As If Things Weren't Bad Enough, Russian Professor Predicts End Of US

Wall Street Journal:

MOSCOW -- For a decade, Russian academic Igor Panarin has been predicting the U.S. will fall apart in 2010. For most of that time, he admits, few took his argument -- that an economic and moral collapse will trigger a civil war and the eventual breakup of the U.S. -- very seriously. Now he's found an eager audience: Russian state media.

In recent weeks, he's been interviewed as much as twice a day about his predictions. "It's a record," says Prof. Panarin. "But I think the attention is going to grow even stronger."

Read the whole story: Wall Street Journal

Comments

[RTIII]

01:02 PM on 01/02/2009

Clearly this guy has never been to the US...
.

[realitycheck7]

01:18 PM on 01/02/2009

exactly

his theory proves how very poor his understanding of this country is

it's almost like he has this brainwashed soviet view of the US... oh wait

[bdaved]

07:02 PM on 12/31/2008

I remember hearing a guy in a bar predicting the outcome of the 1996 presidential election. He said "It's going to be 33 and 1/3% for Clinton, 33 and 1/3% for Dole, and 33 and 1/3% for Perot." All these prognosticators remind me of that fellow's certainty, his absurd claim of accuracy, and, in general, his state of mind.

[rnrh1]

06:36 PM on 12/31/2008

I don't know why everyone seems to find this such a shocking development. I've thought for a very long time one of the few ways that the united states can change for the better would be a Balkanization or geocompartmentalization.

For a long time the united states has been occupiers of foreign lands, leading to its ultimate demise. Korea, Japan, Germany, Guam, Italy, Hawaii, the illegal purchase and forced indoctrination of natives in Alaska are just a tip of the iceberg. Lets not even get into the idea of the illegal wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan where removed to sovereign governments that functioned better under their previous than they do now under united states "democritization".

The idea that the states are connected is absurd. This same belief leads people to think that "Joe the plumber" is the average american. He is not, as well, most of us that live on North American continent do not identify it as well as identify with neighbors further away.

California has the 7th largest economy in the world. Our state is broke and torn for supporting the other states.

The only choice for our current crisis is either individual state sovereignty or perhaps breaking into groups like the good scientist said.

[AtheistUS]

12:24 AM on 01/01/2009

You are hatching extremely bad thoughts. All countries try to prevent disintegration. In all countries disintegration leads to conflicts and much of suffering.

[realitycheck7]

12:27 PM on 12/31/2008

it funny how the media cares so much what Russians say

Russia is nothing

their GDP is just behind BRAZIL

keep that in mind next time we have to hear bullying talk from the great putin'

laughable

[Norge]

01:10 PM on 12/31/2008

realitycheck7

Perhaps if you would study a bit of Russian history you will learn just how nothing Russia really
is and how much suffering a great people have endured throughout the centuries.
As for Putin, he is one of the most astute front leaders of the 21 century and he is no ones' fool.

[realitycheck7]

11:15 PM on 01/01/2009

what does Russia's history have to do with Russia's current power which is what I am talking about

grow up you child

[AtheistUS]

03:14 AM on 01/02/2009

This was opinion of one Russian analyst, not "what Russians say". Would you repeat after some Fox News talking head something as "what Americans say"?
And not everything is measured in GDP.
Brazil is ahead of us in some green technologies. Europe has supercollider (for which we did not have 2 or 4 billions in 90s) and leading fusion reactor will be there soon too.
Russia provides reliable transportation to and from international space station (after collapse of our politically motivated Shuttle). Not to mention nuclear weapons...
May be a couple decades ago you'd say "nothing" about China too.
But, again, not everything is measured by GDP. Do our kids better prepared in math and science than Russian kids? Do they know better literature? Do they know better about the world? (not a world of Paris Hilton or Trump, I mean World - the one having Iraq on map, which most our citizens could not find while supporting aggression).
Erhh,... GDP... We'll be lucky if we survive after last 8 years.

[realitycheck7]

11:34 AM on 01/02/2009

oh I see, you are some oversensitive Russian nationalist that is sees the need to promote his country

[realitycheck7]

11:36 AM on 01/02/2009

no, we can use other things besides GDP, like corruption, drug and mob problems, all of which Russia has plenty of

[Norge]

06:14 AM on 12/31/2008

If such were to happen, what would become of more than 15000 nukes, chemical, biological weapons, depots, silos, labratories, experimemtal facilities, underground instilations for satilites, navigation systems and the more than 1million in the military establishment serving in more than 700 facilities around the world?

Hellava question with very dangerous and deadly consequences.

[AtheistUS]

03:59 PM on 01/02/2009

Norge, your comment is very thoughtful and responsible. I completely agree.
We must not joke easily about such things.

[gevan]

08:17 PM on 12/30/2008

His little map shows just how little he understands the United States. If his block of states that he claims would fall under Canadian influence did join Canada, they would overwhelm our neighbors to the north. And what of the Alaskans? Not more than 1% would look for Russian overlordship. Certainly the professor never met Sarah Palin. Kentucky and South Carolina tagging along with New York and Massachusetts? Dream on.

[Amalek]

09:15 PM on 12/30/2008

Are you referring to Queen Sarah, Divine Empress of the Eastern Province?

[Chopin]

08:43 AM on 12/31/2008

The Saudi royals rewarded CondiRice at the price of jewelery worth 100grand, and she retires happily ever after. Sarah Palin? Is her price higher or lower than most people expect?

