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Furious Russia, Downgraded To Just Above Junk By S&P, Proposes "Scorched Earth" Retaliation Against NATO Countries
Cyprus and Russia - what's the difference (aside from the fact that the former was a money laundering offshore center of the latter until last year of course)?
If you said one is a lackey to statist, selfish banker interests, and after having its economy thoroughly destroyed by the great doomed European sociopolitical (and pathological) experiment, came crawling back to its Eurozone masters, while the other couldn't care one bit about Pax Petrodollariana and the global central bank cabal, you are right. In which case it will also be clear why a few hours ago that joke of a rating agency, Standard & Poor's, which also earlier announced it was "affirming" France at an AA rating making it very clear it will no longer accept being sued for telling the truth and downgrading sovereigns or otherwise have its offices abroad raided, not only upgraded Cyprus from B- to B (please deposits your funds in Cyprus banks now: they are safe, S&P promises), but - far more importantly - delivered a political message to the Kremlin, and downgraded Russia from BBB to BBB-, one short notch away from junk status. This was the first downgrade of Russia by S&P since December 2008.
"In our view, the tense geopolitical situation between Russia and Ukraine could see additional significant outflows of both foreign and domestic capital from the Russian economy and hence further undermine already weakening growth prospects," S&P wrote in its report.
Moscow's MICEX stock index fell by 1.5% after the move. The ruble weakened 0.6% against the dollar to 35.977.
A further cut to junk status would be a big move, given Russia's relatively modest level of debt, according to Tim Ash, an economist at Standard Bank.
"But if the crisis in Ukraine deteriorates further, and we see sustained capital flight and pressure on the ruble and Russian markets further, then it is possible," he said.
Russia's response was prompt.
First, in retaliation to the downgrade, Russian economy minister Alexei Ulyukaev said S&P’s downgrade of Russia’s rating was expected by investors, won’t significantly change their behavior, adding the obvious that the decision to cut Russia’s rating was partly political, partly based on economic situation. In other words, entirely symbolic - it is not as if Russia has access to bond markets anyway, plus as we wrote earlier this week in "Why Putin Is Smiling At The Bond Market's Blockade Of Russia", it is not as if it needs them.
But far more importantly, and ahead of yet another round of western sanctions which appears imminent unless Obama is to look even more powerless than he currently is (granted, a difficult achievement), Russian presidential adviser Sergei Glazyev proposed plan of 15 measures to protect country’s economy if sanctions applied, Vedomosti newspaper reports, citing Glazyev’s letter to Finance Ministry. According to Vedomosti as Bloomberg reported, Glazyev proposed:
- Russia should withdraw all assets, accounts in dollars, euros from NATO countries to neutral ones
- Russia should start selling NATO member sovereign bonds before Russia’s foreign-currency accounts are frozen
- Central bank should reduce dollar assets, sell sovereign bonds of countries that support sanctions
- Russia should limit commercial banks’ FX assets to prevent speculation on ruble, capital outflows
- Central bank should increase money supply so that state cos., banks may refinance foreign loans
- Russia should use national currencies in trade with customs Union members, other non-dollar, non-euro partners
In other words, a full-blown scorched earth campaign by Russia.
Granted, Russian holdings of US Treasurys are not that substantial (and could be monetized entirely in three months of POMO by the Fed), and western financial linkages to Russia, aside from trade routes, are not life-threatening, but if Russia were to take the baton, and other BRIC countries, already furious by the recent US decision to not boost their IMF status, follow suit, then Obama's life is about to become a living nightmare. Especially, if that most important BRIC member - China - does any of the many things it can do to indicate if, in this brand new Cold War, it is with or against the US...
Finally, those curious what are the linkages between the west and Russia are, review our recent post on the matter: All You Need To Know About Russia, In Charts.
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Sandman. From the Hennock Prophecies published by Billy Mier in 1987. Based on your knowledge of history, what do you see here?
