Posted on 12/18/2014 7:43:46 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a three-hour news conference on Thursday, speaking about his country's economy and the collapse of the ruble.
The interview which had a bunch of bizarre and clever moments also addressed Russia's conflicts with the West.
Several English-speaking journalists, including Max Seddon of BuzzFeed and Paul Sonne of The Wall Street Journal, tweeted translations of Putin's statements, and NBC News carried a live stream with translation.
Here are some highlights:
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Putin , “I’ll just take my shirt off and we’ll be great”
Comments as Business Insider sound like they are from the US House of Repugnant Representatives.
Talk about arrogance!
Press f’s up again.
The most important quote in the entire piece:
“”It’s not a matter of Crimea we are defending our independence, our sovereignty and our right to exist,” he said. “We should all understand this.””
So, if you need $100/BBL oil to survive, and you have a massive military infrastructure to maintain, and the Saudis, single-handedly, have created a Ruble crisis by lowering oil below $60/BBL in less than a month, and you actually believe invading the Crimea as ‘self-defense’, what do you suppose you are likely to do next in the name of national self defense?
If I were in the Saudi Royal Family, I’d be moving my caviar and my harem down into the underground palace at this time.
Putin doesnt understand what hit him.
He’s a military/statist guy and the impact of market changes are lost on him.
He should have seen it coming. He squandered all his oil cash on military crap that he has to start a war to use. It should have been re-invested in industrial modernization and diversification.
The Ukrainian investment in Yanukovych went south on him - the Ukrainian populace didnt want to be roped into buying crap Russian goods which is what his Eurasian trade space is all about.
So now he’s screwed with his one big trick - payola from oil revenue.
Wonder how the people in Crimea who voted for supposedly higher salaries in Russia feel now.
The events certainly stirred larger Ukraine into intense prayer.
Maybe this is God’s way of pulling the rug out from under Vlad.
Surreal could describe an ObOzO read.
I’m also not sure he ever expected oil to take this kind of nose dive. Even market economy says that makes no sense. It’s petropolitics. Saudi Arabia decided to drown its troubles (a menacing Iran under control of a rival Islamic sect) in cheap oil, which still only costs them a few bucks per barrel to pump. Surviving was a bigger priority to it than an obscenely wealthy future.
The problem is that the Saudis could cut production off right now and Oil would only go up to $85/bbl. It is because of weak demand from China, whose economy is grinding to a halt, that oil is so low.
I've been thinking along the same lines.
What, exactly, would Obozo do about such an eventuality?
Come up with a redesigned 'Reset' button, perhaps?
Fortunately, I couldn't find any shirtless Hitler pics.
Aiiiieeeee! Moobs!
~Wonder how the people in Crimea who voted for supposedly higher salaries in Russia feel now.~
They are last to worry for sure. Russia has long way to fall to match best days in Ukraine.
Man, the ugly never ends in that shot. LOL.
“Putin doesnt understand what hit him.”
Apparently he hasn’t figured out that Crimea and Ukraine are money pits. Crimea is just a resort lacking infrastructure. It would be like annexing Detroit. Hey, That’s an idea!
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.