U.S. sanctions on Russia ‘mostly symbolic’ and will not trouble Moscow, economists say

Pretend sanctions by a pretend president.

We need to find out why the Russians are not retaliating. Why won’t they retaliate? What’s wrong? There must be a traitor advising them not to retaliate. Quick, unmask all Americans who have spoken with anyone in Russia in the last week.

Russia has permission to do level 11 trolling as long as they can get CNN to report it

There’s nothing left to sanction. This all started a decade ago, and now the US has no levers left, only fake symbolic gestures - which still mean a lot within the Beltway, but are becoming pathetic elsewhere.

Russia has low internal debt, very little foreign debt, has run a current account and trade surplus up to the Covid19 period. Its exports of energy, food and materials are stable and have steady customers. The US already has pushed it to de-dollarize its economy and it can defend itself militarily.

It has learned to be become “anti-fragile.”

Donald Trump: 'Putin has eaten Obama's lunch, therefore our lunch, for a long period of time'

Mar 13, 2014
Eun Kyung Kim: TODAY SHOW (NBC)

Donald Trump slammed President Obama Thursday on TODAY for failing to take a stronger line against President Vladimir Putin in dealing with Ukraine, saying he feared Obama would now make up for lost time with imprudent moves to "show his manhood."

The real estate mogul and reality-TV star, who has criticized Putin for sending military troops into Crimea, said Obama must now take fierce steps to prevent the situation from escalating further.

"We should definitely do sanctions and we have to show some strengths. I mean, Putin has eaten Obama's lunch, therefore our lunch, for a long period of time," Trump said. ..."

http://www.today.com/news/donald-trump-putin-has-eaten-obamas-lunch-ukraine-2D79372098
_______________________________________________

Heres the interview w/ Matt Lauer on YouTube...

Donald Trump (2014): Vladimir Putin Has Eaten Obamas Lunch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzURUENf1ns
_______________________________________________

Mike Pence on Putin and Russia:

(from the VP debate on Oct 5, 2016)

When Donald Trump and I observe that, as I've said, in Syria, in Iran, in Ukraine, that the small and bullying leader of Russia has been stronger on the world stage than this administration, that's stating painful facts. That's not an endorsement of Vladimir Putin that's an indictment of the weak and feckless leadership of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. ..."

What were dealing with is the you know, there's an old proverb that says the Russian bear never dies, it just hibernates.

And the truth of the matter is, the weak and feckless foreign policy of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has awakened an aggression in Russia that first appeared a few years ago with their move in Georgia, now their move into Crimea, now their move into the wider Middle East.

___________________________________________________________________________

JULY 2017...

Trump, in Warsaw Speech, Criticizes Russia's Destabilizing Role in Ukraine, Syria

The president also reaffirmed his commitment to NATOs mutual-defense pact

Jul 6, 2017

President Trump called Russia a destabilizing influence in Europe and the Middle East, and urged it to join the community of responsible nations, in his strongest remarks yet against the regime of Vladimir Putin, whom he is scheduled to meet Friday in Hamburg for the first time.

His remarks in Warsaws Krasinski Square, which marks the 1944 Warsaw uprising against the Nazis, came after the U.S. agreed to sell Patriot missiles to Poland. The president also used the opportunity to reiterate the NATO commitment to mutual defense, a declaration he did not make during the NATO summit in May, prompting consternation among U.S. allies wary of Russias ambitions.

To those who would criticize our tough stance, I would point out that the United States has demonstratednot merely with its words but with its actionsthat we stand firmly behind Article 5, the mutual-defense commitment, Trump said Thursday. Words are easy, but actions are what matters. And for its own protection, Europe, and you know this, everybody knows this, everybody has to know this, Europe must do more.

Trump has repeatedly said NATO members must spend more on defense-- a position in line with past U.S. administrations. But he has been criticized because he appeared to suggest U.S. commitment to mutual defense was predicated on its allies defense spending. ...

https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2017/07/trump-russia/532761/

What principle of importance or matter of substance to the people and states of the American Union are we defending by taking actions against Russia?

