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What Russians Think Of Western Sanctions
Submitted by Vineyard of the Saker,
I parse the Russian media (corporate and social) on a daily basis and I am always amazed at the completely different way the issue of western sanctions is discussed. I think that it is important and useful for me to share this with those of you who do not speak Russian.
First, nobody in Russia believes that the sanctions will be lifted. Nobody. Of course, all the Russian politicians say that sanctions are wrong and not conducive to progress, but these are statements for external consumption. In interviews for the Russian media or on talk shows, there is a consensus that sanctions will never be lifted no matter what Russia does.
Second, nobody in Russia believes that sanctions are a reaction to Crimea or to the Russian involvement in the Donbass. Nobody. There is a consensus that the Russian policy towards Crimea and the Donbass are not a cause, but a pretext for the sanctions. The real cause of the sanctions is unanimously identified as what the Russians called the "process of sovereignization", i.e. the fact that Russia is back, powerful and rich, and that she dares openly defy and disobey the "Axis of Kindness".
Third, there is a consensus in Russia that the correct response to the sanctions is double: a) an external realignment of the Russian economy away from the West and b) internal reforms which will make Russia less dependent on oil exports and on the imports of various goods and technologies.
Fourth, nobody blames Putin for the sanctions or for the resulting hardships. Everybody fully understands that Putin is hated by the West not for doing something wrong, but for doing something right. In fact, Putin's popularity is still at an all-time high.
Fifth, there is a wide agreement that the current Russian vulnerability is the result of past structural mistakes which now must be corrected, but nobody suggests that the return of Crimea to Russia or the Russian support for Novorussia were wrong or wrongly executed.
Finally, I would note that while Russia is ready for war, there is no bellicose mood at all. Most Russians believe that the US/NATO/EU don't have what it takes to directly attack Russia, they believe that the junta in Kiev is doomed and they believe that sending the Russian tanks to Kiev (or even Novorussia) would have been a mistake.
The above is very important because if you consider all these factors you can come to an absolutely unavoidable conclusion: western sanctions have exactly zero chance of achieving any change at all in Russian foreign policy and exactly zero chance of weakening the current regime.
In fact, if anything, these sanctions strengthen the Eurasian Sovereignists by allowing them to blame all the pain of economic reforms on the sanctions and they weaken the Atlantic Integrationists by making any overt support for, or association with, the West a huge political liability.
But the Eurocretins in Brussels don't care I suppose, as long as they feel relevant or important, even if it is only in their heads.
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Yes, because not bending over for a US sourced ass raping in the form of a ponzi scheme currency and the looting of your country by that mechanism, is in American speak: Shooting themselves in the foot.
Now I get it.
Obviously this is proxy war against Russia in Ukraine but Russia did not invade Ukraine. How is this possible? Things are much more complicated than that.
For excellent background on Ukraine and what this western inspired conflict in Ukraine internally is all about, try
https://contrarianopinion.wordpress.com/2015/01/18/ukraine-no-country-fo...
>western sanctions have exactly zero chance of achieving any change at all in Russian foreign policy and exactly zero chance of weakening the current regime.
Umm.. Maybe this is actually by design and is part of the same theatre? There's now a joke in Russia where Merkel calls Putin and complains that they have been ordered to put more sanctions on Russia. Putin tells her to contact Lavrov to get the exact list of sanctions to impose.
Thumper, What Did Your Father Tell You?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi8f9g8-Wpc (1:36)
Thumper is talking to you Goldi...
http://fortruss.blogspot.com/2015/02/ukrainian-soldiers-break-into-house...
But, but, but I'm sure that was an isolated incident.
Wait....what's this?
Ukrainian soldier boasts about shooting civilians on his Facebook page
http://fortruss.blogspot.com/2015/02/ukrainian-soldier-boasts-about-shoo...
But, but, but that's just tough guy talk, not to take seriously, right?
Seems like a touch, a touch too much, for flipping the bird.
But hey, I'm sure this is just an insulated isodent.
Kiev has terrible rise in crime now, even worse than before
Lady I know lived there left quickly when maidan and she saw what coming...
She and 16 year daughter terribly attractive, to explain her realistic fears
Now Kiev is unsafe safe and less each day
US of A lacks of two thing to be the great nation once was: men and courage. Thanks to Obama this Nation has become the world nest of homos.
Russia put sanctions on Ukraine to stop them from going to war
.
look how well it works
exactly what sanctions is that?
Some Ukies struggle to part fantasy from reality.
Even betterly applies to some 'americans'.
YES -please submit a link for us...
In short stop pocking the Bear and everything will be fine.
