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Greek Prime Minister Asked Putin For $10 Billion To "Print Drachmas", Greek Media Reports
Back in January, when we reported what the very first official act of open European defiance by the then-brand new Greek prime minister Tsipras was (as a reminder it was his visit of a local rifle range where Nazis executed 200 Greeks on May 1, 1944) we noted that this was the start of a clear Greek pivot away from Europe and toward Russia.
We further commented on many of the things that have since come to pass:
Europe, for one, will be most displeased that Greece has decided to put its people first in the chain of priority over offshore bidders of Greek assets. Most displeased, especially since the liquidation sale of Greece is part of the Greek bailout agreement: an agreement which as the Troika has repeatedly stated, is not up for renegotiation
But most importantly, even back then we explicitly said that in order for Greece to preserve its leverage (something it found out the hard way it did not have 6 months later), it would need a Plan B, one that involves an alternative source of funds, i.e., Russia and/or China, which could be the source of the much needed interim cash Greece needs as it prints its own currency and prepares for life outside the European prison.
The Germans were not happy: A German central banker warned of dire problems should the new government call the country's aid program into question, jeopardizing funding for the banks. "That would have fatal consequences for Greece’s financial system. Greek banks would then lose their access to central bank money," Bundesbank board member Joachim Nagel told Handelsblatt newspaper.
Well, maybe.... Unless of course Greece finds a new, alternative source of funding, one that has nothing to do with the establishmentarian IMF, whose "bailouts" are merely a smokescreen to implement pro-western policies and to allow the rapid liquidation of any "bailed out" society... Which naturally means that now Russia (and China) are set to become critical allies for Greece, which would immediately explain the logical pivot toward Moscow.
Somewhat jokingly, on June 27, the day after Tsipras announced the shocking referendum decision, we repeated precisely this:
Dear Greece, if you want to apply for a loan from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, send an email to: information@aiibank.org
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) June 28, 2015
As it turns out, none of this was a joke, and, if Greek newspaper "To Vima" is to be trusted, a "Plan B" involving an emergency $10 billion loan from Vladimir Putin which would be used to fund a new Greek currency, is precisely what Greece had been contemplating!
According to Greek Reporter, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for 10 billion dollars in order to print drachmas.
In other words, if true, then Greece did just as we said it should: approach Russia and the BRICs with a request for funding to be able to exit Europe's gravitational pull...
The newspaper report cited Tsipras saying in his last major interview to Greek national broadcaster ERT that “in order for a country to print its own national currency, it needs reserves in a strong currency.”
... however, somewhat surprisingly, both Moscow and Beijing said no:
Moscow’s response was a vague mention of a 5-billion-dollar advance on the new South Stream natural gas pipeline construction that will pass through Greece. Tsipras also sent similar loan requests to China and Iran, but to no avail, the report said.
The report continues:
Tsipras was planning the return to the drachma since early 2015 and was counting on Russia’s help to achieve this goal. According to the report, Panos Kammenos, Yiannis Dragasakis, Yanis Varoufakis, Nikos Pappas, Panagiotis Lafazanis and other key coalition members were aware of his plan.
In his first visit to Moscow, Tsipras condemned the European Union policy in Ukraine and supported the referendum of east Ukraine seeking secession. It was then that Germany realized Greece was prepared to shift alliances, something that would threaten the Eurozone cohesion. Tsipras was hoping that Germany would back down under that threat and offer Greece a generous debt haircut. At the time, Tsipras had the rookie ambition that he could change Europe, the report continued.
It also spoke of a “geopolitical matchmaking” as Tsipras was introduced to Leonid Resetnikof, Director of the Russian Institute of Strategic Studies, before the European Parliament elections in May 2014. The introduction was made by Professor of Russian Studies Nikos Kotzias, who later cashed in on his services by getting the chair of Foreign Affairs Minister.
But the biggest stunner: it was Putin who declined the offer on the night of the referendum.
The July 5 referendum was a test for Tsipras to see what the Greek
people were thinking about Europe and the Eurozone. However, on the
night of the referendum, word came from Russia that Putin did not want
to support Greece’s return to the drachma. That was confirmed the days
that followed. After that, Tsipras had no choice left but to “surrender”
to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and sign the third bailout package.
In other words it was not Tsipras' failure to predict how Greece would react to the Greek referendum nor was it his secret desire to lose it as previously suggested (expecting a Yes vote and getting 61% "No"s instead), but a last minute rejection by Putin that lead to the Greek government's capitulation, and the expulsion of Varoufakis who most certainly was the propagator of this plan.