Grow a brain.

The leftist cabal that runs the demented, corrupt Biden knew they went too far with Putin and Russia. Sure both the Ukrainians and the Russians understood the real message when those US warships were withdrawn from the Black sea.

These “sanctions “were negotiated between the US and Russia through back channels to allow an out for the Biden Obama administration and as cover to obscure Russian involvement in assisting Biden and BLM/Antifa during the 2020 Election cycle.

Meanwhile Hunter goes to the bank and cashes another check from Vladimir Putin.

The leftist cabal that runs the demented, corrupt Biden knew they went too far with Putin and Russia.

"RUSSIA COLLUSION" (written by myself, based on what I dug up and my own prior knowledge)

The 'Trump-Russia collusion' story was of course a hoax, a COVER, to hide what THEY (the notoriously traitorous Democrats) were doing, as the only evidence for Russia collusion involves THEM!

1) Newly unclassified docs reportedly state (surprise-surprise) Russians actually wanted HILLARY to win, not Trump! Obama CIA chief Brennan hid the evidence!!

2) Top Putin aids (Vladislav Surkov and Vyacheslav Trubnikov) provided disinformation (fake 'dirt') on Trump! (via RUSSIAN AGENT Igor Danchenko) for Clinton campaign/DNC paid-for Steele dossier!!

3) Obama-Biden DENIED desperately requested military assistance to Ukraine during the 2014 Russia invasion of Crimea!! At the time (2014) Trump had sharply and publicly (on NBC's Today Show, and elsewhere) criticized the Obama administraion, asserting that "Putin has eaten Obama's lunch" once again.

4) $3.5 MILLION (via Hunter Biden) from the wife of a former mayor of Moscow! (Elena Baturina) The former mayor of Moscow (Yuri Luzhkov) was a strong advocate for Russia invading and taking over Crimea. The $3.5 million reportedly passed hands within WEEKS of the Russia invasion of Crimea! (Feb-Mar 2014). Obama admin did nothing but provide them food rations and blankets! They had begged him for military equiptment.

5) Burisma owner (Mykola Zlochevsky) was/is a RUSSIA ALLY! Joe Biden's son worked for and brought in millions from Burisma. Joe is ON VIDEO BRAGGING about extorting the Ukrainians into firing the prosecutor who was investigating his son and the corrupt RUSSIA-ALLIED owner of the company. Zlochevsky was an official of the former 'puppet' regime that Putin had installed in the Ukraine via a rigged election. Viktor Yanukovych, the 'puppet' president of that regime's pro-American opponent in the election (Viktor Yushchenko) barely survived an assassination attempt by poisoning. His face was left badly pock-mocked for a long time afterward. Putin is widely believed to be responsible.

6) For 8 years the Obama-Biden-Clinton admin immensely HELPED the Russians, via Obama's promised and delivered "flexibility" on missile defense, the Russia-favoring New Start nuke treaty, the Putin-loving Iran deal (Iran and Syria are pawns of Russia in the oil/gas-rich Middle East), the Uranium-One deal, where Obama-Hillary allowed Russia to take ownership of 20% of our uranium production!

7) They (Obama-Biden) deliberately slashed OUR military to pieces. Fortunately, Trump has/had since brought it back times 10.

Another miserable failure for Biden, globalists and neo-cons.

When I heard this, my first thought that the democrats are trying to pressure Putin into saying he colluded with Trump.

They lefty Dems are in bed with your Russian comrades. Surely you understand this by now?

I assume you fully supported Obama and his fellow globalists policies toward Russia, which included fomenting the Ukrainian revolution and having a new regime be a thorn in Putin's side. Yet, everything else about Obama's foreign policy undermined our nation and/or benefited a globalist agenda.

So, you tell me why Obama would have acted in the best interest of the US regarding Russia when he did just the opposite on every other aspect of his foreign policy.

