Posted on 03/24/2014 5:38:50 PM PDT by kristinn
President Barack Obama and leaders of the world’s largest industrialized countries expelled Russia from the group until it “changes course” in Ukraine and formally canceled plans to attend an economic summit in Russia in June.
The move was aimed at Russian President Vladmir Putin’s plan to host the G-8 group of economic powers at Sochi, Russia, which would have been its second starring role on the world stage after this winter’s Olympics.
Instead, the G-7 leaders will meet in Brussels without Putin. At the same time, the group said it would not send its foreign ministers to a planned G-8 meeting in Moscow next month.
Though largely symbolic and falling short of new sanctions against Russia, the statement from the G-7 leaders pledged that they “remain ready” to intensify sanctions if Russia takes further action in Ukraine.
SNIP
The move is symbolic but still important, Michael McFaul, a Stanford University-based Russia specialist who until recently was U.S. ambassador to Moscow, told reporters on a conference call.
McFaul said he believes Putin understands that he’s growing isolated and is bracing for a possible military engagement with NATO forces at some point.
“Right now I think he’s focused on consolidating and digging in for confrontation with the West,” McFaul said. “They fully expect it and that’s what they’re doing.”
(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...
Also, likely slanted, but still useful background:
http://news.stanford.edu/pr/01/mcfaulprofile1128.html
My reading is that of a guy who left work he loved because he was fed up with his bosses. The criticism of US foreign policy implicit in his NYT piece is pretty strong, if one looks (reads) carefully at all.
Russian agents could incite the muslims in Europe to go bananas against the rest of the population before it is all over.
Eh, China?
Because it only makes sense. Ditto assassinations of specific civilians: technocrats, CEOs, our nomenklatura and their families. Ditto physical attacks on the grid and cyberwarfare. Opening a front with Mexicans north and south of the border would be another option, given what American drug money has done to them, Fast and Furious etc. that could be whipped up without too much effort.
Obamacon bloodeaters keep telling themselves that today’s NATO will cut the “Soviets” down like wheat in a contained European Theater. I rather doubt it would be so easy.
We destroyed Serbia with ease, Libya with difficulty, and failed in Syria. Russia is going to leave some marks.
The upside I suppose, at least for the domestic tyrants large and small who oppress us, it will give them the cover to impose martial law which they have been working towards for about a generation now.
“Russian agents could incite the muslims in Europe to go bananas against the rest of the population before it is all over.”
That is our card. The Chechens and others within RF territory and along their southern border. It has already been encouraged by one of the Kiev putschists.
He’s putting it all into place, clever chess master that he is. Meanwhile our government worries about various other stupid stuff like organic lunches.
I THINK Putin isn’t a Soviet, as much as an old style Russian warlord with ambitions to make himself czar. It would not surprise me that he has a hankering for a throne and if he hypes himself enough, the Russian people will determinedly clamor for him to become their leader and surrender any CHANCE of a free constitutional republic.
You’re right.
I do think though that Putin has grand ambitions and he is likely planning on some kind of conquest.
So, he’s making an unconventional war via incremental ‘annexations.’ Unlike Hitler he won’t use upfront war methods, but they will be far more Byzantine. Something is up with him and you can practically hear the buzzing going on as he racks his brain to figure out how to win, I know that much.
Pretty much agree.
Odd combo being both Obama’s guy and a Hoover fellow. Wonder where he really comes down today.
Bookmark this prophetic comment.
Interestink
Ping to this old story
Russia (as has China) are quietly prepping for a financial meltdown in the U.S. and the debasement of the U.S. dollar as the world reserve. Look into how much gold each country has been gobbling up over the past decade. In China, (if memory serves) it is illegal to sell gold that might leave the country.
I think we are seeing some good times in the U.S. economically as of current. However, that still does not offset our terrible spending problems, debt problems and un-funded liabilities across the country. Sad but true statement. Until we radically downsize the government and spending that debt clock is going to be burning up the numbers.
/side note, think I read recently Russia dumped U.S. Treasuries.
Wow haha I don’t even remember that comment.
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