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Russia's Response To European Capital Sanctions In One Word
While the West continues to press the "Russia is increasingly isolated" meme, it appears - as we noted ironically previously, that Vladimir Putin is finding plenty of friends... most notably China. While threats of 'asymmetric' retaliation over European sanctions may have been enough to worry Europe's leaders, the slew of news overnight regarding increased cooperation between China and Russia is likely more damaging to Western strategy (and egos).
Not so isolated...
h/t @PersonOfAwesome
As overnight news shows... China and Russia are ramping up their cooperation...
First, as Reuters reports, Russia and China pledged on Tuesday to settle more bilateral trade in rouble and yuan and to enhance cooperation between banks, Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said, as Moscow seeks to cushion the effects of Western economic sanctions...
Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said told reporters in Beijing that he had agreed an economic cooperation pact with China's Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli that included boosting use of the rouble and yuan for trade transactions.
The pact also lets Russian banks set up accounts with Chinese banks, and makes provisions for Russian companies to seek loans from Chinese firms.
"We are not going to break old contracts, most of which were denominated in dollars," Shuvalov said through an interpreter.
"But, we're going to encourage companies from the two countries to settle more in local currencies, to avoid using a currency from a third country."
* * *
So that blows the oil/gas funding sanctions plan out of the water as Russian firms will merely fund via China.
* * *
Second, as RBTH reports, The Chinese company CNPC is to get up to 10 percent in Russia’s Vankor oilfields, Rosneft’s biggest production asset...
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the plan at the construction launch of the Power of Siberia gas pipeline on 1 September, business newspaper Kommersant reported.
“The plan will secure state support, and we will encourage your participation,” said Putin to the members of the Chinese delegation.
“There are no restrictions for our Chinese friends,” he said. According to Kommersant, the Chinese state company CNPC could get up to 10 percent in Vankorneft for approximately $1 billion.
* * *
So that knocks another leg out of the sanctions stool as investment in energy infrastructure and technology is covered.
* * *
And finally, as ITAR-TASS reports, Russian Railways are set to get RUB400 Billion investment from Chinese investors...
Chinese investors have expressed their willingness to invest 400 billion rubles. in the construction of high-speed highway Moscow - Kazan. Itar-Tass said the first vice-president of Russian Railways Alexander Misharin.
"Even today, the Chinese banks, China Development Bank in the first place, ready to raise the funding needed for this project, we are talking about the order of 400 billion rubles." - Said Misharin, noting that the final decision on the construction of high-speed rail is in Russian government.
Misharin emphasized that the stated funds are sufficient to "provide funding for the project in terms of funds raised."
* * *
But apart from that, yeah Russia is isolated...
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GREAT article! Thanks.
FYI... I like to use OANDA.com to monitor currencies and PM prices. It has nice tools to customize historical data and to download it into Excel.
Jack4952,
Why do you care about currencies at such level of detail?
Did you short UAH?
Yea, the Russians have got the world by the tail. Nothing can faze them. This website is getting ridiculous. I'm in Russia 2-3 times/year and the people I talk to aren't eager to be isolated from the U.S. and Western Europe. And they sure as hell don't trust the Cninese. Most Russians actually like Americans. I wish politicians on both sides of this issue would just (for once!) listen to the people of their countries; NOBODY wants a war or an economic battle that destroys their ability to live a good life.
nuke offensive parity (at least) , geography 3x anyone else and ability to go underground means vlad wins in the end. hands down!
No nation state wins if the nukes go off. There are only people who can get to areas of minimal fallout and people who are fucked.
Does that mean fucked AND dead, or just fucked? Cause, well, how bad could that be?
"Fuck" is like the universal tool in the English language. It can mean whatever the fuck you want it to. The the case above, fucked = dead.
Do most Russians like Americans, or the American government? Because there is a difference between the two. I like most of the Russians I have met. If Vlad launches nukes at us, that's not going to change. But I'll hold both of our so called leaders just as responsible for the mushroom clouds should I survive.
Americans. Not the lousy American government. Obama and Putin plus the rest of the politicians are all a bunch of dangerous clowns. Anybody who trusts them has shit for brains.
I don't know why you got junked for that.
But yeah, when you look at things, a partnership between China and Russia only has short to medium term longevity. China will be going to war for resources in our lifetimes, and where that war leads them is anybody's best guess. Besides, there've been border disputes between the two throughout modern history.
having Putin and obama in the same class in any comparison is silly
Yes and no. Putin knows how to play the game. He's intelligent and pays attention to what his stengths and weaknesses are. He pays attention to what ours are. But he is a statist. His endgame is unknown. I hope it is simply stopping the US from it's dumb games, but I fear that it is more than that. He is a bit of an enigma. There is too much propaganda flying around to discern the truth, and we'll have to wait for the end result to tell for sure.
El Vaquero: You say Putin's "end-game is unknown."
But he has made his end-game clear countless times (as have Lavrov and Medvedev):
1) Stable borders so we can develop internally.
2 ) The creation of a new pan-European entente from Lisbon to Vladivostok and embracing North America. Requires the creation of a new zone of pan-Hemispheric economic and security coooperation to supersede the institutions held over from the Cold War and are no longer relevant (NATO, for example.)
3) This entente would be based on the shared Christian values of pan-Europe.
4) This is the vision opened up by Reagan and Gorbachev and is Putin's preferred outcome.
