…WATCH FRANCE: FRENCH DELEGATES VISIT THE CRIMEA, RUSSIA
It is becoming almost impossible to keep up with international news lately, much less to make any sense of it, particularly where western state actors are concerned. It becomes a bit simpler to understand radical Islamicism: they're insane, and evil. But the western state actors are a different matter, and at or at least near the top of the list is France, still one of the world's great powers, still able to project military force globally, with a large economy, a sophisticated technology and a long national, cultural, and philosophical history. It is as impossible to think of the history and development of western institutions and philosophical and artistic culture without France as it is without Italy, Spain, Britain, or Germany. It simply cannot be done. Which makes French actions in the wake of the international, i.e., western sanctions regime against Russia - at least at first glance - difficult to understand.
The difficulty is highlighted by the fact that after the final defeat of Napoleon, French geopolitics assumed a much more cordial relationship with Russia, culminating in the Triple Entente that would fight the Central Powers in World War One, which was being fought one hundred years ago today. The victory of the Central Powers over Russia in early 1918 and their final surrender to the Allies later that year, and the rise of Bolshevism and the French role in the Russian civil war that followed World War One, put those relations in the deep freeze until after the Second World War, when under De Gaulle and the Fifth Republic, more amiable relations were restored between the two countries. In this respect, it is worth recalling that De Gaulle's thermonuclear deterrent, the force de frappe, was as much about securing French independence from Washington, and deterring Germany, as it was about deterring Moscow(though that too, was a consideration for French strategic policy makers).
Then came the USA sponsored coup d'etat against the Yankovich regime in Kiev, the installation of the current and quite backrupt (and quite Fascist) regime in Kiev, the deterioration of relations between the West and Moscow, and of course, the referendum in the Crimea, its reunion with the Russian Federation, and western outrage at the "illegality" of the action. Following this we had the affair of the non-sale of the Mistral class helicopter aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, for which Russia had contracted. There was also, you'll recall, a dizzying round of diplomacy conducted by M. Hollande and Frau Merkel with Mr. Putin trying to negotiate and broker some sort of deal, and to head off even further deterioration of relations between Europe(read Paris and Berlin), and Moscow. In that context, I suggested, despite those two European powers' mouthing of the Washington-sanctions-Mr. Putin-is-an-evil-neo-Bolshevist-throwback-to-Stalin line, that firstly Mr. Putin was no such thing, and that secondly while Paris and Berlin may be publicly mouthing concurrene with Washington, privately they were none too happy about it, and of the two, I suspected that France was the most so. I suggested that one had to "watch France" carefully, and that there would be a series of signals - slowly and unofficially at first, then gaining traction and more official approval - expressing France's displeasure with the direction things were taking accross the pond. I did not, however, expect it to come so quickly, as this RT article shared by Mr. G.B. suggests:
French MPs to make historical visit to reunited Crimea
There are two statements made in this article, widely - and perhaps deliberately and cleverly - separated by the RT editorial staff. One occurs toward the beginning of the article, and the other toward its end, but when viewed together, as I cite them here, outline quite an interesting and suggestive picture:
The head of the mission, MP Thierry Mariani said in an interview with Russian business daily Kommersant that it will consist of nine members of the French National Assembly and one senator. Eight members of the delegation represented the center-left “The Republicans” party, led by Nicolas Sarkozy and two more represented centrists and leftists.
...
In April, a delegation of 20 French lawmakers headed by Thierry Mariani paid a visit to Moscow on Sergey Naryshkin’s invitation. During this visit all its members criticized EU sanctions against Russia. In particular, Mariani called the restrictions “silly and not yielding any positive results.”
