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Volgograd Rocked By Second Suicide Bombing In 24 Hours, 14 Killed

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Just barely hours after we covered the second deadly explosion in the southern Russian city of Volgograd in as many months, this time in its packed train station, the city was rocked by yet another suicide bombing in what is clearly a terrorist campaign to spook Russia and its Sochi winter games visitors just over a month ahead of the olympics.  This time, a bomb ripped apart a trolleybus killing all 14 people aboard, and wounding another 28 in the second deadly attack blamed on suicide bombers.  According to Reuters, "Investigators said they believed a male suicide bomber set off the blast, a day after a similar attack killed at least 17 in the main rail station of a city that serves as a gateway to the southern wedge of Russian territory bounded by the Black and Caspian Seas and the Caucasus mountains." Even Putin, so far non-committal, is starting to take these daily escalations seriously: "President Vladimir Putin, who has staked his prestige on February's Sochi Games and dismissed threats from Chechen and other Islamist militants in the nearby North Caucasus, ordered tighter security nationwide after the morning rush-hour blast."

Sunday's attack was the deadliest to strike the ethnic Russian heartlands since January 2011, when a male suicide bomber from the North Caucasus killed 37 people in the arrivals hall of a busy Moscow airport.

There is practically no question that the two blasts were coordinated and arranged by the same group: the bomb used was packed with "identical" shrapnel to that in the rail station, indicating they may have been made in the same place and supporting suspicions the bombings were linked, said Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for the investigators. Health Ministry spokesman Oleg Salagai said 14 people were killed and 28 wounded in the bombing on Monday.

And while this could merely be the retaliation by Saudi Arabia, as we reported yesterday, for Russia's foiling of its Syrian plans and thus merely chess in the grand scheme of thing, to the people on the ground the terrorist escalations are all too real.

A Reuters journalist saw the blue and white trolleybus - a bus powered by overhead electric cables - reduced to a twisted, gutted carcass, its roof blown off and bodies and debris strewn across the street. Windows in nearby apartments were blown out by the explosion, which investigators called a "terrorist act".

 

"For the second day, we are dying. It's a nightmare," a woman near the scene said, her voice trembling as she choked back tears. "What are we supposed to do, just walk now?"

 

"There was smoke and people were lying in the street," said Olga, who works nearby. "The driver was thrown a long way. She was alive and moaning ... Her hands and clothes were bloody,"

 

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Perhaps one should seek a comment from Prince Bandar, who during the summer of 2013 implicitly threatened Putin that "the terrorist threat is growing in light of the phenomena spawned by the Arab Spring. We have lost some regimes. And what we got in return were terrorist experiences, as evidenced by the experience of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and the extremist groups in Libya.... As an example, I can give you a guarantee to protect the Winter Olympics in the city of Sochi on the Black Sea next year. The Chechen groups that threaten the security of the games are controlled by us..."

And sure enough, these same Chechen groups have made it quite clear that Saudi Arabia is displeased:

In an online video posted in July, the Chechen leader of insurgents who want to carve an Islamic state out of the swathe of mainly Muslim provinces south of Volgograd, urged militants to use "maximum force" to prevent the Games from going ahead. "Terrorists in Volgograd aim to terrorize others around the world, making them stay away from the Sochi Olympics," said Dmitry Trenin, an analyst with the Moscow Carnegie Centre.

So now the world looks to Putin:

In power since 2000, Putin secured the Games for Russia and has staked his reputation on a safe and successful Olympics, even freeing jailed opponents including oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and the Pussy Riot punk band to remove a cause for international criticism at the event.

 

Putin was first elected after winning popularity for a war against Chechen rebels, but attacks by Islamist militants whose insurgency is rooted in that war have clouded his 14 years in power and now confront him with his biggest security challenge.

 

Police said additional officers were being deployed to railway stations and airports nationwide after the bombing at the Volgograd rail station on Sunday, but the attacks raised questions about the effectiveness of security measures.

 

The police force in Volgograd, a city of a million people on the west bank of the river Volga, has been depleted as some 600 officers were redeployed to Sochi to tighten security around Olympic sites, a police officer told Reuters.

 

More attacks can be expected before the Olympics and cities in southern Russia where the Games are not being held are easier targets than Sochi, said Alexei Filatov, a prominent former member of Russia's elite anti-terrorism force, Alfa.

 

"The threat is greatest now because it is when terrorists can make the biggest impression," he said. "The security measures were beefed up long ago around Sochi, so terrorists will strike instead in these nearby cities like Volgograd."