To understand Putin and his relationship with Russia, you must first understand Russian history and the Russian soul. Living in a country with the worlds largest moats on our east and west coasts creates in us a way of thinking reminiscent of that of wealthy medieval Lords living in isolation behind heavy stone walls (and often moats) while dictating with relative impunity to rest of the populace as to how they should live and what (most often) false Gods they should worship. The arrogance of the high ground (physical, not moral).
Russia has not had that luxury. It is a very large country bordered on many sides by other large countries, cultures, philosophies and religions. We in the US often like to travel to “see the world”; well, in Russia, most of the world has at one time or another come to see them, and the results often were less than amiable. This sort of historic experience creates a very stoic, resilient, resourceful and nationalistic people. Also, it creates a people who strive to understand the world, if only to better understand how to deal with its inevitable encroachment on their way of life. And when these people feel threatened, and we do regularly threaten them “for their own good so that they can abandon their silly culture and become better people as we have become?”, they will seek out and support a leader who stands up to the external oppressive influences and says “NO – we won’t go peacefully in the night like sheep to slaughter”. And Putin has and is doing precisely that.
Is Putin a thug – of course – any leader of a large country who retains its leadership for any reasonable period of time is a thug and/or supported by a gang of thugs. Has Putin cowed the media – of course – just as today the media of any large country is essentially been muzzled (or do you believe that the US media is a paragon of open minded and fully expressive virtue). Is Putin wealthy – absolutely – although likely nowhere near as wealthy as it is reported, because if so we would have long ago confiscated a lot of that through the ever complicit banking cartel; however, he certainly is not spending his life enjoying his wealth – instead he is spending his time and health standing up for Russia – and like it or not – that makes him a good leader for the Russian people.
This article provides a closer understanding of what is happening on the ground in Russia than any other I have recently read in English (as I have Slavic background, I often read what is happening in Eastern Europe, the former Republics, and Russia in their languages). This write up provides an articulate summary of what is being discussed across all of those countries (and Putin does NOT control the Eastern European press – former Republic press is hit and miss)
Putin (and his foreign affairs advisors) are playing grandmaster chess, while we our foreign policy smacks of a blind monkey with a stick in one hand and a set of darts in the other setting out its strategy on a dart board – one shot at a time. Do not even try to compare our resilience and resolve to that of the Russian people – in the past 200 years, we have neither wept nor suffered enough for our land and culture to have the backbone of stoicism that prevails Russia. To understand the Russian soul is to understand Russia – sometimes I wonder whether our problem in understanding the Russians is the increasing diminishment of the our patriotic soul … true patriots may not always agree, but they do understand each other.
Anytime I see a statesman actually appear to have his country and people foremost in mind, I find it difficult to classify them as a thug.
As yet I have not witnessed President Putin doing anything that was not in the best interest of his country and so categorize him as a statesman.
In my 66 years I have only witnessed one president that appeared to do the same and he was murdered for it so I'll never know.The rest IMO are politicians out for their own gain and to hell with the nation.
Just because our government is run by thugs, our military leaders are mostly thugs and even our Police are thugs does not mean all leaders of all nations are thugs. IMO
full agreement here good post
Schacht Mat, one of the best posts I have recently read on ZH. I also know something about Slavs.
One of the reasons why the Russian people are so tough is because they are used to living in a chaotic, ever changing environment, forced to learn how to adapt to unpredictible circumstances. Most russians are born survivalists, with a degree of self sufficiency that even the US Preppers would envy.
Great post!
Excellent and insightful post. Thank you.
Coupled with the original article, you really help put things in perspective. Now, how to get good material like this to the general public...??
Sadly, most americans are too lazy and ethocentric to bother seeking the truth...
Once again this libertarian analysis is highly flawed and simplistic.
1) Anyone who has listened to the last 2 Ambassadors to Russia know the News Media
is entirely run by Putin as his main propaganda arm. And nothing will ever get on
National Media that tells any truth about any negative reaction by the public.
2) Sanctions take time. Give them another year or two or three and people will bitch.
The same complaint was that sanctions never will work with Iran. Iran is negotiating.
3) There are more severe sanctions to come. And will increase economic pressures.
4) Russian Banks going off SWIFT will be a killer.
5) Russia is on a Nationalistic / Conservative mind fuck. They will eventually turn.
6) Median HH Income of Russia is ONLY $872 USD. This is a very poor nation under Putin.
Compare Russia to India's Median Income of $1000. Sanctions will hurt 50% of the people.
But you will never hear anything on National Media...the memo is out from Putin.
You know nothing about Russia
Republi-Ken is that 'special' sort of idiot. Even retards laugh at his mental infirmness.
