===============
There are those who say that West European blocking of US favored Georgian NATO membership was a signal to MOSCOW to launch in Georgia. Hell, German pussies in Aghanistan could be construed as such. But, that is BS. Then, they say that Missile deployment in Poland will block other's from joining NATO. BS These eastern european and Cacusus countries Georgia, Armenia, and Aberzanie, are affraid of the Russian Bear and want NATO membership or protection, and Western Europe, renown for their weak ways, are going softly. That is the good cop EU bad cop US routine. Nato is effectively at Russia's door step, and Putin cant win on this, and hence, the time is needed to resurrect a "pan-european" NATO flavor, and seek Russian participation and join them to the common cause, supporting pro-west Russian politicians, with Russia and NATO sitting right next to their bestest pal, uncle sam, "their bestest friend and big toe", Winger, movie Stripes, Bill Murray. This Georgia is all small potatoes for true soviet style expansion, its more of Putin saving face. Surely Russia could persuade Russian citizens in Georgia to come home or to live under a democratic Georgia, but Putin does not possess in his heart a true love of democracy, its more of tolerance, and some of out-right Czarist behaviour. Russia's moves help the Hawks anyway, and undermines Russia's public posture. It may be decades before the Russians can feel the need to promote democratic ideals, and practice that themselves, but the jeanie is out of the bottle, and in time, Russia will chill out.
Move slow with NATO expansion, keep up the pressure, attempt to draw the Russian into NATO, and keep up the pressure on Democratic and Human rights about the globe, and BOMB THE F**K out of Iran.
===================
Kind of like trading his knights for our pawns, who we told them, not to move, (hoodwink, here are a few more rocket launchers), and Razputin took the bait, had no choice really, and is now globally condemned, dissention by his queen is rising in Russia, Georgian feeling pride in standing up to them, (you have not seen the last of this), the US and Western Europe and UN have fodder to demean the agression. Checkmate of whom? Putin was played the fool, and "its a pity", he knows it. Bush captured his queen, and he dont even know it, with our little pawns. Bush and McCain won big on this little trick.
===============
Well is appears the US was not behind the flair up in Georgia, that the Georgian did act unilaterally to put pressure on the break away provinces, and Putin reacted aggressively. Chechnia Grozny are very close to Ossetia. I supported Putin in Chechnia, but not in Georgia. Why the apparent duplicity, just like in the US, where traitor McCain surrender the southern border, ITS THE BORDER STUPID, Chenchia is in Russia and Ossetia is in Georgia, simple stupid approach, though the long term consequences, I believe will damage Putin, politically, and his strong-man method in the out years. The BTC pipeline extending from Baku Azerbjani on the Capsian Sea, through Thisbli Georgia to Ceyan Turkey on the Meditternian Sea bypasses Russia, hence giving an outlet to Caucasus Oil and importantly from Turkmenia and Kazakstan, in competition with Russia grip on Eastern Central Europe strangle hold. Putin one viable source of income and hence is real only power tool is OIL, and fear being the MOSCOW to Tehran connection blocking and controlling all of Eurasia Oil flows. Hence, the very high stakes. Bush vowing to that Georgia's borders remain in tact to defeat the Moscow-Tehran monopoly on Capisian Sea oil flows. Hence, the power play against Iran and the break away provinces in Georgia.
============
This may have been a gamble by the Georgians, or manipulation by the Russians, probably a little of both, but the net result is that public attention is focused upon Georgia, and the first thing, that the Russian assert is that the border is of no consequence, (must be aligned with the mexican lovers in this country), which is directly contrary to the established borders. MOSCOW loses on this one.
==============
In the mean time, Russian General says interceptors placed in Poland would open up Poland to Neuclear attack, while the foreign minister says the break away provices will probably remain in Russian control. There ya go, the (lack of) promotion of democratic ideals from mama Russia.
