More Bad News for Russia

[Taz]

A woman I dated before, and in my trip reports, lives in the area that was shelled in Mariupol. Almost nobody in Mariupol wants to be part of Russia. Last year there were many demonstrations with lots of people in support of Kiev.

It is time to just obliterate all the Russian troops and terrorist with a few cruise missiles. The missiles that were used are not even remotely precision munitions. I have no put all my congressmen on speed dial in my phone. I will be calling them every hour they are in the office. The Russian aggression has got to stop.

[LiveFromUkraine]

The CIA were making covert moves against the Soviets all over the globe as was the Soviets against the U.S. as well. The U.S. aiding the Soviet enemies was nothing new even then. The aiding of the Mujahadeen wasn't a precursor to the Soviets invasion. The Soviets invaded because they thought their puppet government in Kabal was going to fall. The CIA aid was certainly helpful to the Muj but the government was likely going to fall any way. That aid you speak of was insignificant compared to the aid they received later on. Thus, it has little to nothing to do with provoking the Soviet invasion FTR

The aid was done so knowing there was a high probability to bring in the Soviets.  The amount of aid wasn't important.  Getting the Soviets into a war was.  Interfering in another country in order to bring down the Soviets.


It would be silly for any of us not to remember what has been done to bring down the Soviets and say it wouldn't happen to any threat America perceived and Russia is a perceived threat.

[Faux Pas]

The aid was done so knowing there was a high probability to bring in the Soviets.  The amount of aid wasn't important.  Getting the Soviets into a war was.  Interfering in another country in order to bring down the Soviets.


It would be silly for any of us not to remember what has been done to bring down the Soviets and say it wouldn't happen to any threat America perceived and Russia is a perceived threat.

The earlier aid was tit for tat. The Soviets were doing the same thing to the puppet governments of the U.S. in Central and South America. The aid was a very minute' contribution to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Brezinky IMHO was doing nothing more than bloviating. If the truth were known, the U.S. had been fomenting anything in Afghanistan that would cause the Soviets problems long before 6 months prior to the invasion. Both governments were looking for scabs to pick. That is the only part of your post I disagree with. It wasn't until after the invasion that the real aid starting pouring in.

[LiveFromUkraine]

The earlier aid was tit for tat. The Soviets were doing the same thing to the puppet governments of the U.S. in Central and South America. The aid was a very minute' contribution to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Brezinky IMHO was doing nothing more than bloviating. If the truth were known, the U.S. had been fomenting anything in Afghanistan that would cause the Soviets problems long before 6 months prior to the invasion. Both governments were looking for scabs to pick. That is the only part of your post I disagree with. It wasn't until after the invasion that the real aid starting pouring in.

Ah, understood and have no doubt this was happening on both sides.  It certainly is possible Brezinky is more about stroking his ego so to speak.

[AC]

You strongly urge!?! See here you f*cking' monkey get your collective asses up from that round table of yours and start doing the job you get paid for.  I promise you this; If you don't start showing some initiative there's going to be a popular movement started to personally hold you people in that cluster f*ckfest you call NATO headquarters collectively and personally responsible for criminal negligence and incompetence for standing idle when you should be acting.

How do you really feel?  Unfortunately you know that nothing in the NATO charter will officially allow them to stop a Russian invasion.  Other then that, perhaps now you know how many Americans feel about our "President". 

[JayH]

You strongly urge!?! See here you f*cking' monkey get your collective asses up from that round table of yours and start doing the job you get paid for.  I promise you this; If you don't start showing some initiative there's going to be a popular movement started to personally hold you people in that cluster f*ckfest you call NATO headquarters collectively and personally responsible for criminal negligence and incompetence for standing idle when you should be acting.

Boneheaded press releases don't cut it. Get to work.

Brass

Exactly-- no secret on what is really happening--so do something.
In the last week the despair my Ukrainian friends& associates on the spot  have expressed to me  is indescribable.

[AC]

AC, how many times have you been on moderated status?  It seems you're on watch status every other week or so.


I can see you have some internal emotional problems with anger whenever someone says something you don't like.

Oh okay.  Apparently when somebody points out that you are making off-topic posts which have absolutely nothing to do with the situation in Ukraine, a member of the former Soviet Union, which is what this forum is about, and that you are obviously making them to try to deflect from what the Russians are doing in Ukraine, suddenly that person has "emotional problems with anger".

In other words you are guilty of exactly what I described, which is attempting to justify Russia's war of aggression and conquest in Ukraine, by posting more off-topic nonsense.  You obviously don't have the ability to dispute what I've written, so you try to besmirch the character of the messenger (myself).  Any more nonsense you would like to post about this?

Your worthless and irrational argument is called an argument of "moral equivalence".  Straight out of the pro-Russian propaganda book.  But of course it's a failure, because as I pointed out the USA did not help the Afghani's with intention of stealing their land, we helped them to prevent their land from being stolen by the invading Russian Soviets.