........."The Soviet Union will be dissolved in this decade or at the latest by the beginning of the next. The man decisive for this action will be Mikhail Gorbachev. But this will not lead to rest, because the new Russia will continue its longstanding conflict with China over Inner Mongolia, with the result that Russia will lose a portion of this territory to China. And China becomes dangerous, especially to India, as also at this time China maintains uneasy relations with her. China will attack India; and if biological weapons are used, around 30 million human beings will be killed in the area of and around New Delhi alone. However, this will not be the end yet—because the effect of biological bombs and missiles, etc., used cannot be controlled at that time, and terrible epidemics unknown up to that point in time will arise and will spread quickly to many areas. Also Pakistan will allow herself to be misled to instigate a war against India, which will be especially dangerous in view of the fact that both countries are developing atomic weapons. Wars and devastation in Europe and North America Yet Russia will not rest and will attack Scandinavia, and in doing so will embroil all of Europe. And months before that, a terrible tornado will have swept across northern Europe, causing great devastation and destruction. It must still be stated that the Russian attack will occur during the summer, in fact, starting from Arkhangelsk. Denmark will not be dragged into the war, due to the insignificance of this country. Yet Russia will not be satisfied with this action of war, as her will for expansion will be ravenous. And consequently Russia will launch a military attack against Iran and Turkey and will conquer these two countries in bloody fighting, causing enormous destruction. In the Russian expansionist mentality will also be included the drive to gain control of the Middle Eastern oil deposits as well as to gain control of the southeastern region of Europe. Therefore, she will also invade the Balkans and conquer these countries there in enormous battles, causing ruthless and devastating destruction with many deaths. This will be at the time that tremendous natural disasters will hit Italy and its people, causing severe hardship. But this will also be at the time when Vesuvius could become active again and could spread tremendous havoc. At the same time, a war will shake Italy and claim many human lives as well as cause great destruction. Destruction of war will descend on the northern countries as strong military forces will invade them from the East and will pillage and murder as well as use bombs and missiles, like hail coming down, and hitherto unknown weapons of laser- and computer-controlled types which will destroy and annihilate everything, whereby the first target will be Hungary and after that will follow Austria and northern Italy. Switzerland will also be severely affected, but will not be the actual target; this will be France and Spain. However, the main objective of the aggressors will be to bring all of Europe under their military control, and for that purpose France will be selected to be the headquarters. France will not only be invaded by the aggressors from the outside, but will also be conquered from within as a result of collaborative forces and other forces. This can be envisioned as being the many foreigners of a different religion living in France at that time, and specifically Islam, which will be this force working from within. Once France has fallen, a war to conquer Spain and England will take place. Subsequently, an alliance with the forces of the aggressors will be formed, which will invade Scandinavia. For all these French-based military operations, the weapons of mass destruction stored in the arsenals of France will be used and cause evil devastation, destruction and annihilation. The aggressors from the East will force the French Army to join their military forces and lead a war of conquest against the northern countries of Europe, invading and conquering Sweden and Norway. Subsequently, these northern countries will be annexed by Russia. Military forces will also attack Finland, whereby many will be killed and an enormous destruction will be caused. At the same time, as a civil war rages in Germany, an enormously bloody revolution will break out in England which will claim more lives than will be claimed by the civil war in Germany. And because England and Ireland have been at war for a long time already, due to the IRA and the police and military forces of England, the result will be (because this feud will continue up to that time) that this revolution will spread out to all of Ireland, especially affecting Northern Ireland. Many lives will be lost during a civil war in Wales, where differences between various parties will arise before the Third World War. Welsh and English forces will clash especially near Cymru, and claim many lives and cause great destruction. But death, destruction and annihilation will not only rage in Europe but also in America, where much suffering will have to be endured and many deaths as well as destruction and annihilation will be. America and Russia will have the most terrible weapons of mass destruction at their disposal—a fact which is already the case to a certain extent today—and will clash with violent force against each other at that time of conflict, whereby Canada will also be dragged into this conflict. The source of this conflict will substantiate the Russian attack on the American State of Alaska and against Canada.Fuck yeah!
Why we can't all just get along:
"Whenever Dictatorship wins, revolution is a duty".
And we all know by now how most human beans feel about personal responsbility, duty, and honor.
Seems to me that Russia could inflict enormous pain on the US by simply letting it be known that they are willing to buy any and all Gold and Silver bullion presented for sale on the world market and will go on buying until they have all of it. Should only require a small fraction of their reserves and would blow up several TBTFs and possibly much more than that.
I understand this wish but it would be very dangerous financial move.
The US and its minions would pound Silver and Gold into the ground, don't forget the US still has the illusionary power of the printing press. Like it or not the dollar is still the worlds fiat currency and until that changes the US carries Thors hammer and can use it when necessary. Although I think 0 could not lift Thor's hammer.
You mean they would make Gold and Silver even cheaper for Russia to buy? I don't think Putin will be bothered by that.
You have to understand that the US only has control (for the moment) of the paper gold market. They have no ability to flood the world with actual metal, as was the case during their attempts to save the London Gold Pool back in the day.
If another party determinedly sucks up all the Physical metal, no amount of Wall St. tomfoolery will keep the price of the metal low. The paper contracts - yes, but not the actual metal. And what is a contract worth if you can't make delivery on it?
"And what is a contract worth if you can't make delivery on it?"
Whatever the dollar is worth.
Worlds reserve currency until Russia says it will accept anything other than dollars for payment in oil - and Saudi follows suit - 2 chess movces to poof
If only it was that easy.
Russia would have done this long ago if it could have.
The moves are many and dangerous for both sides - unintended consequences for both.
re S&P Downgrades Russia
Yeah - like a recurring, flaring hemorrhoid, S&P "rises" to the occasion once again!
The same criiminal outfit that brought you AAA-Rated fraudulent MBS junk - that almost brought down the global financial system - now wants you to believe that the largest & most mineral-rich country on the planet is a dead-beat - so that after destroying it, S&P's Vulture Wall St Masters can swoop in and steal its resources
Do the opposite of what S&P spits out - thru its lying teeth - and prosper.
Adding to the should do list - cut gas shipment by 20%. Your move NATOUSA.
Do bond ratings mean anything? Houses given to homeless people were rated AAA. France is rated lower than homeless?
Like watching sadists play with fluffy bunny's...
What, yes, ur the bunny...
Russia = Junk; JP Morgan Chase with 7 trillion in derivitives = AAA double plus good
S&P. Does that stand for PoorStandards?
Their ratings are not even standard but sub standard and retarded
U.S. is isolating itself.
How - we just re-deployed troops throughout NATO...
