Posted on 03/03/2014 1:04:32 PM PST by SeekAndFind
The West is blinking in disbelief – Vladimir Putin just invaded Ukraine. German diplomats, French Eurocrats and American pundits are all stunned. Why has Russia chosen to gamble its trillion-dollar ties with the West?
Western leaders are stunned because they haven’t realized Russia’s owners no longer respect Europeans the way they once did after the Cold War. Russia thinks the West is no longer a crusading alliance. Russia thinks the West is now all about the money.
Putin’s henchmen know this personally. Russia’s rulers have been buying up Europe for years. They have mansions and luxury flats from London’s West End to France’s Cote d’Azure. Their children are safe at British boarding and Swiss finishing schools. And their money is squirrelled away in Austrian banks and British tax havens.
Putin’s inner circle no longer fear the European establishment. They once imagined them all in MI6. Now they know better. They have seen firsthand how obsequious Western aristocrats and corporate tycoons suddenly turn when their billions come into play. They now view them as hypocrites—the same European elites who help them hide their fortunes.
Once Russia’s powerful listened when European embassies issued statements denouncing the baroque corruption of Russian state companies. But no more. Because they know full well it is European bankers, businessmen and lawyers who do the dirty work for them placing the proceeds of corruption in hideouts from the Dutch Antilles to the British Virgin Islands.
We are not talking big money. But very big money. None other than Putin’s Central Bank has estimated that two thirds of the $56 billion exiting Russia in 2012 might be traceable to illegal activities. Crimes like kickbacks, drug money or tax fraud. This is the money that posh English bankers are rolling out the red carpet for in London.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
why should Russian fear us , we have thrown our vote pearls to swine and elected a total pussy as President , twice .
There is a serious cost to allowing so many uninformed fools to vote in the US . Voters need to qualify , in several ways .
An 8”x10” of Zero should just about sum up this argument!
For crying out loud, Fox has speakers now saying “The US is strong! Russia is going to collapse!” The worst thing is, there are SNAP cardsters who will buy this BS.
Not ONE word about Obama. The article made me laugh because they mention everything under the sun but Obama. Putin has no fear of Obama. PERIOD
The article goes on to say that the banksters and lawyers are all corrupt, and they are correct. Our own Federal Reserve and their cohorts make the mafia look honorable by comparison.
Only the stupid "leaders" of France, Germany, the EU and America are the people stunned. They are stunned because they are blinded by their admiration of Soviet style tyrannical socialism. They stunned because they are ignorant of Russian history and behavior. They are stunned because they are unable to realize that Russia doesn't give a damn what the effeminate, homosexual promoting, perverse "leaders" of the West think about anything. The West is degenerate and weak and is in the process of destroying itself.
Don't be surprised to see Russian moves against Europe proper in the future.
Maybe Putin has pictures of mac daddy trying on his new silk panties, pink dress and light red lipstick.
According to the author it’s the fault of the banks not Obama.
I was suspicious when I saw that the article came from Politico.
Uh.........................idiots in DC?
Putin’s path has been obvious to anyone who cared to look at least since the missile dust up. Poland seems to understand and is concerned for their own sake, and rightly so. Russia and China (who have their oun territorial expansion plans) have come together to form a block that no one currently will challenge.
Russia can buy up the European nouveau riche. They’ll squawk but after a decent interval, its back to business as usual.
And if they won’t? Then they’ll freeze in the winter. Something for them to think about if they try to hurt Russia.
Europe needs Russia more than Russia needs Europe. All Russians hear are hypocritical platitudes from decadent, corrupt, enfeebled and opportunistic Europeans.
I always liked the literacy test. Proof of paying income tax and owning property would be good, too.
Huh....Obama?
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