The KBG 'A State within a State'

Established by Nikita Khurshchev in 1954, the KBG was the national security agency of the Soviet Union. They served as the Soviet Union's internal security, intelligence and secret police organization. They were established to protect the Bolshevik revolution and Stalin. In its time, the KBG was the worlds most effective intelligence agency as it operated both legal and illegal espionage in the target countries.

The KGB classified its people as either agents (intelligence providers) or controllers (intelligence relayers). They had to take on a false identity of either a live or dead 'double' to protect their identity. To make sure they were never discovered, they would first be moved to a foreign country and then immigrate to their target country. Their job would include: stealing and or photographing documents, code names, contacts, targets, dead letter boxes, influence policy and arrange kidnaps and assassinations.

Did you know that Vladimir Putin, the former Russian President, was once an officer of the KBG. Here is an article from the Washington Post in 2000 explaining more.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/russiagov/putin.htm

There was one time in the USSR when all young men thought it honourable to be asked to join the KBG. The KBG gave these men a name in society and some way to serve their country.

From an American point of view, Russia has yet to get fully rid itself of communism. According to journalist David Satter, Russia must do three things to fully rid themselves of a communist legacy:
1. A juridical condemnation of communism
2. An apology from the government to the victims of communism
3. Making a public a list of KBG informers

The third point is unrealistic because many high class officials such as the Pope of the Russian Orthodox Church were allegedly part of the KBG. As well, the Russian people just don't seem to care. They elected Putin fully knowing that he was once a member of the KBG....this only adds to the fact the the Russians want to move forward, not dwell in the past.

I believe that Russia can move forward without taking the 'American point of view'. They have thus far and generally, the Russian people don't like to hold grudges. There mentality is about moving on and if they had made a mistake in the past to learn from it, and not repeat it again.

KBG Secrets Revealed

Politically, times are looking up for the former Soviet Union. An article from the Moscow times was published about how a former KBG hide out in Estonia is now being open for the public eye. They used a hotel where they would send all foreigners and relatives of Estonian's so they could monitor every movement and word each guest did and said. Ironically, the people who worked at the hotel (separate from the KBG) talk about how work was good, clean and guaranteed...you just had to watch what you said inside the hotel. Of course many foreigners experienced fear but some say they just got used to minding what they said while in the hotel.

By the Russian government opening these secret rooms where the KBG officials spent many hour up to the public, they are trying to make amends and make it public knowledge about what the KBG did. 

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/kgb-secrets-revealed-in-estonia-hotel-room/431248.html

Another Cold War for Russia?

Ukraine wants to punish modern Russia for the ill works of Stalin and the Bolshevik party during 1932-1933. Stalin caused famine in Ukraine and other Soviet controlled states. Ukraine historically was one of the major states that tried to seperate from the Soviet Union. After the collapse, they became an independant country and now seek compensation for those hard years. Politically, this is disasterous for Russia because they are trying to move forward politically and socially. By having to reopen old wounds, this is only causing them to stay stuck in the past. It is argued that the famine effected all of the USSR and not just the Ukraine.Viktor Pirozhenko, believes that by the Ukraine government taking this single minded, selfish, spin on the situation, they are only aiming to start a civil dispute with Russia
Here is a series of articles which prove this point.

http://rt.com/news/holodomor-famine-pirozhenko-ukraine/
http://rt.com/politics/holodomor-famine-stalin-ukraine/
http://rt.com/news/holodomor-genocide-report-pace/

Timeline of Terrorists Attacks (post Soviet Union)

Here is a link to an article from The Guardian which highlights all the major terrorists attacks in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The significance of this is that it highlights how as much as the Russian government wants to believe they are moving forward and getting rid of curruption in the country, a level of instability is still very much present. In a truly devolped and sucessful deomcratic nation, we don't have this many major bombings in our country. In the United States, the last major terrorist attack was 9/11. In Canada, we have only had threats but (knock on wood) our government has dealt with these threats appropriately.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/24/russian-terror-attacks-timeline

Russia's Ballet Prince Creates New Nutcracker

In 2008, Russia's Bolshoi Ballet Company lost on of its most valuable members and artistic director due to the politics of its system. Alexei Ratmansky is now making a new life for himself. In an article published on December 14, 2010, Alexi is training young American dancers for his interpretation of the 'Nutcracker'. He understands that he can cannot reinvent such a poplar production but his hope is to give it some sharper edges and therefore appeal to a larger audience. An example of a fine man who was forced to leave everything because of a corrupt system. 

To read more go to: http://russianow.washingtonpost.com/2010/12/russias-ballet-prince-creates-new-nutcracker.php

Graft

'Graft' is political corruption that is the misuse of government powers/ legislation for private gain. 
In Russia, the goal of President Dmitry Medvedev is to eliminate this from the country. Even though he understands it is going to take time, it is a process that he must go through. 

Suicide Bombing=Adoption of US colour-coded Terror Alert System

Thanks to Mr. Peats's helpful resources, the 'New York Times' was able to supply me valuable information on up to date stories coming from Russia. One such story was this article on how the Russian government responded to the suicide bombing in Moscow airport. 

Although the Obama administration has since removed the colour-coded terror alert system from airports, the Russian government has been debating implanting the system for months (since the Moscow subway bombings), this has just given them another idle moment to implement it! 

What is the 'colour-coded alert system'? Well simply, it evaluates the level of risk of a terror attack in a public transit area at anytime. The reason the US abolished the system was because not only was it not accurate, the public didn't know how to respond to it. Russia has implemented the system as it is better than having no warning system in place at all. France and Britain also had sillier systems but Britain has dropped it for the same reasons as the United States. 

Here is the link to the article if you would like to read more. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/29/world/europe/29russia.html?_r=1&ref=russia