It also means that Merkel suddenly has a massive debt of gratitude to pay to Vladimir, whose betrayal of the Greek "marxists" is what allowed the Eurozone to continue in its current form. The question then is what is Vlad's pro quo in exchange for letting down the Greek government (and handing over its choicest assets to the (s)quid), whose fate was in the hands of the former KGB spy.
Finally, it is very possible that To Vima is taking some liberties with truth. For confirmation we would suggest to get the official story from Varoufakis, who lately has been anything but radio silent. If confirmed, this will certainly be the biggest and most underreported story of the year, one which suggests that the perpetuation of Merkel's dream of a united Europe was only possible thanks to this man.
If confirmed, first and foremost look for a growing schism between Europe and the US (which has clearly been pushing Merkel's buttons via the IMF's ever louder demands for a debt haircut not to mention Jack Lew's rather direct intervention in the Greek bailout negotiations) and an increasing sense of friendly proximity between Berlin (and Brussels) and Moscow.
The biggest loser in this game of realpolitik, once again, are the ordinary Greek people.
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It's on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_qShAZg2Zw
Hard to blame Vlad for not attaching a leech to his country, there's no telling if it will ever be self-sufficient
"Finally, it is very possible that To Vima is taking some liberties with truth."
Hahaha If you knew what "To Vima" is you wouldn't bother writing this article.
So Vlad is on the same side of TBTB.
We're screwed.
How could anyone be surprised.
Same zebra, just a slightly different stripe pattern.
All men of power jostle for the same brass ring. The only difference is technique.
There are no white hats on white horses.
We just had this story from the weekend that said that Tsipras/Varoufakis had made no provisions for leaving the Euro / printing drachmas.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-07-18/varoufakis-slams-bailout-3-grea...
And then today we get this story that Tsipras thought about printing some up, but needed to borrow someone else's money to get the printing press fired up. But once the lender turned him down, he said, "Meh, oh well."
So which is it?
Greece is more valuable to Russia as an EU and EuroZone member.
A wooden horse became the Trojan Horse only inside of the city of Troy. Outside, it would've been just an ugly piece of junk.
Looney
No one wants a Tar baby or be near a black hole
Not racist
The only way for a nation to be free is not to be in debt to ANYONE. The Debtor is always slave to the Creditor.
It was a smart move on his part, Europe is not his problem the US is. Increase tensions between the US and Europe and maybe you can get the whole euro-area on your side via Germany instead of just some tiny bankrupt nation.
He is playing the long game and going for the whole prize, not table scraps. Germany sees someone willing to work with them and respect their interest on one side, and a country (US) that is constantly causing problems and interfering on the other.
If so, Merkel and co. should tell DC to fuck off with the sanctions on Russia.
As long as majority of Greeks wants to stay within the EU, punishment will continue.
Once the Greeks repent for their sins, the doors will open.
If he had defaulted much earlier when he had more money then he would of had the money to print. Procrastination did the Greeks in. Bunch of idiots.
succinct and true, +1
I'm not buying the story....
(not yet, anyway)
Greece didn't veto the renewal of EU sanctions on Russia. So no loan for Greece. Simples.
Ancient Athens had a slave to free ratio of 1/1. It's all they know.
This article smells like total BS. 10 billion to print drachmas? What, do they actually have gold embedded? Printing an adequate amount of drachs would not cost more than a couple hundred million... according to Varoufakis. 10 billion to print paper? Come the fuck on!
They needed the foreign reserves to back it up.
You're right... missed that. Redacted.
no cosa grande..
Vlad can spot him in AG
Next… Espana.
paging Vickie.. mucho mas NGO's por las periphery...
Como sey dice Italiana en Espanol?
El norte vamos?
Par le vous France’?
They could of used what PM they had to back it up and pooling together state assets like they are forced to do to back up the new loans. ITs just an excuse.
The only gold the Greeks have is a dream on a Fed ledger because it was "leased" off long ago like all those 400 oz. German bars with the state imprint on them..
The Rooskies have been buying metal like crazy.. third only to China and india.
They have the reserves and like only 30 pts of debt or so to GDP.
When they come out swinging, watch out.
Why couldn't they do what Hitler did.
He had no gold to back up the mark but he backed it
with German labor.
Seems to me to be the way to go.
Vlad wants a Eurasian Axis and Germany is integral to that. Get Germany and they get Greece by default.
