A large installation that spells 'I Love Moscow' in Russian.

Politics

Les nouveaux moscoutaires

Oct 27, 2015 Bernard-Henri Lévy

MOSCOU – Le parti Poutine en France ? J’y reviens.

C’est le parti de ceux qui, toutes familles confondues, ne trouvent rien à redire à la réception, en grande pompe, au Kremlin, de ce criminel contre l’humanité multirécidiviste, adversaire de l’Occident, qu’est Bachar al-Asad.

C’est l’ensemble de ceux que leur lâche soulagement face à l’apparition d’un « homme fort » venant imposer son ordre dans le grand jeu syrien empêche apparemment de voir que le premier effet de ses frappes massives et, au mieux, indiscriminées, sera de précipiter le flux des réfugiés venant frapper aux portes de l’Europe.

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0 Comments on this paragraph, 16 Comments on this article

Tom W May 15, 2016

There are people who, when disturbed and disappointed by events in their proximity, leap to the thing that to them represents the opposite of it. Perhaps many of these folks suffer from some form of borderline personality disorder. We seem to find it among highly partisan people.

For example, someone who laments European social, economic, or political weakness would gravitate to a Putin, even if indirectly through a Le Pen.

Consider the typical young American, freshly indoctrinated and full of curated facts about how terrible the U.S. is. Today they Feel the Bern. Yesterday they cheered Castro and Hugo Chavez as they thumbed their noses at the Yankee Imperialists. These people are unable to consider a wide range of facts and frameworks, but simply look for the savior who represents the antithesis of all they see wrong in their world.
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TRIQUI AHMED Nov 2, 2015

Monsieur Lévy voudrait nous faire passer monsieur Poutine pour "un agitateur de brasseries" recevant d’autres agitateurs de café.
Or c’est à l’amateurisme de Robert Kagan, de Victoria Nuland ou de Bernard Henri Lévy que nous devons « le retour « de la Russie en Europe, en Méditerranée et au Proche Orient. En Europe en installant les missiles « contre l’Iran » , le réveil de la Russie n’est même pas une surprise pour un enfant de 7 ans. Et au Proche Orient en réduisant à néant toutes les Institutions des pays du Tigre et de l’Euphrate, le néoconservatisme a d’abord visé à la destruction systématique d'une histoire millénaire et des Etats arabes, et musulmans avec l’aide du wahabbisme. La Russie s’estime là visée dans ses frontières du Caucase. En Méditerranée, le sort tragique des migrants n'est que la résultante des interventions insensées qui viennent par ricochet accroitre les risques de voir les extrêmes droites gagner les élections en Europe.
Le néo-conservatisme de BHL n’est en rien le parti de la liberté ; il est le fossoyeur de la montée irrésistible des démocraties, le pourfendeur des régimes laïcs pluri-religieux et pluri-éthniques et des libertés fondamentales ; il est bien un totalitarisme, c’est-à-dire « un déni d’humanité » selon Hannah Arendt et une « désolation car " il prive de sol l’être humain". Hannah Arendt écrivait dans « Qu’est-ce que la politique ? » que « la pluralité est loi de la Terre ». " Il y a pluralité et action humaine parce que nous sommes tous pareils, c’est-à-dire humains, sans que jamais personne ne soit identique à aucun homme ayant vécu, vivant ou encore à naître". C’est pourquoi, ajoutait-elle, « plus il y a de peuples, plus il y a de monde et la réalité de l’existence présuppose la permanence et la durabilité du monde. »
Enfin si le parti de Poutine n’est pas le notre, et BHL son meilleur soutien par son aveuglement, ses erreurs d’analyse et son parti-pris, même un enfant de 7 ans sait que Poutine n’a rien de Kadaffi car plus dangereux .
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Peter Schaeffer Nov 1, 2015

Time for some honesty here. A civilization that seeks to replace "he" and "she" with "ze" isn't going to stop or even credibly oppose Putin. Indeed, It isn't clear if a society that can't even admit the existence of biology has any moral standing to oppose Putin.
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Peter Schaeffer Nov 1, 2015

So an apologist, defender, and even advocate of the mass invasion of Europe wants to call other people a "fifth column". If Levy is really looking for the Fifth Column in Europe, he should go find a mirror.
- Steve Ercegovac Feb 17, 2016
  
  Good point!
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Lev Havryliv Nov 1, 2015

It is astonishing that in the 21st century Russia is acting like a 19th imperial power by invading and occupying parts of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

It is also difficult to understand how unprincipled business and political interests in France, Germany and Italy are so willing to appease this revanchist Russian behavior under the leadership of Putin.