The answer is the uniparty establishment, globalists, neo-cons all want Putin overthrown. They want to frame Russia as evil it was when it was communist for whatever agenda they have and that agenda surely is not pro-American. In fact, the election was rigged against Trump partly because he wouldn't go along with it. The only thing I haven't figure out is why the powers that be are so desperate to get rid Putin. But, it sure hell isn't because of national security.

Putting aside the phony FR Putinista trolls, who aren't nearly as dumb and clueless as they put on as to the threat from Russia, very few people it seems are aware of the serious military alliance between Russia and communist China, the two staging increasingly elaborate joint war games since 2005.

Russia and China began the so-called "peace mission" series of joint war games in 2005. They claim it's about combating terrorism, but only a fool would believe that, as the games are large scale and increasingly complex. Also in this alliance are Venezuela, Iran, North Korea, and a few other hostile hard left and islamo-nazi regimes.

Recall, Bill Clinton's treasonous ChinaGate scandal began in late 1996...

From the Sino-Russian Joint Statement of April 23, 1997:
"The two sides [China and Russia] shall, in the spirit of partnership, strive to promote the multipolarization of the world and the establishment of a new international order."

THE HUNGRY BEAR
PART 5: Russia, China 'cooking something up'
By W Joseph Stroupe | Sept 29, 2006
https://web.archive.org/web/20170721060215/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/HI29Ag01.html
______________________________________________________________________

"Joint war games are a logical outcome of the Sino-Russian Friendship and Cooperation Treaty signed in 2001, and reflect the shared worldview and growing economic ties between the two Eastern Hemisphere giants."
______________________________________________________________________

War Games: Russia, China Grow Alliance

Sept 23rd, 2005

In foreign policy it’s critical to “know thine enemy.” So American policymakers should be aware that Russia and China are inching closer to identifying a common enemy - the United States.

The two would-be superpowers held unprecedented joint military exercises Aug. 18-25. Soothingly named “Peace Mission 2005,” the drills took place on the Shandong peninsula on the Yellow Sea, and included nearly 10,000 troops. Russian long-range bombers, the army, navy, air force, marine, airborne and logistics units from both countries were also involved.

Moscow and Beijing claim the maneuvers were aimed at combating terrorism, extremism and separatism (the last a veiled reference to Taiwan), but it’s clear they were an attempt to counter-balance American military might. ..."

2015: First Russia-China naval war games underway in Mediterranean

By Carol J. Williams
May 11, 2015

Reporting from Moscow —

Neither Russia nor China has one inch of coastline on the Mediterranean Sea, making it an unlikely and provocative venue for their first joint naval war games.

The 10 days of maneuvers that got underway Monday will include live-fire exercises in the strategic sea connecting Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The point is lost on no one: A powerful new alliance of eastern giants is flexing its muscles in the very backyard of Western Europe — much as China has done on its own in the Pacific.

The war games follow Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow, where he headlined Victory Day celebrations and spent three days making billion-dollar deals with Russian President Vladimir Putin. ...”

https://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-china-russia-joint-naval-maneuvers-20150511-story.html
______________________________________________________________________

Russia and China’s Growing Military Interaction; Surprised?

by Peter Zwack | September 9, 2018

The drums are already rolling for the upcoming Russian “Vostok” (east) wargames commencing on September 11. With its focal point in the Trans-Baikal region of eastern Siberia adjoining Chinese Manchuria and Mongolia, this is a nationwide Russian military and societal event.

Touted by Russian minister of defense Sergei Shoigu as “unprecedented in scale, both in terms of area of operations and numbers of military command structure, troops, and forces involved,” Russian state press is declaring that up to three hundred thousand troops and one thousand aircraft will be involved, with the majority from the Eastern and Central Military Districts.

This would be even larger than the near-legendary Zapad-81 maneuvers held in the western USSR during the depths of the Cold War. ...”

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/russia-and-china%E2%80%99s-growing-military-interaction-surprised-30822

i want to see the Putin call transcript like we always got wi Trump!

cause you know Putin told old Jio

I assume you fully supported Obama and his fellow globalists policies toward Russia

Re: "Russia, Russia, Russia!"

