Call me a skeptic. For years, the world has been fed a constant stream of images of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin engaged in what may be the longest running mid-life crisis in history. Putin has been shown as a race car driver, great white hunter, jet pilot, oceanologist, martial artist and other action hero outfits. Each appearance has been accompanied by some fawning account of his aides on how he is superhuman. Now, Putin’s macho action series has turned to scuba diving. While only having dived three times, Putin was shown at an ancient Greek Black sea site and . . . you guessed it . . . he “discovered” two sixth century urns under the water. What is really amazing is that the urn were less than seven feet from the surface, together, and just lying exposed for thousands of years waiting for Putin. It was almost like someone put them there and directed Putin who was only in the water for a brief time when he added world-class archeologist to this action hero box.
Of course, civil libertarians know Putin for his most successful role as an authoritarian bully who brags about beating protesters and almost single handedly stopped Russia’s move toward a free society.
The dive site is in the southern Russian coast near Ukraine. It was the location of the is colony founded by the Greeks some 2,500 years ago.
It is truly painful to watch these media events, which Putin clearly needs. Surrounded by sycophants, it reminds me of Mao’s famous Yangtze River swim where he set a world record by swimming 15 km in 65 min. The same cult of personality has been carefully constructed by Putin around himself to get Russian to love the man who has blocked basic freedoms in that country and has used state money to create a palace for himself. It appears to be working — even prompting aides to declare that Putin was sent by God.
There is an obvious danger in such cults of personality, particularly in Russia that has a long and troubled history of strongmen figures. What may appear a pathetic self-absorbed, self-aggrandizing display to us may prove far more sinister if Putin runs again for president. He appears to actually believe his own propaganda and views himself as a superhero — or worst yet, a messiah. That could prove a dangerous thing when the rest of the world balks in joining the celebration of all that is Putin.
Source: Sky
Jonathan Turley
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/05/putin-dive-treasure-staged_n_996678.html
Putin’s Treasure Dive Find Was Staged: Spokesman
MOSCOW — The widely publicized incident in which Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin pulled up ancient Greek jug fragments from the seabed on a diving expedition was staged, his chief spokesman said.
The August dive in the Kerch Strait that connects the Black and Azov seas was reported extensively in Russian and overseas media. Putin is noted for his habit of appearing in vigorous and adventurous settings, including fishing while stripped to the waist and riding with leather-clad motorcyclists.
In video footage of the dive, Putin holds two fragments of what are said to be 6th century B.C. Greek jugs and says “the boys and I found them” in about six feet (two meters) of clear water.
But his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview shown Tuesday on the Dozhd TV channel that the jugs had been found earlier by archaeologists and placed there for Putin.
“Look, Putin didn’t find down there jugs that had lain there for many thousands of years. It’s obvious,” Peskov said in response to questions from the interviewers.
“Of course, they were found in the course of an expedition several weeks or days earlier. Of course, they were left there or placed there. It’s completely normal. There’s no reason to gloat about this and everything else,” he said.
“Some people don’t seem real at all …”
now i know why sarah palin can see russia from her house.
Mike Spindell:
I take it you know the truth about PT109 then?
Mespo,
Great clip from Kung fu!
First thing I thought about was Mao. It is sad to see the lengths a dictatorial strongman will go to in order to assure his power and try to assure the “love” of the people. Sad to say if you read Arthur Schlesinger’s 1960 book on JFK, they were trying to do the same thing with more subtlety. I think this is a strain of leadership thought that goes back to the beginnings of civilization.
mespo,
Never cared for that song…Don’t we have have the primogeniture of free speech hailed here?
Judge approves $250,000 settlement for Bush inauguration protesters
A group of about 70 protesters who were arrested after the 2005 inauguration of President George W. Bush will receive at least $2,000 each, according to a settlement approved in a Washington federal court.
Police had arrested the demonstrators, claiming the group was vandalizing a Washington D.C. neighborhood.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/03/29/judge-approves-250000-settlement-for-bush-inauguration-protesters/
Doublespeak is spreading like a virus while being embraced like an old friend.
It’s the one-world bull thingy.
I found some great footage from Putin’s boyhood training for stardom:
Reminds me of the photo op of Mao swimming in the Yangtze. He was in his 70’s but the “official” time listed for his swim would have put him on the podium at the Olympics.
Then there was the time Kim Jong Il decided to take up golf & shot a 20 over 18 holes according to NK press releases.
Then Boy Blunder, when asked what the proudest moment was as President & he said it was catching some fish in a lake near his photo studio – er, “ranch’. Had it been what he said it would have been the worlds record for that species.
Big egos need constant attention.
Potemkin pitchers?
And now a word from Vladimir’s sponsors . . .