==================
From 2 days ago:
So what is the story here, Moscow-Tehran alignment, to counter the West, and control oil through Georgia between Turkey and Eurpore and Eurasia Turkmenia and Kazakstand, lessen OPEC and Russia oil and gas dominace, which makes sense, I suppose. I doubt Bush gave the Georgians a green light to strike, (but you never really know), but was supportive with arms sales and supportive of NATO membership, so, the Georgians moved in on their own, which they have a right to do, but did so during the olympics to get maximum international sympathy, which they did, and hence, gained somewhat in world opinion, but now have Russian tanks deep into their country, but these are suppose to pull back. Lets see. Georgia knew the West would rally to their cause, especially with the strategic BTC pipeline in Georgia, separating Moscow and Tehran. Moscow did not disappoint them, with a severe counter-move, which is being played around the world. This of course plays into Bush's and McCain's hands as collateral motivation to strike Iran for Regime change.
Moscow has a long way to go before it practices full democracy and promotes the same world wide. Poland is separated from Russia by dictatorial Belarus, and now it is a lock, Poland will deploy. Again, the US should offer interceptor protection to MOSCOW, to again encourage NATO membership by the Russians, if they clean up their act and resolve all border disputs. The long term ploy, GET THEM LOCKED IN to full democracy, and all this soviet style strong-man diplomacy falls to the ground, with the world more civil in so doing.
So, I still think the better play is to push NATO expansion into Ukraine and Georgia, while offering Russia membership if it cleans up its act, deploy interceptors in POLAND while offering MOSCOW protection, which will be refused, but shows the world that we seek civil mutual protection, and no more, and will give democrats in Russia campaign fodder, that will eventually bring Russia around to fully joining all nations' democratic civility. When? Dont hold your breath, its cultural with them, strong-man rule, and Putin is in firm control, they dont change horses often, and it will be the big bad papa bear with centralized control for some time to come. What we need is for Russia to plant missiles or bombers in Cuba or Venisulia, and watch a Cuban Crises take down OUR PAL PUTIN. Pride is a wonderful thing, its "my favorite sin", The Devil's Advocate.
===================
the title of this thread should be,
the chessdummy swaps his knight and queen and the center position, for a dinky little pawn.
ON THE FREAKING FLOOR!!!! 
But lets all give Putin some credit for at least trying, even though its inept, I mean, he was able to plant a flag on the artic sea floor, (when no one was watching), and did so, without the need for a US salvage ship (ON STATION), as there (APPARENTLY) was no Russian submarine implosion.
I bet they were holding their breath, the entire time.
ON THE FREAKING FLOOR!!!!
========
GORI, Georgia - Russia said its troops began withdrawing from the conflict zone in Georgia on Monday, including the strategic central city of Gori, "according to the peace plan" that sought to end fighting has reignited Cold War tensions.
The statement by Col.-Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn came amid uncertainty about whether Russia was fulfilling its promise to begin the pullout Monday. He said troops were pulling back to South Ossetia — the breakaway region at the heart of the fighting — and to an unspecified security zone.
======
So why did they move their troops to Gori? If they had limited their action to only Ossetia, then they would not have drawn so much condemnation, but Putin over played his hand.
by the by, a Colonel-General is equvilent to our Lieutenant General ***
============
That is exactly what we want to do, is to keep them in a corner, and Russia is one big big corner for a mere 145 Million. The age of COLONIAL EMPIRES is gone, and Russia needs to wake up to that fact. The problem is not mutual annialation by neuclear bombs, but rather, defying, that is, changing Russia's strong-man culture, Putin's political base and the strength upon which Putin dares expand. There is absolutely nothing wrong with RUSSIA joining the west in promoting democratic ideals about the globe. This is the result desired. As such, I advocate Russian integration into UN WTO G7 NATO etc etc, in every way possible, to influence Russia toward pure democratic principles, while confining them through NATO expansion, which is really not an improper confinment but the only means in maintaining global peace through interconnectiveness supporting human rights everwhere. As far as the USD, Rubble, or Yaun, are concerned, all that fiat trash should implode in the out years, when war and fiat (unfair power tools) are replaced by trade and gold (honest money world wide). We need to move Russia toward pure democracy and respect for the same world wide. They are hooked up, and just need to bring em in the boat, and hope a gafe wont be necessary. But I am afraid it will take another Decade of pounding FREEDOM's bell, for them to finally catch the tune, and that we want them on democracy's team, as a full and respected member. We should want them success with economy, success in practicing full democracy, and be one of our BESTEST BUDDIES.