Vlad would perhaps agree to a loan in rubles, establish a bilateral currency swap and have drachmas printed in exchange for RUR. Other than that, selling oil in dollars to give them out to Greece or Ukraine with no prospects of ever getting them back seems like a bad bad business.
The Greek trojan horse was wheeled to the gates of Moscow and they said Nyet. Now the horse is back in Fortress Europe and we shall see what happens lol.
Plus German trade is more important than funding a bankrupt nation just for kicks
I totally agree with you Looney, this Trojan horse is more valuable being inside the EU. Putin knows that the EU is unstable and are financially tied to this problem. It's such a problem that it's own members are fighting with each other and definitley Germany.
You decide what you think is true based on the information presented.
There probably is no either or.
I will say this, the item posted above matches what we know about things better. I do not for a moment think that Tsipras got elected and went in there just to capitulate. That is senseless. Or to think they did not have a plan B at all. THIS story, of leverage, of subsequent betrayal, explains the punishment Greece is now receiving. Those folks were not dealing with Greece like fellow members of an organization, they were pissed off with them, this was personal, emotional.
Tsipras had an inexpensive price versus the cost of credit default swaps and derivative losses from a Greek default. To expect honor amongst politicians and/or bankers is delusion. Merkel had a price in cash and/or threats.
Abandon all delusions of virtue, ye who deal with government psychos.
"So which is it?"
You think the pols and the oligarchs are just going to let us know exactly what's going on? We're left to look at the clues and peice the story together ourselves, and we will get some things wrong. Just know this: The best lies have some truth to them.
This one makes far more sense.
Remember that Putin does not aim to destroy the EU but to turn the EU to his camp. Or at least away from Washington´s. Also his ideology is Russia and he will play the political game on Russia´s belhaf and no one else´s.
If this is true, Putin had a match ball and was unwilling to use it. If this is true now the eurocrats may realize that their survival maybe is in the hands of Russia, because he refused to cut the thread this time, but he will not lack opportunities to do it in the future, with us, the italians or the portuguese.
I think it's safe to say if Greeced was turned down, then they didn't offer enough value in return. $10 billion is a lot for Russia. The sanctions are forcing them to burn thru their reserves. What they needed was for Greece to vote down the sanctions, which they did not do. So fuck them.
Surprisingly China turned Greece down as well. $10 billion is chump change to them. Germany must have offered them more value.
all branches (hence the so called leaders act accordingly) are juggling into position for Sept-Oct reshuffle...
no entity, superpower or not) is "allowed" to exceed the bounds (or face sturck down).
there's no west-east, only above and below. Demo-cracy is being demo-lished, from the birthplace.
Only Q, are we fxxked, or what?
This story is painful but plausible. Regular ZH readers will understand that Putin's Russia is the intended victim of the NWO bankers and billionaires, and are playing a difficult hand for their lives. Putin is playing for time, playing to avoid betting sucked into a war, and the last thing he needs is another desperate ally to defend, in a geostrategically difficult position. Taking on Greece against Europe would have been playing into NATO's hands, and Russia's prime imperative is to break Europe away from the AngloAmerican Empire. It's a dangerous game requiring nerves of steel.
The global web of debt will collapse, Russia's economy is one of the few that won't be taken down by it, and if they can avoid WW III they can play a key role in helping their friends and neighbors reconstruct in a new multipolar world economy.
If.
The password is multipolar;
http://redefininggod.com/?s=multipolar
The cost to Russia is trust. If this story is true, and my gut says it is, Tsipis' trust was cruelly violated. This is the second time Russia would have left Greece to the mercy of the AA Empire, the first one being in 1945, also because it was geostrategically indefensible.
Fair point. It's another chess move, giving up one piece to save others. Again, one is left with the impression that Moscow is thinking VERY big and planning FAR ahead.
In this case there may not be a "white hat" or "white horse" but if Putin is not on TPTB side there is a white flag. Getting in good with a country that is that deep in Europe would have rattled Washington while crushing the Euro. It would have been worth the $10B. Putin's days of playing chess are done and he "reitred" no where near a master.
Greece could have vetoed the extension of EUSSR sanctions on Russia before the referendum - but didnt! So why should Russia help Greece who failed to confront the EU Empire on sanctions? Hard rules - you have to earn Russia's trust!
Maybe yes, maybe no. Dame Edna below put out a good point. Vlad can still be the USE savior after it breaks from the USA.
Pure speculation, but the man does play chess, and this is going to be a fierce fight. Vlad knows he cannot castle if he moves his rook first.
Stupid humans - always looking for a savior.
