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Russia's Modest Proposal To Greece: "Exit Europe And We Will Lift The Food Import Ban"
It has not been a good week for Greece: first we learned that its treasury has run dry as Greece have stop paying all taxes ahead of the elections (and likely after), making further reforms virtually impossible as the government simply does not have the cash to promote economic changes; then we found out that first two then all four of the largest Greek banks have submitted Emergency Liquidity Assistance requests to the ECB to preserve liquidity in light of a deposit run that is picking up pace. And yesterday, adding insult to injury, Spiegel leaked that while seeking preapproval from Merkel for his QE program to be announced next week, Draghi told the Germans that Greek bonds won't be among the securities monetized by the ECB.
It almost makes the Greeks wonder what's the point of staying in the Eurozone and keeping the Euro if all it leads to is 50% youth unemployment, 25% total unemployment, and unprecedented pain and suffering as a result of the internal devaluation that will continue indefinitely since Greece, courtesy of the Euro, is unable to engage in an external one.
Of course, the Greek population will be able to voice its opinion next Sunday when it holds general elections, which will almost surely be won by Tsipras who has threatened on numerous occasions to renegotiate the Greek bailout, something Germany has made quite clear is not a topic for debate, and that a Grexit is assured if Greece thinks it can hold Europe hostage with threats of Eurozone collapse.
And just to make things interesting, overnight Russia told a beleaguered Greece, and specifically its hurting farmers, that it "may lift its ban on food imports from Greece in the event it quits the European Union" according to Russian Minister of Agriculture Nikolai Fyodorov who spoke in Berlin on Friday.
“If Greece has to leave the European Union, we will build our own relations with it, the food ban will not be applicable to it,” Fyodorov said as reported by Tass.
In other words, Russia has casually thrown out feelers to Greece (and any other peripheral European country) and given it the option of joining the greater Russian sphere of influence (because the USSR 2.0 and satellites is still not trademarked), should it decide that 5 years after the first Greek "bailout" things for the country caught in an endless depression are as good as they will get with a bunch of Goldman bankers in charge.
Fyodorov also said that European Union countries, which felt discomfort from the slump in proceeds from exports of foods to Russia, were asking Russia to cushion the impacts of the Russian food import ban by expanding other types of imports. “We are looking at such possibility,” he said, adding that these countries offer new formats of cooperation in those areas that are not covered by the Russian food sanctions.
One such format apparently is the "hint" that should the European Union finally implode after years of kicking the can, then Russia will be more than happy to pick up the pieces.
Insanity? Perhaps, but just 48 hours ago crazier things happened, when a central bank which until Monday telegraphed the rock solid determination of its monetary policy not to mention the Swiss Franc's floor, shocked the world when it became the first western bank to admit defeat in currency wars which have cost it a balance sheet the size of its GDP.
The ball is now in Greece's court.
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The Anti-Bolshevik Federation is gaining momentum. The German people need to toss Merkel out on her arse and join as well. This will make the Swiss action seem meaningless in comparison.
I think this is awesome. The world needs 2 or 3 competing empires not just one. As long as they are all too afraid to go to (hot) war with one another, and stick to financial conflicts, it's like a free market of sorts. Yeah, I know there is corruption etc, but “more free markets” is always better than “less free markets”.
Now, if only the EU would decouple itself from US anal-isms, the BRICS vs. EU vs. US economic showdown would be an amazing show to watch and ultimately profit from politically and economically.
superb post
If Russia can convince countries to leave the Euro and join the BRICS it would be a win for them.
Good time to embarrass the US and EU.
Both have proven abundantly capable of doing so on their own.
As for “staying in the Eurozone and keeping the Euro if all it leads to is 50% youth unemployment, 25% total unemployment, and unprecedented pain and suffering as a result of the internal devaluation that will continue indefinitely…”
Goldman Sachs and its subsidiaries, the ECB and the FRS (Federal Reserve System) and their kept politicians have beaten the people of Greece to their knees.
“Once a country gets into a position where she has to become a dependency of the City of London, she’s done. They’ll finance her heavy industries, choke her with credits until [her currency] is so sick it can’t stand.” – Eric Ambler, 1938, Cause for Alarm
Pawns in the Game William Guy Carr
Slightly OT, but I'm still wondering why Russians are still playing Central Bank games by western rules with western players:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/russia-picks-monetary-policy-chief-0815040... looks like a big time cave in for a people who keep trying to crotch-kick the PetroDollar.
"Dmitry Tulin, a former central bank official who also worked at the International Monetary Fund and Deloitte LLP,...". Looks like an international central banking apparachnik for most all his career. Russian Central Bank will continue as property of international bankers rather than Russia, it seems.