In time, my friends, in time.
======================
Why would Russia, or any other state, want to emulate what the US government has become today?
So you could have the unqualified right to post that.
Curious minds want to know what you have to say.
Only in confliction in the poles, do we avoid confliction in the streets, or at borders.
Democracy is a funny thing, we mud sling, slander, demean, but in the aggregate, at least gives us a sense of having our views heard, which is the corner stone, and is all that is really guarranteed.
Sure, its not perfect, laws are subverted, traditional ways debased, decadence abounds, nothing new there, but in it all, is the pedulum that swings with the time, and hopefully correct bad ways. Hopefully the banksters will be the next to swing. And by your protests, your opposition, your condemnations, you help shape things, a noble thing to do.
i think derrick you got the queens all mixed. it's the u.s. which has the queen of public opinion while putin holds the queen of natural resources.
Granted.
=============
the russian elite have never cared for public opinion.
Granted, but let Russian people hear it personally from the LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD, which kind of includes Russia.
==============
losing the propaganda war against the bushies is no big deal as long as they got control or at least de facto control of all natural gas oil and minerals in and around the russian sphere of influence.
Wrong, you mean, as long as Putin maintains CONTROL
===================
the u.s. is dealing from a weak deck and everyone knows it.
Try telling that to our boys on station in the area, nothing could be further from the truth.
If we had are assets in position, with sufficient logistic support, we could roll up Russia in 60 days. Saddam has the world's 4th largest army, and it took 3 weeks. There is a clue buddy.
===================
why didn't rice go to moscow and instead went to europe and georgia? because she knew she'd get an earful in moscow on why their puppet saashkavili started this whole war.
You are probably correct on this one, she would get an ear full, so why waste your time? But Europe is the swing vote in this game, and that is where you spend your political capital. You dont go on mission bound to fail.
===============
looks like all those military supplies and advice the americans and israelis had been giving georgia for 4 years just went up in smoke.
Maybe, and so? Do you except everyone who wants freedom to just lie down and take necroachment on thier soil? You know, there are those who would and do fight for their freedom.
===============
they reportedly turned tail in a disorganized retreat when they saw the russians. what a laugh.
At least they tried, that shows courage to me, something missing in this country in a large messure.
It easy to be brave when you're a big gun, takes courage to be brave when you are out matched. Georgia showed it sutff, as best they could. I am proud of all of them.
===============
now that's really brilliant geopolitical moves right there.
For many reasons above stated, if was not the victory on the ground that was important, but to rally political support in Europe, for NATO admission, and baby, that is MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! in spades.
==================
saashkavili will be gone in a few months because of growing public discontent because of his overreaching. and btw,
HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO BET, 1 got one gold eagle says you are wrong. Put some money where your mouth is, eh?
Or he will go down in GEORGIAN history as a true patriot, willing to stand up for what is right, which as President, he is suppose to do.
==========
looks like our pawn musharaff in pakistan has been forced to retire too.
I told him specifically to change his ways, and he did not and he paid the price. Democracy rules in Pakieland, a little more this day. This is a good out come from my perspective.
==============
i don't know what you're playing but it ain't chess.
I am trying to teach you how foolish was the titled of this thread, and your admiration of Putin, dear comrad. You a dictator lover? Do Tell, or are you with everything that is anti-US? Probably the later.
=======================
Even though Putin has a lock down of free speech in Russia, there is enough political discourse and enough internet access, that BUSH would be heard in all of the Russias, simply from the fact that a US president is directly addressing the Russian people, something that would be most MOST MOST curious to them, trust me on this one. Bush, would be heard by 60-70% of the people, and they should know Bush's side of the story, and therein lies the death nail of Czar Putin's control. Bush can really screw PUTIN if he does so on a full court press. My feedback from Russia is that many are confused or in the dark, and dont know what to really make of it, and many do have a healthy distrust of MOSCOW, a good thing.
==================
good of you, now I will take Putin's position.
First of all, Russians do regard N & S Ossetia as one country, despite the fact that Stalin drew the dividing line. So, the soviet called S Ossetia as being in Georgia, and after the break up, the UN and all called it georgia, when Russia was weak.
