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Are The EU And Asia Turning A Blind Eye To Russian Sanctions?

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Submitted by Robert Berke via OilPrice.com,

In a previous article on Oilprice, I questioned whether western sanctions imposed on Russia were being regularly breached by E.U. and Asian companies, noting that sanctions only work if all countries unite behind them.

In June, the Financial Times reported that only one year after being imposed, the sanctions are eroding. It seems that government and business policies are pulling in opposite directions, despite the sanction regime being clear on the activities that are banned, as explained by Forbes:

“Last July ('14), the E.U. banned its companies from signing any new financing deals with Russia. In September, the E.U. placed even more restrictions on Russia’s access to E.U. capital markets. The sanctions state that individuals and corporations from the E.U. are banned from providing loans to five major Russian state-owned banks, including Sberbank and VTB Bank, and the three state owned energy companies, of which Gazprom tops the list.

 

The September sanctions, which went into effect on the 12th of that month, said that companies could no longer provide services related to the issuing of financial instruments, including broker relationships.

 

In addition, certain services necessary for deep water oil exploration and production, arctic oil exploration or production and shale oil projects in Russia were also banned."

Much of the mainstream financial news also began picking up on the 'sanction-busting' story, pointing out that many NATO tied governments did not regard Russian sanctions as an obstacle to doing business with Russian energy companies.

Forbes notes that, as a result of sanctions, western oil companies that were once dominant in Russia are now being replaced by European and Asian companies. The article stated that ExxonMobil was “kicked out of Russia” because of sanctions, and was forced to cap a major Arctic discovery in the Kara Sea, where it had spent some 3/4 of a billion dollars, as part of a joint venture with Rosneft.

ExxonMobil has 10 joint ventures in Russia with the state-owned firm Rosneft, but all of those have been shelved due to the sanctions.

European Union (EU) business and political leaders tend to question the validity of sanctions more than those in U.S., because sanctions have a much greater negative economic impact in the Europe. On the question of energy policy and Russia, clear differences are emerging within the EU, as well as between the EU and U.S.

One example of these differences arose over Iran sanctions, where the EU has recently voted to prolong its suspension of sanctions, until nuclear negotiations are completed.

“European companies are finding ways and are certainly freer to do business than their U.S. counterparts,” James Henderson, senior fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, told the Financial Times. “U.S. companies are going to be hugely disadvantaged as we go forward because E.U. sanctions are not retroactive and U.S. ones are.”

It remains an open question as to whether China and India’s multibillion dollar loans to Russia and their current joint energy ventures with Rosneft were a direct circumvention of western sanctions, with both Rosneft and its Chairman sanctioned. That also raises questions as to whether the sanctions themselves are creating unfair trade advantages for 'busters.'

These potentially sanction busting deals were announced at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum:

• BP buys 20% of Rosneft-owned oil reserves in E.Siberia, in a $700 million deal, creating new Asian-bound oil partnership
• Rosneft and Indian state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp signed long-term deals.
• Gazprom and Royal Dutch Shell are building a global alliance
• Gazprom signed an agreement with the Greek government to pursue its Turkish Stream Pipeline
• Gazprom signed a 300 million euro loan with Unicredit Bank of Austria
• Gazprom held discussions with Engie (formerly GDF Suez) over gas pipelines to France

The capper came at the St Petersburg Economic Forum, where the Saudis arrived, offering to be a full-fledged finance partner in Russia’s energy development, in exchange for Russian nuclear expertise and military arms. Two weeks later, the Saudis raised the bet with a five-year, $10 billion investment in Russia's agriculture, retail, and real estate sectors.

It is one thing to see Russia replace the West with China as client, partner, and financier of energy development; it’s quite another to see Russia swap western finance for Middle Eastern finance, sourced from one of the West's strongest allies. That is likely to cause major concerns in western banking circles.

For the investment community, there was another sign at the Forum of the way the investment wind may be blowing. Jim Rogers, an American multi-billionaire investor and former partner of George Soros’s Quantum Fund, announced that he was investing in Russian assets precisely because “…they are the most hated in the world.”

The famous American contrarian has recently accepted a Board of Director’s Seat at PhosAgro, a Russian fertilizer company, where he is also a major stakeholder.

