Whenever things look gloomy, along comes MAXIM, with his superior grasp of the situation.

And along he does come, a true match for Steven Colbert… except for the fact that Colbert only plays the part of a demented ideologue. But on with it, let me not waste another moment of the reader’s time.

Maxim writes: [i]The fact that van de Linden can get away with what he does, is irrefutable proof of Estonia's weak standing in the EU.[i]

Well, tell you what. This time I’m going to forgive Maxim for getting the name wrong (he gets names wrong so often, I think he is a long time sufferer of Attention Deficiency Disorder). But just for the record, it is René van der Linden, not “van de Linden”.

What I’m less willing to forgive is that Maxim still doesn’t have a clue about the structures of Europe, in this case the difference between the EU and the COE.

The Council of Europe (COE) and the European Union (EU) are two completely different organizations. The COE was founded in 1949 and currently has 47 members including Russia. Its HQ is in Strasbourg. Human Rights and the Rule of Law are among its major concerns. The EU needs no explanation. Its HQ is in Brussels.

René van der Linden is President of the Parliamentry Assembly of the COE: PACE. He is not affiliated with the EU in any official capacity.

Maxim goes on to write: [i]Estonia's comprehension of the strength of the agitprop war against her is significantly greater than she is willing to give credit.[i]

Yes! Yes!! He writes, “Estonia’s comprehension … is significantly greater than she is willing to give credit.” If this isn’t muddled and confused, where might we be able to find a better example? (I’m not even sure it’s English.)

He also makes disparaging remarks about Estonia’s Foreign Ministry, which is internationally respected and generally described as one that “punches well above its weight”.

So what can we conclude? Well for starters, we should be happy that Maxim has once again shown us the extent of his understanding. All of us are given an exceptional example of the breadth and depth of our favorite analyst and self described intellectual. For this we are truly thankful, Maxim. His motto truly is: Ready, Shoot, Aim.

Toomas: Why don't you unleash that vitriol on someone who deserves it rather than a harmless casual observer like Maxim. Surly you have some constructive ideas and real criticisms for those in positions of authority who would actually work against our community.

I agree 100%! However, just as Toomas is not going to forgive me on certain points, I cannot forgive him on one point-and that is his unfledging patriotism for the EU. As it happens, a far more sober commentator in the image of Anne Appelbaum today writes extensively on her views about Estonia's current political plight. One of the main tenets she draws from van der Linden is that he has business interests in Russia! Should we be surprised then at his attitude? No, not at all. Should we conclude that business interests with Russia are only restricted to ministers working in Strasbourg? I don't think so. In fact, I would be very surprised if there is not a very strong link of business interests between Russia and many European businessmen who have friends in high places in Brussels. Merilo paints the picture that the EU is free from any kind of corruption. If he really was the true Conservative thinker he imagines himself to be, then he would be honest in his conclusions about the very strong link between political interests and corruptive business interests. Magazines such as the Salisbury Review (Roger Scruton's brainchild) once published an extensive article on the corrosive effects of the EU's politics, which I uphold as strongly recommended reading for anyone wanting to know about the dark side of the EU. And finally, Toomas..if you don't already know that the Estonian Foreign Ministry is one of the weakest links in the thread of Estonian politics (since the time that Ojuland took over that infamous portfolio), then there is much to be concerned with about the threats emanating from Russia, and just how much protection we can be assured of should there be the possibility of Russia reoccupying Estonia. That is a sobering thought for everyone except those who put their undying trust in the EU and NATO.

In Canada we have Deripaska and Nikolsk, to name a few.

And who was the chief broker of the Magna deal? Why none other than "common sense" Mike Harris! And we still question why Harper kept his mouth shut about Estonia in April! Naughty Peter Van Loan: you've been working for the Kremlin all this time!

Please post the link to the latest Applebaum article.

http://www.epl.ee/arvamus/4009...

I wish to convey my indying love for the EU and NATO, even though the latter don't fly here as often these days as the Russkies invading Estonia's airspace. Still, I think the EU will survive, but then again so will Russia.

I wish to convey my indying love for the EU and NATO, even though the latter don't fly here as often these days as the Russkies invading Estonia's airspace. Still, I think the EU will survive, but then again so will Russia.

To: Maxim

I seldom respond to provocations, especially from our self-proclaimed intellectual Maxim. But I cannot let someone with the audacity to lie so blatantly off the hook.

But before I address Maxim’s latest outrage, let me confirm – for the record – my distain for PACE President René van der Linden’s antagonistic and utterly incompetent approach to relations with the Baltic countries.

But, let’s get on with it: once again Maxim gets it wrong with names. He writes “Anne Appelbaum”… well it’s Applebaum.

But what about lies? Well Maxim writes: One of the main tenets [Applebaum] draws from van der Linden is that he has business interests in Russia!

And he gives the link to the interview:

http://www.epl.ee/arvamus/4009...

Well, she doesn’t say a single word about René van der Linden… check for yourself (it is worthwhile reading though). Maxim just doesn’t care that he’s lying. So where-else does he lie? Well, in his extensive attribution of views to me.

And that is why I am responding.

First of all, I find his continual disparagement of -- and fault-finding with -- both the EU and NATO offensive.

I find his solutions to “better relations with Russia” simplistic, naive, but mostly against the national interest (à la, if every Estonian joined the Russian Orthodox Church all would be well…)

Every criticism Maxim makes implies it was a mistake to join NATO or the EU.

The only conclusion left is that Estonia should either “go it alone” or join the CIS as soon as possible.

Since either of the latter two would be the beginning of the end for Eesti, I have opposed Maxim’s statements of view. And that, Maxim, is the bottom line.