Insight, anyone?
Why? Because they have no intention to exit the globalist games and never have. At most they want to adjust the rules a little bit. They want more power, not to crumble it. People who think China and/or Russia are some sort of anti-globalist saviors are in for a big, big disappointment. It's a big club and you ain't in it.
Right. It's the same logic we see here between the Democrats and Republicans: they are competing for power but will never do a thing to change the system, because the system is so lucrative for those at the top.
It's a theory (that they are part of the same system). But there are also game theory and power psychology to consider. Why do leaders (who want power more than anything else) agree or work together? If there is a global currency, who controls it? Who decides the global rules? Who controls the global military?
These are not trivial questions. The average person often just wants to get along and is willing to work within a system. But those who seek high positions of power are different. They want power and more power. Which group decides to be subservient? If no one is subservient, then there is no global order.
Power seekers work together when they must team against a common enemy. The only other reason I can see that they team is when one party holds definitive power (e.g. weapons, financial control, etc.) over everyone else. Then the less powerful are simply afraid not to go along.
General cooperation, however, is a trait of the non-sociopathic personality. To imagine that there is a general comraderie among people at the top seems naive to me. Left/Right politics serving one over-riding and hidden system works in most countries because the hidden group really does hold power over all politicians, military, etc. Why should it work between major world powers (e.g. Russia, China, U.S.)? It shouldn't. As long as they believe they have a trump card, they can resist.
The Jan. 2015 cover of the Economist would have us believe Putin is part of the big happy international family, albeit with dark glasses indicating his intentions are hidden. But I doubt it. Why should they go along unless they are simply forced to? And how do you force the country which holds more nukes than the rest of the world combined? And the country that has active MRVS while the U.S. has none? Which world leader right now do you honestly think will simply hand over control of themselves and their country with firing off a nuke?
Think again.
"...they want to adjust the rules a little bit. They want more power, not to crumble it"
That's pretty much my take on the subject. Russia wants to be an equal status member of the global trade arrangement (as all the BRICS want too), not 2nd class or subservient members that Washington/Westminster/EU want them to be.
Well, don't overlook the obvious: that Putin might actually be on the same side as the international bankers, and "Putin vs. the West" is a big puppet show to make us think there are two sides.
It's either that, or Putin is following the Sicilian playbook: "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer"
Yeah, I've wondered that too. Here's an interesting possibility from Russian economist Mikhail Khazin (courtesy of Vineyard Saker France):
Here are the links to the You Tube vids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLmBqJtJqZo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZsjsJHVqTwPartial transcript from the 2nd link:
KHAZIN: If the president summons the president of the central bank and obliges him to sign a resignation, then the resignation will be signed. Moreover, I do not think that there is no basis for the arrest of Nabiullina for, say, corruption. In fact, I am pretty sure that such a basis exists. All the signs are there. Treason. No, not treason – that would create scandal and noise. But for corruption, why not? But this is not the issue. The actual issue is, you understand, not in the removal, straightforward, but who can she be replaced with? So if we say that we are going to radically change policy, then we need to break any resource dependency on the International Monetary Fund, although the IMF has partially done that already. We need to get rid of those oligarchs who gorged at the trough of those resources. And we need to get rid of the bureaucrats who similarly got fat in that system. This is already hundreds of thousands of people behind which lie tens of billions of dollars of capital. And these guys will defend themselves as, when we remove them from that capital, they will lose everything. Because any expectation that they will get to keep any of the money they have stashed in Western banks is simply naïve.
HOST: So I would if I was in Putin’s position, seeing that this is an attack on my power, on my throne, from a praetorian guard, but I would remove Nabiullina and her entire block.KHAZIN: I reiterate…
HOST: We have Khazin and Glaziev.
KHAZIN: And who else is there? So imagine tomorrow Khazin is appointed as chairman of the central bank and then what? Khazin last worked for the state 15 years ago and then some. He has no team. He will need to work with Nabiullina’s and Ignatief’s folks. There will be sabotage. That means that we need to get rid of everyone and replace them with, who? And we need to acknowledge that even if we do all of that, that there will still be sabotage. There will be some very dirty tricks. Do you remember when there was discussion of not even appointing Glaziev, but a hint of the possibility of his appointment as head of the central bank? And how was that reported in the mass media? Dubinin in “Echo Moscow” and in the TV program Albats compared him, scandalously, to Hitler.
HOST: Goodness.
KHAZIN: Yep, and in that sense, it is a war. This means that if Putin has at least the possibility of hoping that this war can be avoided, then he will accordingly avoid it and this is completely understandable.
