Velo Vol
Internets Expert
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2009
- Messages
- 37,309
- Likes
- 17,840
Ukrainians pulling out the big guns: Pentagon claims that they are now using short-range ballistic missiles against the rebels.
If the Russians don't cross the border, even with the assistance (weapons & such), the Ukrainians will be the rebels military wise within the next few months. The rebel leadership is in complete disarray right now.
Do you think Russia will do it? Honestly, I thought they were going to go in after the referendum back in early May (I think it was). I've stopped trying to predict this situation though. It's kind of useless. This has been the most bizarre geopolitical crisis I can recall.
Let's see what happens as the Ukrainians get closer to liberating Donetsk. If Donetsk, like I think it will, Putin may be pressed to do something. That said, the introduction of ballistic missiles by the Ukrainians is a game changer. That may give the Kremlin it's justification to launch "peace keeping" missions inside the east.
Not necessarily. If we are talking FROG-7 types, it's not as huge a deal. It's a "ballistic missile" so to speak, but of extremely limited range that it's not a strategic threat.
If that's the excuse Russia uses, it's a huge indicator they planned on moving in anyway.
Not long after I talked with Maksim on the phone from Kyiv, I took a walk around a deserted Donetsk this past Tuesday with Dmitry, a leader of a civil society group called Responsible Citizens. He and five close friends decided to create the group to build a bridge between Kyiv and Donetsk. But when the activists traveled to Kyiv and spoke with officials, they were told the most painful wordsthat the war was needed to renew the nation. And now Dima, as he is called, is pretty much alone in Donetsk. His friends have all run away from the bombs, beatings and kidnappings. And he is giving up on peace. We lost our hope for Kyiv. Even if they win the war and come to Donetsk, it will take them ages to win our hearts back, he told me, an observation that seemed indisputable in a city where headless bodies now lie on street corners and Dutch body parts rot in fields of sunflowers.
I can't believe it took a bloody arms embargo to get the damn French to stop the sell of the Mistrals.
The currency in Germany is the Euro, much like the dollar it can be printed at will by the central banks. As a result, the currencies are constantly being devalued through inflation. The BRICs nations seem to have a different mindset. If they can get their currencies to be backed by a commodity, it will retain its value over time (which is great for everyone except the banking class). That could be one reason all the eastern countries are buying so much physical gold, so they can return to a gold standard.
Interestingly you chose Germany as one of the countries. I'd bet, based on their fiscal policy, they would be inclined to go to with the asset backed currency. The rest of Europe, like the US, cannot pay their bills without borrowing/printing more money.
Poor RT
Russia Today Faces UK Investigation Over MH17 News Coverage
Wonder how much power Ofcom has? There's a slippery slope.
What kind of evidence? Google maps from 2010, a sketchy youtube video and a post on Twitter?Reuters is reporting that the State Department has evidence that Russian artillery is firing on Ukrainian forces from Russia. Also Ukrainian forces have downed several Russian recon drones in the last few days.
New US energy and finance sanctions. Most significant to date, coupled with those of the EU.