Is it actually Russia that is imposing more and more costs?

[Brasscasing]

Hey Shadow,  I certainly don't disagree, as this is not the first time this has been raised in different locations around the world. Can you provide an example or two regarding Putin?  In what ways has the West undermined Putin prior to this latest episode in Ukraine?

Inside Russia he may be perceived as 'strong'. However, to the West/NATO nations he's just considered devious or more of a pain in the a$$ than anything else.

Western media like to build him up for news copy/sound bite but at the end of the day he's really no more of a threat militarily or geopolitically than Hussein or Gaddafi.

In other words; Putin's not so strong as there is simply a power vacuum inside Washington right now. This will change somewhat in the following year as a result of the power shift in Congress but basically nothing will happen until the administration changes.

Once leadership in/for the West is reestablished Putin's 15 minutes will be up.

Brass

[AC]

Your youtube link to a resident of Luhansk who has lost her home and her city, likely forever, is appalling.

Where is the link?  I would like to watch it.

[AC]

In other words; Putin's not so strong as there is simply a power vacuum inside Washington right now. This will change somewhat in the following year as a result of the power shift in Congress but basically nothing will happen until the administration changes.

Once leadership in/for the West is reestablished Putin's 15 minutes will be up.

Brass

Amen!  Boy do I ever agree with this post! 

 

[Boethius]

[AC]

Wagenknecht is just a cuckoo bird who likely gets financed by the real Fascist ringleader, Herr Putler.

I still have not seen the video of a woman who lost her home in Lugansk.

[Doll]

Your youtube link to a resident of Luhansk who has lost her home and her city, likely forever, is appalling.

When she  call my writing disgusting then let her listen.
And keep your labels to yourself, Boe
It is NOT appalling in my eyes.
At least all this board is calling to Russia's defeat - talk to them

[Boethius]

I find it appalling that you would make light of a victim of war in such a manner, for no reason other than political point scoring.

[Doll]

You see the picture from your tower. 
The American people in no way resemble the Soviet people.  Further, most Americans don't care about the conflict in Ukraine.

They are (it is MY vision again) more "Soviet" than Russians 50 years ago
Brainwashed  and blind
Again- please, add something like IMHO to your postings

[Doll]

I find it appalling that you would make light of a victim of war in such a manner, for no reason other than political point scoring.

What? A link to Bundestag is now appalling?
Give me a break
this victim needs to know who is giving her a hard time
I am sick of blaming Putin in everything
Russia doesn't want war in Ukraine
 

[Doll]

I find it appalling that you would make light of a victim of war in such a manner, for no reason other than political point scoring.

I do NOT care what you are finding, ok?

[fathertime]

Inside Russia he may be perceived as 'strong'. However, to the West/NATO nations he's just considered devious or more of a pain in the a$$ than anything else.
 

Hey Brass,  All your comments in the post are provocative. 


If Putin isn't consider strong then who on earth is?  The head of a powerful nuclear state with more territory and natural resources than any other nation has some pretty good qualifications....and having so much support among with his people to boot...That said, there must be a reason that you say is not strong.  What is it?

Western media like to build him up for news copy/sound bite but at the end of the day he's really no more of a threat militarily or geopolitically than Hussein or Gaddafi.
 

We executed Hussein and Gaddafi...In my opinion those nations/leaders must have posed a geopolitical threat in some way, and Putin does too, a lot more than those nations that just don't have the ability to do much harm..but again their must be a reason you say this, I'd be curious what the reasoning is.  Of course I do agree our media builds up and furthers must narratives to sell. 

In other words; Putin's not so strong as there is simply a power vacuum inside Washington right now. This will change somewhat in the following year as a result of the power shift in Congress but basically nothing will happen until the administration changes.

Once leadership in/for the West is reestablished Putin's 15 minutes will be up.

Brass

The way this is written it appears you are saying that our Western leadership will have the power to force Russia to evict Putin.  Although I'm in the minority here, it seems to me that Obama hasn't been doing THAT badly....things could be much much worse.  In 2016/17 we may wind up with another Democrat with similar foreign policy strategies.  The general election is much different than these congressional votes. I would hope the issue in Ukraine would be settling down, but  if we do get another Obama'like person in the whitehouse, how do you think that will affect the issues in Ukraine? 


Fathertime!

[The Natural]

At some point, the sanctions will become too much for Russia, if the price of oil stays low, which will be the case at least until autumn.

