Richard Galustian
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
The G20 in Argentina was nothing short of a circus; a distasteful display of imperialism, greed, corruption and elitism. These leaders do not speak for the poor or downtrodden or oppressed.
As for America, Trump continues his theatrics by saying he would not meet Putin; whether he did or didn’t, us ordinary folk will never know. These are games. Though President Trump canceled his meeting with Putin, Trump is still scheduled to meet with China’s President Xi, let us not fool ourselves about prospects for any breakthrough over their two countries’ trade disagreements.
China emerges as ‘the grown up’ of all world nations; the 21st Century will eventually, one can predict, belong to them.
However one must admire the charm, intellect and humour of the exceptional Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, who on the subject of a cancelled meeting between Trump and Putin, he brilliantly described the dance between the two nations by saying he was saddened by President Trump’s decision, adding “love can’t be forced.”
Do we have any person in the West that comes close to the class of Lavrov?
One cannot fail to mention though no more revolting images imaginable were the mostly warm welcome by many leaders given to the psychopath Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohamad bin Salman (MBS).
However the one that disappoints the most is the sight of President Putin with MBS, laughing and joking.
The main reason is that for the last few years, Russia and Putin and his exceptionally capable Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have maintained a very high moral ground on most of the world’s issues and outrageous actions, in the main, made by America. This has been Russia’s success these recent years, especially their brilliant handling of the World Cup.
But to see President Putin’s animated display of friendship towards MBS was nothing short of disgusting.
Putin’s advisors should never have allowed their President to make such a disillusioning mistake for all of us to see.
MBS and the Saudi regime are the most distasteful murderous regime on the planet. Putting the heinous murder by the Saudi’s of Jamal Khashoggi to one side, what Saudi is doing in Yemen is without doubt a war crime of huge proportions. They also are the real exporters of terrorism not Iran. Remember who were the alleged hijackers on 9/11. Saudis or Iranians? Only Israel match being as murderous a regime as Saudi, evidenced by what they have done and continue to do in the ‘open prison’ that is Gaza.
When did we all lose our moral compass?
You think these second rate leaders can solve the most important planet’s problems of over population, the environment and nuclear proliferation? Dream on.
For some of us there was hope that Russia could counter the imperialistic ambitions of America and it’s penchant for regime change. Now that hope seems to have been false.
All these spineless amoral leaders attending the G20 meeting should be in many cases simply arrested or put up against a wall. Where is the anger, the indignation from the world’s populace against their leaders? Where is the media? Why is Assange not spoken of, etc.
In a nutshell, the G20 only reinforces a fact most of us know which is that corrupt leaders control our planet.
We need, though it will never happen, a ground swell of revolution by the people, by citizens, to change the system, of most countries, even if it be violent, which seems the only way anything will change.
The G20 meeting was of corrupt people on a scale akin to a mafia get together.
Corruption is the World’s greatest enemy and in Buenos Aires we saw ‘the Dons’ get together and, be sure of one thing above all else, there will be no real result except the leaders attending will increase their personal self interests and wealth.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
A good way to hit back at this world “mafia” would be for people to go on a gold/silver standard without the governments consent or approval. The mafia would then have to fight us for each genuine copper penny and every genuine silver dime they take from us.
go to gold and silver.. Yes but tie all transfers to the block chain and do a transparent audit to start with.
Audit of nations vaults? Sure! China would most likely come out on top, big time. And from what I read, Chinese citizens would be tops in personal possession of precious metals also. And doing exchanges in block chain would be fine. The US, I fear would be in big, big trouble. Ah well….
“the one that disappoints the most is the sight of President Putin with MBS, laughing and joking…But to see President Putin’s animated display of friendship towards MBS was nothing short of disgusting.” Totally frigging agree. “When did we all lose our moral compass?” This is a rational error. Morality among politicians, at least to this point in world history, has largely been a matter of appearance and convenience, and we the people, have given them a free pass. We still do. We whine about Trump but give a free pass to Obama or Hillary. Or, we which about Obama or… Read more »
Maybe we’ve all become too cynical? It is the cynicism of the powerless. Who was it said that however you vote the government always gets in? Maybe our rulers are worse that at times in the past, but maybe the real difference is that thanks to the Internet more of us can see through the propaganda we’re fed? As for Putin, he was merely baiting the western media. MBS is appalling, but he’s probably killed less people than Obama – and I’m sure many of those died equally horrible deaths as Kashoggi. Morality in international politics is almost always –… Read more »
This hypocrisy is nothing new…so why get up-tight about it. The ‘elite’ meets to congratulate itself – same as in Davos, Switzerland.
No, Dick. The USA is beyond any doubt the most savage murderous regime on earth, followed by Israhell, then Saudi Arabia.