The Georgians SUCKER punched the Russians, when they were not looking, and killed people there, JUST TO DRAW the Bear in, so that, it would rally NATO support. IT WORKED, then the georgians back peddled quickly, and the Russian follow them up, like any good field commanders would.
However, that is exactly what the georgians wanted, to get the Russian bear close to the BTC pipeline, and hence, stir up Europe, and IT WORKED.
The Georgians played Putin like a fool, Putin had to act to prevent the killing, but Putin was probably really mad, and did not stop his tanks until well outside Ossetia, and that was his political mistake. Had he just secure Ossetia, and no more, he would have popular global support, but because he went to far, he got the opposite. HENCE, Putin over played his hand.
The Georgains are the evil one here, they suckered punch the Russians when they were not looking, for political gain, to rally Western Europe support, Putin is actually clean here, but Putin got screwed, but all is fair in love and war, and as long as Putin does not allow free and fair political debate on Russian TV, I have no sympathy for him.
Yeap, the chess master attacked with its KING,
(pazputin's cirkovoy mishka, aka putin's circus bear), alone in the center field, NOT A SMART MOVE!!
I feel for Circus Bear, poor guy, got stuck with the face man job, while his butt is razputting.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan - China and several Central Asian nations rebuffed Russia's hopes of international support for its actions in Georgia, issuing a statement Thursday denouncing the use of force and calling for the respect of every country's territorial integrity.
ADVERTISEMENT
A joint declaration from the six-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization also offered some support for Russia's "active role in promoting peace" following a cease-fire, but overall it appeared to increase Moscow's international isolation.
Russia's search for support in Asia had raised fears that the alliance would turn the furor over Georgia into a broader confrontation between East and West, pitting the U.S. and Europe against their two main Cold War foes.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had appealed to the Asian alliance, which is made up of China, Russia and four ex-Soviet Central Asian nations, for unanimous support of Moscow's response to Georgia's "aggression."
But the alliance, which was created in 2001 to improve regional coordination on terrorism and border security, opted to take a neutral position and urged all sides to resolve the conflict through "peaceful dialogue."
"The participants ... underscore the need for respect of the historical and cultural traditions of each country and each people, and for efforts aimed at preserving the unity of the state and its territorial integrity," the alliance's statement said.
None of the other alliance members joined Russia in recognizing the independence claims of Abkhazia and South Ossetia."
This was an IN YOUR FACE slam at Putin, dont take it for anything other than that. Russia will not find friends in the Ex soviet states, (save dictatorial belarus) nor any other country with a territory, border, or serious ethic problem, nor any of the core NATO alliance members, which pretty much leaves, ..... drum roll, yeap, you guessed it!!!
IRAN SYRIA CUBA and VENZEULIA.
forming the new pentagonal axis evil.
(NK dont count, they are just little pewk gooks)
I can just hear McCain now at his first state of Union address, "MY FRIENDS", there is a new axis of evil out there, that we must destroy, and I am president and your commander in chief, you aint cowards are ya boys? NO SIR, WE NEO-CONS DONT RUN!!!, Good, now go over there and kill anyone who dont look like you, I will tell you when you are done. YES SIR!!!!
So the chessmater advanced his king and supports to center field, only to have his support, turn tail, and defect. Yeah, great move chessmaster!!!!
So,
1) Chessmaster moves his knights to center field, and then has to retreat, and in so doing, rallies apponents in the EU, and
2) Chessmaters moves his king to center field, to only get rebuffed and forced to withdraw that move.
SMOOTH MOVES EXLAX!!!
As I reported earlier, in part from my personal contacts in Russia, the order from MOSCOW was that Medvedev must win by at least 70% or "heads would roll". And sure enough. There is PUTIN's Russia for ya. But it dont stop there.
is the most high-profile Russian journalist to be killed since investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya was shot outside her Moscow apartment in October 2006.
Police said Yevloyev, who was a leading opponent of Ingushetia's Kremlin-backed leader Murat Zyazikov, was shot by accident when he tried to grab an officer's gun. His supporters and human rights groups said they did not believe that version of events.