He never reads responses to his comments. Gave up on it because too often appears the big words.
His ignorance is breathtaking. I'll bet he still believes that Building #7 was taken down by Arabs with box cutters, LOL.
Yes but he has American circumcissionist delusions of granduer to block the feelings of betrayal by his own parents
My fear is that there are many Americas just like him.
There are Mr. Wahoo.
One thing they have in common is hours spent watching Mainstream TV and listening to NPR or whatever other clearchannel BS they can find.
Becausee our government never lies. And because bombs can shred clothes but not skin underneath, such is the technological skill of two Chechen young men, but I digress.
Volkodav - Puutie's Paid Porker.
Nuzzle Puutie's nuts to keep your face warm.
Obvious homoerotic projection, perhaps YOU want to fondle Putins nuts?
time is key. i'm going to build a USSR foreign reserve clock (you know like those famous US debt clocks). the end is in sight lol.
vb
If you would bother to travel to Russia you would find that everything is available, there are no shortages. What is taking place is an exchange of products, fruits from Turkey for fruits from Germany etc. Russia and China have signed a 240 billion $ contract for a high speed railway from Bejing to Moscow that will reduce travel time to 30 hours and the silk road project will improve the infrastructure of central asia and link it much better with Russia and China. The sanctions are achieving nothing and Russia is going to introduce their own SWIFT beginning May 2015.
That rail line to Beijing will be built right after Puttie walks on mars.
You really are stupid. No wonder you Kiev Ukies are losing the war, economy and country after having lost your minds.
Instead of worrying about Putin, try removing your criminal Oligarchs, starting with your President, and see how much better your lives will be.
As a taxpayer, I'm rather vexed at the poor quality of Augustus' trolling. I liken him to one of those $5,000 toilet seats the government likes to buy.
Ukraine lives the Oligarch Model favoured by Jeffrey Sachs and Co when they had their docile leader Yeltsin
China does not care about Russia, they are playing it much smarter. They love the fight between Russia and the West. They are the winners. Look at the price deal Putin had to give China for the pipe line contracts. Huge loss to Russia just to secure the market and reduce dollar dependancy. Huge win for China because they get cheap energy and great contract prices at the same time also reducing their dollar dependancy. China will win with this shift. Russia is loosing, USA is loosing.
Ken – Russia is not Iran, Syria or Libya. They have the resources and land to survive and the power to literally freeze Europe into the stone age. Do not under estimate the resolve of the Russian people. They are nowhere as enamored by the acquisition of things as we are – sure they like it – but it is not their religion – their nation is. People who, in the past 3 generations, have had their houses burned out from under them, their families murdered in front of them, and their culture torn from them by invaders whose eventual goal was the complete genocide of the Russian people, are not going to be easily swayed by their inability to get their latte of choice from Sputnik bucks. And it doesn’t sound as if China is prepared to support our boycott, so I rather doubt that our sanctions will have the long term impact that our “unfettered media” would have you believe. “Russian is never as strong as it appears, and never as weak as it appears” But I digress; let’s have this discussion again in 2020. …
like , say hearing that the Earth is round,-dont confuse Ken with FACTS! He is slow and cant keep up....
USD RUB bahahahaahaahhahaaahah
I would love to see the amount of shill money spent on this thread. My lame first estimate is about 14k USD fiat.
If you believe U.K. MSM's, think again:
In a perfect world, the ruble would be 80 to the dollar by the end of the year.
I'm reading a book right now called Red Notice by Bill Browder. He set up a fund in Russia back in the days of Yeltsin and eventually got screwed over by the oligarchs. i'm only half way throgh but so far it's a very good read.
http://www.amazon.com/Red-Notice-Finance-Murder-Justice/dp/147675571X
Bill Browder was a trojan horse for the CIA. He is a proven liar.
seems to like living in UK
Russian "media" outlet RT is simply a propaganda arm of the government. On CNN, Fox, Bloomberg and even the NYT you can find articles that believe Obama and his government are the second coming, as well as those that believe he's the anti-Christ.
Conversely, on RT, there is no serious criticism of Putin or his policies. None. That means:
(a) The Russian government is a paragon of virtue; or
(b) RT is in the pocket of the Russian government.
Thinking...thinking...thinking
Fox News dubs Obama and his government "the second coming".
Surely you jest.
Well, maybe for a day or two afer we drone a wedding party.
The sanctions against Russia are essentially sanctions against Europe because the european exports to Russia dropped significantly and the flood of generous russian tourists in Europe has abated. There are many segments of the Russian economy that are invigorated by the low Rouble and the need to concentrate on domestic manufacturing. Whoever may have hoped that the Russians would be infuriated by rising prices for Mercedes cars and Gucci perfume has been proven wrong.
