© Kremlin.ru
Recently our resident (users of the "Cont" website) "communists" who are furiously criticising Putin again became more active. For what? Well, for anything, Putin doesn't please our red-bellied guys, and that's all.
Perhaps it is necessary for these faultfinders to see Putin furiously shaking his fists and threatening the whole world with an "atomic bludgeon"; to see in Putin the "double of comrade Kim", threatening the US with his missiles? Or the "double of Trump", who doesn't shun to launch missiles at a sovereign and independent country?
Putin is not as they want to see him.
Putin served as a mid-level intelligence bureaucrat who sat at a desk in Dresden, East Germany. He was stationed there with his family for several years before returning to Leningrad. His job was to analyze data, and he had no involvement in other activities
The political career of Putin started in 1990. Still being an employee of KGB, he was appointed to the position of the adviser to the chairman of the St. Petersburg city council.
Putin is often reproached for "carrying Anatoly Sobchak's bag". But in reality it was a developed and brilliantly performed KGB operation that aimed to introduce Putin into the security structures of Russia. It's not known if Putin took part in the development of this operation himself. And it's unlikely that we will learn about it one day.
Further there is the "Moscow period" of Putin's career. The year of 1996. Pay special attention to this date.
After Putin's move to Moscow in 1996, he was appointed as the deputy head of department of the Russian President. This position is much higher than all his previous positions. And just two years later he became the head of Federal Security Service.
In 1998 Putin is already the "head of the FSB"! A meteoric career, don't you think?
Already at that time Putin obtained the rank of an incorruptible and experienced head with a great influence.
In 1999 "certain comrades", perhaps also led by Putin, made an offer to Yeltsin that the lover of power couldn't refuse. Yeltsin had to delegate power to Putin in exchange for lifelong guarantees. During this same year Yeltsin appointed Putin to the position of the Russian Prime Minister.
© Sputnik / Sergey Zhukov / VileBoris Yeltsin (L) shakes hands with Vladimir Putin (R)
In only four years, Putin, from an unknown "colonel of the KGB", reached the top of power. He became president and Supreme Commander. He stood at a wheel of the country, which was nearly breaking up into "appanage principalities". He stood and prevented the disintegration of Russia quickly and ruthlessly. The regional elites were tamed or jailed "for corruption".
Back then something similar to what is depicted on this map was prepared for us.
Russia at the collapse of the USSR
And our Motherland, our Russia, was saved from disintegration and collapse.
Now about the "indecision and sluggishness of Putin" that he is criticized for by both the "right", and the "left"! By both communists and liberals. I ask to consider one thing: Putin is always guided by expedience and what is beneficial for Russia. Always. And takes the necessary actions at the precisely calculated time, with precisely calculated effort.
Let's remember, in 90's the so-called " Semibankirshchina" - the seven richest and influential people in Russia - ruled Russia. They ruled and impudently plundered Russia. They literally "kicked open the door of the president's office", they were the real rulers of Russia. Everything was in their power.
Putin considered it expedient to destroy "semibankirshchina". It was destroyed, quickly, effectively, and ruthlessly. Where now are these people who at the time were the most powerful in Russia? Their fate was sad, some have already passed on, and some are still alive and have been deprived of all their assets and billions, leading a miserable existence. Some were left a little bit of money "for life", as an example for others.
© Associated PressYukos oil company CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky seen behind bars at a courtroom, at the start of a trial in Moscow
Putin is a pragmatist, and in some measure a ruthless person obsessed with one idea. This idea is Russia! Everything that goes for the good, and for the benefit of Russia, should be done. And it is being done!
Thus practically all mineral deposits, oil, and gas handed over to the West in the 90's by this same "semibankirshchina" were returned in Russian jurisdiction.
From the 260 Production Sharing Agreements concluded in the 90's, in accordance with which the US and other countries of the West got bagels, Putin quietly and noiselessly, without waving red flags, without menacingly shaking fists, without shouting out trenchant slogans, cancelled 258 of them, and for the two that remained the conditions were revised in favour of Russia. Now the "bagels", sorry, money, goes to the budget of Russia, and the US, and those like them, receive the holes from the bagels.
This, of course, can't please either the US or the other countries of the West. And of course, they don't like Putin very much. And in exactly same way, Putin is not liked either by our communists or our liberals. A strange and interesting coincidence of interests.
Now a little about the "indecisiveness and cowardice of Putin" in terms of foreign policy.
I will not speak in a circumlocutory manner, I will just mention his "Munich speech" in 2007, in which Putin, on behalf of Russia, imperiously declared Russia's claims for "a piece of the world pie".
In 2014 Putin decided that it would be reasonable and useful for Russia to attach Crimea. The operation was performed resolutely, accurately, and without glancing back at the "world's opinion"! Do you think Putin did not count all the consequences of this step? You simply do not know Putin. Putin calculates all of his moves way in front. Like the grand master - nine moves ahead.
Crimea and the 'polite men in green'
Putin considered it expedient and useful for Russia to support the president of Venezuela, and Guaido's putsch failed, and the US silently sulked.
We know little, only what is shown to us by our and foreign media, which also doesn't know any more than we do. And so we, with our "knowledge" scraped from the media, undertake to criticise Putin, who possesses considerably more knowledge than we do, saying that he "was mistaken", that he "did not venture", that he "was afraid", and so on.
In our faultfinding we resemble these "internet experts", I only ask that offense isn't taken if someone recognizes himself or herself in this description.
As I already said, Putin is pragmatic and ruthless. Putin was criticised also for the fact that he didn't give the order to the Russian Air Force in Syria to down the missiles of the western coalition and to destroy the carriers of these missiles. You simply do not know Putin - if he did not give the order, then it means that he considers it to still be inexpedient.
If this step will be expedient, if Putin will consider it to be useful for Russia, then he will give this order without hesitation, with his quiet and inexpressive voice. If Putin will consider the destruction of all NATO countries, with the US at the head, to be expedient and useful for Russia, then he will give such an order - the NATO countries will disappear.
If Putin will consider liquidating the "fifth column" in Russia, as well as all liberal and communist movements, to be useful and reasonable, then it will be done - quickly, accurately, and ruthlessly.
So who you are, "comrade Putin"? And who sent you to Russia, literally at the "last moment"? When it already seemed that Russia died and disappears from the world map! So who you are, the saviour of Russia? Will we have answers one day?
Who knows? Perhaps in 20 years it will be declassified.
Read the original article (Russian) here.
Comment: Let it be remembered that Putin has gathered an intelligent team of advisors around him who share the same love of Mother Russia. They are tasked with telling him the truth about Russia's issues and giving their unvarnished advice. Only those who see reality as it is are able to function effectively. Russia is a shining example.