Kerry: Putin is going to lose

[tinydancer]

"***** SLAPPED!"



U.S., other powers kick Russia out of G8 - CNN.com






And in the end... Kerry is right!

Suspended. Not thrown out.

Look Putin's got the jewel of the Ukraine. I don't think he cares. I don't think Russia cares.

And he's not going to give up that port to the EU and NATO. It was a nice try by the west to steal it via the coup but he did after all outsmart every one and now has Crimea.

Putin was kicked out on his ass and he cares deeply... believe me. Your comrade Putin wanted so much to host the G8 summit in Sochi to show off his crown jewel and now all he is holding is his dick in his hand. Waiting for Sarah Palin no doubt.

It's a great day for America!

Step away from the bong




G7 countries suspend their own membership in G8 - final statement

Since such a procedure does not exist, they had to announce the "suspension of their own participation" in the G8 in order to freeze this format.

This was announced in a statement issued after the informal meeting of the G7 in The Hague on Monday evening.


G7 countries suspend their own membership in G8 - final statement - News - World - The Voice of Russia: News, Breaking news, Politics, Economics, Business, Russia, International current events, Expert opinion, podcasts, Video

 

[FlemishMaster]

Didn't Kerry also say that Assad was history?

 

[MisterBeale]

"***** SLAPPED!"



U.S., other powers kick Russia out of G8 - CNN.com






And in the end... Kerry is right!

Suspended. Not thrown out.

Look Putin's got the jewel of the Ukraine. I don't think he cares. I don't think Russia cares.

And he's not going to give up that port to the EU and NATO. It was a nice try by the west to steal it via the coup but he did after all outsmart every one and now has Crimea.

Putin was kicked out on his ass and he cares deeply... believe me. Your comrade Putin wanted so much to host the G8 summit in Sochi to show off his crown jewel and now all he is holding is his dick in his hand. Waiting for Sarah Palin no doubt.

It's a great day for America!

You really are ignorant. You just listen to CFR propaganda, and cheer for your own demise, like sheep to the slaughter, don't ya?

http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/obama-and-putin-are-trapped-in-a-macho-game-of-chicken-and-the-whole-world-will-pay-the-price
Obama And Putin Are Trapped In A Macho Game Of “Chicken” And The Whole World Could Pay The Price

If the U.S. does hit Russia with harsh economic sanctions, what is going to happen?

Is Russia going to back down?

No way.

So let's just play out the coming moves like a game of chess for a moment...

-The U.S. slaps economic sanctions on Russia.

-Russia seizes the assets of U.S. companies that are doing business in Russia.

-The U.S. seizes Russian assets.

-The Russians refuse to pay their debts to U.S. banks.

-The U.S. government hits Russia with even stronger sanctions.

-Russia starts dumping U.S. debt and encourages other nations to start doing the same.

-The U.S. gets Europe to also hit Russia with economic sanctions.

-Russia cuts off the natural gas to Europe. As I noted the other day, Russia supplies more than half the natural gas to a bunch of countries in Europe.

-The United States moves troops into western Ukraine.

-Russia starts selling oil for gold or for Russian rubles and encourages other nations to start abandoning the U.S. dollar in international trade.

Of course the order of many of these moves could ultimately turn out to be different, but I think that you can see the nightmare that this game of "chicken" could turn out to be.

And what would be the final result?

Nothing would be resolved, but the global economy would greatly suffer.

http://www.businessinsider.com/european-dependency-on-gazprom-2014-3
Europe's Dependency On Gazprom In One Chart

One of the big dynamics underlining the Russia/Ukraine situation is the extent to which much of Europe is dependent on Russia for natural gas. In particular, there's a lot of dependency on the goliath purveyor of natural gas, Gazprom.

This chart from Morgan Stanley gives a breakdown of how much each country depends on Gazprom.

Read more: European Dependency On Gazprom - Business Insider

 

[Kondor3]

So, what happens if Russia turns off the spigot?

Europe will make-do with its own more modest resources and limp-along until they can figure something out for the longer haul.

The fact that we're coming up on the Warm Season will help some, as well, I'm sure; buying them some months of precious time to develop alternatives for the short-, mid-, and longer-term...

Russia turning off the spigot to the EU could prove disasterous...

It could probably also prove to be a Godsend...

Forcing them to wean themselves off their dependency upon the Russians... Cold Turkey.

This may get 'interesting' in the coming months.

 

[FlemishMaster]

So, what happens if Russia turns off the spigot?

Europe will make-do with its own more modest resources and limp-along until they can figure something out for the longer haul.

The fact that we're coming up on the Warm Season will help some, as well, I'm sure; buying them some months of precious time to develop alternatives for the short-, mid-, and longer-term...

Russia turning off the spigot to the EU could prove disasterous...

It could probably also prove to be a Godsend...

Forcing them to wean themselves off their dependency upon the Russians... Cold Turkey.

