Russia dumping dollars to use to protect currency and falling oil prices (Secret US/Saudi deal to lo

a reply to: Xcathdra

I knew this was inevitable Russian economy is going to be severely damaged and all Putin's advisors keep telling him the same thing. He's just so set in his vision of former soviet glory. Unfortunately no one took his statements seriousl . Or for that matter how far he would go to maintain power. At first it was rigging elections and changing laws to allow him to continue his control now its moved to creating imaginary enemies and of course bold face Lie's . Right now Russia is hoping for a strong leader because many felt there glory days were over. Russians want respect in the world and see themselves as a victim . Truth is they weren't ready and the ones who were like Putin and his rich friends were so they took over.

Russians will figure it out and some are waking up but they have a long road since Putin is in total control of everything from internet to news medias to financial institutions and corporations. Most dictators are envious of his level of control I guess Stalin would be proud. Though I'll say having spoken to some in Russia there is resistance forming to his policies. Problem is Putin has huge support in Rural areas because many miss the old Russia and were not ready to move into a western economy.

a reply to: dragonridr

Putin has to create enemies..

It is the only way he can distract locals from the issues on the home front. Iran does the same thing..

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: dragonridr

Putin has to create enemies..

It is the only way he can distract locals from the issues on the home front. Iran does the same thing..

Russia is now losing money on there petroleum exports running 82 dollars a barrel the Russian cash cow is disappearing quickly. Even the one year forecast only gets it back to 95.So from this point forward Russia just cant keep its expenditures going probably wht there allowing the ruble to crash they just dont have the resources to prop it up. since there major way to do that was things like gazprom which is hemorrhaging money in the billions.

a reply to: Xcathdra

So lets assume the US/West succeeds in destroying Russia's economy, what good things will bring this?
When the USSR collapsed they took it well and started over, will they do this again or will it be different this time?
Would Russia be willing to use nukes this time or consider such a thing or at least will try to have some sort of revenge..

Trying to weaken with sanctions and other means is nothing less then warfare/an attack. Putin loves his country a bit too much and I don't know what he would do when the # hits the fan so again that's all worth it?

yea yea he took Crimea, (without firing 1 bullet) but sure he did something perhaps not so nice but that is debatable but it's really nothing compared with the countless of lives lost and creating total chaos in many middle east country's the US/West did.

So trying this economic warfare on Russia it's all worth it of course. No of course as alwasy there are only loosers, nobody wins really and more people suffering and perhaps something way worse as a result, who knows...

And ''Putin has to create enemies..'' The US has to create enemies way more it seems, the war machine must be rolling on full steam especially now in economic difficult times, wars without ends (war on terrorists) and so on.
Russia is a laugh compared to the US if you see how much both spend on the military and the US have spent trillions (but of course it also generates money with the military industry on full steam (jobs and money) in recent years, nothing compared to Russia in both money and in actions.

a reply to: dragonridr

While Putin's advisers are telling him the economy is tanking and there wont be enough money to continue with the planned military upgrades Putin announced, Putin just announced a plan to reintroduce Russian bases in Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and one other kerplakistan countries.

Putin stated its in response to Europe / NATO beefing up its members (which was done in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine).


Russia to bolster military presence in former Soviet states

Air force chief announces plans for new air base in Belarus, as well as expansion of existing facilities in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. The Moscow Times reports

a reply to: Plugin

Well for starters the sanctions were not put in place to destroy the Russian economy. We know this because of the European countries who trade with Russia and their approach to Russian sanctions.

The sanctions were put in place after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, its illegal annexation of Crimea and continued Russian support / direct Russian intervention in East Ukraine.

The sanctions placed on Russia came with the caveat that if Russia complied with the agreements it signed / agreed to, the sanctions can be removed. Instead Putin continues to maintain they have no troops in Ukraine, aren't assisting / supplying the pro Russian rebels and absolutely refer to discuss Crimea.

Russia is responsible for whats occurring in Ukraine. Russia can return to normal relations if it would comply with what it agreed to.

It really is as easy as that.

Instead Putin continues to become more and more paranoid, insists the collapse of the USSR was illegal, continues to insist that former SSR land borders are illegal, pulls a Hitler when he stated Russia can invade other countries to protect ethnic Russian's, etc.

Putin has consistently blamed the west for his own actions. Everything Putin claimed he was concerned about from the EU / NATO was created as a result of Putin's own actions.

Putin created the very situation he wanted to prevent.

a reply to: Xcathdra

I agree everything Putin has done has created the exact situation he was trying so he claims to avoid. I swear its almost like hes working for someone and it isnt the Russian people. Time and again his actions have made things worse look where he was before Ukraine, Russian economy was moving forward you could say slowly but moving.Russian troops were assisting US and Nato they had offices in Nato and was considered an ad visor. Putin had respect on the world stage when he talked people listened. He was rebuilding Russian infrastructure had money to rebuild there military and was on target to have it up to western standards by 2025. Russians were learning how to compete in a global economy. Russia in general had respect and he tossed all that away to take the country into third world status and become a Chinese puppet. I swear i suspect China had something to do with this maybe feeding him in tell or buying him out. Because frankly i have a hard time believing hes that stupid unless in the end he just went crazy like Hitler did?

There was always a paranoia there being former KGB but now im wondering did it move to a full born mental illness?? Even his advisors are trying too get him to tone it down and keep trying to explain they needed the west for investments banking support and of course even assistance in drilling and exploration something even China cant do.