If you checked EPL the day before you would find I am not lying. I do not lie, as I have found too many people lying against me to stoop so low! Other than the fact that you need to look back a little futher into the prologue of Applebaum's interview, I don't see that there is another problem. In Estonia the support for the EU wavers from time to time, sometimes considerably below the 50 % mark, and I also don't see any rebuttal to my comments about the EU's corruption from Merilo. What conclusions is one to draw? Why can't he admit that a lot of people ( including myself) were not naive to the inclinations of changing the nature and character of the Estonian Republic once Estonia became a member state of the EU? Why is the chosen path of membership in the EU bring with it a need to change our Constitution? In fact why does the rest of Europe run a far better chance of maintaining good relations with Russia when we don't? Why should we be the exception? There are no straightforward answers to this problem, but let us not forget that President Ilves warned the Estonian people ther would be many many compromises to make in order to be an EU member...I think we're just seeing the beginning of these kinds of changes led by that most conspicuous and sinister of ministers, Rein Lang. He will ultimately sell Estonia's constitutional interests to the wind, just as Siim Kallas will remain forever a charlatan of the Estonian financial industry.

Merilo is right. Maxim is a lier!! No where in EPL does Applebaum mention Linden and I have looked thru all the EPL archives.
Can some one check wether Ahto Mannik is really Maxim?

I'm still not clear as to who this article is directed to.
If EKN is asking our government to ignore Estonian issues whose mind are they trying to change with this and why should we be taking it seriously?

I have never had any reservations about Estonia joining NATO. It was always a safe and necessary thing to do. I have very serious qualms about the advantages of Estonia's membership in the EU. Already Estonian has been financially drained by the infringement payments for excess sugar purchases etc, and this is something that could easily have been avoided. However, NATO planes have flown over Estonia fewer times than the flight incursions into Estonian airspace, yet nothing can be done to rectify this problem. We pay hefty membership fees to be in NATO, yet when crunch time comes, only then will we be able to see if we are really getting our money's worth. So far the lack of NATO surveillance of Estonia's airspace is not exactly the sort of thing that should increase our sense of safety and security. I think NATO could do significantly more to emphasize its role as a security operation for the Baltics. Needless to say, their shortcomings can only be good news for Russia.

not everyone thinks eu and all of its inherent financial and nationalistic costs are good thing for eesti ... and of course when the rubber hits the road we shall find out what value nato will be for eesti

It's Attention Deficit Disorder, not Attention Deficiency Disorder.

If you're going to ridicule Maxim for every typo he makes you should take care to get things right yourself.

People who live in glass houses ...

Thank you so much Vana Hacker! I think this proves that Maxim and "Ahto Mannik" are the same individual. I'll have to go through the archives and look to see how Maxim and "Ahto Mannik" talk to each other

And do what?
This last post is rather ominous and threatening.
When did anyone ask you to become the EE Thought Police? Take your personal grudges off these pages and allow the real debate to flow.

How do you know Maxim and Ahto Männik are posting from the same computer?

I always had my suspisions. So I'm not surprized Maxim and Ahto Mannik are one & the same. Thanks!!!

How can you prove that they are the same? these comments are anonymous, and there is no way to tell who posts whart. it is like photo radar in Ontario - even if you nail the plate on video you cant prove who was at the wheel. Or is ther morwe to this Maxim Männik conspiracy than meets the eye?

Good question Tauno.
This would mean that someone has hacked into the EE website and is violating privacy rights OR someone inside is doing this anonomously.
Either way, a security protocol or privacy rights statement should be uploaded to warn anyone who decides to post that their identities may be revlealed.

Maybe Maxim is actually van der Linden? They seem to put their foot in their mouths the same way. :)

"“I drew attention to this in Estonia. Millions of people have no status. It is unbelievable that there are so many people living in civilized countries and having no status." - van der Linden.

http://www.regnum.ru/english/p...

Great quote!!

You couldn't figure that out by yourself You're no Sherlock Holmes!

I suspect that there is a person in Canada who is passing information on possibly even to Russia. Anyone who writes to EE cannot be certain that their identity is anonymous. The fact that Merilo supports in principle Häkkers mission to expose scribblers at this site should, by this stage, make serious readers of EE sit up and become concerned at the appauling level of indiscretion which some people promote via their comments. Free speech, my friends, is fast becoming a thing of the past, unless we stop certain individuals from interfering with the right to express their views. I sincerely call upon the Canadian Estonian community to support freedom, if not for Estonia's sake, then at least for your own protection and future.

Hey Maxim. Pls read your last posting and tell me if you understand it or does it make sense. Prey tell me what does remaining anonymous have to do with free speech ? More often than not your "speeches" just don't make sense. When are you going to get some schooling ? If you are afraid of losing your anonymity here , then DON'T POST !!! DO YOU GET IT ????
You outed youself a long time ago,

Maxim's last comment is fairly typical -- a semi-coherent mess, vague and implausible.

Your observations, Sherlock, are spot on. Thanks, even though it'll make no difference. Maxim will continue to display his appalling (no, Maxin, not "appauling") stupidity convinced, as he is, that he's full of insights. What a pity.

Whoa! A lot has happened since I last logged on. Reading the last 3 pages of comments and in particular the revelations of “Vana Häkker”, I was sufficiently intrigued to review some of my previous “exchanges” with Maxim.

Wouldn’t you know it: I was one of the last to suspect that [i]Maxim and Ahto Männik[i] were the same. But re-reading these previous exchanges with this knowledge and noting that they often included intervening commentary by Ahto Männik, I find that what credibility Maxim might have had with anyone (and it couldn’t have been more than a wisp, a mere wisp) is now totally blown away. Puff! Totally gone.

Well done, Vana!

Have you nuthing bedder too do with yor time?

I didn't think the war ended until the foreign occupying forces left Estonia? What year was that - 1992?3?