The Martyr Made Podcast
Thoughts on Ukraine (Updated and Remastered)
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Broken promises and provocative actions by the West escalated tensions with Russia.
- Western banks looted the Russian economy during the transition from communism to capitalism.
- NATO expansion into Eastern Europe strained relations and fueled Russian nationalism.
- Western actions, including economic plundering and political meddling, shaped Russia's perception and response.
- US involvement in color revolutions and support for regime change strained US-Russian relations.
Deep dives
Broken Promises and escalating tensions
The podcast discusses how the promises made to Russia regarding NATO expansion were broken, leading to escalating tensions. In the aftermath of the Cold War, the US and its allies promised Russia that NATO would not expand beyond Germany's eastern border. However, NATO continued to expand eastward, contrary to those promises. This expansion was seen as a threat by Russia, as it perceived encroachment on its borders by a military alliance that was historically anti-Russian. Prominent figures, including George Kennan, warned that NATO expansion could lead to negative consequences and a potential return to a Cold War mentality. The broken promises and provocative actions, such as the deployment of missile defense systems and involvement in color revolutions, poisoned relations between Russia and the West.
Looting the Russian Economy during the 1990s
The podcast highlights how Western banks took advantage of the transition from communism to capitalism in Russia during the 1990s, resulting in the looting of the Russian economy. Western financial institutions sent agents to buy up Russia's assets for pennies on the dollar, exacerbating the economic collapse of the country. The hyperinflation and economic devastation caused a sharp decline in Russian living standards, and the richest individuals amassed enormous wealth through this process. This economic pillaging created significant resentment among the Russian population and contributed to the rise of oligarchs. The podcast critiques the actions of the West and questions whether the United States acted in good faith to help Russia rebuild after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Provoking Russia with NATO Expansion
The podcast discusses how NATO expansion, in violation of promises made to Russia, provoked negative reactions and tensions. The expansion of NATO into Eastern European countries, including those bordering Russia, raised concerns among the Russians. Prominent figures like George Kennan argued that NATO expansion would strain relations and fuel Russian nationalism. The Russians perceived the move as a broken promise and a threat to their national security. The podcast points out that the expansion of NATO went against the idea of building a peaceful, undivided Europe and only exacerbated tensions between the West and Russia. The breaching of promises and the disregard for Russian concerns contributed to Russia's growing mistrust of the West.
The Impact of Western Actions on Russia
The podcast explores how Western actions, such as economic plundering, political meddling, and broken promises, have shaped Russia's perception and response. Western financial institutions, with the help of local collaborators, exploited the transition period in Russia, leading to economic devastation, rising poverty, and a collapse of public health. Meanwhile, political interventions and color revolutions in Russia's neighboring countries further heightened tensions. The podcast points out that Russia has perceived Western actions as aggressive and antagonistic, ultimately affecting its own policies and democratic development. The consequences of Western actions continue to influence Russia's attitudes towards the West and its national security decisions.
Ukraine-NATO Enlargement Concerns
The podcast episode discusses the concerns raised by Galen Carpenter of the Cato Institute and antiwar.com regarding NATO enlargement in Eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine. Carpenter highlights the opposition of Ukrainians to NATO enlargement, viewing it as a threat to their vulnerability and isolation. He points out a meeting between William Burns, the then US Ambassador to Russia, and Russian officials who emphasize that Ukraine's NATO membership would be seen as a hostile act. This dialogue sheds light on Russia's response to NATO expansion and its implications for regional stability.
The Role of Defense Contractors in NATO Expansion
The podcast episode explores the role of defense contractors in NATO expansion. It highlights the influence of Bruce Jackson, president of the US Committee on NATO Expansion and director of strategic planning for Lockheed Martin Corporation. Jackson's organization pushed for NATO membership for former Soviet bloc countries, including Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, which would require these countries to acquire new weapons that met NATO specifications. This expansion was viewed by Robert Gates, the former Secretary of Defense, as an overreach and a monumental provocation. The episode highlights the power and interests of defense contractors and their impact on US foreign policy decisions.
US Involvement in Color Revolutions
The podcast episode delves into the US involvement in orchestrating and supporting color revolutions in countries surrounding Russia. It highlights the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as the National Democratic Institute and the Open Society Institute, in funding and organizing protests in countries like Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan. The episode also mentions the use of propaganda, psychological operations, and election monitoring to influence regime change. The US government's support for these movements, combined with military interventions in other regions, reflects a strategy aimed at undermining and destabilizing Russia's sphere of influence, leading to deteriorating US-Russian relations.
US Meddling in Color Revolutions
The podcast episode discusses the US's history of involvement in color revolutions, particularly focusing on Ukraine. It highlights how the US has supported and funded these uprisings in various countries, with the aim of overthrowing governments and spreading democracy. The episode presents evidence of US agencies and NGOs driving these revolutions, and the subsequent destabilization caused by such actions. It questions the widely accepted narrative surrounding the legitimacy of these movements, pointing out that not all Ukrainians supported the Maidan protests. Moreover, the episode raises concerns about the US's selective approach in supporting certain governments and its disregard for the consequences of its interventions.
Russian Perceptions and Intervention
The podcast delves into Russia's perspective on the color revolutions, focusing on its reactions and subsequent actions. It presents Russian military leaders and strategists' views on the US and Western countries deliberately destabilizing nations to serve their own interests. The episode discusses Russia's concern over US and European actions destabilizing key regions, such as the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. It explores how Russia's intervention, particularly in Crimea and the Donbas region of Ukraine, was perceived as a response to protect its strategic interests and defend ethnic Russians. The podcast emphasizes the need for the US and Europe to pay attention to these Russian military perspectives and critiques.
Hey everybody. Many of you have asked for my thoughts on the crisis in Ukraine, so here they are. I re-recorded it because the audio was trash the first time around. Sorry about that.
This is the kind of content I usually put on the Substack subscribers-only feed, so if you like this and can spare $5, please consider supporting the podcast by subscribing at martyrmade.substack.com.
Here are some links I mention in the show:
The Snipers Massacre On Maidan
How the West Sowed the Seeds of War in Ukraine, by Pedro Gonzalez
My Twitter thread on the Rand Corporation’s strategy white paper
Scott Horton’s recent speech on the Ukraine crisis
Thanks for listening.
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