Russia’s Grandstanding … Red Lipstick On An Old Sow
Russia Displays its Military Pomp on Red Square
By Matthias Schepp in Moscow
For the first time since the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, Moscow has put on an arms parade to celebrate the defeat of Nazi Germany. Russians are impressed with the military show of strength, but in Eastern Europe the parade has reawakened old fears.
In the days running up to the parade, things in Moscow looked a bit strange. Tanks rolled down the streets in the direction of Red Square while fighter jets flew over the office blocks in the heart of the Russian capital. To Western observers, these scenes were anachronistic. If it weren’t for the hundreds of billboards and luxury boutiques, it would almost seem as if things had jumped back in time to the Soviet Union in 1990.
That was when the last parade with military hardware took place — almost 18 years ago. Back then, Moscow was gray and the Soviet Union was bankrupt.
During the three dress rehearsals for the victory parade, well dressed passers-by craned their necks to get a look at the T-90 tanks, while people sitting at pavement cafes were stunned and sometimes shocked to see Sukhoi fighter jets flying 400 meters above their heads.
When 8,000 soldiers and officers in new uniforms, created by star fashion designer Valentin Yudashkin, marched in front of the Kremlin, the assembled government elite and the last World War II veterans on Friday morning, it seemed as if Russia was searching for its future in the past. European diplomats spoke privately of “the wrong signal.”
In reality, Western capitals have no need to panic because of the saber rattling on Red Square. After all, France celebrates its Bastille Day every year with a military parade including tanks on the Champs Elysees and fighter aircraft flying across the Arc de Triomphe. Nations who once played a far greater role on the world stage need to bask in the glory of historical uniforms, machine guns and bombast. It eases the nagging pain of lost territories and influence.
It will take a while to judge if Russia did itself any favors in terms of foreign policy. Its biggest problem is not the West, but its relationship with the countries of the former Warsaw Pact in Eastern Europe and the states that emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Poland and tiny Lithuania are now blocking the start of negotiations between Russia and the European Union on a new partnership agreement, while Georgia has been delaying Russia’s long overdue accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
And it is in these countries that parades that ape the style of the former Communist power are viewed with horror. The old formula, whereby Russia was respected as well as feared, will not work in the future. In countries such as Georgia, the show of strength in Moscow will probably increase rather than decrease the determination to seek protection by joining the Western defence alliance NATO.
But most Russians approved of the demonstration of military strength. According to a survey by research organization Ziom, 70 percent of those questioned thought it was “very good” or “good” that military hardware was once again on display. After the country’s economic and social decline and its foreign policy humiliations in the 1990s — when Russia had to look on powerlessly as NATO expanded up to its borders — the country is basking in the feeling best summed up by the phrase: “We’re back.”
Only a small number of liberal politicians and civil rights activists have voiced criticism. “For a country that wants to develop peacefully, this is totally superfluous,” commented civil rights activist Lev Ponomaryov. “Who are we flexing our muscles for? Georgia. It’s so obvious our army is superior to Georgia’s. Or the West? But we claim that we want to build up a partnership with the West.”
New Uniforms, Old Weapons
For the 63rd anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, there were not only new uniforms to marvel at on Red Square, but newly choreographed marches and a new president. Dmitry Medvedev, who has only been in office for two days, gazed statesman-like at the proceedings from the grandstand.
The weapon systems on show, however, were old. A voice over a loudspeaker hailed the S-300 anti-missile system as the “best in the world.” The SU-24 fighter jets, which flew over the Kremlin, have been in operation for 30 years and the strategic bomber, the Tu-160, was delivered to the air force for the first time in 1981.
So far, only a handful of Russia’s newest fighter jets, the Su-34, have even been supplied to the air force. According to aviation expert Ruslan Puchow, “Many of the weapon systems which were on display are more often sold abroad than given to our army.” That is why the respected business newspaper Vedomosti ran a story on the parade with the derisive headline “Parade for Export.”
Comments from Washington were particularly sneering, if not entirely inaccurate. Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon spokesman, derided the Moscow military parade in advance: “If they wish to take out their old equipment and take it for a spin and check it out, they’re more than welcome to do so.”
(derSpiegel)
Believe me … Vlad is waaaay over compensating for his lack of … eh, hmmm … something …
It’s not called ‘cock and bull’ for nuttin’ …
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
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Keep it up Vlad, buzz a few more carrier battle groups with your Tu-95’s. You’ll eventually find an American Admiral with a short fuse who will spash your antiques, at the very least.
May 10th, 2008 at 7:29 pmIn reality, Western capitals have no need to panic because of the saber rattling on Red Square. After all, France celebrates its Bastille Day every year with a military parade including tanks on the Champs Elysees and fighter aircraft flying across the Arc de Triomphe.
