March 28, 2007 (the date of publication in Russian)
Maxim Kalashnikov
A STAKE ON HORROR
The Russian counterstrike should target the potential aggressor's political and business elite
Russia is being systematically and successively wrapped up with NATO bases. Ostensibly, there is no reason for this effort, as Russia's military budget is tiny, if compared with the US (not speaking of NATO's) expenses for national defense. It is equally true that today a possible military conflict between the West and the rising Russian Federation is not discussed. Still, in this unpredictable world, things may easily change tomorrow.
The concentration of NATO forces along Russia's borders, regardless from their ostensible destination, raises the issue of an adequate counterbalance. An asymmetric response should definitely included IRBMs, but not only. In order to develop a really convincing potential of deterrence, Russia needs a global, high-precision strategy of subversive operations, challenging not only strategic military facilities but also the Western decision-makers themselves.
AT THE FACE OF SPACE DOMINANCE
The United States stake on a huge, overwhelming military dominance, not only over Russia or China but over the whole world. Proceeding to the new era of force development, Washington is making space systems its central striking force. Having not only surveillance satellites but also orbital fighters (supersonic aero-spacecrafts and cruise missiles), the United States are able to draw a bead on any point of the Earth's surface, and deliver a high precision, devastating blow. Moving at a great height, the US reconnaissance-strike space systems are invulnerable for anti-aircraft missiles and conventional fighter-interceptors. At the same time, they are able to deliver precise and irresistible blows, as their missiles and bombs descend almost vertically. It is practically impossible to intercept them, as their speed at the approach to the target reaches 20,000 km per hour. The kinetic energy of munitions, launched from space, is so high that supplying with nuclear or conventional explosives is unnecessary. Meeting with a target, even a kernel of pure uranium would pierce any armor. The fly-in time of space-based offensive weapons comprises a few minutes. In this parameter, they far exceed intercontinental ballistic missiles (which needs around 30 minutes to reach the target) and middle-range missiles (requiring from 8 to 10 minutes to reach an object in Russia, if launched from Central Europe).
Space-based weapons allow the United States to destroy the adversary's missile forces yet on the ground, to intercept US-aimed missiles in space, and to completely paralyze the target nation with precise strikes.
The other components of the US military machine (including ground forces, air forces and the navy) are successfully integrated into the new version of "star wars", being similarly equipped with sophisticated high-precise long-range weaponry.
Under these conditions of the arms race, Russia finds itself in an ultimately vulnerable situation. An attack from space is really able to "decapitate" the country, defeating its strategic missile forces, disrupting the integrity of its infrastructure, and cutting off electricity supplies. Deployment of strategic ABM bases in Czechia and Poland is already a reality. However, similar objects may appear also in Georgia and Azerbaijan, and potentially in Ukraine – at least, relevant intentions were openly expressed in early March on the level of the US State Department.
The efforts to integrate Georgia into NATO coincide with a reiterated international media attack not only on Russia's policy in the Caucasus but also on the incumbent administration of Chechnya. Today, an attempt to transform Chechnya into a new Kosovo is a hard task. However, in case separatist forces achieve support from space-based missiles, this prospective looks different.
NEW DETERRENCE SCHEMES REQUIRED
An full-scale offensive from the United States, involving its space-based forces, would be fatal for any national defense system with an “ordinary" missile and nuclear potential. Imagining such a kind of aggression against Russia, we could compare the probable effect with that of NATO's operation in Yugoslavia, in 1999. With its outdated ABM system, the Serbs were just unable to prevent the air attacks. With aircrafts replaced by orbital bomber systems, we would face the same effect.
While the Russian nation is recovering from the devastating consequences of the 1991 catastrophe, Russia's diplomacy displaying commitment to protect the national interests, NATO's relations with Moscow are spectacularly deteriorating. That is natural, as in the world of tomorrow, the architects of the new global order will more exigently require control over the resources of Russia, including land, raw materials, and fresh water. The pretext for an aggression may be created from nothing. This is obvious from the experience of Iraq, as well as the same Yugoslavia. In both cases, the substantiation for a military offensive far exceeded any possible challenges to the West, emerging from these countries.
Imagine the effects of a full-scale space-missile military attack on Russia: chaos in the country; paroxysms of inter-ethnic clashes; collapse of civil maintenance systems, and winter cold, multiplying million-fold casualties. This picture raises the issue of new schemes of deterrence, capable to stop the potential aggressor with its criminal plans (according to the Nuremberg definitions).
We have already focused on a number of aspects of asymmetric response to the potential aggressor, including anti-satellite weapons, along with ground-based maneuverable ABM systems. One more necessary component is the potential of subversive operations.
HOW TO CHASTEN THE "GLOBALS"?
Russia's asymmetric response should particularly target the political and business establishment of the probable adversary. In any case, military offensives are designed not by peoples but by the ruling class. The policy of the United States, as well as other NATO countries, is planned by a combination of top political and intelligence management, financial tycoons, top figures of weapon-producing corporations, and owners of major mass media networks. The life style of this selected circle exceeds any fantasies of a common American.
This community is to realize that in case of a military offensive against Russia, the response will target precisely their selected circle. This very perspective is a significant means of psychological influence.
Ironically, the US establishment itself prompts the strategy of a selective response. In early 1980s, when Robert Reagan openly declared a (primarily psychological) endeavor to destroy the USSR, the United States identified a number of 3000 major targets on the Soviet territory. In case of a full-scale war, Reagan's White House was planning to decapitate the USSR by physical elimination of around 11,000 top party functionaries. This plan was never practically implemented, but its psychological effect was undoubtedly great.
