Chavez embraces Putin in the Kremlin
Today's news is that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is visiting Moscow, slapping the backs of Putin and LUKOil's Vagit Alekperov, signing oil contracts, and pledging to purchase $3 billion worth of Russian weapons. Chavez also used his Kremlin stage to taunt America, calling the U.S. a "stupid giant". Chavez basked in the welcome from the Kremlin, the friendliness of many ordinary Russians on the streets, and favorable coverage from the Russian media. Russia Blog will try to explain why Chavez' visit was such a success for the Venezuelan strongman.
First of all, Hugo Chavez is drunk on oil money, and he usually pays on time and with cash. For example, the last time Russia Blog wrote about relations between Russia and Venezuela, we noted that Chavez ordered 100,000 barrels from Lukoil to meet his obligations to Petroleos de Venezuela's subsidized customers in South America.
As we have written many times before, Russians will never turn away anyone who has cash, (even Saddam Hussein), but they could care less about the causes of nationalities that have no money (i.e. Palestinians). Until very recently, Russia had nothing to sell besides oil and gas and some very good weapons. Second, many Russians, just like many Americans inside the Beltway, are still stuck in a Cold War mentality, and Chavez' anti-American remarks sounded great to them. But the biggest non-monetary reason Chavez scored was that Russians have a soft spot for loud pugnacious guys with a mafia attitude, and Chavez delivered. Chavez acted like a middle-aged millionaire gangster from a Siberian town, swilling vodka in public, listening to loud Russian national music, dropping cash and bear hugging President Putin.
Everything has a price tag, and so does Russia's approval for a permanent Security Council seat for Venezuela. For the Kremlin, this is nothing personal against America, which is supporting Guatemala instead of Venezuela; it's all business. And that is our main message -- it's only business, not some revived Cold War. Today all most Russians care about is money, whether it's President Putin, his administration, business executives or middle class Russians. Given the $3 billion arms deal, I assume that people close to the government are walking away with an enormous kickback, as this is what usually happens in Russia. How can one say "no" to a few hundred million bucks? 24 planes and 53 helicopters, plus a licensed "patent" to produce Kalashnikov adds up to a lot of money. Additionally, LUKOil and Gazprom both have tenders on the table to develop oil and gas resources in Venezuela, just a few hundred miles from the largest petroleum consumer in the world.
It is true that many Russians envy the United States for being the only superpower left standing and beating them in the Cold War; again, there's no real logic behind this emotion. Given the state of the world, there is no way either Russia or America can afford a new Cold War. The Middle East is unstable, oil prices are going up, China is on the rise as a superpower next door to a sparsely populated Russian Far East, and the Americans are trying to drawdown their forces in Iraq.
We live in a busy world, where Russia and America have a common enemy -- jihad terrorism, mostly funded by Mideast oil money - and a lot of potential for mutual cooperation, with Russia providing natural resources and the Americans contributing money and technology.
However, none of these geopolitical issues matter to the common babushka in the street, who has worked her hands to the bone for 50 years and now cannot afford to buy toilet paper. She is simply envious of the luxuries people take for granted in the United States, to the extent that she cares about the world beyond her city or village at all. Hugo Chavez becomes a hero in her eyes and brings back memories of a powerful Soviet Union, when he shouts, "The biggest threat which exists in the world is the empire of the United States. It is a senseless, blind, stupid giant which doesn't understand the world, doesn't understand human rights, and doesn't understand anything about humanity, culture and consciousness." Of course, the only reason Chavez has money to fly around the world proclaiming his defiance of the imperialist Yanquis is because Americans buy his gasoline.
It may make some sense that ministers in the Kremlin, sick of hearing American lectures about democracy, might get some satisfaction out of poking Uncle Sam in the eye, and also the older generation raised on Soviet propaganda. But why should middle-class members of the Russian media and intelligentsia, many who have been harshly critical of Putin, like Chavez? Because Chavez reminds them of another entertaining drunk, of their hero Boris Yeltsin who got completely trashed one night with his friend Bill Clinton and showed up for his press conference the next day barely coherent. Many Russian elites have their own nostalgia, not like the poor people who yearn for the glory days of the Soviet Union, but for their own happy days under the good Czar Boris, when oligarchs ran the country and there was more "freedom" to steal and do whatever you wanted than today. Or as one middle-aged mafia character said to another in Pyotr Buslov's smash hit mafia movie Bumer 2 "It's not like it was when you went to jail, when you could just beat someone up or kill them to get money. It's all business now."
Young Russians love movies like Bumer (pronounced Boo-mer) 1 and 2, and the most popular miniseries ever shown on RTR Television remains Brigada. Even the comments section of Russia Blog's review of Brigada Season 1 suggests a cult following for this show.
When many Russians think of freedom, they don't think of free speech but having enough money to do and say whatever you want, to act out and be low-class and not give a damn what anyone thinks, to pay all the bribes necessary to live the good life. They love oversized slick black suits and flashing cash at overpriced Moscow restaurants. They like straight talk and fast decisions, especially in business. Chavez cleverly exploits this attitude. He also showed the Russian nation, which gives President Putin an 80% approval rating, that he knows who is the "daddy" in the house.
"I would like to thank you, Mister President, because you freed us from a so-called blockade... we visited the [Kalashnikov rifle] museum, and I saw your photo with General Kalashnikov!" Chavez gushed.
At the end of the day, why should Russia feel bad about hosting Venezuela's new "President for Life"? How does Venezuela touch Russians' everyday life? Starting today, Venezuela is bringing money to Russian companies that are trickling it down to the people, through the politicians and large private businesses. Add to that Chavez's best impersonation of Boris Yeltsin, and a good time was had by all -- except by the people Chavez is persecuting back in Venezuela..
