ducked numerous points in reply to your broad swipes.

What’s your full and real name and what do you do for a living?

I do theoretical physics, and no, you can’t have my real name.

So again, what do you do for a living?

db:

Deep in this comment, Mike said: “I’ve 50 thousand watt news talk radio experience as a producer and guest.” Perhaps he can elaborate further. Aside from that, his only affiliations visible on the internet appear to be with Russia Blog, AJRSS, Serbianna and TTT.

Mike:

A venue which has been baited by Lyndon Allin.

Since you persist in taking my name in vain, you may want to at least check the definition of the term you use to describe my criticism again so that you can use it correctly, or rather refrain from using it, since it is inapplicable.

Let’s be perfectly clear about two of the distinct claims I’ve made:

1. The TTT cannot be considered a credible source for a number of reasons (you may click here if you wish to go back over some of them) – you may well believe what is written there, but no amount of cut-and-pasting or other ink-squirting on your part will induce me to take it seriously.

2. You have a tendency to lie when backed into a corner and to throw up a smokescreen when called out on your lies. To make it easier for you to explain the most recent of your fabrications (about a pastor, no less – have you no shame?!), click here to go to my very measured comment politely asking you to explain the discrepancies between your statement and the item being commented on. You failed to explain them. Please try again. (I notice that your original comment about the pastor contains an extra line break in the very last paragraph – perhaps one you failed to delete when pasting in your “source material”)

I have documented both of these claims to my satisfaction, without any “baiting.” Each of these claims stands on its own, although they also happen to complement each other nicely.

I note your comment that:

When reading from the top to the bottom of this thread, as well as the Va Tech one at this site, all can see that you’re the liar unlike myself.

Does your failure to mention the David Johnson thread there constitute a simple oversight or an admission that you did, in fact, lie at the thread about David Johnson? If the latter, I guess that’s progress.

Sorry if you felt that pointing out the credibility-destroying nature of your being a contributor to AJRSS (which is irrelevant to both of the above claims) was “baiting,” but it was relevant to your debate with Burger; you then challenged me to post a relevant bit of text, and I did so. No “lie” there.

You, on the other hand, have failed to even tell me where it is you think that I’ve “lied,” much less provide a quotation or link to such “lie” or “lies.” Instead of documenting these alleged misstatements on my part, you have simply pointed in LR’s direction – weak. That website is basically a clipping service peppered with bigoted nonsense, as anyone can plainly see, and it is irrelevant to our discussion of your statements. Your “analysis” pretends to be more serious than LR, therefore it invites more serious debunking; unfortunately, when your points are soundly refuted, you are unable to agree to disagree and resort to insults, distortions and diversions.

Please provide documentation if you wish to prove that I’ve “lied.” (Note: repeated statements that I am “a liar for calling [you] such“; having one of your comment-friends chime in and call me a “LIAR” in all-caps; comparing me to a Nazi; and vague statements such as “when reading the thread, all can see [I'm] the liar” do not count as documentation.) Please do us all a favor and stick to the questions posed in this comment.

@Ger

Muhammed Megalommatis? Is that a real name?

Believe it or not, yes.

Here’s an article with a detailed bio in the right-hand sidebar, which talks about his staunch support for recognition of the “Turkish Republic of North Cyprus.”

Another guy quoted in that article, Roger C.S. Lin, believes that the U.S. is “the occupying power” in Taiwan.

Both of these guys would seem to have a secessionist axe to grind. On the bright side, I’m sure neither of them has ever been funded by Soros, so that should confirm their objectivity. These individuals may both be reputable scholars on issues of their region of specialty, but – while comparisons are always interesting – one might question the broad applicability of Taiwan’s situation to Transnistria’s.

Regarding arms smuggling, whether it still goes on is certainly debatable, although that doesn’t exactly make it a “lie” to suggest that it does still go on. It’s become harder to engage in since the recent arrival of EUBAM, but that only takes care of smuggling via ground transportation routes. There is an airstrip in Tiraspol which has allegedly been used for flying small arms out. Check out this (admittedly somewhat one-sided) French documentary on the subject.

Anyway, the PMR government has enjoyed plenty of other forms of shady income, like siphoning off millions of dollars from large privatizations such as the Cuciurgan (or Kuchurgan, if you prefer) Hydroelectric Station (now owned by RAO UES). And of course all of that advertising revenue from the print edition of the Tiraspol Times. After all, they have to pay Mike somehow, right?

Lyndon:

You’re in fact a liar of the worst sort, who has done exactly what you falsely accuse me of. All of this is fully detailed in the SRB comments sections dealing with JRL, Va Tech and this discussion.

Sean no doubt had you in mind as per his latest post on the SRB comments policy. You whine like a brat, only to be proven wrong. You recently tryed to drag his name into a discussion involving ourselves. You’re absolutely pathetic.

TTT is very credible unlike some of Vladimir Socor’s analysis and yourself. No small wonder ewhy you don’t want to deal with that.

———————————–

db

You want full disclosure of myself while not providing the same of yourself. Your research skills aere limited. You overlook Johnson’s Russia List, Intelligent.ru, The New York Times (pre-intenet) and the Action Ukraine Report to name others.

What really isn’t going to happen? Your making sense on a regular basis?

No. Your hope that I will have some sort of road-to-Damascus like revelation and realise that your not-so-excellent skills are, in fact, excellent; Ethan Burger has slit his throat and is allowing himself to gently bleed to death in a bin somewhere through shame of being humbled by you; evidence in the form of propaganda pieces cut and pasted from highly-contentious websites now constitute evidence.

Do you not now confirm the obvious on that raised point?

Which point, excatly?

Never mind how you’ve ducked numerous points in reply to your broad swipes.

Erm, no. I have not been making any broad swipes, in fact my points (as can be seen by the simple expedient of reading them) have been tediously detailed. I am also unaware that I have ducked any points, although I must consider the possibility that in your case any actual point may have been missed amongst paragraphs and paragraphs of straw men, online pyschology, and copy-and-paste propaganda.

You’re in fact a liar of the worst sort…

Prove it with details, Mike, not vague statements. You can’t prove anything, because there’s nothing to prove. Adding “in fact” for emphasis is a nice touch, though.

…who has done exactly what you falsely accuse me of.

Made things up and tried to pass them off as facts to discredit someone else? Nope, I haven’t done that.

Cut-and-pasted emails from someone else without attribution and tried to pass the info off as my own? I haven’t done that either.

Misrepresented as a “positive reference” a statement which actually characterized me as part of a “pack of sleazeballs, useful idiots, and nutters”? Pretty sure I haven’t done that.

Lied unrepentantly about a respected member of the Russia-watching community? I certainly haven’t done that.

So, can you provide specifics to substantiate your claim that I’m a “liar,” or am I to understand that this is just another iteration of your brilliant technique of argumentation by turning the accuser’s words back on them?

You whine like a brat, only to be proven wrong.

Where exactly have you proven me wrong?

db

…Your research skills aere limited.

Your reading skills are limited, Mike, as that was my comment about your documented affiliations.

Please give the insults and bullying tone a rest, Mike, as you’re not fooling anyone anymore.

I already did you liar. You’re the bully with your hypocritically appllied McCarthyite slurs on TTT, as you poo pooh the really great imperfections. It’s all proven upon reading from top to bottom of this and some other SRB discussions, unlike your slimeball isolated distortions. The gall of you to ask for “insults” to cease. Practice what you preach you fraud.

****

In life there’re those idiots like Tim Newman, who desire to continue existing as such, no matter how stupid they appear.

That’s not my problem.

In answer to Ger’s recent citing of propaganda he heard:

http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/node/278

UN Report clears Transdniester of weapons smuggling; Praises transparency and co-operation
A new report published by the United Nations confirms that Transdniester does not produce weapons. There is also no arms smuggling and trafficking. The report calls the country’s policies open and transparent, and highlights the government’s good levels of international co-operation in the field of arms control.

By Karen Ryan, 16/Oct/2006

(Tiraspol Times) – In a new report published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Pridnestrovie – which is called Transdniestria in the text – gets high marks for openness and transparency in the field of arms control.

The report refutes earlier claims by Moldova that the country is a “black hole” or haven for arms production and illegal trafficking. Instead, the report points out that Transdniester, as the country is also known, is not involved in arms production or trafficking of any kind.

It states that evidence for the illicit production and trafficking of weapons into and from Transdniester has in the past been exaggerated. According to the published research, there could be some likelihood to presume that trafficking of light weapons might have occurred before 2001, but there is no reliable evidence of any kind whatsoever to claim that this still occurs.

The same holds true for the manufacture or production of such weapons, says the report, which is likely to have been carried out in the 1990s to equip the local law enforcement and border patrol authorities, but which are no longer produced; not even for local supply.

Transparency and good levels of co-operations
In the UN published report, British weapons inspectors and arms experts working on behalf of the United Nations confirm that there is currently transparency and good levels of co-operation with the government of the Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica (PMR) in the field of weapons control.

The text also notes that “Despite its unrecognised status, the Transdniestrian authorities regulate the use and possession of SALW according to their own internal laws and procedures,” underscoring that the country is not a lawless anarchy and that possession of firearms is adequately controlled by country’s police.

” – As we found out, Transnistria doesn’t have a weapons problem,” says one analyst closely involved with the study. “What it does have, however, is a huge image problem, due to years of false and misleading claims from Chisinau. Needless to say, no evidence was ever provided to back up the claims and when we started to look into the real situation, in depth, it all fell apart.”

The research demonstrated that contrary to consistent claims by Moldovan “spin tanks” and Moldova’s government-controlled media, there is no evidence of arms production in Transdniester or any arms trafficking from Transdniester.

” – This survey has been an important first step to build confidence and security in Moldova. By making this information on arms public, we hope that this will lead to effective demilitarisation and security sector reform measures being implemented,” said Paul Eavis, Director of British government-funded Saferworld, and one of the experts behind the report.

” – We know now that the previous claims that Transnistria produces weapons are simply false, and have been false all along” added William Wood, an international attorney and former UN staffer. “Moldova must have a very weak case when they are forced to resort to bald-faced lies, especially against an unrecognized country which does not yet have a United Nations seat and therefore no voice in the international community with which it can defend itself. This is why, now more than ever, journalists, intellectuals and activists must set the record straight and not be afraid to voice opinions critical of the government of Moldova.”

The latest findings echo previous declarations by Tiraspol that it is not involved in the manufacture or export of weapons, and matches earlier reports from a team of international arms inspectors which visited local factories in February and found no evidence of any kind of any weapons manufacturing.

The survey was commissioned and published by the United Nations Development Programme’s South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (UNDP SEESAC). The research was conducted between September 2005 and June 2006 in both Moldova and Pridnestrovie.