HOST: He has had 14 years and has not prepared cadres in reserve? But I also understand from what you are saying that Nabiullina is being protected by the Presidential Administration. And that means that people close to Vladimir Putin are involved and that means the Silovki (people from the military and intelligence services, particularly from the Soviet Union). I believed earlier that this was part of the liberal wing.
KHAZIN: OK, so what are you trying to say? There are people who are sitting in the presidential administration who are extremely content with their position. And these guys are know that if strong and independently minded people are appointed, that they will start to lead various policies. And how can these people be controlled? With Nabiullina, everything is fine. She will do whatever she is told to do by the right people in the administration; she is pledged to do whatever she is told. She will not rock the boat. And in that sense, she is prepared even to disobey orders from Washington. Well, let’s hope to God that someone in the administration says that to her!
Thanks very much, Renfield, for that very informative response.
Great transcript excerpt. Though I have only watched the first video, some of my favorite lines include:
"But what awaits them (fleeing, exiled Russian Central Bankers when the jig's up) in the Land of the Free, lousy associate professors in hick American universities?"
"The government, together with its School of Economics, is writing its own liberal theses (for an upcoming Presidential Address) that there is no God but the IMF with the prophets being LeGarde or Yellen."
Folks who want to see the videos can use these correctly formatted links:
Mikhaïl Khazine sur allocution de Poutine//Mikhail Khazin about Putin's speech 4. Dec. 2014 with English Subtitleshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLmBqJtJqZo
And
Mikhail Khazine sur la politique schizophrénique du gouvernement russe also with English Subtitleshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZsjsJHVqTw
Yes, I'm afraid I've become a bit of a Khazin groupie from those 2 vids. I actually went thru and typed out both transcripts (from the translated subs), in full, for myself. Right or wrong, Khazin speaks both clearly and fearlessly. Listening to him is an education for me.
My favourite part (from the first vid):
" We have to understand current events from economic perspective whose current model is the Bretton Woods financial and economic system. Many mistakenly believe that this system died after August 15, 1971, when the United States declared their 2nd default in the 20th century by refusing to exchange dollars for gold. But this is not quite true. The Bretton Woods system is a mechanism to expand the dollar zone, which created its own special institutions: the IMF, the World Bank, and the HCT (Harmonised Customs Tariff) agreement on tariffs and trade, which is today called the WTO. All are still here. They define the Bretton Woods system by which all assets are linked to the dollar. The model of the modern economy works in the following way: as a mechanism for income redistribution, which is formed when the Federal Reserve prints dollars to purchase new assets that are part of the dollar system. In the beginning, it was the countries of Western Europe, then Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, then Korea, China, and later the countries of the socialist Commonwealth. Today, this model has come to a natural end. "
Much truth, few words. Oh, but there are so many parts to choose from.
Glad you are enjoying them!
I am enjoying the vids, but anyone else who wishes to do so needs to keep a dexterous finger on the mouse over the pause button. The subtitle displays are timed badly such that even speed readers would be dismayed.
"because the USSR 2.0 and satellites "
very sophomoronic
"very sophomoronic"
hehe, you're just annoyed at the out loud, bold printed truthiness.
I want them to make the same proposal to The Colorado Free Republic. We don't want to support this nation's policies anymore.
The Greeks are of the Eastern Church, after all.
Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox are by no means the same church. Just ask 'em.
Besides, the Russian Orthodox might have even more clerical politician government agent subverters of the Faith than the fellows calling themselves the Roman Catholic Church. But, I can't prove it.
We can ultimately (and probably within the next 6 months) expect a Russian invasion of Eastern Ukraine due to US weapons/support of Kiev and escalated conflict. The Russians will have clear evidence to support their move.
Putin wants to do this under the right circumstances to put a shock into the myth of US hegemony. He seems to be a pretty sharp card player.
This offer to Greece puts further pressure on EU to start lowering sactions but they won't; too dependent on US.
Interesting comment. I also expect to see Russia take some sort of action in East Ukraine if there's a risk of Kiev being heavily armed by the West or NATO installing itself there. Putin won't allow NATO to line up banks of missiles and other hardware on his border.
Don't be ridiculous, Ukrainian missiles in Ukrainian arsenals are not NATO missiles on Ukrainian territory. If Putin tries to take any territory from here in Ukraine the West will pour in a torrent of arms and advisers to train Ukrainian mil.
Which part of "Putin won't allow NATO to line up banks of missiles and other hardware on his border." didn't you understand?
This is not about Ukraine and its hopeless military, it's about Ukraine becoming a NATO member to further surround Russia. Putin is not dumb.
