Hillary Clinton slams Russia for attempting to rebuild the Soviet Union - Polidicks

[QUOTE] [IMG]http://rt.com/files/usa/news/clinton-benghazi-testimony-attack-586/hillary-belfast-clinton-news.jpg[/IMG] DUBLIN - [B]U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned Thursday about a new effort by oppressive governments to "re-Sovietize" much of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, taking particular aim at Russia for its crackdown on democracy and human rights groups just hours ahead of critical talks with that country's foreign minister.[/B] Clinton's meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will focus on the violence in Syria. They'll be joined in Ireland's capital by the U.N. mediator for the Arab country, Lakhdar Brahimi, in a three-way attempt to breathe new life into diplomatic efforts to stem the violence. However, speaking to a group of lawyers and civil society advocates on the sidelines of an international human rights conference, Clinton took aim at what she described as a new wave of repressive tactics and laws aimed at criminalizing U.S. outreach efforts. The trends are indicative of a larger reversal of freedoms for citizens of Russia, Belarus, Turkmenistan and other countries that emerged from the breakup of the Soviet Union two decades ago. [B]"There is a move to re-Sovietize the region," Clinton lamented.[/B] [IMG]http://offiziere.ch/wp-content/uploads/Eurasian-Union.png[/IMG] [B]"It's not going to be called that. It's going to be called customs union, it will be called Eurasian Union and all of that,"[/B] she said, referring to Russian-led efforts for greater regional integration. "But let's make no mistake about it. We know what the goal is and we are trying to figure out effective ways to slow down or prevent it." In a windswept tent outside the Dublin conference centre hosting the annual meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Clinton heard tales of struggle from 11 human rights advocates. Andrey Aranbaev, an environmentalist from Turkmenistan, accused Western nations of forsaking his compatriots. "My country Turkmenistan is world-famous for two things: one of the largest gas supplies and gross human rights violations," he said through an interpreter. "Almost all international actors are talking about Turkmenistan's gas. But almost no one is talking about the gross human rights violations." "Human rights and democracy in Turkmenistan was sold for gas," Aranbaev added. Igor Kochetkov of the Russian LGBT Network said Russian authorities were trying to prohibit even the discussion of discrimination based on sexual orientation. And Olga Zakharova, a journalist with Freedom Files in Russia, said even use of social media was becoming more restrictive. Clinton said she understood the complaints many of them lodged. "We agree with your assessment that the space for civil society and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms is shrinking, and governments are becoming much more aggressive in trying to stifle dissent, prevent the free expression and exchange of views," she said. "It's distressing that 20 years into the post-Soviet era ... so many of the hoped-for indicators of progress are retreating," Clinton said. "And the impact on individuals and organizations is becoming more oppressive." Clinton said there is a concerted effort to eliminate both American and international assistance for human rights advocates. "We are trying to fight that, but it is very difficult," she said. "We will have to come up with new ways to support you, since everything we have been doing in some places, most notably Russia, is being criminalized. And the impact is not so great on us, but it's terrible on you." The problem is compounded by America's limited influence with some governments, she added. In Belarus, "we have struck out so far," Clinton said. Ukraine, she said, is "one of our biggest disappointments." And in Turkmenistan, the U.S. raises human rights issues all the time. "We get no response," she said. Speaking later to the 57-nation OSCE, Clinton offered more muted criticism of Russia. She reiterated concerns about a new Russian law that requires organizations and journalists receiving foreign funding to register as "foreign agents," a move the U.S. believes is designed to stifle internal criticism of President Vladimir Putin's government. His foreign minister, Lavrov, was in attendance. For his part, Lavrov proposed Thursday new rules for OSCE election monitoring missions to avoid what he described as double standards in a year that had votes in both Russia and the U.S. "Hundreds of observers were sent to some places, while only several were sent to others," he said. "The same facts in various countries, for example early voting, were assessed differently." [/QUOTE] [URL="http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/rights+meeting+Clinton+warns+efforts+reSovietize+Russia/7659965/story.html#ixzz2EfYzyk1k"]source[/URL]

"I told you about those Soviets, man" - Mitt

[quote]"It's not going to be called that. It's going to be called customs union, it will be called Eurasian Union and all of that,"[/quote] [img]http://www.battlefield-2142.org/pics/pac_logo.png[/img]

glorious soviet russia shall rise once again in 2020 with glorious communist navy

[QUOTE=Marbalo;38777678]She's just afraid of the fact that NATO will lose its dominant grip on much of the world if Russia, along with post-Soviet nations [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Cooperation_Organisation"]including China[/URL] would unite under a similar treaty.[/QUOTE] Though the US and NATO have unnecessarily thrown a lot of its weight around in the world for the past 20 years, I don't believe the world would benefit much from a bipolar super power rivalry again.

