Comments for Siberian Light

Comment on Six new Russian submarines and a new aircraft carrier – every year by Grand Prince Paul II.

Grand Prince Paul II. — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:11:16 +0000

IMO such production capacities are a waste of resources and money.
There is no real need for them.

Comment on Duelling Rallies in Moscow by Misha

Misha — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:06:19 +0000

One a related note:

http://russiaprofile.org/politics/54017.html

The article doesn’t highlight the issue of how the majority of Russians feel.

Saying that the anti-Putin demos are more numerous and/or more voluntary than the pro-Putin ones doesn’t address how the rest of Russia thinks.

In democracies, the political winners are determined in a voting process, as opposed to which view can best muster a street demo.

Suddenly reminded of the “tyranny of the minority” term, which seems to exist in some media circles.

There’s a certain irony when elements in English language mass media/English language mass media influenced venues issue criticisms of Russian media.

As one example: if anything, a venue like “state giant” Gazprom owned Ekho Mosvky appears more hard hitting (not always fair at that) of the Russian government, when compared to National Public Radio’s coverage of Democratic and Republican presidential administrations.

Comment on Six new Russian submarines and a new aircraft carrier – every year by v.gerrard

v.gerrard — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:05:53 +0000

Why does your government support murderous Syrian regime?
Can you people challenge your Russian leaders why they are complicit in the genocide in Syria. It’s diabolical.

PS. I am Irish. I just want this to stop & for your politicians especially Putin to have more interest in human life rather than their sordid deals for profit with Syria. Lives are more important than any amount of ill gotten blood money. They (your government) could stop it if they were any way human…they seem to disregard human life like Al-Assad & his cronies.

200 more killed in Homs 3/2/2012

vgerrard@eircom.net

Comment on This Week in Russia Blogs #3 by Knute Rife

Knute Rife — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:11:06 +0000

I know the feeling. Doctor accidentally jammed an anesthetic needle into my thumb bone while preparing to stitch up a gash. That was over 26 years ago, and I can still feel the spot.

Comment on Russia Jupiter mission agreed with ESA by Josh

Josh — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:28:10 +0000

The nations that participate in space exploration programs have always amused me. Typically, they are Western (or Western friendly) nations that have far greater priorities than their extraterrestrial pursuits. I would suggest these participants explore the black hole that is their respective central banks to figure out just what in the h*** they are going to do to overcome the global economic malaise we are all in.

Comment on Yavlinsky and Mezentsev barred from Russian Election by Andy Young

Andy Young — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:24:20 +0000

If they’re calculating chances to actually win, I’d actually rank someone like Prokhorov far higher than Zyuganov, even though I think that Zyuganov is, on balance, likely to finish second ahead of Prokhorov. That’s because I think Prokhorov is most likely to either do really well, or really badly – nothing in between, and because I think Zyuganov will remain forever trapped in the 10-25% zone, regardless of who his main opponent is.

Mironov as second favourite to actually *win*, though – that I just can’t fathom.

Comment on Yavlinsky and Mezentsev barred from Russian Election by Dominic H

Dominic H — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:50:38 +0000

Hi Andy,

One rather odd thing that was pointed out to me the other day was the odds that one of the main chain of High Street Bookmakers in Britain was offering on the Russian election results. (Can’t check immediately, but I think it was Ladbrokes.). While – of course Putin was overwhelming the favourite to win (the odds were, I think 1/7 – a nice little earner, compared with current interest rates….), Mironov was placed (a very distant) second, but on odds a fair bit higher than the other candidates, and IIRC Prokhurov was third.. None of which seems remotely likely…

Comment on Mystery of Russian Spy in Canada by Misha

Misha — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:21:27 +0000

Just as this article was released:

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Canada+Russophobia+under+fire/6030714/story.html

An acknowledgement of what has been at issue.

The matter of which Canadian based constituency with clout screams the loudest relates to the denial of Srdja Trifkovic’s attempt (among some others) to enter Canada, as the Russian government gets hypocritically bashed over Luke Harding – something not noted at the more high profile of venues covering former Communist bloc matters.

Related commentary:

http://balkanstudies.org/blog/scandal-vancouver

http://www.eurasiareview.com/29092011-russian-limits-in-supporting-serbia-and-some-peripheral-issues-analysis/

John Anderson is right that on a people to people basis, Russian-Canadian relations are much better.

Comment on Mystery of Russian Spy in Canada by John Anderson

John Anderson — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:56:13 +0000

I think there’s a tendency to Russophobia in Canada.

It’s a shame, really, but it has to do with Canada being the US’ ‘little brother.’
Anything we can do here to make ourselves look good to “big brother’ US
viz relations with the Russian state, we will do.

With the Russian people, different story.

Comment on Mikhail Prokhorov: Russia’s next Prime Minister? by Jean

Jean — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:59:22 +0000

When you have a lot of money (where it come from) do NOT mean he has got much sense about politics. When he opt for the next president let he spend his (from Russia) money to the Russian state and People that they have work and a decent pension, building roads and restoring city,s and bring in factory,s and give Russia a good healtcare. Then the money is worth something and nobody can benefit from it when he stays the Russian 3rth richest man.