****

http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/news/moldova_plane_crash_in_iraq_tied_to_insurgency_arms_smuggling.html

Moldova plane crash in Iraq tied to insurgency arms smuggling
Turkey’s Transportation Minister raised suspicions that the 10 January downing of a Moldovan cargo plane in Iraq could have been a military action. Hidden from international oversight, Moldova has shipped arms to Middle Eastern troublespots since 2002. A recent delivery of 200,000 Kalashnikovs fell into the hands of insurgents in Iraq.

By Jason Cooper, 31/Jan/2007

(Tiraspol Times) – Investigators examining the downing of a Moldovan “Antonov-26″ cargo plane in Iraq have raised doubts over whether the plane was shot down or crashed due to human error. Moldova’s Aerian-Tur M’s An-26, registered No.: ER-26068, was en route from Adan, Turkey, to Iraq’s Balad.

The 10 January incident, which killed 34 people including all Moldovan crew members, has been described as a puzzle and has been linked to a pattern of illegal Moldovan arms trafficking to the Middle East. Throughout 2006 and the first two weeks of 2007, planes from Moldova have continually been involved in shipping weapons for Sunni insurgents in and around Baghdad.

Turkish Minister of Transportation Binali Y?ld?r?m has publicly raised suspicion that the plane was shot down by US troops, noting also that “The flight recorder of the crashed plane is in Iraq. The plane was coming from Moldova to Iraq,” and protesting the lack of cooperation with Turkey. Despite having lost the most victims in the incident, Turkish experts who were not allowed to join a group of American, Iraqi and Moldovan professionals decrypting the flight recorders.

A previous statement from Y?ld?r?m had raised suspicions over the reason behind the crash when he said that the American troops removed the wreckage from Balad Airport. Abdulkadir Akyüz, the only passenger to survive the plane crash and hospitalized in Ankara has not yet fully recovered, said Y?ld?r?m, and added that he will pay a visit to Akyüz soon. American troops are said to have grown increasingly suspicious of the steady flow of Moldovan cargo planes to Iraq, carrying a continuous stream of weapons that have fuelled the islamic insurgency.

U.S. government battles Moldova over Jihad weapons pipeline
A veritable pipeline of weapons from Bosnia and Moldova have been flowing steadily to fuel the Jihad in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East for at least five years, with Moldovan Antonov-26 cargo planes at the center of the trafficking network.

Moldova, officially the poorest country in Europe, has been caught in numerous cases of weapons trafficking to groups in the Middle East. There is clear and unrefutable evidence of the Moldovan connection in arming the Jihad against the West, showed by sources such as the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. In 2002, the U.S. Government sanctioned two Moldovan companies for selling selling small arms and other military equipment to Iran, considered by American intelligence analysts to be the main state sponsor of the insurgency in Iraq. Shortly thereafter, another investigation put the spotlight on the transfer of huge amounts of Kalashnikov rifles and ammo to Islamic troublespots. (Source: Small Arms Survey 2003, a project of the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva, page 109).

To deflect attention from the repeated American criticism, Moldova instead claims that “Transnistria” (its word for Pridnestrovie) is a black hole which supplies weapons to Al-Qaeda. But unlike Moldova’s proven arms transfers, no such evidence has ever surfaced to lend credibility to claims that anyone from Pridnestrovie has ever trafficked weapons anywhere at any time. The government in Pridnestrovie says that it is a smokescreen and a Moldovan fantasy which has no basis in reality.

Pridnestrovie is landlocked, with a European Union border control mission on one side, and the Moldovan government on the other. Moreover, unlike Moldova, where cargo planes regularly fly night missions to Iraq, there is no cargo air traffic whatsoever from Pridnestrovie; night or day.

Moldova supplies 200,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles to Iraq’s insurgents
According to a report published by the United Nations, Moldova withheld significant data on transfers of small arms and light weapons of the type used by militant Iraq insurgents against American troops. Information about the transfers, all from Moldova in 2004 and 2005, had been withheld by the Moldovan Government and not reported internationally. These transfers did not pass through Transdniestria.

Weapons proliferation specialist hired by the United Nations confirm that a lack of overall transparency on the part of the Government of Moldova with respect to arms transfers, coupled with valid concerns about past practice, has left international observers uncertain as to whether Moldova is able to implement and enforce its rhetorical commitments to SALW transfer control, states the report.

In May 2006, Moldova’s reputation was further damaged by the involvement of Jetline International, a shipping firm previously registered in Moldova as AEROCOM, in controversial transfers of more than 200,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles from Bosnia to Iraq. Amnesty International reported that many of these arms ended up in the hands of insurgents, militia and rebel groups. The Guardian, in a piece of investigative reporting published on 12 May 2006, showed how these weapons “went missing” in Iraq. Two Canadian intelligence analysts believe that behind the arms deal were powerful Islamic interests, tied to both Bosnia and the Moldovan government, and that the 200,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles had always been intended for the insurgents in Iraq. Shortly after the arrival of the Moldovan cargo, the situation in Iraq escalated and turned into what observers on the ground began to classify as an outright civil war.

Although the West continues to back Moldova, some have now begun to question the wisdom of this strategy, calling it ‘one sided’ and ’simplistic’ as Moldovan-supplied arms continue to fuel the killings in Iraq.

Balad, where the Moldovan Antonov-26 went down, is the main US military logistics hub in Iraq, north of Baghdad. The US military, which controls Iraqi air space, declined to comment.

****

As a law student and otherwise, Lyndon fails miserably at the lawyerly tactic of mud slinging and diversionary tactics to offset weak claims.

In answer to Ger’s recent citing of propaganda he heard…

…please see a few articles copied and pasted from a source which has been soundly rejected as nothing but a propaganda website by the very person I am trying to covince.

This reminds me of the hardline Muslims I used to argue with in Dubai, who would point to pages in the Koran as proof that the Koran was an authoritative source.

Tim does the stupid again with a warped analogy. As all can clearly see, both articles cite credible enough sources indpendent of TTT and any kind of bias related to what some claim of it.

Mike,

under normal circumstances I’d consider taking your word for it. But I didnt. I have searched the UN website of the reported allegedly quoted by ”Karen Ryan”(sounds like a Paddy to me) and found no trace of any such report. If you can provide a link to the report, which to be honest I doubt exists, I will take a look and see if it checks out and duly concede the point. Otherwise, to be honest, no-one in their right mind is going to believe a word from the TTT. Sorry, but its not a newspaper, its a propaganda piece and a bad one at that. Reading it gives me an impression of a kind of paradise-like place. You’d think it was a great place like Norway or Liechtenstein or some such wealthy country reading that nonsense.

Lyndon – I read Megalomattis full piece on Scotland on the TTT. It couldnt be a bigger load of old rubbish. It displayed a total lack of knowledge of the United Kingdom and Scotland and the factors at play there. There is really nothing to compare Scotland and Tansnistria.
Answer me this Lyndon, you’d know quite well, does Transnistria have a legitimate independence claim?

It’s there Ger and Lyndon isn’t a fair and balanced source to get an opinion on that question you pose.

You miscomrprehend the 5/1 TT piece on Scotland.

Pardon the misspell.

http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/news/former_moldavian_ssr_a_non_country_which_broke_in_two.html

The former Moldavian SSR: A non-country which broke in two
Never a nation, the Moldavian SSR was always just an administrative entity within the Soviet Union. Today, it has effectively broken in two.
By Michael Averko, 27/Dec/2006
(Tiraspol Times) – The term “former Moldavian SSR” is intentionally written as shorthand for present day Moldova and Transdniester (the latter having several different English language spellings). This kind of political journalism is used when reference is made to the countries once comprising the “former Yugoslavia” as well as those republics making up the “former Soviet Union”. It acknowledges that one time single units have since broken away from each other.

For new readers and as a brief reiteration to those familiar with the subject matter: Transdniester (officially named Pridnestrovie, per its constitution) has the most valid case for independence among all of the former Communist bloc territories currently in dispute. It’s a multi-ethnic, peaceful society, with a democratic government, which doesn’t threaten any of its neighbors. When evaluating the disputed territories, the one size fits all mindset (either independence for all or none) is like fitting everyone with a shoe that’s only available in one size. Another misevaluation pertains to when numerous choices don’t result in a correct fit. Like the mischievous suggestion that Kosovo has a better case for independence than Transdniester and some other disputed former Soviet territories.

Transdniester’s pre-Soviet and Soviet histories include it never having been part of an independent Moldova. Transdniester was part of ancient Russia (Kievan Rus)
and in pre-1939 Soviet times, it was affiliated with Russia as an autonomous region within the Communist created Ukrainian SSR. Unlike Kosovo, the ethnic demography of Transdniester (a clear Russocentric Slavic majority) hasn’t changed over the centuries. The latter has experienced no wide scale illegal immigration and-or ethnic cleansing campaigns. Through military force, the USSR incorporated the Moldovan region of Romania in 1939. Shortly thereafter, Transdniester was arbitrarily put into the Communist created Moldavian SSR. The collapse of Communism in Europe permitted Moldova to determine its own future. It’s a high point in hypocrisy to deny this right to Transdniester. This past September 17th, a free and fair referendum further reveals that Transdniester desires the full status of an independent state and the expressed will to reunify with Russia.

No threat to its neighbors
All things considered, the war between Moldova and Transdniester (in the early nineties) hasn’t left the bad blood evident in some other post Communist bloc conflicts (Kosovo being an extreme contrast). Russia’s 14th Army should be credited for successfully ending the war between Moldova and Transdniester. Since then, Moldova shows no noticeable movement to again attack Transdniester. For its part, Transdniester poses no legitimate threat to its neighbors.

One couldn’t help but note a recent statement made by Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin. In no uncertain terms, he cautioned Romania to not display any imperial ambitions towards his internationally recognized country. For Transdniester – Voronin’s comments are clouded by his ongoing attitude towards Transdniester.

Romania and Moldova have much in common, as shown by the vertical blue, yellow and red flag they each have (the only difference being that Moldova’s has an emblem in its center). Shortly after the Soviet breakup, Moldova’s newly created UN Mission was located on the same New York building floor as Romania’s (the two offices have since moved to other locations, separate from each other). Despite their fraternal feelings, Chisinau maintains an independent status from Bucharest. As long as this is the freely expressed will of Moldova – Romania should respectfully recognize that present status quo.

In comparison, Transdniester and Moldova have a similar though more distant relationship. Although Transdniester was never part of an independent pre-Soviet Moldova, Transdniester and Moldova were at times affiliated with the same (now defunct) empires. Transdniester political figure Andrey Safonov recently ran on a platform favoring a Chisinau-Tiraspol confederation. The election result shows that his sentiment isn’t shared by the overwhelming majority of Transdniester’s population.

Transdniester’s stated desire for closer ties with Russia isn’t so out of wack with many in Moldova. It wasn’t too long ago when Voronin advocated Moldovan entry into the proposed Common (or Joint) Economic Sphere, involving Russia and some other former Soviet republics. The Common Economic Sphere framework doesn’t translate into member states becoming Russian republics (a process which can be hypothetically initiated via other avenues, based on a mutual desire between any of the involved parties). At the same time, the Common Economic Sphere’s overall makeup reflects the reality of Russia as the leader of a close knit economic order. Although Voronin has since detracted from Common Economic Sphere confederation, there’s reasonable cause to believe that Moldova may yet again choose closer ties to Russia and some other former Soviet states. Moldova’s ongoing economic woes and non-likelihood of an early EU membership might be enough for Chisinau to reconsider its path.

