But this is likely not a win. Most of those people are likely not yearning for an 1800’s version of Russia, and only get fed propaganda. They are just trying to buy food. Most will likely blame the West, the US specifically. It’s a good way to create committed zealots for life. Joining the military for bad MRE’s and anger fueled real-life LARPing prolly looks better to a lot of them.
I meant that he is winning in that he will take Ukraine. Now what’s left of it and what he does with it are a different story. He is also winning so far in that no one as of yet has the stones to cut off importing his oil and gas. As long as there are buyers he will figure out a way to get paid. And with oil at $115 a barrel, he is getting paid well. The sanctions will cost him a little money, but there are always people willing to help him get around them for the right $.
He might, but, in the end, it is a disaster for him with what he will be left with in the end. That should actually be our goal here: make it so that nobody follows in his footsteps because there would be no benefit to doing so. Also, he may end up out of power by the time this is all over. The "chicken" framing may be somewhat accurate, but we aren't really playing chicken with Putin, but rather with the Russian oligarchs. I disagree with the framing of "a little money." They can't open the stock market in the country. Quite possibly the biggest money maker in Russia is money laundering for criminal organizations around the world, and they don't have access to the financial systems any longer. The Rouble has lost 1/3 of its value in a week. So even those still willing to import things to Russia (which is limited and contains some important gaps) will only do so at drastically higher effective prices. I think this is a pretty good thread on the situation from an expert on Russia:
Not to mention nothing to stop a then nuclear Iran from joining with a nuclear Russia. So we're back at square 1, except another nuclear power to deal with and one whose end game is a glorious death.
cost him a little money?!? Ruble cratered. Russian interest rates shot up. And GDP will go down. Their stock mkt dropped 30% before the full range of sanctions were announced. They closed their market this week - expectations it will drop further if and when it opens.
To further parallel Hitler, wasn't Hitler sick towards the end (I mean other than psychotic)? Parkinson's or something? So we have a nut job starting Wars and killing people, acting irrational, with obvious physical signs of decline...and somehow we think just letting him have Ukraine is going to stop him? He's sick, knows he's at the end, & wants to take as many with him as possible if he doesn't get 100% capitulation to his demands. Time to strike a deal with some oligarchs/mafia/whomever & pay them to take Putin out.
How quick to judge guilty till proven innocent are you? Perhaps the government should sieze whatever assets you have without justification. I am sure there are several business owners on this board that wouldn't appreciate that at all.
Perhaps. Talks me down a bit from my “Let’s Do It” rant. I’m possibly the exact demo to take the Putin bait. “Not trusting” your own populace does strike a nerve. It also sounds very familiar to me right here. OK, I’ll let POTUS know I’ve changed my mind. That was close!
Seize, secure, verify source of wealth and relationship to Russian gubmnt, and determine if Ukranians or Turks have rightful claims against the value of the secured assets.
Where have you been? Our government literally does seize assets from citizens despite a lack of criminal charges. It’s a big issue that needs reform. Considering civil asset forfeiture already happens with little due process or recourse to U.S. citizens, despite supposed 4th amendment protections. No, I’m not going to draw the line at making sure specifically sanctioned Russian oligarchs get to keep billions of CLEARLY ill gotten gains. These people should have far less protections than U.S. citizens (but for their ability to hire expensive lawyers). Sophisticated money launderers should keep… nothing. Those who work with them inside this country to evade the law should keep… nothing (and should probably be jailed).
So basically Visa will have an in-house Russia only network? Not sure I get it other than their cards won't work outside of Russia, correct?
Oh, well. Russia has now said it’s war if the sanctions continue, so I guess we have to stop doing that, too, right? I mean, we can’t risk war with Russia, can we?
From a TikTok video -- a woman in Kyiv took out a Russian drone by throwing a jar of cucumbers from her balcony at it. "How did the Russians expect to occupy this country?" It's the little victories.