5) If the US will not accept this, and remains determined to encircle and dismember us, we will defend ourselves. As V. V. Putin said: "We Russians will not be cannon fodder for the New World Order." [This is where we are now. Russians in Donetsk and Lugansk have been earmarked as cannon fodder for the NWO, and Russia is doing its best to save them from destruction.]
And I hope you are right, I really do. I hope that Putin and Russia stops US mechanizations and stops there, but shit like this has a way of spiraling out of control, and people in charge have a way of forgetting what is not just important, but also what is realistic when it does.
a few facts for you to think over:
it's NOT Russia but USA who attacked Iraq in 1990.
It's NOT Russia but USA who bombed Iraq during the 1990s.
Its' NOT Russia but USA who lied Iraq had imaginary "weapons of mass distraction" during 2001-2003.
It's NOT Russia but USA who attacked and occupied Iraq in 20013.
It's NOT Russia but USA who attacked and occupied Afghanistan in 2001
It's NOT Russia but USA who has attacked and bombed Pakistan, Yemen, Syria, Lybia, Sudan, etc, etc, etc...
USA has been meddling into the afairs of countless countries in the last 20 years. Rusia hasn't meddled into ONE single country, while USA/NATO have attacked country after country Russia has tried to do business. For you to claim Putin is a war monger flies in the face of facts.
Except for Russia meddling in Georgia's affairs.
But I never stated that Putin was a war monger. Your reading comprehension sucks, though that could be because English is not your mother tongue. I stated that Putin was an enigma - i.e. a mystery. I can guess how far he will go if pushed into a corner, but what I cannot guess is how far he will go if he has a free hand. While propaganda in the US has reached an all time high, I bet that you're being subjected to it as well, assuming that you're in Russia.
"Except for Russia meddling in Georgia's affairs"
Whoa! Slow down with the revisionist history there Winston! This one hasn't been re-written and sent down the memory hole just yet...
You are ignoring the fact that Saakashvili was a US stooge who was brought to power by one of those neatly pre-packaged, OTPOR style, "color" revolutions (Rose, in this particular case).
You are ignoring the fact that NATO was holding the carrot of membership to Georgia at the time, and was even using a Georgian brigade for the occupation of Iraq.
You are ignoring the fact that many western oil companies had enormous interests and were manipulating the political and military environment, and calling the shots. For example, Georgia was a key piece of the main South Stream rival, the Nabucco pipeline project.
You are ignoring the fact that the United States European Command planned and the United States Defense Department funded the military exercises inside Georgia that were designed as an exact dress rehearsal for the actions that took place afterwards (Immediate Response 2008). Less than seven days after the "exercise", those same exact units were attacking Abkhazia and South Ossetia following the same battle plan they rehearsed with the US Army.
You are ignoring the fact that Georgia started the conflict by bombing the ever loving shit out of civilians and leveling cities with massive, indiscriminate fires from Grad Rocket Launchers and 152-millimeter Howitzers. They also employed cluster munitions in their initial bombardments.
You are ignoring the fact that those civilians being slaughtered were all Russian (not Georgian) citizens, and that Russian peacekeepers stationed there by international agreements were also killed in the bombardment and subsequent attacks.
All of this and more happened before the Russian Army poured out through the narrow Roki tunnel (only one single battalion at a time) and flattened Georgia's US trained and equipped army within 72-96 hours.
On the very day the Russian bear pounced (8 August 2008) the US immediately ordered "Sarko the American" to start a mad shuttle diplomacy mission between Moscow and Tbilisi, with the US openly negotiating through their satrap on behalf of the "sovereign" country of Georgia. The US Air Force immediately brought back from Iraq Georgia's First Infantry Brigade so they could join the fighting. The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, was in Tbilisi, personally supervising Saakashvili as he signed the treaty.
There is much. much more that can be added, but I think the point is made.
So, let's try that again.
Who was meddling in Georgia's affairs?
I never said NATO wasn't meddling in their affairs too, but I could consider sending troops into a country as meddling in its affairs. Whether it was right or wrong or necessary is another story.
"Most Russians actually like Americans"
That's probably because they've never met an average American. The Americans you meet in places like Russia are the more outgoing, intelligent variety. I've done a lot of off the beaten path travel in my day, and I often hooked up with Americans who were likewise inclined. Sensible people for the most part. Nothing like what you find in Cancun on spring break.
Question: do they get Duck Dynasty or Dancing With The Stars in Russia? That might temper their outlook somewhat.
how about an overlay of countries the us has troops [or "advisors"] in?
Especially in Africa...
Wouldn't it be easier to list the countries the US isn't camped out in?
150+
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_military_deployments
Fuck Nuland.
Fuck Europe - that evil construct which just brings harm and war all the way long for its poeple. And serves nobody but a handful EU and US oligarchs.
Fuck all those European leaders and send them over to Sibiria together with those Ukrainian fascist all of which nobody needs.
That's some real sophisticated thinking there, Skippy.
Ah, "Nuland". Speaking of unpleasant people and events they create...
The world's largest lake and supply of fresh water -- Russia's Lake Biakal -- is being turned into a swamp by its domestic and foreign tourist. Aside from dumping tourist waste, foreign invasive aquatic species have made it all the way from N. Amer, to Lake Baikal: Elodea Canadensis, and Spirogyra.
How the American/Canadian Water Weed made it from N.Am. lakes to Lake Baikal is a mystery. Maybe it was just an Act of God, or due to an Alien Abduction. I mean, it could not possibly have been brought there deliberately by an American or Canuck, right?