The upcoming new year promises to be an interesting one for the people of the former Moldavian SSR.

****

http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/news/when_will_russia_apply_the_reverse_holbrooke.html

When will Russia apply “The Reverse Holbrooke?”
Richard Holbrooke wants independence for Kosovo. But Russia can apply “The Reverse Holbrooke” by actively detailing why Trans-Dniester should be independent unlike Kosovo. Truth and reason solidifies the validity of the reverse Holbrooke doctrine.

By Michael Averko, 14/Apr/2007
NEW YORK (Special to Tiraspol Times) – Great powers have been known to distance themselves from their ethnic kin abroad. Depending on the given particulars, the reasoning for such a stance can range from valid, to lame, to traitorous.

In the early 1960’s, Algeria’s French population felt betrayed by Charles de Gaulle’s government. The French patriot de Gaulle correctly calculated that France’s historical attachment to Algeria was strictly colonial in nature, with the French having never made up a significant portion of Algeria’s population. Besides de Gaulle, many other French persons thought that Algerian independence was the practical route to take.

On the more traitorous side, in 1995, the JNA (Yugoslav National Army) was in idle as Croat forces ethnically cleansed the majority 150,000 Serbs from Krajina. Agim Ceku was a key military leader in that operation. Ceku is now considered a worthy representative for Kosovo’s Albanian population, as that community strives for independence from Serbia. For those insisting that Kosovo should be independent unlike Trans-Dniester, kindly contrast the backgrounds of the Kosovo Albanian leadership to that of Trans-Dniester’s. The former features several bona-fide war criminals unlike the latter.

Holbrooke and the Dayton Accords
Shortly after the ethnic cleansing campaign in Krajina, the West put then Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic on a pedestal by allowing him to participate in the Clinton Administration orchestrated Dayton Accords, which ended the Bosnian Civil War and determined the fate (at least in writing) of that troubled former Yugoslav republic. To the delight of the Serb adversaries, the Bosnian Serb leadership was kept out of that process. At the time, the not so Serb friendly New York Times columnist Anthony Lewis gave toned down commentary on Milosevic. Likewise with Bill Clinton’s foreign policy honcho Richard Holbrooke, who played a lead role in advancing the Dayton Accords. For many Serbs, Milosevic sold out Serb interests in Krajina, to go along with his not getting the best possible deal out of Dayton.

At the time of the Dayton process, Milosevic was unpopular with many Serbs. This was an ideal moment for the West to support Serbian opposition against him. The West chose not to because Milosevic was doing what Western governments desired. A few years later, the West would turn sour on Milosevic when he defended Serb sovereignty over Kosovo.

Unlike Algeria’s relationship to France, Kosovo is a land demographically, historically and geographically linked to Serbia. For much of history, Serbs predominated in that province. Massive illegal immigration from Albania and a series of ethnic cleansing campaigns over the past 100 years changed Kosovo’s demographics (many sources state that Albanians now make up 90% of that province).

Fast forward to the present and Richard Holbrooke is again trying to influence the status of disputed former Communist bloc territories. Without much in terms of a challenge, it’s typical to find Holbrooke at Anglo-American mass media outlets, where he erroneously claims that Kosovo is the “special case” for independence unlike the disputed former Communist bloc territories; each of them having their own varying claims to independence.

Time to confront Holbrooke’s mistakes
The official and semiofficial Russian reply to this can be arguably firmer. The Kremlin is correct for noting that Kosovo independence sets a precedent for favoring the validity of the independence minded disputed former Soviet regions of Trans-Dniester, South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Nagorno Karabakh.

Is it not time for Russia to apply “the reverse Holbrooke” by actively detailing why Trans-Dniester should be independent unlike Kosovo? Truth and reason solidifies the validity of the reverse Holbrooke. Along with some others in his crowd, Holbrooke carries on like a pit bull in stating aggressively misguided policies. You don’t successfully confront a pit bull by behaving like a St. Bernard.

For its own reasons, Romania is also not so keen on Kosovo independence. Moldovan sympathizing Romania knows all too well that Trans-Dniester (which Moldova claims) has a better case for independence than Kosovo. On this point and so as to not repeat myself, refer to The former Moldavian SSR: A non-country which broke in two (The Tiraspol Times, 27 December 2006) and Russia’s Sane Position on Kosovo (Serbianna, 22 March 2007).

The issue of seeking independence is akin to applying to a prestigious school (in this instance, substitute school with independence). Some of us are more qualified and get accepted unlike others. Trans-Dniester clearly has a great case for independence unlike Kosovo. Suggesting the reverse is on par with job discrimination.

Kindly note that this is written by someone sincerely having the best interests of his native American homeland at heart. Throughout much of history, Serbia and Russia have been great allies of the West. Their yearning to be on good terms with the West need not be foolishly dissuaded.

Mike,

where is the UN report? I looked everywhere and even Googled it but without a title its hard. Usually journalists will fully name a report title in the first few lines of articles. Karen Ryan hasnt done that, I cant find the report and I find the whole thing highly dubious.

I’ll read your articles – I think I have read the first one before, but a second opinion from a Russian speaker well travelled in the region like Lyndon is likely to be as correct if not more so than someone on the outside.

Not so on the last point. This has been proven.

I can look into that query of yours or better yet, send TTT a letter and tell ‘em I sent yuh.

Based on your performance here, you aren’t such a good judge on what is and isn’t good media. Note your earlier claims of TTT vis-a-vis Tom de Waal.

I believe this site has some suppporting info on that and related matters:

http://www.bhhrg.org

Mike,

again, I reiterate, where is the report? Surely the TTT journalists reference their articles? Show me the report and I’ll read and if its right I’ll concede the point. Otherwise, believe the TTT? You must be joking.

I used the wrong word re De Waal and the TTT. Big swinging mickey. I said that above. Regardless, what the TTT did was outright banditry, irrespective of my incorrect choice of word.

WIth regard to Lyndon, whom you’ve abused outrageously here I might add quite needlessly, he speaks Russian and has been there. He’s not picking stuff off the net. There’s no substitute for experience and no amount of explaining will change my view of that.

WIth regard to Lyndon, whom you’ve abused outrageously here I might add quite needlessly, he speaks Russian and has been there. He’s not picking stuff off the net. There’s no substitute for experience and no amount of explaining will change my view of that.

I have to agree, I find it highly amusing that an American who appears to have never lived in the CIS, cannot speak Russian, and has barely visited the areas in question considers himself more knowledgeable on the subject than an American who lived in the CIS, speaks Russian, and has visited the region properly. This is especially pertinent when one considers the difference in content, style, and overall accuracy of Lyndon and Mike’s articles.

My guess is that were Lyndon to sell his soul and write propaganda articles for TTT, the first thing Mike would receive is a letter from the management saying his services were no longer required.

But then we’d get 6 months of moaning that TTT is biased, etc.

Ger, the report in question is here.

You want full disclosure of myself…

No, Mike, I only ask what you do for a living. Are you ashamed to tell?

Tim,

there isnt a doubt what you’ve said is true. Mike seems to think that because his opinions are his they must be correct. He accuses others of bias when he could be a spokesman for Moscow and writes in a political pamphlet dedicated to one point of view only. Unless I’m mistaken thats not what an analyst is supposed to do.

There’s no doubt that Lyndon has simply got to have the inside track on that situation in a way that Mike doesnt. I’m not being cruel either – who are you going to listen to? A Russian speaker whose travelled extensively in that region or someone who’s never even been there? Its simple logic who. And fluffy statements about ”knowing better than so-called experts” is rubbish. Next thing Mike you’ll be telling Tim about the oil industry and life in Britain and me about mass spectrometry and what life is like in Ireland. I’m just waiting for it.

DB- thanks for the link, but I’m having trouble opening the full report, it seems to freeze the pc(I’m not bullshitting). However the two links to the two page report(which seems to contain the arms info) and the safeworld.org page contain no information about weapons smuggling from the PMR really. It doesnt seem to confirm anything Karen Ryan says. Correct me please if I’m wrong, I say that genuinely.

Tim admitted to being dim. Case closed with him on his buttheaded comments.

Ger, is what someone recently referred to as an internet pervert. Using his own twisted logic, TTT folks are more well versed than Lyndon since he doesn’t live in Trans-Dniester. That’s not the sole reason. BTW, it’s possible to live in a given area and be very uninformed about it. Look at the number of Americans who don’t know much about US history and foreign policy as a case in point.

Ger, can’t prove anything wrong with TTS’ citing of de Waal because hey did nothing wrong. Ont the other hand, like Tim and Lyndon – Ger demagogically chooses to ignore the great media flaws that were presented to them.

Also note how Ger saw no fault in my TT commentary. His latest talking point is probably groundless. The Tom de Waal instance serving as a prior example.

I’m having trouble opening the full report, it seems to freeze the pc

Ger, don’t try to open it in the browser. Instead, download it and open with Acrobat.

Mike, the person who referred to me as an internet pervert was in fact you, earlier in this thread, so that makes the statement a little biased, to say the least. Meantime I dont call myself a stud and refer to ex-girlfriends. As the Irish say, those who are getting some feel no need to talk about it.

You twist my words as you often do with others. What I actually said was I’d like to hear Lyndon’s view on PMR’s independence, in addition to yours. I never said anything about the other TTT journalists. Then again, they must be experts. We’ve got Megalomaniac in Cairo talking about Scotland and the PMR, you banging on about Russia, the CIS and anywhere that’ll publish you without so much as ‘privet’ in your vocabulary and Karen Ryan, who sounds like an Irishwoman who went to the doctor for PMS but through a linguistic misunderstanding got sent by the Pakistani surgeon to the PMR. I ask you, who is going to believe this motley crew?)

Ger – I don’t think that you can be anymore twisted than you already are. That’s not my doing. Take responsibility.

I didn’t originate that stated description of yourself. Based on your performance here, I’m sorry to say that it’s quite appropriate.

Mike,

some of the words you’ve used to describe contributors here:

pervert, liar, twisted, dim, buttheaded, stupid, bigoted.

Just a few of the lovely words you’ve used here. And I’m the one who’s twisted? You cant even have an argument without resorting to these tactics. Shameless. Sorry, it was Alexandra who called me a pervert – we all know who she is.

DB – i downloaded then opened and it said there was a problem with the file and it couldnt be opened. I tried again and the same thing happened. Is there any chance you could have a look and give an appraisal of Karen Ryan’s article?

You’re a one ****** loon of the worst sort. Tim, Chris, Lyndon and yourself have carried on in the same manner and worse. I’ve a periodic habit of sinking down to the level of others. On the other hand, when it comes to straight scholarship, none of the above mentioned have anything over me.

