Russia in the World

Reuters reports five scientists killed in northern Russia, and Vladimir Putin’s evil plan to start Armageddon is suddenly revealed. Or, not. A nuclear-powered missile that could end America’s nuclear dominance of the world is discovered. Almost. Or, maybe. But, nowhere are there any reports of the US Pentagon creating world killing bioweapons or gamma ray guns. Somehow, this seems unfair, untrue, and malicious.

There are two things you can count on in this whacky 21st-century world. First and foremost, not a day will pass without some genius rocket scientist Putin expert telling us what the Russian president really wants. The other thing you can set your watch to is the relentless fear-mongering about how the Russians will soon invade “X” – you fill in the blank country or region.

Among the numerous products of the Russian industry which are in considerable demand abroad, one of the important ones is the trucks of the Kama automobile plant (KAMAZ). The KAMAZ brand trucks have seen several decades of popularity in various countries of the world thanks to their loading capacity and reliability, as well as their ability to work in tough environments, in terms of both climate and landscape, and easy repair and maintenance. At the same time, the Russian vehicles have a rather small cost.

President Trump’s ‘daring’ step over the demarcation line between North and South Korea to shake hands with Chairman Kim wouldn’t be making such headlines were the American media capable of remembering the Soviet Union’s long history of ‘Friendship’ Institutes. Even more frustrating, if they remembered it, today’s pundits would dismiss the decades long ‘friendship’ between the Communist nuclear power and the leaders of what was then known as ‘The Third World’.

What does Putin really want? Well, whatever it is I just hope the New York Times will finally get the Russian leader’s master plan for humanity right soon. Another story in the world’s most famous newspaper has me wondering if anybody to the west of Lavry, in Pskov Oblast has a clue. Here are some notes on the most recent misinterpretation of Russian policy.

While the United States has been intimidating dozens of countries all over the world, two cuddly Chinese giant pandas – a three year old male called Ru Yi, and a female one year younger, named Ding Ding – were settling down in their new home, inside the legendary Moscow Zoo. Chewing bamboo shoots, and obviously enjoying the unprecedented attention, two specimens of iconic Chinese bears, were ‘just there’, in a good mood, making the entire world around them kinder and more secure.