Putin's policies are now the greatest threat to the peace and stability of Europe. The lessons from the 1930's are most instructive here.
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Peter Schaeffer Nov 1, 2015

What a crock of ****. We are told that some kind of blindness "prevents them from seeing that the primary effect of Russia’s massive, indiscriminate bombardments has been to accelerate the flow of refugees toward Europe". However, Bernard-Henri Lévy has told us time and time again that these (so-called) refugees are a blessing for Europe and how they will help Europe in countless ways. That makes Putin and Assad the good guys. Someone once wrote "the problem with lies is keeping them straight".
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Greg Keif Oct 29, 2015

So much is made of Russia's "military might". If they can support the current rate of sorties for 6 months it will amount to being a 3rd class outfit. The Russians are no conventional military threat to Europe. It is all bluster and bluffing. When the first shot was fired the US and NATO would roll over them like the tide on a beach.
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Robert Carter Oct 29, 2015

Is there any evidence that Russia's bombing has been indiscriminate or that the flow of refugees has been accelerated.
Or that Russia wants to humiliate or extract revenge.
A quick search of the Web indicates there are strategic interests in Russia maintaining military bases in the Mediterranean region, and that Russia is pursuing that countries national interest. Not least of which is a sizable muslim population that may be vulnerable to Al Nasra and ISIL doctrines, and the potential disruption of returning jihadists.

Further there is evidence such as William Roebucks 2006 emails (Wikileaks) that the USA desired a regime change in Syria. There is also evidence that the CIA facillitated the transfer of weapons from Libia to groups opposed to the Syrian government, to moderates who joined or supplied Al Nasra and ISIL.
In fact whilst the Pentagon declines to supply the non-government forces with Tow missiles, that anti tank Tow missiles are indeed being supplied. There does appear to be a policy conflict between different branches of the US government. However the arming of Jihadists whilst politically problematic does make sense if the US Government wishes to remove the current government.
I am not judging the rightness or wrongness of the various governments or players actions, but I do believe commentary should be evidence based.
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jagjeet sinha Oct 28, 2015

Perplexed not by Putin's Party but more by this diplomatic siege that seems to be suggested by the author.
Putin's - and Gorbachev - games always reek of design to belong to a Common European Home.
Putin's games in The Gulf clearly have a design - and the goal is always European.
France clearly is ensconced in the driver's seat in Europe - and shape the future course.
France more than Germany, given hostilities to Germanic Europe that constantly constitutes chatter in Europe.
Paris therefore needs to respond to the twin problems - ClubRed and ClubMed - that confronts Europe.
Because the greatest opportunities lie within the greatest problems.
The author seems to suggest the same Siege-n-surrender strategy deployed during the confrontation with Greece.
Knowing very well that Russia is no Greece.
Unless BHL suggests Cold War 2.0 is the best shot Paris can muster ?
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Diego Orlandi Oct 28, 2015

we have almost little or almost no information regarding Israels involvement in this war. this is peculiar, to say the least.
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Ian Brookes Oct 28, 2015

A Zionist who only wants an Israel first fifth column.

Your comments betray your ignorance and inability to accept a different perspective. Putin stated clearly his involvement in Syria is to destroy Islamist terrorists and support the legitimate government. That is what he has been doing.