French lawmakers said the April visit was a friendship gesture and spoke of similar signals coming from other European governments, who are seeking to mend ties with Russia. (Bold-italics emphases added)
Now this is intriguing from any number of perspectives, not the least of which is the fact that the French delegation were of members of former French President Nicholas Sarkozy's party, indicating that the delegation, notwithstanding official expressions of "regret" from the French Foreign Ministry, had a measure of high level and unofficial support from within the well-trained French technocracy and the French tradition of bureaucratic statecraft. Sarkozy himself, let us recall, has close ties to the giant chemicals company Sanofi, which in turn, is a successor to Hoechst, which in turn was a component of I.G. Far-you-know-who-ben. So one can guess, without too much imagination that those "similar signals coming from other European governments" include not just Madrid or Rome, but predictably unhappy circles in Berlin and Frankfurt. Recall that within the last two years we've seen an odd pattern emerging from Frau Merkel and her cabinet, as first the German Interior Minister, de Maziere, from a family of long military and political involvement in Germany, and a long tradition of support for American and the Atlantic alliance, objected to Washington's current course and unipolarism. This was followed by the ridiculous claims of German Defense Minister von der Leyen, when she claimed the Luftwaffe had only a few operational aircraft and an insubstantial inventory of spare parts even for those aircraft (uh huh... sure). That was followed by Foreign Minister Steinmeir's speech to a group of German businessmen in Berlin calling for the necessity for Germany to bite the bullet and assume a more military stance on the global stage (doubtless with the non-operational Luftwaffe and its lack of spare parts). Meanwhile, Frau Merkel plays the part of the oblivious Hausfrau. The reality, of course, is that these statements simply could not have been made without her knowledge and tacit approval. Notwithstanding her public support of the sanctions, the quiet reality is Germany and Russia are slated to expand their energy deals. Then of course, there was Greece, and Paris and even Washington were trying to put the brakes on Berlin.
So from the French point of view, rest assured that a restoration of more amiable relations with Russia is a high, though quiet and unofficial priority.
What to look for? Well, certainly more "visits" of this sort can be expected, but don't expect to hear about them in the American media. But the fact that this delegation was from M. Sarkozy's party, who so strongly supported Washington in, for example, Libya, indicates that there's been a turn inside France. And all it will take is another De Gaulle to complete that turn. And if there are any "Gaulists" left in France, then Washington has problems.
The other thing to look for? Watch Britain and, for that matter, the British Commonwealth nations. Britain, you'll recall, has joined China's Asia Infrastructure (note that word) Development Bank. And I strongly suspect that that's the least of the things they're discussing in the various London clubs.
See you on the flip side...
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In my mind, current French actions date back to WWI. That slaughterhouse seemed to affect the French national ‘soul’ on a deep level. When the Germans invaded them to really start WWWII, the French didn’t seem to have a national ‘center’ from which to resist. Contrast this with the Iranians sending their teenagers into minefields (to ‘clear’ mines with their bodies), so their professional troops could get to close quarters with Saddam Hussein’s army. (And, France being an occupied nation for half a decade probably didn’t help.)
As the Cold War settled in, France found itself in an advantageous position. The USSR would have to come through Germany before getting to French soil. By then, tactical nukes would have been used, and thermonuclear weapons would be in the air. So, why bother with any Cold War angst or loyalties? (France exiting NATO, for example.) If real conflict happened at all, civilization was done-for before the war ever got to France’s border.
This reality bred a laissez-faire attitude toward the interests of the West. The French were notable during the Cold War for selling weapons to anyone. British ships were sunk at the Falklands by French missiles, as an example. This attitude led onto the Mistral deal with Russia, amongst others. Profits took precedence over politics.
I suspect the visits to Russia by French functionaries comes within this ‘mindset’…
Excellent insights! Thanks for sharing them!
Just wondering if those French dudes got to talking about those damn Mistral ships that the frogs won’t deliver to Russia?
I can just see the delegation being wined and dined by those nasty Crimea fellas, and just what did they discuss over dinner?
This “visit” must have had Washington breathing fire, but it’s only a visit right? but most assuredly a message being sent.
It’s all about the money…it’s a big money war. East or West, no difference, except in the nuances.
Lets face it what does London-Washington DC have to sell. What they’ve been selling for centuries death and destruction weapons and ammunition junkie deadly goods so the elites can live the life they’re entitled to. It’s screw Afro-Eurasia-Americas for fun and profit let have the rest of us starving to death and fighting over the crumbs they leave behind.
Hopefully the BRISCA will adopt/evolve an economy that is more equated to a living Earth rather than the neoliberal model that brings only death/destruction.
