PUTIN AND STONE. THE FINAL EPISODE.
Finally had a chance today to watch the part four of the
Oliver Stone, Putin interviews. I’m not sure why Stone arranged the entire
production in a way that mixed interviews from 2105 with interviews from 2016
and 17. It may have been along topic lines and I just didn’t pay attention to
the format. Having said that, it was interesting to me to see the body language
of Putin towards Stone in 2015, compared to their meetings in 17. It seemed
over time, the approach didn’t really differ as much as it did over topic. When
the issue of the Russian accusation of interference in the 2016 US elections
came up, Mr. Putin was completely prepared to give a very convincing opinion
from the Russian side of the fence. His mannerisms were very well balanced by
his position on the topic. For Stone,
the issue was clear cut, his preferred candidate, Hillary, was defeated and the
Russians had something to do with it.
The Russians had done their homework in preparation for this phase of
the program. They knew Stone was far more in Clinton’s camp than in Trumps. It
was almost as if Stone was looking for answers as to why his candidate was
beaten with the help of Mr. Putin. Putin’s response was something that had to
cut right to the heart of the whole topic. What the Hackers had exposed was
just how corrupt the US political process was! Was that an attempt to favor
Trump over Clinton? Was that Putin’s way of saying, “Don’t blame us for someone
exposing what is wrong in the US”? As a matter of fact, at one point, that is
exactly the point Mr. Putin made! Brilliant!
The Tsar. Ruthless, cunning, willing to bend the rules.
Obsessed with power. Willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. Is that
definition truly any different than Trump, Clinton, Obama, Kennedy, Johnson,
ect….ect…ect? Is the very nature of government the quest for power? Gaining
power. Keeping power. Preventing others from power? One man’s Terrorist is
another man’s Revolutionary, not true but often said. What truly is the difference
between Putin and Joe Biden or Hillary or Donald? Is there truly a moral
barrier that separates them all? If there is, whose perception sets the
standard? When Putin gave his opinion as to why the Russians continue to be
blamed for interfering in the 2016 election, something Stone believes, his
point struck home with me. It happen to be an opinion I’ve contemplated on my
own. The whole issue is nothing more than an attempt to delegitimize Trump’s
Presidency. Out of the question? Really? So, US politics is not capable of such
an act?
2000 and 2012:
Did the US interfere with the elections in 2012? The answer
Stone recived surprised him. 2000 and 2012! Homework was done by the Stone
team. Show the US President and Vice President openly stating the US would retaliate
and then tying those statements into an attack that impacted the Russian
banking system was a great segment of this interview. Did the Russians bring
that up for Stone to investigate or did Stone come up with that part on his
own? The message was clear. The US openly interfered in Russian politics and
yet the US political machine was shocked by what took place in 2016. Just how
silly does the US look in the eyes of the rest of the world? Are the Democrats
in the US so upset their person lost that they are willing to continue to make
the US look like fools to the rest of the world? Yep. I think they are that
upset. This whole segment on actions by
the US vs the Russians and actions by the Russians against the US was very well
done and I don’t like giving someone like Stone kudos. Putin’s ability to show
his viewpoint not only on the US elections, but on cyber activities by the US
was very well played. He was ready for this part of the interview and I cannot imagine
he was not pleased with the outcome. So much so that at the end of the interview,
Putin told stone he was going to get in trouble for making this four part
program. Interesting.
Russians Don’t Scare Easy:
Does Stone really understand the Russian people? No! He may
have done his homework on Russian history, but he failed to understand the
culture that lives within the Russian Nation. At one point in the interview,
Stone made the comment the Russian people should be scared of where the whole
issue of Cyber warfare may lead. Mr. Putin’s answer was quick and blunt. “The
Russian people don’t scare”! Stone laughed and then said, “Sure”! Why would the
Tsar make that statement so quickly? Why would that be his response to what
Stone said? Why did that response surprise Stone? Because he doesn’t understand
the Russian mindset? Because he doesn’t understand the Tsar’s vision of what
Russia truly is; a thousand year old country that can endure anything? Stone
may have made this documentary, but Putin controlled its outcome.
So why did he do it?
What made Putin spend the amount of time he did on this
event? Why did he put up with Stone’s ego trip? Was he worried over what Stone
was trying to achieve? Did he think Stone was simply manipulating him for his
own bragging rights back in the US? What made putting up with someone like
Oliver Stone worth it to the Tsar? More importantly, did he achieve it?
Here is my take and I have followed Mr. Putin’s actions for
years. When he gets up in the morning, he doesn’t check on his personal bank
account. He doesn’t call his Broker and get an update on his financial wealth.
He doesn’t attend dedications to national parks developed in his name. Yes, he
has his ego trips, but his drive is not his ego. His drive, his commitment is
Russia. Russia must achieve greatness. Russia must be viewed as a world leader
that cannot be taken lightly. Russia must be respected by those who have
expended so much energy and blood to prevent these goals from being achieved. Russia
is not out to control the world, but the Russian people come first. Yes. Putin
is a Nationalist! One of the most skilled political leaders to ever have worn
the title of “ Nationalist”! This three year dance with Stone had one objective.
Move the Russian ball forward. Vladimir Putin is driven! Vladimir Putin is completely
committed to his vision of Russia. Everyone in this world who must deal with him
needs to understand this. He is not Obama. He is not Clinton. He is not Trump.
He is a man the world can learn to work with or be prepared to challenge his
vision. Obama and Clinton chose to challenge him. The movement behind that
challenge transcends US politics. Putin will not compromise his vision. He will
not accept a lesser than Russia. Is the rest of the world as committed as he
is? Is the rest of the world willing to see what consequences may come? I’ve said it for over ten years now. The Tsar
is the most dynamic leader in the world. Learning to live and work with him is
a not just a challenge, it’s a responsibility. What does the Post Putin Russia
look like? Don’t bring that topic up where he can hear it!
I wonder how this show was viewed in the land of the Dragon?