Or so says Russian presidential “candidate” Vladimir Putin . . .
Let me ask you this: How are the recent flawed Duma elections tied to The New START Treaty and the Dwight Howard trade? Indeed, it’s an intricate web of complexities, decipherable only by a trained TMF correspondent.
“[T]he Arab Spring is coming to a neighborhood near you[!]“
From top left: U.S. President Barack Obama; New Jersey Nets owner and Independent Russian presidential candidate Mikhail Prokhorov; New Jersey Nets head coach Avery Johnson; Russian Prime Minister and United Russia presidential candidate Vladimir Putin; Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard; Russian President Dmitry Medvedev; NBA Commissioner David Stern.
February 5, 2011: The United States of America and the Russian Federation enter into The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) as part of the Obama administration’s plan to reset relations with Russia.
April 13, 2011: New Jersey Nets finish the 2010-2011 NBA season at 24-58. NBA lock out appears imminent.
May 16, 2011: Nets’ owner Mikhail Prokhorov announces his plan to join the leadership of Russia’s Right Cause party. He criticizes Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s tandem ruler-ship of Russia.
July 1, 2011: NBA announces lock out.
September 23, 2011: International Democrat Union suspends Right Cause’s associate member status. Prokhorov resigns from Right Cause, indicating the party is a “puppet” organization of the Kremlin.
September 24, 2011: Dmitry Medvedev recommends the United Russia party nominate Vladimir Putin as their 2012 presidential candidate. They do so.
November 23, 2011: Bloomberg: ‘Russia Prepares to “Destroy” U.S. Shield’; New York Times: ‘Russia Elevates Warning about U.S. Missile-Defense Plan in Europe:’
November 28, 2011: Russian state news agency: ‘Russia’s NATO Envoy to Visit China, Iran Over Missile Defense.’
December 4, 2011: Russia holds Duma parliamentary elections. Allegations of mass fraud in favor of United Russia and Vladimir Putin are rampant.
December 7, 2011: Senator John McCain addresses his colleagues in the Senate: He reports Dmitry Medvedev is threatening to deploy ballistic missiles to destroy U.S. missile systems in Europe. He accuses Russia of conspiring with China and Iran to further such an aim. He declares the New START Treaty to be a Russian blackmail device.
December 8, 2011: NBA players and owners ratify a new collective bargaining agreement. Trade rumors involving Dwight Howard and the New Jersey Nets begin to circulate.
December 12, 2011: Prokhorov announces his candidacy for the Russian presidential office as an independent.
December 15, 2011: The Orlando Magic pull center Dwight Howard from the trade market. New Jersey Nets head coach Avery Johnson says team plans to renew trade efforts in March of 2012. The Russian presidential election happens to be scheduled for March 4, 2012.
December 16, 2011: Vladimir Putin says John McCain is acting fucking INSANE right now.
NOTE: This continues to be a developing story. Thus far, TMF has merely outlined the facts for our readers. Further content in the way of high-pressure analysis and baseless speculation could be forthcoming.
