Putin is Ruining Russia

[Muzh]

Whether some people like to hear this or not, Putin is smart. Blah, Blah, Blah, Bullshevism.

Yep, he is so smart that he ruined the only chance he had for his Eurasian Union to challenge the EU bringing his country to its knees in the process.


Of course, this was premeditated and coldly calculated, right?


Boy, you are SO smart.

[Muzh]

Some may think Putin has no control over the price of oil but he does. If Putin promotes a war in the Middle East, the price of oil will go back up. He can also jack up the price on natural gas to Europe or shut it off if he wants to play hardball. Putin continues to play like he's not involved in Ukraine and is innocent. When he decides to get tough of the West, we may not like when he exercises his options.

OMG!!! Man, you are so full of knowledge and wisdom.


Hold on to that thought while I call the WSJ so they can interview you. Maybe they can ask you for your opinion why the Chinese Market tanked today so you can save them investors.

[Muzh]

I spoke about doing this with my wife today and the reaction was very mixed. I know I could be an asset. I have the kind of experience they need. Downside is my Ukrainian isn't that great though my Russian is excellent. So a challenge for almost all English speakers that want to volunteer would be the language barrier. In wartime this is an area where it will get you killed or you could kill someone else if you don't have effective communication.

You'll have no problems communicating with them if you are fluent in Russian. If you have are a very particular set of skills, skills acquired over a very long career that would make a nightmare for terrorist like them, then by all means try to join them.

[Muzh]

Oh really?  You think Putin gives a damn about public opinion one way or the other?  Economics perhaps.

Do you let those two in your avatar think for you? It seems that way.

[Muzh]

I will try and explain it again in slightly different terms. Think of someone who was once a Democrat and then for some reason becomes a Republican (in the US system of government). Once they have changed allegiance they now profess a strong dislike of their previous party even though by their OWN CHOICE they were very deeply involved in that party. That is applicable to Frau Merkel. But often the unsaid part of that is are the REALLY against what they strong were in favor of before or are they just changing with the winds, hence the nickname for Merkel of the Chameleon in German...


Her previous connections show she was more deeply involved than often is presented to the East German government and party. So my point being is she REALLY on the side of Europe in general or does she harbor a deeper connection with Russia and Putin than she admits. See the link below regarding how some Germans view the stealing of Crimea. It is in English.


http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/prominent-germans-have-understanding-for-russian-annexation-of-crimea-a-961711.html


Does that help AC?

They are known as NeoCons.


I don't think your analogy is correct.


Now, if you want to compare her to Slick Willy, then you may be able to state your case.

[lordtiberius]

http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-19/richest-russians-repatriate-assets-after-putin-turns-tax-screw.html

Richest Russians Repatriate Assets as Putin Turns the Tax Screw

[Taz]

He is trying to use all means at his disposal to prop up the Ruble. He was pushing for all companies to use Ruble accounts at home.


Another interesting thing to note. US Army commander in Europe heads to Ukraine.


http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jan/20/us-army-commander-europe-heads-ukraine/?

[BillyB]

Does anyone really see the EU or Nato doing anything against an invasion of Ukraine? 

Probably not. Just recently they were debating on whether or not to drop the sanctions. They were contemplating on easing up on Russia instead of getting tougher. Crazy. Russia is sending in more troops according to the first link below. Just think what Russia will do when the weather gets warmer and the ceasefire ends? Second link below shows Russia just scored an arms deal with Iran. Promoting a Middle East war can get oil prices back to Putin's liking. Third link below shows Japan having to scramble jets in response to Russian and Chinese jets violating their airspace. While the West continues to think sanctions are going to get Russia to play nice, Russia has been making deals and agreements with other dangerous nations. I think the world will be a very messy place before the West responds.


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-accuses-russia-terrorist-activity-092918200.html


http://news.yahoo.com/russia-iran-sign-military-cooperation-deal-102753702.html


http://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-and-russian-warplanes-are-prompting-japan-to-scramble-jets-at-a-record-pace-2015-1

[lordtiberius]

George Cutlett Marshall assumed that we would go into each war unprepared.  He told his officers to get used to that idea.

Churchill believed that we could avoid wars like this by being wise and vigilant.  The problem with being wise and vigilant is that to the majority of people who are not wise or vigiliant. you come off as a butter.

