Putin And The Salami Technique

Have you ever heard of the Salami technique? I guess not but you are already experiencing its results. How? Let me ask you three simple questions:

1. Do you remember the first "humanitarian convoy" sent from Russia to the East of Ukraine and its impact in the media, politics, etc?
2. Do you know how many "humanitarian convoys" came from Russia since then?
3. Do you know if there is one planned and do you think the world should be completely focused on it?

If you anwerred yes to the first question and no to the second or third one, then you have been "salamied" by Vladimir Putin.

WHAT IS THE SALAMI TECHNIQUE?

Salami slicing refers to a series of many small actions, often performed by clandestine means, that as an accumulated whole produces a much larger action or result that would be difficult or unlawful to perform all at once.

The President of Russia has given new meaning to the expression “the salami technique”, which in the past referred to the salami slicing approach of the Soviet Union in seizing power in the countries of Eastern Europe between 1945 and 1949.

PUTIN'S APPLICATION OF THE THEORY

This technique has been applied by Valdimir Putin over the last few months not only in Ukraine but in his politic as a whole.

Let's come back to our example of the russian "humanitarian convoys" in Ukraine. The first one led to an international reaction, the media talking about it for a whole week. As soon as the "convoy" entered Ukraine illegally without the agreement of the Ukrainian government and the approval of the red cross, it became a fact that Russia was able to send whatever it wanted into Ukraine openly and without having anything checked as long as the vehicles were ... painted in white.

How many "humanitarian convoys" did Russia send since this first one? No one knows because no one really cares. Putin sliced another bit of salami and the world got used to this new fact.

Putin has used the salami technique in many ways. The annexion of Crimea is a good example of an action done slices by slices:

1. Spreading propaganda to discredit Maidan and call the temporary Ukrainian government "fascist" or "neo-nazi" to prepare people to separatism.
2. Sending a few armed soldiers to seize the regional government headquarters and parliament and raise a Russian flag on them.
3. Seizing border posts and increasing the number of armed troops.
4. Sending "little green men" (russian soldiers and vehicles without any identification)
5. Organising a referendum without the agreement of Ukraine
6. Declaring Crimea as being a part of Russia
7. Invade Ukrainian military bases, seize arms and send away Ukrainian troops

What would have been the world reaction if Putin had openly sent thousands of armed troops and vehicles with Russian insigna and declare Crimea being part of Russia only in a few days time? Certainly quite stronger. But as he sliced his actions like a salami, everything went as smootlhy as possible. Now try to rewind the last months and think of them this way, look at Putin's action day after day and you will see the salami slicing technique in action.

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Note: from the original article:

HOW IS IT RELATED TO THE MISTRALS?

We have noticed while tracking the Mistral through the most reliable tracking system that, on the 20th of October and during one hour (02:32 to 03:32), the Russian crew switched off the tracking signal.

Now the frequency and duration of the tracking system being switched of has increased. The biggest one so far lasted 4 hours last night (19:54 to 23:54). Another troubling thing is that every time the signal has been switched off, it has been during an interval of exactly X hours or X hours and a half. This shows that the fact of switching off the signal is a human act and not accidental.

What could be the goal of switching off the tracking signal more and more often and for longer periods? To get us used to it and make sure we won't worry if it is switched off for a longer period? As a reminder: the Mistral "Vladivostok" departed Sunday evening for another 4 days sea trial. It si supposed to come back to St-Nazaire this thursday.

The blackout the French government has decided to put around the Mistrals is getting darker and darker...