Value of Russian ruble crashing

UPI ^ | October 6, 2014 | Daniel J. Graber

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

Yeah, because the Russian people are so enthusiastic about going to the Ukraine. The morale of the Russian people and military is severely low

If you have data for that, I'd like to see it.

I’m no fan of imperialist Russia, but Putin is the face of a dying Russia,

I wish I had your optimism!

[MeatshieldActual]

I base the low morale on a number of factors,
-like the people’s alcohol abuse
-the fact that hundreds, if not thousands of Russian soldiers have suddenly disappeared or have been killed within just six months or so
-another factor which has been with the Russian military for several decades is the practice of “dedovshchina”, which is an extreme form of hazing of new conscripts. Pretty sick stuff, making garrison life hellish enough.
-protests are starting to erupt in Russia, which is no small feat in Russia.
-plus the usual economic troubles.

Putin has been foolish enough to arm “his” Islamists, who will eventually turn on him. Coupled with the fact that Muslims are the fastest growing demographic in Russia, and we have a recipe for a Muslim takeover of Russia. Which might be a whole lot worse than anything the world has ever seen. That would be a LOT of oil and resources in the hands of Muslims. That is why I see Putin and the Neo-Socialists as a short-term problem, the last gasps of old Imperialist Russia.

[elcid1970]

“The Soviets do not share our fear of nuclear war and mass murder.”

I recall during the Cold War & strategic arms negotiations how the Soviets would boast that they were a tough people, battle hardened in WWII, & able to endure punishment on a mass scale yet still attain victory, as they did over the Nazis (massive American aid was not mentioned).

“We Russians are survivors. What are you, Americans?”

Is it returning to this?