Some six months after sanctions were imposed, the U.S. Secretary of State visited the Kremlin for private talks with Putin, which were widely interpreted as an attempt to ease international tensions over Ukraine. After the St. Petersburg Forum, the first telephone conversation between Presidents Obama and Putin took place, breaking an eighteen month silence.

As tensions ease, and the news becomes more focused on issues like Greece, rather than Ukraine, sanctions vigilance seems to be eroding. There are also signs emerging that some U.S. analysts are beginning to question the western narrative on Russia's actions in Ukraine. One example comes from a senior analyst at Stratfor.com, one of the most widely respected U.S. strategic intelligence newsletters. Senior Analyst Lauren Goodrich argued in a June 29 video on Stratfor’s website that the U.S. is actually the one making antagonizing moves while Russia is merely responding:

“The way that the American media has put it out there is that Russia is being the aggressor (in Ukraine), and instead we're seeing Russia be very reactive instead. NATO starts to build up, then Russia starts to build up. The United States helps support the revolution that took place in Ukraine this past year, Russia then takes Crimea and goes into eastern Ukraine. So it really is a reaction to what is taking place out of the United States and out of NATO.”

All of this suggests that official government sanctions may continue a good deal longer, while the EU and Asian business community increasingly ignores them. That is likely to result in increased government pressure from the U.S. business community to enable its companies to compete on and equal plane with their EU and Asian peers. This growing dichotomy between the U.S. and EU/Asia is unlikely to be long lasting, as their respective governments seek ways to avoid embarrassment in their respective business communities.

As stated by Chris Weafer, founding partner at Macro-Advisory, a Moscow consultancy, “Goods and services which in theory are subject to sanctions, in reality do not appear to be. Companies seem to be working around it. There is obviously a very big blind eye being turned” by some western governments.... “I think the basic message is if you’re not blatant about it you’re fine.”

A U.S. State Dept. representative may have let the truth slip out when he described the reaction of the State Dept. to questions from U.S. companies about attending the St. Petersburg Economic Forum. “If you tell us you’re going, we’ll probably order you not to, but if you go and don’t tell us, we’ll probably do nothing,” he said.

 

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Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:17 | 6291110 knukles
knukles's picture

Yes
In concert with Dear Leader's agenda the world's gone from secrecy, to don't ask don't tell, to everything is all right for anybody to do who wants to do anything that they want to do and if you don't agree with that, you're racist

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:18 | 6291126 CarpetShag
CarpetShag's picture

Can I quote you?

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:49 | 6291321 Paveway IV
Paveway IV's picture

It's going to be difficult to justify sanctions against Russia for 'invading' Ukraine since NATO and Israel will soon be invading Syria. That hypocracy is going to be damn hard to narrate over to get the sheeple to swallow it and see it as something distinct from Russia/Ukraine.

The Syrian invasion is all speculation, of course. But NATO member Turkey has armor massed on the border. Fer Christ's sake, the future invasion already has it's own Wiki page!

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 15:22 | 6291512 Freddie
Freddie's picture

Good luck with that.  If Russia provides the Syrians and Hezbollah with some Kornet and Metis anti-tank missiles then those Turkish tanks will be toast in a day or two.

If they also get upgraded MANPADs and also S300 then there will be no air cover.  Israel will not invade because that did not work out so well in Lebanon back in 2006.   NATO ships in Syrian ports?  I think they will be sunk first.

Russia risked WW3 when they parked their ships between Syria and the US Navy back in Sept 2013.  This leads me to believe that all the Tomahawks could have been shot down and US Navy ships could have been sunk.  The Russians play too much chess to have put their ships in that sort of danger unless they felt they could have won.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 16:39 | 6291746 Paveway IV
Paveway IV's picture

Not that simple, Freddie. Russia still hasn't moved any SAM stuff to Syria, and all the northern and southern Syrian SAM sites were destroyed. Russia still needs to get TurkStream over a chunk of Turkey, so isn't going to be so forthright in aiding Syria against Turkish aggression. The Turkish incursion will be quick and stop inside whatever border they decide will constitute the new UN buffer zone. No time for Syria to arm up, retaliate or push Turkey out. Syria will lose the land in the UN-brokered peace deal. 