You wrote: "If Putin tries to take any territory from here in Ukraine the West will pour in a torrent of arms and advisers to train Ukrainian mil."
You may be rght. That's why I have always assumed that any action Putin takes to prevent it would need to be "pre-emptive".
I think you kid yourself completely, Russia can be hit with offensive conventional weapons at any time, from almost any direction. You also need to pull your head out of your butt about the concept of Sovereign territory, and the fact that NATO are backing-up Ukraine, a UN recognize Sovereign state. Saddam Hussein tried a preemptive strike on a UN recognized Sovereign state, to annex it. That turned out well.
That sort of all out attack on Russian fielded forces or pro-Moscow forces in Ukraine can certainly occur here. If Russia is feeling pain now it will be nothing to what will occur if he screws around in Ukraine anymore from here.
"Feeling lucky punk?", etc. i.e. the US MSM will absolutely lap it up.
The West (read: NATO) also wanted to install itself in the Crimea to control the Black Sea and Russia's access to it.
How's that coming along?
And was Russia "hit with offensive conventional weapons at any time, from almost any direction."?
What makes you so sure that Putin's Russian-defence strategy of moving into East Ukraine would be any different? After all, like the Crimea, there's plenty of people there who prefer Russia to the West.
So if I prefer your house's rooms and furniture and come in with a few bros with knifes and firearms and rape your daughter and kill you, you're OK with that sort of thing?
You're a fucking retard.
No you're completely retarded.
If Putin tries to take any territory from here in Ukraine the West will pour in a torrent of arms and advisers to train Ukrainian mil.
So the West is not doing that already?
Seems they have a problem that there are not enough West Ukrainians willing to fight and possibly die for such a cause.
first better bring home the dead from the last beating Kiev gave to a
few far outnumbered miners, farmers and such...
Zakharchenko request Poroshenko honor dead, and retrieve flag and abandoned bodies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbFcTn4eu30
not much about Hollywood in real....
.
If or when Russia moves on Ukraine, it will be shock & awe to the max, and over in a few hours. Then, what do you think the West will do?
We don't attack countries with nukes, period. Just as when Putin decided he had had enough in Crimea, the West did nothing to stop him....nothing, get it? Crimea is gone, and Ukriane will be, too, if the decision is made in Moscow.
The Ukraine Freedom Support Act recently signed into law by President Obama provides $350 Million worth of military equipment for Kiev, and $7 Million in funding for propaganda by Radio Free Europe to use against Russia, in support of Kiev's attempts to put down the rebellion in Donetsk and Lugansk. There have been numerous reports that the US already has CIA forces, military advisors, Polish mercenaries, and Blackwater mercenaries (under Blackwater's new name Academi) fighting in Ukraine for the Kiev government.
I would be surprised if Russia has not been supplying arms, ammunition, and training (let alone non-uniformed troops) to the Donetsk and Lugansk forces. NATO has repeatedly said that it has proof of Russian forces and Armored vehicles moving into Ukraine, but the alleged proof has never been shown, leading to doubts that any such proof exists.
Putin sees only too well the strategic importance of Ukraine and the threat of NATO putting missile bases along Russia's western borders. Putin cannot afford to sit back and allow the US/EU/NATO cabal to have complete control of Ukraine.
Thanks. Agree with all that. It's a very honest and fair take on what's happening in East Ukraine.
Too bad the West chooses to deny that it's supplying arms & mercs to Kiev.
already done that and continue...
they fly flag on official buildings there..
outside rule over Kiev
Ukraine has never been a sovereign nation
Element, there`s already a torrent of arms and advisers pouring into Ukr, and least as much as they can spare from their not-infinite inventories.
Poroshenkos clique has many problems, and one of the most important is that their army wont fight offensively against NR.
Not in Slavyansk, not in Donetsk, not during the Saur Graves debacle, and not even during the famous retreat to Mariampol where pretty much anyone have seen the interview with the fleeing and demoralised Ukr regular leutenant shouting at the camera that you have to dig your zemlyanka more than 2 meters into the earth to survive russian artillery barrages.
In Slavyansk, the Ukr regulars , reinforced by neo-nazi bandits stood for three months looking at 350 or so Strelkovs partisans armed with lmgs at best.
It took a regular assault by Polish mercenaries to take the place, and even then Strelkov managed to retreat before Dziewulskis forces and break the encirclement held by Ukr regulars.
And now the Poles are entrenched in Slavyansk, and dont seem to be very eager to attack Donetsk area.
Dont misunderstand me though, I dont believe that VV Putin will invade whatever remains of Ukr lands, as he does not want to be in charge of millions of hungry, cold and angry ukrainians who are just starting to look around to find the parties guilty of their misery.