Perhaps the bigger question is whether Russia will continue to focus on the pawns in the terrorist campaign, or finally shift its attention to the puppetmaster controlling, arming and funding the Islamist militants in the region: one of America's fondest (at least until recently) allies in the region.

Reuters' video coverage of the blast is below.

 

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Mon, 12/30/2013 - 08:57 | 4284802 Gene Parmesan
Gene Parmesan's picture

This is sure to be a must-see olympics.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:01 | 4284811 GetZeeGold
GetZeeGold's picture

 

 

Oh you WILL see it comrade.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:03 | 4284816 markmotive
markmotive's picture

That bus was shredded.

GRAPHIC: Aftermath of deadly blast on trolley bus in Volgograd

http://www.planbeconomics.com/2013/12/graphic-aftermath-of-deadly-blast-...

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:07 | 4284824 negative rates
negative rates's picture

I think it will be awhile before the big stuff hits, at least 6 weeks.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:53 | 4284902 GetZeeGold
GetZeeGold's picture

 

 

Absolutely always stay optimistic.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 10:37 | 4284984 J S Bach
J S Bach's picture

If every form of diverse people in the world had their own ethnostate in which to reside and have dominion, this shit would never happen.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 10:54 | 4285003 SeanJKerrigan
SeanJKerrigan's picture

Saudis? If so, they're going to have to start switching their tactics. Everyone knows they have a hand in promoting terrorism in Russia.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 13:20 | 4285582 BorisTheBlade
BorisTheBlade's picture

Saudis are arrogant, besides there are no bears in the desert so they won't know that poking one only works for that long, especially in the winter.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 17:20 | 4286458 Rafferty
Rafferty's picture

Putin was warned by Prince Bandar (competing with Kissinger for title of Most Evil Living Person) that 'we control the Chechen guerillas'.  He's now delivered on his warning.  So I hope that Putin will now respond by wiping this vile country off the face of the map. I'll accept a tripling of petrol for that happy event to occur.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 21:04 | 4287038 Omen IV
Omen IV's picture

more and more it looks like a high stakes game with the Saudi's in the middle of all of it and then the Israeli's

Syrian paid for terrorists by Bandar / Checen's ditto / Iran being touted by the americans as the next killing ground and civil war in Iraq, Ukraine being churned from outside and a few other places - if Putin believes it is Bandar's game  - this isnt going to be controlled easily - nothing is chaos - all is organized

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 15:55 | 4286169 MeelionDollerBogus
MeelionDollerBogus's picture

until evolution changes ethnicities again.
Remember, when humans first evolved there were no white people.
A lot's changed and many more changes are to come. Best to be adaptive rather than granting permanent dominion to any "group"

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:10 | 4284828 Zero Point
Zero Point's picture

Am I alone in finding it strange that bodies would just be left on the road, uncovered and apparently even unsupervised?

Unless the Russians do things pretty fuckin different than we do, that's fishy as hell.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:12 | 4284831 GetZeeGold
GetZeeGold's picture

 

 

That's socialism for you.

 

They would leave the harvest in piles exposed out in the field as well.....cause it wasn't theirs and they had zero incentive to protect it.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:16 | 4284840 Zero Point
Zero Point's picture

Yeah, I guess they like their news juicy. Like wheelchairs filled with bones sticking out of blown up legs etc.

Fuck this shit, I'm calling it a hoax on general principals.

If the TV told me it was raining, I'd get out of the trough.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:32 | 4284861 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

Zero Point, I remember reading in the 80's that US networks had policies about which kind of footage were allowed to be seen, and body parts were banned. if you expect the media to provide you with reality, please do remember that it's generally filtered, and each country and age has different filters

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:41 | 4284879 Zero Point
Zero Point's picture

Yeah, well I've got  lifetime of seeing footage of bombs and disasters from around the world on TV (and more recently the internet), and just lately the gore factor has gone up 100%

You watch the aftermath of a bomb in India or anywhere, all you see are sheets at MOST.

There are a fleet of ambulances there, apparently held back by the cops/military.

I call bullshit, why would they not be allowed to give the dead some dignity, which as far as I know is a fairly universal human instinct.

