Op-ed: 

What Happened In Moscow...A Different Perspective 

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / Right Side Patriots / Right Side Patriots Radio

The Op-ed posted here is this authors opinion alone,and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.com or Google.

“The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings including in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours.” - U.S. embassy public advisory alert sent out this past March 7th warning American citizens in Russia to “avoid large gatherings,” due to intel regarding “imminent plans” for an attack by “extremists.” This alert was also sent to Russian authorities as per our “duty to warn” policy even though Russia already had intel of it's own to that effect.

And so the twists and turns in the deadliest terrorist attack in Russia in over 20 years is, as expected, channeling the usual heading known as the “blame game” with Putin first claiming ISIS terrorists were the perpetrators of the attack than switching his story to blame Ukraine instead. And not surprisingly, with Putin's main concern always being to hold onto his iron grip of power, he's now even lobbing accusations against we who tried to warn him of what was expected to come...which sadly it did.

So while our intelligence is, at least for now, going with Putin's ISIS story line...Putin continues to state that he's putting additional countrywide...too little, too late... “security measures” in place. And this comes after his having issued a statement that the four perpetrators of the concert attack have been found and are being detained by the Basmanny district court where they face a maximum sentence of life in prison...and isn't it odd that they're not facing a death sentence. But then again this comes from the man who then tried to switch the narrative by saying that, “They tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them from the Ukrainian side to cross the state border.”

No Vladimir, I don't think so.

And while Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has rightfully denied both his and Ukraine's involvement in the concert attack...what I believe was a well planned internal massacre masquerading as a terrorist attack...now sees upwards of 140 people having been killed and countless others wounded...the blame in Russian intelligence eyes, at least for public consumption, remains with the “Islamic State Khorasan” or “ISIS-K” as it's more commonly known. So why this focus...because the “Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia” remains, as per Putin, working to identify what they call the “entirety of this terrorist group's support base.” Simply, why would Putin keep the focus thereif he really wants people to believe that Ukraine (or even the U.S.) was involved. In my opinion Putin would not unless this murder of innocents was all pre-planned to either “divert and deflect” the truth away from him via a cover-up so vile that it could change the entirety of not only the Russia v. Ukraine War, but of his regime and Mother Russia herself.

But, before I get into specifics regarding Vladimir Putin, know that “ISIS-K” is the very same terrorist group that murdered 13 American service members at “Abbey Gate” in Kabul during the Biden initiated 2021 U.S. military pullout from Afghanistan. You know the pullout I speak of where Biden not only left a number of Americans behind, but also some of our allies, our Afghan helpers and their families, as well as millions of dollars of key U.S. military equipment behind as well...equipment now in the hands of the Taliban...equipment now being used against the Afghan people themselves and others when need be. So why would “ISIS-K”  now suddenly choose to cause havoc in Russia knowing that her leader is more aligned with known terrorist countries...think Iran, North Korea, etc...than he is with the West. Simply I do not believe that “ISIS-K” was the perpetrator of the Moscow concert attack especially when their stated enemies are the Taliban and the West.

And while what I just stated regarding “ISIS-K” is still something to keep in the back of one's mind as terrorists, at times, need no reason to do what they do...so too is the fact that Putin himself knew in advance of a possible “imminent attack” yet he willingly chose not to add additional security but to pull security away from the “Crocus City Hall”...one of Russia's largest suburban concert halls...a concert hall belonging to a group of companies owned by the Azerbaijani-Russian construction tycoon and billionaire oligarch Aras Agalarov (who happens to own a home/property here in South Florida and is friends with Donald Trump), thus leaving the venue with but minimum security at best. And if that name sounds familiar it's because back in 2016 Agalarov “allegedly” offered Trump’s team supposedly “damaging information” from the Kremlin about Hillary Clinton which led Trump Jr. to hold a meeting at their Manhattan offices, which in turn was the beginning of the Trump witch hunt. An interesting side note if nothing else.

And so the scheduled performers the night of the attack were the Russian “heritage” rock group “Piknik” (“Picnic” in western-vernacular)...a group inspired by western “progressive rock” bands but with a classic Russian twist, and who for this concert were to be accompanied by a symphony orchestra. And “Piknik” was set to play the first of two sold-out concerts when four gunmen in combat gear first opened fire by shooting concert attendees at point blank range while at the same time setting off numerous smoke bombs. Now here is where it gets not only a bit interesting but possibly why I believe this particular concert was targeted, and it falls in line with why I also believe that Vladimir Putin had if not a direct hand in the attack itself, he at least had a hand in covering up the attack's truth.