We are in this war.  We are not fighting it.  We are loosing it.  We are loosing it because we are trying to ignore it. 

[AC]

We are in this war.  We are not fighting it.  We are loosing it.  We are losing it because we are trying to ignore it.

I see.  So you agree with BillyB and myself that NATO will likely do nothing?

[Anotherkiwi]

Exactly-- I think it is correct to say that every war the US has been involved in for over 100 years-- Australians have fought alongside Americans-- in fact--the only nation to do so.

Excuse me? 

[JayH]

Excuse me? 

I was scratching my head over our Kiwi cousins when I wrote that-- as I was not sure you were everywhere-maybe Iraq?
NZ left Vietnam early?

ADDED Later-
New Zealand in Afghanistan, Iraq and the war on terror
Nicky Hager

This title is now out of print. Please click on the link below to find your nearest bookseller who may have copies available.

The ‘war on terror’ in Afghanistan and beyond has been the longest foreign war in New Zealand history, yet most New Zealanders know almost nothing about their country’s part in it. For ten years, nearly everything controversial or potentially unpopular was kept secret, and obscured by a steady flow of military public relations stories.

Based on thousands of leaked New Zealand military and intelligence documents, extensive interviews with military and intelligence officers and eye-witness accounts from the soldiers on the ground, Nicky Hager tells the story of these years. New Zealand was far more involved than the public realised in this crucial period of world history. He tells how the military and bureaucracy used the war on terror to pursue private agendas, even when this meant misleading and ignoring the decisions of the elected government.

[jone]

For all of you global thinkers out there ......

The biggest threat to freedom in America does not come from Russia and the parochial involvement in Ukraine.  Instead it comes from ISIS and the Islamic fundamentalists. 

So, as you all are busy waging war on Russia, remember that Russia maintains a large sphere of influence in the Middle East.  And in some of the things Russia has done, it has a lot more credibility than the US, relating to the Middle East.

Russia is a known quantity.  The US must be able to engage Russia in foreign policy matters not related to Ukraine.  That is the primary reason that the US must have a free hand not sullied by Ukraine.  The US has NATO obligations that it will adhere to.  But the arming of Ukraine MUST be done by countries other than the US.

[Anotherkiwi]

As for not minding a stoush, even going back to WWI the Aussies earned a lot of respect. Just look at the ANZAC Corps. I was in Gallipoli, Turkey and paid my respect. The ANZAC Corps fought incredibly bravely against some very serious and overwhelming odds. I would gladly fight with Aussies and New Zealanders by my side any day. The Aussies and New Zealanders I met in my career definitely earned my respect.

Fixed that for you.    You have to remember (although I'm sure that you, personally, do) that ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.  ANZAC Day (April 25th - the day the doomed invasion of Gallipoli began) is the most important reminder to both countries of all the sacrifices made since then to help keep (most of) the world free.

[JayH]

For all of you global thinkers out there ......

The biggest threat to freedom in America does not come from Russia and the parochial involvement in Ukraine.  Instead it comes from ISIS and the Islamic fundamentalists. 

So, as you all are busy waging war on Russia, remember that Russia maintains a large sphere of influence in the Middle East.  And in some of the things Russia has done, it has a lot more credibility than the US, relating to the Middle East.

Russia is a known quantity.  The US must be able to engage Russia in foreign policy matters not related to Ukraine.  That is the primary reason that the US must have a free hand not sullied by Ukraine.  The US has NATO obligations that it will adhere to.  But the arming of Ukraine MUST be done by countries other than the US.

Talking to a House Divided

But Americans remain wary of becoming too deeply involved in world affairs. And they are skeptical about globalization’s impact on their jobs and wages. Moreover, Americans are polarized politically over strategic and economic issues such as Russia, Islamic extremism, climate change, and trade.

Isolationism has long been a recurring theme in American domestic politics, though it may be ebbing at the moment.Isolationism has long been a recurring theme in American domestic politics, though it may be ebbing at the moment. In November 2013, 51 percent of Americans polled said they thought the United States was doing too much in helping to solve world problems, according to a Pew Research Center survey. But by August 2014, just 39 percent held such views. Meanwhile, the proportion of the public saying the United States was doing too little internationally grew from 17 percent to 31 percent.

