Obama: A Russian Roadmap

Ron Ross
Bridges for Peace News
Email: ronrossbfp@hotmail.com

August 2009

I have studied with concern a decade of activity by Russian strongman Vladimir Putin. My concern is his meticulous action seems to be the roadmap for recent activities by the Obama administration in the USA.

The Russian business world was dominated by ‘oligarchs’, entrepreneurs who controlled economic empires through a variety of shady activities. In 199 the Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the former chief of the KGB called the oligarchy together and issued knew rules of operation.

For them to retain government favor the economic heavyweights had to pay their taxes and cease any form of political activity. Putin became acting-president in 2000. He had the muscle to make his program work.

In the new Putin-world the term ‘oligarch’ fell into disfavor and a new breed emerged the ‘Silovarchs.’ This elite band were identified because of their elegance to the Kremlin. In return they had government resources, even the armed forces to back their efforts.

As the international economy boomed the Silovarchs enjoyed an influx of currency from international sources including the USA, Europe and Asia.

In a rush to enjoy the business bonanza Russian banks over-extended. No doubt the prospects were boosted as oil prices jumped through $100 (USD) a barrel.

The global financial crisis came in 2008. Russian businesses and banks held more than $500 billion in outstanding debt, at that time.

The Russian business elite were forced to cut back their once extravagant lifestyle. They all turned to Putin for help.

While some ‘oligarchs’ tried to survive the storm, others responded to a Kremlin stimulus package.  The Federal Security Service, Putin’s replacement for his beloved KGB, were assigned duties to check on oligarch business activities while the Kremlin gathered control of private industries by offering debt relief.

Some Russian businessmen have taken to registering their business activities overseas in an effort to save their wealth and maybe to avoid detailed investigations.

An analysis by Stratfor suggests in great detail that these developments leave the Kremlin with the awesome power to decide what businesses succeeds or fails.

It can be assumed that only those loyal to the Putin plan will be given the hand of encouragement, financial or political.

There are frightening similarities in this process that should sound alarms for all those impacted by any form of ‘stimulus package.’

Any person in debt knows, there is a loss of personal freedom and liberty while ever another holds your future in their bank accounts.

There are more ways of winning a war than just using bullets and bombs. “Beware the Devil prowls around like a lion seeking who he can destroy.” We need wisdom and we need the freedom of our faith to walk in liberty and not to surrender to bondage of any kind.