The phony, lying, Left continue, to this day, talking about "Trump-Russia collusion". Meanwhile, Russia is in bed with the far left, here and abroad! They are in the same camp with the radical left groups here in the US!

Re: Maduro allies

The Links Between Black Lives Matter and Nicolas Maduro Revealed

PanAm Post ^ | June 23, 2020 | PanAm Post Staff

[excerpt]
"...while Black Lives Matter claim to oppose police abuse and racism around the world, the organization is simultaneously a great supporter of some of the world’s most brutal and repressive dictators. In particular, the founders of BLM have been staunch supporters and allies of the sanguinary Venezuela dictator Nicolas Maduro and of the Castro regime in Cuba.

In December 2015 Black Lives Matter sent a delegation, headed by the organization’s co-founder, Opal Tometi, to act as observers during the Venezuelan Parliamentary elections of that year. The Maduro regime did not allow accreditation for observers from the Organization of American States, the UN, or the EU. The only accredited observers where from regimes and organizations friendly to the “revolutionary cause.”

Later that same month Tometi penned an article where she espouses, word for word, the regime’s standard text for international propaganda.

“In these last 17 years, we have witnessed the Bolivarian Revolution champion participatory democracy and construct a fair, transparent election system recognized as among the best in the world ,” wrote Tometi about one of the world’s most corrupt voting systems in history.

Earlier in 2015 Maduro was given an award at the Afro-descenndants Summit” held in Harlem. Maduro was invited at the behest of the Black Lives Matter leadership. ..."

Ivan Pentchoukov on Twitter:
[Venezuelan President] Nicolas Maduro with Opal Tometi (right), co-founder
of Black Lives Matter, in Harlem, Manhattan, December 2015.

______________________________________________________________________

Also in 2015...

Moscow defense minister inks deals with Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua for joint exercises

by Bill Gertz, February 20, 2015

Russia agreed to provide military training for three leftist regimes in Latin America and increase military visits and exercises following a visit last week to the region by Moscow's Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu, Pentagon officials said.

Shoygu met with defense and military leaders in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua and signed several agreements on warship visits and military training during the visit, which ran from Feb 11 to 14.

It is not clear whether any new arms deals were completed during the visit.

Defense officials said the Russian leader is seeking bases in the region for strategic bomber flights that Shoygu recently promised would include flights over the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. ..."

____________________________________

2015...

Nicolas Maduro with Opal Tometi (black dress, center), co-founder of Black Lives Matter, in Harlem, Manhattan, December 2015.
_________________________________________________________________

2020...

Russia to boost Venezuela ties amid US pressure

February 8, 2020 - BBC

Russia has pledged to boost military and economic co-operation with Venezuela to help the South American nation deal with growing US pressure.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s comments came after his meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.

Mr Lavrov said any attempts to remove Mr Maduro’s government by force were unacceptable.

The US accuses Mr Maduro of leading a corrupt and brutal regime. ...”

“Russia is a key ally of Venezuela, lending it billions of dollars and backing its oil industry and military.”
______________________________________________________________________

U.S. Military Wary of China’s Foothold in Venezuela

The head of U.S. Southern Command says Beijing is using disinformation and debt diplomacy to dig in as Maduro clings to power

By Lara Seligman | April 8, 2019

As U.S. President Donald Trump’s national security team mulls a military intervention to oust Venezuela’s strongman president, Nicolás Maduro, the Pentagon is watching China’s commercial and financial creep in the crisis-gripped nation with growing alarm.

In an interview with Foreign Policy, Adm. Craig Faller, the four-star military officer who heads U.S. Southern Command, pointed to a Chinese disinformation campaign designed to blame the United States for the blackouts that devastated Venezuela in recent weeks. ..."

Maduro, whose government is backed by China, Russia, and Cuba, has himself publicly accused the U.S. Defense Department of causing the blackouts. Following the power failures, Beijing offered to help the Venezuelan government restore its grid. ...”

MORE AT LINK
https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/04/08/us-military-wary-of-chinas-foothold-in-venezuela-maduro-faller-guaido-trump-pentagon/