"How the American/Canadian Water Weed made it from N.Am. lakes to Lake Baikal is a mystery. "
Water bombers would be my guess. Russia probably leased the aircraft from the US or Canada to fight forest fires.
http://www.martinmars.com
Whether your problem is in the timberlands of British Columbia, the brush of Australia, the rainforests of Southeast Asia or the dreaded urban/rural interface fires anywhere, Coulson Flying Tankers is ready, willing and able to respond to your needs."I mean, it could not possibly have been brought there deliberately by an American or Canuck, right?"
Aren't there enough conspiracy theories around without adding to the pile?
This is what happens when the world doesn't speak up to things like Iraq, Libya, Syria, Beirut. The appetite of empire is insatiable. The world is going to shit. Be as prepared as you can http://newamerica-now.blogspot.com/2014/02/beyond-collapse.html
Good for them - Enjoy dealing w China and their transparent economy. They should deal in local currency. Have some self respect.
this has to be the biggest post olympics chest puffing of all time.
Hopefully we get a good presindent to lead us in dealing with Asia
if it was only about energy
This is becoming pathetic. Russia will be barred from roughly two billion people, which leaves it six billion people to be "isolated" with, via massive trade, big bucks-making collaboration, huge investments, a trove of job opportunities...
Meanwhile, on the sorry crumbling empire side, the wanking, empty rhetorics and constant scaremongering reach staggering heights.
Can we, Western populations, vote on a referendum to ditch the clowns that "rule" us and join the BRICS? If we say please?
BRICS is all about growing economies, so not even if you say pretty please.
Throw is a few million Chinese pipeline and construction workers to speed up the work on pipelines and other projects. That will help.
Isn't China using convict labor for alot of their heavy lifting?
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/libertycentral/2010/jul/29/chin...
Japan also imposed sanctions to Russia
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/06/world/asia/japan-keeps-door-to-russia-...
But of course Russia can export it's gas to North Korea, Zimbabwe, Bolivia, etc. Why not? They don't need that Wester dirty money - they can buy everuthing in Ruble and yuan. Can't they?
Japan pays $590 for Arabian gas.
China will pay $360 for Russian gas.
You can see which country will be capable to produce cheaper products.
Let me know when Japan pays with Real Money, not the digital fiat they create at an even faster rate than the Fed.
If Russia wants Toyotas, they can just buy them fro ISIS -- who get them for free. LOL
"Japan also imposed sanctions to Russia"
Naturally, Japan has been a lapdog of the USG since it was bombed with nukes 1945, and hosts American military bases.
As you can see Japan has imposed sanctions but this map doesn't show that.
Have not checked about other countries in this map. So, it's simply one of ruskies propoganda materials - which is full of lies... as usual.
Japan is a radioactive dump nowadays isn't it?
And the map is not "simply one of ruskies propoganda materials" as you claim.
tch tch.
You are realy good example of how ruskies propoganda work and how people who are under it's spell will deny reality even when it's shown right in their face.
Japan has imposed sanctions - that is a fact. I even gave reference to prove that. So that is reality.
This ruskies propoganda material shows Japan in a black color saying that this country belongs to those who has not imposed santions. That is a lie. Because I already gave evidence that Japan has imposed sanctions. So in this map Japan should be in blue color if it's author would wanted to be consistent and show his point based on reality and not to lie, manipulate and/or mislead people.
But for ruskies and it's propoganda chearleaders facts doesn't matter - doesn't it?
"But for ruskies and it's propoganda chearleaders facts doesn't matter - doesn't it?"
{eyes rolling}
Double negatives are not used in the English language.
{/eyes rolling}
Apart from that, I have no real problem if Japan has imposed sanctions on Russia (a fact you say) or that the chart doesn't show that. I have no idea where the chart originated from, nor do you methinks. And it might just be slightly overtaken by recent events. I won't lose any sleep over it. Will you?
Ahh you can't admit failure on artice topic so now English language is the topic you want to switch. :D
Ok, that will do... that will do
Your English stinks and you know it.
His so called "arguments" stink even more...
speaking of lies:
lies USA has used in the last decade to start up wars:
1990 babies taken out of incubators and left to die on cold hospital floor
1990-1999 Saddam working on nuclear weapons
2001 Osama engineered and did 9-11
2001-2003 Saddam has ties with Ali Queda
2001-2003 Saddam has weapons of mass distraction (Colin Powell, Bush jr, Cheney, Condy Rice, etc)
2002-2203 Saddam working on weapons of mass distraction
2002-2003 Saddam working on acquiring nuclear weapons
2001 Iran will have nuclear bomb
2001 Iran has ties with Ali Queda
2002 Iran will have nuclear bomb
2003 Iran will have nuclear bomb
2004 Iran will have nuclear bomb
2005 Iran will have nuclear bomb
2006 Iran will have nuclear bomb
2007 Iran will have nuclear bomb
2008 Iran will have nuclear bomb
2009 Iran will have nuclear bomb
2010 Iran will have nuclear bomb
2011 Iran will have nuclear bomb
2012 Iran will have nuclear bomb
2013 Iran will have nuclear bomb
2013 Assad gassed his own people (part 1)
2013 Assad gassed his own people (part 2)
2014 Iran will have nuclear bomb
2014 Assad gassed his own people (part 3)
Let's leave for now the lies USA used to start the Vietnam war, the Korean war, WWII, war againts SPain and so on.
I think I'm dealing with rational people and not paid shills but I could be wrong.
so after all the ies USA has said in the last 20 years you still believe their Corporate Onwed media. the real question here is why?
Learn to read.