Ah fuck it. Believe what you see if you wish guys, Putin can lift cars and is against the NWO etc.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:46 | 4284886 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

I've seen lots of dead uncovered bodies in India. and no, Putin can lift very small cars (let's say a TATA micro-car, partially, on two wheels), and he is against the New World-Order (as understood by GWB)

and yes, the gore factor in the US networks is steadily rising

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:21 | 4284849 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

that's not socialism. Putin's Russia is currently better described as proto-fascist, or borderline fascist

I have a certain understanding for American's garbled political vocabulary, but please, apply the proper -isms to the greater landmass of this planet

just a reminder: the major critics (and opposition) to Putin are liberals and socialists, his major backing is from conservatives, particularly nationalists

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:28 | 4284859 GetZeeGold
GetZeeGold's picture

 

 

The "isms" pretty much shift over there on a daily basis.....it just depends on who's holding the biggest gun at the time.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:42 | 4284881 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

that's the general American view, yes

but you can't apply this view to the rest of the world, where "-isms" are taken way more seriously

Russia was in the grip of socialism for three generations. a dictatorial socialism, aka communism

China was in the same situation, it reformed it's economy on liberal principles somewhat, making it a pure party dictatatorship. also a form of fascism, including the stated goals of bettering the lot of the masses

the US is exploring a different extreme: liberalism in it's maximal form (albeit with a dosis of socialism). there it's difficult to find a word describing it: plutocracy or inverted totalitarianism?

in short: great landmass, apply proper -isms, since applicable

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:48 | 4284885 GetZeeGold
GetZeeGold's picture

 

 

that's the general American view

 

Tell us how bad we suck again Gordo.....you know how much we love it.

P.S. if you want to take the UN over to your country and run it....please do. 

Do that and we'll just butt the hell right out.

 

 

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:48 | 4284892 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

come on, I love you all, my dear Cousins. and we are allies. it's just the vocabulary and some queer notions I'm taking apart. this includes your very queer notion of what the UN is or isn't

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 10:00 | 4284906 GetZeeGold
GetZeeGold's picture

 

 

and we are allies

 

Twice so far anyway......if you need us a third time I'm sure we'll think about it.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 10:10 | 4284927 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

it was the Brits that called you twice. here on the Continent... let's say we have different points of view on those calls, particularly on the first one

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 11:42 | 4285110 QQQBall
QQQBall's picture

You're welcome

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 12:22 | 4285312 Overfed
Overfed's picture

IMO, the best description or -ism to describe the US would be inverse totalitarianism or totalitarian democracy. Certainly not the Constitutional Republic that it was prior to 1861.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 16:51 | 4286370 Kobe Beef
Kobe Beef's picture

Oligarchical Collectivism. per Orwell's 1984.

It's not democracy when the proles can't vote on anything important.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 11:40 | 4285113 Shmel
Shmel's picture

I think you have no idea you're talking about. I live in Russia, and calling Putins reign "proto-fascism" is a bit silly idea. I don't like his methods and didn't vote for him (my vote was for Prokhorov), but he is definitely a good president unlike Obama. He is the one who rules the country in the only efficient way it could be done. Thats russian specifics.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 13:30 | 4285537 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

I gave the option between proto-fascist and borderline fascist, remember? His methods - which we both dislike - do approach that Rubicon, which he has not fully crossed, imho

perhaps I should note that I was raised in a fascist household, and think that Russia is possibly best in his hands, at the moment

remember that fascism as such is a rejection of both full liberalism and socialism, tinged with nationalism and the search of a patriarchal leader. better?

meanwhile Putin uses quite a lot of tools from the old, lesser known fascist kit. example: calling in oligarchs, having them to excuse themselves in public, having them to do more for the Nation or, if recalcitrant, having them crushed

classic fascist modus operandi, highlighting how two childish parts - the liberal oligarch and the socialist worker - can be slapped to senses by the leader, for a better future of the Nation

to recap: I'm not saying Putin is a bad president. In fact, I think he is currently an excellent one, albeit with the risk of becoming a fascist dictator or heralding a Russian age of fascist dictatorship. his methods are proto-fascist, and the way he bent the rules for reelection (remember how he "skipped" a term?) is at least debatable. let's see how he will relinquish power, if he will do so

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 17:29 | 4286474 Rafferty
Rafferty's picture

Ghordius you are 180 degree wrong. Putin has come down very hard on Russian nationalists and destroyed the main nationalist (Homeland) party.  He has supported major immigration of non-Russians and introduced draconian NWO-style 'hate' laws. Putin sees himself as the embodiment of a Russian Empire Czar, a cross between Peter The Great and Stalin (both of whom he admires, by the way).

Tue, 12/31/2013 - 03:58 | 4287686 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

Putin "destroyed" the Russian nationalists in the same way as the UK PM Cameron (a conservative) wishes to "destroy" the UKIP, which is moar conservative. that's politics vs ideology

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 15:49 | 4286140 MeelionDollerBogus
MeelionDollerBogus's picture

Russians are smart.
They know Americans & their trained terrorist allies use the "double tap"
Wait for people to return to provide medical care and/or remove bodies, then blow up another bomb killing them all.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:17 | 4284832 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

Sickening.  And it looks like any American town too.  That's even a Ford Transit ambulance!

