Russia Is Always Under Attack, Even When It Isn't

Former Finnish intelligence colonel Martti J. Kari has a guest spot on Ricochet, with an intro by Jon Gabriel. Finnish Intelligence Officer Explains the Russian Mindset

I have often tried to talk to friends about the fact that the Russian (or Soviet) government didn't see the world the same way they did. It almost never took. But then even the brain trust that was the Obama administration didn't see the annexation of Crimea coming, even though Putin has spoken clearly and continually since he came to power about rebuilding empire. And the same is true for Obama's third-term administration, where they were shocked that Russia would move again. Because they don't see the world in the same terms as empire builders.

The first question, or issue, is "Why bother?"

When I say understand, I do not mean that we have to approve of what Russia is doing. But it helps us understand why Russia does things differently. It may even give us the instruments to predict what may happen next. Churchill said that “Russia is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.” It is true. This is well said. Let us now set out to dispel this riddle through the theory of strategic culture.

It is a long article and covers a lot of ground. Cold War era Strategic Culture was a discipline designed to understand that enigma. The article also touches on the history of Russia, and more. I will only excerpt a small bit about why Russia feels it is under attack.

There are 11 time zones in Russia. These huge distances also affect Russia. From the Polish border to Moscow, through to the Urals, is a plateau that is easy to attack with both horses and tanks. That is what has been done. Napoleon attacked, the Germans attacked, and so on. That idea is also in the genetic inheritance of the Russians, that someone is always attacking. “We will be conquered.” They have no shelter, no mountains, no rivers. There are no lakes between the east and the capital. Geographically, Russia has always been easy to conquer, which also influences their thinking.

Though finishing that conquest, has been an issue at times. Even though the German invasion failed, the Soviet Union suffered nearly 5 million military casualties in Operation Barbarosa. That was the official name of the German invasion in WWII. The Nazis also carried out a program intending to exterminate the Slavic people, and widespread starvation took hold in the winter of 1941. But that is a story for another day.

If you want a glimpse of what Russia may be thinking, then you should take a look. Martti Kari was a Finnish intelligence expert, he studied Russian in Leningrad, and pursued a PhD on a similar subject after getting out of the military.

Hat tip to Ace of Spades HQ