Sounds like the strategy Stalin used against the Germans in WWII.
@Quintus
exactly, it should not be so hard to blow those bullion banks
maybe China still does not have enough of it
cant wait for the civil war in the UFSA
gonna be so awesome watching them fat bastards shooting
each other and the feds
Are you thinking assault rifles mounted on Walmart scooters like I am? That would be so awesome!!
Anyone who would like to join me in rating S & P on their knowledge, ethics and integrity !
Me - on a scale of 0 to 10- I would rate them as 0
You're being way too generous
Hmm well if there should be a major global conflict we know what the last shot fired by the loser might be.....
"The ratings ... are and must be construed solely as, statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell, or hold any securities." Who's pying for the opinion to be voiced this tmie ?
( http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-FCIC/pdf/GPO-FCIC.pdf)
Quote from wiki article re. rating agency down rgades:
The ratings agencies blew their credibility long time ago. imho
So it appears the paper tiger needs the dollar's military complex after all. Ahhh, but what does the Euro "get" in return for said allegiance?
A special relationship indeed ....
Russia only holds insignificant UST's to "dump"? More like a blessing than a problem. Just ask China.
www.roacheforque.blogspot.com
;0)
Looks like the great diversion is a go.
Russia is ready to financially collapse, so what better way to cover this up than to start a war.
You're so smart Putin - the world will never figure it out. FUCKING COMMUNIST ASSHOLE!!!!!!!!!!!
"USSA is ready to financially collapse, so what better way to cover this up than to start a war.
You're so smart BO - the world will never figure it out. FUCKING COMMUNIST ASSHOLE!!!!!!!!!!!"
There, fixed it for you!
Bingo. There seems to be three classifications of posters on this topic here:
1. Those suffering from the effects of the bolshevik educational system wherein the history they are taught is a complete farce.
2. Those who are part of the New Bolshevik propaganda dispersion system.
3. Those who have studied actual history, have their eyes wide open and can see how the New Bolsheviks are just a continuation of the original bolshevik agenda of world domination through the con of communism.
And 4. Those who would have no idea what a Bolshevik was if they fell over one....that's probably the largest group, I was thinking whats this guy doing talking about spaghetti for.
And all of the above who insist on calling Russia, a communist country:
http://geography.about.com/od/lists/tp/communistcountries.htm
The Russian Federation has been a Federal, Constitutional Republic since 1992.
You and RisingSun are both correct
Good God Mr Rising sun, take your pills.
Take it all seriously be cause it can lead to a in very serious set of problems. Economic misbehavior leads to threats of scantions, then military retaliations, then phoney war, followed by shooting.
For the US this could be an unwinding of a lot of pretense that someone knows what is happening. Obama is personally ignorant, poorly advised and will over play his hand. I think an economic route is near. China will exploit the Pacific next.
This is what happens when you let satanic, child raping, ritual murder types run your world. Such a shame, so many innocent young men to die and for what?
Why do you ask since you've given the answer yourself : for satan, child raping, ritual murder...
All things that kill innocence. God would not have said it differently.
So you must be his Vicar on earth.
Hail Pope.
Now lets move on to matters of more Agatha Christie type : WHO IS YOU??? in your diatribe...
I'm biting my nails...
is that Obama or Putin?
It is stupid to poke the bear. Back in the middle of 2012 Putin pledged to strengthen Russia’s economic and political ties with China after skipping a Group of Eight summit in the U.S. the month before. This unholy alliance between Russia and China may create major problems for America going forward. For more about this meeting and the implications see the article below.
http://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2012/06/putin-strenghtens-ties-with-china...
Yes, I don't think the US is thinking about the impact 15 years from now in pushing so many countries together as allies against the west, interesting things Putin could do now, use subsidiaries to purchase a billion dollars of paper Gold ..and then demand physical delivery, give the bomb, and advanced missile technology to Iran, Syria etc, may be a few of those mobile tactical nukes he has, bound to go down well in the middle east, would be interesting listening to Obama explain to Israel how he had made such a complete fuckup of the middle east and put the survival of Israel on a knife edge.
I'm sure Putin can think of lots more interesting measures he can do to upset the global power struggle, try putting that Genie back in the bottle.
The black man will simply reply : I just followed your order. You are suppose to be the smart one.
Surely noone believes that China will support the US on this.
China will support whoever will feed their economy the best - right now that is the US
they should have already done that shit
When the words "fuck the EU" were spoken, they were meant. Although the EU should be replaced with Europe. Thank you oh great leaders of the EU for falling into this trap and for not steering the continent away from Russian gas dependency after the events in Georgia of 2008 and the gas cutting by Ukraine in 2008 and 9.
America screwed Europe big time with the financial crisis of 2007 and is screwing Europe again with this crisis in Ukraine. With friends like that, who needs Russians?
Name a country that isn't screwing it's neighbor(s). Then let's look into the details of that relationship.
the french say you guys are screwing St Pierre and Miquelon...
That could start a world war between frogs and canuck penguins.
Obama and the other US communist democrats say we all should use solar
Almost junk status? Time for your retirement fund to invest in that one becasue that's what muppet investments are good for.
fidelity will buy them
I cant see why Europe want any association with the US/Uk criminal cabal.
World financials are all linked now.