The source of the map was this guy, who was credited right below the image. h/t @PersonOfAwesome
https://twitter.com/PersonofAwesome
You'd have to ask him where he got it, but I doubt it was made in Russia.
"So, it's simply one of ruskies propoganda materials - which is full of lies... as usual."
Sorry, but there's no way to draw that conclusion until you know who actually made the map.
Which therefore makes your post propaganda.
But nice try.
When the Chinese government can fund Russian infrastructure with the push of a button on the electronic printing press does investment backed by real savings even exist any more?
Cut off gas to the Ukiland and EU first...
then renegotiate gas contracts.
Ruble is not world reserve currency. They need to sell something... so.. to who they would sell that gas that would substitute EU?
The Ruble doesn't have to be a world reserve currency for Russua to sell oil/gas in Rubles.
Speaking of selling. The EU also has a lot of stuff to sell to Russia(cars, food, etc, etc, etc). If Russia stops buying, who is the EU gonna sell them to, poor Africa? It's NOT just 1 way street as you like to present it.
Why is the Dollar rising and getting stronger?? Makes no sense
It's temporarily getting stronger because the Euro, yen, et all are going in the toilet. It also allows the Chinese to purchase additional gold, with their dollar holdings, at a lower price. It would be nice if the U.S. populace would wake up from their tech induced stupor and realize that they are getting totally anally raped by current financial policies.
iCant
iDid
iPlanOnIt
The Ukraine debacle and sanctions are deleteriously affecting the European economy as a whole to such a degree that the euro has plunged quite dramatically in the last few weeks. The dollars' apparent current value, being relative to the contents of a small basket of currencies that include such currencies as the euro and the Japanese yen, is therefore measured as "rising."
It's like up or down in outer space. It merely depends on nothing more than a purely local perspective with a dash of extreme fraud thrown in for good measure, especially given that the actual purchasing power of the dollar is continuously on the decline...
Make sense now?
It's quite simple.
To make up for the economic damage the US induced sanctions did to the EU, the Fed and the ECB are selling euros and buying dollars.
This keeps the dollar high and makes exports denominated in euros more attractive. Yesterday the Chinese steped in and raised the value of the yuan, which makes exports from EU countries extremely competitive.
This should help the sputtering European revovery, but China probably demanded a quid pro quo for their raising the value of the yuan.
That, of course, would be continuing the delay of sanctions on Russia
stop playing paddy cake and take the gloves off already, sheesh
Russian Railways currently uses bullet trains made by Siemens for its Moscow - Saint Petersburg route.
It seems that it will use Chinese trains for its Moscow - Kazan route.
Also, it plans a new bullet train to Sochi and Crimea. German trains will be sanctioned for sure, so it's better to cooperate with the Chinese from the beginning.
Then, trains will replace planes made by Boeing and Airbus.
"...trains will replace planes made by Boeing and Airbus."
Sounds like a good idea given that both aircraft manufacturers have developed remote control technology.
hmmm, why isn't Russia using Russian trains ???
Can't design them ?
Can't manufacture them ?
Rather like us using trains made by Bombardier in Quebec? And they're not even high-speed.
Russia designed its own high-speed train Sokol, but the project was abandoned. http://4rail.net/ref_fast_sokol.html
Probably, somebody from Siemens gave an envelope full of euros to the head honcho of Russian Railways.
Now, Obama tells Russian Railways, "We're sanctioning you. No Western trains for you. You must make your own!"
China also uses German bullet trains, new subways and ThyssenKrupp escalators in their subway stations.
I have seen this first hand. I have riden on both new Chinese subways and bullet trains. They are very nice.
Much better than the crap trains in the USA.
China and Germany signed a 50 billion Euro trade agreement last year.
Have western leaders gone totally batshit crazy?
Do they really think they can isolate the largest country in the world, with equaly large natural resources? To what end?
Do they really believe that Russia has no business interfering in the Ukraine (even assuming that they are)? Have they looked at a map lately?
Have they looked at the NATO agreement regarding the Ukraine?
Who the fuck are these people, and what alternate universe did they come from?
Washington, D. C.
The sovereign state of the Bank of International Settlement in Basel Switzerland.
Superfly & Lurch Kerry outfoxed the Right Wingers again. Bush and Cheney were the ones who wanted a new Cold War.
Obama has willingly ceded institutional control of the presidency to the Dr. Strangelovians who believe you can win a limited nuclear engagement
Russia is doing exactly what the USA wants it to do.
This does not make sense to us, but it does to the warped mentality of the big boys in the USA.
More Russia cheerleading. What does 50 cents convert to in Rubles?
More importantly, where was the last meal you ate produced?
Vlad is making the word "asymetric" sound really fucking cool.
So instead of selling off Russia to the US/UK/EU axis, Vlad is selling off Russia to the Chinese. The Chinese have got to be salivating over the good farmland in the southern parts of Russia, and over the prospect of eventually owning/controlling so much oil and gas.
All they're doing is business. China buys Russian oil and invest in Russian companies. China is not buying control of Russia or Russian land. Unless your that stupid, you know nothing about business.
I don't get it. Why would Russia, with a population equivalent to two European countries, have such an effect on the WHOLE of Europe?
Somebody please explain.
Russia supplies 30-40% of all natural gas consumed in Europe, and Europe does not have any real alternative to that in the short/middle term. Russia is/was a very important trade partner with many European countries, and especially Germany. And fianlly, Russia is becoming a VERY important trade partner with China, and China... I think that's some good reasons right there. Others, please add your take.
ps. Russia is in possession of a LOT of nukes.
