I sometimes wonder if Maria Warrior Princess isn't a likely successor to Putin? She's younger than the more obvious candidates such as the bear guy and Lavrov. Apparently she speaks Mandarin, so I'm sure the Chinese would like her. She's clearly capable and I'd vote for her on looks alone, but I'm not sure Russia is ready for a female leader. Definitely the best pick from who's available IMO, save Lavrov obviously, who's a couple of years older than Putin.
I remember the gerontocracy of the later USSR. Don't want to see that again.
A popular joke from that era: Ivan: so Sergui, are you going to attend the state funeral? Sergui: Naw, I'll wait for the next one.
She's been discussed, but IMO and those of others, she's very happy with her current position and expects to go to higher within the MFA. I expect her to become a Deputy Foreign Minister on the way to Lavrov's position. The ones I'm looking at as potential successors are on Team Putin now. I hope the armed conflict is over by election day 2030.
Steve, do you understand what the functional difference is between Jean-Pierre and that Rear Admiral guy? I get the impression that the Rear Admiral handles all the tough questions, and punts the softball ones to Jean-Pierre; or is it more formalized than that?
maria sure cuts to the chase!!! i love her blunt and brutal portrayal of the west at this point in history... she covers so many bases and this is only in the abbreviated 3 hour talk you've pulled from... thanks karl! we don't have long to wait for the moldova elections - oct 20th i believe... i wonder if they will be successful in their propaganda... sounds like the imf is laughing all the way to the bank regardless...
Lots of interesting points in that briefing. Feeling somewhat lyrical today so thought I'd focus on the Moldovan/EU.
WRT EU loans: Advice to Moldovans “The lady in slacks just bought some new hats with the profits she made on your dreams” and from Traffic to Peter Tosh “You're just a brand new second hand gal… … You think it's the slacks you wear That make you a lady Get that out of your mind gal
You must be crazy”. And finally, Maria “Western transnational corporations (as the EU ambassador in Chisinau openly said) will have the right to buy up the country's land fund.”
Then in a somewhat Bowiesque chorus she finishes with (This ain’t rock and roll) “This is neocolonialism. This is the same slave trade, only in a new way.”
I sometimes wonder if Maria Warrior Princess isn't a likely successor to Putin? She's younger than the more obvious candidates such as the bear guy and Lavrov. Apparently she speaks Mandarin, so I'm sure the Chinese would like her. She's clearly capable and I'd vote for her on looks alone, but I'm not sure Russia is ready for a female leader. Definitely the best pick from who's available IMO, save Lavrov obviously, who's a couple of years older than Putin.
I remember the gerontocracy of the later USSR. Don't want to see that again.
A popular joke from that era: Ivan: so Sergui, are you going to attend the state funeral? Sergui: Naw, I'll wait for the next one.
She's been discussed, but IMO and those of others, she's very happy with her current position and expects to go to higher within the MFA. I expect her to become a Deputy Foreign Minister on the way to Lavrov's position. The ones I'm looking at as potential successors are on Team Putin now. I hope the armed conflict is over by election day 2030.
The contrast in competency and honesty compared with the US is stark.
Putin - Biden
Lavrov - Blinken
Zakharova - Jean-Pierre
The US isnt fielding serious people at the top level.
Steve, do you understand what the functional difference is between Jean-Pierre and that Rear Admiral guy? I get the impression that the Rear Admiral handles all the tough questions, and punts the softball ones to Jean-Pierre; or is it more formalized than that?
maria sure cuts to the chase!!! i love her blunt and brutal portrayal of the west at this point in history... she covers so many bases and this is only in the abbreviated 3 hour talk you've pulled from... thanks karl! we don't have long to wait for the moldova elections - oct 20th i believe... i wonder if they will be successful in their propaganda... sounds like the imf is laughing all the way to the bank regardless...
I hope her words are seen by many people, especially those in Moldova, Italy and Japan. Thanks for posting this, Karl.
Excellent piece, Karl. Look forward to the next one!
I DO love her sharp wit! Beautiful blouse, stylin'!
Thanks again.
ebear that was my thought also but as KS points out the DFM sounds like the right spot for her
Lots of interesting points in that briefing. Feeling somewhat lyrical today so thought I'd focus on the Moldovan/EU.
WRT EU loans: Advice to Moldovans “The lady in slacks just bought some new hats with the profits she made on your dreams” and from Traffic to Peter Tosh “You're just a brand new second hand gal… … You think it's the slacks you wear That make you a lady Get that out of your mind gal
You must be crazy”. And finally, Maria “Western transnational corporations (as the EU ambassador in Chisinau openly said) will have the right to buy up the country's land fund.”
Then in a somewhat Bowiesque chorus she finishes with (This ain’t rock and roll) “This is neocolonialism. This is the same slave trade, only in a new way.”