A case in point being your “Serb fruitcakes” comment of yesterday.

Who is Alexandra?

Mike,

Alexandra is you. Give it up.

None of us used the names you have or the histrionics. Its obvious to everyone looking on. None of us have anything over you? Again, your opinion, self praise is no praise as we say at home)

You lie again. Have you no ethics?

Mike, I told you before it really seems to me that they are you(Alexandra and Andrew Waller). Will someone else please disagree with me on this?

In case I am wrong, sorry. But I doubt I am.

You’re wrong. There’s something very wrong about you. Oh well.

Ger:

Answer me this Lyndon, you’d know quite well, does Transnistria have a legitimate independence claim?

Ger, there are many other people who know better than I do, although I have become convinced that Mike Averko is not one of them. I don’t believe Transnistria has a case for independence under international law; of course, the fact that it’s been de facto independent (of Moldova, if not of Russia) for the past 15 years means that the separation has become entrenched and there will have to be some political will and creativity applied to achieve a settlement to the conflict. After all, possession is nine-tenths of the law, and Smirnov and his guys – with Russian backing – rather firmly possess that little strip of land. But since they came into possession of it illegally, the PMR should not be allowed to stand unchallenged.

To avoid repeating myself, I’ll link to some comments where I explained some of my opinions on the region: here , here and here. Mike’s article (which he pasted in above) confirms that by “CES/JES” he means a regional economic grouping of CIS countries. Mentioning this may be Mike’s response to the Western approach of Europeanizing the conflict, but the “Common Economic Sphere” idea has little or nothing to do with resolving the territorial conflict over Transnistria.

To get back to broader principles, international law contains the principle of self-determination of peoples, which is easily interpreted in a number of ways (see my comment here). As far as I can tell, what it’s really meant to be is an escape hatch if things get so bad for a group within a country (including systematic persecution on the level of ethnic cleansing, etc.) that they just can’t remain in the same country. Otherwise questions of secession are up to the state from which the territory is trying to secede (situations like the Montenegro referendum are different, because that followed a previously agreed upon scheme, which the metropolitan state had the chance to reject).

I don’t think I am reflexively anti-Russian on any issues, even on the Transnistrian issue. I just think Russia’s involvement in the region and the regime it has supported (many if not all of Transnistria’s top leaders carry Russian passports) has not been above reproach. A settlement is possible, and hopefully one will occur soon on terms that allow Moldova to move towards European integration – another problem with Russia’s role has been its promotion of settlement plans that would guarantee Transnistria’s current rulers enough seats in the parliament of a reunited country that they would be able to veto Euro-integration.

Mike:

Let’s see, your response to my last couple of comments listing some lies and distortions on your part and asking you to explain them and please specify where you’ve seen me “lie” was as follows:

I already did you liar. You’re the bully with your hypocritically appllied McCarthyite slurs on TTT, as you poo pooh the really great imperfections. It’s all proven upon reading from top to bottom of this and some other SRB discussions, unlike your slimeball isolated distortions. The gall of you to ask for “insults” to cease. Practice what you preach you fraud.

Can you be more specific, Mike? I’ve read the threads, and I don’t see where I’ve been a “slimeball” or a “fraud.” And by “specific,” I don’t mean to invite you to repeat your claim that “as all can see,” etc. Please be specific or kindly stop making your groundless claim that I have “lied.”

As a law student and otherwise, Lyndon fails miserably at the lawyerly tactic of mud slinging and diversionary tactics to offset weak claims.

Mike, I daresay you have no idea how I do as a law student (just fine so far, thanks), other than trying to bring that biographical fact in to play on a perceived general dislike for lawyers.

If you’re expecting me to make some kind of legal threat against you for badmouthing me here, don’t worry, I’m not a lawyer yet, and in general that’s not how I roll. Sean has wisely put a disclaimer up so that he’s not responsible for your nonsense, and I understand why he does not want to be involved in policing you, as doing so just opens one up to rants based on the well-documented Averkian paranoia about censorship. Your behavior here amply demonstrates why you’ve been banned from other forums in the past.

Your baseless insults would bother me more if I thought anyone took you seriously. As it is, your continued verbal abuse only confirms that I’ve rattled you and your preconceived “Russocentric” notions, not to mention your faith in TTT as the revealed truth, and that you just want me to shut up and go away, so that you can stand on the top of the trash-heap you’ve made of this argument, beating your chest and hollering about Russia (in English only) and Serbia.

By the way, Mike, your beef with db asking you what you do for a living seems to be that he won’t give you his name. Well, you know my name and what I do at the moment (though being a student is not much of a “living”), so perhaps I can hope for an answer if I ask – what exactly do you do for a living, Mike?

PS – Mike, your continued flacking for the PMR and the Tiraspol Times here and elsewhere only deepens my suspicion that someone pays you for this. Please clarify.

Copying from an earlier exchange when I’d asked you if you get compensated by TTT to be their columnist, promoter and US mouthpiece:

Mike: It’s frankly none of your ****** business to know one of the questions you ask. It’s not asked of Socor and any number of other analysts and journalists.

Me: Don’t get so angry, Mike. No one asks about others because everyone knows who pays other analysts and journalists – it’s the publications or organizations they are affiliated with. Don’t you make such accusations all the time about “Soros-funded orgs” and the writing they support? Since you’ve stated your affiliation with TTT and seem rather intent on promoting it, I guess we can all draw our own conclusions.

Trans-Dniester has a much better case for independence than Kosovo. No one has yet to prove otherwise. There’re clear historical differences between the former Moldavian SSSR and just about all of the former USSSR republics. These points are decisively raised in my well received commentary which top the hit chart at the respective sites where they’re located.

Lyndon, I’ve you possibly slated as a spook. You frequently travel and by your own admission attend a prominent law school. During finals time, what kind of a law student has the time to blab at these blogs? Are your grades pre-determined?

Am I not allowed to make a living? It’s none of your business how much I’m being paid and by whom.

Meantime, you don’t challenge the nameless La Russophobe in the same manner. Your biases are clear.

Lyndon, I’ve you possibly slated as a spook.

Although that’s not the case, I guess you’re entitled to your opinion. Why exactly would a “spook” use his real name and post biographical information?

You frequently travel…

Ah yes, qualification number one for “spook”-hood.

…and by your own admission attend a prominent law school.

And I meet qualification #2 as well! You’ve blown my cover, Mike! So, do you think all of the other 600 members of my graduating class (yes, Gtown is unfortunately a very large law school) are “spooks” also?

During finals time, what kind of a law student has the time to blab at these blogs?

You’re right, I don’t have time to be doing this, which is why this whole thread is clearly a plot by you to sabotage my finals performance this semester. “Anyone who reads the thread from top to bottom” can see that, so it must be true.

Are your grades pre-determined?

I wish.

Am I not allowed to make a living?

Who said you aren’t?

It’s none of your business how much I’m being paid and by whom.

That may be. No one asked how much, by the way. And the initial question which you dodged didn’t even deal with “by whom,” but simply asked – “what do you do for a living, Mike?”

Care to answer?

Meantime, you don’t challenge the nameless La Russophobe in the same manner. Your biases are clear.

Funny – even Averko places himself in the same category as LR.

Not at all buttmunch. I was just showing Lyndon’s bias.

Are we getting personal now.

One thing for sure, I’m no astronaut like Chris Doss.

Mike, one more question: Are you one of those people who believes that any educated American who lives in Moscow or SPB and travels to the more obscure parts of the former Soviet Union, learns local languages, expresses an interest in the situation there, etc., is a “spook” by definition?

Every last one of those peace corps volunteers, NGO workers, academics, business people, etc. – they’re all “spooks,” aren’t they, Mike.

I bring this up because I’ve encountered this point of view and believe it reflects a tremendous inferiority complex – “we suck so bad that only spooks would want to come live and travel here.”

Sorry, Mike, it’s been your misfortune that – in your mission to spread English-language misinformation about the situation in Transnistria – you have encountered in me someone who cares about the situation there enough to waste all this time commenting about it, jeopardizing my finals performance (you’re right, of course, that I don’t have time for this), while not even getting paid for it.

I guess you don’t understand people who care enough about issues to write about them pro bono without making incessant appeals for funding (such as your appeals to “the Russian government and Russocentric oligarchs” – e.g., “Paging Russocentric oligarchs to back me in the way the ‘other side’ gets backed.” – and more specific appeals to Russia Today TV).

For you, I guess it’s all about the cheddar.

May I ask again how you make your living, given the large amount of time you spend in the comments section of this blog?

You take the cake and leave no crumbs.

Actually, I’m the sincere idealist in being the realist in the sense of telling the truth to the detriment of advancement.

Some very big names have personally expressed this view to me.

I am too an astronaut. Many big names in the Russian government and media have expressed their thanks to me for having single-handedly saved the Russian space program.

I’m not going to tell you who they are, though.

Let him believe what he wants. Some of them have come to see me and some of them have asked for and have accpeted my advice. Some of which was described in my March 1, Siberian Light interview.

People can be interviewed for the right and wrong reasons. In Chris’ case, the interest just isn’t there.

GER

Is there any chance you could have a look and give an appraisal of Karen Ryan’s article?

Karen Ryan is a known fraud, and the article is typical TTT rubbish.

As for your pdf troubles, sounds like an incomplete download. How large is your file?

db as a sock puppet for Ger. Same m.o. Posts a NYT bit on another Karen Ryan and then uses the word “rubbish” like Ger.

Then we’ve db’s Rain Man like obsessions with certain vague particulars like what’s a more appropriate translation of UPA.

Perhaps db is a bit of a humorist.

… another Karen Ryan

Oops, sorry, my bad.

Mike, inquiring minds still want to know what you do for a living.

An insignificant person like me?

Yes, just do it. Answer the question. Please.

Mike, I hereby state for the record that I am perfectly willing to be interviewed in detail on the course of my careers as both astronaut and ninja. Why won’t you do the same? C’mon, what do you do for a living?

Chris – I was the one who was interviewed unlike yourself.

Unlike your pundit friend, I don’t hide in managed environments, falsely claim “abuse” (instead, confusing that word with valid critique) and call Paul Goble “nuts”.

All can see your shameless hackwork at this venue.

db state your real name please.

I’m Ger’s sockpuppet.

So for the umpteenth time, Mike, what do you do for a living?

As per the great Johnnie B at the post on SRB comments, your initials must be in reverse for Big Dummy as opposed to Dumb Bell? Maybe a bit harsh. Sorry. On the other hand, you’ve your track record here and abroad. You aren’t Johnnie B?

Are you screening me for a job? Put it this way, I don’t feel a need to answer you on that question in public as I would some others in private. Lyndon should especially respect certain points being kept off topic on request (like one’s family and ethnic background)

I’ll once again note how some of you all aren’t so curious about the person or persons running La Russophobe.