Much of this turnaround may be attributable to public concern about the threat posed by the Islamic State and jihadi terrorism. Fully 57 percent of Americans surveyed approve of the Obama administration’s military campaign against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Nevertheless, Americans remain divided over the implications of such action: 47 percent worry it will go too far.

In addition, in the wake of recent events in Paris, 64 percent are very or somewhat worried that there will soon be another terrorist attack in the United States. And 49 percent say government counterterrorism efforts have not gone far enough to protect the country (versus 37 percent who think such efforts have gone too far).

Americans are also increasingly concerned about Russia. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) think the country is a serious threat to the United States, up significantly from the 44 percent who thought so in 2012, according to a recent CNN survey.

However, there are limits to what the American public is willing to countenance in response to the Kremlin’s provocations. In response to the actions of Vladimir Putin’s government in Ukraine, 68 percent of Americans held the view that Ukraine should be offered NATO membership and 64 percent supported economic sanctions against Moscow, but only 44 percent favored Washington sending military supplies and equipment to the beleaguered Ukrainian state, according to a 2014 German Marshall Fund survey.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/01/20/talking-to-a-house-divided-obama-foreign-policy-state-of-the-union/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=%2AEditors%20Picks&utm_campaign=2014_EditorsPicks1%2F20RS

[Gator]

I don't think your analogy is correct.


Now, if you want to compare her to Slick Willy, then you may be able to state your case.

Slick Willy and Merkel?  No way with regard to fiscal policies.  She is Herbert Hoover in drag.   Just ask Greece, they will tell you. 

[Gator]

For all of you global thinkers out there ......

The biggest threat to freedom in America does not come from Russia and the parochial involvement in Ukraine.  Instead it comes from ISIS and the Islamic fundamentalists. 

Exactly.  The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has a low priority.  This is viewed as an European issue.  Further....

The US must be able to engage Russia in foreign policy matters not related to Ukraine.  That is the primary reason that the US must have a free hand not sullied by Ukraine.  The US has NATO obligations that it will adhere to.  But the arming of Ukraine MUST be done by countries other than the US.

Bingo!

[Brasscasing]

For all of you global thinkers out there ......

The biggest threat to freedom in America does not come from Russia and the parochial involvement in Ukraine.  Instead it comes from ISIS and the Islamic fundamentalists. 

Apparently, the state of the union address is going to deal with that issue this evening. I'm going to take the time to watch it. Not sure if they'll be any surprises regarding Russia (if it's even mentioned) but maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised or conversely disheartened, you never know.

As for the U.S. deciding that ground forces are now necessary-Canadian JTF have already engaged ISIL on the ground in combat, have been for a couple of months. The amusing thing about it is when the Gov't is questioned about it they come up with answers that would make Mr. Putin proud.

Canadian special forces calling in airstrikes and shooting ISIL gunmen

..."Canadian special forces have been on the front lines in Iraq, targeting extremist Islamist gunmen with bombs and sniper fire, despite assurances from the Conservative government that the country’s troops would not be involved in combat.

But Canadian military leaders insist what they are doing is not a combat mission and have likened it to United Nations peacekeeping operations of the 1990s.

Canadian special forces have directed 13 airstrikes against forces from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the first starting some time in November, the military confirmed Monday. In the last week, Canadian special forces snipers also “neutralized” ISIL mortar and machine-gun positions.

In September, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that up to 69 Canadian commandos would be sent to northern Iraq to train and advise forces fighting ISIL."...

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/canadian-special-forces-calling-in-air-strikes-and-shooting-isil-gunmen

Peacekeeping mission? That's hilarious! ... Give'm Hell, boys. God speed.

In other news...apparently, the terrorists in one of the Russian held areas of Ukraine are now claiming to have conjured up an air force of all things. If true, this means the Russians are going to escalate and start using air strikes in Ukraine airspace.

Looking for confirmation of this rumor I'll post if/when I find it...

Brass

[Taz]

Fixed that for you.    You have to remember (although I'm sure that you, personally, do) that ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.  ANZAC Day (April 25th - the day the doomed invasion of Gallipoli began) is the most important reminder to both countries of all the sacrifices made since then to help keep (most of) the world free.

Yes, I am aware of what ANZAC stood for and no slight meant to the Kiwis on the board. I haven't met a single Kiwi in person but hope to in the near future. I plan to make a trip to Australia and New Zealand sometime later this year if all goes as planned. I have helped quite a few Aussies in the past and I plan to take them up on their offers to put us up for a few weeks.

would highly recommend anyone who happens to make it to Istanbul take a day trip and go to Gallipoli and read about the bravery of the ANZAC soldiers in the face of overwhelming odds. To an extent it reminds me of Ukraine against Russia at the moment.