Turkey isn't trying to take over all of Syria - it's looking for a few dozen miles-wide no-fly 'buffer zone' al la UNDOF/UNFIL. This would also be Israel's freeway in the sky to Iran for the nuclear site bombing. This would also extend into Syria covering all the threatening potential SAM sites on the high hills and mountains. It's basically the Golan strategy all over again - get the UN bitches to pre-take over your planned real estate theft. It's also a way for Turkey to cut off Kurds from each other, stop the flow of refugees and - as a bonus - take away future Kurdish land.

Israel isn't going to attack Syria directly - it will use it's Jordanian stooges as always. Again, it's to take over a twenty-mile wide (give or take) fake 'buffer zone' which will include all the existing (but destroyed) Syrian SAM and electronic eavesdropping sites in the hills of southern Hauran on the Syrian side of the UNDOF zone.

Israel will attack Southern Lebanon again and take over the rest of the UNFIL zone and grab whatever else it finds useful (water resources). It's not like 2006 because Israel had it's UN stooges 'protecting' it's future UNFIL land grab. Hezbollah will show up, but they're spread too thin over Syria now. With Jordan attacking the southern flank, Israel will have plenty of unhindered access to more Lebanese land. A short war followed by a quick UN peace agreement and 'peacekeeping troops', aka Israeli's UN rent-a-border-guard paid by ME of course, not them.

The ZATO strategy for Syria seems to have shifted to maintain it as a failed state (why they haven't droned Assad), but steal a good chunk of their land in the north and south denying them all decent SAM sites. It's UNDOF/UNFIL phase II. Putin isn't going to do nothing, but he has shown little desire to send S-300s to Syria so far. His retaliatory strategy here will have to be different, but I'm sure it will be a serious bitch-slap to ZATO (again) whatever it is. 

There's also THIS German Patriot hack, ignored by the MSM.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 17:12 | 6292095 Rock On Roger
Rock On Roger's picture

 

 

lebensraum for zion

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 18:02 | 6292298 boogerbently
boogerbently's picture

We can't tell when we're being frauded out of Welfare/SS/Disability $$$ in our own backyard.

You think we could catch GOOD businessmen across the ocean ?

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:22 | 6291158 KnuckleDragger-X
KnuckleDragger-X's picture

Appearance is everything and since Kabuki is working so well in Japan everybody else wants to play too.....

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 17:11 | 6292093 knukles
knukles's picture

Sweet!

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:17 | 6291123 JustObserving
JustObserving's picture

Why should EU and Asian companies suffer if the Nobel Prize Winner wants a full-spectrum war with Russia?

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:37 | 6291234 Kirk2NCC1701
Kirk2NCC1701's picture

JustSpeculating that it's more of a case of the Puppet In Chief doing the bidding of the perennial String Pullers, who are once again leveraging/using The Empire to do its heavy lifting and its dirty work. Even on Saturdays, or especially on Saturdays. So to speak. 

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:58 | 6291382 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

+1, excellent question

"Why should EU and Asian companies suffer if the Nobel Prize Winner wants a full-spectrum war with Russia?"

keep it on the facts: what Washington officially wants is an embargo

meanwhile, a lot of this trade is going on with companies that are neither US nor EU nor Asian, but everywhere and transnational at the same time. the globalized economy, if you want

now let's go over to fantasy: that the EU is a willing participant of anything that has to do with less trade and less real economy

or that we europeans are terribly good in observing this kind of laws and regulations... including the Germans or the Scandinavians

or that we are in any way willing to see a new Iron Curtain (and Nigel Farage, there, really went over the top)

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 15:49 | 6291669 TheFourthStooge-ing
TheFourthStooge-ing's picture

.

now let's go over to fantasy: that the EU is a willing participant of anything that has to do with less trade and less real economy

or that we europeans are terribly good in observing this kind of laws and regulations... including the Germans or the Scandinavians

That seems pretty level headed and sensible, Ghordius, which also makes it un-'american'.

+1

BTW, in a recent email, akak asked me to send you his regards. He said that even on those occassions when he disagreed with you, he still enjoyed the back-and-forth because of your intelligence and civility.

So cheers, you European citizenism citizen, you. (My words, not his.)

Fri, 07/10/2015 - 07:06 | 6294264 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

thanks, Fourth, send akak my regards, please

lol, "European citizenism citizen". tell him I'll switch to whatever is better then citizenism the very day I encounter that

my symphathy for the radical and critical point of views of pure and friendly anarchism is still there

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:18 | 6291130 HonkyShogun
HonkyShogun's picture

Did somebody tell Putin that there were sanctions against him?

