Posted on 10/13/2014 2:09:40 AM PDT by elhombrelibre
MOSCOW — Deep into the worst conflict between Russia and the West since the Cold War, investors are fleeing, food prices are soaring and there are rumbles from Russia’s Westernized business elite that the nation needs to avoid repeating the economic mismanagement that broke apart the Soviet Union.
Western sanctions have choked off financing to some of Russia’s economic juggernauts and denied crucial technology to the nation’s energy sector. But there is little evidence that the mounting economic pressures since the March annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula will soften Putin’s policies toward Ukraine and other nations in the former Soviet orbit. Putin still enjoys sky-high approval ratings, and ordinary Russians say they are ready to make sacrifices in a battle with the West.
Because of economic warfare with Europe, meat and vegetable prices have risen dramatically. Travel abroad has dropped so swiftly that dozens of tour operators were bankrupted this summer, leaving some tourists stranded in Turkey and Egypt. Portions of Russian savers’ pension funds have been appropriated by the state to prop up the country's companies.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
He need only threaten to put obama in charge to silence protest and dissent.
Vlad has a plan, bet on it!
It was out of economic desperation that Germany enabled Hitler to threaten the entire World.
It will only encourage him further to do whatever it is he has in mind - playing games with him without being prepared to back it up with force will also only encourage him. Once again I expect that the EU will continue to poke the Bear and then expect the USA to back them up.
He’s a very clever tactician. Certainly he beats the pants off Obola and the Euro-faggy-waggies.
But he doesn’t seem to have much in the line of long term strategy for the good of his own people. He’s either fundamentally stupid, or fundamentally evil, or both. He just doesn’t seem to give much of a rat’s patoot about the welfare of Russians, which, as the most powerful leader in modern Russian history, he certainly has the opportunity to improve.
But he’s not taking that opportunity. He’s taking a big crap on the heads of the Russian people. I wonder why.
America’s economy tanking certainly didn’t make “O” change course. This is the result that is desired, control over everyone who isn’t one of the ‘elite’.
“It was out of economic desperation that Germany enabled Hitler to threaten the entire World.”
Good point. Putin will likely blame foreign influence, and sanctions, on Russia’s economic problems - and will use this to fame the flames of Russian Nationalism. Putin, like Hitler, and just about all dictatorial ‘leaders’ is a narcissist, and narcissists generally become more aggressive when they are criticized or when they begin to lose stature.
In 1941, US trade sanctions against Japan caused it to attack the USA at Pearl Harbor.
As in 1941, the USA & western Europe are ill prepared to fight a world war. Thankfully, Russia is also ill prepared to go to war.
Is Putin as aggressive as Tojo?
Putin will soon become as paranoid as Stalin, and necessarily so. His closest supporters will start to turn against him, and he will have no choice but to bump them off....leaving him with no supporters at all.
I don’t trust anything from the WaPo. This article smacks of wishful thinking journalism to me.
The Russian people are ready to accept the austerity resulting from the tanking Russian economy? How do we know this? Whose polling reveals this?
Crude oil is down nearly thirty dollars a barrel in three months. The Russian economy depends nearly exclusively upon oil sales. This cannot possibly not affect Putin’s decision making. Making war is expensive. The ruble is down 20%. Twenty percent. In three months.
It is just as dangerous to overestimate one’s enemy as it is to underestimate him.
When we see articles like this from liberal rags, generally the opposite turns out to be the truth. I say Russia, which too often we confuse with the Soviet Union, is weak, and now would be a good time to bust Putin’s chops.
Of course, that won’t happen because Ronald Reagan isn’t in the White House, but one can dream.....
Not exactly. There were a lot of reasons why Hitler came to power. Economics was one, but it wasn’t desperation. Many people made choices that helped Hitler along the way, including Hindenburg, who made Hitler Chancellor.
Well, in a lot of ways, Russia is similar to the United States, full of gullible voters see Putin as a good guy, regardless of what he does. Second, it’s hard to see the lack of freedom unless you are someone who disagrees with the government, which is sad, because people should be able to see that there’s some civility toward people that don’t agree with them.
Ever since the breakup of the Soviet Union I’ve wondered about the financial progress of the average Russian citizen. I’ve run into Russian tour groups out west, so I know things must have picked up for many of them. But it would still be nice to find out the progress made by the average Russian citizen in the last twenty plus years.
The parallels are pretty clear, right down to the selection of scapegoat groups (Jews, gays, etc).
This piece is propaganda right out of the bowels of the Executive Office Building.
It is written to shine a bright friendly light on the President who wrecked havoc on Putin without firing as shot.
Conservatives that hate putin and Russia will be duped into supporting the President
Amen...... except this piece is propaganda
Why is the price of oil down?
I know production is up in the US on sweet crude. However, has Saudi Arabia increased production to hurt the Iranians and Russians?
Any input would be appreciated.
FYI, at one point I owned The Russia Fund. As you pointed out it was like owning an oil derivative. It would go up and down based on the world oil price. It was a good hedge against high oil prices.
I don't know if I'm right or not, there are many people on this forum better qualified to answer the question, but here goes....
The biggie of course is the huge increase in American shale oil extraction, but consumption also has not increased due to the world economic contraction. The US, China, Europe and Japan are all using less oil for various reasons. The US dollar has also strengthened, meaning it takes less of them to purchase a barrel of oil. This may be the main reason, but could change in the blink of an eye. I'm hoping someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
The US media is the "mouthpiece" for the dem party in general, and especially this admin in particular.
Everything, everything, that is put out there, is for one goal, to advance their agenda.
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