Putin - hope, change 2016!
I agree, no one is coming to save us(you, them, me, or any other group that isn't of oligarchical birth).
My comment was a reflection on the theater to come.
Putin avoids direct confrontation while throwing monkey wrenches in the Wests CONfidence game.
More is at stake here than Greek bank accounts, OXI?
Yep, Russia leaves Greece in the EU, where it has been causing chaos and unrest for 7 years. Like not disarming a bomb that keeps ticking louder and louder. You would need a very good reason to want Greece to become your problem.
Exactly, the big loser may be the Greek People but not far behind is the relationship if the USSA and EU. Thank Obama and Nuland for this. What the hell were they thinking when they decided to overthrow the Ukraine government.
well... that Ukraine government, if you want to make a comparison with theese alleged deals of the Tsipras Cabinet with Moscow...
... was trying to play the two big gangs (or alliances) one against each other
and this kind of play is the most dangerous one, if the two conflicting alliances don't like this kind of things. and why should they?
and this has nothing to do with some of the theories here, and all about how alliances work. be them personal, party or country or corporate or whatever, alliances are always about honouring deals and not switching alliances on whims or on minor deals
Tsipras could not deliver Greece completely. His grip on Greece is based on an election, and his grip on the Hellenic Parliament is based on deals with pro-europeans, liberals and conservatives, too, all more at home in the fold of the "Free, liberal and capitalistic ("First") World"
and Moscow is not a Leftist HQ anymore, anyway. Russia, for good or bad, has turned very conservative and nationalistic. so for Moscow, Greece is more useful in the fold of NATO, of the EU and of the eurozone
the psychology of alliances cannot be spurned like that. old alliances tend to have a persistent life of their own, for lots of reasons, including business, familial and personal ties
As an oligarch and possibly the wealthiest man on the planet, he one of tbtb. Just because he sits on an opposing side, they all are tbtb. They just fight for power and greed and the rest of us are cannon fodder.
Interesting perspective! Putin is very familiar with the rhetoric of Marx and Trotsky, that your so fondly spouting off, but that nonsense only lasts until the guns starting firing!
Besides Jefferson, Washington, and Adams little experiment in 1776, show me another example in the last 1000 years of the "little people" successfully governing themselves in freedom and justice?????
And even that, had very distinctive libertarian created winners and losers, ie rich and poor!
"...possibly the wealthiest man on the planet"? According to whom? The western MSM, owned and controlled by the $500 trillion (that's trillion, not billion) Rothschild dynasty? Pfffftttt!!!!
Thanks Sessinpo for chiming in with the Zino take on matters Putin. Always useful to see where we don't want to go. Clearly, Putin threatens your Zino stranglehold on the world. He has already driven the snakes out of Russia, making Vicky and friends very, very unhappy.
You're saying Putin is a bank?
TBTB? Too Big To Bail?
Well, if he was a bank maybe he should have bailed out Greece!
I agree with you. With that one simple move Putin could have paralyzed NATO disbanded the EU, got access for Russian gas and oil. Maybe even prevented WWIII. But no.
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2015/07/07/greece-eu-situation-paul-craig-roberts/
Putin is just another Santanic Bankster puppet playing his role.
Hm, I'm not sure. By withdrawing Greece from the EU Putin could have indeed cracked the integrity of the union (including NATO) but then he would have faced concerted anger and revenge of large proportions across the whole union as well as the US. That would certainly increase the polarization between the blocks. By doing Europe the favour Putin perhaps indeed held over or even prevented a war conflict. He sacrificed Greece on the altar of improving prospects of cooperation with much bigger and much more influential Europe.
That however, doesn't change a bit on the fact it's all just a mere realpolitik. It's disappointing to realize Putin is playing yet another chess game while many had been expecting him to introduce a more brave and high-principled solution and thus set up a new standard. Didn't happen.
But, on the other hand, we know that Alexis and Yanis were perhaps indeed doing their best to achieve the most reasonable solution by Grexit. If this all is true they deserve our deep respect. Putin could have helped Greece but he didn't. Alexis was doing his best but he didn't succeed. And that's a difference.
If that is true - and it well might be - it sounds like a textbook case of the "Triumph of Hope over Experience".
To keep hoping against hope that he's going to "Win Over" the EU to "his side" against the USA is belied by years and years, decades and decades of that never happening.
Why would it change now or in the near future?
It won't.