I don't think you cant trust Russia much as a partner in the Middle East. If anything I would think they don't mind destabilizing the region as it will help drive oil prices up. Like usual they will pay lip service to the idea and then often work to destabilize behind the scenes. Look at how often they said they were pulling their troops back from the border of Ukraine when in reality they were actually moving more into Ukraine.


I do agree that ISIS and Islamic terrorism is a big world issue. However with the big wuss in the presidency of the US I don't expect him to do much about either ISIS, any Islamic terrorism (they won't even use the phrase) or much about Russia. Obama is hard on our friends and easy on our enemies. He truly is a Manchurian Candidate in real life.

[Anotherkiwi]

Yes, I am aware of what ANZAC stood for and no slight meant to the Kiwis on the board. I haven't met a single Kiwi in person but hope to in the near future. I plan to make a trip to Australia and New Zealand sometime later this year if all goes as planned. I have helped quite a few Aussies in the past and I plan to take them up on their offers to put us up for a few weeks.

No offence taken, Taz.  Feel free to contact me when you're heading in this direction, and I'll be happy to show you some of the best bits of Godzone. 

[Taz]

Thanks for your offer Anotherkiwi. I will likely take you up on it. I helped a couple of Aussies plan a trip on Harleys across the US a few years ago and they had an amazing time. I had fun getting to show them a bit of the US and helping them pick up a few bikes for the trip. We had one hell of a time in some bars early on in college towns. They drank beer like Russians drink vodka except in even larger quantities. 


Anyway if you make it stateside, look me up as well. I am typically all over the US so I can likely meet up almost anywhere.


Not many countries I respect any more it seems but NZ and OZ are the top of my list. The US is going to hell under our current President. Europe is in a hole they will never climb out of and the UK is the "walking dead". Canada still has some balls but not many places left to turn to before socialism and Islamo-fascism start to over run them.

[jone]

No offence taken, Taz.  Feel free to contact me when you're heading in this direction, and I'll be happy to show you some of the best bits of Godzone. 

Me too?  I am a fan of Auckland and the North Island.

[AC]

For all of you global thinkers out there ......

The biggest threat to freedom in America does not come from Russia and the parochial involvement in Ukraine.  Instead it comes from ISIS and the Islamic fundamentalists.

So, as you all are busy waging war on Russia, remember that Russia maintains a large sphere of influence in the Middle East.  And in some of the things Russia has done, it has a lot more credibility than the US, relating to the Middle East.

Russia is a known quantity.  The US must be able to engage Russia in foreign policy matters not related to Ukraine.  That is the primary reason that the US must have a free hand not sullied by Ukraine.  The US has NATO obligations that it will adhere to.  But the arming of Ukraine MUST be done by countries other than the US.

George Soros diagrees with you.

[AC]

I do agree that ISIS and Islamic terrorism is a big world issue. However with the big wuss in the presidency of the US I don't expect him to do much about either ISIS, any Islamic terrorism (they won't even use the phrase) or much about Russia. Obama is hard on our friends and easy on our enemies. He truly is a Manchurian Candidate in real life.

Amen to that, brother.  People on this forum (including myself) are upset that Putin is so popular and we wonder why Russians don't rise up and oust the guy; yet nobody is "rising up" to oust the great pretender, Obama.  How low would his approval ratings need to be before people took to the streets?  (and I don't mean the criminals, I mean the law abiding blue collar and white collar Americans) 

Listening to this charlatan give parts of his speech is like a very bad version of Groundhog Day.  Same old lies, same old arrogance and beligerance in dealing with Congress.

[fathertime]

For all of you global thinkers out there ......

The biggest threat to freedom in America does not come from Russia and the parochial involvement in Ukraine.  Instead it comes from ISIS and the Islamic fundamentalists. 

So, as you all are busy waging war on Russia, remember that Russia maintains a large sphere of influence in the Middle East.  And in some of the things Russia has done, it has a lot more credibility than the US, relating to the Middle East.
 

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/01/20/russian-defense-minister-visits-iran-signs-agreement-on-expanded-military/


Fathertime!