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The Leader
1.Political power consolidated in hands of one authoritarian figure
2.One powerful leader surrounded by a core group of lesser, key cronies
3.Support for The Leader from industrialists / oligarchs
4.Leader is unwilling to cede power/leave office
5.Leader harbors enormous resentment towards the West
6.Cult of the leader
7.Indoctrinated youth movement devoted to The Leader personally, and is used to attack regime’s “enemies”
The Plan
8.Exploitation of democratic structures to establish and legitimize authoritarian rule
9.Manipulation of electoral process to ensure desired outcomes
10.Rubber-stamp parliament
11.Façade/trappings of democracy without actual substance, checks & balances
The Legal & Judicial Systems
12.Law enforcement used to suppress political dissent
13.Judiciary subverted to serve as regime’s politicized instrument
14.Punitive use of “psychiatric treatment”
15.Expropriation of property and trumped-up criminal charges against regime opponents / dissenters
Domestic Political Environment
16.Persecution and arrest of potential political opponents
17.Marginalization of political parties (other than the one personally linked to The Leader)
18.Exploitation of claimed domestic security threat to justify increase security service power
19.Growth in security services’ powers, authorities and role
20.Emigration out of the country (political dissenters “voting with their feet”, brain drain)
News Media & Propaganda
21.Long-term campaign to achieve absolute regime control over mainstream news media
22.Suppression of independent news media
23.Persecution (and worse) of journalists
24.Heavy government investment in propaganda; “Big Lie” approach & dissemination of outright fabrications
25.Use of propaganda to brainwash, and ensure support of, domestic population
Recurring Themes
26.Claimed moral superiority over decadent West
27.Struggles against West described in stark, existentialist terms
28.Xenophobic nationalism and claims of foreign “threats”, encirclement
29.Revisionist history
30.Revanchism
31.Irredentism
Foreign Policy
32.Stated need to protect ethnic, linguistic “brothers” residing abroad used to justify interference in neighbor’s internal affairs, invasion and annexation of territory
33.Threats and belligerence towards neighboring countries
34.Use of military force to achieve foreign policy objectives
35.Annexation of foreign territory and attempt to legitimize annexation via rigged plebiscite
36.Military occupation of sovereign states’ territory
Social Policy
37.Reproductive policies: State campaign, programs to increase fertility and birth rate
38.Campaign against foreign words “polluting” the language
39.Persecution of homosexuals
Economy
40.Substantial increase in military expenditures (especially compared to amount invested in health care and social services)
41.Unsustainable, imbalanced economic system (RUS overreliance on selling natural resources)
originally posted by: GodEmperor
Sounds a lot like the Obama administration.
Zing!
originally posted by: FormOfTheLord
I wonder if anyone buys what the op is selling, because I think its just a bunch of hate mongering BS. No star and flag for youz!
originally posted by: Xcathdra
originally posted by: FormOfTheLord
I wonder if anyone buys what the op is selling, because I think its just a bunch of hate mongering BS. No star and flag for youz!
Angry and jealous, party of 1, your table is ready..
So you cant refute anything listed.
check
originally posted by: smurfy
originally posted by: FormOfTheLord
I wonder if anyone buys what the op is selling, because I think its just a bunch of hate mongering BS. No star and flag for youz!
Same sentiment here, and at such a delicate time, and all based here, at least on a dodgy blog that looks more like a 'to do' manual.
originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: FormOfTheLord
Then you need to refute the claims and provide sources when you do.
Considering your position you should be able to do this with no problem.
originally posted by: James1970
Are you willing to travel to Ukraine to fight for your beloved brothers in arms, or do you just like to stir the pot?
originally posted by: Xcathdra
originally posted by: smurfy
originally posted by: FormOfTheLord
I wonder if anyone buys what the op is selling, because I think its just a bunch of hate mongering BS. No star and flag for youz!
Same sentiment here, and at such a delicate time, and all based here, at least on a dodgy blog that looks more like a 'to do' manual.
Considering the source stated its something she had been thinking about, and no claims have been made other than observations, you guys are falling short of the intent.
Its fine if you disagree with some or all of what she posted. Either refute the claims / opinion or move to another thread and stop derailing this one with useless banter.
You gave us your opinion.. move on.
originally posted by: Xcathdra
originally posted by: James1970
Are you willing to travel to Ukraine to fight for your beloved brothers in arms, or do you just like to stir the pot?
Are you wanting to engage in debate over the topic or are you just stirring the pot by being off topic?
And yes I think the US and NATO should roll in and force Russian forces back into their own country. Appeasement only gives putin more of an incentive to act like Hitler.
originally posted by: James1970
originally posted by: Xcathdra
originally posted by: James1970
Are you willing to travel to Ukraine to fight for your beloved brothers in arms, or do you just like to stir the pot?
Are you wanting to engage in debate over the topic or are you just stirring the pot by being off topic?
And yes I think the US and NATO should roll in and force Russian forces back into their own country. Appeasement only gives putin more of an incentive to act like Hitler.
That would just about sum it up. This keyboard warrior wants to spew hatred and propaganda towards Ruaia but doesn't have the balls to fight, send the kids off to fight and die he says.