Ukraine Protests

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#7,026
#7,026
How important is Russia to Germany? - The Local

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#PivotingEast
 
#7,027
#7,027
Ukraine conflict: Putin says will not wage war on anyone - World - CBC News

This figures:

Hollande, speaking to France 2 television on Saturday, said the plan under negotiation would see a 50- to 70-kilometre demilitarized zone.

He called for "rather strong" autonomy in the east. "These people have gone to war," Hollande said. "It will be difficult to make them share a common life."
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These "peace talks" make for a nice Russian stalling ploy, if nothing else, while the Russian armor continues to advance westward.
 
#7,028
#7,028
Because I have a weird obsession with Russia, its history, and this crisis, I actually woke up this morning wondering how in the hell it's possible for a country the size of Russia, with its population and resources, to have an economy the size of Italy.

Honestly, how is that possible?

Any normal country with that land expanse, natural resources, population, and even scientific know-how, should have an economy no smaller than the 3-5th in the world. Just unbelievable.

It goes back to Soviet days, but I think the Russians have always utilized their scientific/engineering know-how more on their military-industrial complex (including space exploration) than in diversifying their overall economy.

As much as I disagree with the guy, McCain was right at the beginning of this crisis, when he said that "Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country."

It's difficult to disagree.
 
#7,029
#7,029
Burhead said:
Info is starting to leak about the Munich Agreement 2.0 designed by France and Germany. It calls for 30-40 mile DMZ around the front line. Hollande also says the east need extensive autonomy from the central government.
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So the comparisons to Russia, Germany and Poland is moot since France is also part of the negotiations.

Its a damn shame that these other countries are at the table trying broker a peace deal and the US is talking unilaterally arming Kiev.
 
#7,032
#7,032
volprof said:
Because I have a weird obsession with Russia, its history, and this crisis, I actually woke up this morning wondering how in the hell it's possible for a country the size of Russia, with its population and resources, to have an economy the size of Italy.

Honestly, how is that possible?
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My guess at the reason they have a small economy is that: they don't have a major stock market that blows bubbles to artificially inflate their GDP. They don't borrow money, so the gov can't artificially inflate GDP. Russia doesn't have the reserve currency to do GDP manipulation tricks. And finally, when the Soviet Union fell, the country's assets were divided between Russian and western oligarchs putting them at a tremendous disadvantage.

They also don't really have an entrepreneur class that will create goods and services to healthily grow the economy. Most likely a mindset from years of communist rule.
 
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#7,033
#7,033
red butler said:
My guess at the reason they have a small economy is that: they don't have a major stock market that blows bubbles to artificially inflate their GDP. They don't borrow money, so the gov can't artificially inflate GDP. Russia doesn't have the reserve currency to do GDP manipulation tricks. And finally, when the Soviet Union fell, the country's assets were divided between Russian and western oligarchs putting them at a tremendous disadvantage.

They also don't really have an entrepreneur class that will create goods and services to healthily grow the economy. Most likely a mindset from years of communist rule.
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I think most of this is spot on. But you have to wonder why they would slip right back into the form of singular leadership they left in the first place. Putin came to power in 1999. Voted in twice, became the PM in 2008 and the President again in 2012. Even when he was the PM, it's a good bet Medvedev was little more than a figurehead with Putin being the real power behind the throne.

So you have to wonder if Russia is eternally doomed to have one strong leader in office for life. Or whether the Russians by and large crave that sort of powerful head of state. And one that doesn't create an environment for economic success. Sure Putin has started exploiting his fossil fuel industry, but the industrial base never grown to support the people like it could (and likely should) have.
 
#7,034
#7,034
red butler said:
My guess at the reason they have a small economy is that: they don't have a major stock market that blows bubbles to artificially inflate their GDP. They don't borrow money, so the gov can't artificially inflate GDP. Russia doesn't have the reserve currency to do GDP manipulation tricks. And finally, when the Soviet Union fell, the country's assets were divided between Russian and western oligarchs putting them at a tremendous disadvantage.

They also don't really have an entrepreneur class that will create goods and services to healthily grow the economy. Most likely a mindset from years of communist rule.
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I'll also add that since the Russian people are new to modern capitalism, they don't understand that they are supposed to max out their credit cards on things they can't afford. How do they expect to achieve growth if they're not up to their eyeballs in debt?
 
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#7,035
#7,035
@rrisc · 24m 24 minutes ago

Lithuania recently agreed to train Ukrainian troops and is going ahead with a Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade.
 
