World Is at ‘Historic Turning Point’: Vladimir Putin (Source thetrumpet.com)
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered what was perhaps his most important speech, and definitely his most direct criticism of the United States, at the Valdai Conference in Sochi on October 24, 2014.
One independent analyst called it “the most important political speech since Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech of March 5, 1946.” Another called it “epochal,” and a “marker of the end of the U.S.’s brief period as the one big, unchallenged bully on the block.” Another labeled the speech “a precursor to World War III.” Yet the mainstream Western media largely ignored the speech. Mr. Putin has proven himself in recent years to be a leader unhindered by modern Western notions of what “appropriate” foreign policy is, unrestrained by the status quo, and absolutely unafraid to use Russia’s great might to further the nation’s interests. For those reasons, his landmark Sochi speech should not be ignored. The main points of the 41-minute speech are as follows: The systems that have provided global stability for the last few decades are collapsing—and America is the author of their destruction. More and more nations are focusing on arms buildup, making global anarchy a real possibility and much more likely. Although Russia does not want the current chaos to spread, it does not fear war. It views the outbreak of another global war as nearly inevitable; so Russia is preparing for it. The decision of whether or not a new world order is to be constructed is not up to Russia alone, but it is a choice that cannot be made without Moscow. Russia is no longer interested in carrying out international politics in backroom negotiations, but is ready for serious agreements if they bring about collective security and are in Russia’s best interests.
Western attempts to punish Moscow have only made Russia stronger and more self-sufficient. Russia is looking to Asia more now, but it doesn’t want to shut the door on the West. Despite Western trends, Russia favors traditional values. Russia has no desire to build a new empire, as it has plenty of territory it needs to focus on developing. Russia has no intention of acting as a savior of the world, although it has brought about “positive results” recently in Syria, Iran and North Korea. “Today’s discussion took place under the theme: New Rules or a Game Without Rules,” Putin said. “I think that this formula accurately describes the historic turning point we have reached today and the choice we all face.” We have reached this vital turning point, Putin explained, because the United States mismanaged its strength and power. “Pardon the analogy, but this is the way nouveaux riches behave when they suddenly end up with a great fortune, in this case, in the shape of world leadership and domination,” he said. “Instead of managing their wealth wisely, for their own benefit too of course, I think they have committed many follies.” “This [U.S.-led] group’s ambitions grew so big that they started presenting the policies they put together in their corridors of power as the view of the entire international community. But this is not the case.”
Putin said that as a result of America’s mismanagement of its power, and the lack of consensus in the international community, the era of U.S. global leadership is now at its end. America “threw the system into sharp and deep imbalance,” he said. Putin spoke bluntly, saying the result of this imbalance could be another world war. “[L]et us not forget history’s lessons,” he said. “First of all, changes in the world order—and what we are seeing today are events on this scale—have usually been accompanied by if not global war and conflict, then by chains of intensive local-level conflicts.” If the world stays on its current path, “we would be left with no instruments other than brute force,” Putin said. In recent years, whether inside Russia or Georgia or Ukraine, Putin has shown he is not afraid to use brute force. He has demonstrated granite resolve and ability that is quite unlike most Western leadership. Because of this, the nations should pay close attention to his views and opinions. They should take note when a man commanding so much power says he sees changes underway that could ignite World War III.