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To: Marguerite

“The FACT is that Europe NOW needs the Russian oil and gas, which amounts to 50% of its energy, and won’t commit an economical hara-kiri, just to please the US.”

Yes, it is true that the Russians are the great dispenser of oil and gas to Europe. That is fundamental.

But the previous poster addressed a critical point which you have avoided with a strawman argument.

The Russian threat to cut off this oil to Europe is a threat with a knife to the throat of the Russian economy. In effect, it is no threat at all. Russia is a failed state and economy without its oil/gas exports.


130 posted on 03/19/2014 1:38:12 AM PDT by rbmillerjr (Lectio Divina...Adoration...Mass)
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To: rbmillerjr
With Russia on one side, China unable to export petro products and a freezing or boiling Europe on the other, it's more akin to mutually assured destruction for both, as you say.

The problem with that though, is that a aggressor State will convince it's self that they can do a quicky....minimize the downtime with a quick and decisive victory.

Hitler tried it with Russia....and if anyone could tell me what Putin would do with a refreshed military and half a reason, I might take the odds and the over/under..

131 posted on 03/19/2014 1:51:18 AM PDT by Cold Heat (Have you reached your breaking point yet? If not now....then when?)
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To: rbmillerjr

Russia has a national debt of 8% of GDP
and $700 billion tresury reserve, so in short run, they can do whatever they please.

They can very well turn off the gas taps for a couple of weeks, until Europs cries “Uncle”. It’s already happened in 2006 and 2009.


132 posted on 03/19/2014 1:59:26 AM PDT by Marguerite (When I'm good, I'm very good, but when I'm bad, I'm even better)
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