Vladimir Putin has Russian chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov giving the world strategic advice on how to avoid World War 3. Kasparov also criticizes President Barack Obama for the handling of the Ukraine crisis, warning the United States government that they cannot hope to deal with Putin’s threats with military force due to Russia’s nuclear weapons. The chess master also likens the current situation to the time frame of Ronald Reagan, suggesting that a similar approach might be required.
In a related report by The Inquisitr , the U.S. State Department recently revealed that Vladimir Putin has increased the number of Russia’s nuclear weapons to the point that the United States has less nuclear warheads available in the event of nuclear war. The Obama administration has been actively working to reduce the number of the U.S. nuclear weapons weapons, while Putin has focused on upgrading and modernizing Russia’s nuclear arsenal.
It was not that long ago that Garry Kasparov claimed Vladimir Putin is a bigger threat to the United States than ISIS or 1,000 al Qaeda terrorist groups, claiming that Putin is the “most dangerous man in the world.” He also admonished the Western world for treating the Ukraine war like a game of chess while Kasparov believes Putin is playing poker, which allows the Russian leader to bluff past any attempts by the U.S. and NATO to settle the matter.
In a more recent interview with Voice Of America , Kasparov went on to explain how he believes the West needs to avoid a military solution since that could trigger World War 3.
“It’s a permanent threat. When you look at Putin, he cannot be defeated militarily. Russia is second nuclear power in the world,” he said. “So that’s why the moment that you recognize that Putin is a threat, you have to deal with a very different kind of dilemma because now you have to look for a very comprehensive solution that will engage Russia, potentially China, and that puts the problem to a very, very different level.”
Kasparov likens Vladimir Putin to dictators like Saddam Hussein and North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un, claiming that since he is a dictator, he “has no way out” and “must stay in power” by any means possible. While the U.S. and the European Union have responded to Putin’s threats with sanctions, Kasparov criticizes the Obama administration for not sticking to their guns.
“The policies imposed by the Western countries today, it’s better than nothing,” he said. “But it’s still far from enough to prevent Putin from further aggression… Obama has been drawing red lines, one after another, and reneging on them. History shows that weakness eventually leads to a much bigger disaster.”
Previously, Kasparov offered his opinion that he doesn’t see Putin going anywhere due to a democratic process.
“We should forget about power in Russia changing hands throughout the election process. I’m afraid it will be not a very lawful process and it may eventually end up with the collapse of the country,” he said.
As a solution, Kasparov compares the current situation with the time frame of Ronald Reagan and the end of the first Cold War. He believes that external pressure may cause the average Russian to lose faith in Vladimir Putin, and that the end of Cold War 2 will be prompted by change within Russia.
“This challenge, as in the 1980’s, cannot be cannot be successful without mounting pressure from the outside,” Kasparov said. “If sanctions in this format can be sustained until March [2015], that will be the most serious challenge to Vladimir Putin’s power and maybe still will offer a glimpse of hope that the change in Russia will not be as bloody as before.”
On June 8, 1982, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan gave a speech to the British Parliament that serves as an example of the “Reagan Doctrine.”
“History teaches the dangers of government that overreaches–political control taking precedence over free economic growth, secret police, mindless bureaucracy, all combining to stifle individual excellence and personal freedom… Our military strength is a prerequisite to peace, but let it be clear we maintain this strength in the hope it will never be used, for the ultimate determinant in the struggle that’s now going on in the world will not be bombs and rockets, but a test of wills and ideas, a trial of spiritual resolve, the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish, the ideals to which we are dedicated.”
Two years after President Reagan left office, the Soviet Union dissolved and the Cold War ended. In a similar manner, thousands of Russians marched in the streets of Moscow last month while claiming Vladimir Putin represents the “war party.” It’s believed the majority of the Russian people support Putin’s policies regarding Ukraine, but if Russia’s economy continues to decline due to external pressure, this opinion may be swayed to the point that the Russian government chooses a new direction.
Do you think Garry Kasparov is correct to compare Vladimir Putin and modern Russia to the Cold War with the Soviet Union?