Wonderful piece, Diane! The situation is even worse than you outlined. You stopped at the point where in Russia - through the Wagner group - has, in fact, taken control of huge chunks of Africa , the means by which they have done so and the mayhem they have created.
But African countries are especially fragile and prone to victimization because they also lack the ability to resist or to overthrow an armed, brutal, well-planned, and disciplined foreign invasion and take-over of their states. Tribal loyalties are generally far more important than "national" loyalties;"democratic" traditions are unknown or have barely taken root; "civic activism" is non-existent; "rule of law" is understood to mean whatever the group in power demands and enforces; educational opportunities and exposure to the world beyond their borders are very limited; and their governments are in business simply to perpetuate their rule and exploit their citizens. In short their "auto-immune" ability to resist the sort of hostile foreign disease that is inflicted by the Wagner group is very low and treatment very difficult.
Once this foreign infection takes over the host - these nations will have great difficulty - without foreign intervention - freeing themselves.
You thought the Soviet Union was a menace: at least they played by some global rules. Russia, as well documented by Diane Francis and others, is a criminal kleptocracy that will continue to exploit African leaders who care not about their people, but maintaining corrupt regimes.
Putin and Prigozhin are buddies, two of a kind, a couple of psychopaths who are smart, organized and ruthless. I never thought Putin would kill Prigozhin in retaliation for his behavior and I should have put money on it. These two are long term collaborators in Beat-the-West, Beat-the World schemes.
As for nuclear threat, it reminds me of the old Jackie Mason routine of the older Jewish man who says “ if that guy says one more word I am going to punch in right in the face!” Guess what no one knows the word.
The west should take off the gloves and turn Moscow into dust!
I have never been a Hawk but there are times when there is no word just get on with it.
The need for a fully developed strategy by the U S led free nations is apparent. Job 1 is to kick Trudeau out of power.
Full disclosure of the complex risks properly presented has the power to energize even Europe. Quietly Germany is waking up from a 60 year slumber. This and Polands direction can lead European countries.
First the Chinese with their belt-and-road 'new Silk Road' initiative, which has proved a near-total loss for them both diplomatically and financially; now the Russians with their out and out gangsterism, which may be working for them financially at the moment, but whether you are Chinese or Russian, on the African continent you have to speak in French or English to be understood. A billion here and a billion there, it certainly adds up but only to a certain extent - Russia is a less than $2 trillion economy facing off against the combined $45trillion of Europe and the U.S. It reminds me more of Mexico which is about the same size economically as Russia and is horribly burdened with the deeply-rooted criminal cartels. I notice most of Wagner is situated in the north, in the Sahara and Sahel countries which are chronically impoverished, though shocking to see some of the thugs in Zimbabwe (land of my birth) and a few supposedly in Botswana which is very bad if true, even if only 500 of them in a country the size of France. It is also very sad for the people there, to be terrorized and pillaged (though with the active consent of the villains who run those countries) but as you rightly emphasize these are vast criminal enterprises, essentially nothing more, whose fate is wholly bound up with and dependent on Russia which itself is a failing state, though that is small comfort to the many whose lives are being ruined by these murderous thugs.
Wonderful piece, Diane! The situation is even worse than you outlined. You stopped at the point where in Russia - through the Wagner group - has, in fact, taken control of huge chunks of Africa , the means by which they have done so and the mayhem they have created.
But African countries are especially fragile and prone to victimization because they also lack the ability to resist or to overthrow an armed, brutal, well-planned, and disciplined foreign invasion and take-over of their states. Tribal loyalties are generally far more important than "national" loyalties;"democratic" traditions are unknown or have barely taken root; "civic activism" is non-existent; "rule of law" is understood to mean whatever the group in power demands and enforces; educational opportunities and exposure to the world beyond their borders are very limited; and their governments are in business simply to perpetuate their rule and exploit their citizens. In short their "auto-immune" ability to resist the sort of hostile foreign disease that is inflicted by the Wagner group is very low and treatment very difficult.
Once this foreign infection takes over the host - these nations will have great difficulty - without foreign intervention - freeing themselves.
You thought the Soviet Union was a menace: at least they played by some global rules. Russia, as well documented by Diane Francis and others, is a criminal kleptocracy that will continue to exploit African leaders who care not about their people, but maintaining corrupt regimes.
Well, excellent report - just ruined my day for a 'good' news day. The West was asleep too long.
Because he's still in charge
Putin and Prigozhin are buddies, two of a kind, a couple of psychopaths who are smart, organized and ruthless. I never thought Putin would kill Prigozhin in retaliation for his behavior and I should have put money on it. These two are long term collaborators in Beat-the-West, Beat-the World schemes.
As we see a lot of talk about nuclear war. Putin can be playing Europe to create a nuclear war. Prigozhin force and close to Poland. If there was a nuclear war Putin needs Prigozhin for what is after. From the start Putin was rattling the nuclear saber. Putin puts out on Russian TV over and over what to do in case of a nuclear war. World will have to deal with Russia and the nuclear card. https://www.newsbreak.com/news/3078336413051-atomic-clock-putin-s-worst-enemy-declares-threat-to-plunge-world-into-nuclear-war-is-real?_f=app_share&s=a3&share_destination_id=NjA3NjQ2MTktMTY5MDgzMzI4ODU5OA%3D%3D&pd=046xeVwH&hl=en_US&send_time=1690833288&actBtn=null&trans_data=%7B"platform"%3A1%2C"cv"%3A"23.30.1"%2C"languages"%3A"en"%7D
Africa is Putins new Ukraine but it will hardly replace Ukraine
Once again a brilliant analysis
As for nuclear threat, it reminds me of the old Jackie Mason routine of the older Jewish man who says “ if that guy says one more word I am going to punch in right in the face!” Guess what no one knows the word.
The west should take off the gloves and turn Moscow into dust!
I have never been a Hawk but there are times when there is no word just get on with it.
Hello Team
The need for a fully developed strategy by the U S led free nations is apparent. Job 1 is to kick Trudeau out of power.
Full disclosure of the complex risks properly presented has the power to energize even Europe. Quietly Germany is waking up from a 60 year slumber. This and Polands direction can lead European countries.
John Pacey
First the Chinese with their belt-and-road 'new Silk Road' initiative, which has proved a near-total loss for them both diplomatically and financially; now the Russians with their out and out gangsterism, which may be working for them financially at the moment, but whether you are Chinese or Russian, on the African continent you have to speak in French or English to be understood. A billion here and a billion there, it certainly adds up but only to a certain extent - Russia is a less than $2 trillion economy facing off against the combined $45trillion of Europe and the U.S. It reminds me more of Mexico which is about the same size economically as Russia and is horribly burdened with the deeply-rooted criminal cartels. I notice most of Wagner is situated in the north, in the Sahara and Sahel countries which are chronically impoverished, though shocking to see some of the thugs in Zimbabwe (land of my birth) and a few supposedly in Botswana which is very bad if true, even if only 500 of them in a country the size of France. It is also very sad for the people there, to be terrorized and pillaged (though with the active consent of the villains who run those countries) but as you rightly emphasize these are vast criminal enterprises, essentially nothing more, whose fate is wholly bound up with and dependent on Russia which itself is a failing state, though that is small comfort to the many whose lives are being ruined by these murderous thugs.
so why is he still alive?