Wow.

And I thought Americans were ignorant. You Russians are amazing.

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When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid
Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

I'd say a restricted press and an oligarchy are not just objectionable to Americans.........I don’t see it so much as what they say, but more so what they do.

heres an example...enjoy. It must be nice to be lucky number 4 if it goes that far....

Putin uses new law to nominate governor

Reuters, Agence France-Presse, The Associated Press

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2005


MOSCOW President Vladimir Putin on Monday nominated the first Russian regional governor under a new law scrapping gubernatorial elections that critics say is a threat to democracy. The Kremlin said Putin asked the Parliament of the Primorye region on the Pacific coast to approve Sergei Darkin, 41, the incumbent and a Kremlin loyalist. Under the new law Putin can dissolve the legislature if it rejects his choice three times.


International Herald Tribune > Europe > Putin uses new law to nominate governor

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No individual can plan his own existence in their view.

So the state planners must arrogate to themselves the right to manipulate any sector of the economic system if the good of “society” or the “general welfare” is paramount.

Ipso- if the rights of the individual get in the way, the rights of the individual must be sublimated.

The Road to Serfdom
FA Hayek (interpretation)


Mortgage Backed Security survivor

[quote]No - the Russian economy imploded after the fall of communism and has only very recently coming back.

The size of Russia and its vast natural resources are an entirely different issue than GDP. erikv is exactly correct in his assessment of the Russian economy. Russia's GDP at the end of 2007 will be between 800 and 900 billion. That is about the same as the Netherlands and Belgium combined: the Netherlands is about 540 billion and Belgium's GDP is about 350 billion.

Interesting: Russia certainly does have a vast supply of natural resources, probably unmatched anywhere in the world. It would make sense that they would have the ability to influence world markets - and not just Europe. However, they would have to use that power effectively - they never have before.

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

The rate of growth is accurate - but where are you getting total the GDP figures?

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

These are just stereotypes: come out of your narrow world.

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

At exchange rate.

Certainly not my world, but the world of many posters who believe US government policy is the only type of government acceptable for the world.

Really?

If the Baltic states are threatened - as they have been over the centuries by Russia - then it is surely the responsibility of Europe to come to their aid.

That would truly be the test of Europe: is the commitment to pacifism so deep that even a threat to European nations would not produce response? That is: would any nation besides Britain be willing to fight?

The Soviet government spent decades trying to destroy the Baltic states: deporting hundreds of thousands to the Gulag and repopulating these countries with Russians; attempting to destroy their religious faith, culture and tradition; collectivizing their economies. If Moscow ever again attempts to destroy the Baltic nations, Europe should respond. The US should have no part in it.

(Can you imagine the hysterical hatred that would erupt if the US attempted to defend the Baltic states? There would be anti-American demonstrations in Paris and Berlin and London and Rome while the Russians destroy Vilnius and Tallin and Riga.)

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

Which exchange rate? Are you talking about purchasing power parity?

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

[quote=Tim;1028375]One of Putin's goals is a natural gas bourse, in effect the same type of USD avoidance advocated for oil by Iran that infuriated the US. While Russia still has some oil PSAs they're shedding them and western influence at a determined rate. How Russia uses its natural resource power will be an interesting development. Were it not for the historical distrust China would be an interesting partner in terms of mutual economic advantages.

yes and the latest affair were in the Estonians had the temerity!!! to move a tribute to soviet ww2 soldiers caused quite the stir...my god, moving a tribute to a force that then held you prisoner for 65 years, the gall of those people. My gosh who doooo they think they are?

__________________
No individual can plan his own existence in their view.

So the state planners must arrogate to themselves the right to manipulate any sector of the economic system if the good of “society” or the “general welfare” is paramount.

Ipso- if the rights of the individual get in the way, the rights of the individual must be sublimated.

The Road to Serfdom
FA Hayek (interpretation)


Mortgage Backed Security survivor

[quote=Americano;1028409]Yes why not ...russia china...a veritable fall in each other arms situation......they have much in common.....of course china doesn’t have the former German Chancellor on its largest oil conglomerate board, but give them time.....


how will they use it? surely you must be jesting...we have seen this play over again and again and again..he'll use it to buy popular sppt. ala chavez and then be gone when the house of cards folds...."Apres moi, le deluge".......the new boss..same as the old boss....

__________________
No individual can plan his own existence in their view.

So the state planners must arrogate to themselves the right to manipulate any sector of the economic system if the good of “society” or the “general welfare” is paramount.

Ipso- if the rights of the individual get in the way, the rights of the individual must be sublimated.

The Road to Serfdom
FA Hayek (interpretation)


Mortgage Backed Security survivor

But if Europe chooses to leave the Baltic states to their fate in such a scenario would you still want the US to stand by and let it happen?

I, personally, would not want that to happen. I could care less about the possible hysterical hatred that would erupt in many European countries. Let them whine; at least our conscience would be clean. Hell, I think that if the US even chose to stay out of it I would try and find a way over to fight. I am sure they wouldn't turn away foreign volunteers.

NOTE: I hope our Russian posters will keep in mind that this is a totally hypothetical scenario.

__________________
There can be no bystanders in the battle for survival. Anyone who will not fight by your side is an enemy you must crush.

We are at war with forces too terrible to comprehend. We cannot afford mercy for any of its victims too weak to take the correct course. Mercy destroys us; it weakens us and saps our resolve. Put aside all such thoughts. They are not worthy of those in the service of country.

That is World Bank prognosis, it is always fake.

Nope, in nominal $ it will be over 1 trln, and by PPR it will be about 2 trln.

The economical growth will be higher than in 2006 (it was 6,7%, World Bank prognosed 5.2%), this year it was prognosed 6,5%, but latest prognosis say that it will be higher close or higher than 7% (World Bank prognosed 5.1% of growth).

Please don't bring World Bank prognosis's digits here, they are biased and never close to real one. Over 7 years, World Bank prognoses much lower (-1,5-2%) Russia's economical growth than it really is.

__________________
Please watch this:


Shocking video of results of Georgian attack on South Osetia
CNN is spreading propaganda!
American witness: "Not only Georgia, but also U.S. are responsible for the violence in South Ossetia"
Mark Almond: It's simplistic to cast Russia as sole villain in South Ossetia clashes

[quote]I don't know. I really don't know.

If you had asked me five years ago, I would have said yes without a moment's hesitation. But the world has changed so much that I no longer know the answer to that.

In purely pragmatic terms, if the US really was in the position of being the only nation to help - then we would have no chance of succeeding. We would be on Russia's turf: those tiny nations are just over the border. If the major European nations opposed us and strongly (passively) defended a Russian invasion, then there would be no point at all, in terms of realpolitik. Of course, priniciple is something else, and it would mean dying for principle.

The history of the Baltic states between 1939 and 1989 was a true tragedy: first the fascist fanatics, followed by the communist fanatics. However, I just don't see a way to defend them unless Europe came to their aid - or, at the very least, did not oppose American aid.

Good point. You're probably right about the volunteers.

But it would be over so quickly there would be little time for fighting, except in the form of an insurgency.

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1