Overlooked in Putin's Reelection: The Kremlin's Challenge Is From The Left

Stalin famously remarked that "the people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." Under Putin, voters are nothing compared to those who decide who can be on the ballot. Indeed, Putin’s Central Electoral Commission rejected Putin’s main liberal rival (Navalny) on a technicality. Other potential contenders have been assassinated (Boris Nemtsov) or subjected to death threats (Mikhail Kasyanov). There should be no talk of a Russian “election” when the sitting president chooses his opponents, controls mass media, and has all the instruments of power behind his campaign.

go to Forbes.com

Pro-Russian Lobbyists Penetrate Washington To Enact Anti-Ukraine Legislation: Conyers Spouts Putin Propaganda On The Floor

Ukraine is fighting an uphill war against Russia on many fronts, including simmering hot war in east Ukraine, its uneven battle against Putin’s propaganda machine, and its attempts to neutralize hostile Yanukovich oligarchs who are still on the loose. Add a new one to the list: Ukraine’s impotence against Russia’s all-star roster of lobbyists that include a former German chancellor and former US Senate minority leader. I had thought Ukraine was outgunned in Europe by a coterie of German and French Putin-Versteher, but I now learn that Ukraine is outgunned on Washington’s K Street as well. If you need convincing, just read John Conyers anti-Ukraine and pro-Russian remarks made on the House floor.

go the TheBlaze.com

As Russia Intimidates Europe, Obama Fiddles On Energy Policy

Vladimir Putin watches the evening news from his Sochi villa: “In an election move, Barack Obama approved the Keystone pipeline and opened offshore public land to drilling. Mexico’s Pemex announced a 50 percent increase in production. Five LNG tankers docked at European ports today, including Riga and Klaipeda. Poland and Lithuania announced significant discoveries of shale gas. In a surprise move, Germany renounced its Energiewende and reopened three nuclear power plants. Russia’s Gazprom competed today with five other suppliers at the annual auction of natural gas contracts in Rotterdam.”

Vladimir Putin awakes in a cold sweat. His gymnast girl friend assures him: Vova: It was just a bad dream. Vova  retorts in a foul mood: No, it

is not a dream. They can crush me if they get their act together.

go to Forbes.com

As The Sanctions' Noose Tightens, China Grabs Russian Energy Assets At Bargain Prices

When I wrote on August 28 that “Western sanctions are strangling the Russian economy,” I had second thoughts about using such strong language. Events of the last two weeks convince me, however, that I understated the case, especially with the introduction of new sanctions on Friday. The Russian economy faces a severe liquidity crisis, collapsing investment and a severe recession. Putin has jeopardized his “safe” European gas market and faces legal problems that he cannot avoid. His sanctions against the West have simply made his own people worse off.

go to Frobes.com

If The Wales NATO Summit Is Business-As-Usual, Putin Will Threaten NATO Itself

Germany may one day have to run to the Kremlin to get permission for major policies. As Germany goes, so goes Europe. This dark prospect may seem laughable to many, but we would have laughed a year ago at the prospect of the invasion and annexation of Crimea. Just a month ago we would have scoffed at a Russian invasion of Ukraine, myself included. We live and learn, I hope.

A word of advice to Ukraine. Do not panic. This is a roller-coaster ride. You are going downhill right now, but there will be an uphill phase later. One thing is sure. Putin will accept nothing other than complete capitulation and he will not stop with that.

go to forbes.com

"Ebenezer Vlad" and the Empty Aid Trucks

What was supposed to be a PR bonanza is ending up as another black eye for Vladimir Putin, the heralded chess master of world politics. 

go to Forbes.com

Eyeball To Eyeball: Russian 'Humanitarian' Convoy Approached Unguarded Border With Ukrainian Tanks Moving To Meet Them

Mr. Putin’s humanitarian convoy is the equivalent of an arsonist who asks to be let through police lines carrying a bucket of water to douse the fire he set.

go to Forbes.com

Was Aeroflot 2074 The Real Target Of The Russian Missile? Who Is "Upstairs"?

I have no special knowledge of whether or not Russia intended to shoot down Aeroflot 2074. I, like most others, hope it is not true. If true, we live in a highly dangerous world, in which a head of state, unconstrained by moral norms, will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. If true, Vladimir Putin, the unchallenged leader of an energy-rich, nuclear power, is willing to sacrifice 180 innocent Russian men, women, and children to further his own political goals. The order for such a plot would have to come from Putin’s desk. No rogue FSB-GRU operation of this magnitude is thinkable in Putin’s so-called power vertical.

go to Forbes.com