Posted on 12/15/2014 10:12:57 PM PST by elhombrelibre
A funny thing happened on the way to Vladimir Putin running strategic laps around the West. Russia's economy imploded.
The latest news is that Russia's central bank raised interest rates from 10.5 to 17 percent at an emergency 1 a.m. meeting in an attempt to stop the ruble, which is down 50 percent on the year against the dollar, from falling any further. It's a desperate move to save Russia's currency that comes at the cost of sacrificing Russia's economy. So even if it "works," things are about to get a lot worse.
It's a classic kind of emerging markets crisis. It's only a small simplification, you see, to say that Russia doesn't so much have an economy as it has an oil exporting business that subsidizes everything else. That's why the combination of more supply from the United States, and less demand from Europe, China, and Japan has hit them particularly hard. Cheaper oil means Russian companies have fewer dollars to turn into rubles, which is just another way of saying that there's less demand for rubles—so its price is falling. It hasn't helped, of course, that sanctions over Russia's incursion into Ukraine have already left Russia short on dollars.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
We are already in the next world war. So far, it has been mainly economic.
The fools think that they can keep it that way, without remember the last go round. See, we tried it, and Japan decided to go for broke.
Now that was a Putin lickspittle remark if ever there was one, congrats lickspittle.
Yea and the blame can be placed entirely at Putin and Russkies doorsteps, eh comrade!
They thought they could take on the world, maybe because of the wimp in the WH they thought we were a pushover, well welcome to reality. Just what some of claimed would happen (not you though...oh no). What’s next yea possible world war, we said that months ago as the Putinista’s here cheered Putin on.
Glad you don't get to decide which battles we must win and which battles we can just roll over and die from.
It seems to me you and Obama are in agreement on at least two battles.
Nice try but I’m not biting. I agree with Obama on nothing. You should actually read the thread and inform yourself about Obama’s position.
By "against" you mean control, and if you cannot control you invade and kill everyone till you control again, eh? Ah Russians are such lovely people! And what exactly in regard to controlling other peoples has changed since Soviet days? You export oil, gas, weapons and death. That's it! What good are you to the world?
You have already bitten, you like Obama, are against standing up to Russian expansionism and appear to agree again with Obama on the Muslim vs Jewish conflict/war. I didn’t force you to make those comments.
You don’t have very good comprehension skills.
Yes I do nto think it is NOT our place to babysit between Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine has largely done it to themselves. Obama takes the opposite position. As for Muslim vs Jewish conflicts, I could not be more opposite Obama.
If you harass me again I will report it as abuse.
The Ukrainians were dressing provocatively and freely talking with people not on the approved Kremlin list...that kind of defending themselves, Russians are very insecure and don’t like their “friends” being friends with anyone else. They had to invade...ah I mean defend themselves. You might as well give up Blackyce, you can’t reach those who have indulged in the Russian kool-aid.
Harass you! The gall!
I pointed to what you said and your now throwing a temper tantrum.
Oh report me please.
Don’t waste the adults time eh!
And if the people in nations don't obey Russia's demands they remain independent, then what? We already know the reality of them not obeying but I am interested in what you would answer.
Ah Canada! Hmmmm guess them Canadian’s better reconsider not being Russian buffer zone huh?
~Ah Canada! Hmmmm guess them Canadian’s better reconsider not being Russian buffer zone huh?~
I guess you should get a map or starters. Some really huge parts of US are closer to Russia than Canada.
When has that ever stopped Russians from invading?
Maps mean nothing to Russians they just redraw them as they want.
BTW how many Rubles is it now for a good map of Europe, 50,000.... 100,000?
browse it online and save money.
You mean the earth isn’t flat? LOL. I always forget about Alaska. What is that distance, about 2.5 miles? Maybe I am remembering wrong.
In case anyone else is interested, here is the answer, copied from yahoo answers:
At its narrowest point, the gap between Russia and the mainland of Alaska is 55 miles wide. However, if including the Russian-owned island of Big Diomede and the American-owned island Little Diomede, Alaska and Russia come as close as 2 1/2 miles to one another.
The body of water that separates Russia and Alaska is known as the Bering Straight. During the last ice age, Alaska and Russia were connected by a land bridge known as the Bering Straight Crossing, over which the earliest settlers of the Alaskan territory crossed. During the winter, an ice bridge connects the Big Diomede and Little Diomede islands, allowing for passage between Alaska and Russia by foot.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.