I hope Vlad kicks some ass real hard over this shit.

 

Russian police have their work cut out for them with the Crazy Ivans over there too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30LBlTowW_s

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:49 | 4284898 tjeffersonsghost
tjeffersonsghost's picture

I noticed it was a Ford van also :-)

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 12:26 | 4285317 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

Is the Gorki plant still operational?

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 08:58 | 4284812 ghengis86
ghengis86's picture

The House of Saud (and their Zionist bedfellows) will not be denied.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 14:36 | 4285864 TheLoveArtist
TheLoveArtist's picture

Look we all know Saudi money funds these bombings.  Its quite simple.  Every time there is a bombing the Russians should liquidate one of the members of the House of Saud on vacation, like sink one of their megayachts or something, or shoot down one of their big planes, etc.  The point would be well taken and you will see the bombings stop. SIMPLE.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 08:55 | 4284804 malikai
malikai's picture

Playing with fire, these fuckers.

They're going to get burned.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:09 | 4284827 BigJim
BigJim's picture

I don't think it will be too long before things start going awry in Saudi Arabia... a bomb blast here, a bomb blast there... entirely coincidental, of course...

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:16 | 4284839 malikai
malikai's picture

Tanks in Chechnya in 2 weeks.

Strange accidents in Saudi/Qatar/Israel in 6 months.

Bad move fucking about like this. Real bad move.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 12:26 | 4285319 Karl von Bahnhof
Karl von Bahnhof's picture

After the Olympics. Clearly rothshilds (Reuters) are challenging Putin directly over this.
After the Olympics. Now we need to keep calm and endure this.

Sorry for all the people in Russia going through this. Endure! Eto voina.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 11:39 | 4285101 ross81
ross81's picture

indeed. and after 1 or 2 Saudi princes get bumped off, the Russians should go on CNN & Fox and with a straight face just say "Al Qaeda's a bitch, aint it?"

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:14 | 4284836 i-dog
i-dog's picture

Don't take the puppet show too seriously. There is an agenda in play here...and Vlad is most definitely one of the scripted players.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:16 | 4284845 malikai
malikai's picture

I hope you're right.

But even the best of scripts can devolve into improv.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:22 | 4284847 Arius
Arius's picture

what about geopolitics ... dont they matter ?

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:31 | 4284860 i-dog
i-dog's picture

They used to matter...when countries selected their own leaders.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:36 | 4284872 Arius
Arius's picture

remind me again ... when was that ... if ever?

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:34 | 4284864 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

Oh get the fuck out of here with the rest of your Millennial Mook bullshit buddies who can only think that everything bad is another world government false flag manipulation!

You must be one of these 100,000 idiots who want a one way trip to Mars too!  Ta ta!

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:37 | 4284878 Arius
Arius's picture

"one way trip to Mars"

that is a good one :)  it might catch up like wildfire like what used to be in the doular's day the phrase "$64.000 question" ...

whats in March btw, so i know if people ask?

 

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:52 | 4284908 i-dog
i-dog's picture

Thanks for outing yourself. Duly noted.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 10:16 | 4284946 LeisureSmith
LeisureSmith's picture

I for one would not shed a tear if Bandar the barbarian suddenly died and pictures of his demice by auto erotic asphyxiation ended up on the web.... you know the whole works, batman suit, belt around neck and clutching an issue of boy and goatfancy magazine. C'mon Russia, you used to be good at this shit. Get it done.

Happy New Year.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 13:01 | 4285494 disabledvet
disabledvet's picture

"You wanna know my secret identity?" "C'mon batman...everyone here already knows who really are and I'm really not in the mood to date anyone right now. "Really? Well...then you why I get to do the things I do then." "No, why?" "Because....I'm Batman!" (Big Superman laugh from across the table as all female superheroes shake their head in disapproval."

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:00 | 4284808 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

"Perhaps the bigger question is whether Russia will continue to focus on the pawns in the terrorist campaign, or finally shift its attention to the puppetmaster controlling, arming and funding the Islamist militants in the region: one of America's fondest (at least until recently) allies in the region"

the question is imho quite moot, then the Kremlin has it's eyes on them. meanwhile it makes no sense for Russia to point it's finger in public on them. the outrage out of those attacks need a ready target, and that one is more opportune

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 08:59 | 4284815 Sandmann
Sandmann's picture

Bahrain would be a good staging post helpling the majority resist Saudi tanks and suggesting the Germans stop arming Saudi Arabia

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:12 | 4284830 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

I still think that they will get closer instead of turning on each other. The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) meme is advancing, not retreating. IMO we'll even see a common Arab currency, soon

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:13 | 4284838 i-dog
i-dog's picture

CamelCoin?

