High Hopes for Russia Are Fading on Wall St.

The New York Times ^ | September 22, 2014 | Andrew Ross Sorkin

[ConservingFreedom]

Goldman Sachs has an office in Moscow. So do Citigroup and Morgan Stanley. JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, too.

Russia was supposed to be a growth market for Wall Street. It is quickly turning out to be a potential financial nightmare and a political hot potato.

With the deteriorating relationship between the United States and Russia over Ukraine, and a series of punitive sanctions clearly slowing Russia’s economy, Wall Street banks are facing a conundrum: Should they stay or go?

Wall Street’s involvement with Russia has long been a source of controversy. Some critics contend that Western banks have quietly helped enrich the government of President Vladimir V. Putin while he ran roughshod over the rule of law, often confiscating assets from political opponents. [...]

[roofgoat]

brutally honest post. Good Job.

[DarthVader]

Most of what they used to have in numbers was cannon fodder anyways. When you measure the power of the bear today you do it across the spectrum and with the effectiveness of their current weapon systems. They are stronger now with a more quality force. They are bringing in oil and gas $$$$ where they finance things.

[wetphoenix]

You’re creative with language, ansel. If you was a military soldier, you certainly wasn’t a CIA employee. Or maybe it works another way there?

[caww]

Looks to me like Russia’s Putin has been attempting to “change” Russia people from the old USSR....rather like Obama’s been attempting to “change” this nation’s people to something it’s not but what he wants it to be.

They both are dealing with “generations” who continue to see their country as it was, and the younger generations who want a different country...

It takes years and a change in the generations to pivot a country’s people to “think” differently. Obama’s doig it by focusing on the youth via educating them to think as he does...Putin is trying to satisfy both generations enough to bring them forward....neither is doing that very well...though Obam’s much more organized to bring it about in our country.

[ansel12]

That is just nonsense, evidently a topic that you know nothing about.

[DarthVader]

You make me laugh. You know zilch about OR or the current Russian military machine.

[ansel12]

Putin is the same ol same ol, and is trying to reassemble the empire.

[ansel12]

Since you clearly have never had an interest in the Soviet or Russian military, here is a hint.

[wetphoenix]

Ansel is a clairvoyant. He is a local analyst and knows everything about you based on a couple of posts.

[ansel12]

You are clearly a simple liar.

No I wasn’t CIA, just as I have never said that you work for Military Intelligence.

But I am correct to point out that as FSB, you do work with Military Intelligence, all Special Ops has a close connection to Intelligence, there is a lot of close cooperation and interaction.

Are you claiming that FSB never interacts with MI?

[caww]

Yes, but with a modern twist the Russian people enjoy....once the youth are statisfied with the “modern” then they’ll revolt....unlesss he plays his cards right...and so far his focus has been accomplishing the support of the youth and they remain in his court for the most part.

Putin’s doing no more than Nato’s push for it’s “Empire”....and the Muslim nation’s for there’s....as well the “asian groups” forming and gaining clout.

The difference is which one gets the focus to weaken it by the others... as it grows. Putin had too much clout with Europe and rapidly achieving his agenda to do so....the US was lossing it’s clout with Europe.....Nato (the US) said no....thus the race goes on....

[wetphoenix]

Please, keep your insults to yourself, dear ansel. I think we went too far. Ask FSB if you want to know, not me.

[Lazamataz]

"When we defeated their empire I really hoped that we could civilize the russians and that they would join us, but russia seems unchangeable."

So true, ansel. You know, we have babies for dinner over there.

I know. Listen, please take my advice: Nutmeg and cinnamon doesn't work on infant flesh. Try using cilantro, basil, and a white wine worchestershire sauce. I've had my best results with those flavorings.

[Lazamataz]

I work for both the CIA *and* the FSB.

And Mossad.

And MI6.

And MSS.

And Earth First.

And ISIS.

And the Catholic Order of Nuns.

So don't piss me off.

[ansel12]

You have told us here at FR that you are FSB, are you denying it now?

[wetphoenix]

Thank you for positive input, Laz, but I’m a simple person. Salt, pepper and ketchup is enough to my taste.

[DarthVader]

Ballpark numbers that can be off significantly. Military’s very rarely list their true strength and capabilities.

[Rashputin]

It really doesn't matter what the US intends in Europe for more than the next two or three years. The US is stuck fast to the tar baby Caliph Obama has created in the Middle East and will be for decades. Europe, in the mean time, will become what it said it intended to become when it founded the EU; a force equal to and independent from the US.

Most people in this country seem to have forgotten that the goal of the EU is to be independent from and a "counter weight" to the US economically and eventually militarily as well. The neocons aren't stoking a new Cold War fever for the sake of putting Russia in a box, they're doing so in hopes of retaining as much control over Europe as they had during the first Cold War.

If it weren't for their own inability to recognize Iz Lame for what it really is they might have had a chance at succeeding, too.

[wetphoenix]

Hmm, would you give me a link, ansel?

[Lazamataz]

No, you can’t refute the facts, so you keep hoping that mocking it with “eating babies” will distract from the reality.

Wait. Wetphoenix doesn't actually eat babies?

LIAR!!! I thought we had something in common, wetphoenix.