So is France, and France has ballistic missile submarine capability with 4 vessels that can launch 300 warheads.
Like those above, I ponder - why does Europe cower?
Do you really ponder what life will be like after a brief nuclear exchande?
Curious.
2018 is the earliest and that is based on best case scenarios of affordable/deliverable LNG and shale gas.
Europe is finding shale gas a disappointment
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-26/shale-boom-in-europe-fades-as-p...
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/may/23/no-shale-gas-potentia...
Russia is irrelevant, their economy is in a shithole, their per capita GDP is equal to the poorest countries in the EU, their military budget is almost the same as the military budget of 1 EU/Nato country such as UK. All they can do is bully their smaller neighbors who want nothing to do with that fascist lil-Putler. Besides conspiracy nuts and Putlers trolls who think that Putler is the new Messiah, Russia is irrelevant. Once Europe works out gas alternatives, Russia will be more than welcome to send their economy into a even deeper shithole than it is now, by selling their gas(70% of their export) to China,India etc at dirt cheap prices.
Recently this lil-retard Putler decided it was time now to look for people who deserted SOVIET ARMY(!!!). You cant make this up, so much for the "post" soviet Russia.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/russia-seeks-investigation-of-lithuanian-...
Yeah... it's like imagine if Germany reopens criminal cases against Deserter from Nazi army.
Putin regime = USSR
It's one guy they're after, and the message is clear. Venture onto Russian territory and get arrested if you weren't properly discharged from the armed forces in 1991.
Reciprocity. You sanction us, we sanction you.
And that's all it is.
NEXT!
brain damage alert!
Re: Once Europe works out gas alternatives,
This whole charade is about energy.
Control energy, control the nation, control the people.
Your statement is far, far easier said than done.
Hey Adolf Hitler, if your source is WallStreetJournal, then you are at a wrong place.
What you write is a pure bullshit. Facts are wrong and conclusions are lunatic of a drunken moron.
Actually its Putler... http://www.tickld.com/cdn_image_thing/692506.jpg
What facts are wrong? Their GDP Per capita is among the lowest in the EU, their exports are 70% gas and their military budget is almost equal to the UK. Correct me if I am wrong instead of calling names like some Kremlin TV propoganda victim who believes whatever they say on how great life in Russia is. BBC, Wall ST Journal etc reported on the story where Russian government now is looking for people who deserted Soviet army, if those sources are not good, which ones do you like? RIA, RT etc?
"Their GDP Per capita is among the lowest in the EU,"
GDP per capita is completely misleading.
Of the top ten in that category, only ONE, the USA, has any significant international clout.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)_per_capita
GDP on a PPP basis is much more revealing:
"Using a PPP basis is arguably more useful when comparing generalized differences in total economic output between countries because PPP takes into account the relative costs and the inflation rates of the countries, rather than using just exchange rates which may distort the real differences in income."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)
On that list the EU comes second, but if you break it out by nation, Russia is 5th with only Germany ahead in 4th place.
Facts are a bitch sometimes, but they are what they are.
"On that list the EU comes second, but if you break it out by nation, Russia is 5th with only Germany ahead in 4th place."
Maybe thats because of the size? You cant really compare a country even in Scandinavia with one of the highest living standards but only few million people with a country that got 140million, what I am reffering to is how wealthy people who live in those countries are. Norway 46th vs Russia 4th, really?
Really ! Have you checked some prices in Norway lately ?
OK, so you're just making an objective comparison of living standards, then?
Besides the avatar, no underlying political message, right?
King Cobra will kill several elephants with a full dose. The Russian Cobra farts mushroom clouds and has plutonium venom. The Cobra even carries the all-powerful ones to the space station.
For that reason alone I believe this is all a ruse by all concerned for another round of bluster, followed by another false flag event, and we are all of a sudden one big happy commie family.
Maybe Scotland can lay down their false worship of witch doctor medicine and that false booger, SECURITY, implanted by the inbred Queen and save this fucktard world by starting an avalanche of freedom.
I can hope.
Russia isn't irrevelent, gas is'
OIL IS EVERYTHING
There is no oil is Western Europe.
And if you're ignorant enough to believe that America will ever send its 'oil shale' oil to Europe, tanker after tanker, then you have no grasp on reality.
How much of today's crude oil production comes from enhanced recovery?
We are already in tertiary recovery for some wells. How many more recoveries before their sucked dry?
Wait til Oil-Bomber issues an Executive Order allowing for allowing American oil exports. That is coming some slow news Friday afternoon in the near future after he gets his ass kicked in November. Obamacare Premiums due any day now. Bye Bye Senate. Just what the crypto Republican has wanted from his first day in the White House
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2014/09/09/thomas-friedman-is-wr...
Thomas Friedman is an idiot.
Ending the export ban on domestic oil will not drop the price of oil $25 a barrel.
it won't even produce one tanker full of exported US oil.
When the US shale oil boom ends in 2021 and all that's left is oodles of oil shale (Wikipedia will tell you the difference between oil shale and shale oil) that either has to be produced in situ or scooped up by huge shovels into trucks as big as the Ritz and then retorted.
Pay no attention to Friedman. He's a clown.
You're using the wrong yardstick. Power is not derived from quantities of population, but quantities of resources. Europe, which is really not that large, has been using hers up in various efforts of empire building for quite a while now, while Russia covers twelve time zones.
Ever try marching on Moscow? : ) Russia wins, hands down.