I like how we can have the European Union, but suddenly when the Russians want to do something with other countries, then they get yelled at.

[QUOTE=Bonde;38777697]I like how we can have the European Union, but suddenly when the Russians want to do something with other countries, then they get yelled at.[/QUOTE] Historically, Europe has never much cared for Russia.

I really don't see what's wrong with this... (the customs union) suppression of human rights is more of an issue in China than Russia tbh. Thing is China is just better at covering it up. Though it's a serious issue all around.

What a fucking joke. NATO and western imperialism swallow up eastern europe = freedom and democracy Russian imperialism makes a labored baby step = omg red menace Clinton needs realize she's sleeping in a bed entirely of the west's doing. Continuing to bully russia isn't going to get you anywhere. [Quote] She reiterated concerns about a new Russian law that requires organizations and journalists receiving foreign funding to register as "foreign agents," a move the U.S. believes is designed to stifle internal criticism of President Vladimir Putin's government.[/quote] Holy hypocrisy.

[QUOTE=trotskygrad;38777709]I really don't see what's wrong with this...[/QUOTE] [video=youtube;U06jlgpMtQs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U06jlgpMtQs[/video]

[QUOTE=Marbalo;38777713]It wouldn't (and doesn't) benefit from a singular superpower bloc right now either.[/QUOTE] We've had our troubled spots, but I think the world has progressed a lot better in the past 20 years than it did in the prior 40 Cold War years.

Hillary Clinton isn't looking her best

[QUOTE=trotskygrad;38777709]I really don't see what's wrong with this... (the customs union) suppression of human rights is more of an issue in China than Russia tbh. Thing is China is just better at covering it up. Though it's a serious issue all around.[/QUOTE] I don't think it's a matter of China covering it up so much as the West not caring about it due to economic ties.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;38777751]I don't think it's a matter of China covering it up so much as the West not caring about it due to economic ties.[/QUOTE] it's both [editline]10th December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=laserguided;38777731][video=youtube;U06jlgpMtQs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U06jlgpMtQs[/video][/QUOTE] vote KPRF

I don't think anyone wants to see another soviet union again.

I for one, Welcome our neo-Soviet Overlords :D

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;38777735]We've had our troubled spots, but I think the world has progressed a lot better in the past 20 years than it did in the prior 40 Cold War years.[/QUOTE] Two-power political environments are actually considered more stable and less prone to warfare than 3+ or singular.

[QUOTE=Itsjustguy;38777768]I don't think anyone wants to see another soviet union again.[/QUOTE]That is where you are unfortunately wrong.

[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;38777813]That is where you are unfortunately wrong.[/QUOTE] How about we take the people who are pretty delusional out of the area ? I think that would probably make for a "nil"

[QUOTE=Itsjustguy;38777768]I don't think anyone wants to see another soviet union again.[/QUOTE] but then we'll never see a soviet onion

[QUOTE=Marbalo;38777964]All quibbling aside, it's more distressing that she is not even aware of the factors that led up to this. The Russian people weren't even ready for the collapse. A whole lot of folks didn't even want it and many still blame Gorbachev for forcing democracy on people who were used to more authoritarian rule. And nobody could argue with the comparison between modern day Russia and 70-80's Soviet Union. The lack of any organized crime, the decent quality of living, the great education, and above all a nation that held a respectable and quite feared status on the world stage was something that thrilled the population, or at least, kept it satisfied. After the collapse all that remained was crime, corruption, mass depression and paranoia of society, and an overall shitty country ruled by a handful of questionable people. All this because of external political pressure. I'm not trying to glorify the late days of the Soviet Union, but it was [I]significantly better[/I] than the way things are right now. And the fact that Western politicians act surprised and disappointed when Russia is reverting back to a more authoritarian state clearly shows a very selfish and uninformed nature of the situation. Selfish, because there is no other way Russia can realistically thrive unless it unites or a least seeks help from nations actually willing to grant help, like China and (surprisingly) many post-Soviet states. But apparently seeking some sort of mutual bond to increase the economical output of nations is the second coming of Stalin's Soviet Union.[/QUOTE] I had a little respect for Hillary Clinton before I read about this article, she sounds legitimately scared.

