ShadySands Posted March 29, 2022 Posted March 29, 2022 4 minutes ago, pmp10 said: No country is that generous, not even to allies. Let alone a poor European backwater country that is distracting US from pivoting to Asia. I wouldn't even call it generous, I'd call it self interest. If they can remain a thorn in Russia's side they'd probably call it a win. Also, shipping and selling arms is kinda just what we do so I don't think it's going to be much of a distraction. I'm no expert though Free games updated 3/4/21
Malcador Posted March 29, 2022 Posted March 29, 2022 19 minutes ago, pmp10 said: No country is that generous, not even to allies. Let alone a poor European backwater country that is distracting US from pivoting to Asia. Well not for infinite years, but will be an easy sell to the public (if any care in a couple of months.) - and helps the US economy out, sort of. Useful to check Russia and doesn't hold the US' attention too much. Why has elegance found so little following? Elegance has the disadvantage that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it. - Edsger Wybe Dijkstra
pmp10 Posted March 29, 2022 Posted March 29, 2022 (edited) I'm no expert either. But the few I follow generally stress the priority would be to build a modern airforce and air defense systems. That involves cost that go far beyond javelins and stringers. Especially for countries that wouldn't provide a single truck or a 4x4. (leading to predictable buy-out of Toyota pickups in neighboring countries) And then there was the whole MIG transfer debacle. So the way I see it - serious military hardware is off the table. Edited March 29, 2022 by pmp10 2
Zoraptor Posted March 29, 2022 Posted March 29, 2022 Yeah, modern airforce and air defences are exactly what they won't get for free as they're expensive. The proposed aircraft donations were for planes that were due for replacement- hence Poland wanting expedited delivery of F16s in exchange- or in Bulgaria's case, may not have even been genuinely airworthy in the first place. Hmm, nice to see that Shoigu has been paroled from his house arrest to make tv appearances. 7 hours ago, Gorth said: A point where I think the west failed badly strategically, besides constantly marginalizing Russia and fanning the paranoia (especially during the 90's), is the lack of focused support for Putin alternatives. Viable ones that is (see above comment about Navalny). Part of that is that Putin himself was seen as broadly pro west in the early years. People tend to forget GWB looking into his soul etc- partly because there was a desperate desire to rehabilitate Bush jr post Trump, partly because there's a lot of other stuff to ridicule him about- and relations with the west only really went downhill with the Georgia/ Ukraine NATO accession decision. The other part is how badly Yeltsin's time is regarded in Russia, and him widely being regarded as a western puppet who ran the country into the ground under western direction. Western endorsement is not a net positive, except with people who cannot remember Yeltsin. Hence Navalny's support, such as it is, is among those who can't remember the 90s or did well in them.
Malcador Posted March 29, 2022 Posted March 29, 2022 1 hour ago, pmp10 said: I'm no expert either. But the few I follow generally stress the priority would be to build a modern airforce and air defense systems. That involves cost that go far beyond javelins and stringers. Especially for countries that wouldn't provide a single truck or a 4x4. (leading to predictable buy-out of Toyota pickups in neighboring countries) And then there was the whole MIG transfer debacle. So the way I see it - serious military hardware is off the table. Had thought they could give Patriots at a discount or something, but had no idea those things cost that much - $1B. Why has elegance found so little following? Elegance has the disadvantage that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it. - Edsger Wybe Dijkstra
ComradeYellow Posted March 29, 2022 Posted March 29, 2022 22 minutes ago, Zoraptor said: The other part is how badly Yeltsin's time is regarded in Russia, and him widely being regarded as a western puppet who ran the country into the ground under western direction. Western endorsement is not a net positive, except with people who cannot remember Yeltsin. Hence Navalny's support, such as it is, is among those who can't remember the 90s or did well in them. The problem with Russian public opinion is that it's hard to gauge numerically. What we do know for sure that support for any kind of pro-Western government is at the bottom of the list, as the average Russian sees the average Westerner as dumb, rich, and too full of themselves, sort of like how Iranians see the U.S. And it's hard to gauge how many Russians currently (Key word there, it's no longer the 90's or 00's) want Communism back because every Communist party member believes that Putin has the entire election process rigged in his favor (The only thing Navalny supporters and Communists have in common). Most support appears to go to Putin right now with Communists in 2nd place, but it's unknown just HOW MUCH 2nd place they actually are unlike Navalny supporters and other pro-Western parties along with that idiot Zhirinovsky who are all a distant 3rd place collectively. My advice? Communists and United Russia should form some kind of material synthesis and weed out the bad elements of both parties and forge the good. It would be Stalin meets A.Dugin, and I think most Russians could welcome that kind of union (no pun intended).