No, it’s a way to keep people together, they love to watch their youngs in military parades, at the same time they see how their money has been well spent.
I remember while young, after offices at church in special God fests, there was a flowers carpet decoration on the main street, the local orchestra and the military were part of the defilé ; they played military arias ; I found that great and very emotional.
stupid remarck, tipical of this side of the pond, it is not knowing the history and the habits of these nations ; that has nothing to do with a pseudo “grandeur” spirit, if it was, then the défilé habits in our villages and cities would still be on, I am afraid, we can’t find them anymore since a few decades
the 14 juillet défilé is our nation fest as the 4 th july is for your country
For the Russians, it’s also a way to reconcentrate the russian people behind the idea of their nation ; since 1990, they had lost their dignity ; a population without dignity is more dangerous than one’ that has an ideal image of his/her country ; it’s also how happened those nuclear stuffs traffics with mafiosi…
May 11th, 2008 at 1:05 am“Nations who once played a far greater role on the world stage need to bask in the glory of historical uniforms, machine guns and bombast. It eases the nagging pain of lost territories and influence”
stupid remarck…
this was ment after the above sentence
May 11th, 2008 at 1:08 amInteresting. Looks like ol’ Gog is awake & restless.
America bought Alaska from the Russians for 7 or 11 million bucks back in 1867. We are approximately 68 miles from their shore & the Trans-Alaska Pipeline is dead smack in the middle of Alaska.
Lots of mountains, plenty of oil, , lack of defense , & low population. It’s the perfect place for the Soviets to strike.
Unfortunately, the United States is going to sit this one out.
May 11th, 2008 at 7:35 amLeathemeck
you should look at the pics of Vladivostok
http://mysoupis.blogspot.com/2008/05/8-mai-1945-in-russia.html
May 11th, 2008 at 8:01 amMy goodness. They’ve got pictures of Lenin & Stalin, the two great grandfathers of Communism.
Your pics are more proof that Russia is not fooling around.
Merci!
May 11th, 2008 at 8:57 am“After all, France celebrates its Bastille Day every year with a military parade including tanks on the Champs Elysees and fighter aircraft flying across the Arc de Triomphe….”
What a fucking joke.
May 11th, 2008 at 9:23 amLeatherneck, might be that this parade ment so, dunno, I have read a few articles in french and german papers that we may have a good surprise with the new president
May 11th, 2008 at 9:33 amSully go get some daily milkose, yeah ya know on the right sites that have milkyways on
May 11th, 2008 at 9:51 amDid you guys know that Russia is 10 - 15 % Moslem, all those nukes!!! The tipping point in most other countries has been 15 - 20 % BEFORE ALL HELL BRAKES LOOSE! Are the Russian ignoring the realities of islam like they ignored the realities of Communism??
May 11th, 2008 at 12:23 pmThe one item that they did supply to their own forces exclusively and in “large” numbers is the Topol-M missle in the last image. It is an ICBM designed for low-angle atmospheric entry (or so I understand) and the final stage can maneuver quite a bit on the way to the target. Basically, its designed to take out the anti-ICBM missle battery in Alaska. This is how the Russian military overhauled its forces in response to terrorist attacks in Moscow, Beslan and elsewhere.
Basically, the Russians don’t know how to deal with the modern world and are trying to prop up their own impotence with what they know - great, big nuclear-tipped missiles. This makes them feel confident, but what they don’t realize is that it also makes them look stupid.
May 11th, 2008 at 1:17 pmOh, be nice to franchie. It is interesting, however, now that I think of it - we have air shows and parades featuring military units here and there all over the country, but we don’t have a “national” military parade of any sort. I know that the Germans kinda keep their military a well-known secret, but does anyone know if the Brits have a national military parade-sort-of-thing?
May 11th, 2008 at 1:20 pm“Oh, be nice to franchie…..”
What for? “She”’s a Kos_sack.
May 11th, 2008 at 1:43 pmTold us all last year Bush was a POS and Clinton was the best whatever the fuck Clinton was cuz it certainly couldn’t be called a President.
Q_Mech
I don’t think so, all we see on TV it’s the queen’s horse guards parade ; must be at the occasion of aniversary events, they also have ships exhibitions
May 11th, 2008 at 2:01 pmSully, whateva your obssessions,
since then I have been at a good school here, but didn’t get any profit from you, except your silly whinnings, so I don’t ow you nothing ;
May 11th, 2008 at 2:06 pmgood school?
May 11th, 2008 at 4:32 pmsadly for you that is not apparent
I can’t see your degrees either, ah yes, as a retarded racist, theres you shoin
May 11th, 2008 at 10:06 pm