Russia has natural energy resources (oil, natural gas), the rest of Europe doesn't. Remember what Henry Kessinger said in 1973, "You control oil and you control countries, you control food and you control the people". So you see oil is very important because it's what powers manufacturing and production.
Human capital is also a major factor. It's not enough to have resources if you don't know what to do with them.
Fortunately, Russia has that well in hand:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Russia
Read it and weep, Amerikanski!
"The literacy rate in Russia, according to the 2002 census, is 99.4% (99.7% men, 99.2% women).[7]According to a 2008 World Bank statistic 54% of the Russian labor force has attained a tertiary (college) education, giving Russia the highest attainment of college-level education in the world.[8] 47.7% have completed secondary education (9 or 10 years old); 26.5% have completed middle school (8 or 9 years old) and 8.1% have elementary education (5 years old). Highest rates of tertiary education, 24.7% are recorded among women aged 35–39 years (compared to 19.5% for men of the same age bracket)"
Let there be another big three meeting in Yalta, that's just down the road from Maripul I believe.
Can't help posting this. How would you like this guy as your next door neighbour?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjkNLPkoTQA&list=UUgT_HmP4nlz5wECKOkIlj9Q
China will friendly up to Russia and then crush Putin when the time is right.
Fun and games.
you think China are the fascist/nazis in DC, EU? America has existed for a mere few hundred years, China thousands and from a foreign policy angle, I'm afraid your Western view point provides nothing to the fray.
Don't see how the time will be right before the zio/us/nato threat to Russia and China is neutralized. Who knows, anything can happen, the zios have become like ill mannered children playing with guns. In the meantime the rest of us who are not insane just want to trade and get on with our lives.
a
When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are.
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you
Look at the map.
The USA has a mult-national alliance, but in order to keep it they must have a large Blue Water Navy. Europe across the Atlantic, Oceania across the Pacific. Once the money runs out, the USA alliance will be reduced to USA-Canada (I feel sorry for the Canucks who will be lashed to the mast of a sinking USA ship of state...).
Geography is going to re-assert itself. Russia, Central Asia, and China will be one power, North America another, Europe another. With land connections, cheaper and easier to maintain, Russia-China are going to do better than USA-EU-Oceania.
Everything will be closer, shipped by truck or rail, in Russia-China.
USA-EU-Oceania has to put everything on a boat or plane.
If you listen to Putin, he is constantly telling Europe to "act independent", or in other words realize the potential of an Eurasian trading giant. In this vision Europe won't be needing ships, because high speed rail would connect Lisbon to Beijing. A massive investment that would significantly change the centuries old paradigm of ocean trade. In this scenario USA would indeed become like an isolated island, completely cut off from the rest of the world, reduced to observing the comings and goings from the sidelines. A terrifying scenario indeed.
I agree with your main premise, but on this point:
"Everything will be closer, shipped by truck or rail, in Russia-China.
USA-EU-Oceania has to put everything on a boat or plane. "
I have to point out that ocean shipping is the cheapest way to move things around, especially in bulk. One example from experience: In the 70's western Canada got most of it's oil from Alberta. Easten Canada, however, got theirs from Aruba and Venezuela. Basically, it was cheaper to send it by ship than to bring it in from Alberta.
Apply the same principle to grain, iron ore, potash, etc. and it makes a good case for ongoing, even expanding, world sea trade. Nations with efficient, modern ports will do well under your scenario, regardless of where they're situated.
To me, the significant factor beyond resources and location is human capital. It takes time and a lot of effort to produce educated men and women capable of purposeful self-direction. China and Russia are well ahead of the US and EU in that regard, and the trend shows no sign of reversing.
I agree that ocean shipping is cheaper - IF the ocean lanes are secured by a large Blue Water Navy. Once the USA reverts to a status of, say, France or the UK, they won't be able to police the waters and pirates will return and shipping costs will rise to historical levels.
This is not to say that the USA will be poor - look at all the former empires, not exactly Somalia - but they won't be able to extend power and their position of security behind two great oceans will become a liability because those two oceans work against you IF you don't have the money to secure shipping lanes.
Now instead of being safe and secure with two oceans to keep people away, you are just marginalised and ignored because you are away from the main action.
If other nations and cultures shun the USA, or just treat them as another equal or medium sized power, the USA's geographical assets become a huge liability, putting them far out of reach of a Eurasian power centre.
That isolation cuts both ways.
Sino-Soviet split, detente, split, detente, split....
And the moon is made from green cheese
Businesses in THE WORLD make money to hide in NOT THE WORLD which then finds it's way to ISOLATED RUSSIA.
so much for the WORLD (pee wee. DC/EU fascists).
This is THE Reality in today's world that the West doesn't know how to get ahead of even if it got free from the TBTF banks, the War Machine & Monsanto et al. American business has forgotten all about How To Do Business. History has sailed past us Westward to China and Russia. It was late for Europe but now also too late for America. It will be a very long time until The United States of America has its next chance to lead the World.
Hey there's money to be made in Russia--the phoenix arises from ashes: Atlantis rises from the ocean; the island, Russia, unites the world. Yipee Yi Yipee Yip Yipee Yip Yip Yip.
Jump bankster jump.
Europe: I’m cold
Russia: I’m starving
Ukraine: Welcome to half my world assholes
China: Herro, can we be of assistance?
Only problem with that is China is mired in it's own economic crisis.