Wasn't it Putin that said that whoever wanted the USSR back had no brain?

[QUOTE=Electrocuter;38778252]Wasn't it Putin that said that whoever wanted the USSR back had no brain?[/QUOTE] They've said this [QUOTE](Reuters) - Russia's leaders said on Thursday the new Eurasian Union that Moscow wants to create would build on the best values of the Soviet Union. Vladimir Putin, who plans to seek his third term as president in an election in March 2012, outlined last month his vision for the new body which would build on an existing Customs Union with Belarus and Kazakhstan. Speaking to Russian pensioners and World War Two veterans in the Kremlin ahead of a parliamentary election in just over two weeks, President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin played up their nostalgia about Soviet times. "You remember the kind of words that accompanied the collapse of the Soviet Union. It was a very hard, sad time," Medvedev said. "We are working now to unite on a new basis, and I am certain that this union will have a very good future." Medvedev and Putin will host the presidents of ex-Soviet Belarus and Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Alexander Lukashenko, in Moscow on Friday to discuss ways of further integration into the Eurasian Union. "We would like for each state that wants to join the Customs Union, the Common Economic Space, and in future the Eurasian Union, to make that choice consciously, so that nobody then says they were roped in," Medvedev said. Critics have said the Russian integration drive aims to restore the Soviet empire -- a personal ambition of Putin, a former KGB agent who called the collapse of the USSR "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century". Most Russians have positive memories of the USSR in the 1970s and early 1980s for its stability and high social security standards which disappeared after its collapse in 1991. "I could not have dreamt up in a worst nightmare what started happening after the collapse of the Soviet Union," Medvedev told the pensioners who presented him and Putin with homemade woollen mittens and socks. MEANS OF SURVIVAL Putin said earlier that his integration drive was not an attempt to capitalise on the nostalgic mood among the older generations. He said it was pursuing purely economic goals and modelled on the European Union. Medvedev, who plans to step down as president and has been promised the post of prime minister by his mentor Putin, said the Soviet Union had succeeded in creating "a Soviet people" from many different nationalities. "This model had worked and this was an absolutely legitimate goal. It did not have any ideological colours," Medvedev said. "It was a means of survival for the giant nation living on the vast territory of our country." Russia is facing a rising wave of nationalism, mostly among ethnic Russians angry about an influx of migrants from the poor North Caucasus region, as well as from the former Soviet countries where living standards are lower. The two leaders face difficulties in addressing the potentially explosive issue in their election campaigns. Medvedev said the Soviet experience could help. "We should not be shy when bringing back the ideas of ethnic unity. Yes, we are all different but we have common values and a desire to live in a single big state," Medvedev said. (Writing by Steve Gutterman; Editing by Robert Woodward)[/QUOTE] Its actually a good article. They're basically planning a capitalist replacement of the USSR.

[QUOTE=Rika-chan;38777748]Hillary Clinton isn't looking her best[/QUOTE] russia's evil commie mind waves are making her age

[QUOTE=Electrocuter;38778252]Wasn't it Putin that said that whoever wanted the USSR back had no brain?[/QUOTE] "Whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart Whoever wants it back has no brain" -don'tremembername

damn ussr got slammed QUICK by Clinton! what you gotta say about THAT mother russia?

what's that map from?

Yeah she slams Russia just like she slammed her husband. [i]"Bill!"[/i]

[QUOTE=Joazzz;38778703]what's that map from?[/QUOTE] Its pulled from some random article, its prospective EAU members and current EAU members. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Union[/url]

[QUOTE=Marbalo;38777767]In which aspect? Because in those "40 Cold War years" we went to the fucking moon.[/QUOTE] we also came incredibly close to nuclear annihilation