On the matter of questions, how about Chris who lives in Russia, speaks the language and is an “astronaut”. You’d think he’d have accomplished more than his lowly position of coming on here to serve as a cheerleader for some flaws.

Actually, I’m the sincere idealist in being the realist in the sense of telling the truth to the detriment of advancement.

Did you actually write that, or is it the product of some software program which writes speeches for dishonest politicians?

Some very big names have personally expressed this view to me.

Really? List them.

I don’t mean go off on a tangent, start another round of online psychology, or copy-and-paste an entire article.

I mean list them.

In time grasshopper. What I said in my SL interview is no BS. My list of 400 is nothing to sneaze about.

You know who Dietwald Claus is? He wrote an article at his White Crow Press blog and sent it to me. I posted it at QT. It then appeared at JRL, which gets QT and replies to it from time to time. DC’s blog doesn’t come close to even making he chart and he didn’t send that particular piece to JRL. An example of being a difference maker as opposed to being a defender for the establishment lows.

Meantime, let’s assume that it really was RTTV which posted in a recent SRB discussion. For you, there’s no connection with that, Peter Lavelle’s attack dog frequenting here and Ethan S. Burger recent SL appearance.

You did acknowledge to being dim.

Do you really smoke cigars?

In time grasshopper. What I said in my SL interview is no BS. My list of 400 is nothing to sneaze about.

You know who Dietwald Claus is? He wrote an article …etc.

Sorry Mike, you appear to have misunderstood me. When I said:

I don’t mean go off on a tangent, start another round of online psychology, or copy-and-paste an entire article.

What I meant was don’t go off on a tangent, start another round of online psychology, or copy-and-paste an entire article.

And you have gone off on a tangent, started another round of online psychology, but thankfully not copied and pasted an entire article.

So, please can you provide the list of ‘very big names’ as requested.

Once again, don’t go off on a tangent. Just provide a list.

Mike, my claims to be an astronaut and ninja are just as firmly rooted in the adamantine bedrick of reality as yours to be a top-flight Russian analyst and media crtic. The particulars of my illustrious career in the Russian Space Ninja Forces are all there for anyone with Top Secret clearance to see in the archives in the Lubyanka.

And another thing Mike – you talk about ‘winning’ that argument with Ethan Burger on SL. Any objective observer could see that was not the case at all – your counter point was more rubbish about PMR and the TTT. As I recall, the only person who had a go at Burger there was ME, not you.

Sorry Tim, but you further confirm your earlier admission to being a bit on the dim side.

Chris, I’ve shown beyond a reasonable doubt to be more well versed on a number of FSU matters when compared to your pundit friend, some of the people he props and yourself. This explains why you continue to duck many of the points I’ve posted here. Especially at the other SRB discussion. In some instances, it could very well be due to the subject matter being way over your own understanding of the involved topic.

I didn’t win that exchange with Burger? I sure as shit did with all of the other stated replies to it acknowledging such. Comments coming from bright, well educated people unlike yourself. Try posting the exchange in full and showing where Burger won out. You can’t in lieu of your limited ability as the previously described internet pervert. You incorrectly recall what’s otherwise a matter of record at that SL discussion. By now, this is no surprise.

When have I ever discussed FSU matters with you Mike?

Mike,

could you please provide two examples of real people categorically stating you ‘won’ the exchange with Ethan Burger. Cos from what I could see, he cleaned you out.

Alexandra and Andrew Waller dont count as real, for obvious reasons.

Chris, are you that punch drunk from getting slapped around here?

We actually had a pretty decent conversation at this site regarding pogroms and Cossacks. Even Ger picked up on it. That was the one which Tim had interrupted with some rather lame rehashed goobbly gook of his.

Awhile back, we’d a brief discussion about Cossacks over at Orange Ukraine.

Are you denying not having posted under a moniker at The NYT Eastern Europe & Russian Forum?

Uh Mike, and that would be the discussion in which you showed you didn’t know anything about either the pogroms or Cossacks?

I was not aware the NYT had an Eastern Europe & Russian Forum.

It’s really amazing the twisted, demented world of invented conspiracies and secret identities in which you live. I repeat, you need psychological help.

You lie again Chris. I indicated nothing of the sort in that Orange Ukraine discussion.

Very often the nuttier among us believe others to be crazy.

On The NYT forum, I asked a question. I recall Lavelle posting how you and him participated at another forum which fit the description of The NYT.

I also recollect two participants at that venue who closely match the m.o. of yourselves.

You’re hilarious. It’s not the NYT forum. It’s a mailing list.

The joke is on you for having misunderstood what was otherwise clearly stated.

I was referring to the Google Discussion Group that was later blocked from open viewing. it was at that venue where he said the mentioned forum point about the two of you.

On The NYT forum, I asked if you appeared there

No, you halfwit. I do not hang around the NYT babble site.

En fait, c’est un homme evidemment tout a fait fou, qui n’a pas de connaissance de soi-meme. Le trou de l’ignorance, la desespoir de la folie, c’est vous, Averko, c’est vous!

Sorry Tim, but you further confirm your earlier admission to being a bit on the dim side.

Well, it would appear thus, given my almost childlike faith in thinking that you would actually produce a list of the “very big names” who have personally spoken in support of you.

However, I come out of this looking dim; your failure to produce even a single “very big name” who has supported you leaves you coming out of this looking like a complete fraud.

That was the one which Tim had interrupted with some rather lame rehashed goobbly gook of his.

No. Remember Mike, everything is on record here for all to read over again. I interrupted you in order to ask you to explain your statement that the rape issue in Bosnia was proven to be a great hoax.

If you recall, or simply re-read your own words, it turned out that you admitted rapes had occurred, but they warranted the description of a great hoax.

I appreciate that you tried to slink away from these remarks into a discussion about the Cossacks, but I was not prepared to let such idiotic remarks pass without further explanation from you.

Try posting the exchange in full and showing where Burger won out.

If I recall, Burger made one posting then disappeared altogether. You then responded to this by posting a reply followed by seven hundred and forty three references to this “exchange” and telling anyone who disagrees with your assessment that you displayed “excellent skills” therein that they are ill-educated and thick, and refer to dozens of emails you have had in support from people you refuse to name.

Ethan Burger may not have gotten the better of you, but you sure as hell are doing a good job of losing anyway.

Tim, everything is on record here, thereby explaining your prolonged foolishness. Those points were addressed in full.

Your last post makes no sense.

Chris your designated “half wit” description of me beats your being a no wit.

Tim, everything is on record here, thereby explaining your prolonged foolishness.

Well, that judgement rests with the reader.

But I’m glad you’ve progressed to understanding that everything said here is on record and can be verified. Thus far, you have been reciting your own version of events with regards this thread which does not tally up with what has been actually written, as if nobody would ever spot the discrepancy.

Such is your convoluted spin.

You backtracked from some of what you earlier said regarding the matter of Burger.

Do and say as you please.

“Thus far, you have been reciting your own version of events with regards this thread which does not tally up with what has been actually written, as if nobody would ever spot the discrepancy.”

The thing is, Tim, I think Mike genuinely believes that his opinion is correct and that facts bear him out (even though they obviously don’t). That is, he is living in a fantasy world of his own creation that cannot be broken into or disrupted by real events or facts — he will simply mesh them seeminglessly into his fantasy, or they will be erased from his consciousness, or they will be explained away as being the results of the evil machinations of others. That’s why he falsifies and lies in plain sight, like a 5-year-old child — he doesn’t actually realize that he is falsifying and lying.

The layman’s term for this state is “being crazy.”

Tell me something though Chris, verything Mike has said aside, has he actually been mistreated by these people he complains about, like David Johnson? I know we have reservations ourselves about his writing and opinions, but what is the actual story there? Has some misfortune been done to him to cause this rabid behaviour? You dont have to wear yourself out typing, just give us a general idea.

Chris with the Soviet psychiatry again. He loves being a running dog hack.

On the other hand, here’s an intelligent exchange I just had with someone far brighter than the current SRB located version of the Three Stooges:

Thanks ****** I agree with your assessment of the below piece.

On your other point, here’s something to consider: Bush Sr. wasn’t a career CIA guy. Rather, he was the outsider brought into the CIA for the purpose of being like a kind of auditor, if not spook against it. Politics the world over has examples of this. The non-military Trotsky was brought in to head the Red Army because the politicians wanted some monitoring over it. Especially after the 1919 Polish attack on Russia, when some Whites went over to the Red side, for reasons not relevant to accepting Marxist-Leninist ideology.

Putin being in the KGB is a plus. He was stationed in the DDR and is believed to have spent time in the FRD (offhand, I’m not sure if the latter has been firmly established). I recall a Soviet dissident (whose name escapes me) saying back in the 19 seventies that a future reformer could likely come from the KGB. The reason having to do with their exposure to outside material which many a provincial party hack wouldn’t be aware of. Keep in mind that Putin was an ally of the late liberal reformist mayor of St. Pete Anatoly Sobchak.

Mike

Original Message —–

Mike, I thought you might be interested in this piece by Fred Thompson. His attitude towards Russia is very disturbing, not mentioning the fact that George Bush Senior was ex-CIA – and Putin was on the intelligence side in Russia. We were hoping Thompson might be the one – but this doesn’t sit well with me. *****

———————————–

Sticks and Stones
By Fred Thompson
Monday, April 30, 2007
TownHall

It bothers Americans when we’re told how unpopular we are with the rest of the world. For some of us, at least, it gets our back up — and our natural tendency is to tell the French, for example, that we’d rather not hear from them until the day when they need us to bail them out again.
But we cool off. We’re big boys and girls, after all, and we don’t really bruise that easily. We’re also hopeful that, eventually, our ostrich-headed allies will realize there’s a World War going on out there and they need to pick a side — the choice being between the forces of civilization and the forces of anarchy. Considering the fact that the latter team is growing stronger and bolder daily, while most of our European Union friends continue to dismantle their defenses, that day may not be too long in coming.
In the meantime, let’s be realistic about the world we live in. Mexican leaders apparently have an economic policy based on exporting their own citizens, while complaining about US immigration policies that are far less exclusionary than their own. The French jail perfectly nice people for politically incorrect comments, but scold us for holding terrorists at Guantanamo.
Russia, though, takes the cake. Here is a government apparently run by ex-KGB agents who have no problem blackmailing whole countries by turning the crank on their oil pipelines. They’re not doing anything shady, they say. They can’t help it if their opponents are so notoriously accident-prone. Criticize these guys and you might accidentally drink a cup of tea laced with a few million dollars worth of deadly, and extremely rare, radioactive poison. Oppose the Russian leadership, and you could trip and fall off a tall building or stumble into the path of a bullet.
The hundreds of demonstrators the Kremlin has had beaten and arrested in the last few weeks alone, we are told, were not pro-democracy activists but common criminals — like world chess champion Garry Kasparov. Demonstrating without a permit is a serious crime and, luckily for the Kremlin, it turns out that pro-government youth groups seem always to have permits for rallies at the exact times and places that anti-government protesters gather.
Another group that seems to be having trouble with permits is the media. Newspapers and television stations that aren’t smart enough to know that America is the enemy and that things are great in Russia can’t seem to get their paperwork in order. It’s some sort of IQ test, I guess.
President Vladimir Putin, though, shows no sign that he feels defensive about his remarkable string of luck. He knows who’s really to blame for “meddling” in Russian “internal affairs.” It’s the United States.
He’s lambasting us for yielding too much power. One example of this excessive power is the missile defense radar system we want to install in Poland and the Czech Republic — to give the free world early warning of a missile attack by terrorists or a rogue nation like Iran. Perhaps it’s just a coincidence that the Russians have been supplying Iran with both nuclear and missile technology while using their UN veto to block sanctions that would force Tehran to back down. Regardless, we’re clearly at fault, he says, for putting a defense system close to Mother Russia.
So I wouldn’t worry too much about the criticisms we receive. We make mistakes and at times the “carping” may even be on target, but it seems to me that we ought to look at a lot of the complaints as a badge of honor.