Currently a 6.6 trillion dollar spending spree used as stimulus to combat global economic slowdown is coming back to haunt China. This has greatly expanded credit and created huge overcapacity during the past five years. A massive debt crisis now looms in the offing. At stake are trillions of yuan in bank loans that companies producing everything from ships to steel to solar power are struggling to repay as the world’s second-largest economy in in the mist of a major slowdown and the weakest annual growth since 1999. More in the article below.
http://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2013/11/china-land-of-overcapacity-and-de...
If I were China, I would be blowing up a fiat bubble too. Think about it. Who has been stocking up on gold? They should keep on printing until the collpase, dump their treasuries and issue a new gold-backed currency. Once that happens they could pay back all debts to the west's fiat system with the change left over from the purchase of a fried wonton from a street vendor.
What about USA/EU's severe economic crisis? Lert's see USA try to survive WITHOUT the QE for a week. Let's see it try.
Don't you wrry about CHian;s growth but worry about USA's growth. USA will kill (pun intended!) to have China's growth!
`
China holds 1.2 trillion in US debt.
China has no debt to service.
China can afford to improve infrastructure, build Navy, roads, high-speed rail, subways, etc.
China is the new colonial power taking over the African continent.
The USA is mired in debt and it seems people are catching on the the money lenders schemes.
The US arms freedom fighters to kick the shit out of Iraq and we end up destroying tanks left by the USA. Sound familiar?
Russia will cut off Russian airspace to USA MIC and we will be forced to retreat, in the winter, on overland routes.
Janet Yellen is a doufas.
America is losing the battle. Too many people it appears a struggle is occurring to unseat America as the worlds most dominate nation. For many proud Americans who see the world from the unenlightened and possibly undefendable position of the United States having a right to be in control it is both threatening and frustrating to see control slip away.
It is threatening to think the country might quickly fall to the position of a second rate power mired in debt with many of the options we have come to see as our right suddenly ripped away. It is frustrating that in many ways the country has become its own worse enemy guilty of political inaction and squandering its power through a series of bad choices and missteps. More on this shift in power and our best response in the article below.
http://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2014/06/americas-struggle-to-stay-on-top....
The USA is interfering with Russian and Ukrainian self determination. The democratically elected Leader of the Ukraine rejected NATO and the EU in favor of close ties to Russia. Now the West is instigating civil war in Russia.
This all goes back to Qatar's master plan to sweep President Bashir Assad aside so they can sbuild a gas pipeline across the Syrian frontier to compete with Russia.
I hope the EU freezes this winter.
I would usually go to Europe over the holiday, but we are going to Buenos Aires instead.
I will learn to Tango and look for NAZI relics in the flea markets. Good money in memorabilia from that ,tragic time.
"What we see now, is a cruel battle with time. On the one hand, Russia and China, together with the rest of the BRICS, are trying to get rid of the dollar and form their own currency system to gain complete independence, on the other, the neocon banking-corporate puppets in the US are in panic and seek desperately a pretext to come to war with Russia and put an end to this threat for their plans. This explains their agony to drag Russia into a warm conflict."
http://failedevolution.blogspot.gr/2014/08/the-dominant-elite-ready-to-b...
Now we definetely have to go to war with them. Can't have anybody else in the world making alliances- that is our soul right!
Putin will tell the EU people that he will not turn off the gas to freeze them. But he will tell the EU politicos that he will only accept payment in Gold, yuan or rubles.
Russia's motivation has always been trade, not war. But strengthening trade relations threaten US hegemony. And the US is evidencing in all matter of lies and propaganda that they prefer war and conflict. He who can destroy a thing can control a thing.
A burgeoning trade relationship with China is an obvious out come. But Putin will not allow Russia to become dependent upon China alone. Smarter brains are working than the ones in DC.
True, but why do the Europeans go along with it?
the other biggest part of the big picture is india's decision to side with china and russia. hardly any news on the modi .gov outside of local papers.
the empire is getting increasingly desperate. who would have guessed the red line would be ukraine defending the ironic combination of jewish oligarchs and neonazi labor.
putin is still in the chavez phase of repeatedly embarrassing the empire for the entertainment of the isolated world. his intent is obviously directed at germany and france. if either bolt the empire the present system is finished. however, they are trapped and the usa knows it. the only way they stand up to the usa is as the eu. ironically, such a bold move might save the eu from the likes of farage and pen.
I really would love to know why Germany and France don't just tell the Atlantacists (USSA, Britain) go take a flying fuck? Why land themselves with all this crap?
sounds like the EU "Nuclear Option" just collapsed.
"So that blows the oil/gas funding sanctions plan out of the water as Russian firms will merely fund via China."
clowns, warmongers, wordmongers. LMAO
And Does Russia Produce ONE SINGLE item that anyone in the US buys? One? (except Metroshyas Dolls).
iPhones? BMW's? 4x4 Trucks? Light Bulbs? M&M's ... Anything?
Nope...so, Russia can do whatever the hell they want, and it wont make ONE IMPACT on the US...as for Gas...without revenue from Oil and natural Gas, Russia will be back to having its citizens waiting in mile long lines to buy Toilet Paper, just like they were doing 25 SHORT years ago.
Let the Russian Bear roar...its about all it really can do.
Anythjing else, economicalyl or militarily will result in M.A.D.
are you trolling?
AK-47 and ammunition for it?
Rocket engines?
All these things have been sanctioned.
----------------------
The Soviets were standing in big lines because of the socialist system. The current US president is fond of socialism and implements it in the USA.