A Reuters reporter in Ingushetia's biggest city Nazran said riot police were lined up on a central square where about 250 people, some of them armed with wooden sticks and truncheons, were demanding Zyazikov leave his post."
A reporter was "Accidentally" shot in the HEAD.
Sure, Putin did not pull the trigger,
but what is the difference?
Stalin's NKVD has apparently been resurrected in the form of state police, under PUTIN's watch.
HOW IN THE HELL do you "Accidently" shoot someone in the HEAD? Give me a break.
Putin's cultural strong-man upbringing coupled with his KGB background, will in time, disgrace him in perpetuity as the TYRANT he is becoming under his lust for power, under the cloak of a demoncratically elected official.
It may take another decade for MOSCOW to fully understand the benefits of free speech, thought, and press, but in time THEY WILL, keep the faith, the CONFLUENCE MARCHES ON, as an inevitable force, driven by global cultural evolution, and cemented in time by the desires of all human beings, seeking freedom.
Our PAL PUTIN, (as OREILLY calls him), just showed again, his true colors, his distain for demoncracy, free speech, freedom, and human rights.
A chessmaster, yeah right, he is showing his true colors. I warned him to stop rigging elections, provide free speech, but, apparently would not listen to little o-me. You Watch another Russian state go up in flames in protest of MOSCOW's heavy handed quasi-dictatorial socialism and from the cementing of power in a collective few in MOSCOW.
The chessmaster's Bishop just got nailed, or should I say, just got executed.
============
Putin's Absolute Rule
There was the NKVD, Stalin's henchmen, who, on orders from Stalin's, executed in 1940 the polish intelligencia, fearing they would oppose soviet occupation and domination, including 61000 people of which 15000 were civilian professionals and the polish elite, and 9000 Polish Army officers, 4800 of which were found by the Nazi in 1943 in a mass grave in the Katyn Forest in Eastern Poland. Then we had the KGB, Kruchev-Brezhnev's Boys who kept an eye on Eastern Europe, during which OUR PAL PUTIN, got his training.
Now we have the FSB, the Russian Federation Secret Bureau under control of Moscow and that means Putin in fact and concurrently soon Medvedia by law. The stink of course was the assassination of the KGB spy, with poloium, purportedly done by the Russians under orders from Moscow. I don’t really have a problem with a sovereign government ordering the assassination of a spy turn-coat, the problem of course, was that the deed was done on British soil, with London in a fuss and demanding extradition of the alleged assassin, with Moscow refusing, of course, and in retribution to the extradition clamor, the Russians are shutting down British-Counsel offices, one of which was the recently targeted one in Ekatrinburg, east of Moscow, and all of which are purportedly cultural exchange offices, teaching English and Western Culture to Russians, the charges being alleged trump up charges of tax evasion, and alleging its a spy front, as Putin attempts to apparently silence non-government organization (NGOs), particularly foreign ones, from operating in Russia, and meddling in Russia's internal affairs. This is kind of like Nixon's "outside agitators" operating on the UC Berkeley campus or others in the early 70s. The difference of course is that Nixon was a War President, and Putin is not, and so, the justifications for sensorship does not seem apparent in Russia. What do they have to loose, with free speech, by anyone, I ponder continuously, without result.
Maybe PM Brown should follow Churchill's then example, and ignore the executions, to preserve the alliance. That is, let it go, to sustain the cultural exchanges, the long term gain, for Russia and the world.
I get the over all impression that Moscow, and that means Putin, just does not like the west telling Russia that it needs further reforming and hurting control that may be deemed necessary to keep Russia on track improving its economy. Of course, I have no way of really telling the truth of any of it, from my garage computer. But cultural tendencies are hard to change, and the NKVD set a standard early on, that’s for sure. Of course Putin has done nothing of that nature, but the problem was not the executions per se, but the absolute rule that eventually corrupts absolutely.
Who really knows why Moscow is so resistance to absolute free speech, maybe its just cultural, and many Russians just don’t care, anyway. I don’t fully understand them, nor do I really know it all. I doubt if Professor Igor's english book on Russian culture, will explain Putin's motivations satisfactory. So, the mystery will continue.
