UPDATED: Putin’s Wanted List

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Global Recap
February 13, 2024 • Read in: 7 minutes

Hi Global Recap readers,

I comb through nearly every news outlet to compile each newsletter.

As per my routine, I logged in to X to catch up on the latest, only to stumble upon this again:

Great way to start the day.

🌐 Around the World

  • 🇷🇺 Russia to Arrest Baltic Politicians

  • 🇦🇲 Armenia-Azerbaijan Clash (Again)

  • 🇪🇺 EU: Using Frozen Russian Assets

  • 🛢️ Mystery Oil Spill in Tobago

  • 📊 Poll Result

🇷🇺 Russia to Arrest Baltic Politicians

Estonian PM Kaja Kallas

Russia has put several Baltic politicians on the wanted list for demolishing Soviet monuments.

  • These monuments were located within their borders. So what’s the issue?

  • Plus, the Soviet Union no longer exists. It appears Putin may be overlooking this fact.

The list includes Estonian PM Kaja Kallas, who is accused of “desecration of historical memory.”

  • Background: The Baltic states removed most of their Soviet-era memorials after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

  • Consequences: The Baltic officials face a 5-year prison term in Russia.

  • Reaction: The Kremlin said this is only the beginning and vowed to prosecute crimes against the memory of the world’s liberators from Nazism.

🇦🇲 Armenia-Azerbaijan Clash (Again)

Four Armenian soldiers were killed by Azerbaijani forces along the border on Tuesday, despite ongoing peace talks.

  • Reaction: Armenia accused Azerbaijan of sabotaging diplomatic efforts, while Azerbaijan blamed Armenia for provoking the attack.

  • Background: Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars and seen three decades of conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which was controlled by ethnic Armenians until Azerbaijan reclaimed it in 2023.

🇪🇺 EU: Using Frozen Russian Assets

The EU has adopted a decision and a regulation that could use the profits from frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine rebuild after the war. The move follows the G7’s steps to pressure Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

  • Amount: The EU seized around €200 billion of Russian assets, which generate over €4 billion per year in profits.

  • Destination: The Council of the EU said the net profits could be transferred to the EU budget and then allocated to support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.

🛢️ Mystery Oil Spill in Tobago

A large oil spill near Trinidad and Tobago has caused a national emergency and fouled the island’s beaches.

The source of the spill is an unknown vessel that was found overturned off the coast last week.

  • Vessel: The vessel’s origin, owner, and cargo are still unclear. It is leaking “some kind of hydrocarbon” into the water.

  • Cleanup: The government has vowed to spare no expense to help rehabilitate the island’s beaches. The costs are likely to be very high.

Opinion

Q: Do you think releasing Hitler’s speeches is a good idea?

Hitler was meticulous in preparing his speeches, paying close attention to every detail. Aspects such as intonation, gestures, and rhythm were all honed through practice. Above, Hitler is rehearsing his public speech in front of the mirror (1925).

This is the outcome of yesterday’s poll:

🟢 🟢 🟢 🟢 🟢 Yes: Hiding information always leads to a worse outcome. (85%)

🔴 ⚪️ ⚪️ ⚪️ ⚪️ No: They are too dangerous. (15%)

Thank you for voicing your opinions. As always, your opinions were very insightful.

It goes without saying that this is a highly controversial topic. While I tend to lean toward Yes, I can understand why many would oppose the release of Hitler’s speeches.

With that in mind, let’s consider some compelling arguments from both sides:

🟢 Yes

  • Individuals who draw inspiration from Hitler’s speeches are likely already influenced by extremist ideologies. Thus, making these speeches public will primarily aid in research and deeper comprehension.

  • It’s essential for information to be broadly available, enabling individuals to think independently and form their own judgments.

🔴 No

  • The speeches should only be accessible to researchers, not the general public, especially with the current rise in antisemitism.

  • While these speeches can serve as a valuable resource for scholarly study, they could pose a significant risk if misinterpreted by the uninformed public.

The main divergence between the two camps appears to stem from fear.

  • Those in favor (Yes) seem to fear or oppose governmental overreach and potential hindrance of research and understanding.

  • On the other hand, those against (No) fear the risks of the uninformed public accessing such provocative content.

Reading this reminds me of the Streisand effect, a phenomenon where efforts to conceal or censor information inadvertently amplify it.

  • Fun Fact: The term is named after the American singer-actress Barbra Streisand. In 2003, her attempt to suppress a photo of her house ironically made it more popular.

  • Could concealing Hitler’s speeches inadvertently fuel fanatics to propagate even wilder conspiracy theories, thereby intensifying their extremist tendencies? 🤔