Merged Ukraine erupts in riots and general strike.

[L.Y.S.]

The worst penalty for Russia might come not from sanctions, but from investors:they might well decide that Russia is just too big a risk to invest big money in.

It is clear that in the short term Russia's economy will be greatly hurt by the Ukraine fiasco. What is also apparent is that in the long term, Russia will shift it's economic dependency from that of Europe to Asia. China and India will prove to be much more valuable future customers. For now, their economy will probably go to hell in a ham basket from prolonged sanctions.

ETA: The Russians and the Chinese are already expediting the construction of a major pipeline running from Siberia to China. The economic pendulum is already swinging toward the east.

 

[L.Y.S.]

Well, it appears like Russia's real strategy is beginning to work.

 

[Darth Rotor]

Well, it appears like Russia's real strategy is beginning to work.

On this, we agree.

 

[wollclark]

http://mashable.com/2014/03/16/russia-radioactive-ash/

"Russia is the only country in the world realistically capable of turning the United States into radioactive dust,"

He then spoke of the country's "dead hand" defense system, saying, "Even if people in all our command posts after an enemy atomic attack cannot be contacted, the system will automatically fire our missiles from mines and submarines in the right direction,"

Well, that's it, then, isn't it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSZJbJ4Mfis&t=1m43s

 

[trustbutverify]

That's what then?

 

[wollclark]

That's what then?

Our violent idiocy is finally going to take us all out. It was only a matter of time.

 

[McHrozni]

It is clear that in the short term Russia's economy will be greatly hurt by the Ukraine fiasco. What is also apparent is that in the long term, Russia will shift it's economic dependency from that of Europe to Asia. China and India will prove to be much more valuable future customers.

Nonsense. Europe is a much more valuable customer, because it's much closer to Russian oil fields and infrastructure, not to mention population centers. The only advantage China has as a customer is that it will happily ignore human right violations and imperial ambitions in Europe.

That may change though, one way or another. Europe and US could buy China's loyalty just as easily by supporting Chinese ambitions in Siberia and dropping human rights issues in China. They're loyal only to profit, and it's not that difficult to outbid someone who can only offer overpriced and obsolete resources.

McHrozni

 

[trustbutverify]

Our violent idiocy is finally going to take us all out. It was only a matter of time.

Are you predicting nuclear annihilation? If so, what time frame are we talking about here? Personally, I don't find the Russian Glenn Beck to be any more convincing than the American one.

 

[trustbutverify]

Some real Pre$$titutes show us how it's done:

“It was me and two managers and they had already discussed what they wanted,” Bivens, an American who worked in RT’s Moscow headquarters from 2009 through 2011, said of a meeting she’d had to discuss the segment before a planned reporting trip to Germany. “They called me in and it was really surreal. One of the managers said, ‘The story is that the West is failing, Germany is a failed state.’”
Bivens, who had spent time in Germany, told the managers the story wasn’t true — the term “failed state” is reserved for countries that fail to provide basic government services, like Somalia or Congo, not for economically advanced, industrialized nations like Germany. They insisted. Bivens refused. RT flew a crew to Germany ahead of Bivens, who was flown in later to do a few standups and interviews about racism in Germany. It was the beginning of the end of her RT career.

I'll just leave an envelope on the night table.

 

[uke2se]

Right now: Putin is holing a speech littered with lies. It's quite disgusting.

- He claims that the Crimea always has been a part of Russia, which is trivially easy to disprove if you have any grasp on history.

- He says that Crimean Tatars are collectively pro-Russian, which is hilariously out of touch with reailty.

- He claims the Russian presence in Crimea has been in accordance with international laws, which is also untrue.

- Putin asks what made Kosovo so special, which is either a trick question designed to placate the stupid people who supports him, or a sign that he himself isn't capable of understanding nuances.

It's extra hilarious as Russia hasn't acknowledged the independence of Kosovo.

- He keeps up the charade of labeling the new government in the Ukraine neo-Nazis and antisemites, which is one of the longest running lies since the new government took over.

- He lambasts the democratic development of the Ukraine, which would be a good point if it wasn't for the fact that Putin has had a hand in holding the development back.

He goes on, so updates to follow.

ETA: He criticizes the US foreign policy as being based on "might makes right". The sound you hear is millions of irony-detectors overloading.

Putin finishes by threatening retribution for the sanctions imposed by the West.

 

[L.Y.S.]

Nonsense. Europe is a much more valuable customer, because it's much closer to Russian oil fields and infrastructure, not to mention population centers. The only advantage China has as a customer is that it will happily ignore human right violations and imperial ambitions in Europe.

China isn't close to Russia? You're dreaming right? Oh, and China only has 1.3 billion consumers. Not that this is important. And Russia totally doesn't have a trade center in Vladivostok.