Generous Russian Tourists had their allowances cut with oil price.
Now they cannot afford cabbage and turnips.
True True, and now Putin is enacting price controls... we all know how that will end.
So basically russians are not very smart?
As far as I am concerned, this is a factual article. An article which simply enumerates facts about a foreign country,
It is also a useful article. You can use it to calibrate zero hedge readers: Given facts, what are the comments of zerohedgers?
RUBEUR loosing 40% of it's value.
yes, tell me how these sanctions has zero impact on Russian government.
Even heard of speculative directed financial warfare? What about naked shorting of currencies? You read ZH and believe that markets are free, LOL?
Over the past decade, the Canadian dollar, the euro and the Japanese yen have lost over 70% of their purchasing power against gold. The US dollar and the British pound have lost over 80%.
RUB is tied to oil and gas prices not sanctions. Putin dropped the ball. Due to the overt corruption and lack of property rights in Russia there is very little investment and therefore Russias main exports are still oil and gas. Putin should have made hay when the times were good, but now its too late.
Value? Compared to what? Fiat toilet paper backed by nothing?
At least Russia still has a viable culture that it defends from teh social justice warriors. And it has oil. And elbow room. Perhaps more pro-gay and social justice propaganda will bring them around? I dont' think so.
We got here? A bunch of propagandized people, worthless money, a government that has gone off the ranch, a president not even a citizen who hides everything about his past (nothing to hide nothing to fear right Baraka?).
My money is on the Ruskies if things go hot. The US gay brigade and the all-female marine battalion will get their asses kicked.
Political correctness is a delusion that rapidly evaporates when shit gets real. Our delusions in this nation have weakened us.
This is clear to very Slav in the world, what saker says.
I dare to extend the clarity to the whole world with the exception of Tel Aviv's colonies, like USA, CANADA, Australia, EU.
Every nation on this planet would react/think the same way, except zionist colonies, where the thinking is prescribed by the zionist media.
And yes, ZH is frequented by people, who do not follow the MSM and use their brain.
However I can count at least 10 shills and trolls today, taking the Judas obolus from CIA.
Can we stop being naive bimbo's and follow the MSM bullshit talking points please? The sanctions never were meant to turn Russia around on Ukraine or Crimea but to break up the economic relationship between Europe and Russia. If Europe forms a full economic band with Russia it could be more powerful than the US or China. US doctrine is to attack any opposition to their world power or what's left of it.
USSR had no dumb black muslim CiC
Could someone PLEASE tell me now, if a nuclear WWIII would be bullish for MOAR stoxx?!
The Dow would drop 10,000 points in the first few minutes of trading, but close green for the day.
Anyone who has followed the events in Ukraine closely, will know that the above article is totally accurate.
Also those who read the careful analysis of events by very astute geopolitical academics will also know that far from being the demonic aggressor portrayed by the West, Valadimir Putin , is in fact, a great leader who has represented his country very effectively in these precarious times, and has an absolute mandate from the Russian people.
Countries across South America and the Far East including China, are deserting the US dollar and forming trade partnerships which exclude the West. This is not good for Europe, and they are realising that alienating Russia is worsening the EU economic future.
The Anglo American axis is in grave danger of becoming isolated, and with that isolation, their status in world affairs will be irrelevant.
So, according to this article, the Russian MSM tries to obscure the facts from the population... just as in the US, but even moreso, many Russian people do believe that sanctions are because of Crimea/Ukraine. Many know that if Russia would leave Ukraine alone, sanctions would be lifted quickly.
The difference between the reporting and position of a strictly-controlled press and what people know, but are afraid to speak about openly is just as wide now as it was in Soviet times.
The difference between the under-40s from Kaliningrad and Moscow is striking... in Moscow, they dream of leaving Russia, while in Kaliningrad they have nightmares about being considered part of "that Russia".
G-O-L-D
I'm not a long-time goldbug. In fact, bought my first physical this past December. But, seriously, the writing is on the fucking wall.
It may take a few months, a few years... but a global change in the monetary/financial system is afoot. And I think it's pretty obvious that a lot of the players (not just in the "Axis of Evil", also Europe) have been preparing by buying up gold hand over fist.
I won't be selling a single ounce until it's AT LEAST $5,000/oz and even then, only when I have an immediate place to put money to work. At the point that gold reaches $5k and beyond, the dollar will likely be in a serious inflationary deathtrap.
Russians can buy the same Chinese made items that we do. Perhaps even cheaper, direct from China not though 5 levels of importers, wholesalers and retailers that we have in the US.