Don't mess with nuclear Russia, Putin says

Reuters

By By Alexei Anishchuk

Fri, Aug 29, 2014

LAKE SELIGER Russia (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Friday Russia's armed forces, backed by its nuclear arsenal, were ready to meet any aggression, declaring at a pro-Kremlin youth camp that foreign states should understand: "It's best not to mess with us."

Putin told the assembly, on the banks of a lake near Moscow, the Russian takeover of Crimea in March was essential to save a largely Russian-speaking population from Ukrainian government violence. He said continued fighting in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists launched an uprising in April, was the result of a refusal by Kiev to negotiate.

Ukraine, and Western governments, accuse Russia of sending troops and armour to back the separatists in a conflict that has already killed over 2,000 people. Russia denies the charge.
"Russia is far from being involved in any large-scale conflicts," he said at the camp on the banks of Lake Seliger. "We don't want that and don't plan on it. But naturally, we should always be ready to repel any aggression towards Russia.

"Russia's partners...should understand it's best not to mess with us," said Putin, dressed casually in a grey sweater and light blue jeans.

"Thank God, I think no one is thinking of unleashing a large-scale conflict with Russia. I want to remind you that Russia is one of the leading nuclear powers."

Putin spoke easily with the students, many of whom looked to be asking scripted questions about demography and history. Other times he accepted gifts or, smilingly, played down their praise.

When a student said that she had not heard a single negative comment about Putin's presidency from camp speakers, he responded with a grin that "objectivity" was important.

His tone darkened when speaking on Ukraine, blaming the United States and the European Union for the "unconstitutional" removal of Kiev's former Moscow-backed president Viktor Yanukovich and replacement with a pro-European government.

He said eastern Ukraine did not agree with Yanukovich's removal and was now subjected to "crude military force" from government planes, tanks and artillery.

"If those are contemporary European values, then I'm simply disappointed in the highest degree," he said, comparing Ukraine's military operations in the east of the country with the Nazi siege of Leningrad in World War Two.
"Small villages and large cities surrounded by the Ukrainian army which is directly hitting residential areas with the aim of destroying the infrastructure... It sadly reminds me of the events of the Second World War, when German fascist... occupiers surrounded our cities

11 PERTINENT QUESTIONS WHY NIGERIA'S MASTERCARD NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD SHOULD BE REVISED

By Segun Badmus

30/08/2014

Despite the fact that we have been clamoring for a dependable national identity scheme,the recent introduction of a commercialized national identity card scheme through Mastercard international is a direct assault on the sovereignty,security of information and personal safety of Nigerians.

Imagine becoming a scornful nation of the world like Russia,Zimbabwe; how does Nigeria intends to protect its citizens across the world who might become dangerously exposed to international spy organizations?

In a clear disapproval against this policy somersault, I hereby depose the following questions for your evaluation;

1. How secure would our personal information become knowing that in the last few years, major credit card companies have been hacked repeatedly,the last hack stole over 16 million personal and financial information from credit card companies especially(Mastercard,VISA).

2. How secure would Nigerians become when we turn targets of criminal attacks from criminals who knows our national identity document is also a source of fund.

3. How can we trust a commercial company driven by profits with our national information database?

4. How can we avoid surveillance and being tracked by the NSA and other covert intelligence gathering organizations around the world?

5. Is the Nigerian government aware that the United States recently withdrew Mastercard and Visa card services in Russia as a form of sanction and national weapon of war of attrition?

6. Why cant we have this same document without attaching it with a foreign financial processor or with any banking service?

7. Why cant the government mandate Mastercard to establish localized processing centers in Nigeria to limit exposure of Nigerians information to the outside world?

8. Why do we have to allow a privately held company to majorly fund a very sensitive national information database through private,public,partnership arrangement?

9. Are we inherently incapable of fulfilling simple civic duties without concession to foreign gods?

10.Why covertly forcing all citizens to become a Mastercard customer without having the choice to agree or disagree?

11.How does Nigeria intends to handle breach of access to this database baring the fact that friends do become enemies?

These pertinent questions needs urgent answers before this government willfully enslaves us in a 21st century manner.

If you have different,counter or superior opinion on the way forward in this matter, please don't hesitate to share for proper articulation.

Thank you.

Segun Badmus is a Freelance Writer,Social Critique,Good Governance Advocate and Entreprenuer.

Follow me on Twitter @segunbadmus