Darkpriest Posted March 29, 2022 Posted March 29, 2022 War? What war? RUB is at pre-invasion level Maybe some Russia bankruptcy calls were too optimistic?
Lexx Posted March 29, 2022 Posted March 29, 2022 Probably mainly due to the gas buying, who knows. "only when you no-life you can exist forever, because what does not live cannot die."
Zoraptor Posted March 29, 2022 Posted March 29, 2022 The latter rise is pretty close to definitely due to the gas buying as it coincides with the announcement, and the obvious result of forcing Europeans to buy a lot of roubles is their appreciation as it increases demand for them. First rise is likely to be a correction from the currency dropping too far. (Kind of amusing watching people say that charging in roubles would be a breach of contract and Russians have to accept payment in sanctioned currencies. Pretty sure Russia didn't agree to accept payments in the equivalent of Company Scrip, and that's what the sanctions make Euros and USD to Russia)
ComradeYellow Posted March 29, 2022 Posted March 29, 2022 Not to mention India buying a crap ton of gas from them as well, at discount no less. Sanctions work guys keep it up. It's worth it for all the moral crusading and gaslighting, right? RIGHT?!
Elerond Posted March 29, 2022 Posted March 29, 2022 Russian central bank support ruble with heavy buy outs and Russian companies are forced to changes their foreign money to rubles. And trading of ruble is restricted. So ruble is currently full of air 3
InsaneCommander Posted March 29, 2022 Posted March 29, 2022 17 hours ago, Darkpriest said: Have they dropped it on another country and killed civilians with it? I was talking about making the bombs. As for using them to kill, only the US did, so there is no doubt about who was worse in that.
BruceVC Posted March 30, 2022 Posted March 30, 2022 5 hours ago, Zoraptor said: The latter rise is pretty close to definitely due to the gas buying as it coincides with the announcement, and the obvious result of forcing Europeans to buy a lot of roubles is their appreciation as it increases demand for them. First rise is likely to be a correction from the currency dropping too far. (Kind of amusing watching people say that charging in roubles would be a breach of contract and Russians have to accept payment in sanctioned currencies. Pretty sure Russia didn't agree to accept payments in the equivalent of Company Scrip, and that's what the sanctions make Euros and USD to Russia) https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/germany-g7-rejects-russias-demand-pay-gas-rubles-83718683 Their is nothing amusing about Russia trying to worm out of agreed on contracts for gas payments Thats why the G7 rejected it 1 "Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss” John Milton "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” - George Bernard Shaw "What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead" - Nelson Mandela
Elerond Posted March 30, 2022 Posted March 30, 2022 https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/30/refusing-to-kill-people-isn-t-a-crime Quote — When and under what conditions were your clients fired? — On February 25, [Rosgvardia, the Russian National Guard] was getting ready to send my clients to Ukrainian territory, but they refused to leave Crimea. A review was initiated. On March 1, they received contract termination orders due to their failure to carry out orders. They thought about it and decided to go through the courts to get their employment reinstated. 12 people have reached out to us so far, but a lot more have been fired. — Are there legal grounds for reinstatement? To what degree were they required to take part in the “special military operation?” — If there was an armed conflict, an emergency situation, or martial law, the terms of the contract could be changed without their consent for six months. But we don’t have an armed conflict or a war, it’s just an “special military operation.” The law doesn’t say anything about that. You can go there [as a Rosgvardia officer], but only if you agree to it. — Beautiful. — The authorities themselves refuse to call it an armed conflict. Whatever category you choose, that’s what you’ll get. That means everyone who goes there must agree — there’s no point threatening them. And if it is a military conflict, another question immediately arises: who started it? Oops. And nobody wants to answer this question, since there’s a completely different qualification of the actions [in the Russian Criminal Code] — and I don’t mean the soldiers’ actions. That’s why they won’t recognize what’s happening as an armed conflict. Quote [in the Russian Criminal Code] What do you mean? Article 353 of the Russian Criminal Code establishes criminal liability for the "planning, preparation, and launching of an aggressive war," punishable by up to 20 years in prison. "Oops" is right. Although I am not sure if even Russian own laws matter in this case 2 1