[lordtiberius]

Can we realistically expect anything from Stoltenberg?  He worked for the KGB.

But wait there's more.  Merkel is his mentor:

Then we cannot omit his mentor and friend Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany. Merkel speaks fluent Russian and had a membership card in the Free German Youth movement which was managed by the Socialist Party out of East Germany.

[JayH]

I am just enjoy your sheepish comments trying to portray everyone who doesn't agree with you Pro-Russian.   

Maybe when we see you condemning the Russian invasion and killing of civilians in Ukraine-- then anything you say may mean something.
Instead-- we read every excuse possible.
Not hard today-- lets hear you say that it is a disgrace that the Russian Army is responsible for civilian deaths in Mariupol.

[AC]

Maybe when we see you condemning the Russian invasion and killing of civilians in Ukraine-- then anything you say may mean something.
Instead-- we read every excuse possible.
Not hard today-- lets hear you say that it is a disgrace that the Russian Army is responsible for civilian deaths in Mariupol.

This is, I'm afraid, the beginning of Putin's real all-out invasion to try and get his land bridge.  Hopefully the genuine and decent people in this World will urge Congress and whoever their government is to stand up to this tyranny. 

[LiveFromUkraine]

Maybe when we see you condemning the Russian invasion and killing of civilians in Ukraine-- then anything you say may mean something.
Instead-- we read every excuse possible.
Not hard today-- lets hear you say that it is a disgrace that the Russian Army is responsible for civilian deaths in Mariupol.

I don't need to condemn anything to you.  I don't know why you insist on others to tell you what you want to hear but it's goofy as hell.

[fathertime]

Exactly-- no secret on what is really happening--so do something.
In the last week the despair my Ukrainian friends& associates on the spot  have expressed to me  is indescribable.

It appears doubtful the USA is going to do much....this is not an issue foremost in the minds of the American public, most barely even know there is bloodshed....maybe Australia should take the lead....we will come in and mop up afterwords, which is what we normally do with these European issues. 


Fathertime! 

[lordtiberius]

Tell us again how honorable it is to be silent in the face of evil?  Or how ignorance is a source of pride?  Or what US money should go to US needs?  Your  chimeric patriotism is as intriguing as the sex appeal of bald heads.

[fathertime]

Tell us again how honorable it is to be silent in the face of evil?  Or how ignorance is a source of pride?  Or what US money should go to US needs?  Your  chimeric patriotism is as intriguing as the sex appeal of bald heads.

You don't know honor....never have! 

[AkMike]

Gawd I LOVE reading all the 'good' news from Russia. 

Russians Must Adapt to More Unemployment - Deputy Prime Minister

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/russians-face-rising-unemployment-deputy-prime-minister/514842.html

Mass Layoffs Sign of Russia's Growing Crisis, Kudrin Says

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/mass-layoffs-sign-of-russia-s-growing-crisis-kudrin-says/514849.html

Russia Launches First Sugar Price-Fixing Cases as Inflation Rockets

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/russia-launches-first-sugar-price-fixing-cases-as-inflation-rockets/514841.html

Russia Faces $40 Billion Battle to Stave off Banking Crisis

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/russia-faces-40-billion-battle-to-stave-off-banking-crisis/514847.html

Rosneft Defends Medal for 'Grown Man' Ivan Sechin ( more corruption)

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/rosneft-defends-medal-for-grown-man-ivan-sechin/514815.html

EU Energy Chief Says Russia's Turkish Stream Gas Project Won't Work

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/eu-energy-chief-says-russia-s-turkish-stream-gas-project-won-t-work/514817.html

Kudrin Predicts Up to $100 Billion Capital Flight From Russia This Year

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/kudrin-predicts-100-billion-capital-flight-from-russia-this-year/514821.html

PayPal Cuts Service To Crimea Over U.S. Sanctions

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/paypal-cuts-service-to-crimea-over-u-s-sanctions/514819.html

2015 Promises Bad News for Russia

http://sptimes.ru/story/41671

Russia Left Out in the Cold by Its Neighbors

http://sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=41668

AND

Best of all!


Carl's Jr. Causes Controversy as It Pulls Out of Russia

http://sptimes.ru/story/41621

[jone]

Gawd I LOVE reading all the 'good' news from Russia. 