"Hm, I'm not sure. By withdrawing Greece from the EU Putin could have indeed cracked the integrity of the union (including NATO) but then he would have faced concerted anger and revenge of large proportions across the whole union as well as the US. That would certainly increase the polarization between the blocks. By doing Europe the favour Putin perhaps indeed held over or even prevented a war conflict. He sacrificed Greece on the altar of improving prospects of cooperation with much bigger and much more influential Europe.'
In other words, he is their bitch. I heard Putin plays chess while Obama plays checkers. Seems like Putin keeps losing chess while Obama wins at checkers.
No matter what they offered Putin for rejecting the loan, he will get shit. Take it from us the American people, Obama can't be trusted.
What a retarded load of shit, and fuck paul craig roberts.
Greece leaving the EU strengthens the EU, by removing a source of chaos and in fighting that's been going on for 7 years. And greece's role in nato is less than a joke. Anybody with half a brain knows nato is 90% usa and 10% uk. The rest are barely along for the ride.
Vlad is on his own side. Russians are stubborn as mules and hold grudges a looooooong time!
After 70 years of death and slavery, no wonder.
Or TPTB want you to think that. How many others would give up hope if they believed Russia/China are "in on it".
Exactly, this is the meme they are here to propigate. SMG(aka CH1) and Sessinpo are zino-trolls, here to support the Bankster kleptocracy from way back.
no, the explanation is very simple. I have talked to some Russians in important positions (through business connections) and they said that Putin really considered helping Greece, but then decided against it. Why? In their exact words: "Putin decided that democratic countries are simply too unreliable. You may sink billions into helping them and then the USA comes with another color revolution, the government is overthrown, USA-backed regime put into place and you won't get your billions back. The same thing happened with Ukraine," Putin allegedly said, "we gave them so much money and what for."
Also FSB had reliable reports that the USA was indeed preparing a color revolution in Greece, if Russia got Greece. Putin simply considered the consequences and preferred to get out of this and use his money for less riskier projects. One of them is baiting and luring Germany, who have much more leverage and power to stand up to the USA then Greece (it is still not guaranteed, but German business elites are increasingly more on the Russian side and are putting great pressure on German politicians and moreover, Germany does not need Russia to "sink billions" into German economy). These projects include e.g. two agreements with Germany about gas supplies, one of them is a direct gas pipeline from Russia to Germany (no countries as intermediaries), which i am sure must be scaring the anglo-zionist elites to death. They even called this Russia-Germany pipeline deal "the Molotov-Ribbentrop gas deal".
I think Putin, as a great strategist, simply knows when to risk and when not to. This is why he is so good, while the USA elites plunge themselves headlong into stupid projects and then act surprised, when Putin outsmarts them yet again. Even Soros recently admitted that "Putin is very clever, unfortunately it seems he is more clever then our (USA) politicians. He is much more dangerous than you think."
On the other hand, interestingly, Russia is now negotiating with Syria about Syria joining the Russia-led Eurasian Union! After all, the "dictator" Assad has resisted all Western pressures and attacks for so long, so it seems Putin considers him less risky than Greece, which Putin perhaps consideres still "too pro-Western". Also Syrian men can study at Russian military universities for free, children of Syrian officers are now going on vacations in Russia for free (and they learn Russian:-) and Syria has been getting a lot of weapons despite huge protests from USA politicians (according to secret sources, even partially S-300 so far). And Russia "will increase its military presence in Syria". Well, it is something to think about.
Sounds reasonable.
Not an ethical issue. If this article is true, it was the right move to make on the chess board. Wouldnt be surprised if he got a little Ukraine sugar too...
Excellent synopsis
Thanks. I am convinced by your arguments of risk v reward
Very Jack Burtonian. Please post more
Re. Datura, one detail. There already is a Russian / German gas pipeline. Its called NordStream. It goes under the Baltic. They are planning to build another one to increase capacity.
This sounds pretty reasonable and likely.
Russia is clearly playing for the 'long game' and, with no offense towards Greeks, Putin was simply not going to 'take the bait' and drive a huge wedge between himself and Germany. I am sorry for the average person in Greece, but there isn't much anyone could do.
Russia is under significant pressure due to the sanctions and the nearly 50% plunge in crude. She is not in a position to be building nations, especially when said nation offers very little reward but a massive amount of risk.
The likely prospect of a Nuland directed color revolution (were Athens to go to Moscow) was even covered by ZH. So even if Putin wanted to help the plight of the Greeks, it's fairly likely that his programs would have been overturned anyway by 'the democratic process.'
