Oliver Stone: The Putin Interviews

Ibid.

Background Information:

Putin is correct that Russia signed the Kyoto Protocol which the US was one of the few countries in the world that refused to sign. See, “The Only Nations That Haven’t Signed 1997’s Global Climate Treaty are Afghanistan, Sudan & the USA,” Brian Merchant, Treehugger.com (Nov. 28, 2011). Retrieved at: https://www.treehugger.com/climate-change/only-nations-havent-signed-1997s-global-climate-treaty-are-afghanistan-us.html

Background Information:

Putin’s estimate of the US National Debt is right on. It is now at around $19 trillion and growing, and amounts to 102% of GDP. See, “5 Things Most People Don’t Understand About The National Debt,” Taylor Tepper, Time (April 22, 2016). Retrieved at: http://time.com/money/4293910/national-debt-investors/

Background Information:

Putin’s estimate of Russia’s debt ratio is a bit low, but still, he is not far off. At present, Russia’s national debt amounts to about 15% of GDP. See, https://debtclock.tv/world/russia/

Correction:

Oliver Stone actually greatly overestimates Russia’s National Debt which is only $150 billion (and not $1 trillion). Ibid.

Background Information:

Putin is optimistic about the strength and stability of the Russian economy, however, oil prices in 2016 dropped well below the $50 per barrel level that had been assumed for government planning. At $30 per barrel, the Finance Ministry had to begin considering different scenarios for 2016. See, “Moody’s Warns Russian Deficiit Goal in Doubt as Oil Jolts Budget,” Anna Andrianova, Bloomberg (February 12, 2016). Retrieved at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-12/moody-s-warns-russian-deficit-goal-in-doubt-as-oil-jolts-budget

Claim: “You’re paying, what is it, 83 percent of the Chechnyan budget?”

Supporting: Oliver Stone is quite correct that Russia is providing over 80%, and up to 90%, of Chechnya’s budget. “Russian Anger Grows Over Chechnya Subsidies,” Michael Schwirtz, New York Times (Oct. 8, 2011). Retrieved at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/world/europe/chechnyas-costs-stir-anger-as-russia-approaches-elections.html

Claim: “ OS:Well, worker unrest is an issue. People haven’t been paid in some regions. A great amount has been written about it in the West. People have not been paid sometimes one, two, three months.

VP:Well, there are these technical issues related to the arrears in payment—paying the salary, but it’s minimum. There are no real problems with paying the salary. There are only issues related to irresponsibility, to negligence, to making decision too late, but economically and from the point of view of the budget, there are no problems whatsoever.”

Contradicting: It does appear, as Oliver Stone relates, and contrary to what Putin says, that there is a problem with some workers not getting paid in Russia. See, “Unpaid Workers Unite in Protest Against Putin,” Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times (April 21, 2015). Retrieved at: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/22/world/europe/russian-workers-take-aim-at-putin-as-economy-exacts-its-toll.html?_r=0

Background Information:

It is true that Russia has quite recently received very high praise from the IMF for its economic policies. See, “Russia’s economy moves back to positive zone of growth – IMF Chief,” Tass News Agency (April 17, 2017). Retrieved at: http://tass.com/economy/941775

Background Information

For a good description of the origins of the war in the Caucasus, see,

“Chechnya, Russia and 20 years of Conflict,” Ibid.

“Miscalculations Paved Path to Chechen War,” Ibid.

Background Information:

It is true, as Putin claims, that both the IMF and World Bank eventually decided to give loans to Russia based upon the humanitarian issues related to the war in Chechnya. See, Retrieved at: “Chechnya Conflict: Recent Developments,” CRS Report for Congress (May 3, 2000). https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=451457. It is also true, as Putin claims, that it is generally the case that the IMF does not generally take political/human rights issues into account in deciding whether to give loans. “Russia: Partisan War in Chechnya On the Eve of WWII Commemoration,” Human Rights Watch (May, 1995). Retrieved at: https://www.hrw.org/reports/1995/Russiaa.htm

Background Information:

It is undisputed that Russia has paid off all of the debts of the former Soviet Union as Putin claims. See, “Russia to pay off Soviet debt with $125 mln for Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Reuters (March 21, 2017). Retrieved at: http://www.reuters.com/article/russia-bosnia-debt-idUSR4N1F102X

Background Information:

For full transcript of Putin’s 2007 speech in Munich, See, “Putin’s Prepared Remarks at 43rd Munich Conference on Security Policy,” Ibid.

Background Information:

So many US military leaders have referred to Russia as the number one threat to the US that it’s hard to know who Putin is referring to here. In any case, Retired General James “Mad Dog” Mattis, now Secretary of Defense, has recently reiterated this claim. See, “Trump’s Pentagon nominee says Russia is No. 1 security threat to US,” Associated Press (Jan. 12, 2017). Retrieved at: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/pompeo-mattis-confirmation-hearings-1.3932152

Background Information:

It is true, as Oliver Stone claims, that Obama quadrupled US military spending for Europe, and that this increase was largely directed towards Eastern Europe. See, “US ‘to quadruple defense budget for Europe,’” BBC (Feb. 2, 2016). Retrieved at: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35476180

Ibid.

Claim: “Further escalation is already happening because the United States is deploying its antiballistic missile system in Eastern Europe and we on many occasions proposed real variants, real scenarios for cooperation.”

See, “US Withdraws From ABM Treaty; Global Response Muted,” Ibid.

Background Information:

It is true, as Putin claims, that the US has rejected both Russia’s and China’s proposals to ban the militarization of space. “US Opposes New Draft Treaty from China and Russia Banning Space Weapons,” Bill Gertz, Washington Free Beacon (June 19, 2014). Retrieved at: http://freebeacon.com/national-security/u-s-opposes-new-draft-treaty-from-china-and-russia-banning-space-weapons/

Background Information

As Putin alludes, he and Obama worked together to finalize a deal with Iran to limit its nuclear capability. See, “Barack Obama Praises Putin for help clinching Iran deal,” Roland Oliphant, The Telegraph (July 15, 2015). Retrieved at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/11740700/Barack-Obama-praises-Putin-for-help-clinching-Iran-deal.html

Claim: “And this year, in 2016, the US is going to allocate more than $600 billion US dollars to defense. It’s just too much—more than the total defense expenditure of all the other countries of the world.”

The numbers don’t add up: US military budget is indeed six hundred billion dollars, but this is much less than the total amount of defense spending by the rest of the world combined. See, “Here’s how US defense spending stacks up against the rest of the world,” John W. Schoen, CNBC (May 2, 2017). Retrieved at: http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/02/how-us-defense-spending-stacks-up-against-the-rest-of-the-world.html