Russians Must Adapt to More Unemployment - Deputy Prime Minister

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/russians-face-rising-unemployment-deputy-prime-minister/514842.html

Mass Layoffs Sign of Russia's Growing Crisis, Kudrin Says

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/mass-layoffs-sign-of-russia-s-growing-crisis-kudrin-says/514849.html

Russia Launches First Sugar Price-Fixing Cases as Inflation Rockets

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/russia-launches-first-sugar-price-fixing-cases-as-inflation-rockets/514841.html

Russia Faces $40 Billion Battle to Stave off Banking Crisis

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/russia-faces-40-billion-battle-to-stave-off-banking-crisis/514847.html

Rosneft Defends Medal for 'Grown Man' Ivan Sechin ( more corruption)

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/rosneft-defends-medal-for-grown-man-ivan-sechin/514815.html

EU Energy Chief Says Russia's Turkish Stream Gas Project Won't Work

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/eu-energy-chief-says-russia-s-turkish-stream-gas-project-won-t-work/514817.html

Kudrin Predicts Up to $100 Billion Capital Flight From Russia This Year

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/kudrin-predicts-100-billion-capital-flight-from-russia-this-year/514821.html

PayPal Cuts Service To Crimea Over U.S. Sanctions

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/paypal-cuts-service-to-crimea-over-u-s-sanctions/514819.html

2015 Promises Bad News for Russia

http://sptimes.ru/story/41671

Russia Left Out in the Cold by Its Neighbors

http://sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=41668

AND

Best of all!


Carl's Jr. Causes Controversy as It Pulls Out of Russia

http://sptimes.ru/story/41621

No PayPal in Crimea?  How are all of those agency gals gonna get paid?  I also wonder how ADate, with company headquarters in Moscow, is keeping tabs on all the Pay-per-chat girls in Ukraine.  As a matter of interest, if you were a Ukrainian woman and knew that you could list with any online agency, would you currently choose a company based in Russia?  I wonder how many of the agencies are getting paid in Rubles and not dollars? 

[AkMike]

Belarus declares Martial Law after the "Little Green Men" show up there.

Another invasion of a 'brother' soon??


http://world.lb.ua/news/2015/01/25/293249_poyavlenie_zelenih_chelovechkov.html

[AC]

Moscow will defend Ukrainian agenda until the bitter end.


http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/lavrov-russia-to-push-ukraine-agenda-until-bitter-end/514730.html

[AC]

Belarus declares Martial Law after the "Little Green Men" show up there.

Another invasion of a 'brother'??

http://world.lb.ua/news/2015/0...ih_chelovechkov.html

Mike, that link does not work.

[AkMike]

What a 'Junk' Rating Would Mean for Russia

Russian officials and experts warned Wednesday that an expected decision by Standard and Poor's to deprive Russia of its investment-grade credit rating could cost the country up to $30 billion and drain more money from an economy that is already entering recession.

Major credit rating agencies Fitch and Standard and Poor's currently rank Russia one notch above junk.

Standard and Poor's placed Russia on negative credit watch last month and said the country's status would be re-evaluated in mid-January.

A downgrade to junk would mark Russia's return to the investment grade it held until 2004 and could trigger a sell-off by conservative investment funds barred from buying sub-investment grade securities. Analysts also warned the move could spook equity and bond traders.

"It's not worth underestimating the indirect effects on the market," said Konstantin Artyomov, a money manger at Raiffeisen Capital in Moscow, in written comments Wednesday.

$30 Billion of Consequences

If Standard and Poor's withdraw Russia's investment-grade credit rating it could activate clauses in debt agreements causing Russia's repayment deadlines to be brought forward, according to Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev.

"If Standard and Poor's make a move then there will be material consequences," Ulyukayev told Russian radio station Business FM on Wednesday.

"We can't say exactly what sum, intuitively it's about $20 billion to $30 billion."
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/what-a-junk-rating-means-for-russia/514387.html

[AkMike]

Mike, that link does not work.

 Fixed

[Taz]

Belarus declares Martial Law after the "Little Green Men" show up there.

Another invasion of a 'brother' soon??


http://world.lb.ua/news/2015/01/25/293249_poyavlenie_zelenih_chelovechkov.html

It doesn't say they are invading yet BUT if the little green men show up in Belarus, they WILL consider it an invasion.

[BillyB]

The UN said the same thing today.. Except they threatened to put a bad mark on their report card.

Russia blocked the UN's strong condemnation of the Mariupol attacks but that did not stop the EU and John Kerry from issuing out strong statements. “I join my European counterparts in condemning in the strongest terms today's horrific assault by Russia-backed separatists on civilian neighborhoods,” Kerry said.


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/01/25/us-condemns-new-separatist-attack-in-ukraine-mariupol-points-finger-at-russia/?intcmp=latestnews


Separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko announced the start of an offensive against Mariupol  the UN "condemned in the strongest terms such irresponsible announcements."


Not only does the UN and Western nation condemn the attacks in the strongest terms, they condemn the announcements of pro Russians in the strongest terms. We also got a call, for the 100th time, "an immediate de-escalation of violence," We got real MEN working for us. I guess if they keep repeating themselves enough using only the strongest terms, pro Russians are going to listen.


http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/01/25/russia-blocks-un-condemnation-shelling-ukraine-city/?intcmp=latestnews

It doesn't say they are invading yet BUT if the little green men show up in Belarus, they WILL consider it an invasion.