Fred Thompson is an actor and former Senator. His radio commentary airs on the ABC Radio Network and be blogs on The Fred Thompson Report.

Put it this way, I don’t feel a need to answer you on that question in public as I would some others in private. Lyndon should especially respect certain points being kept off topic on request (like one’s family and ethnic background)

This isn’t about your family or ethnicity (which you’ve paraded around in a previous blog post in any event), it pertains only to you, and I think we’re all genuinely curious what it is you do to pay the bills. If you don’t want to share, I may have to start guessing.

Unlike your own fantasies of being a verbal Jackie Chan, my guesses may be less charitable, especially since the prospect of a serious and civil discussion with you now seems so laughable I can’t believe I ever thought it was possible.

So, Mike, what do you do for a living?

Didn’t you just post that Fred Thompson thing at the other thread?

“Tell me something though Chris, verything Mike has said aside, has he actually been mistreated by these people he complains about, like David Johnson? “

I really don’t know. I suspect that what happened is that they showed some interest in something Mike wrote, and then decided they didn’t want to have anything to do with him when they realized what he truly is. Sort of a pundit version of a Coyote Morning. In Mike’s mind this probably constitutes betrayal.

Tell me something though Chris, verything Mike has said aside, has he actually been mistreated by these people he complains about, like David Johnson? I know we have reservations ourselves about his writing and opinions, but what is the actual story there? Has some misfortune been done to him to cause this rabid behaviour? You dont have to wear yourself out typing, just give us a general idea.

Just to give you an idea, Ger, one of the things Mike complained about was having his name appear in quotation marks in Johnson’s List (see the middle of this cut-and-paste job for Mike’s complaint). When you email a contribution to JRL, it just gets pasted in, so the name associated with your email address is often in quotation marks. This actually happened to me once, although I didn’t notice it at the time. My name appeared in quotation marks and with lower-case letters, no less! I guess I should be mortally offended.

As for the “disease” comment regarding Mike’s “discussion” tactics, I think we can all see what an astute comment that was.

Lyndon starts the day off with bullshit.

Lyndon: who is paying for your law school tuition and frequent trips abroad?

Actually, what I posted was a decent exchange regarding a FSU topic. Much unlike what the Three Stooges have posted here. Well, Lyndon makes it four now.

Lyndon distorts with his selective cut and pastes. Much like how he blatantly LIED about me twice in recent memory.

There continues to be a relatively well informed and civil discussion about Estonia at this site:

http://www.siberianlight.net

Note how yours truly is a part of it.

Chris/Lyndon,

thanks for the info. I’m not aux fais with much of the goings on here and elsewhere previously and its good to get some sort of idea whats going on.

Whatever about opinions on Mike’s writing, there’s no dount that the way he behaves in these discussions is a bit silly. If you’ve seem points me and Chris and Tim made to Mike about him not speaking Russian, which were constructive, non critical and totally honest remarks, you’d see his replies were a disgrace. He totally ignored what we’d said and simply abused us. It was just appalling. The sad thing is its his loss as he’s stuck in the land of English learning nothing but second hand material. Anyone with a bit of sense would have conceded the points and then decided to learn Russian. Not Mike.

It seems a lot of his complaints against JRL and whoever else are indeed very trivial and it fails to dawn on him that maybe he’s at fault. Denial is the word I believe.

The dumbest of them all comes back with repeat ASSertions that were successfully addressed in full.

Only he chooses not to note that.

Cyber troll, internet pervert, call it what you want.

Lyndon: who is paying for your law school tuition and frequent trips abroad?

When I lived in Moscow, traveling around the region wasn’t that expensive. As I’ve already mentioned, I’m taking out student loans to pay for law school, just like everyone else.

Much like how he blatantly LIED about me twice in recent memory.

Where are these “lies” of mine, Mike? Putting the word in all-caps doesn’t make your undocumented statement any more true. Did you have any thoughts about addressing the lies, half-truths, and misstatements of yours that I’ve documented here?

You didn’t “document” anything against me Lyndon.

On the other hand, you blatantly lied about my recent JRL critique and my saying that you posted comments at La Russophobe.

No need for me to go back as it’s all been posted at these SRB discussions.

You’re trolling again. An obvious tactic to cover for your absurd claims like TTT doing something wrong with its referencing of Tom de Waal.

Again all of this is a matter of record here.

Again all of this is a matter of record here.

It sure is, Mike.

Thanks, by the way, for pointing out that SL discussion (again) – that one Latvian posted a link to an article debunking BHHRG which I thought was interesting.

Just to try to make things a bit more humorous (and to follow Mike’s tack of posting fantasy as reality), here’s my guess about Mike’s occupation:

Mike receives $5.00 per 1,000 clicks that he drives to the Tiraspol Times’ website. To supplement this meager income, he haunts the New York subway, providing passers-by with unsolicited Russocentric analysis of the Anglo-American, English-language media coverage of the fSU in exchange for whatever spare change they choose to donate.

He also has a busker’s license and sometimes regales the rush-hour crowds with rousing renditions of the chorus from “Kalinka Moya” (the only Russian that he knows) and select verses from the Beatles’ “Back in the USSR.” Very big people in the know say that Mike could have been a soloist at the Met, but his voice was muted by an evil conspiracy.

When he really has to pay the rent, Mike takes his shine-box along to the subway. Mike’s shoe-shining also reflects a Russocentric perspective and uses techniques learned from his colleagues at the Tiraspol Times – when he encounters a scuffed patch of leather, he whips out a can of whitewash and covers the scuff thoroughly.

Averko still has a little savings left over from his time as the Fifth Beatle — what little there is left after his manager, David Johnson, screwed him out of the royalties.

Mike,

the only matter of record here is all the bullshit you’ve written. You’ve been routed here and the only person who cant see it is you.
Its like Germany refusing to surrender even though the Red Army are already in the Reichstag and The Bunker.

Lyndon, I hope you’re not wasting too much time here, you’ve got to be busy getting ready for exams. I’m supposed to be writing up in my spare time and instead here I am having battles with Mike, which, at the end of the day, isnt really good use of time. It is fun though. Its a credit to you though that in the face of such dreadful abuse you keep cool. Well done. I’ll be sure to contact you if I ever get arrested in the States!)

Ger, thanks, I will admit that I went through a couple of stages, including frustration, before realizing that Mike will say anything to make his point or to tear down the person making the opposite point. So I may still have a bit to learn about keeping my cool, you may want to avoid getting arrested just in case!

Once you stop taking it seriously, this type of thing does become more fun, though no less a waste of time. As for the abuse, I think Shakespeare’s words (though written about a different topic) apply, the ones about “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Mike may say that’s not what the words meant at all, and that he was Shakespeare in a previous life and knows for sure; whatever.

In certain ways, this has been educational – at least it’s taught me to be careful of climbing into debates with strangers on the internet, since you never know how far they will take it. But it is true that I should really go freak out about (or at least try to prepare for) an exam I’ve got on Saturday which looks like it will be fairly complex. Good luck closing out your project and getting home.

That one Latvian did nothing of the sort Lyndon. The BHHRG is more spot on than Freedom House. Your attempt at “humor” falls way short.

That Chris Doss chooses to take your side is in line with how his pundit friend has shielded Ethan Burger from sound criticism. This shows why Doss and his pundit friend aren’t interested in improving the Eng. language coverage of FSU matters. The two of them are weak on a number of FSU matrters. All this was detailed in a post of mine under Sean’s Comments note. Lavelle and Doss have a vested interest in not seeing this discussed. In turn, many of the not so Russia friendly types don’t wish to see sound Russocentric views heard.

Tim has at least been good enough to acknowledge being a bit on the dim side. The way a mental cripple like Ger is used is pitiful.

I from Transnistria. We erectated big statue to geroi-wit-da-skilz reporter Mike Averko last night.

Who said anything about Freedom House? BHHRG (ab)uses the name of the Helsinki Commissions and in the area of election observation tries to provide a counterweight to the OSCE (of which Russia & Serbia are members) – wouldn’t it be more valid to compare it with those organizations?

I think Mike’s ultimate goal is to become Trans-Dniester-bashi, Ultimate Gad-King of Trans-Dniester. He will rule with an iron fist, and there will be a giant golden statue before which his oppressed subjects will be required to offer up sacrifices to avert his wrath.

You backtracked from some of what you earlier said regarding the matter of Burger.

No, I didn’t. Please show me exactly where you think I did this.

You did. Why should he have to repeat himself?

Chris and Lyndon are jealous trolls.

Lost in Lyndon’s sarcasm is the sex and arms smuggling from Moldova. He glosses over his failed attempt to find fault with The Tiraspol Times and Mike. Lyndon does not want to discuss how wrong Vladimir Socor has been.

Chris’ interest in the Cossacks might stem from how he is very much the opposite of Cossack culture.

Mai, prostule, ce ?tii tu despre Moldova?!

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Check the link before it gets old.

Andrew Waller ????? ? ?????? Adelphi.edu.

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What’s wrong with Adelphi and why converse in Romanian and Russian when this is an English language blog? Lyndon is behaving in a spooky way.

He is showing off his foreign langauge skills because his English language comments have been so wrong.

Trolls have their own way of communicating Andrew. Lyndon likes barking up trees. He does not use Ukrainian; one of three langauges in Pridnestrovie.

I hope all is well with you Andrew.

A little message on how the sharing of cookies can be unethical and prove nothing of importance. Others can do the same. What is the point? How about staying on the issues?

Thank you for the tip Sasha. This is another paranoid rant from him.

The eyeball at the bottom screen of my computer does not scare me.

Can we link Lyndon’s ISP? Tis only fair.

