Citing WWII, Greece offers itself as junior-partner to Russia

[DetlefK]

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/griechenland-und-russland-tsipras-umgarnt-moskau-a-1026422.html#js-article-comments-box-pager
(article in german)

- Prime Minister Tsipras said that Greece and Russia share a bond due to both suffering heavy losses in WWII.
"Our people forged a band of brotherhood by fighting together in a critical moment of history."
"Our nations have a shining past of common struggle, which means we can also have a wonderful future."

- Greece has been hard-hit by the russian counter-sanctions when Russia stopped buying agrarian products from Greece.

- Tsipras criticized the EU-sanctions against Russia as useless and as an economic war leading to nowhere. The crisis had to be solved diplomatically. Tsipras has promised to oppose a prolonging of the sanctions.

- The russian sanction has hit Greece to the tune of $430 million. Russia has promised to consider a selective lifting of the sanctions for greek fruits. Greece also hopes for cheap gas and russian loans. Tsipras will travel to Russia next week.

- Russian political analyst Fjodor Lukjanov said that Greece is traditionally loyal to Russia for historical, cultural and religious reasons. He called Greece a good instrument to influence EU-politics.




Tsipras was elected Prime Minister of Greece on a populist, leftist platform.
His party, SYRIZA, is left-wing. It is currently in a government-coalition with the nationalist, populist, conservative ANEL-party.
About 2 weeks ago, a russian party loyal to Putin hosted a conference with Neonazi-parties from Germany (NPD), Greece (Golden Dawn) and the UK (National Party) on how to defend the traditional values of family and Christianity and how the US is really the bad guy in the Ukraine.



A left-wing guy becomes head of a country in shambles and he tries to solve the problems by allying with populist right-wingers and selling his country out as a junior-partner to an imperialist nation, citing events that happened 70 years prior.

Looks like Greece is serious about tax-reform and hunting down tax-evaders. The EU should totally give them more billions.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. The bold part is what matters

Russia 'appears' to be interested in not giving Greece a raw deal. If they will extend credit and engage in fair trade - then perhaps that's all Tsipras is concerning himself with?

And considering the punches (verbally / diplomatically) at Germany (ex: threatening to seize German assets as reparations for WW II) - we should pay attention.

We should pay attention to these far right parties, why they would align with Russia -

And where/when we've seen this before.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. Looks like Greece is getting ready to go the route of Venezuela -- because THAT worked so well.

[betterdemsonly]

4. Worked out pretty for most Venezuelans

Didn't hurt the wealthy that much either but for their sense of entitlement.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

18. "Worked out pretty for most Venezuelans"

Venezuela solved the toilet paper shortage by making sure people don't have food so they don't have to poop.

[betterdemsonly]

19. That sort of rhetoric gives you away

just right wing red baiting and stereotypes. No facts. Straight out of a Bircher convention.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

20. That's not a rebuttal; that's a complaint about not having any facts with which to rebut.

Pictured above: NOT waiting for Grateful Dead tickets

[betterdemsonly]

3. Looks like there is going to be a grexit at least if this story

is true.

[NuclearDem]

5. Hey, if the Great Syriza Hope wants to align themselves with imperialist bigots

that's their problem.

[betterdemsonly]

6. That would be projection

How come so many neocon duers have nukes in their usernames?

[DetlefK]

7. "Bigots" is projection?

How about you die your hair black and walk though Moscow, claiming to be from the Caucasus? Let's see how far you make it before hearing a racist slur.

How about you claim being gay in Russia? Let's see how long it takes before you get beaten up, humiliated and raped.

[betterdemsonly]

11. I would feel much safer there than I would feel in Saudi Arabia

or Catholic Poland, both allies.

[NuclearDem]

14. You comfortable in Putin's Russia? Color me shocked.

[NuclearDem]

8. You have a weird definition of neocon.

I tend to favor isolating countries that launch illegal, unprovoked wars of aggression while suppressing civil rights at home.

And yes, that includes the US and Russia.

[betterdemsonly]

9. Let's see what happens if the Cubans forcibly close Guantanamo. n/t

[NuclearDem]

10. You seem to have me confused with someone who wants Guantanamo open.

Also, why is it I can't seem to wade into any discussion involving Russia and not see at least one tu quoque argument being used?

[hrmjustin]

12. That is rather insulting to call someone a neocon here.

Some people here don't thing aligning with Russia is a good idea.

[betterdemsonly]

13. Scoop Jackson was a neocon and democrat.

Anyone can be a dem.

[hrmjustin]

16. Not trusting russia does not make you a neocon.

[Dreamer Tatum]

15. I think rhetorical questions about other DUers should be allowed at 5000 posts minimum. nt

[Nye Bevan]

17. Sounds like a great idea.

I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

[Comrade Grumpy]

21. I dunno. Economic collapse, widespread suffering? Oh, wait...