VV Putin didnt want the NR rebellion, and it was forced upon him by other parties, though now when its moderate success seem assured he has no choice but to discreetly supply it, just enough to prevent a collapse.
Of course, the junta clowns ridiculised themselves to the extent that the NR has actually become an asset, who would`ve thought in august.
The rebels are going to get Flanders.
think we've seen ample evidence that Ukraine really doesn't have a "military", just a rubbish hogepoge.
Yep, and they are now looking to draft 50,000 men between the ages of 18-60. Good luck.
I sure should hate to depend on that ragtag army of conscripts. Ill trained, ill equipped, poorly rationed, badly lead, and demoralized cannon fodder.
Echoes of Hitler's last-ditch defense of Germany in the last days of WW2 in Europe, when he dragooned the remaining German male population of boys and old men into the Volksturm and sent them out to save Berlin from the Russian armies.
....Bullish
http://www.naturalnews.com/048313_currency_war_russia_petrodollar.html
Putin reminds me of Eric Cartman. Everyone hates him but he always seems to win.
It's the bankers, the world-controlled media and the imperalists who hate Putin, not the people.
Recent polls show an 87% approval of the Russian people for Putin compared with 40% or less for Obama in the US. Also, international polls show high approval for Putin. Label it "hope."
If the Russian people are losing their country because of the empire of the West, the nucleus of central banks and their police forces, the CIA and NATO it appears they have better leadership than do the people of the U.S. whose approval of Obama is 40% or less. Call it "hopelessness."
King Typhus Obama and his congress of corpse-fed rats are creating wars around the world, killing innocents by the millions, and the most obvious blockade to their banker-controlled world government is Putin.
Putin offers many of the Zionist/US Empire's victims a way out (just as he offered Snowden a way out of their clutches) and they consider him one of the world's greatest leaders; he's not afraid to deal with the truth. The banking cartel has many problems it will face in the coming months, but its biggest one is Putin. Compare that to its complete control over Obama, McConnell, Boehner and the rest of the U.S. bought-off Congress – and the apathy of the American people if they don't wake up will result in them getting squashed to a paste when the bombs start falling... in the US.
TBH, Xi might be as big a problem for them as Putin is... he's an interesting conundrum, isn't he. I don't think the Chinese have a fool for a leader any more than Russia has.
We're a bit short on brainiacs, on this side of the fence.
"We're a bit short on brainiacs, on this side of the fence."
I would say we have them (Folks with the last name Paul come to mind), but they will never attain power for the moneyed interests who control the lion's share of access to the institutions that influence people's thoughts and feelings: corporate media, educational institutions, etc. There are not enough moneyed interests in the US with the nationalistic long view that is necessary to finance and foment the revolution we need, so most all us little people will stand around waiting for someone else to go first.
“A mind is a terrible thing to waste” but in John Boehner’s case there was nothing to waste; he was the perfect mindless idiot for the banker terrorists, the inventors of the financial and political protection rackets whose first job was to liquidate all opposition in DC, the patriotic brainiacs. Watch Boehner bludgeon the 28 who "opposed" him. The name of the game is bribery.
The "bankers" did a swell job. Banker terrorism won and has totally consolidated its position in the Oval Office and the Congress and in four positions on the U.S. Supreme Court.
The banker Mafiosi is all powerful – except in Russia.
Pluss 100 for "his congress of corpse-fed rats"!
Yes, Americans are very good at the hate thingy.
Dear Russia,
We'll trade you Greece for Crimea.
Warmest Regards,
Europe.
I may have my history wrong but Crimea was part of Europe?
Always remember,,, those that giveth, can always taketh away.
Dear Europe we already own Crimea and Greece and you owe us a fuel bill, we'll cut some debt if you give up the rest of Ukraine, or you can just pay the carrying vig, your choice.
BTW how the wind and solar working out?
You own Greece? Please, you also owe us quite a bit of money. The gas bills been paid, talk to Ukraine about what they owe you.
Warmest,
Europe
PS, Fuck Crimea, we're taking Syria instead.
... while Russia offers a modest proposal to bailout Greek farmers, China, meanwhile, is also offering another EU country a modest bailout ...
... >>> "China to bail out Finland pork industry" ... >>> http://thebricspost.com/china-to-bail-out-finland-pork-industry/ ...
... I wonder what Oxford University Press would say about this porcine scenario ... /s
You said the P-word!
In all seriousness, though, this is very interesting.
We may be witnessing the beginning of a wave of new alliances forming. I feel like I'm sitting in a schoolyard watching teams choose up sides.