This may get 'interesting' in the coming months.

For Ukraine, turning off Russian gas supplies basically means completely shutting down all of Ukraine's industry. Doesn't really sound like a very realistic idea.

 

[Redfish]

the US should stay the hell out of it. Let the people of crimea live as they chose (by voting to rejoin russia).

It is not worth one american life or one american dollar to try to reverse what has already happened.

 

[Kondor3]

Sorry...

Personally, I was referring to the EU, rather than the Ukraine, which folks seem ready to write-off...

So, what happens if Russia turns off the spigot?

Europe will make-do with its own more modest resources and limp-along until they can figure something out for the longer haul.

The fact that we're coming up on the Warm Season will help some, as well, I'm sure; buying them some months of precious time to develop alternatives for the short-, mid-, and longer-term...

Russia turning off the spigot to the EU could prove disasterous...

It could probably also prove to be a Godsend...

Forcing them to wean themselves off their dependency upon the Russians... Cold Turkey.

This may get 'interesting' in the coming months.

For Ukraine, turning off Russian gas supplies basically means completely shutting down all of Ukraine's industry. Doesn't really sound like a very realistic idea.

 

[Kondor3]

You're probably right...

But my money is on a large-scale forward deployment of NATO assets into Poland, very soon now...

Drawing (finally) a line in the sand...

We may have shut down some of those bases in Germany a little too soon, after all...

the US should stay the hell out of it. Let the people of crimea live as they chose (by voting to rejoin russia).

It is not worth one american life or one american dollar to try to reverse what has already happened.

 

[Camp]

War with Russia and Ukraine will be conducted with 21st Century insurgency methods and style. Ukrainians and Tatars with IED's and snipers. Slow attrition. Send body bags back to Russia.

 

[Redfish]

War with Russia and Ukraine will be conducted with 21st Century insurgency methods and style. Ukrainians and Tatars with IED's and snipers. Slow attrition. Send body bags back to Russia.

Neither Russia or the USA needs another no-win war. you would think that human beings would learn from their prior stupidity, but it seems that we do not.

 

[Kondor3]

War with Russia and Ukraine will be conducted with 21st Century insurgency methods and style. Ukrainians and Tatars with IED's and snipers. Slow attrition. Send body bags back to Russia.

Yeah, but that only works when you've got population demographics on your side.

That won't work in the Crimea, nor in the Ukraine's eastern provinces/states.

It would, however, work, at least for a while, in the western provinces/states, should they be overrun.

In which case, Poland becomes the next West Germany, metaphorically speaking, in staring down the Rooooosekies.

 

[Kondor3]

Nato to bolster defences of Baltic states amid Ukraine crisis

Cameron says British army will help beef up defences in Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia to deter possible Russian aggression

The Guardian (UK) - Monday 24 March 2014 09.29 EDT

A Nato Awacs plane takes off from Geilenkirchen, Germany. Russia's readiness to use military force in Ukraine has been a wake-up call for many European countries Photograph: Frank Augstein/AP

Britain is to join forces with its Nato allies to help bolster defences of the Baltic states amid fears that Moscow may use the presence of substantial Russian minorities to destabilise Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

As Downing Street indicated that the leaders of the G7 countries were likely to punish Moscow for its annexation of Crimea by mothballing the larger G8, which includes Russia, the prime minister said Nato would send a "very clear message" to show it believed in the security of all its members.

...

The prime minister's remarks highlighted Britain's support for the "collective defence" principle of Nato. Under article 5 of the North Atlantic treaty, all Nato members agree that an armed attack against one member is an attack against all.

...

Britain is showing its support for Latvia and Lithuania as David Lidington, the Europe minister, embarks on a two day visit to the two Baltic states on Monday. The prime minister's spokesman said: "It is an opportunity to underline our commitment to those countries."

Nato to bolster defences of Baltic states amid Ukraine crisis | World news | theguardian.com

 

[Kondor3]

War with Russia and Ukraine will be conducted with 21st Century insurgency methods and style. Ukrainians and Tatars with IED's and snipers. Slow attrition. Send body bags back to Russia.

Neither Russia or the USA needs another no-win war. you would think that human beings would learn from their prior stupidity, but it seems that we do not.

True enough.

 

[MisterBeale]

http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/03/04/ukraine-crisis-russia-us-idINDEEA2305J20140304

Kremlin aide warns U.S. of response if sanctions imposed - RIA

(Reuters) - A Kremlin aide was quoted on Tuesday as saying that if the United States were to impose sanctions on Russia over Ukraine, Moscow might be forced to drop the dollar as a reserve currency and refuse to pay off any loans to U.S. banks.

Sergei Glazyev, who is often used by the authorities to stake out a hardline stance but does not make policy, was cited by RIA news agency as saying Moscow could recommend that all holders of U.S. treasuries sell them if Washington freezes the U.S.. accounts of Russian businesses and individuals.