How do you know that? It may and it may not, who knows?

I understand many here revel in the fact that Russia suffer under low oil prices. Well, so do we here in Norway. The krone (NOK) is drastically reduced. But I Guess we too have to suffer a little to further the interests of The Empire.

Back to Russia. Oil prices are low yes, and getting lower every day. The US dollar on the other hand is strengthening and as most of us here knows, oil is priced in us dollars which Russia uses to buy massive quantities of gold, which is at least partly used for trade With the Chinese who also are loading up on gold, unlike the western countries. Anyone here thought of gold perhaps becoming a very important commodity in the near future?
I mean, oil suddenly collapse, currencies going crazy, Euro-crisis, US debt of 17,5 trillion, rise of neo-fascism in Europe, racial tensions in USA, etc. Seems to me Things are getting more and more shaky until one single event sets it all off and Things get really nasty.

Nothing to Cheer about for any of us....

[fathertime]

How do you know that? It may and it may not, who knows?

I understand many here revel in the fact that Russia suffer under low oil prices. Well, so do we here in Norway. The krone (NOK) is drastically reduced. But I Guess we too have to suffer a little to further the interests of The Empire.

Back to Russia. Oil prices are low yes, and getting lower every day. The US dollar on the other hand is strengthening and as most of us here knows, oil is priced in us dollars which Russia uses to buy massive quantities of gold, which is at least partly used for trade With the Chinese who also are loading up on gold, unlike the western countries. Anyone here thought of gold perhaps becoming a very important commodity in the near future?
I mean, oil suddenly collapse, currencies going crazy, Euro-crisis, US debt of 17,5 trillion, rise of neo-fascism in Europe, racial tensions in USA, etc. Seems to me Things are getting more and more shaky until one single event sets it all off and Things get really nasty.

Nothing to Cheer about for any of us....

Very pertinent  post...one correction though..our  national debt is not 17.5 trillion....it is approximately 18.1 now!


It is an interesting phenomenon that often times it seems that nations do things against their own interests, but in our (The USA) interests.  The low oil prices are ok for me personally (at least at the pump), but it seems to be signifying a certain economic weakness also, which isn't good. I read that Russia is sending more oil to market than anytime in recent times.   


Fathertime!   

[Boethius]

They are (it is MY vision again) more "Soviet" than Russians 50 years ago
Brainwashed  and blind
Again- please, add something like IMHO to your postings

Americans, unlike Soviets, have the right to speak their views, and many do.  Frequently.
If Americans were brainwashed, there would be monolithic opinions, or a majority agreement with government views.  That is not the case, and it is not an opinion.  That is reality.
 
 

[Boethius]

What? A link to Bundestag is now appalling?
Give me a break
this victim needs to know who is giving her a hard time
I am sick of blaming Putin in everything
Russia doesn't want war in Ukraine

You are suggesting to her that some Marxist politician has a lock on the truth.  It is an opinion, nothing more.  To play it for cheap political points is what I object to

[Boethius]

I do NOT care what you are finding, ok?

You don't have to care.  But it won't stop me from stating my opinion.  Your post was insensitive to an extreme.

[Boethius]

How do you know that? It may and it may not, who knows?

I understand many here revel in the fact that Russia suffer under low oil prices. Well, so do we here in Norway. The krone (NOK) is drastically reduced. But I Guess we too have to suffer a little to further the interests of The Empire.

Back to Russia. Oil prices are low yes, and getting lower every day. The US dollar on the other hand is strengthening and as most of us here knows, oil is priced in us dollars which Russia uses to buy massive quantities of gold, which is at least partly used for trade With the Chinese who also are loading up on gold, unlike the western countries. Anyone here thought of gold perhaps becoming a very important commodity in the near future?
I mean, oil suddenly collapse, currencies going crazy, Euro-crisis, US debt of 17,5 trillion, rise of neo-fascism in Europe, racial tensions in USA, etc. Seems to me Things are getting more and more shaky until one single event sets it all off and Things get really nasty.

Nothing to Cheer about for any of us....

It is common sense. 
 
I never stated I cheer about the hardship Russians face.

[calmissile]

If it was not Crimea, it would be anything else. The goal is to defeat Russia which won't happen.

Doll, it is not necessary for the West to defeat Russia.  The Kremlin is doing that well enough on their own, just as it did to itself last time.