[GCHGO]

03:40 PM on 12/30/2008

This Russian doesn't understand the dynamics of the United States...and the relationships between the States.

If the Russians take Alaska, they might as well take Washington and Oregon...Idaho is much closer to Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado...and maybe Tahoe (is he allowed to split states?) Does he know that Virginia is part of the South? They are closer to them than the New York Yanks. And California...ohhh, China would have their hands full. Would Shanghai become the new Hollywood?

And me, being in Chicago, will I need a Russian Visa to go to Anchorage? How about day trips for business meetings to New York, can I embellish a bit and say, "I have to go to Europe for the day?"

What about the land Oprah owns in Hawaii? Does it now become a part of China? Will it be handed over to farmers? Will they be Chinese or Hawaiian?

Now that I think about it, it doesn't make sense. The only connection the States of the United States have is to EACH OTHER. One thing the Russian doesn't understand is the dynamics of being an American and how we are truly a unique group of people.

Let me add to his prediction: Quebec will become their own country and North and South Italy will split up, Rio de Janeiro becomes it's own country, Buenos Aires does the same quickly thereafter....

[catlover68]

03:21 PM on 12/30/2008

Wow, I've lived in several states in my 40 years. The thought of NC & SC, 2 states I've lived in before, actually becoming part of "Atlantic America" along with the so called "yankee" states, like the one I live in now, NJ is hilarious! From my experiences, some people in the south are still fighting the "civil war." I find this highly unlikely to occur, of course stranger things have happened.

[DCinFrance]

04:09 PM on 12/30/2008

He's got some of the lines drawn wrong, but he's generally correct in his thesis.

[keithinkorea]

02:05 PM on 12/30/2008

I think many of you are too smart by a half. Why would anyone take an ex-KGB "academic" seriously? His theory is truly uninformed.

The USA may have some signs of decline, but the destruction or dismemberment of the US is not imminent. So some of you chicken littles can relax.

As for Obama, he will end up as mediocre as Bush. If anything he would hasten any decline of the US.

[DCinFrance]

04:11 PM on 12/30/2008

If you have a total collapse of the economy coupled with deep devisions in the US, it's not chicken littles that need to relax but ostriches to pull their head out of the sand.

[jennytaylia]

10:53 AM on 12/30/2008

I think this guy is channeling Khrushchev... he just forgot to bang his shoe.

[Ted LPD]

10:34 AM on 12/30/2008

How can you predict what is already taking place? The economy and the wars are here with us. Banks versus home owners. Bush v Auto companies. GOP v Unions. GOP r.a.c_ist CD v Obama. These conflicts are causing commotion all over...

[Amalek]

05:25 AM on 12/30/2008

Here is how this kind of thing starts:

The economy really goes in the tank. Unemployment up to 20%. Government is broke and has to print money, so inflation goes crazy. People in Alaska get told that if they keep their oil, they don't have to share the problems of the US. So the Alaska Independence group fires up, makes Sarah the Queen for life, and declares independence from the US. Russia immediately recognizes the new country, and signs a mutual defense treaty.

We can't afford to start another war with Russia, so we lose Alaska. Others get the same idea. Pretty soon the Bible belt bolts to start a Christian nation. Then the rest collapse under the weight of the federal government. Sort of like the way Russia fell.

[AtheistUS]

03:09 AM on 12/30/2008

Nobody invaded former USSR, it just had split, and different parts went under influence of different bigger countries, for a short or longer period or for foreseeable future.
I do hope that US is more flexible and we do lucky to have Obama in right moment in right time. But we are broke indeed, and it will take serious effort to safe the country.

[loki]

03:42 AM on 12/30/2008

If I recall, they collapse due to economical ruins. They dumped so much money into war and defense , like we are, they bankrupted themselves. They ignored the needs of their people and coddled the super wealthy and powerful , just like we are. They became totally arrogant and thought that they could do no wrong, and nothing would ever stop them, just like we are.
Hmmm, could history be repeating itself?

[Amalek]

05:14 AM on 12/30/2008

As it did with the Roman empire and British empire. Power corrupts.

[Amalek]

10:05 AM on 12/30/2008

A major factor in the fall of the Soviet Union was their ill conceived war in Afghanistan.

[AtheistUS]

12:18 AM on 01/01/2009

... and bad economy, and stiffness in ideology which was very much like a religion - a set of views that were supposed to be believed blindly, unquestionably.
Yes, I agree with loki comment below that this reminds our situation now (one more term of republicans and we'd be done for), but still I think that our system is more flexible and will allow at last moment to prevent disaster.

[Deparis]

02:56 AM on 12/30/2008

I did not know we had a comedy/humor column on Huffpost! Well Professor Panarin, you know humor is good for a healthy heart. Humm... I just noticed something odd... Panarin, Palin... A certain Alaskan named Palin seeing Putin in his shower from her kitchen window and now we're told Alaska will join Russia in 2010. Well, maybe just coincidences anyway.

At least one of the fewest freedoms that Russia allows its people, is the freedom to dream.

[GWHayduke]

01:47 AM on 12/30/2008

Panarin's map is silly. The People's Republic of Deseret would reclaim it's lands in what are now Nevada and Idaho, and possibly some of southern California; but it's not likely to claim Oregon or Washington, and would only take San Francisco after some serious "ethnic cleansing".