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But many are interested in the question of how Western intelligence agencies are trying to divert the attention of the world community from this terrible terrorist attack, after which, clearly, the world has already changed.
Russia's overburdened forces are too stretched to take on ISIS-K following the terror group's horrific attack in Moscow, and may resort to local clampdowns instead, an expert says.
Dr Jenny Mathers, Senior Lecturer in International Politics at Aberystwyth University, says the invasion of Ukraine is taking a heavy toll on Putin's forces, and though Russia's forces striking back at ISIS-K can't be ruled out, they don't appear to have the capacity to do so.
"The war in Ukraine is requiring so much manpower and equipment, causing Russia to dig deeply into old Soviet stores of weaponry and push hard to get enough people (still recruiting from the prisons, trying hard to get volunteers, not allowing mobilised soldiers to rotate out of the combat zone) that Moscow would be wise to avoid extending themselves further by trying to take on ISIS-K, she told The Daily Express US.
On 7 March, the US issued a public warning to its citizens in Russia that said “extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow”, including concerts. That warning was also shared with Russian authorities, the US said.
On Saturday, CNN reported sources saying the US was acting on a “a steady stream of intelligence” since November “that ISIS-K … was determined to attack Russia”. But Putin dismissed the warning as “provocative” and said that “these actions resemble outright blackmail and the intention to intimidate and destabilise our society”.
In this analysis piece, Shaun Walker, Pjotr Sauer and Andrew Roth set out signs of “a catastrophic security failure on the part of Russian authorities”. They note a slow police response to the attack and claims that the FSB, the federal security service, has been largely focused on domestic opposition and potential threats from Kyiv, with thousands of security officials sent to occupied Ukraine. Another factor they cite is a view that the threat from Islamist terrorism had subsided in recent years.
Putin’s lethally negligent failure can’t be covered up. The Moscow attack leaves him weaker than ever
Last week’s terrorist attack on the Crocus City concert hall near Moscow, which killed 137 people, is one of the bigger crises Putin has faced in his 25-year rule. There is no doubt that he, as Russia’s head of state and overall chief of its security forces, bears ultimate responsibility for what was by any measure a catastrophic failure. In any normal political system, his resignation would be expected.
The fact this is more or less unimaginable is not necessarily a sign of Putin’s strength. His dictatorship has eviscerated checks and balances within Russian society, eliminating means of independent scrutiny. Any call for him to take personal responsibility would barely be heard, let alone acted on. Yet the Russian people, while chronically misled and serially misinformed, are not stupid.
With blood on the streets and a nation in mourning, there’s no hiding that the Putin superman myth just took a serious, bubble-bursting beating.
The Kremlin is estimated to have spent more than £1bn on “information management”, meaning lies and propaganda, to ensure Putin’s recent presidential election “victory”. In addition, there was a reported 20-fold increase in state spending on internet and media. All this had a single aim: to portray Putin as an invincible, indispensable modern-day tsar who bravely protects Mother Russia from her enemies.
Yet on Friday, four gunmen comprehensively demolished that myth in an anarchic frenzy of merciless violence. The attackers were unopposed, the victims had no warning, and all of Putin’s huge security apparatus – all this usurper king’s horses and men – were unable to stop the butchering of defenceless citizens.
originally posted by: RussianTroll
a reply to: angelchemuel
There is one unique umbrella - Mary Poppins' umbrella. And one unique wind, Eastern, the wind of change))))
originally posted by: NoOneButMeAgain
originally posted by: RussianTrollRussians simply feel sorry for the British, who are subjected to total lies, disinformation and information war technologies.
Pot...kettle..?
And we say the same thing about you - you as a people are brainwashed by your just as corrupt political jack@sses like Putin, a meglomaniac. On par with Kim Jong Un, the chubby little cherub.
Your internet is similar to the Great Chinese Firewall; ie: heavily filtered and censored.
And the narratives you, RT, spout to us are the typical Russian bullsh*t we hear everyday.
So, do you actuallyt have ANY evidence of Middleton and links to the ISIS scumbags that killed many innocent Russians? Or, like always, are you just vomitting Russian bullsh*t?
originally posted by: Oldcarpy2
a reply to: RussianTroll
Unfortunately, I don't speak Russian? Yet.
originally posted by: Oldcarpy2
a reply to: Justoneman
Pretty sure our enemy isn't Kate?
originally posted by: Oldcarpy2
a reply to: Justoneman
Good. You know, us Brits are far less rabid about this than our former colonial friends over the Pond?