I wonder how many will be standing with NATO, when all is said and done? Fear, guns and paper; or production, energy and capital? Decisions, decisions.
I would think NATO should try bringing to the table something a tad sweeter than austerity and military occupation, but Lord knows I'm not as smart as Barky who no doubt has this all figured out.
And most think the "T" stands for Treaty... lol
Haha, it was obvious pooty was angling for Greece with the pipeline deal, because he sure doesn't like Turkey. Remember their little dispute about Dardanelles recently? Putin's going after strategic flanking positions and another Med port. He's concluded Grexit is on.
Ok.
Grexit. Now I get to trade with Russia! Hurray!
What currency will you trade in? Rubles or whatever drachma you're now holding that will invariably be worth 1/10th of what your euros used to buy?
The little guy in all this is about to get donkey F-ed. There's no doubt about it
Grexit may save the euro for awhile. But it's still going to be the currency of choice for Greeks.
there will be elections in Finland 19.4.2015. Exit Euro and Eu, join EurAsian union and we dont occupy your country..
sincerely yours,
Vladimir Volfovitš Žirinovski
dup
some think want VV Putin Administration out....
those should be careful what they wish for
It might be tempting to root for Putin because most everyone despises the bullshit administration we got at home. But let us not forget, he is not there to protect our interests. We got to fix our own mess.
The Putin glee club here doesn't realize that the rules of the game are as follows:
Boehner is for boehner
Putin is for putin
Odingleberry is for odingleberry
Shrillery is for shrillery
McTurtle is for McTurtle
Repeat a few thousand more times and we can cover the world's oligarchy.
You know nothing about VV Putin
media dumb you down much?
Americans think everyone thinks like them.
Not everyone is driven by greed.
Laughing fucking out loud. Russia leads the world in billionaires per capita. It is an outright criminal enterprise.
Gross exaggeration. There's lots and lots of good in Russia these days.
And you know even less about the u.s
media dumb you down much?
My response was to ignorant opinion about VV Putin
US was not subject
but you bring it up?
ok I can apply something..
better worry about your own country
I do not believe Putin to be that venial. I believe he views himself as the leader of a civlization rich in history, culture, size and resources. Unlike Obama who didn't even fucking know how many states were in his union.
Trooper:
"...he is not there to protect our interests. We got to fix out own mess."
Quite right. But our genuine national interests are a lot closer to Russia's that our "leaders" understand. if they understood -- and had a concept of US national interests, which they do not -- we'd have a much easier time fixing our own mess. In fact, we'd hav less mess to fix.
So they could do for greece what theyve done for cuba?
It would be nice to see an alternative but: frying pan - fire.
Escape the western oligarchy.
As BRICS are in the processes to decouple economies from the Western neoliberal monetary monopoly, they could bring back the gold standard as a base for their transactions, which is much more steady than the paper money unstable financial bubbles. They are ready, because they are emerging economies with billions of potencial consumer tanks and can attract other countries too being victims of the international financial mafia, like Argentina and Greece.
Yes, a gold backed currency wouldn't be as easy to manipulate, nor would the bankers be able to suck all the gold out of your economy..... Wait a minute!
Only if central banks are in the hands of private bankers could suck all the gold out of the economy. Gold backed currency would succeed only if central banks are under full state control.
Is the currency redeemable for gold at the bank? If not it's not REALLY gold backed, it's pegged which is a whole different thing.
If however the money is BACKED by gold it's fully redeemable at any bank in that nation for gold. Or, I can accumulate a bunch of your currency with free printed toilet paper (Fiat), trade it on the open market for your currency, then redeem for gold. FREE GOLD!!!
Don't think it'd work? See Nixon.
Edit to Add: More government is the answer? I'm no fan of central banks at all, I'm less a fan of more central government. I mean, if more government is the answer the NWO is the answer to all our troubles...
Russia and Greece share quite a bit culturally. Both Eastern (or Greek) Orthodox and both have ties to the old Byzantine Empire. The primary symbol of the old Byzantine Empire, the two-headed eagle emblem, which is on the Russian (and Albanian) flag is seen a lot in Greece. A popular Greek soccer club, AEK Athens, which actually was formed from ethnic Greeks removed from Istanbul (Constantinople), the old Byzantine capital, uses the same emblem on their soccer jerseys (in addition to their black and gold colors). This Putin character is a pretty good chess player.
It was an entirely predictable move, I wrote about this several times over the past three years, Greece was always going to look to Russia as the next sugar daddy after bleeding out the Euro as much as possible. They didn't get that record of Sovereign debt defaults via paying back loans. Putin's a total sucker here because this was the basic problem with both Ukraine and Cuba, huge debts that they never repaid to Moscow. Chess indeed.