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:25 | 4284857 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

that sounds cute. don't forget that Arabs, for all their faults, are great believers in markets and have a long tradition of trading

no, the real danger is a PetroDinar, or just a gold-backed Dinar. but of course it would start as a fiat currency

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:47 | 4284883 i-dog
i-dog's picture

I agree on the Arabs traditional bent, but I don't expect any new [paper] fiats being allowed. Sunni (and Wahabi) Islam is - and always has been - under the control of the KKK Tribe.

The world is swimming in unpayable debt that is [deliberately] leading towards a new global paradigm of currency issuance. All the hints you need are in this amusing critique by fellow ZH'er 'tradewithdave' of an interview with BitCoin exchange-builder Jesse Heaslip: http://tradewithdave.com/?p=19715

Dave explains it more eloquently than I could (though I've seen where it was heading and voiced my opinion here for quite some time, while Dave has - until this interview - been a vocal Bitcoin advocate).

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 10:01 | 4284918 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

I agree with you, with two exceptions: one minor, i.e the relevance of BitCoin in the greater scheme of things and one major, i.e. the control over the Saudi leadership, the Wahabi leadership and Sunni Islam in general

politics makes strange bedfellows, yet sharing a bed does not always result in any kind of friendship

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 10:30 | 4284947 i-dog
i-dog's picture

IMO, Bitcoin is just a 'proof of concept'. The real thing (or regional things) will come soon enough.

'Friendship' is who one publicly associates with. 'Control' is "Who's your daddy?".

An amusing anecdote on KKK 'control': A friend from downunder, who knows the details of my thesis on your friends in the KKK, recently told me of a political discussion on one of the major national broadcasters on some hot political issue (can't remember the exact issue). The broadcaster interviewed 5 - and only 5 - of the top political leaders from 3 different parties to give their views ... and all 5 were Jesuits ... no other interviews!

"Who's your daddy now, Australia?".

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 11:47 | 4285133 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

not bad, for a religious order that has some 22'000 members and one pope. yet I will hazard a guess on the discussion: all 3 were very polite, very civilized and argued very well 3 completely different points of view. if so, there are worse "daddies"

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 10:15 | 4284939 Arius
Arius's picture

that was real fun ... thanks for sharing!  placed it on my favorites...

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:58 | 4284917 defender1be
defender1be's picture

I think that what arabs see as trading is not the same as what we would see as trading. Watch the movie "human cargo" then you will understand.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 10:04 | 4284924 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

so when the Brits supplied America's south with negro slaves they were engaging in a different form of trade? perhaps you should take off the pink shades from your concept of trade. trade ain't ethical per se. it depends from the context

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 10:27 | 4284960 fudge
fudge's picture

so when the Brits supplied..

wrong flag, wrong tribe.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 11:35 | 4285097 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

wrong flag because after the British ban on slavery the British Navy valiantly searched all vessels that might be slavers? yeah, sure

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 13:07 | 4285525 disabledvet
disabledvet's picture

Who knew the State of Rhode Island could have such a secret double life...

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 17:49 | 4286512 Rafferty
Rafferty's picture

You're right.............one of the world's best kept secrets.  But that pesky Internet thing keeps upsetting the narrative (sigh)

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 12:51 | 4285430 Escapedgoat
Escapedgoat's picture

That would  help to restrain the Germans first by curtailing their lucrative arms exports and 2nd  make their energy imports more expensive. If the Germans need a warning Putin only needs to moderately finance the already AntiEU sentiment. I am watching the events to unfold. Putin does not strike at random , so far he played  with restrain and won.

The Germans already fucked the Greeks and Putin has a huge admiration from them lets see what happens. We shouldn't forget that Putin likes Berlusconi as well. The Russians need to unlock the Eastern Mediterranean from the West then its CheckMate.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:09 | 4284826 agent default
agent default's picture

These attacks are a great opportunity to first get rid of the separatist Islamic populations at the Caucasus and then deal with the puppet masters.  Expect he gulag system to reappear soon.  Then the Saudis/Qataris  will be threatened with nuclear retaliation.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 17:50 | 4286521 Rafferty
Rafferty's picture

If only...........

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 08:58 | 4284810 Impoverished Ps...
Impoverished Psychologist's picture

Precisely.....