Darkpriest Posted March 30, 2022 Posted March 30, 2022 5 hours ago, BruceVC said: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/germany-g7-rejects-russias-demand-pay-gas-rubles-83718683 Their is nothing amusing about Russia trying to worm out of agreed on contracts for gas payments Thats why the G7 rejected it They can reject it, but they will have to test that resolve when/if the gas will stop flowing due to non-payment. The EU doesn't have many alternatives now, and future is not so bright as well. https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/why-us-wont-succeed-weaning-europe-its-dependence-russian-gas
BruceVC Posted March 30, 2022 Posted March 30, 2022 3 minutes ago, Darkpriest said: They can reject it, but they will have to test that resolve when/if the gas will stop flowing due to non-payment. The EU doesn't have many alternatives now, and future is not so bright as well. https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/why-us-wont-succeed-weaning-europe-its-dependence-russian-gas Sure, end of the day I would support buying gas in Rubles if the EU has no choice That should be obvious, in English we say " you dont want to cut off your nose to spite your face " But here is another concerning metric of the deeply damaged Russian economy, the Russian stock market has still not opened properly....over 1 month since the invasion https://finance.yahoo.com/news/russian-stocks-fall-again-moscow-094646223.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall "Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss” John Milton "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” - George Bernard Shaw "What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead" - Nelson Mandela
Darkpriest Posted March 30, 2022 Posted March 30, 2022 (edited) Probably something to do with investors such as blackrock. https://seekingalpha.com/news/3812649-blackrock-takes-17b-hit-from-russia-exposure-ft If it will open this will have to materialize in sales at unsaleable asstes, i.e. a total loss of capital invested. Edited March 30, 2022 by Darkpriest 1
Darkpriest Posted March 30, 2022 Posted March 30, 2022 So, is the German resident and business ready? https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/germany-scrambles-ration-gas-after-refusing-make-payments-rubles @Lexx
Darkpriest Posted March 30, 2022 Posted March 30, 2022 (edited) Meanwhile in China https://www.reuters.com/world/china-hosts-russia-us-officials-talks-afghanistan-2022-03-30/ And India https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-30/russia-proposes-swift-alternative-to-india-for-ruble-payments Edited March 30, 2022 by Darkpriest
Lexx Posted March 30, 2022 Posted March 30, 2022 (edited) 29 minutes ago, Darkpriest said: So, is the German resident and business ready? https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/germany-scrambles-ration-gas-after-refusing-make-payments-rubles @Lexx No clue, I haven't used the heater since winter 2021 and even then it was only for a week or so. Edited March 30, 2022 by Lexx 1 "only when you no-life you can exist forever, because what does not live cannot die."
BruceVC Posted March 30, 2022 Posted March 30, 2022 54 minutes ago, Darkpriest said: Meanwhile in China https://www.reuters.com/world/china-hosts-russia-us-officials-talks-afghanistan-2022-03-30/ Meh, I have lost almost all interest in Afghanistan since the Taliban took over and now have again started denying Afghan women the right to education https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/baffled-taliban-reneging-pledge-girls-education-83650457 "Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss” John Milton "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” - George Bernard Shaw "What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead" - Nelson Mandela
Lexx Posted March 30, 2022 Posted March 30, 2022 So much to the ruble payments https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russia-will-not-demand-immediate-switch-gas-payments-roubles-kremlin-2022-03-30/ 1 "only when you no-life you can exist forever, because what does not live cannot die."
Oner Posted March 30, 2022 Posted March 30, 2022 Was this posted here? I don't remember, so here you go: 1 Giveaway list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DgyQFpOJvyNASt8A12ipyV_iwpLXg_yltGG5mffvSwo/edit?usp=sharing What is glass but tortured sand?Never forget! '12.01.13.
Darkpriest Posted March 30, 2022 Posted March 30, 2022 2 hours ago, Lexx said: So much to the ruble payments https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russia-will-not-demand-immediate-switch-gas-payments-roubles-kremlin-2022-03-30/ Let see, seems that Scholz had a call with Putin today on this topic - no statements yet. Same with Italy's Draghi, also a call with Putin on gas paymenta in rubles
Malcador Posted March 30, 2022 Posted March 30, 2022 New scene group called FSBros to be created soon. 1 Why has elegance found so little following? Elegance has the disadvantage that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it. - Edsger Wybe Dijkstra
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