If Russia had kept it's nose out of Ukraine's business there would not be an issue today.  Ukraine would have been free to promote it's democracy and eventually rid itself of corruption.  Ukraine did not need Russia and there is no justification for Russia to invade Crimea or Eastern Ukraine.  It's borders were well established and recognized by the rest of the world.  It is Russia that created the problems and needs to be held accountable for the damages they have caused.


The lame excuse that Putin used to 'protect Russian speakers' was applied on a larger scale, I can't wait until he wants to start in California and Alaska.  Bring it on!

[fathertime]

 [size=78%]http://video.foxnews.com/v/3972103540001/west-in-a-bind-over-russian-sanctions/?intcmp=HPBucket&playlist_id=922779230001#sp=show-clips[/size]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30679176


Interesting...the Fox news guy, has hit on many of the points I've been expressing for a while!  Seems to feel a wider conflict could open up if this continues. 


Fathertime!   

[Boethius]

France wants to lift sanctions if Russia cooperates on peace talks.  That is a big if.

[The Natural]

  The low oil prices are ok for me personally (at least at the pump), but it seems to be signifying a certain economic weakness also, which isn't good.

Fathertime!   

It is interesting to ponder how quickly we get big changes at the world stage, such as with the currencies. For most Americans, they're not used to think in anything other than dollar terms. You get reduced gas prices at the pumps, we get practically no reduction.... because the NOK is much lower now. Gold is around 1200 when it was at 1900 in 2011, but in kroner, gold is Close to an all-time high. The Russians have lost on their rouble, but get more value for their oil in dollars which they can buy gold and roubles at a great discount. The trouble People say they're in isn't as great as we are led to believe. Putin is signing trade deals and currency swaps With several countries like China, India, Turkey, hey, even New Zealand, haha. Seems like those Russkies ain't as dumb as we thought....

[Muzh]

And if you father had used a condom someone else would breathe your air.

Every loss of life in such a conflict is tragic, regardless if it is a boy from Lviv who got drafted to fight for Ukraine or a mercenary who chose to be there for the money it would bring his family. You can say that those who actively chose to participate took the risk, just as American soldiers going to Iraq take it. Still that does not give you the right to feel happy about their death.

I'd like to ask you a simple question. What do you consider life? Actually, a living person.


I'll wait for your answer.

[Boethius]

It is interesting to ponder how quickly we get big changes at the world stage, such as with the currencies. For most Americans, they're not used to think in anything other than dollar terms. You get reduced gas prices at the pumps, we get practically no reduction.... because the NOK is much lower now. Gold is around 1200 when it was at 1900 in 2011, but in kroner, gold is Close to an all-time high. The Russians have lost on their rouble, but get more value for their oil in dollars which they can buy gold and roubles at a great discount. The trouble People say they're in isn't as great as we are led to believe. Putin is signing trade deals and currency swaps With several countries like China, India, Turkey, hey, even New Zealand, haha. Seems like those Russkies ain't as dumb as we thought....

The deals with China are on China's terms, not Russia's, so, not a great win for Russia.

None of the other countries can really replace the EU currently, in terms of market size.  I also don't eat any food grown in China, and would not recommend others do so. 

I don't think anyone has said Russians are dumb.  It is always better for a country to diversify its market as much as possible, but those markets, realistically, can't replace the EU, at least, not currently, without pain.
 
 

[The Natural]

The deals with China are on China's terms, not Russia's, so, not a great win for Russia.

None of the other countries can really replace the EU currently, in terms of market size.  I also don't eat any food grown in China, and would not recommend others do so. 

I don't think anyone has said Russians are dumb.  It is always better for a country to diversify its market as much as possible, but those markets, realistically, can't replace the EU, at least, not currently, without pain.

Whose terms are best, I don't know. But I strongly believe Beijing has a great interest in seeking allies like Russia as they are also getting more surrounded by the empire driven politically by the Wolfowitz doctrine.

I agree the EU can't be replaced just like that. It takes time. I would also be careful eating Chinese Foods, but then Russia apparently is in full swing upping it's own Food Production. Of course, that too takes time to Complete. So it's painful for Russia and also for Europe. The only ones not in pain (at the moment) are the hawks in Washington.

[Boethius]

The APNC is a failure, and in any event, did not target countries surrounding China, so it has no effect on China.
Russia will not be food independent for years, if ever.