 

Vlad is not going to take this lying down, he'll find someone to burn for this... If I had a choice of world leaders to annoy Vlad would be the last on my list.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:02 | 4284813 Disenchanted
Disenchanted's picture

So we already knew it was Muslims that done it...

Sounds familiar.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:11 | 4284829 agent default
agent default's picture

They HAVE done it.  The Religion of Peace(TM) has been enjoying a bit too much tolerance lately.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:03 | 4284817 Kina
Kina's picture

Perhaps the bigger question is whether Russia will continue to focus on the pawns in the terrorist campaign, or finally shift its attention to the puppetmaster controlling, arming and funding the Islamist militants in the region: one of America's fondest (at least until recently) allies in the region.

 

Wonder if we are going to see some of Saudi family dying off here and there....

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:06 | 4284823 Azannoth
Azannoth's picture

Those guys seriously underestimate Putins resolve, he does not care about a few casualties, he will play this to his full benefit, and they are giving him all the excuses he needs.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:10 | 4284833 the not so migh...
the not so mighty maximiza's picture

If Putin finds a Saudi passport, he will attack the right country unlike us.

 

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:17 | 4284842 eddiebe
eddiebe's picture

So sad. Is there any good news out there? Is there any hope for us humans, or the animals we live with? This planet has lost it's spiritual guiding light. Might has become right, and the mighty have not just lost their way, but have become workers in the employ of evil. 

There is little hope that the new year will bring redemption and I fear destruction is heading our way. Hopefully the planet and life on it will survive. Personally, unless real change can come from a cleansing I damn the whole thing to hell.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:24 | 4284854 One And Only
One And Only's picture

Don't know what history books you have your nose stuck in but the ones I've read have shown there has alway been war, chaos, destruction in the world with very hard to find examples of peace. This isn't a new development.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:18 | 4284844 Savvy
Savvy's picture

Bandar told Putin back in August

 

"The Chechen groups that threaten the security of the games are controlled by us"

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-08-27/meet-saudi-arabias-bandar-bin-sultan-puppetmaster-behind-syrian-war

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:22 | 4284852 MilwaukeeMark
MilwaukeeMark's picture

CONNECT the dots folks. The Saudi's desire to get America to bomb the Syrian regime, is so that they can challenge the Russian's natural gas monopoly in Europe, but only ... if they can get their pipes up to Europe through pesty Assad's Syria. So the bombings are an attempt to weaken Putin and by association Syria. This ain't about Islam, except to the poor slubs who blow themselves up. It's about something far more nefarious than religion. It's about money and power.

Oh yeah .. connect the dots.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:27 | 4284853 Kina
Kina's picture

"The Chechen groups that threaten the security of the games are controlled by us"

 

Bandar is thus a total moron. Putin and Russia then without doubt know where the troubls are coming from...and easier to deal with them. Bandar thinks he is going to blackmail Putin into allow a new puppet in Syria to allow competition with gazprom? And thus weaken Russia's massive leverage?

 

Bandar is a moron. And just signed the death warrant of some important Saudis.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:31 | 4284865 Oldwood
Oldwood's picture

World wars have been started over less. We already have a world cold war as it seems everyone is at odds with everyone else. The current weapon of choice has been currency, but as is always the case, devaluation is starting to limit the weapon's effectiveness. Violence follows.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:33 | 4284871 Savvy
Savvy's picture

If it was the Chechens the Saudis control that did the bombings. Could be someone else (Qatar? US?) that is using Bandar's poorly chosen words to accomplish a goal and have the Saudis blamed.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:49 | 4284887 knukles
knukles's picture

An inside inside inside job!

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 13:58 | 4285738 hoos bin pharteen
hoos bin pharteen's picture

The Saudis 'control' the Chechens about as much as the average taxpayer 'controls' the US government. The Saudi leadership seems both obtuse and dishonest at the same time, so the question is, was their statement a lie or simply a delusional rant?

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:37 | 4284876 stant
stant's picture

Que Tom clancy

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:53 | 4284914 GetZeeGold
GetZeeGold's picture

 

 

Cat just died and someone is junking him? Geez!