I think it is wrong to assume that Putin, because he chose not to sponsor a Greek currency, is to blame for the situation or a member of the cabal. Indeed, he just didn't have a move to make of any value.
But this should be a lesson to us all: We should work within our system, but realize it could all come apart and have secondary contingencies with real teeth. We in America of all people should not be caught, if and when the show ends, with all our money in the frozen bank as we stare at empty store shelves.
@iinthesky -- Putin is not on the side of TPTB, he's just a master chess player running circles around them. We simply don't know what strategy he has in mind, but he intends to win.
Sort of and yet not quite. How much do you know about the schism in the Mason's in the 1890's and the four houses?
and you know this how?
Putin is the most talented global politician since JFK (note what the banksters did to him) and his "play" in Greece is far from over!!
Putin is just playing the role of charismatic strongman for the Satanic Banksters, whose job it is to build up Russia and get Russians ready for WWIII. In that war Christian Russia will be destroyed by a resource hungry China who turns on them. All part of their Georgia Guidestone plan.
Another "interesting" perspective! Putin does bring out the crazy talkers, which I love BTW
I think this guy has has a very good rational analysis of the world as it is today and wha'ts going to happen in the next decade or so.
http://www.worldaffairsbrief.com/keytopics/threats.html
"The Stones".
6.5 billion is a lot of bodies.
Gravedigging economy.
You've noticed that as well? It's like they crouch in the dark until someone mentions "Putin" and then they come out barking like the Pavlovian bitches they know themselves to be.
It coincides with business hours in DC/NYC.
Tel aviv, London, then DC/NYC
I think there is something bigger in play a s the article states. Putin plays to the EU. He is not breaking up the EU. He is supporting their union. He is helping them maintain their union. He is extending the olive branch of assured oil and gas flow, and assured economic vitality. Something the west cannot do without busting someone else's balls.
Back the Drachma with Russian bought UST and physical silver and watch them try to devalue that ....lol.
RIPS
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for 10 billion dollars in order to print drachmas.
Why ask russia for dollars? or China for dollars? And not a loan valued in either rubles and yuan?
Because like it or not the US dollar is still the reserve currency and is the medium for international transactions and settlements. Not a value judgement, just a statement of fact.
And Bruce Jenner used to be a respectable male athlete.
Shit changes.
Shit does change... it just hasn't changed yet.
Agreed.
Kabuki theater from the start. If it was a serious offer, it would have happended and we would be seeing those restaurant and hotel bills being paid out in drachma.
Puti should have had the Brics currency ready to go.
What an epic loss of opportunity.
Debt to GDP ratio makes Greece nothing more than a boat anchor. Is it still a loss of opportunity to not let a lamprey eel attach itself to a new host?
Yes, but the bankers will quickly take everything productive in Greece on the way to Greece's default leaving the country bankrupt with no assets. That seems to be a large part of the bailout. Game. Set. Match. West.
End of July.
http://redefininggod.com/2015/07/globalist-agenda-watch-2015-update-60-t...
Lemonhead is an Atlantic Integrationist by heart. Eurasian Sovereign by necessity
+100
http://captiongenerator.com/50588/The-greek-situation-explained-by-the-Spanish-guy
Could this mean that the IMF published the debt report as a last resort to bait us back? Putin then foresaw the much-debated slow dissolution of the Eurozone because of the IMF/Banks-Germany split. There was no turning back, meanwhile why would he still help the Greeks and be the bad guy. That would be perfect divide and conquer.
Tsipras is a puss. He drove his socialist hipsters right into a "new deal".
Not really he was caught between a Greek general's bullet and Angie Merkel's used sanitary towel.
I guess this isn't Sparta.
Nudelman the Cookie monster brought Tsirpussy a plate of Baklava
Why do you need 10 billions to "PRINT" money? Is ink and paper that expensive??
His buddies in the paper and printing industry want just their fair share.
They can just puch in drachma balances in Greek bank databases outright and make their balance whatever they like, ... it's not like any form of collateral is required to run a country nowaday.
I'm assuming your missing a /sarc switch on that comment. Because the opposite is true.
Exactly. Thank you.
The story has more (bullet) holes in it than MH17's fuselage.
The ten billi was for Tsipras and co. to run away and hide.
please be true...
please.
never mind... overlooked "asked" as in past tense....
my bad.
I did the same thing with the headline. It would have been so cool if they were asking today, better to be getting, today.
