[A]s the Ukraine situation has worsened, unconscionable misinformation and hype is being poured on Russia and Vladimir Putin.  Journalists and pundits must scour the Internet and thesauruses to come up with fiendish new epithets to describe both. 

I believe it is safe to say that none would describe him as “brutal” or “thuggish”, or the other slanderous adjectives and nouns that are repeatedly used in western media. 

The year was 1992… 

Tennison

Sharon Tennison

1994 

Putin as Deputy Mayor of St. Petersburg in the early 90s.

December 31, 1999 

The arrogant young oligarchs have to be removed by force from the Kremlin, and 2) A way must be found to remove the regional bosses (governors) from their fiefdoms across Russia’s 89 regions“. It was clear to me that the man in the brown suit would never have the instincts or guts to tackle Russia’s overriding twin challenges. 

February 2000 

 This was the first of Putin’s “elegant solutions” to the near impossible challenges facing the new Russia. But the deal also put Putin in crosshairs with US media and officials who then began to champion the oligarchs, particularly Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The latter became highly political, didn’t pay taxes, and prior to being apprehended and jailed was in the process of selling a major portion of Russia’s largest private oil company, Yukos Oil, to Exxon Mobil. Unfortunately, to U.S. media and governing structures, Khodorkovsky became a martyr (and remains so up to today). 

March 2000 

Throughout the 2000s 

Late 2000 

Year 2001 

 

Another former U.S. official who will go unidentified, also reported working closely with Putin, saying there was never any hint of bribery, pressuring, nothing but respectable behaviors and helpfulness. 

I had two encounters in 2013 with State Department officials regarding Putin: 

“‘The knives were drawn’ when it was announced that Putin would be the next president.” I questioned WHY? The answer: “I could never find out why – – maybe because he was KGB.” I offered that Bush #I, was head of the CIA. The reply was, “That would have made no difference, he was our guy.” 

No one yet has come up with any concrete evidence for these allegations. During this time, I’ve traveled throughout Russia several times every year, and have watched the country slowly change under Putin’s watch. Taxes were lowered, inflation lessened, and laws slowly put in place. Schools and hospitals began improving. Small businesses were growing, agriculture was showing improvement, and stores were becoming stocked with food. Alcohol challenges were less obvious, smoking was banned from buildings, and life expectancy began increasing. Highways were being laid across the country, new rails and modern trains appeared even in far out places, and the banking industry was becoming dependable. Russia was beginning to look like a decent country – – certainly not where Russians hoped it to be long term, but improving incrementally for the first time in their memories. 

My 2013/14 Trips to Russia 

Modern Russia, thriving

So why do our leaders and media demean and demonize Putin and Russia??? 

Like Lady MacBeth, do they protest too much? 

Could this be why we constantly find fault with Putin and Russia? 

Could it be that we project on to Putin the sins of ourselves and our leaders? 

Could it be that we project warmongering off on Russia, because of what we have done over the past several administrations? 

There is a well known code of ethics among us: Is it the Truth, Is it Fair, Does it build Friendship and Goodwill, and Will it be Beneficial for All Concerned? 

As always your comments will be appreciated. Please resend this report to as many friends and colleagues as possible. 

 

About the author 

. The author can be contacted at sharon@ccisf.org