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 10:27 | 4284954 geewhiz
geewhiz's picture

Here's a plot for Clancy. Putin already has one big dot connecting the Saudi's to the terrorism, and he just made O'bomber look stoopid what with his creating terrorism and trying to start a war in Syria and all. So Putin lets the Saudi's have their head and do a few more nasties, all the time quietly gathering more dots for irrefutable evidence. Putin lets the Winter Olympics go thru and lets a really nasty event take place to enrage the world. If the event is not nasty enough Putin could even "enhance" it with a little false flag addition of his own. Now the world is really mad at Saudi Arabia and murica is not looking too good protecting them because, hell, its also coming out that the Saudis even bombed the WTC as well (done really to cover Israels ass, since everybody is getting to know it wasn't no al queda. This unrelated event timing is so useful to the PR side of this plot though). How much hypocrisy can a guy take? So now poor murica already previously with egg on its face is now fully folded into the omelet as far as world opinion goes. Everybody is screaming for the Royal Family's murderous head. What is poor Puty to do? Reluctantly he moves into Saudi Arabia and changes the regime to one friendly to ..... Puty. All this happening under the narcissistic golf playing male bath house enjoying depraved eye of the murican president, the biggest moron the nation has ever been able to shit out.

Anyway shortly after the flipping of Saudi Arabia all that nice oil is now under Puty's control. The petrodollar gets the shaft. Puty gets even richer, murica gets even poorer. While we are all learning Russian murica gets desperate and starts a world war, it gets out of control, adds to the Fukushima radiation, and humanity ends with an On the Beach style narrative to end the novel.

Geopolitical chess is so exciting as long as its not your arms and legs getting blown off. Anyway I've always been a lousy chess player, it's only a story.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 12:47 | 4285425 Karl von Bahnhof
Karl von Bahnhof's picture

Hmm... That is good enough even for a Book.

Well done Geewhiz.

Stalingrad ... City-Hero. They kicked fascist once there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stalingrad

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 12:52 | 4285434 Pee Wee
Pee Wee's picture

Everyone already knows the only real threat to the incorporated states are the terrorists in every homeland kitchen.

Lets listen in and stall distracted, shall we?

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 10:36 | 4284888 The Chief
The Chief's picture

SO if Putin follows the dots, should we expect a (this time REAL) major attack in the US in retaliation?

Were these scumbag operators directed by US directed controllers?

My guess is that as a strategist, Putin will ultimately win this battle of wills. Another guess has me estimating the carnage of this new, "Bitter Cold War", as very high in civilian casualties. Let's face it, the oligarchs on both sides of this war hate human beings.

Are there good guys in this battle? If so, who are they?

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:52 | 4284894 Fix It Again Timmy
Fix It Again Timmy's picture

Professional and Intelligent players DO NOT say things like: "The Chechen groups that threaten the security of the games are controlled by us"....  Only idiots and amateurs would spout such claims...

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 10:39 | 4284986 Savvy
Savvy's picture

Doubtless. That's what makes me think it wasn't the Saudis and it was all planned ahead.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:51 | 4284903 Kina
Kina's picture

The last thing the US want's is the house of Saud wiped out.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:51 | 4284905 paint it red ca...
paint it red call it hell's picture

Bandar bin Sultan may soon be Bandar bin History.

From his wack-a-mole ability to pop up at junctures of the evil deeds of evil men, that is long overdue.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 09:52 | 4284907 waterwitch
waterwitch's picture

Vlad must be thinking about taking out Prince Bandar. That would be in keeping with 'an eye for an eye' which is part of the Muslim creed.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 10:38 | 4284985 indio007
indio007's picture

This wasn't a terrorist attack. The bus was made by Tesla Motors.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 10:58 | 4285013 smacker
smacker's picture

Given that Saudi's thug Bandar threatened Putin with terror attacks if he didn't do as Bandar asked back in August, Putin should now respond to Bandar with a simple message: "end these terror attacks or I'll bomb the blitzes out of Riyad".

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 11:57 | 4285181 ross81
ross81's picture

More likely Putin wont say anything but in a few months the vice head of Saudi intelligence will have a "tragic heart attack" and that will be the "from Russia with love" letter to Bandar.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 11:03 | 4285025 esum
esum's picture

putin will sledgehammer dagestan and chechnya... if they were behind the bombings. remember russia warned the ussa 3 times about the boston bombers and saudi arabia warned us 3 times also... and the fbi let it happen.. and bandar threatened putin with terrorist unrest.. heads will roll...  

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 11:34 | 4285086 Savvy
Savvy's picture

And remembr S Ossetia. Putin doesn't fuck around.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 11:49 | 4285156 dexter_morgan
dexter_morgan's picture

Ah, for the days when the US had leaders with balls.......been quite a while now........

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 11:32 | 4285079 dexter_morgan
dexter_morgan's picture

False flag. Ensuing events will unfold that show that to be the case.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 12:24 | 4285308 XitSam
XitSam's picture

"President Vladimir Putin, ... ordered tighter security nationwide..."

