Translated material
Experts from the "Times" program and the Presidential Administration in search of the enemy
After a summer break, the analytical program "Vremena" went on the air. issue The September 26 was entirely devoted to discussing the following statement by President Putin during his address to the nation on September 4: “In general, it must be admitted that we have not shown an understanding of the complexity and danger of the processes taking place in our own country and in the world as a whole In any case, they failed to adequately respond to them. They showed weakness. And the weak are beaten. Some want to tear a fatter piece from us, others help them. They help, believing that Russia, as one of the largest nuclear powers in the world, still represents for whom "is a threat, so this threat must be eliminated. And terrorism is, of course, only a tool to achieve these goals . "
Vladimir Pozner posed specific questions to the participants of the show, which interested, probably, all listeners of Putin's speech: "Who exactly, specifically, is the enemy of Russia? ... Who exactly wants to tear off a "fatter piece" from Russia, use terrorism as a tool? Who helps the terrorists in this case?" he asked the audience.
The first of the participants to name a specific enemy was journalist Mikhail Leontiev: *"The United States as a leader ... of a certain strength - it used to be represented by the British Empire, now - by the United States, these are hereditary structures, in my opinion ... are potential adversaries of Russia. . .. It has been existing for 180 years and it has never stopped for a single second.
The President called, and I am very happy about this, international terrorism ... a "tool" .... in this case, he [Islamic terrorism - ed. ] is definitely not subjective. ... there is a country that is at the head of a very broad coalition ... called the "United States of America", which has openly proclaimed the idea of \u200b\u200bthe complete, absolute hegemony of itself in the world ... The United States is interested in eliminating Russia as a country that is capable of representing a threat to them."
Dmitry Rogozin agreed with the position of M. Leontiev, while noting that the United States, which actually supports Islamist terrorism, including in Chechnya, opposes building a strong state in Russia: “when President Putin begins to implement his new initiatives through the State Duma to create a tough, but a self-confident political system, there will be a clear order from Washington to kick Russia out of the G8 .
"Undoubtedly, the United States is Russia's adversary , - added the chairman of the Islamic Committee of Russia, Heydar Jemal. - The United States is interested in global destabilization, because for them it is a way out of the crisis . "
During the discussion, the participants found many more enemies of Russia: these are transnational corporations, and China, which took away Damansky Island (apparently, "a piece is fatter" ), and - another contribution to the discussion of M. Leontiev - Great Britain: "... there is the city of London , in which practically all Islamist organizations are concentrated, just the capital of Islamist organizations is not Kabul, nor Baghdad, but London. Nothing explodes there! Nothing! Although at one time the British police did not cope so well with Irish terrorism " .
The idea of many speakers was expressed by D. Rogozin, who remarked: "The fat piece" is, in general, the whole of Russia. And you don't have to search now. It is a huge, very rich country. Control over Russia is, in principle, a strategic reserve for anyone who is going to have some kind of hegemonic [sic! - ed. ] plans for the future" .
It should be noted that Vladislav Surkov's semi-official commentary on the topic of enemies in a keynote interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda followed three days later. According to Surkov, the enemy is not the United States and not the West as a whole, but some part of the elite of the United States, Europe and even the East, which intends to destroy Russia.
Interestingly, the situation of military mobilization is interpreted by Surkov through the notion of a "moral majority" characteristic of American conservatives.
Accordingly, internal enemies are also indicated: "In fact, a fifth column of left and right radicals has emerged in the besieged country. Lemons and some apples now grow on the same branch. Fake liberals and real Nazis have more and more in common. Common sponsors of foreign origin. Common hatred. To Putin's , as they say, to Russia. But in fact, to Russia as such."
Sources
- Time // First channel. 2004. September 26.
- Vladislav Surkov, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation: Putin strengthens the state, not himself // TVNZ. 2004. September 28.