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:59 | 6291384 JohninMK
JohninMK's picture

They sure did.

So he and his new best friends in Bejing (see Law of Unintended Consequences, subsection 2.1 Sanctions) are doing something in response.

This is a para from a very interesting article. Well worth the read.

Russia can answer the West. And we are not talking about military affairs but the economy and finance. IA Regnum announced that the Russia expanded gold production in the first five months of 2015 by a factor of 6.5, and silver production by a factor of 7.7. 83.01 tons of gold were extracted (84.7 tons in all of 2014), and 411.78 tons of silver (542.32 tons in 2014). In addition to these worrisome to the US statistics, the BRICS development bank began operations with a founding capital of $100 billion. One should also add the promise to introduce yuan gold backing by the end of 2015 which was announced by the Shanghai gold exchange vice-president Shen Han. He was followed by the former head of the China National Bank Pan Hongshen who told Reuters about the bank's plans to grow and "internationalize" the gold market.

With a FortRus comment

Also, it is remarkable that the British are going along with China's plans. That also suggests that they are viewing China's actions not as an offensive measure against the dollar which would harm the entire financial system and as such would be opposed by London, but as an insurance against future Fed actions that will inevitably threaten said financial system.

http://fortruss.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/gold-rush-20-how-russia-and-china...

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 15:30 | 6291562 Freddie
Freddie's picture

Another issue that I think Dr. Jim Willie talked about is the trading of Chinese currency and also Chinese bonds.  There may be a big battle between Frankfurt, London and NYC over who becomes the prime hub and London wants it very badly. 

Germany and the UK are very wary about alienating China.  And because China has Russia and Putin's back then Europe has to be very careful.   Some people could get left out of the Silk Road and the Silk Road is looking more attractive then the Empire of Chaos.  

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:20 | 6291146 The Delicate Genius
The Delicate Genius's picture

And you didn't think "ISIS" could end up in Ukraine, eh?

https://consortiumnews.com/2015/07/07/ukraine-merges-nazis-and-islamists/

What a shit show - foreign technocrats, Jewish oligarchs, american puppeteers, bona fide neo nazi racist statist thugs, and Islamic militants...

all unleashed to promote democracy and European values on the poor, unsuspecting people of Ukraine...

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:46 | 6291311 Mike Masr
Mike Masr's picture

A Call for Concentration Camps


On the evening of June 17th prime time television viewers in Ukraine were treated to another of the neo-fascist performances that are now part of the country’s routine. Ideologist of the Ukrainian far right Dmytro Korchynskiy urged the Maidan regime to set up concentration camps for the Donbas’s and Crimea’s population and carry out a full ethnic cleansing and depopulation of the Donbas rebel regions and Crimea: “Americans are our teachers of democracy. The USA is truly the most democratic country in the world today. All democratic institutions were preserved in America during WWII, such as elections, etc. Nevertheless, several million American citizens were deported to particular concentration camps – American citizens of Japanese ethnicity. In wartime they constituted a potential threat. The USA, having preserved the high level of humanism inside its own nation, carried out a nuclear strike upon Japan. They also bombed German cities. Eighty per cent of residential buildings in Germany were destroyed by Anglo-American air raids. The doctrine implied shelling of residential areas first and foremost in order to demoralize German soldiers at the front, etc. Thus, we also should have the highest level of freedom in Ukraine. We have too little freedom. We should have more freedom. Nevertheless, in the front-line zone and occupied territories we should act in the American way; that is, if we lost territories and cannot get them back, they must be lifeless. If they cannot be ours, they ought belong to no one” (Dmytro Korchinskiy’s comments on Ukraine’s channel ‘112’, 17 June 2015 at “Na ukrainskom TV prizvali k sozdaniyu kontslagerei dlya zhitelei Donbassa,”

YouTube, 17 June 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSv3fixJPc4, last accessed 19 June 2015).

 

Excerpt from:

http://novorossia.today/one-day-in-the-life-of-ukrainian-democracy/

 

 

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 15:33 | 6291588 Freddie
Freddie's picture

Well come on you little Azov cowards who hide behind the poor Ukie cannon fodder.  Go to Donbas and try again.  Maybe the third time will be the charm.  I am sure Givi and Motorola will be waiting to welcome you.