It is high time to make use of this precious experience of the potential adversary. In the conditions of a changing world, where the language of coercion is used more and more regularly, military targeting should be adequately reconsidered. Which targets of the potential aggressor are to be identified today?
First of all, those are the fulcrums of top global business activities, the places where the VIP community tends to concentrate, assemble, operate, and relax, along with the relevant infrastructure. Those are:
– major stock markets,
– corporate headquarters,
– major banks,
– accounting centers and law offices;
– trading centers;
– technopolises;
– central TV and press agencies;
– domestic and overseas intelligence infrastructure;
– top administrative offices;
– strategic units of communications and surveillance;
– Internet facilities, etc.
These objects of the potential adversary are to be identified as selected targets, involving the whole range of available subversive technologies. In some cases, a threat of direct targeting would be efficient; in other cases, potential destruction of an adjacent dam or nuclear facility.
The psychological effect may be multiplied by including the whole industry of entertainment, used by the VIP community, into the list of potential targets. This additional list should encompass:
– super-cruise ships, used as floating isles for VIP leisure;
– isolated VIP living compounds, villas and five-star hotels;
– high-class resorts;
– private-owned islands with bungalows, yachts and other attributes of excessive wealth;
– private clubs, used not only for entertainment but also for strategic decision-making in an informal atmosphere;
– super-expensive clinics;
– prestigious university campuses, etc.
The VIP community of the potential adversary should experience fear for the physical survival of themselves and their VIP posterity, wherever it prefers to study, communicate, and relax.
LAPUTA UNDER STRIKE
In March 2003, the Moscow-issued Popular Mechanics magazine published a really impressing report about a project of the "Floating Ark", developed by Alstom Corp. and estimated in $3.5bln. The oval-form artificial island of 300 x 400 meters is supposed to follow the sun with a speed of 10 knots, without calling in ports. The device is supposed to host 10,000 ultra-rich individuals. It is going to be equipped with an artificial sand beach, a haven for yachts and supply boats, being crowned with 15-storey apartment buildings. The globalized elite, residing on the artificial isle and operating from its estates, is not supposed to pay any taxes to any national budget, resembling Jonathan Swift's Laputa, the island of world's rulers. The parallel is strikingly relevant: today's global tycoons would run their VIP business affairs with use of super-modern communication equipment, enjoying the comfort of everlasting summer.
Rocking in their chaise lounges, far away from the real world with its misery and despair, from the curses of deprived millions, they would boldly trade stocks, bribe politicians, arrange coup d'etats, wars and conflicts, and conveniently plan the ultimate division of Russia and its resources. This paradise life, however, may cease in case of a Western aggression against Russia. In this case, a Russian submarine would hit the floating Leviathan with a nuclear-charged torpedo, the paradise turning a lump of fritted metal.
Until today, the reminiscence of the wreckage of a relatively small Titanic, dating back to 1912, fascinates the imagination of moviegoers. The picture of aristocracy, trapped on a ruined isle of paradise, is much more impressing. Alstom's project illustrates the tendency of globalization, in which the strikingly avaricious VIP community tends to separate itself from billions of other people. Emergence of such projects is quite natural – as well as the increasing resistance to globalistic policies. The picture of the desperate billionaires, unable to escape from the new Titanic, would evoke more joy than horror across the globe.
While Alstom's "floating paradise" is only a project, smaller VIP-oriented facilities exist for decades. In 1984, Klaus Kobiell designed a super-elite hotel, named Schindlerhof, on the base of a 400-year-old private estate. Advertising exclusive Franconic cuisine from environmentally superb food, Mr. Kobiell later opened a conference hall for VIP meetings and seminars, with reference to J.W. Goethe's teaching on flowers and subsequent anthroposophist theories. Top European decision makers and business figures, traditionally assembling in this facility, should bear in mind that in case their native countries attack Russia, the small paradise may turn into ashes along with its visitors, even if they don't consider themselves a part of their nation. This awareness could contribute to transformation of those strategic minds into convinced pacifists and social philosophers.
Oleg Leonov, author of Expert weekly magazine, quotes a precious witness report from the Bohemian Grove Club (Expert, No.34, September 12, 2005): "This facility is one of the strangest elements of the network of what is referred to as the global government. It is not so famous as the notorious Bilderberg or the Trilateral Commission. However, Bohemian Grove attracts almost a half of the richest American individuals. Retired and incumbent intelligence bosses, presidents and senators assemble in the building in the relict sequoia woods of California. Candidates queue for years to join this VIP community. A number of key global solutions were designed in this club, in an atmosphere which ostensibly does not correspond with a serious agenda, members living in tents, not using any sewage, and overdosing hard drinks".
The described community includes George H.W. Bush, ex-Secretaries of State James Baker III and Colin Powell, Sir Henry Kissinger, ex-Federal Reserve's chairman Paul Volcker et al. All the former presidents of the United States have been members of the club since it was established in the early XX century. By 2005, it included all the top neo-conservative Republican Party politicians, as well as such business tycoons as David Rockefeller; Ed Gallantee, head of Exxon Mobil; Hewlett Packard's founders, etc.
HOPEFULLY, THEY WILL PREFER SURVIVAL
The idea of a special subversive military force, targeting the supranational VIP community, may become very popular. Launching a number of websites, Russian strategists could acquire a multitude of voluntary partners across the globe, as the community of VIP-haters is increasingly numerous. Using those sources, it would be easy to localize the most prestigious places the global establishment uses for assembling, education, medical treatment, and relaxation. As soon as this information is confirmed, a number of "scientific popular" movies, illustrating a subversive operation in the luxurious interior of these very facilities, could serve as a really efficient message to the selected circle of global players. After all, none of them would like to perish alive in flames – a fate, which even the boldest separatist warlord would prefer to escape.
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