That may change though, one way or another. Europe and US could buy China's loyalty just as easily by supporting Chinese ambitions in Siberia and dropping human rights issues in China. They're loyal only to profit, and it's not that difficult to outbid someone who can only offer overpriced and obsolete resources.

McHrozni

China would prefer for a diminishing west than a diminishing Russia. America is a huge roadblock for China. Having two buffoons in America and Russia goes in China's favor.

 

[WildCat]

It is clear that in the short term Russia's economy will be greatly hurt by the Ukraine fiasco. What is also apparent is that in the long term, Russia will shift it's economic dependency from that of Europe to Asia. China and India will prove to be much more valuable future customers. For now, their economy will probably go to hell in a ham basket from prolonged sanctions.

ETA: The Russians and the Chinese are already expediting the construction of a major pipeline running from Siberia to China. The economic pendulum is already swinging toward the east.

History says the Russo-Chinese alliance will not last very long. And China will not be able to supply them with food...

 

[McHrozni]

Beyondbrics has a rather good opinion article on it, How Putin won Crima but lost Ukraine. It requires registration, but is a good read. Funnily enough, it shows just where CE is wrong.

McHrozni

 

[Ziggurat]

It is clear that in the short term Russia's economy will be greatly hurt by the Ukraine fiasco. What is also apparent is that in the long term, Russia will shift it's economic dependency from that of Europe to Asia. China and India will prove to be much more valuable future customers. For now, their economy will probably go to hell in a ham basket from prolonged sanctions.

The short-term sanctions are weak, and will do little to Russia's economy as a whole. Europe isn't willing to stop buying Russian oil and gas. It's not the short term that Russia really needs to worry about.

In the long term, Russia is doomed. A shift towards China will not change that inevitable implosion. Demographics is destiny, and Russia is dying. Putin's schemes cannot change that.

 

[McHrozni]

China isn't close to Russia? You're dreaming right? Oh, and China only has 1.3 billion consumers. Not that this is important. And Russia totally doesn't have a trade center in Vladivostok.

Reading comprahension fail. I don't even see the need to respond with more than this.

McHrozni

 

[dudalb]

I notice that these people who seem to hate the U.S. and West and cheer on their downfall are not in any hurry to emigrate to Russia or China.......

I would have more respect for these people if they were honest, drop all attempts to justify on a moral basis Putin's actions, and just honestly say "WE HAVE TO LET PUTIN DO WHAT HE WANTS TO AVOID GETTING NUKED" and be upfront about it.

 

[dudalb]

Right now: Putin is holing a speech littered with lies. It's quite disgusting.

- He claims that the Crimea always has been a part of Russia, which is trivially easy to disprove if you have any grasp on history.

- He says that Crimean Tatars are collectively pro-Russian, which is hilariously out of touch with reailty.

- He claims the Russian presence in Crimea has been in accordance with international laws, which is also untrue.

- Putin asks what made Kosovo so special, which is either a trick question designed to placate the stupid people who supports him, or a sign that he himself isn't capable of understanding nuances.

It's extra hilarious as Russia hasn't acknowledged the independence of Kosovo.

- He keeps up the charade of labeling the new government in the Ukraine neo-Nazis and antisemites, which is one of the longest running lies since the new government took over.

- He lambasts the democratic development of the Ukraine, which would be a good point if it wasn't for the fact that Putin has had a hand in holding the development back.

He goes on, so updates to follow.

ETA: He criticizes the US foreign policy as being based on "might makes right". The sound you hear is millions of irony-detectors overloading.

Putin finishes by threatening retribution for the sanctions imposed by the West.

Wow.Just wow.
It is going to be harder and harder for those in the West who are defending PUtin to do so with any shred of moral validity.

 

[A'isha]

How Hilarious Is RT’s Propaganda? Bill Clinton’s a ‘Neo-Con,’ Ukraine Opposition Like Taliban

With special guest star George Galloway!

 

[dudalb]

How Hilarious Is RT’s Propaganda? Bill Clinton’s a ‘Neo-Con,’ Ukraine Opposition Like Taliban

With special guest star George Galloway!

And as an added attraction, Ron Paul!

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opini...e-russia-ron-paul-editorials-debates/6544163/

 

[Garrison]

History says the Russo-Chinese alliance will not last very long. And China will not be able to supply them with food...

Exactly; this is a lousy match up. Russia is riding a bubble of oil revenue that is unsustainable in the long term. All they are achieving right now is persuading their best customers to look elsewhere for their energy. Even if China was willing to buy up all of Russia's production at premium prices that bubble will burst sooner rather than later. And lets not even get into China's demographics...