This is even a bigger joke considering that many of the Ukie conscript did the right thing and abandonded their tanks, BMPs and other weapons.  Kiev cannot do shit agains DPR and LPR. 

The Kiev fascist and criminal junta is a paper tiger.  F them.  Dial shit-i-Zen Murderers.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:21 | 6291153 Consuelo
Consuelo's picture

$$$(or perhaps even... ¥¥¥ now), talks.   And of course, BullShit walks --

 

 

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:23 | 6291171 Son of Captain Nemo
Son of Captain Nemo's picture

Just where do we sign up for the "Jim Rogers Russian" fund?!!!

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:25 | 6291181 WTFUD
WTFUD's picture

Sanction-Busters

Another example of Vichy DC's eroding influence.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 16:58 | 6291192 Allen_H
Allen_H's picture

The West: Satan's Whorehouse.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:27 | 6291194 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

"There are also signs emerging that some U.S. analysts are beginning to question the western narrative on Russia's actions in Ukraine. One example comes from a senior analyst at Stratfor.com, one of the most widely respected U.S. strategic intelligence newsletters. Senior Analyst Lauren Goodrich argued in a June 29 video on Stratfor’s website that the U.S. is actually the one making antagonizing moves while Russia is merely responding"

 

Fuck, we knew this when it all started, and they're just now coming to this conclusion? The stupidity of these people never cease to amaze me.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:50 | 6291326 iClaudius
iClaudius's picture

"Fuck, we knew this when it all started, and they're just now coming to this conclusion? The stupidity of these people never cease to amaze me."

I think it's more that people in positions of influence are finding the courage to speak out, even in the USA.

Ever the optimist.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 15:17 | 6291486 44magnum
44magnum's picture

"The difference between stupidity and genius is genius has its limits"

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 16:09 | 6291773 WTFUD
WTFUD's picture

I subscribed to Stratfor for a year up until they were hacked, 6 months in. All sorts of shit came up on my computer.
Did those Pikers offer me a refund? No, just a free 3 month subscription.

Anyway as they now have nothing to offer they're probably realising any NEW Members want some substance in their geopolitical reporting.

ALL CHANGE!

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:31 | 6291209 Moccasin
Moccasin's picture

Will the US government ever grow up? It is the childish stomping of feet to impose pointless sanctions. Most of the world recognize the US is in its twilight as an empire and the rest of the world are just being polite by ignoring the US government.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 16:32 | 6291878 nevertheless
nevertheless's picture

Sanctions are just a weapon, to try and instill social unrest within that nation. The goal is to beat them into submission, or wipe them off the face of the earth...

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:31 | 6291212 WTFUD
WTFUD's picture

Are those Mistral's still docked in the port of Saint Nazaire?

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:43 | 6291289 Mike Masr
Mike Masr's picture

Fuck those Mistrals. Russia can build bigger and better ships at Sevmash.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:50 | 6291325 JohninMK
JohninMK's picture

Yup, not a transaction that could be hidden.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 15:24 | 6291526 researchfix
researchfix's picture

Yes, and one thought of future use is housing for immigrants. Immigrants who come because of US-waring in Middle East.

But nobody says so, it is like they are delivered by the stork.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:44 | 6291303 who cares
who cares's picture

 

The USA problem is that those neocon jerks, and we know which the main actors are, are still working on the old cold war philosophy. They need to keep their well paid jobs and Mr. Obama, who surley can beat them in jerkness, does not understand that it is time for a change for america ( I thought it was is slogan, was it?)

 

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 15:00 | 6291390 Herdee
Herdee's picture

John Kerry and Victoria Nuland are nothing but WHORES for a corrupt system.My only hope is that they go broke pouring hundreds of billions more into a bottomless pit in Ukraine.There's nothing like financing former Commies.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 16:31 | 6291873 nevertheless
nevertheless's picture

They are zionists, pure and simple, and they run America.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 15:09 | 6291415 Bankster Kibble
Bankster Kibble's picture

I up-voted this article because it contains excellent examples of the collossal ignorance and stupidity on the part of Western observers, including this prize:  "It remains an open question as to whether China and India’s multibillion dollar loans to Russia and their current joint energy ventures with Rosneft were a direct circumvention of western sanctions, with both Rosneft and its Chairman sanctioned." 