The USA, Israel and Gulf States plot to create chaos in Syria is over. They should back off and let Russia deal with the Wahhabi terrorists.
- Diego Orlandi Oct 28, 2015
  
  I think the underlying problem is that a strong overly ambitious monopolistic power has taken control of both mediatic propaganda machines and government agendas, promoting plans that not only seem unsustainable but also breaching of the local communities' rights and interests in the short/long-term, generating immense frustration and resentment in the population. question: does this sound like a typical post-WW2 Soviet Union scenario, or Western Middle East policy 2000-present?
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j. von Hettlingen Oct 28, 2015

Bernard-Henri Lévy describes Putin's admirers as the new "Moscowteers." They are "apologists for Russia and Russian policy" not only in Europe, but also elsewhere. They see the Russian "strongman" as the very epitome of macho manliness. In Europe many far left and far right parties fawn over Putin and seek his favour. France's far-right "Front National" under Marine Le Pen received a € 9 million loan from Russia last year. Most of these Russia "apologists" - Nigel Farage, Geert Wilders etc. - are anti-EU and seen as the "fifth column" in Brussels. Their number is significant enough to from a "Party of Putin".
Lévy maintains this ragtag bunch of "Moscowteers" has failed to see through Putin and let themselves be fooled by his "armed diplomacy." Putin has never failed to blame the West for the demise of the Soviet Union. In his eyes it was the "biggest geopolitical catastrophe of the [twentieth] century." Hence it's not far-fetched that he harbours "the desire to exact revenge" on the West. He sees the annexation of Crimea as an action to right a wrong. Nikita Krushchev was responsible for the transfer of Crimea to Ukraine in 1954. He justifies the military intervention in Syria, saying Russia needs to help Assad - a legitimate leader - to fight terrorists, and to prop up a regime, which has been Russia's ally since the 1971 lease of the port of Tartus. Moscow has also been a long-term supplier of arms to the Assad regime. Putin also seized the opportunity to beef up Russia's military presence in the MIddle East and show off its air power. Indeed, "the tools at his disposal are no longer those of the antiquated, corrupt, decomposing military that he inherited 15 years ago."
It's true that "Putin’s tactics – pouncing on the slightest breach or sign of weakness in Europe in order to sow division – have been remarkably consistent." Too many fall for Putin's belief that Russia has a historic right to dictate events in neighbouring nations. Therefore their EU and NATO memberships are highly questionable and Russia will open an "investigation into the legality of the Baltic States’ independence." Amid the Eurocrisis Putin can count on widespread grievances against the EU to win "systematic support of the populist, nationalist, and outright fascist parties that, in every EU country, are most eager to dismantle Europe." Heads-of-state like the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras rub shoulders with Putin, while ruffling other European leaders' feathers.
All this excessive admiration for Putin will dissipate if he loses his poker over Syria. He should not overrate his abilities and underestimate the vagaries of the multi-layered conflict with so many players involved.
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Petey Bee Oct 27, 2015

I am someone who takes a little bit of pride in my piddling efforts to call out western governments on hypocrisy. As it turns out, western and particularly US dealings with Russia generate some prime opportunities to demonstrate this hypocrisy and lack of conviction of some professed principles.

To do so is not the same as support of the Russian government.

So let's just turn this whole thing around. What does it say about the fruits of Western leadership if "Putinism" begins to look attractive in comparison?

Russia presents us with a useful mirror.
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Francesco D'Allessandro Oct 27, 2015

The current crisis between the West and Russian President Vladimir Putin has created a new wave of Moscow supporting groupies from the fringe radical parties to those who for political and economical reasons sustain a conspiratorial silence across Europe. This is troublesome for they are undercutting the world liberal order to favor a new political totalitarian strain stemming from the Kremlin...however these Moscowteers as vexing as they are, are not the cause of the conflict but a symptom of the malady that soured the relationship between Russia and the West for it was the blatant expansion of NATO into Russia's traditional areas of influence as well as the change of policy in the 2011 military intervention in Libya that fostered a new era of political tension between the two blocs. As a result of misguided overreaching policies the world now has no choice but to deal with the unruly behavior of Putin thus endangering the contemporary democratic world order. Unless the United States and the EU adopt a tougher stance in dealing with Putin's reckless conduct we might have a repeat of the cold war that plagued the world for many decades.
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