First some background info on the Russian band “Piknik.” The band's lead vocalist and guitar front man Edmund Shklyarsky, is of the Catholic faith...as opposed to the predominate and Putin favored Russian Orthodox faith... and is not a current “booster,” as he calls it, of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine even though, at first, he supported Putin's “Special Operation” into Ukraine. Also know that Ukrainian authorities had previously banned “Piknik” from performing in the country because the group had played a number of concerts in Russian occupied Crimea including in Sevastopol, and who later released the song “To the Memory of Innocent Victims”...a song about those who were politically oppressed under communism. A quite surprising side note for a man who actually received a degree from Leningrad Polytechnic in the construction of nuclear power plants I'd say.

And the reason I bring up Edmund Shklyarsky's Catholic faith is twofold. First, recently deceased Alexei Navalny, the opposition leader who vocally condemned Vladimir Putin and who died in an Arctic prison under mysterious circumstances...was for many Russians not only still running “posthumously” to replace Putin as president, but Navalny was also of the Catholic faith. And second, the Catholic faith is now growing in number amongst young people in Russia, and it's young people who, like young people almost everywhere else, that do make up the bulk of Russia's concert goers.

Could the gathering that night of what was thousands of predominately young people... those most likely to oppose Putin at the ballot box...have been the actual planned target of the attack all along...an attack as payback for Putin's 12% loss in votes...a loss to one demanding 100% loyalty...a loss happening even in a “rigged election.” Something to at least think about as nothing is beyond the whelm of the former head of the KGB, the man now calling himself president instead of what he actually is...a bonafide dictator. 

Remember, dictators need absolute power in order to help perpetrate ongoing fear which in turn helps keeps the masses in line, and hence themselves in sole control. And in Putin's Russia there's no place for freedom itself nor even for the entertaining of free thoughts for his is a regime that demands absolute control over one's everyday lives and thoughts...no variations from the accepted norm allowed...ever.

And what better way to keep fear ongoing than to allow a pre-planed attack of violence to take place against those most likely to be perceived as a threat to the regime in power. And what better way to mask it than with Putin's pretty words said...words to the affect that, and I quote,“Those who provided them with transport, planned escape routes from the crime scene, prepared caches, caches of weapons and ammunition... means it's obvious that we are faced not just with a carefully and cynically planned terrorist attack, but with the organized mass murder of peaceful, defenseless people. The criminals were cold-blooded and purposefully going to kill, shoot our citizens at point-blank range — our children.” So said Vladimir Putin in his very own words.

And Vladimir Putin is the very man I believe not only knew that the attack on the concert hall was going to take place and when, he might even have helped in the planning of it courtesy of not only his deliberately pulling security out of the venue instead of his increasing it, but because his above stated words themselves, in my opinion, give it away. How so? Because how else would Putin have known that the victims were going to be shot dead at “point-blank range” instead of randomly being fired upon as is the usual case in mass shootings...how else indeed. Remember, some of the victims were followed into what they thought was the safety of the bathrooms, were picked out and shot dead at “point-blank range” while others were simply ignored. Sounds to me like some were selectively targeted to be killed.

Simply, why would a man as vile and ruthless as Vladimir Putin stop something whose aftermath would surely see a rise in the Russian people's collective fear, the very thing needed to help keep him in power, while at the the same time allowing Putin to place blame on the very enemies he is at war with...as in outwardly Ukraine and in the shadows the U.S.? Why indeed?

 

Remember, ever since the “Iron Curtain” went down there has been an influx of Russian nationals into the U.S. and they are some of the biggest boosters of both capitalism and freedom. And with many still having family in Russia they are able to tell them the truth about a regime trying to hide the fact that Russia is a dictatorship where freedom is not allowed and where the west is continuously lied about. And Putin knows this to be truth, and truth is what all good dictators fear the most of being exposed. Expose the truth and in time the aforementioned dissatisfied 12% grows to 20%, then 50%, and more leading to a possible second “Russian Revolution”...that is if Putin's own war weary military doesn't get to him first.

So while Vladimir Putin continues spewing that “ISIS-K” and/or either Ukraine or the U.S. is to blame for the attack, I think the U.S./Ukraine scenario can safely be put to rest for neither have anything to gain from being party to such an attack. Nor do I think ISIS itself...nor any of its sub-groups...had anything to do with this attack even though ISIS and its offshoots are always the first to take credit for attacks they actually didn't do, after all publicity is everything even in terrorist circles...nor do I think that any Russian “splinter groups” had anything to do with it either. And why...because the fact remains that Putin's hold on power is indeed slipping and what better way to regain what is lost than to create an act so vile that it installs in the masses a fear of things getting even worse if he, a man of war who rules with an iron fist, were to lose power.

Just something to think about...and with that case closed.

 Copyright © 2024 / Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All rights reserved.

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For more political commentary please visit my RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS partner Craig Andresen's blog The National Patriot to read his latest article, A Bridge Way Too Far.