This is what the EU wanted and now they see the mess of their mistake.
that is very Bearish for the US Dollar . . stocks will get hurt too. . .
throw in a few tanks on fire , from some A - 10 warthogs now
it is huge big mess.... " Ike " we need you back . . " Ike " was
a Leader of Men..
Eisenhower was a war criminal.
"Other Losses" James Bacque
Eisenhauer/Rosenfeld. Just a coupla happy go lucky tribe members.
On one hand they are saying in Russia this downgrade won't affect us. On the other hand they are saying we will retaliate with a scorched earth policy because it is going to affect us. Which is it?
I think it going to affect Putin's checking account tremendously:
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/putin-corruption-network-revealed/
The Meltdownman
S&P:
Like believing a hooker when she says ''You're the best I ever had".
best = quickest; aka highest ROI !
Time is money baby!
Do you have her number?
Anyone would think the U.S wants a war, as they have done absolutely nothing to calm the situation down.
It certainly would be a distraction away from other matters that can't be fixed and of coarse it helps justify the massive military defense budget.
If you want to play with the bull, sometimes you get the horn.
Yes the US seems to be doing eveything possible to aggravate the situation, perhaps because it knows it involves no Americans getting killed.
Yet.
http://20committee.com/2014/04/07/putinism-and-the-anti-weird-coalition/
I think S&P is soo f$%§ wrong!! So, unfair!
The truth is: Russia is the land of freedom, prosperity, gentically stable honest citizens, no internet addicts, and with such a loving father as putin is.
There, law is law, and simple citizens do not go to the rotten west to work. No!
But West, oh, well, west is corrupt, filled with suffering people and sooo unhappy to be genetically unstable. And they have internet!! F§$% that!
The word is 'Fuck'
Yes, some of the west is corrupt but so is Russia.
Putin and his comrades are not saints with enough corruption and murder to go around for everyone.
S&P rates solvent nations as junk and bankrupt nations as credit-worthy.
S&P is now reduced to junk status.
If this escalates it puts Ms Merkel before nasty choices. She did not want be tough against Russia because of Germany´s energy supply dependency and was not delighted to Obama´s tracking on her phone. Yet Germany has to show great consideration to their largest export markets..
The US knows sanctions are going to have no positive affect on the situation, so I can only surmise the US is very much in favor of a war in the Ukraine....as long as its not Americans being killed.
True. I think she's up for it though, she's not afraid of hard choices.
Please, if she was up to hard choices, she would have pulled out of the EU and linked to the East by now. She's a Western banker tool.
Now wtf could the US possibly hope to gain from this? It's like a little temper tantrum, it accomplishes nothing and only serves to anger the other.
The point has always been to destroy America and Americans in the most profitable ways possible. War is the most profitable way possible.
STOCK UP on food, fuel, drink, meds, supplies and organic seeds, if you can. This could get ugly, worldwide. CYA never hurts.
Remember about 3-5 years ago when Sec. Paulson found out that Russia was trying to get China to sell it's treasuries.
This tells you for sure Russia has been planning this war for a long time!
This tells you for sure Russia has been preparing for this war for a long time!
Fixed that for you.
Good point.
If the Indians and Chinese take Russias side on this watch the fuck out...
yeah the ukraine is OF STRATEGIC INTEREST TO THE USSA.... since when....
if the ussa was serious about the ukraine it woudl have put up the missle defense and lent it money and let it join nato....but this is not what it is all about..
ussa destabilized it, putin countered
obama open mouth and inserted foot, bent over and spread cheeks
and said ill send boden and kerry...they will make ME look good
LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT WINTEER WHEN EUROPE CAN IMPORT AND BURN ABORTED NORTH AMERICAN BABIES FOR HEAT.........MAYBE THEY BURN SOME POLITICIANS TOO... THEY ARE HIGH FAT AND LOTS OF BTU's
Please start taking our politicians now, you need to stockpile for the future.
If you have problems with logistics let us know, we will help.
Ukraine is of strategic interest because the USSA wants to install NATO in Ukraine to further surround, isolate Russia and pick it off before it goes after its next target: China. USSA also wanted Crimea to control the Black Sea and harass Russia's military bases there. But Putin got there first. Obama and Kerry are now throwing tantrums and crying "mummy mummy".
I don't know .. this shit has been going on for so long (the last 30 years, at least), I start to wonder if all these "leaders" are just giving us another round of WWF for the global serfs.
It can sure tire a person out trying to understand it all.
Really no grand plan.
A bunch of humans who want the shit that some else has.
The same story throughout history - different actors.
Merkel to visit Obama next week!! Bet it`s to ask whats delaying her gold deliveries.!!!
Germany will be siding with Russia when this all shakes out, NATO is not long for this world.
Watch what China does - the enemy of my enemy is my friend. If they adopt the ssame policy they cuild hurt us, but I guess we would escalate that by not buying their cheap ass crap or with tarriffs.
Happy Friday
Nyet!
In Russia, Status downgrades rating agency..?.. (or something that sounded really funny/clever in my head, but less so after I read it back, but still funny in head to think about)
So.. is it oficially back "on" now, (or again)..or Un-off or re-on.... , or re-un-de-escalated?... or...what's the actual status now?.. I swear I can't keep up , although I really try.
;)
Standard & Poors = Standardless Whores. (No offense to whores).