Lynod,

thanks a lot for the good wishes -hopefully I’ll be outta here soon, though it is a fine country. My masters is separate -its a research MSc I did in my last job in Ireland whilst working full time. All the laboratory work has been completed but the actual masters write up of all the stuff I’ve done in totality is what I’m doing now. Its just boring, writing, referencing checking data over and over again…groan. I do know that in May when one is studying for exams, you’d do anything rather than study – its amazing, things one would nomrally never do, just to avoid the grind, even though the pressure is on! Best of luck anyway with them. Soon you’ll be making a pile of cash)

Mike, even with my rudimentary Russian I can see that your sockpuppet game is up. Do the right thing and admit it before someone posts actual evidence of it.

Top of the morning to you dummy.

Your bogus point was already addressed. Meantime, the evidence of trolling is out in the open. You don’t want to discuss that because you’re a willing part of that process.

Andrei & Sa:

Lyndon Allin is a spook wannabe/modern day Keystone cop. He tries.

Andrei – I only recently found out about that eyeball icon you mentioned. My icon reply to it:

oIo

Actually Mike, I meant to say it but didnt in all this battle – but i read your piece on Russia blog about toys and Russian stuff, and it was quite good and a sweet little piece. T-34s are the coolest bit of gear ever. I’d love to be able to buy such toys, but bizarrely they dont have them in Moscow, only model kits, which I couldnt be bothered making. That said years I bought my nephews model Kursk submarines and made them for them as well as an Illyushin 86 and a Tupolev 154. Theres something endlessly cool about Russian machines.

Mike,

seems like your info about Ireland is as bad as it is about Russia.

If you actually said ‘Top of the Morning’ in Ireland to anybody you’d be arrested for being a Plastic Paddy.

Doesnt apply to you though as you’re a Plastic Russian instead.

If you actually said ‘Top of the Morning’ in Ireland to anybody you’d be arrested for being a Plastic Paddy.

As you would if you say “my ex was Celtic”. Nobody in the Celtic areas refers to any individual as Celtic.

Hey, I have an idea.

Perhaps Alexandra and Andrew Waller are not actually Averko’s sockpuppets, but rather another person on the net pretending to be his fans so as to mess with his mind, baldly imitating his writing style and so forth?

En tout cas, Mike, vous etes devenu ennuyant. Parce que je voudrais bien plus de divertissement et amusement dans mes relations avec vous et vos poupees, je ne vais communiquer avec vous au’en francais, une langue de plus que vous ne connaissez pas.

I’ve another idea Chris. You’ve actually flipped your lid in reaction to your clear failures.

SRB is a mix of crank like comments and cogent points.

Solido, Dinky and Corgi made the best metal die cast models of military vehicles.

I’m not an expert on Eire. Tim and Ger got me at last.

“Plastic Russian”? I’m Russian (with other blends)-American and proud of it. Wanna make something of it?

That’s Mike, stop fucking around.

I and Andrew have left your dirty game. We told you before. Stop pretending to be us.

WE ARE NOT YOUR PUPPETS ANYMORE ASSHOLE.

Andrew and I are getting married. Getting out from under you shadow has given us all kinds of strength. Andrew quit drinking. And I’m going to beauty college. We’re going to make something of our lives Mike, unlike yourself. We love each other and you can’t stop us.

Everybody, Mike used to beat us every day and not give us food and water if we wouldn’t get on the Internet and be his sockpuppets. We lived in a dark cell under Mike’s mom’s house. It was only because of help that we got out. If you know any other sock puppets please try to help them too. You cannot think how bad their lives are. Please help a sockpuppet if you can, they are crying on the inside. They are people too and they cry for freedom just like you. Please help them! Think, if your life had been a little different you could’ve wound up a coskpuppet too.

Tim,

of course its ridicuous to refer to someone as a ‘Celtic’ person. And besides I think he was lying anyway and didnt have such a woman.

Mike I called you a Plastic Russian.

Russian person =
either born in Russia or of Russian parents.
Speaks Russian.
Knows something about Russia.

Do any of the above apply to you?

“Plastic Russian”? I’m Russian (with other blends)-American and proud of it. Wanna make something of it?

No, merely laugh. You describe yourself as Russian-American, yet cannot speak a word of the language. Plastic Russian it is.

Tim,

you think its a laughing matter, try listening to Plastic Paddies when they come to Ireland. Their great grandfather came from Cork and that makes them IRISH. I jest you not. One grandparent, totally ignoring the rest of their relatives. Usually they’re so loud you can here them in the next village 3 miles away. They think the IRA are like the heroic rebels in Star Wars. They’re shocked to find Ireland has tv, pizza and the internet and that we dont live in cottages. Dont get me wrong, people I suppose are entitled to call themselves anything they want, but that doesnt mean that we’ll take any notice of it. An example just sticks in my mind of a Canadian I once knew, who was of Sudanese parents. He considered himself Sudanese and Canadian, but hadnt a word of any foreign language at all, but worse than that it seemed to me that he sort of didnt know whether he was coming or going. He seemed sort of ‘rootless’. I dont know whats wrong with being just ‘American’ or ‘British’ or ‘Irish’.

Ger,

There was a time in the 1990s (maybe it’s still true today) in the States when it was very trendy to say you were Irish. This was associated with a fad for all sorts for weird pop-culture ideas of what “Irelans” is supposed to be like — “celtic” music like Clannad, fairies, some New Agey stuff. It was pretty goofy.

Chris,

Ireland? Trendy? Shocked! I have heard before that it was considered cool in the US to have some sort of Irish link. Which is all very well, if you’re talking to Americans and other foreigners, but most Irish and people from our end of the world see through it and take no notice. Its not that we’ve anything against it really, but it just sounds ridiculous to our ears and we cant see the point. A cop in New Orleans at Mardi Gras actually said ”Top of The Morning to Ya” to me. I thought he was taking the piss.

The Pogues are legends for some Irish people but to be honest, the lead singer Shane McGowan drives me mad. They have some great songs but a lot of their stuff is dreary and depressing. A bloke I studied with in Athlone, himself an actual alcoholic(yes, an undergrad alcoholic) loved them and he was miserable and cynical and he managed to put me off the Pogues. He used to drink all his grant money save for a few pounds with which he’d buy about 50 tins of Irish stew and some pasta to last him three months. I’d visit his house and it was like a war zone, with McGowan singing in the background, the soundtrack to his unhappy life.
A lot of our best music, as is so often the case with many countries I daresay, is unheard of outside Ireland.

In fairness to Mike I’ve since read elsewhere that he had an uncle killed in the Finnish Winter war,so he’s probably much more Russian than I gave him credit for. Still doesnt excuse his failure to learn Russian, which really he should with. What amazes me still Chris is that he just ignored our suggestions about that, when we were geuninely trying to give a bit of advice. And he hasnt been to Rus either – I am convinced of that now.

Given a choice between the Pogues and U2, I will definetly take the Pogues! I really liked Rum, Sodomy and the Lash (the album that is, not sodomy and the lash).

I’ve actually been thinking of visiting Dublin, as a friend of mine lives there. She visited Moscow a few years ago and said you could fit all of downtown Dublin into Red Square. I assume that was an exaggeration.

Mike wants to believe you can become an expert just by surfing around on the Internet in your native language. That is, he’s lazy (and deluded). It’s also weird that somebody who professes some kind of link with Russia wouldn’t want to learn the language first thing.

My grad work was in German and Greek philosophy. No one can be taken seriously without knowing those languages, and preferebly French too. My dissertation advisor would have laughed me out the door if I had tried to rely on English in my work on Heidegger.

Sadly my Greek is now virtually nonexistent, but I can still remember how to say that Averko is an idiot.

ho Mikhail Averkados oukh ekhei ton logov! ho Mikhail Averkados oukh ekhei ton noun!

Chris,

what you said about needing languages I daresay is true. Greek and German philosophy? Well done. Must have been very interesting. You must have a lot of languages.
I’ve no formal language qualifications at all and my degree and masters are in chemistry, so I suppose its a bit rich me having a go at Mike. But I can speak some Russian and manage fairly well, though my grammar is atrocious. But unlike Mike I dont claim to be an expert on Russia. Really he should have studied Russki – you’re right, its just laziness. There isnt a chemist in the world who cant use a periodic table, figure out masses and moles and concentrations and balance equations and at least have the fundamental mathematics of the subject, before branching off into whatever area they choose. I know that there are plenty of non-Russian speakers reporting on Russia but as Tim says that doesnt mean they are any good. Their reporting is often highly subjective and centres on the same stuff all the time eg press freedom, Russia bullying neighbours, Putin succession etc. Its all the easy stuff. I remember years ago Sky’s Andrew Wilson at least trying to be objective. He seemed to actually like Moscow and every second story he’d do was a positive one -he even had a funny report once on metro dogs!) I also think a lot of the cynicism that affects expats bites into a lot of these people. There’s more of it – Mike doesnt appreciate the situation of life of the ground in Moscow at all. Its a great pity for him that he sees himself as above us and refuses to listen to us. Its his loss and no-one elses. You know as well as I do Chris that his opinions wouldnt be valued by Russians simply because he doesnt speak Russian. They’d be wondering where he gets his ideas from.

U2 have a few good tunes but are pop for the masses really. I do like ‘Rainy night in Soho’ and’Dirty Old Town’, but the rest of the Pogues stuff just puts me in bad mood mostly!
Dublin is not huge – around 2 million – but is big enough and expensive enough too. But if you get a chance do go, its a proper European capital now and with amazing nightlife. The locals are also hilariously funny – you’ll remember your visit for a long time after. I love weekends there but living there is an entirely different matter. Think Moscow but smaller, even more crowded at times and with no metro.

I never finished my dissertation actually — I took a “break” from it to visit Russia, and that “beark” turned into 6 years and counting. I still regret not finishing it somewhat, but then again if I had stayed in the States I’d probably be teaching at some dinky college somewhere and earning even less than Mike, if that is possible.

Yeah, you can spot the Anglo-only reporters by the fact that they keep covering the same stories as each other and always quote the exact same English-speaking Russians. It’s pretty funny.

I’ve studied French, German, Greek and Russian, and a few other more obscure languages (a very little Latin, Hebrew and Icelandic/Norse, just enough to satisfy my curiousity about their grammatical structures than anything else, since linguistics is a passing interest of mine). I used to translate French, but the part of my brain that deals with foreign languages seems to have been completely taken over by perfidious Russian — I can’t speak any of my other foreign languages any more. Just a few words come out and then Russian words start to emerge. I still read and write pretty well. I picked up some German and French books lately to maybe get some of them back, and am looking around for an Ancient Greek reader to revive that, since I think Greek is if anything even more beautiful than Russian.

Incidentally knowledge of Greek helped me a lot with Russian in the early stages — it has a roughly similar verbal system.

Chris,

thats a fair blast of languages you’ve had experience with there and is a credit to you. Must have been hard work or discipline. Do you have any tips on language study?
Writing up is a pain in the arse I know and I’m late as it is and because I was a part-time postgrad it has taken me three years. I’ve been lucky with the research work though and even had a paper published but I dont know if I’ll ever do my PhD. I’d love the glory – who doesnt – but at 31 I’m wondering are there more important things in life. Getting a PhD wouldnt improve my ability to get jobs anyway cos I’ve so much experience as it is. I’m coming around a bit to the idea that I’d like to be studying something just for the entertainment of it, like literature or pure mathematics.