#7,036
#7,036
volprof said:
Because I have a weird obsession with Russia, its history, and this crisis, I actually woke up this morning wondering how in the hell it's possible for a country the size of Russia, with its population and resources, to have an economy the size of Italy.
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That is weird.


volprof said:
You would be better advised speaking about how the US dollar is going to collapse and how you're going to "show us all," since that apparently provides you with some sense of purpose.
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Speaking of collapse, ouch.

Ukraine’s currency just collapsed 50 percent in two days - The Washington Post

Grand Vol said:
So you have to wonder if Russia is eternally doomed to have one strong leader in office for life. Or whether the Russians by and large crave that sort of powerful head of state.
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Nothing is eternal, but they certainly have a different view of society over there.

Interesting idea.

Colombia's FARC Rebels Invite Miss Universe Paulina Vega to Peace Talks - NBC News

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzUkT22GgPU[/youtube]

I offer to be a volunteer negotiator.
 
#7,037
#7,037
Velo Vol said:
I offer to be a volunteer negotiator.
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Other than the fact the video is Miss Ukraine in the pageant (and BTW, is hot as well) interesting negotiator.

Why is it she looks like she just spent 4 hours putting on makeup prior to going fishing? :p
 
#7,039
#7,039
West must not rule out arming Ukraine: NATO

Breedlove also dismissed as “completely unacceptable” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent peace proposals aimed at ending the turmoil in Ukraine.
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Who is this guy to say what is acceptable and what is not acceptable for Ukraine? Can't Ukraine make their own decision about what is acceptable for a ceasefire and peaceful resolution? And what business is it of NATO anyways? Are they going to invoke Article 5 on Ukraine (a non-NATO member)?
 
#7,041
#7,041
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMyFdVyOa7s[/youtube]

Interesting piece regarding Russian nationals fighting alongside the Ukrainians. My question is what would be the American government's reaction be if an American turned up with Ukrainian forces or even separatist forces? I've watched two videos on Americans fighting on both sides (Vice and RT) so there is at least some there now. When they come back home will they be arrested?
 
#7,042
#7,042
Rasputin_Vol said:
West must not rule out arming Ukraine: NATO



Who is this guy to say what is acceptable and what is not acceptable for Ukraine? Can't Ukraine make their own decision about what is acceptable for a ceasefire and peaceful resolution? And what business is it of NATO anyways? Are they going to invoke Article 5 on Ukraine (a non-NATO member)?
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I believe I read where Kyiv has already refused to sign any agreement that gives the terrorists any sovereign Ukrainian territory as they should.
 
#7,047
#7,047
Grand Vol said:
Other than the fact the video is Miss Ukraine in the pageant (and BTW, is hot as well) interesting negotiator.

Why is it she looks like she just spent 4 hours putting on makeup prior to going fishing? :p
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She looks better in the fishing shot than the makeup job someone did for the interview.

How rude.

Europeans Laugh as Lavrov Talks Ukraine - Bloomberg View

The crowd took that in stride, but then burst out laughing when Lavrov said that the annexation of Crimea, which was invaded by unmarked Russian troops, was an example of international legal norms working well.

“What happened in Crimea was the people invoking the right of self-determination.” he said. “You’ve got to read the UN Charter. Territorial integrity and sovereignty must be respected.“
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Based on Biden's speech, if it were up to Biden, "lost" Russian tanks (on the wrong side of the border) could start experiencing a shorter life expectancy in the coming months. But it's not.
 
#7,048
#7,048
Velo Vol said:
Based on Biden's speech, if it were up to Biden, "lost" Russian tanks (on the wrong side of the border) could start experiencing a shorter life expectancy in the coming months. But it's not.
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Liberals can turn into war hawks when it comes to Ukraine all of a sudden.
 
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#7,049
#7,049
The bastion of freedom gets even freer:

The latest Kremlin crackdown on opposition is 'unprecedented in post-Soviet Russian history - Business Insider

You can now be given prison sentences up to 5 years, if detained 3 times for peaceful protests unsanctioned by the government. A government sanctioned Anti-Maidan coalition of thugs has also been organized to intimidate and presumably beat the hell out of opposition protesters, should they appear.

With all this freedom, if I were a Russian, I just wouldn't know what to do with myself.

It just proves that Vladimir Putin is truly the continuation of the original dream of the American Founding Fathers.
 
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