I love whores
Bank v. Bank. Only civilians die...
How about those Ukrainians who hold gold? Are they still "kooks"?
I agree with your sentiment but I don't know of any Ukranians who hold gold. It's the same with Russians. They do not stack over there. There are reasons why.
"... delivered a political message to the Kremlin, and downgraded Russia from BBB to BBB-, one short notch away from junk status. This was the first downgrade of Russia by S&P since December 2008."...
My how we lose track of time! What exactly happened in August of 2008 to prompt a downgrade 4 months later?...
That and the $700 billion "thingy" back in the U.S. of A. following Russia's successful removal operation in South Ossetia!!!!
Did Putin use the word 'Puffery' at all?
During war there are shortages. People starve to death. If you can, STOCK UP on fuel, food, drink, meds, supplies and organic seeds. CYA never hurts.
the thing about prepping...it's a solid risk management strategy assuming you don't put yourself in hock for it or lose it to waste/expiry.
if a prepper is wrong, he has some excess inventory on his hands and he ties up some capital.
if Mr. Sunshine is wrong he and his children starve to death or become slaves.
Coffee, cigarettes, alchohol replace currency.
Putin's going to time his new push into Ukraine for this fall, when nervous Europeans will capitulate lest they lose their gas supply.
Oil getting dicked now, another SPR release?
Who, other than Russia, supplies Nat Gas to Europe?
Kill the other sources and Russia becomes a Monopoly supplier.
imo, Russia will kill the other suppliers.
Threat of conflict is one of the oldest tools in a politician’s toolkit. Before the Ukraine problem Putin’s approval ratings from Russian citizens in his third term was at an all time low after the elections which were called rigged. Then in Feb of 2014 after the general election was the Pussy Riot and Trial that caused 650 arrests. Now after the Crimean intervention and saber rattling against a feeble Obama Putin is back on top…
Looks like the retaliation has begun. Russian media outlets reporting that Putin has announced the launch of a new Eurasian "gold" currency, the Altyn.
http://www.silverdoctors.com/introducing-the-altyn-russia-accelerates-pl...
Unfortunately the "gold" part is all propaganda unless of course you have a link that explains the Altyn's gold backing. Altyn is the word for gold in the local language like the British pound is sterling. Please get your facts straight.
does anyone really think that a country that lost 20 million + dead in WWII really gives a fuck about their stock prices and bond ratings? seriously?
(I think Putin will take this bond rating blackmail as an opportunity to kick some Western Banker Ass in Russia and God Bless Him for that.)
However, as soon as the Ukrainians start fucking with Russian "interests" (ie, Russians and Russian military bases) near Ukraine...man, all bets are off. I think Putin rolls in there and Georgia will look like a game of tiddlywinks. Needless to say Brennan has offered to back stop the Ukrainian Army (Brennnan who did convert to Islam while in Riyadh...you would be shocked to know how many US DOS employees in Riyadh have converted.)
Obama and Kerry of course want NATO to get involved because then it is 3 years to par-tee in the US (defense contractor boom, army enlistments, and Homeland security crackdown that will make Alex Jones look prescient) all the while US middle class get turned into life size walking and talking batteries.
Not to mention, during the Nazi siege, they ate sawdust-filled bread. Hard motherfuckers. Napoleon nor Hitler could take Moscow.
The Germans had Moscow in their grasp but Hitler FORCED them to turn South to Ukraine for wheat of all things. The weather was so wet that they made slow and costly progress to that end. By the time they returned to Moscow the weather came on and stopped the advance. So all you can really say is that the weather in Russia will shove it up your ass whether you be Napoleon or Hitler ordering around the OKH. Oh and btw they put that in store bought bread and other baked products today, just call it something different.
Processed saw-dust is used as a cheap way to boost the fiber content of bread products.
Then why are you not making sawdust bread? Get to it.
Maybe Putin should offer saw-dust to his troops...make them "tough" that way?
Silly Eddie, you eat saw-dust when your leadership sucks. That was the lesson to be learned.
It has been the Russian Winter, the tactic of disengagement, and the length and vulnerability of supply lines that undid the Armies of Napoleon. Similar issues and tactics stymied the German 6th Army which was a force stretched way too far and far over worked.
And when (if!) Russia decides to invade Ukraine I see a stretched and vulnerable Russian supply line and I see an inability (by definition) for Russia to take advantage of the "retreat". As the aggressor, they cannot turn back except in defeat. And what would that look like if the little Princess had to take all his toys home with him?
...everything that worked against Napoleon and Hitler will be working *against* Putin should he make that foolish blunder of attacking Ukraine. Russia will lose a generation of its young people. Assassinating Putin before that came to pass would certainly seem like a reasonable and preferable alternative.
Yeah, but Russia won, both times. That's the lesson to be taken and was the point of my previous post. Was Stalin a standup guy who provided for the people? Of course not, he was worse than Hitler. I agree that the harsh winter was a deciding factor in both failures to take Moscow. The current 'conflict' will be a bunch of posturing by both sides and nothing being done, militarily. We can't afford it and Russia will want to do everything under the guise of democratic process. Keep it 'legal'.