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RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!                                             

 

Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 26th, from 7-8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'What Happened In Moscow...A Different Perspective'; 'A Bridge Way Too Far'; and important news of the day. Hope you can tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE' starting at 6:50 pm EST with show beginning at 7pm EST.

 

Wishing all my Patriot Factor blog followers 

of the Christian faith a very 

Happy and Peaceful Easter.

 

National Vietnam War Veterans Day

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

Today is March 29th, the day set aside back in 1973 to be 'National Vietnam War Veterans Day.' Why that day... because on March 29, 1973, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) was disbanded and the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam. This day has become a day to honor those who served and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in one of our nation’s most gruesome wars. And on March 28, 2017...done a day early...President Trump signed the 'Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017,' the act 'officially' recognizing March 29th as 'National Vietnam War Veterans Day.' Thank you to all who served...you are not forgotten. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

DNC Holds 'Emergency Call' As Dems Panic Over RFK Jr.'s VP Pick

Sarah Arnold / Townhall Tipsheet

The Democrat Party seemed uneasy after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his choice of Nicole Shanahan as his vice president pick. 

According to recent reports, the Democrat National Convention has ramped up attacks on Kennedy, claiming the pair will boost former President Donald Trump’s chances of securing the 2024 election. 

Pro-President Joe Biden supporters are attacking Kennedy for appointing Shanahan as his VP—a California-based attorney and progressive activist. 

“I am personally offended and just disgusted by his campaign,” Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) said during a call from the DNC. “He should be ashamed of himself. He should stop running for president.”

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis (D) called Kennedy a “spoiler,” and accused the Independent presidential candidate of being “drafted” into the race by top supporters of Trump’s. 

“He has no realistic path to victory in Pennsylvania,” Davis said.

Hoo Boy: Biden Campaign Steps on Rake in Midst of Trump Attendance at Service for Slain NYPD Officer

By Sister Toldjah  / RedState 

The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of RedState.com.

 

There's "out of touch" and then there is Joe Biden-style out of touch, the latter of which is pretty epic when one considers the optics surrounding what's been happening Thursday in New York City.

The wake for slain NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller was held on Long Island earlier, with former president and presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump in attendance. 

After the service, Trump gave brief remarks to the press, where he talked about the senselessness of Diller's murder, about meeting his wife and infant son, and the need to restore law and order.

The 31-year-old Diller, as RedState previously reported, was killed during a Queens traffic stop Monday, allegedly by career criminal Guy Rivera, 34. Rivera reportedly had 21 prior arrests (with nine of them being felonies) and allegedly also attempted to murder Diller's partner, Sgt. Sasha Rosen, amid a struggle over the gun. Rosen ultimately returned fire against Rivera, sending him to the hospital. Read more, see Xs and video here.

Ironic: Fani Willis Says Jim Jordan's Investigation of Her Office Is 'Politically Motivated'

Mia Cathell / Townhall Tipsheet

 

Threatened with contempt of Congress proceedings, Fani Willis responded to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH)'s subpoena by calling the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee's investigation into the Fulton County district attorney's office a "politically motivated" probe.

 

"We will not shut down this office's efforts to prosecute crime—including [...] public corruption—to meet unreasonable deadlines in your politically motivated 'investigation' of this office," Willis wrote Monday in a letter to Jordan, the committee's chairman.

Earlier this month, Jordan warned Willis he'd invoke contempt of Congress proceedings against her if she continued to be uncooperative with the congressional committee's investigation. Willis repeatedly failed to hand over documents Jordan had subpoenaed related to her office's receipt and use of federal funds allocated by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

"Georgians deserve to know where their federal tax dollars are going," Jordan said, adding: "Contempt is on the table." Read more and see video here.

DeSantis eliminates 'squatters' rights' in Florida, gives power to cops to remove offenders

Desantis says Florida is 'ending the squatters scam'

Emma Colton / FOX News

 

 Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed legislation into law that eliminates squatters’ rights in the Sunshine State and increases penalties against offenders. 

"You are not going to be able to commandeer somebody's private property and expect to get away with it. We are in the state of Florida ending the squatter scam once and for all," DeSantis said during a press conference on the signing in Orlando. 

The law will take effect July 1. DeSantis noted ahead of the signing that he believes Florida is the first state in the nation to take squatting issues head-on. 

Lawmakers in the state overwhelmingly voted in support of the bill earlier this month, sending it to DeSantis’ office. The law outlines that squatters will face criminal charges for illegally moving into a home and allows property owners to file an affidavit showing they legally own a property.

Before the bill’s passage, squatters in Florida, as well in states from coast to coast, were considered tenants and required legal property owners to launch lengthy court battles to legally remove inhabitants from a home.