If the boomers are smart, and they are, they only have to do walk out of the apartments to the target. Nationwide security won't do diddly.  Watch for this pattern of statist oppression in other countries.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 12:41 | 4285391 AreaMan
AreaMan's picture

This has nothing to do with Edward Snowden and Vlad embarrassing the US and its al(quaeda)lies

Al CIAda We will ensure that safety is paramount for all at the Olympics to cause no embarrassment to Russia. 

Really guys we know noting about this.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 12:46 | 4285393 Pee Wee
Pee Wee's picture

Obviously, Russia needs more austerity to deal with these "opportunities."

As the rich (cough fraud-Saud cough) have taught again and again, the only way to fight terrorism is to label everyone a terrorist and create as much terror as possible.  Where is W-Bush to lead the charge??

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 12:56 | 4285475 Paracelsus
Paracelsus's picture

2004-Athens Olympics     Greece is bankrupt.  

Cypriot Banks are leaned on to buy worthless Greek bonds (Sovereign debt).

Cypriot banks fold,confiscating the depositors funds (Bail-in,a trial run in a country with minimal private firearm ownership).

Much of the prosperity (and liquidity) in Cyprus is due to Russian mafia doing banking in a place that doesn't ask a lot of questions (and nice warm climate).

With collapse of Warsaw pact,NATO is floundering about trying to justify its' existence,and the expense to taxpayers (European and American).

NATO shifts ABM radar from Pacific area to Poland border.Putin responds by repositioning missles to Polish border (Chess game?).

Saudi Arabia attempting to punch their weight in foreign relations is unable to generate a"US troops-on-ground scenario" for Syria.This after supplying the resistance in the Afghan war,Chechnya.

Turkey about to be destabilized by almost a million refugees freezing in tents.

Someone like to tell me how the mideast situation is better off now than thirty years ago before the US starting playing the Great Game?

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 13:16 | 4285565 Joebloinvestor
Joebloinvestor's picture

I don't think there is going to be any fireworks display at these Olympics , if they even take place.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 13:19 | 4285567 PGR88
PGR88's picture

The Saudis warned Putin that if he didn't play-ball on Syria, they could expect a rash of terrorist attacks just before the Olympics.

Saudi Arabia is the center for evil on the Earth.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 15:31 | 4286062 MeelionDollerBogus
MeelionDollerBogus's picture

And is now, amazingly, an "ally" with Israel against Arab terrorists.
I know, I know.
To quote Jim Comiskey "You just can't make this shit up"

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 13:20 | 4285587 MollyHacker
MollyHacker's picture

I think Bandar is a 'person of interest'

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 14:05 | 4285753 Notarocketscientist
Notarocketscientist's picture
Leaked transcripts of a closed-door meeting between Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan shed an extraordinary light on the hard-nosed Realpolitik of the two sides.

As-Safir said Prince Bandar pledged to safeguard Russia’s naval base in Syria if the Assad regime is toppled, but he also hinted at Chechen terrorist attacks on Russia’s Winter Olympics in Sochi if there is no accord.

“I can give you a guarantee to protect the Winter Olympics next year. The Chechen groups that threaten the security of the games are controlled by us,” he allegedly said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/1026695...

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 14:08 | 4285769 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

I bet Putin comes out strong as people don't like groups trying to influence the Olympics and would give Putin some cover. I expect he will send some related person back to Saudi with his genitals stuffed in his mouth.

I love poking fun at the Putin Man Crush team here at ZH so I expect they will be creaming their shorts when he does...

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 14:19 | 4285809 SmittyinLA
SmittyinLA's picture

I bet they have bombs planned to explode pretty much everyday until the Olympics begin, then the real fireworks begin.

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 15:00 | 4285952 WVO Biker
WVO Biker's picture

Hard to understand why Russia fell for the stupid idea of Olympic games, an enormous waste. 

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 15:21 | 4286023 Debugas
Debugas's picture

you have not seen how Putin was asking why construction work in Sochi jumped 10 fold, and was asking who is the coordinator and what other businesses he runs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-zKsijptpo&feature=player_detailpage#t=74

IT MEANS ON AVERAGE CONSTRUCTION COSTS INCREASED BY 4.2 TIMES

that is much bigger increases than any previous olympics around the globe

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 15:18 | 4286018 Debugas
Debugas's picture

black widows striking back

Mon, 12/30/2013 - 15:28 | 4286053 MeelionDollerBogus
MeelionDollerBogus's picture

Looks like Saudi Arabia is making good on its threat to Putin.

Not smart.

Putin is able to strike back. What will they do?

What a clusterfuck. This was not smart.

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