You must have had some adventures at this stage with six solid years in Moscow. Will you settle there? The women are hard to resist in Moscow too!

In fairness to Mike, only today I was talking to a Serb in the laboratory I’m doing the project in and she said that Kosovo actually has a Serb majority population. So I read Mikes Serbianna column and if his interpretation of the UN resolution is right then surely Kosovo independence is the wrong decision. I know the Serbs have been very naughty but handing the place over to minority control would have to be madness and democratically incorrect.

I don’t have advantures — I have a job! I wake up, go to work, drink coffee and read at Shokoladntsa, and come home again!

Russia is the most interesting country in the world in my opinion. Probably more languages are spoken in Russia than in the whole EU. By contrast the West is boring, boring, boring. I suppose I could live in France or Italy if I had to. I could get German citizenship pretty easily and live somewhere there, I suppose, which would be tolerable. No way would I go back to the States given a choice. That way lies madness. I would rather live in Uzbekistan. My only worry is the whole miserly pension issue.

In principle I would like to have those three letters after my name, but really it is an ego issue, as I have no desire to teach. That’s not to say that I regret all those years in grad school — I got to sit around and read great books for a living, effectively. OK, it was a living with minimal income but it was a living nonetheless.

Someone will correct me if I’m wrong, but I think Kosovo HAD a majority Serb population that was ethnically cleansed. Independence through ethnic cleansing and kicking out everybody who doesn’t favor independence is a time-honored strategy also employed in Chechnya.

Sorry, I forgot — about languages…

I’m one of those weird people who likes doing declension exercises and truth tables and algebra and other such things, so I actually get a kick out of sitting down with a language textbook and working through it, which how I taught myself French way back when I was 19-20, before I started taking classes in it. I’ve never taken a Russian class in my life, just sat down with a book and a dictionary, studied, read lots in Russian and talked to people. I barely knew a word before I moved here.

My German is highly academic, do to my background. I can read Heidegger or Hegel no problem, but discuss sports? Talk about everyday household tasks? That would be a problem.

I always liked studying classical languages — while your first-year French book is teaching you how to take the Paris metro and the various arrondissements, your Greek text is having you translate phrases like “And then we set fire to the city on the command of Zeus. We killed every one of them but pale-armed Aletheia, daughter of crystal-browed Athena, and mighty Peliops then ravished her.”

I picked up a Teach Yourself Tatar book when I was in Kazan, but it’s really horribly written.

“I’m one of those weird people who likes doing declension exercises and truth tables and algebra and other such things, so I actually get a kick out of sitting down with a language textbook and working through it, which how I taught myself French way back when I was 19-20, before I started taking classes in it. I’ve never taken a Russian class in my life, just sat down with a book and a dictionary, studied, read lots in Russian and talked to people. I barely knew a word before I moved here.”

****

You should stick to what you know weirdo (you said as much, as per your stated description of yourself).

Yeah Ger, I should be flunt in Russian. So should David Johnson and a good number of other high profile folks. Meantime, I’ve the respect of many mainstream Russians. I get my share of translation assistance.

———————————–

Actually, it’s only within the last 120 years that the demography of Kosovo started to shift. This due to anti-Serb ethnic cleansing campaigns, illegal immigration from Albania and the high Albanian birth rate.

By the end of WW II if not before, Albanians became the majority in Kosovo. Serbs predominated in Kosovo before the Albanians and Kosovo was never a part of Albania, or independent unto itself. The current human rights situation there is lousy unlike Trans-Dniester.

Albanians like to note how they’ve been in the Blkans for a period much lionger than the Slavs. This is true. However, Kosovo isn’t a Balkan area where tyhey predominated before the Slavs.

Lavelle’s ego prevented him from having a balanced discussion on this matter.

I didn’t read all of the recent comments here. Like I said, I’ve some big fish to fry.

One more thing Ger before I’m out and about: according to Webster’s, Celtic is applied to western Ireland.

That young lady is real, with half her family being Protestants who originated from Scotland. As you know, some of Ireland’s greatest patriots have been Protestant.

Let’s ignore Averko for a while folks, and carry on the conversation. It’s not like he’s saying anything that he hasn’t droned on about before, is it?

Anyway, got a funny story about plastic paddies. Some American Irish wannabe senator turned up on Belfast once, walked up to a soldier, and said “Why don’t you go home?”

The soldier was in the Royal Irish Regiment, and replied: “I am fockin’ home.”

Chris – I’ll get back to you in the morning on the points raised. I was happily having a glass of Guinness and reading ”The Third Policeman” when Misha disturbed me from my peaceful pursuits.

First of all Mike, there’s no ”western Ireland”, its referred to as the West of Ireland. Thats not pedantics, its actually a province, Connaught, and a certain number of counties. Its not an approximate place at all.
Secondly, the Celts were an ancient race who arrived in Ireland, Scotland and Wales around 2,000 years ago. They populated the whole of Ireland, not just the West, although their numbers were diluted in the east and north by invading and settling Vikings later on. So to say that only the West of Ireland is ‘Celtic’ is total nonsense. I’ve never heard of such a statement in my life and I am actually from the West of Ireland and speak a good amount of Irish, so I’m quite sure I’d have heard of that by now were it true.

I’m fully aware some of Ireland’s greatest patriots were Protestant. My best friend is one too and he’s even a Freemason just to add to the fun.
Your point is what exactly?

Kosovo – if the population is now predominantly Albanian then the game is over for Serbia. It should either go to Albania and be independent. If the majority of people living there legally want independence, then I cant see how Serbia can hold onto it, in light of the ethnic cleansing that went on in 1999.

Your dismissive line to me about learning Russian sadly says a lot more about you than anyone else. The funny thing is you dont even see its your loss, no-one elses. The fact that DJ and others dont speak Russian is neither here nor there. I dont use other people’s weaknesses as an excuse for my own. You claim to be a better analyst than they are when you are content to live in Russian language ignorance just like them.
Amazing logic.

ipejiTim,

thats a good one actually) The scarist thing about a lot of these Plastic Paddies is their view on the IRA. Many of them consider the IRA as heroes and the fundraising by these people in the US was staggering. Massive money. All out of total ignorance of the situation there, doing it because some great bloody grandfather came from Dublin. Reminds me of that Canadian I mentioned elsewhere here. He’d a degree in political science which, naturally, a la Mike Averko, made him an expert on everything. He was actually trying to tell me and an ex-British soldier(who’d done a tour of Belfast) about the Troubles one night in Doug and Marty’s Whorehouse in Moscow. The cheek and breathtaking ignorance of some people is amazing. Me and the Brit were looking at each other in disbelief listening to his shite. And it really was shite.

I will never understand what people see in Doug and Marty’s.

Chris,

I know its the pits but I have an excuse – I was there to see a rugby or soccer match on the big screen. That the lowest forms of life in Moscow frequent it is in no doubt, and I dont mean the prostitutes, who are actually the misfortunates in all this. That pub is a Hell on Earth, no disagreement there.

It’s pretty funny how offended Mike is by my being so much better-educated than he is. In fact I would guess that Mike is the least-educated person in this forum. Mike doesn’t even know how to write in English.

What’s your opinion on Herodotus Mike? The Divine Comedy? Aristophanes? Hegel? Kierkegaard? Goethe? William Faulkner? Duns Scotus? Voltaire? Ever read any of ‘em? Answer: NO!

Oh Ger, do you mind if I pass your comments on Plastic Paddies on to an Internet discussion list I’m in? There are some people in Ireland on the list, and they might find them funny.

“I will never understand what people see in Doug and Marty’s.”

Neither will I – typical sad expat joint, no charm, too loud to talk.

“It’s pretty funny how offended Mike is by my being so much better-educated than he is. In fact I would guess that Mike is the least-educated person in this forum. Mike doesn’t even know how to write in English.

What’s your opinion on Herodotus Mike? The Divine Comedy? Aristophanes? Hegel? Kierkegaard? Goethe? William Faulkner? Duns Scotus? Voltaire? Ever read any of ‘em? Answer: NO!”

****

Chris knows how to lie up a storm as shown by how he doesn’t find fault with Ger’s really bad usage of the English language. He also lies about being “better educated” than myself. This is shown in these discussions . More people read my commentary than his. That I’ve such a following irks his pundit friend and himself.

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“Let’s ignore Averko for a while folks, and carry on the conversation. It’s not like he’s saying anything that he hasn’t droned on about before, is it?:

****

This hasn’t exactly happened Newman, thereby explaining your unrealistic wishful thinking.

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Ger, west of Ireland versus western Ireland is a bullshit nitpick from someone with noticeable grammar flaws which grammar Nazi hypocrite Doss doesn’t mention.

Granting Kosovo independence is a rubber stamp for illegal immigration, ethnic cleansing, terrorism and the great historic linkage that province has with a nation. Therefore, it shouldn’t be granted independence unlike Trans-Dniester.

As for know it all, just reference some of the remarks here made by others. You sidestep their know it all attitudes. Troll on.

I’m going to put “grammar Nazi” on my CV the next time I apply for an editing job. Thanks for the idea, Mike!

PS. my relatively high level of education might have something to do with why my insults of you are speckled lightly with references to Homer, whereas you have to resort to such high-flying–albeit, I will admit, earthy–expletives as “buttmunch,” o fleet-footed mankiller.

Sing, o Muse, of the destroying rage of Michael, son of whoever, who sent the souls of many valiant not so Russia friendlies down to Hades, their bodies feasts for dogs and birds!

I will never understand what people see in Doug and Marty’s.

Well, I had a group of Russian friends who liked to celebrate birthdays there, as long as we could hit it on Monday night for the count-down happy hour (for those unfamiliar, 4 drinks for the price of 1 for the first hour; 3-for-1 second hour, etc.). The results were predictably messy, especially when the drinks of choice involved such deceptive – and unknown to the Russian palate – cocktails as the Long Island iced tea.

They always called it “Chesterfield’s” or just “Chester,” which I guess was its name before it became the “Boar”-house. Not sure what it was like before the current management took over. As late as ‘05, though, at least some cabbies still knew it as Chesterfield’s.

But yes, as I’ve experienced it, it’s generally a depressing joint – kind of a skeezed-out, low-rent version of Night Flight, where no one looks particularly happy.

Russia is the most interesting country in the world in my opinion…By contrast the West is boring, boring, boring.

Couldn’t agree more. When I lived in Moscow, I used to travel to London & Brussels fairly often for work, and I would have much preferred to be visiting, say, Irkutsk and Vladik; or Almaty and Kiev. I am hoping to have the chance to give Asia a try in the next few years, but we’ll definitely be back in Moscow at some point.