Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin: One may not
like his view
of the world, but that doesn't make him wrong.
Le Quotidien
d’Oran, Algeria
The 'Brutality of the World', According to Vladimir Putin
"Westerners
haven't suddenly become champions of humanism in our region; they defend their
positions and attempt to conquer others. … Some analysts have spoken, thanks to
the Russia-China veto of U.N. plans to intervene in Syria, about a return to
the Cold War. Viewed from Russia House, this Cold War is fueled by the
expansion of NATO and is coupled with the desire to limit Russia's influence in
international affairs."
The geopolitics
of the Great Game - a contradictory game - is real. Believing that states act in
the interests of universal happiness is nothing but a pipe dream. Russia, which
has been greatly criticized, has its own political rationale. It doesn't flaunt
a set of flexible ideals to defend Iran, but forget about Saudi Arabia and
Bahrain - however similar their situations may be.
Within
the long article written by
Vladimir Putin which defines the foreign policy of Russia, he
outlines another more "classical" vision for Iraq, Libya and respect
for the rules of international law - which have all been challenged by Western
strategy. Some might point out that Putin speaks as a man of the KGB, and they
aren't wrong, provided that they don't forget: the services in the other camp also
“talk,” and in a much more effective and far more devious way.
Yet
one need not be a detective to realize that the Internet, cell phones and
mobile networks have all, like television, “turned into effective tools for
promoting domestic and international policy.” These are tools which, without encouraging
the slightest sympathy for a criminal dictatorship like that of Bashar al-Assad
- check al-Jazeera
- allow people to judge just how inept propaganda can be. But social movements
in the Arab world haven't suddenly transformed the reality of the world or its
geopolitical order.
Westerners
haven't suddenly become champions of humanism in our region; they defend their
positions and attempt to conquer others. Cynically, one could say they do so according
to their interest alone. The issue of freedoms and rights - a cosmetic pretext
- is totally secondary. Vladimir Putin expresses clearly that Russia has
interests to defend. Even if the country was rolled on Libya, it doesn't intend
to fall for the same trick in Syria or elsewhere. Putin is above all defending
his nation's status as a respected nationalist and "anti-imperialist"
power.
Western
nations, with their masterful use of propaganda to boot, do the same thing,
only in a much more aggressive fashion, consistent with their traditions. The
only difference is that Russia doesn't invoke human rights. It is content with
the old rule of international law - which is still in effect - regarding state
sovereignty. Putin noted that Russian businesses have been excluded in
countries like Iraq and Libya, and in his view, human rights are being
exploited by “the interest of someone else in re-dividing the market.” While one
may not appreciate the world he describes, it would be difficult to completely
deny its reality. What is left are just subjective constructs.
Some
analysts have spoken, thanks to the Russia-China veto of U.N. plans to
intervene in Syria, about a return to the Cold War. Viewed from Russia House - to borrow the title of
the popular John Le Carré novel - this Cold War is fueled by the expansion of NATO
and coupled with the desire to limit Russia's influence in international affairs.
While saluting China, whose “voice in the world is indeed growing ever more
confident,” and as steward of the Russia House, Putin declares that his nation
does not intend to be subordinated and will not give up its slice of the
international market to others. Finally, this is in the style of the man - Putin's
article reminds one of the brutalities of the world.
But
that doesn't mean that those who are struggling for freedom and democracy in
the Arab world should give up their battle in the slightest. Above all, the world's
brutal reality encourages people to fight lucidly, far from any illusion or naiveté.
