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I lean way your direction on this.

The Ruble is worth about 45% what it was worth (to the U. S. Dollar) in April of 2014.

Back then it was going for about 30 to the dollar. In 1993, it was actually roughly equal to the dollar (although briefly). My how times have changed.

It was at 75 to the dollar in later December and now is at about 65 to the dollar.

It’s currency is about to be downgraded to junk status, and there isn’t much hope of it not getting worse.

Yes, all this will isolate Russia further. And the really asinine thing is, Russia despite it’s past, is a natural ally candidate for the West. We’re talking Caucasian people. We’re talking many Christians in the populace. We’re talking about whether the West or Asia provides more of a threat. We’re also talking about the Islamic threat, something the West and Russia also have in common.

Putin could have played the diplomatic card and improved his country’s lot in the global economy. Instead he pulled the nationalist card and invaded his neighbor. What an ignorant thing to do, for his people.

Now he has caused Europe and the U. S. to back away, and institute penalties.

This didn’t have to happen. The guy went off half cocked, and now can’t save face unless he escalates rather than becomes pragmatic and backs away from his chicanery.

It is just laughable to watch people act as if he is really a shrewd operator.

His oil reserves are worth 45% of what they were months ago.

Good luck Poopin, you really sat in it this time.

There were signs of cracks in support of sanctions, which evidently finally emboldened the desperate Putin. I think using energy yet again as a weapon is going to solidify and increase sanctions. Dr Evil strikes again.

Personally, as an American living in Europe, I had supported sanctions even when this threat was made against us last summer. I see this as more proof that relations with Putin’s Russia need to be redressed. This is actually very helpful in that regard.

And the really asinine thing is, Russia despite it’s past, is a natural ally candidate for the West. We’re talking Caucasian people. We’re talking many Christians in the populace. We’re talking about whether the West or Asia provides more of a threat.

The PEOPLE have natural ally tendencies, but and don't get me wrong, I am not comparing his actions to Nazi Germany, but Putin's PRIDE and woeful need to be a martyr for his people, makes him look very Hitler-esque! He wants Russia and the Russian people to be a world power, even if it means he has to rip the very rug out from underneath the real world-powers.

There is a time to stand alone and thump your chest; there is a time to be a face in the crowd. I think Putin moved too quickly to be independent. His country and their economy was not strong enough to be a self-sufficient world-power. But, he wants it to be, at any cost.

It all started with $15+ billion being pumped into Ukraine by the West, resulting in a midterm coup to tear them away from doing business with Russia.

Expanding NATO in the 90's was a mistake. Refusing to lease the Crimea to the Russians in the future was the last straw. Putin snapped and did what any great leader would do.

We my friend are the ones who went off half cocked. You put it all so well and in a nutshell, it bears repeating.

Yes, all this will isolate Russia further. And the really asinine thing is, Russia despite it’s past, is a natural ally candidate for the West. We’re talking Caucasian people. We’re talking many Christians in the populace. We’re talking about whether the West or Asia provides more of a threat. We’re also talking about the Islamic threat, something the West and Russia also have in common.