 

[Kondor3]

http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/03/04/ukraine-crisis-russia-us-idINDEEA2305J20140304

Kremlin aide warns U.S. of response if sanctions imposed - RIA

(Reuters) - A Kremlin aide was quoted on Tuesday as saying that if the United States were to impose sanctions on Russia over Ukraine, Moscow might be forced to drop the dollar as a reserve currency and refuse to pay off any loans to U.S. banks.

Sergei Glazyev, who is often used by the authorities to stake out a hardline stance but does not make policy, was cited by RIA news agency as saying Moscow could recommend that all holders of U.S. treasuries sell them if Washington freezes the U.S.. accounts of Russian businesses and individuals.

Cool.

Then we can repudiate our debt to China.

They, in turn, can repudiate their debt to Russia, right alongside us.

What goes around, comes around.

 

[MisterBeale]

http://www.codewit.com/north-america/16844-russia-threatens-to-drop-the-dollar-and-crash-the-u-s-economy-if-sanctions-are-imposed-obama-signs-sanctions-anyway
Russia Threatens to Drop The Dollar and Crash The U.S. Economy if Sanctions Are Imposed - Obama Signs Sanctions Anyway

"We would find a way not just to reduce our dependency on the United States to zero but to emerge from those sanctions with great benefits for ourselves," said Glazyev.
"An attempt to announce sanctions would end in a crash for the financial system of the United States, which would cause the end of the domination of the United States in the global financial system"

That statement is startling by itself, but the true gravity of this situation is only evident when you consider it in context. China has taken Russia's side in the Ukraine conflict (they are after all allies) and China holds the lion's share of U.S. treasuries. If Russia puts out the call to drop the dollar China would have a choice: either hold on to those treasuries while the dollar slides (losing their shirt in the process) or join Russia and dump their holdings as well. It should be pretty obvious which way China would go.
Related: The Extreme Right Emerging as the Dominant Voice in Ukraine

The effects of a coordinated bond sell off by China and Russia would be earth shattering. This would be the financial equivalent of a nuclear bomb being dropped. It is no exaggeration to say that such a move would mark the end of an era.

In essence, no war is necessary.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9AMwWH-ZgM]The Day After The Dollar Collapses - YouTube[/ame]

 

[FlemishMaster]

http://www.codewit.com/north-america/16844-russia-threatens-to-drop-the-dollar-and-crash-the-u-s-economy-if-sanctions-are-imposed-obama-signs-sanctions-anyway
Russia Threatens to Drop The Dollar and Crash The U.S. Economy if Sanctions Are Imposed - Obama Signs Sanctions Anyway

"We would find a way not just to reduce our dependency on the United States to zero but to emerge from those sanctions with great benefits for ourselves," said Glazyev.
"An attempt to announce sanctions would end in a crash for the financial system of the United States, which would cause the end of the domination of the United States in the global financial system"

That statement is startling by itself, but the true gravity of this situation is only evident when you consider it in context. China has taken Russia's side in the Ukraine conflict (they are after all allies) and China holds the lion's share of U.S. treasuries. If Russia puts out the call to drop the dollar China would have a choice: either hold on to those treasuries while the dollar slides (losing their shirt in the process) or join Russia and dump their holdings as well. It should be pretty obvious which way China would go.
Related: The Extreme Right Emerging as the Dominant Voice in Ukraine

The effects of a coordinated bond sell off by China and Russia would be earth shattering. This would be the financial equivalent of a nuclear bomb being dropped. It is no exaggeration to say that such a move would mark the end of an era.

In essence, no war is necessary.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9AMwWH-ZgM]The Day After The Dollar Collapses - YouTube[/ame]

The piece you quoted is so ignorant it is quite hilarious.
First of all Russia and China are not allies and the idea that Russia can force China to do anything is laughable.
Second, China pointedly did not support Russia over Ukraine. It is keeping itself out of this altogether.
Thirdly, the idea that China would agree to try to drive down the dollar by selling it's US treasuries is complete nonsense. This would mean China would make it's enormous reserves worthless and destroy it's exports to the US creating an enormous recession in China.

 

[Kondor3]

What would the US do in response?

1. repudiate its foreign debt

2. nationalize all assets that could be claimed in resolution of such debt

3. ride out the storm

4. start over with a clean slate

Common sense seems to indicate that sooner or later, the level and pace of globalization and inter-dependency will require a 'Reset' and hiatus.

Perhaps this would be the beginning of such an 'intermission'?

I'm not well versed in such things, beyond a bit of attention to macro- and micro-level economics in school years ago, so, I'm curious about realistic, Gordian-Knot -cutting solutions on Judgment Day, if it ever comes to that...

 

[MisterBeale]

Of course, that's a nice view of the crash, it could be more dire. . .
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3q5NyxI8nk]The First 12 Hours of a US Dollar Collapse - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Katzndogz]

Like China would just stand by wringing its hands if we repudiated their debt. HAH.