To be fair I should point out he did the same with Syria, i.e. they buy strategic access and position via loans and weapons that won't be paid for.
In fact this is the very reason why NATO and EU allowed Greece to get so indebted in the first place, and so heavily weaponized, then fought to keep them in the Euro NATO fold.
Everyone from the beginning knew Greece should not have been admitted to the Euro, the loans and weapons were the vig to keep them in the fold and secure the SE flank of Europe.
The EU/Anglo-American charade and those that run them!...
Representing the worst intended consequences of being the most perfect asshole(s) to the rest of the World for more than 100 years...
Pucker up!
It's both your turn and time to be on the receiving "end"!!!
Russia is doing exactly what the West is trying in Ukraïne: extending influences. Do not forget that their Orthodox churches and religion are quit similar. Besides, it is a masterpiece of international politics and tit-for-tat regarding the turmoil between the EU and Russia. Do not tease the Russian Bear !
hardly if Russia were doing to Greece what we were doing to Ukraine there would be blood flowing all over Greece. (Not that a ratfuck civil war isn't coming to Greece, it is but Russia has nothing to do with it)
Russia has been restrained, I would have nuked the Swiss Alps 2 mo ago.
Just to get the EUs attention.
This ain't a WW2 redux, Russia doesn't "play" at war!
This is real and our govt is instigating a nuclear war with an ally on behalf of broke socialists in the EU.
Americans will have to remove their govt by force to avoid war with Russia.
Only in Switzerland needs attention is Kolomoskyi...
after that others would be stepping differently.....
Fuq Russia, I got giddy and weak kneed just reading this:
"first we learned that its treasury has run dry as Greece have stop paying all taxes ahead of the elections (and likely after)"
Damn, sign me up!
Global role reversal who is the good cop now? and who is the bad one?
Seriously if you were a Greek and what was currently on the table! Working with Russia as a trading partner as opposed to a Troika debt slave sure looks appealing.
The one thing though if this was to happen what happens to the Greek elites because for sure they chose the path of Greece this last decade and betond leading to where Greece is today.
Funny as ever, those Russians. Sense of humour, aware of how to upset the olive cart.
.... yeah almost as funny as banning entry to 12 Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib staff after the first round of US sanctions.
http://rt.com/news/174064-russia-bans-american-guantanamo/
Problem with that is, the Comex has written it's contract that it does not have to make full payment in PM. It can pay some PM's and the rest in cash. For everyone who think's you can sink the COMEX buying their naked shorts and asking for delivery, it's just not true.
I think the Russians and the Chinese can persuade the COMEX otherwise.
What you say is true for little trolls like ourselves, but not so true for countries who have intelligence services.
2. “If Greece has to leave the European Union, we will build our own relations with it, the food ban will not be applicable to it,”
Select the correct one, and you will get the prize - a dead donkey's ears.
Hey Putin! Do something about your drug laws and offer asylum to any American who wants to defect and I'll be at your doorstep with a university education and willingness to work tomorrow. I even took two years of Russian in college!
You and me, both. If I could be the personal veterinarian for Putin's dog Koni and Medvedev's cats, I'd be on a plane bound for Russia tomorrow. With nothing but the clothes on my back and my sweet boy Socks in a kitty carrier guarding a few gold and silver bars and rounds in there!
Soooo, you guys would defect if you could live the high life.... Yeah, that's pretty realistic...
Nothing in our posts discusses "living the high life." You made that up and put words in our mouths in thoroughly dishonorable fashion. We merely wrote of "a willingness to work" and the opportunity to care for the pets of 2 great men. There was no mention of any high pay or high life of any sort, and you know it.
And we would emigrate, not defect. It's fair to say that the US govt has abandoned those of us with a decent work ethic, so our conscience would be clear, as it is now for even considering the idea.
Personal vet for Putins dog Koni and Medvidevs cats. That's going to be a pretty cushy job and you know it. But it's really a pointless debate, it's not going to happen and if it did, congrats to you! Don't let the dog die or your fucked.
Also, 2 great men? I dunno if great quite fits personally. Certainly Putin will be remembered though. Medvidev... Meh. I think he goes to the scrap heap of history, like Garfield or someone similar.
>>>
Russia's Modest Proposal To Greece: "Exit Europe And We Will Lift The Food Import Ban"
<<<
If true, looks like the Greeks will get debt _forgiveness_ out of Merkel.
And there was I thinking that (because Merkel really believes in the United States of Europe) Greece would _only_ get a swap into zero coupon bond maturing in 100, 200 or perhaps 1000 years.
