Putin says Russia must guard against 'color revolutions'

[pampango]

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Moscow must do all it can to prevent extremism and stop "color revolutions" from reaching Russia.

"In the modern world extremism is being used as a geopolitical instrument and for remaking spheres of influence. We see what tragic consequences the wave of so-called color revolutions led to," he told his advisory Security Council, referring to popular uprisings in former Soviet republics.

"For us this is a lesson and a warning. We should do everything necessary so that nothing similar ever happens in Russia."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/20/us-russia-putin-security-idUSKCN0J41J620141120?

Colour revolution

Colour revolution (sometimes called the coloured revolution) or color revolution is a term that was widely used by worldwide media to describe various related movements that developed in several societies in the former Soviet Union and the Balkans during the early 2000s. The term has also been applied to a number of revolutions elsewhere, including in the Middle East. Some observers have called the events a revolutionary wave, the origins of which can be traced back to the 1986 People Power Revolution (also known as the "Yellow Revolution&quot in the Philippines.

Participants in the colour revolutions have mostly used nonviolent resistance, also called civil resistance. Such methods as demonstrations, strikes and interventions have been intended protest against governments seen as corrupt and/or authoritarian, and to advocate democracy; and they have also created strong pressure for change. These movements generally adopted a specific colour or flower as their symbol. The colour revolutions are notable for the important role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and particularly student activists in organising creative non-violent resistance.

Such movements have had a measure of success, as for example in the former Yugoslavia's Bulldozer Revolution (2000); in Georgia's Rose Revolution (2003); and in Ukraine's Orange Revolution (2004). In most but not all cases, massive street protests followed disputed elections, or requests for fair elections, and led to the resignation or overthrow of leaders considered by their opponents to be authoritarian. Some events have been called "colour revolutions" but are different from the above cases in certain basic characteristics. Examples include Lebanon's Cedar Revolution (2005); and Kuwait's Blue Revolution (2005).

Government figures in Russia, such as Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, have charged that colour revolutions are a new form of warfare.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour_revolution

I can see why a 'color revolution' would not appeal to Mr. Putin.

[DetlefK]

1. A war waged by whom on whom?

Are they suggesting that Russia is so weak that a few infiltrators and agent provocateurs can manifest a wholesale revolution out of thin air?

[pampango]

2. I'm always reminded of the American South during the civil rights era.

The Southern white establishment always contended that Blacks were content in the South and that the trouble was stirred up by Northern liberals who came down there to incite trouble.

Are they suggesting that Russia is so weak that a few infiltrators and agent provocateurs can manifest a wholesale revolution out of thin air?

I believe that establishment leaders often believe that the only way for there to be a "revolution" is if some outsider provokes it. I suppose that is a reassuring belief if you are a political leader. In that role, you must believe either that your people are happy with you or that you, at least, have enough power to control them if they aren't.

It does not say much for the stability of a political system, whether it is modern Russia or the American South, if you are afraid that your people are ready to revolt so outside forces must be monitored extra closely.

[jakeXT]

4. Ever since otpor! and Serbia they know what to expect

Globally Renowned Activist Collaborated with Stratfor
by STEVE HORN AND CARL GIBSON
Serbia’s Srdja Popovic is known by many as a leading architect of regime changes in Eastern Europe and elsewhere since the late-1990s, and as one of the co-founders of Otpor!, the U.S.-funded Serbian activist group which overthrew Slobodan Milošević in 2000.

Lesser known, an exclusive Occupy.com investigation reveals that Popovic and the Otpor! offshoot CANVAS (Centre for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies) have also maintained close ties with a Goldman Sachs executive and the private intelligence firm Stratfor (Strategic Forecasting, Inc.), as well as the U.S. government. Popovic’s wife also worked at Stratfor for a year.

These revelations come in the aftermath of thousands of new emails released by Wikileaks’ “Global Intelligence Files.” The emails reveal Popovic worked closely with Stratfor, an Austin, Texas-based private firm that gathers intelligence on geopolitical events and activists for clients ranging from the American Petroleum Institute and Archer Daniels Midland to Dow Chemical, Duke Energy, Northrop Grumman, Intel and Coca-Cola.

Referred to in emails under the moniker “SR501,” Popovic was first approached by Stratfor in 2007 to give a lecture in the firm’s office about events transpiring in Eastern Europe, according to a Stratfor source who asked to remain confidential for this story.

In one of the emails, Popovic forwarded information about activists harmed or killed by the U.S.-armed Bahraini government, obtained from the Bahrain Center for Human Rights during the regime’s crackdown on pro-democracy activists in fall 2011. Popovic also penned a blueprint for Stratfor on how to unseat the now-deceased Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez in September 2010.

http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/12/03/globally-renowned-activist-collaborated-with-stratfor/

[GeorgeGist]

3. He'd make a fine Teabagger.