Denigrating Russian weapons, killing two birds with one stone

Recently Asia Times published a catchy article “Russian arms good on parade, bad in the field”. This magazine is not alone; most western media led by America publishes news and articles with a sole intention of denigrating Russian weapons. What they are trying to do is to kill two birds with one stone. 

Russia is the second largest arms exporter after USA. Ranking number one America accounts for roughly 40% global exports valued around US$ 10.5 Billion. Coming half-way after Russian share is 20% with a tally of US$ 6.5 Billion. Russian arms sales during 2000 to 2019 totalled US$ 28 Billion. According to figures available from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIRPI) China, Vietnam and India are in top league importing 81%, 56% and 46% of their foreign arms requirements from Russia.

Almost 45 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America buy arms from Russia. ASEAN tips the scale with billing of US$ 11 Billion. During the years 2015 to 2021 Myanmar imported US$ 247 worth of arms whereas Laos was placed second at US$ 105 Million. More importantly the surprise addition is Thailand which is more Pro-West after Singapore coughing out US$ 47 Million.

Russian arch is now curving close to the region as well. Amazingly NATO country Turkey has S-400 missile defence system installed and has ordered additional batteries. Unsurprisingly USA is concerned. Right from the beginning America was expressing disquiet to countries that import Russian arms. She is worried the trickle of Russian arms sales should not become a flood. Clearly what is emerging is Russian sales are on uptick. 

Ukraine is the litmus test. Conceivably America cannot lose. Hence she follows a time tested strategy of dis-information. America is hell bent on interpreting normal war losses by Russia in the conduct of war as a sign of inefficiency of her arms and ammunition. In war both sides suffer losses in men and material. Whenever Ukraine makes a killing main stream media goes for the jugular of Russian forces and alternately impose blackout when Ukr gets the beating. Mariupol is a typical case.

Painting a winning picture of the so called brave Ukr Nazi battalion and the Right Sector group America led west winning the info war in Ukraine but losing the real war in the field.    

Strategy of killing two birds with one stone is crystal clear: Dis-information is the stone whereas bird one is to constrain and scissor Russian arms exports using sanctions regime and by showing the effectiveness of Russian arms in bad light.   

Bird two is to cheerlead Zelensky & co to continue the losing war to the extent that soldiers in the front are barred from criticizing the American weapons that so far are found useless in the battle field.

 

Cheers!

 

Muthu Ashraff Rajulu

Business Strategist

Mobile: + 94 777 265677

E-mail:   cosmicgems@gmail.com

Blog:   Business Strategist