The Cold War is done, finish, ka las, no more - right? Not even close! Russia has been recovering, expanding, and sneaking into just about every headline with little or no attention. As usual, I like to identify threats ahead of time; or in this case, an old threat. Walls came down, lessons were learned, and the cunning Russia has moved back into our lives, or at least positioning themselves that way. Perception is reality. Here are some facts that should be alerting to everyone.
Lets start with the aperture wide open: We always hear about the BRIC countries (future economic super powers) - Brazil, Russia, India, and China BUT Russia is the only non-Eastern “saving” culture growing fairly well. In 2011, Russia became the world’s leading oil producer, surpassing Saudi Arabia (read that twice, yes, surpassing Saudi Arabia); Russia is the second-largest producer of natural gas; Russia holds the world’s largest natural gas reserves, the second-largest coal reserves, and the eighth-largest crude oil reserves. Russia is the third-largest exporter of both steel and primary aluminum. There economy has defied predicted 4% growth by posting an impressive 4.9% growth per year and growing.
CIA World Fact Book: RUSSIAN ECONOMY
“Russia has undergone significant changes since the collapse of the Soviet Union, moving from a globally-isolated, centrally-planned economy to a more market-based and globally-integrated economy.” For More
New York Times: RUSSIAN OIL
“Now, whether Iran carries out that threat immediately or Europe proceeds with its previously planned embargo of Iranian oil this summer, the Russian industry could capitalize more directly. Its pipelines stand ready to serve customers willing to pay a premium price — with a grade of oil closely resembling Iran’s.” For More
- Closing the aperture little by little…..Russian businessman and the Kremlin access to your Facebook page? Maybe that’s over the top but a possibility… keep reading ; )
New York Times: RUSSIAN STOCK IN FACEBOOK
Alisher B. Usmanov and Yuri Milner own 9% of Facebook: “Mr. Usmanov said that, after the series of investments from 2009 until 2011, he and Mr. Milner owned about 9 percent of Facebook at one point, but now own about 6 percent and will hold about 4.5 percent after the initial public offering. The other shares they originally controlled have gone to other investors, clients of D.S.T. and corporate entities. His ties to the Kremlin and Facebook have stirred concerns that he might influence the company’s policies in subtle ways to appease governments in markets where Facebook is also an important tool of political dissent, such as Russia.”
- Another Russian business man may have access to your computer? Over the top? One step from placing a foil hat on your paranoid brain? Not the goal, but you have to acknowledge the possibilities - right? Read and decide….
Wired Magazine, August 2012: RUSSIAN ACCESS TO YOU AND ABILITY TO STOP US CYBER WARFARE
“Kaspersky has 300 million customers. His geek squad uncovers US cyberweapons. And he has deep ties to the KGB’s successors in Moscow.”
“Microsoft, Cisco, and Juniper Networks all embed Kaspersky code in their products—effectively giving the company 300 million users. When it comes to keeping computers free from infection, Kaspersky Lab is on its way to becoming an industry leader.”
“In May of this year, Kaspersky’s elite anti-hackers exposed a second weaponized computer program, which they dubbed Flame. It was subsequently revealed to be another US-Israeli operation aimed at Iran. In other words, Kaspersky Lab isn’t just an antivirus company; it’s also a leader in uncovering cyber-espionage.” For More
- So let me get this straight. Russia has effectively come back to life and have managed to tie themselves to Iranian Oil, Facebook, access to 300 million computers, and admittedly interfering with US/Israeli led covert operations against Iran???
CAN THE READERS OF SOFREP PLEASE TELL ME WTF IS GOING ON!?!?
Aperture closed for now…..
Be the Sheepdog; NOT THE SHEEP!
Escape the Wolf
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@Captmrp There are a lot of problems here and in the world but I wouldn't get to the 'extreme danger' level. Take a deep breath, step back, look in the mirror and ask yourself if you are really putting things into their proper perspective. Try and take into account a lot of the positive things that are out there to.
@MedicSteve2 Yeah.. prostate exam by a carpenter.. it was fun.
@Recon6 @MedicSteve2 Since you are on this topic-I really do not think Hillery is smart enough, so do you think the idea for the statedept web site providing all the tools and info on how to get around the government shut off of phones and computers came up the ranks of her Islamic connections on how to overthrow the governments. So called democracy! Can not see what I wrote, hope you can make sence of it!
@SEAN SPOONTS @Recon6 @MedicSteve2 my wife's father is palestinian. Always makes for good fun come every 5 years.
@Recon6 @MedicSteve2 I recall after I joined the Navy for at least a year my parents got phone calls and letters from the parents of old girlfriends, teachers, coaches, friends and the boss at my civilian job in high school asking if I was O.K., that the FBI had visited their homes and businesses asking questions about me, but not answering any in return. My folks contacted me asking what to reply. I told them to say I was fine and that it was part of my working for the 'government' and nothing else. My clearance was probably easy for them. I had a boat load of close relatives who had all served in the military. I was never anything but patriotic, I had no foreign relatives, no drug or alcohol abuse history and I was too young to have gambling problems or acquire any debt. That being said, there is a HUGH liabilty for Huma Abedin but its not any bigger than the one for our own President who's father and half his relatives are foreign nationals, some of whom were revolutionary communists in Kenya.