Vodka and trips to the space station
Some of the most sought after military equipment, space technology, nuclear technology, microphones (Ocatava are some of the best out there for the money) etc, etc...
http://www.thomescanada.com/baltic_birch_plywood.php
http://www.issb.co.uk/cis.html
http://www.uacrussia.ru/en/
http://www.oaoosk.ru/
“US lawmakers in the House of Representatives have approved $220 million in funding to help the Pentagon replace the Russian rocket engines used in its satellite launches.”
http://failedevolution.blogspot.gr/2014/06/us-deep-state-tries-to-cut-it...
Obaminator, displaying that he hasn't learned a single freakin' thing at ZH despite being a member for over four and a half years, said:
A nice buildup to a moronic crescendo...
a boastful torrent of bovine excreta, with just enough CAPS to let you know he means business, mister, and...
capped off with simian grunting and screeching while menacingly hitting the ground with a stick.
Unsurprisingly, what Obstinabator failed to take into consideration is that oil is a fungible commodity sold in a global marketplace. His fantasy scenario of Russia without oil revenue necessarily implies Russian oil being removed from the global market. Removing Russian oil from the global market would have the same effect as removing Saudi Arabian oil from the global market.
Imagine what that would do to global oil prices. America would be back to having its citizens waiting in mile-long lines to buy gasoline and hoping that the station didn't run out before they got their turn at the pump, just like they were doing 41 years ago and 35 years ago. Except the gas would be at least $10 per gallon. And they'd be walking to the store to buy toilet paper.
Russia is also in negotiations with Iran to secure a number of trade deals, multi Bn$ deal to provide thermo power plants to Iran, car assembly and agricultural machinery plants. Russia may also offer Iran a contract to assemble the Tupolev Tu 204 mid range twin engine airliner. Russia has also suggested a joint project to assemble 500 mil$ steel plant with rail link that could produce 600.000 tons of steel per year. Russia would like Iran to supply fruit and vegetable produce, Russia would accept payment in oil. Russia would sell the oil to other BRICS countries as payment for imports. It looks like Russia has had enough of trading with Europe.
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So China covets Russia's house, Russia's wife, and Russia's ass.
That's what the neocons at ZH pray for at bedtime and would have everyone else believe.
China is going to eat up up Russia with chopsticks and then dance merrily down the aisle to the nuptial bed with America and it's six pack and nine inches.
How stupid can people be?
THE DISUNION AND DISCORD BETWEEN CHINA AND RUSSIA IS NOTHING MORE THAN THE INVISABLE MAGINOT LINE OF WORTHLESS NEOCON THOUGHT.
That's what Brzezinski's plan is. To kick China out of Africa (Ebola) and force them to seek oil and gas in Siberia killing each other.
They don't have to fight over the oil. Can't China just buy it and Russia buy stuff from them?
Well yeah, so Brzezski was foiled.
I am no longer going to care about any of this.
It's a bunch of Oligarchs fighting each other.
None of them care about the people. I hear 30% of apartments in Moscow
have no running water or heat.
I had 3 guys in their 20s in my store who were Russian this summer. I said "I like Putin" they looked
at me and said "he is a gangster, he is the head of the Russian mafia"
Why should I care what happens to him anymore, I don't.
He and 20 other guys looted Russia like pigs.
I'm getting the feeling he is in on all of this and the big goal is to take America to zero.
Thats why Obama said "I will have more flexibility after my election" freedom to take America to zero with war.
Fuck them all!!!
And your store is where? US? UK? Russia? Just trying to draw a bead on these three Russkis.
Wasn't Russia looted during the first decade after the Cold War ended? All the anti-Putins leapfrog him over Yeltsin. It goes along with all the anti-Russian Propaganda one reads here.
The West tongued Putin's sphincter from 2000 until, in his second term, they began stuffing the ex-Soviet satellites with radar and missiles. When Putin objected the West Hitlerized him.
What is new but not surprising is that the US government knows now that it never has to tell the truth again, as every lie they've told since WMD has been rubbed on the dicks of all the European allies and then sucked off by them as in a daisy chain
Ha! Why do you care who I am?
Are you the scumbag Oligarch sitting in San Francisco Bay now with stolen wealth?
Actually I don't care who you are (if you can can show me where I express such a desire, I'd be happy to learn you aren't dyslexic), I merely asked where you found "three Russians" or if you made them up like Bush and WMD.
Now I do know that luckystars has an ego that puts Donald Trumps' to shame.
I hope you don't have a comb over of similar distinction.
Waooo, this luckystars guy piles it deeper than can be found on a Chinese roadside. A cavalcade of pointless points which do not correspond with reality.
Won't go through all the comment, impossible as it spreads fantasy nearly in each sentence.
Im not going along with Putin the Messiah anymore.
Putin the biggest shill of all, just due the number of people who think
this Oligarach is going to save Western civilazation.
Its just like Bush worship, Obama worship.
The top trade minister from Brazil was interviewed on the radio last night and he was giddy with all the contracts coming their way from Russia and China; said it will pull Brazil out of their present recession and significantly increase employment, construction, etc.
Russian Oligarch floating around in his 400 ft yacht in San Francisco bay today.
Andrey MelnichenkoHis yacht built in Germany is rounded outside so no intruders can board. It's bomb proof.
I said "nothing is bomb proof" my friend said "cherry bomb proof" It has three pools and
loaded with everything you could want. $20 million a year just to keep it going.
These people are disgusting and paranoid because they are Russian mafia.
http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/WK-AT583_HOMEFR_F_201004151702...
http://www.reisenundmeer.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/spanien-2008-023...