But if this article is true, man, a lot starts making more sense. No way Tsipras went in there just to capitulate. Too much confidence and swagger, they acted too much like guys who thought it was going to go their way. The end game, of taking what the Trioka was shoving down their throats is HUMILIATING. No one would sign on for that. You don't do a referendum just to turn around and betray it. You can betray folks without a referendum.
This makes more sense. Tsipras and Varoufukas got played. Germany really is publicly ass raping them to put the fear into the rest of the PIIGS. And I bet Angie does owe Putinanny.
He musta been sitting there during Farage's speech just oozing despondency.
"I wanna but I no canna."
I said this before, his face did look way wrong during that speech. No "Sing it brother!" No rooting him on. Not even a smile of acknowledgement. Just looking so repressed and uncomfortable...
Too bad, so sad. Putin didn't see any way where this would be paid back, and it would further alienate his country from Europe.
Smart guy.
pods
He gets to keep a clean sheet...while watching from the sideline as Europe continues to implode from the rot.
Shrewd.
"Putin didn't see any way where this would be paid back." --pods
Surely Putin's banksters would just hate Greece not being able to service their loans, right? I mean, untenable Third World debt has just devastated the World Bank and the rest of the Western money trust, hasn't it?
Well $10 billion ain't chump change to Russia. It seems their $$ comes from actually selling things. And a lot of that comes from resources to Europe.
So you are taking a risk on a basket case, while at the same time pissing off your biggest customers.
So it is more than just pissing money down a hole. It puts Russia on the hook for losing it (bad) while possibly reducing their ability to absorb it (worse).
Not a tough decision.
pods
Perhaps Putin withdrew the offer to wait for a better opportunity to gain more than repayment of the loan. Why exile potential eurasian frineds, when you can let dying Pax Americana push them towards you?
the cost of a 1,000 mile +++ pipeline isnt cheap and the right of way needs to be sum certain - getting rid of the Ukraine mess and uncertainty exposure of availability and loss from stealing and insanity was easily worth $10 Billion if not $50 Billion
The phony lawsuit pending in Brussells is that much - once there is no risk of throughput for the lifeline gas transmission for mother Russia - the game changes plus NATO Plus Ports for China etc etc - plus a Orthodox Nation to save - all good -
so the Germans gave Vlad a mega mega deal i would imagine
"Well $10 billion ain't chump change to Russia. It seems their $$ comes from actually selling things. And a lot of that comes from resources to Europe."
Yet their currency is still shit and will remain shit because no one will trust rubles. What's the fucking point?
I question the veracity of this story. That being said, lets assume it's true, then it is not surprising that Russia would turn them down. In 1953, Iran looked like it might pivot towards the USSR, and they got Operation Ajaxed. Then, recently, Ukraine pivoted towards Russia and it got a color revolution. If Greece pivoted towards Russia, Russia would quickly find that it had spent $10 billion to fund a country that would be about to undergo another CIA financed revolution. That would be throwing good money after bad. If I were Russia, I would not finance Greece either, at least not until the US was in a much weaker position. This is not Russia being the good guy or the bad guy, this is Russia looking out for Russia - assuming this is true, of which I am skeptical.
color revolutions are cheap to process and can occur anywhere at any time - Vlad wouldnt care about that - especially after EU blew up the country - and average greek understood that -
no nothing to do with fear of reaction - but opportunity cost which MERKEL provided
Merkel will show her red roots soon enough.
2 things
1) to vima is an absolute joke. everyone in Greeces knows this
2) i've always thought the US and Russia were on the same side in some twisted sort of way
Vlad Putin, grand chess master of geopolitics...
yea, he reminds me of a 440 runner in high school who was so fast at that level he would stop prior to the finish line and pick his nose just to taunt the other kids.
You must be joking.
No, you must be joking.
But, but, but.... Putin is the good guy and the savior Europe and the world. How will the ZHers with a man-crush on Putin live with themselves? I thought he was going to ride in shirtless on his white horse and save the Greek socialist beggars from their evil EU overlords? Say it ain't so.
Enough with your homo-erotica fantasies and back to your weekly volunteer shift at the glory hole...the jail bus will arrive shortly.
Every time I hear someone call ZHers justified respect and admiration for Putin a "man-crush" I detect a serious note of butthurt jealousy...and they ALWAYS bring up Putin shirtless. Why? Seems pretty gay for a man to focus on that.
I'm sorry the leaders in your country of origin are most likely craven and cowardly man-cunts who can't hold Putin's jockstrap (as much as you all personally might like to). The only men allowed to behave like men in AmeriKa are the blacks and the Hillary Clinton types of women - everyone else is an object of ridicule.
you keep focusing on GAY-ya ready to come out of the closet soon?