UPDATE: RIA Novosti has more details about Gazprom's deal with the Venezuelan government to develop the country's vast natural gas reserves.
Maybe you have something there with the comparison of Chavez and Yeltsin. America loved Yeltsin because he sold Russia out for America's approval. Whereas Chavez is selling Venezuela out for America's disdain. Opposite sides of the same coin and both disasterous. But at least this time Russia can profit from it.
This is an insightful piece.
However, there is a long-term cultural factor that may also be an important consideration. That cultural factor is the fascination of Russians with the Spanish and Spanish culture. For example, the Soviet Union bank rolled Cuba for decades and even Dostoevsky's great work "The Grand Inquisitor" was set in Spain. This inter-cultural association may have something to do with the fact that both Russia and Spain had no serious experience of the European Enlightenment. In addition, both countries and cultures have a long history of conflict with Islam.
Dear Mr. Chisholm, I wrote the entire first chapter (about 40 pages) of my senior project (which is called, not accidentally, "Zamiatin's We: Enlightenment and Dystopia in St. Petersburg") on Enlightenment in Russia. I mention and quote people like Prince Mikhail Shcherbatov and Ivan Pnin, whom you may or may not have read, but who were nonetheless quite important to the development of Russian political thought. In addition to that, Leibniz was an advisor to Peter the Great, and Voltaire corresponded with Catherine the Great. I claim in my thesis that Petersburg, in all its glory, merits and excesses, is a product of Enlightenment. I therefore disagree with your claim that "Russia...had no serious experience of the European Enlightenment." It may not have had a democracy based on precepts of Enlightenment, but it did have Enlightened Despots (although it is also true that these were in practice more despotic than enlightened). Still, Russia participated in the cultural and political movement of Enlightenment as much as Central or Western European countries.
Also, just to make things clearer, please note that "The Grand Inquisitor" is a section of a greater work by Dostoevsky, called "The Brothers Karamazov."
To continue the comment about Russian interest in Spanish affairs: My brother, Dr. Daniel Kowalsky PhD completed his dissertation and wrote a book "Stalin and the Spanish Civil War". He spent years traveling between St. Petersburg and Spain, viewing and translating previously unavailable documents. Quite fascinating.
He is currently a professor of 20th century European History, teaching in France, England and Ireland.
Why compare Chzavez with a dictator ? he was after all, democratically elected, I don't care if it was the "starving vote" that got him into office, the same Also of president of Iran Amadinedjad: As long as it is a clear majority that votes, It should not matter the condition or state of voter mentality or mood? why should it ? Can somebody even tell me of at least one "bad example" of an undeniable people's choice gone "amock"?? I just don't see any. After all the People are the wisest, and often know why they make such wise choices.
Come see the illustrated virtual guided tour of the Museum of Mikhail Kalashnikov, the designer of AK-47 assault rifle, at http://kalashnikov-weapons-museum.ak47-guide.com/
I cant say nothing about a country tell I live there or have a heart to heart conversation with someone that did. I can say this the less government involvement in my life the better. I come from Russia (siberia) now I live in America. I thank God for this land, its just too good. If you dont agree you just dont know, I can guarantee that. How else can a 24 year old kid with a Russian accent and a simple education. Drive a new BWM and own a 300k home. I have months were I can make over 30k. This land is just Beautiful, some people just dont see it. I dont think allot of people can say that from other countries especially Russia or Venezuela.
This picture is very funny.Chavez bear hugging President Putin is just hilariuos!!! Vova is so white and the smallest of the G8, and Hugo is so big and dark/latin skinned... This is a crack up!!!!!! :)
Now the Ruskies are sending their "best warship", Peter the Great to visit Hugo? Several years ago The Russian Navy had to return Peter the great to its home port out of feat the ship might blow up.
Why not just send the Russian Mafia & have a parade with Hugo.
Now that would scare people in the US
Vadim, I agree with you completely about America. It really is a great place to live.
I use to be stubborn like so many other American's until I took a trip over seas. I went to the Netherlands, Germany,Poland, and Belgium. I came back understanding how much I love my country. I use to have a very pessimistic attitude towards it but changed my mind when I went to Europe. I would like to visit Russia by the way. I've always wanted to see that place. The politicians are what I despise about our country. They are screwing everything else up.
A funny thing about the other countries I visited. I noticed that the US is the country that is under the biggest microscope in the world. We had the most stories about us. Hell, it was almost like watching the news at home. That's why all of this anti-American shit is crazy. If their countries were under the microscope all of the time, they would look like a bunch of crazy people as well.
Chavez is a complete moron and he can have his 30 jets and threaten us. Russia is in the business of selling weapons. I just wish they'd take a little more control of who they are giving them to. And for this bastard chavez to say that we're the leaders in Genocide is outstanding. Holocaust anyone? Germany had a pretty bad incidence of it and your Stalin had been killing its own people in horrendous amounts. Yes, Iraq was stupid in pointless. However, all of these Middle Eastern States shouldn't be able to govern their own private island.
Back in 2006 it may have been all about business. And, no doubt business is still a major component in 2008. But, the recent Russian incursion into Georgia and the US' frowning on such does evoke a certain Cold War-esque view of the current situation. Nonetheless, the likely grief Venezuelan president Chavez is feeling from low oil prices just has to be a good thing!
There's obviously no doubt the Russians are using Chavez and the Venezuelans. Chavez thinks this makes him a key world leader. Russia gets a friendly "ally" in the western hemisphere. (What ever happened to Cuba? Oh, yeah, they don't have their own oil.)
So, Venezuela's economy is based largely on oil. No wonder falling oil prices make Chavez nervous.
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