Americans and the West in general have been indoctrinated to think that fiat currency is God. All of the markets and market indicators are games constructed by man, all the numbers and flashing lights don't mean shit in the real world. At its essence, life boils down to food, water, shelter, and friends and family. I would also throw energy in there in this modern world.
The countries of Europe will soon be faced with the decision of whether to side with the US or Russia. Europe is highly dependent on Russian energy, any disruption will throw them into chaos. They need Russia far more than Russia needs them, Russia can wait out any sanctions because they have the above necessities covered.
The US is obviously desperate to accelerate things this quickly. The US should be very concerned about unrest by its own citizens, any disruptions to the "American Dream" will surely throw the US into riots and chaos. I would say that's it has already begun.
You are right.
The US wants to split Europe from Russia because they're afraid that the combination of Germany , Russia, China - in fact the whole Eurasian Continent - would mean the death of the USD.
By splitting Russia from Europe, that means one competitor ( the Euro ) LESS for USD-WW-hegimony .
Russia , China and Asia ( and Europe in fact ) would anyway be better off creating their own commodity-based currency, rather than being under the control of the IMF, WB and UN ... all with US based headquarters.
Europe was neutered by the US after WWII, the countries of Europe need to take control of their own destinies if they hope to survive. Neither Europe nor Russia want another world war, especially one fought on their soil. The US will be in for a rude awakening when NATO fractures.
First, the Brennan-Muslim story was all bullshit and was debunked some time ago. Good try.
Moving on. The mass murder and starvation and stupid military blunders by the Russians of WWII should not be seen as a strength. Similarly, the British "charge of the light brigade" and the US "death march of Bataan" should not be heralded as military victories. When you run your troops into machine guns until you have built a wall of your dead so high you no longer can see the battle field...that is not good (;-!)
The Russians of today are horrified by the losses they had inflected on their troops and population, both from the war and by a demented sociopath from Georgia who engineered the kind of mass relocation and death marches and "work camps" that Pol-Pot could only have dreamed of pulling off. Keep in mind, too, that the Russian people would NEVER have signed off on this crap...it was only secrecy and control of the media that allowed such horrors to take place without more open revolt.
That said, maybe Russia, today, needs a modern reminder of the stupidity of their leadership of the past? Hope not.
Hopefully, Vladimir of the Glass Slippers in his Kremlin Palais will not make them learn it. Russia is WEAK and its military is bullshit.
I agree that BOND markets are not the leverage for this situation except in its symbolic manner. Princess Putin is being shown to be a feckless leader and this helps dispel the the Strong-Man mystique that seems to be so enthralling to the more fascist minded in Russia.
Humiliation is the best treatment for this Narcissist. But it is a dangerous game for the Russian military who cannot truly defend themselves.
I bet China and Russia are having secret meetings on a new reserve currency...to me the time is ripe for one....if the west wants a currency and trade war....they can get one...but those with the gold win...its time to show those cards I think
Good then America can start to manufacture again and I might be able to buy any decent product. Just bought a cabbage shredder made in China and the blades are so dull I will have to disassemble it and sharpen them myself, oh and all the screws are stripped as well. Those happy happy Chinese workers...
It's all being allowed (maneuvered) to happen a la 2011. A reset is needed and someone else to blame. This time Putin instead of congress. NEED TO GET THOSE VALUATIONS DOWN...NEED TO GET THOSE BONDS BOUGHT...
Frankly Russia shouldn't bother talking with USA, Germany or any other country. If they this matter sorted out go to the oligarchs that own the politicians and are likely behind all these plans.
Go to the individual Oligarchs and give them an offer they cannot refuse...that hiding behind a country wont save the arses anymore...they will learn to pay personally.
Once an Oligarch gets arse shot off, rather than countries shooting each other...then the might think twice.
.
I've been agonizing & complaining about Russian Gas all year, and so my Obamacare practitioner gave me "Beano"...
The fight for (and against) the Petro-dollar, otherwise known as green asswipe.
Big oil is still miffed over being thrown out of Russia, so they are pushing the war agenda. Plus war is a great way to elevate oil prices. Follow the money. Only problem is this adversary comes equipped with nucs. If Putin gets backed into a corner, you never know what might happen. It's a reckless gamble to mess with him in his own backyard.
Okay I had it slightly wrong. It was Fannie and Freddie debt.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/03/18/jaw-dropping-former-u-s-treasury-secretary-makes-bombshell-claim-about-russia-and-2008-financial-crisis/
But notice. Russia went to China to plan. Now Russia clearly has been planning chaos for years against US and trying to team with China/India.
Now note the amount of gold that China and India have been buying up over the years and you can only come to one conclusion.
Who stole my kieska!
fed_depression :Now Russia clearly has been planning chaos for years against US and trying to team with China/India.
Planning chaos? Maybe the just don't want to continue the Petro-Dollar Ponzi as an act of self preservation.
All this is good for Russia. While any individual or country can enjoy a higher standard of living in the short run by loading themselves down with debt, in the long run, borrowing is bad.
An individual or country who borrows to enjoy a more luxurious present pays ever increasing percentages of their income in interest payments. But far more important, they habituate inefficient behavior. Bad habits and inefficient behavior compound like interest, and lead to exponentially worse results.
This is why gold backed money leads to healthier, more efficent, more responsible behavior, and why fiat backed money eventually leads to disaster... every... single... time.