What does it mean that Asia and India and Saudi Arabia are "circumventing" the sanctions?  It's not even a valid question.  Since when did they EVER sign on to them?  The sanctions are by the EU and USA, not by the rest of the world (no matter if the NYT or WaPo think that EU and USA make up the only part of the world that counts).  The rest of the world is busy doing business with whomever it wants and is saying "STFU" to EU and USA when we gabble on about sanctions.  And we speak out of both sides of our mouth, as well, because we gave the oil giants like Exxon months to "work out" of their deals and we still allow them to engage in joint exploration ventures with Russia.

Sanctions are for fools and wusses.  That's been pretty much proven by now.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 15:57 | 6291708 Max Steel
Max Steel's picture

Canada , Austrslia and japan too . I guess NZ also

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 18:27 | 6292382 MarkGoldman
MarkGoldman's picture

Basically, NATO.

Everyone else is busy trying to profit and protect. 

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 15:14 | 6291439 Mike Masr
Mike Masr's picture

Victori Nuland and Geoffrey Pyatt two neocons were orchestrating this un-democratic regime change from square one. 

First watch this pre-Maidan video with English sub titles from Nov 2013.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&x-yt-ts=1422503916...

then read the story and watch this RT video 

http://rt.com/news/nuland-phone-chat-ukraine-927/

Today Ukraine is dead!

http://thetruthspeaker.co/2015/04/19/10-reasons-ukraine-is-dead/

 

 

 

 

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 15:23 | 6291519 jtg
jtg's picture

The US and its Anglosphere and EU vassals live in the illusion that they are the 'world'.

US sanctions have no effect on the non-West other than to sanction the West itself.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 15:28 | 6291546 researchfix
researchfix's picture

Exactly, the ´isolation of Russia´ turns out to be the self-isolation of the West.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 15:34 | 6291594 Bankster Kibble
Bankster Kibble's picture

Yup, and by kicking people out of our "club" we will soon discover that our club is just getting smaller and smaller.

I guess that makes it "exclusive" or something.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 16:25 | 6291853 sagitarius
sagitarius's picture

Sactions = declaration of war. See Pearl Harbour.

My russian slavic brothers should destroy the enemy.

Fri, 07/10/2015 - 00:46 | 6293764 onmail
onmail's picture

Japanese made a mistake of attacking pearl harbour.

They should have attacked America directly.

Hit where it hurts.

 

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 16:42 | 6291936 Youri Carma
Youri Carma's picture

Bottoms Up Line: Russia-Ukraine Crisis Harming Europe & U.S. Economy – Insanely Self-Destructive!

http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=256898.msg1520093#msg1520093

– “US aims to prevent a German-Russian Alliance” :Stratfor

– Russian Sanctions Foolish Favors, Unsustainable and Fall Apart!

– Russian Sanctions Only For Europe’s ‘little people’ Not For BP, Total and Germany

– Russian Sanctions Only For American’s ‘little people’ Not For Exxon, Boeing and Goldman Sachs

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 16:47 | 6291970 WTFUD
WTFUD's picture

When you can hear the clink of pitchfork's not too far off in the distance you don't cut your own throat by adhering to the Sanctions Meme.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 16:51 | 6291990 gcjohns1971
gcjohns1971's picture

I hope they breach them all.

The sanctions were a meaningless gesture from the beginning.

It is better if such things remain meaningless, and gestures.

Because when they become meaningful, people start shooting.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 17:31 | 6292180 Latitude25
Latitude25's picture

Historically speaking the US gov always ends up supporting its enemies and screwing its friends.  Sanctions amount to financial justification for the existence and growth of the MIC.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 19:11 | 6292554 richiebaby
richiebaby's picture

Does this mean me and the boys at the shelter can start buying Russian caviar?

Fri, 07/10/2015 - 02:33 | 6293949 nicbyte
nicbyte's picture

The guy growing tomatoes in Italy and spain are hit by sanctions, the US government has been buying Russian rockets and a whole bunch of other stuff since they imposed sacntions. US exceptionalism I guess.

Fri, 07/10/2015 - 05:27 | 6294128 BritBob
BritBob's picture

The Russians also support Argentina's Malvinas cliam which is debunked: https://www.academia.edu/10490336/Argentinas_Illegitimate_Sovereignty_Claims

Enough reason to maintain sanctions.

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