[Barlowmaker]

Russia is in a profound cash crunch. China has a lot of money ... or did ... because of the "Food for Oil" conspiracy IMO. They received smuggled UN Iraqi oil at discount prices all those years, and they sold a lot of RPGs, AK47s et al back to Iraq and they were flush.

That jig is up.

China's allure is WAY down today in Moscow. As if it ever was.

The Russians have hated the Chinese since Mao kept Stalin waiting for a meeting, while housed in Moscow, for two weeks.

Nobody likes or trusts the Chinese. It's black market economy, pure and simple. Putin has nothing to do with it.

[CWOJackson]

As I said, if you're interested there are some very interesting links regarding Putin's sales to China. I found the naval assests particularly interesting which has been China's weakest element for a Taiwan invasion.

It seems Comrade Putin is above putin the past behind him to make a buck. Look at his BS excuse for selling ballistic missile technology to North Korea...for peaceful space exploration research only. Sure.

[Barlowmaker]

It's black market economy, pure and simple. Putin has nothing to do with it.

No! He's trying to END IT! Cripes.