The US and west generally really must be desperate to act they way they are. Maybe they are doing this just to create another circus as a distraction from the collapse of their own empires. Who knows. But increasingly Russia is more and more in a position of gaining by simply refusing to play the western predator games. Good thing they have boatloads of natural resources... they can ride this train indefinitely if they wish, while the west acts like spoiled brats and crazed wackos as they spiral down the toilet of history.
Ukriane is not the issue, and I don't think it ever was. Ukraine offered a chance to force Russia into a confrontation that the west hopes it can use to destroy the gorwing economic and political relationship between Russia and European Nations. The USA is not a part of this mutual economic dependency that has built up between resource rich Russia and resource and job hungry Europe. Car sales alone to Russia are what keeps some Euro car manufacturers in the black. As gas and oil, plus minerals flow from Russia to Europe, lots of European jobs are created filling orders for consumer goods all across Russia, including high value German machine tools and electrical equipment for examples.
Ukraine has enough crazy people in the western regions, living in abject poverty, perfect troops for a coup, once trained and put on a permanent payroll job by the CIA. We all saw how the coup was carried out in one square in one city, while an entire nation is expected to accept what a handful of paid western agents carried out. Now that the USA has a coup government that is a CIA asset, they can use them to provoke Russia until the situation goes out of control. The worse the better as we see economic sanctions, military moves and threats of a cold war isolation of Russia. This makes Europe once again a wholly dependent ward of the USA, not an economic and political part of a greater Europe.
The USA can not accept an independent Russia, it has always been about destroying Russia. Ukraine has just provided the excuse the US has been dreaming of. The US led NATO invasion of South Ossetia failed to break the Russian European links. So the CIA moved on to bigger game, they found a hard core of insane nazis in west Ukraine, took them into the CIA family and trained them up as agents to carry out a fake revolution.
Now the rest of Ukraine is not fully accepting of the US government in Kiev. As many in the East have said, they do not want the IMF leaders running Ukraine. They do not want IMF loans that they will be enslaved to for their life times. They see Brussels communist dictatorship controlling all European social and economic and educational policies in favor of global communism and destruction of white ethnic entities in favor of an African and Asia model of ethnic social orders.
As long as the US can use Ukraine to wage a hot economic war, and hopefully bully Russia into a hot war, the US will be happy. We have a short window to destroy Russia before the US fiat economy goes into free fall, and only a few years before China is the world's number one economy and the US dollar begins to fall from reserve currency status.
America is awash in social and economic problems, the people are beginning to understand that democrats and republicans are the same party of elite war mongers. To silence the people, they need a dangerous international enemy. Russia was once an enemy as the old USSR, the government elties believe they can sell this bullshit to America again, and use it to repress all freedom and all economic reform in the US. Our 1% have taken it all, now they seek to hold onto it all, be getting aveage Americans to focus on a Russian threat, they can divert the people into accepting an illegal corrupt government in Washington .
Spot on commentary again Jack, and I do believe that you're right- that's exactly what they are attempting to do. At the same time they push for the "new consumer, new voter initiative" (Immigration) back home to try desperately to keep the fiat dollar alive.
The problem is Americans have woken up! Before the government realizes it they will have a war abroad by design and a war at home by error. These two fronts will prove too much and eventually WE THE PEOPLE complete the deep cleaning of these traitors.
Jack, that is a lot to pull from one's ass. Impressive.
You are an idiot, novictim. I would pick apart your comments from throughout the thread but it's not worth my time.
Even if you had an army of Putin's revisionist historians and a direct access to the Kremlin's booze supply you would still not be able to "pick apart my threads", Ivan.
And even if you were able to do this, I have thermal underwear underneath.
Jack, I think there are some pipeline interests for Russia, worth mentioning. Some of what you've written I'll agree with, but, Russia wasn't bullied into this. Putin's not Santa... annnd...here come the downvotes.
Europe: 740 M, USA: 318 M, Russia: 144 M people.
China will NEVER kick out Europe and the USA, they would be crazy to lose 1 billion of the wealthiest people on the planet as customer.
China is just using the current situation to get cheaper gas.
Russia only has 144 M people, the rich have left the country a long time ago. Russia is poor, there are not many people with relevant education (and certainly no-one with any skills wanting to move there), has no R&D programs and produces nothing other than vodka and gas/oil.
Putin should stop playing games, and start investing in his own country, because Russia is on the brink of becoming totally irrelevant. He needs all the money he can get, which includes Euros for gas.
People who see Putin as some sort of hero, standing up against the West, need to get real. The guy is a powerful idiot with increasingly dangerous views. He's rapidly silencing dissent, putting a stranglehold on all independent media and bloggers, putting fines on cursing and pornography. His most inspired followers - the "Putin Jugend" - are young and from the extreme right, who do his dirty work. He keenly points at the neo-nazis in Ukraine, but make no mistake, 10.000's of neo-nazis in Russia see Putin as their leader.
The man took Hitler's playbook as an example. He pulled a Sudetenland. What's next?
You realize Tower, that you are communicating to mostly Kremlin-paid PR folks, right?
Why don't you and I challenge each other for who can get the largest number of down-arrows minus Up-Arrows? I drew first blood.
---
BTW: Princess Putin 's next act will be to perform further military exercises on the border of Ukraine.