The pestilence of corporate totalitarianism is spreading over the earth. The criminals have power. They persecute those rebels that expose the ruling elite for what they’ve become, criminals in tailored suits and gangsters in beribboned military uniforms-propped up by a vast internal and external security apparatus, a compliant press, and a morally bankrupt political elite- who hunt down and cage all who resist.
Humanity is never stationary. It advances or goes backwards. Its progressive march leads to equality. Its regressive march goes back through every stage of privilege to human slavery, the final word in the right to property.
The West with its neoliberal religion is regressing towards an electronic feudalism where serfdom and slavery will become a very lucrative industry along with their prisons. After all todays criminal prison system works perfectly, just as slavery did, when it comes to matters of economic and political policy.
Above should read…
criminal justice/prison system.
“Hopefully the BRISCA will adopt/evolve an economy that is more equated to a living Earth rather than the neoliberal model that brings only death/destruction.”
I hope so too Robert.
Anyone watch Boom/Bust today on RT Varofarus had a plan B. Digital Currency for the Greek Banks but Syriza chicken out health problems Mafia style probable cause.
I would like to see Catherine Fitt’s take on the Greek affair, which has a lot of obscure points…
I truly hope the aside about “radical Islam” was tongue-in-cheek, because if you want to understand just why it is insane and evil, you need simply look behind he curtan at who is funding them — radical, evil Western, Saudi, Israeli and Turkish intelligence agancies.
As for the French delegation, French businessmen are very unhappy with the sanctions and those in trading industries are quite open to the points made by Russian officials and business leaders in the French press — which actually publishes what they have to say instead of ginned-up propaganda from the Mighty Wurlitzer.
Brzezinski’s dreaded Eurasian Market Road being developed by China/Russia with a BRICSA foundation is what Europe is drooling over and DC looking at w/daggers in their eyes.
After reading the recent leaked revelations from the Euro Greek negotiations/ flogging. I cannot help think the French are growing rather tired of the Schauble doctrine. The suggestion is Schauble wants Greece out and is using this scenario to terrorise the French into a greater centralised, technocratic (and German ?) control of Europe. Obviously the Euro skeptics in the UK find this information very interesting.
Quotations from from the articles, ” Germans used Grexit to “terrorise” the French ”
And as an illustration of the strangle hold the Troika has on Public Greece Finance,
“Mr Varoufakis recruited a technology specialist from Columbia University to help handle the logistics. Faced with a wall of obstacles, the expert broke into the software systems of the tax office – then under the control of the EU-IMF ‘Troika’ – in order to obtain the reserve accounts and file numbers of every taxpayer. “We decided to hack into my ministry’s own software programme,” he said.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11764792/Greece-news-live-explosive-Varoufakis-recording-says-Paris-is-terrified-of-Berlins-demands.html
Charges of treason ?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11764018/Varoufakis-reveals-cloak-and-dagger-Plan-B-for-Greece-awaits-treason-charges.html
In the third paragraph it should be Yanukovich not Yatsenyuk. Yatsenyuk was one of the junta, and is the current prime minister of Ukraine if I recall correctly.
You are absolutely right! Thanks!
Hmm I actually suspect that Merkel and Hollande have been completely compromised and/or threatened in one way or another and therefore must do exactly what Washington and the CIA coerce them to do. So in order to create any sort of change they must use proxy lower level politicians to make significant and “truthy” statements and make challenging moves such as go to Crimea.
I also feel that the situation in the Ukraine is as much about sucking Russia into a major military conflict at its under belly as it is to entangle Europe into the same ghastly abyss. It seems to me that the US and Britain are desperate to keep Russia and Europe apart and are doing everything possible to “divide and conquer”
At the same time, I think the Germans and French are desperately trying to dislodge and then get rid of the shackles, menace and oppression of the US…..Very “interesting” times lie ahead
French-Russian links go back a long way, to Peter the Great….
And something else unexpected: amidst all its woes Greece has just signed a military agreement with Israel:
http://en.enikos.gr/politics/32767,Israel-Greece-sign-status-of-forces-agreement.html