Which begs the question: What if the Greeks up the ante by asking Putin what he will give them for a warm-water port?
Ho hum...
Watson
With world renown sailors into the bargain?
And facilities for Naval repairs???
Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachrechten posted an article today "New Credit for Athens - EU (Ready, Willing) For a Third Bail-out Program".
I think that the Athens port has been long-term leased by the Chinese.
I'm sure there are other locations suitable for development by the Russian navy.
And there is a further winner: FWIW, I expected the German taxpayer to be the payer, to keep Merkel's dream of a United States of Europe alive. But, with Putin's involvement, the bill can be passed to the United States.
Watson
Yes, they can develop or find a new port, but since China is their ally, why bother? Just dock in Athens. I am sure that the Greeks would love the money spent by Russian sailors on leave.
Which begs the question: What if the Greeks up the ante by asking Putin what he will give them for a warm-water port?
Indeed! That is an excellent idea - I want aringside seat to listen to the squeals from the US Industrial/military cartel. Putin get with the programme !
Divide and conquer. Simple actually.
But in the case of the states of America and the countries of Europe, it was unite and conquer, with central control.
Excellent point.
I can hear Obama now........."NO! NO! NO! YOU CAN'T DO THAT!!!!!!"
Of course that's after he asks his string pullers "what does all this mean? Is it time to set off the big fireworks? Can I light one?"
But Greece will not leave the monetary union also because Germany can’t afford it.
The German bank exposure to Greece is around $28 billion. But at the moment Greece needs another $12 billion.
Sources:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/06/us-eurozone-greece-banking-exp...
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.nl/2014/12/greece-needs-another-1...
Oops
It would be a good thing for Europe if Greece left the EU. Perhaps not at first but within a relatively short period they'll realize the EU hasnt yet collapsed, and they've somewhat lightened the load, but they have far to go still in fixing their economies. Economies in the south have especially onerous labor rules and business regulation discouraging businesses from existing much less growing. As for Greece, they need to break free and find a new path. Wages will decline dramatically making their workers on paper, appear more competitive in cost if not yet in work ethic. Greece needs a paradigm shift in attitude which might take a decade or more depending upon the full pain they experience. For Greece, pain is good.
Great job opportunities in agriculture in Greece once of a sudden!
Not entirely correct. Many already have taken on agriculture because it is a new way to pay less taxes. Farmers pay less tax so people thought it was a good idea to list their profession in the tax form as 'farmers'. Not that they had anything to account for but agriculture in Greece miraculously rose with 1.2 billion euro. Always very creative these Greek.
Anyway, just agriculture won't cut it so Russia has to offer something more. Don't be suprised if they old Byzantium empire will be restored aka the Orthodox resurgence. That could entail Russia, Greece, Macedonia (FYROM for Greek ZH respondents or else I will get replies like 'Macedonia is Greek, etc.), Serbia. Who knows, even Bulgaria and Romania.
just look at horseface kerry using his 'cat's paw' hoo[k]f-n-mouth critiqued lulling this lame bulgariain into the 'mare's`nest' of a feudalist abbaitoir, where the greeks will again sell-out what's left of a once great 'greco empire', whilst the once dreaded Ottoman watch with mouths and eyes-wide open, as a bigger-than-life-antithesis of Nato/EU pawns this lifeless beggar`d neighbour?
question: how does the ussa/eec think about these dormant satelites in the eastern-bloc, knowing that '[t]hey... these [those?]*useless colonial buttresses finally about to realize they are minus-a-stones`throw [b]allast from rock bottom.
as i've said before... turkey, russia, china, armenian/ azerbaijan & iran
links: "Greece Wants Azeri Gas Investment, TAP"
"Kerry pledges support to Bulgaria over energy supplies" {greece/ bulgarian lng terminal financed by usa?} read between the lines.....
http://greece.greekreporter.com/2014/06/17/greece-wants-azeri-gas-investment-tap/
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/15/us-bulgaria-usa-idUSKBN0KO0W620150115
how about Greek use Rouble!
What some people don't understand, and others blatantly ignore for fear their pet theories will be exposed for what they are, any new "Eurasian cooperation zone" won't be anything remotely like the USSR.
Russia is not out to make Greece part of the territory of the "Eurasian cooperation zone", just a simple trade partner.
Furthermore, Russia is not out to shove endless edicts down the throat of Greece or anyone else like the EU has been doing for many years.
To pretend cooperation with Russia and China and eastern europeans will somehow magically create a new USSR... when NOBODY wants that (except the propaganda arm of the USSA)... is disingenuous at best. Not to mention just plain silly.