Months ago there were evidence Russian troops were in Belarus and there were no problems arising from that. I wouldn't doubt Putin is looking for allies at this time. He's met or have plans to meet with some of the world's worst leaders and Belarus Prez is in the top 10 in that category. Maybe some people were right in that Putin doesn't want all of Ukraine. He might share a piece with Belarus.

[AkMike]

In Brutally Critical Open Letter, Russian-Born Scholar Talks Of His 'Overwhelming Nausea' Over Putin's Russia



Renowned biophysicist Maksim Frank-Kamenetsky left his native Russia 21 years ago to settle in the United States.

Last fall, he returned to Moscow on a four-month teaching assignment.

But instead of the homecoming he had looked forward to, his stay in Russia left him so upset that he decided to pen an outspoken letter to Russians.

"During my stay here, an overwhelming feeling of nausea gradually came over me and grew stronger all the time," he wrote in his letter, which has been widely circulated since it was posted online earlier this month. "There has not been such centralization, such concentration of power in this vast country in the hands of one person since Stalin's time."

Frank-Kamenetsky, a professor of biomedical engineering at Boston University famous for his contribution in the field of DNA topology, says he was shocked to witness what he describes as a "rabid" adulation for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"It's a bona fide cult of personality, like the one I witnessed as a child," he tells RFE/RL's Russian Service.

'Idiotic Mantra'

Such wake-up calls have become rare in Russia, where Western criticism of the country's actions in Ukraine have shored up public support for the Kremlin and its increasingly defiant, isolationist stance.

In his letter, Kamenetsky laments the "idiotic mantra" that he says is being trumpeted by most Russians, including intellectuals, consisting of professing unconditional love for Russia and all things Russian.

He says he was also struck by the rampant anti-Americanism among Russians, a trend he attributes to an enduring postimperial complex caused by the Soviet Union's collapse. Frank-Kamenetsky recalls his consternation upon finding racist T-shirts lampooning U.S. President Barack Obama on sale in Moscow's most famous street, the Arbat, alongside T-shirts extolling Putin as "The Best President."

READ THE FULL LETTER IN ENGLISH HERE

 

"Almost everyone is infected, to various degrees, by this anti-Americanism," he says. "Surprisingly, even those who understand the inadmissibility of what Putin is doing in Ukraine don't miss an opportunity to recall the mistakes of U.S. administrations -- the bombing of Yugoslavia, the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and so on and so forth -- and say that America's crimes are much worse and more dangerous that Putin's mistakes."

In his letter, Frank-Kamenetsky takes issue with Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine last March, a move welcomed by a majority of Russians -- 73 percent, according to a September poll by the independent Levada Center.

He calls the annexation a "dangerous precedent" and points out that even Nazi leader Adolf Hitler held talks with France and Great Britain before annexing the German-speaking Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia.

"What about the so-called Kaliningrad region, i.e. Koenigsberg and East Prussia?" the letter continues. "Is this also Russian soil? Or is it German?"

'A Horrible End Or Endless Horror'

Frank-Kamenetsky, who regularly travels to Russia, says his departure from the country this time filled him with unprecedented relief. He says Russia, with its increasingly palpable atmosphere of uncertainty and fear, is sliding back to Soviet ways.

"This fear is well-founded because no one knows what the next step is going to be," he says. "One person is effectively in charge. This is also very scary since, in the light of current events, his ability to make appropriate decisions is highly questionable."

According to Frank-Kamenetsky, a new law requiring Russians with dual nationality to register with Russian migration authorities has also stoked fear in Russians living abroad.

The biophysicist, who holds both Russian and U.S. citizenship, chose to voluntarily register with Russian authorities. But he says many of his Russian colleagues and friends in the United States have resolved not to return to Russia.

"If people don't register within 60 days after entering the country, they risk administrative or criminal prosecution," he says. "This is why many people got really scared."

Fresh from his four-month stint in Russia, Frank-Kamenetsky is not optimistic about the country's prospects. He believes that unless Moscow changes course, Russia's political isolation, combined with the rapid slide of the ruble, spell disaster.

"If a full-blown crisis breaks out, there will be two options: a horrible end [for the regime] or endless horror [for the Russian people]," he predicts. "I think there is no need to say which I would prefer."

http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-frank-kamenetsky-open-letter/26805995.html

[calmissile]

Belarus declares Martial Law after the "Little Green Men" show up there.

Another invasion of a 'brother' soon??


http://world.lb.ua/news/2015/01/25/293249_poyavlenie_zelenih_chelovechkov.html

Looks like Belarus is preparing in advance for Russian bullsh*t.  Good for them!