He is not stupid and he sees the NATO wood chipper with his name on it so every day that goes by and thereis no further aggression from Russia signals Putin is aware of the underlying weakness of his rusting army and their poor training. He got the Crimea and most likely that is it for him.
Mind you, he might keep sending in Special forces and FSB folks to disrupt the Ukrainian society further. In fact, it would be a surprise if he did not do this. But in the end, Ukraine will be a stronger and more prosperous country for having faced this challenge from the Czarina. And so will the EU.
You're the one sounding like a paid troll...some on dude! That last line was pure nationalist romanticism. Being honest about history and geopoplitics is not loving Putin...it is what it is. You said nothing here of substance..."Ukraine will be a stronger and more proserous country for having faced this challenge..." blah blah blah...pure propaganda rhetoric. All "Ukraine" IS ONE, huh? Sillinesss. I don't have to like Putin to know that similar psychopaths are running the west...and those wonderful liberating Ukraine stooges that were bought and paid for by western govts to overthrow AN ELECTED PRESIDENT...it sounds like you're pretty in love with those thug merenaries too. Says a lot about you and your buddy Tower here...real intellects...objective types (sarc). Go somewhere else if you just want to watch flags wave and anthems sung...leave us alone.
China doesn't have to bail on the US and Europe to hurt them.
Ending the US dollar as the reserve currency is their Ace card. Huge profits are made in London and NY from the currency exchanges.
Take those profits away and you'll see huge aftershocks.
yeah, yeah. We all know putin should throw in the towell and hand over his country to the banksters - he can start by bringing back all those patriot Oligarchs and pardon Khordorovsky. He never should have resisited letting that prince sell Yukos to Exxon.
Banksters know best. They are sure looking out for me and my family. I sleep well at night.
"...European sociopolitical (and pathological) experiment..."
Psychopaths, huh?
The EU countries are struggling under the same economic system we in the USA are. Recall that it was our banking shenanigans and then that of Britain that sent the entire world economy into a tail spin.
How easy it is to "forget" that the over-leveraging of debt to build housing bubbles as a substitute for real wealth is authored in the USA. It is the banking centers in New York and London that are PSYCHOPATH central. (Oh, yes...there are other banking centers but my point is that the EU per se is not the source of the problem. And SOCIALISM is the opposite of this problem.
No. The real complaint against the EU is mealy mouthed accusations against Socialism and the socialist agenda of guaranteeing a decent life and society to its members.
It is the shorter work week, the guaranteed health care, the longer vacations, the rights in the workplace/safe work place laws that are your real axe for the grinding. And since most of you have crap jobs, have very little savings, are insecure in your retirement you look on with envy at Germany and Sweden, countries that make the wealthy pay their damn taxes. Well FUCK YOU.
Ha Ha --- there is no shorter work week than the American taxpayer funded SOCIALIST EBT "NO WORK" week -- absolutely guaranteed. Healthcare? US system is chaotic and fascistic but stumbles along and is made much worse by the progressives' attempts to further "fascistize" it (but much underrated and used as a whipping boy by the "free" highly rationed death-panel socialized health countries -- don't ever be a whistle-blower about the shortcomings of such systems). Workplace safety? You obviously are feigning ignorance when you mention that. Why would you tout the virtue of saving if you think the Swedes are so "secure"? I doubt that the US welfare recipients look with envy at the Swedes....that oppressively boring country.......
WELL......
You are against Unemployment insurance now? How insane and out of touch you are.
Get that Clown Car of yours to take you to the Airport, I'm sure some third world country would love to have you. Can you knit? Or take lascivious offers at the corners and back alleys?
Have you stopped abusing your pet dog out of misplaced rage? Have you stopped peeping through your neighbors' windows?
Did my dog tell you that?!
Get over here, Fido!
Treat him nice now, he didn't say a word.
So, all this to initiate "QE Ruble". I shoulda been a fuckin' banker, man, I mean it!
(I didn't even know I liked economics until WAMU failure, not personally impacted, but intrigued so as to become an economic autodidact)
if Russia were to take the baton, and other BRIC countries, already furious by the recent US decision to not boost their IMF status, follow suit, then Obama's life is about to become a living nightmare. Especially, if that most important BRIC member - China - does any of the many things it can do to indicate if, in this brand new Cold War, it is with or against the US...
Lol none of the Bric's are going to go to war for Russia. China will be paitently waiting for Russia to collapse again because of western sanctions so it can grab Siberia. Thats the downside of someone actually agreeing with you that its alright to up and grab territory from other countries there agreement may also include them thinking taking some of your territory is fine as well. India and Brazil have no reason to choose Russia over US and Europe in any more then minor symbolic statements.
When it comes down to it, would Obama, an America-hater, actually fight for the USD as reserve currency?
He picked up the torch from bush, so, uh, yeah. Question is does his master, Soros, still love the dollah?
America is the only first world country that does not have a civil defense/bunker program meant to protect it's citizens from bombings. If you are taking the feeling of war seriously, start digging. If you understand what American "leadership" is doing, start digging.
Who used the term "scorched earth", Russia or Zero Hedge? In other words, has Russia used the term "scorched earth"?
Digging? I'm sharpening my stick for the next world war.
Piss off Russia and look for more bankers being thrown off more high rise buildings.