…in the present time. In the past, the USSR and Mao’s China had their share of mass killings that make the US Empire look tame. I get your point though.
And the UK as well as Turkey.
Perhaps Pres Putin has a different way of going about changing a leader’s perspective. I say well done that man!
I completely agree – he rarely if ever jumps on “the western leaders band wagon” and is a very shrewd operator. I’m confident he knew exactly what he was doing when he met MBS!.
Richard Galustian: Sir, your statement that Saudi is most distasteful murderous regime on the planet is so wrong. I draw your attention to the millions of deaths the USA has created since WW2, the Israeli genocide of Palestine and then lastly, Saudi. For dramatic affect you used the word “regime”; that word describes most western country’s under control of the USA, including the USA, The most distasteful regime on the planet.
International meetings are not fora to exhibit self righteous moralities.
Russian Diplomacy approaches these dangerous psychopaths appropriately –
in psychotherapy in the beginning consultations you never question
the patient’s delusions . If your maniacal patient believes he is Napoleon , you never ever mention Waterloo and you put on a bit of a French accent . clap hands , etc.
The G20 is about business, not morality. States have interests, not morals. The Kashoggi murder is between SA and the US. Russia is not involved in it in any way. Russia and China do business with other states without interfering in their internal affairs. The Kashoggi murder is an internal affair of SA. Does the author of this rueful article believe Russia should give up doing business with SA due to the Kashoggi murder? And where does morality end? No business with most of Africa, the US, the EU, China – because they all commit atrocities? Such morality would end… Read more »
Isn’t it terrible that business men can’t just trade with each other freely? Governments have to get involved, just like a mafia, and get their cut.
Who said “The 1st time, history is a tragedy; the 2nd a farce”? Obviously the author has no sense of humour: especially Russian style. For Putin to High 5 a murderer & criminal the rest of these other criminals fawn over, is brilliant! The West did everything to black ball Russia in Buenos Aires. Didn’t work, though they tried. Russia did NOT “Annex” Crimea, but had an honest vote of Crimean citizens who don’t want a thing to do with Neo-Nazi Fascists installed by the West in a coup in Ukraine – which NONE of these G20 members questioned at… Read more »
I was fence-sitting a bit, but you won me over.
I am reminded of the best characterization ever made of the English and, by extension, of the the monsters they have spawned, the USA, ISISrael and Soddy Arabia:
“The English are the people of consummate cant.”
Friedrich Nietzsche.
The US is a particularly toxic development of ‘Englishness’ in that it has added ‘Puritanism’ and its bastard child ‘Exceptionalism’ to the mix.
“MBS and the Saudi regime are the most distasteful murderous regime on the planet.”
Really? I think if a referendum were held globally on the subject, Israel and the USA would be more than strong contenders.
SA in general, and MBS in particular, exists at the discretion of both those entities.
Besides, to speak of ‘optics’ in a guignolade like the current G20 meeting, which reminds me of nothing so much as the therapy sessions inflicted on the inmates of Bedlam in the 19th Century, is surely a case of ‘polishing the turds’.
Very well put… thanks!
Khashoggi was a CIA agent. If Saudi Arabia offs him, of course Putin wouldn’t upset. As a reminder, Saudia Arabia has killed hundreds of journalists in the past, and the western propaganda machine has never blinked an eye. Only reason they’re raising a fuss about it now is because KSA happened to off one of their guys. The author been so disapointed with Putin is more a sign that he believes the narrative put forth by MSM propaganda outlets than anything else. For comparison, note that in the same period that Khashoggi was killed. Israel actually bombed a Palestinian TV… Read more »
“We need, though it will never happen, a ground swell of revolution by the people, by citizens, to change the system, of most countries, even if it be violent, which seems the only way anything will change. “
Why do you think they’re trying everything possible to justify seizing our guns? Can you say ‘false flags’ up the ying-yang?
Is Putin attempting to steer the sicko coward Mo been Sawman towards actually being civilized and this is what he has to do for it – so as to get him to try and change his disgusting perverted Saudi Zio-liar pro-American/UK/ISISrael terrorist-abetting war-criminal ways and turn east??!!
THE GREAT NEWS THAT MASS MURDERER AND WAR CRIMINAL GEORGE H. W. BUSH DIES ~ AND STILL NOTHING REPORTED BY THE DURAN!!!!!! HOW LONG UNTIL IT IS – A DAY OR TWO AFTER?? COME ON – GET WITH IT IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO FIND YOU CREDIBLE.
THREE AND A HALF DAYS HAVE PASSED AND STILL YOUR READERS AND COMMENTATORS ARE WAITING – SEEMS GROSSLY INCOMPETENT AND UNRELIABLE TO WRITE NOTHING.