Post time 13:48 DC/Putin-hater time.
god what a lowlife...
Greece would have been a neverending sinkhole of money... who bailed out Iceland?
Now Vlad shall expect IMF to repay the UKie loans.
Yes I wonder where he came up with that amount....it must be the Greek pricing.....one for you 5 for me..10 billion...get another bid...but this shows you why Greece is broke...with costs like this ..who could ever be successful there
Fuck this fiat currency shit, just print baklava.
Putin: 10 Billion, that's PEANUTS.
(there is definately a peanut conspiracy going on)
For some reason, your handle is hilarious...
They must not have peanuts in Greece..but I do think its a good idea to buy peanuts instead of putting his money in the Greek banks....
So, basically whoever is playing Putin these days is in league with Obama and Merkel.
EVERYTHING IS FOR SHOW. Greece and the Ukraine are squeezed in the middle between forces pretending to be opposing, but are really working together.
It begs the question though: Why would you need $10 billion to print drachmas? It cannot possibly cost that much. Was it a serious request or a bridge loan until they were able to print drachmas?
Printing Drachmas are cheap, but buying foreign made prescriptions, med supplies and a million other things just aren't going to happen in the near term until the market decides what they might be worth. You can't just make up new funny money unless you have a pile of old funny money in yer sock. This is just the rules of the old con game, I guess.
I'm pretty damn sure there would have been a wide wide spread between official and street exchange rate for Euros or dollars.
Maybe by next year we'll learn some nice juicy, behind the scenes, facts about this shitshow with some hard evidence instead of rumors.
There could be more suprises in store as we wander through The Greek Twilight Zone.
Peanuts and fresh hot jizz might be the only protein the Greeks can afford in a few years.
Want to buy a greek island?
http://www.privateislandsonline.com/areas/greece
What else can be said?
Putin does not have a Greek island but he does have a holiday home in Greece. Right next to the King of the Netherlands.
No loan from Iran and China, they're on the Putin hymnsheet.
Why should Putin spend good money printing drachmas, when Greece's new currency is to be the ruble?
Russia's leadership made a mistake on a scale far greater than the one that Germany and US made when they lost Crimea.
That's how I see it as well. Big picture -- grab Greece's alliance which the Communists failed to do after WWII and begin splintering up NATO. I'm stunned Putin let this go by. Perhaps the New World Order is more complete than we suspected.
Pundits said the same thing when Putin told the NAF to stop advancing. Now there is fighting in Western Ukraine, just 50 Km from the EU border. Before the year is out, ZinoOccupied Ukraine will collapse and most of it, if not all of it will realign with Russia.
If Russia were to spend $10 billion on a new ally, what do you think the CIA would do? I question the truth of this story, but if it is true, you would see billions from the US going into Greece to finance a color revolution. Would such a move be successful? Who knows, but I would not help the Greeks if I were in Russia's position. At least not just yet.
If this is true, the greek politicians really are fucking pathetic.
Gold looks around the room " Who me "
Russia is badly placed to take on the terrible debts disaster that is Greece. Only if Greece defaulted and then began again could Russian aid stand a chance of being useful. Sadly, Greeks are never ever going to recover until they do two things. First they must default. Second they must reorder the government and economy onto European standards. That means all taxes are collected, that mean accountability at all levels of government spending. It means free enterpise is rewared, not punished. The first corrupt govenment offical seeking a bribe needs to be arrested and jailed for 25 years. Greece is not viable in 2015 as the same old corrupt in debted state. If they make those two changes, then Russia aid and Chinese investment could bring results. I keep saying China should invest in a total restructure of Greece's tourist industry. Chinese capital making Greece a world class destination. Billions of profits could flow. Cheap gas from Russia, plus transport fees froma pipeline would allow Greek industry to fuel manufacturing of at least some domestic products. This fucking Borrow and Import shit has to stop. Germany grew fatloaning money to Greece to pay for German imports. For years this worked, Until it Didn't!
If Brent Crude was back @ $100, Putin would be in a far stronger geopolitical position to effect this situation.
Jack, how would giving the Greeks 10 billion to exit the Euro translate into taking on all of Greece's debts? I don't see the connection. Like the article states, 5 of the 10 billion could be an advance on a gas pipeline and maybe the other 5 billion just as "foreign aid" or even as down payment on naval access. Greece still has to default on the debt and do what you recommend. I'm just not getting how both the 10 billion front money and debt default couldn't both occur.