But, with Putin as PM and Medvedeva as President, look out for the good-cop bad-cop routine on the international stage. Medvedeva is perfect as the international polite face man, and I think from Putin's power play perspective was a great choice. I of course will be advising Putin that Stalin's image just aint that great these days, as the world looks in retrospect, on absolute controls. Putin so far has done very well for Russia, and his legacy, is now his to loose in disgrace or cement in glory, in perpetuity.
=====
My Conclusions:
First of all, Russians do regard N & S Ossetia as one country, despite the fact that Stalin drew the dividing line. So, the soviet called S Ossetia as being in Georgia, but was of no import, as both N & S Ossetia were under soviet control, however, after the soviet break up, the UN and all called S Ossetia and in georgia per the soviet bordary lines drawn, when Russia was weak, the US call it Georgia despite strong ethnic relations to N Ossetia in Russia proper.
The Georgians SUCKER punched the Russians, when they were not looking, and killed people there, JUST TO DRAW the Bear in, so that, Georgia could politically rally NATO support. IT WORKED, then the georgians back peddled quickly, and the Russian follow them up, like any good field commanders would, when the route in on.
However, that is exactly what the georgians wanted, to get the Russian bear close to the BTC pipeline, and hence, stir up Europe, and especially the US being paranoid about possible Russian expansion, and IT WORKED.
The US, always eager to exploit a pro-west situation, took it and ran with it, the poor Georgians being beat up by the big bad imperialistic Russian bear, and in large measure, Georgia as well as the US were politically sucessful, Ukraine and Georgia will become NATO nations.
The Georgians played Putin like a fool, Putin had to act to prevent the killing, and to prevent losing face, Putin was probably really mad, and did not stop his tanks until well outside Ossetia, and that was his political mistake. Had he just secure Ossetia, and no more, he would have popular global support, but because he went to far, he got the opposite. HENCE, Putin over played his hand.
The Georgains are the evil ones here, they suckered punched the Russians when they were not looking, for political gain, to rally Western Europe support, Putin is actually clean here, but Putin got screwed in public opinion, but all is fair in love and war, and as long as Putin does not allow free and fair political debate on Russian TV, I have no sympathy for him. Lawfully, I got to go with the UN recognized border. The Russians should eventually clear out, but Gerogia must also guarrantee S Ossetians their rights and equal protection.
But while that is the bottom lines, the Georgians appear to be at fault, play putin and NATO as fools, sucker punching the Russians, and running behind NATO skirts. Master Stroke, if you ask me, a brillent power play by the Georgians, play both sides for the fools, with very BIG BALLS by the Georgian President.
=====================
And I have to suspect that the US encouraged Georgia to move some how, to what extent, donno. While russia is strengthening its for-ex, their population is still decreasing, and are still deteriorating, though that has substantially slowed, more of bottoming out, and starting to rise, again, but again, it will take 25 years for the bear to be able to really growl again, but by then, it will be too late for a new czar, they will have gotten it, the democracy thing, in spirit. Putin is too late to resurrect the UNION, and is surrounded. HE IS DOOMED politically in the out years, how long he remains, 10 years is possible, but he holding back Russia even though the Russians have no clue, mostly.
===============
The chess master, with his BS sales of missle tech to Iran, is facing
38$ oil and 29.4r/$ +1.24r/$ today, with $ in the tank.
Just lost another castle.
Karate chop that!!!
================
The chess master got suckered punched in Georgia.
His oil and rubble are collapsing.
His stock markets are off 60% an growing.
And he sends out his propagandist, re sinclair, to call for a US collapse as Jim slams the analysis.
Putin better start singing yankee do do, he may need bailed out as well.
Look, I dont mind the oil empire, dont mind the weak-minded russians who only know follow the leader, and I do wish them well, seriously, but missle tech sales to Iran, under UN sanctions, developing the bomb, is
SO SOVIETSKY world domination play, that it just reeks of a corrupt self-centeredness, the risk increase neuclear threats in the straight or hormus, where most of the world oil flows, cementing a newk standoff in perpetuity.
All else, I can forgive nearly all, and hope for the best for the russians, as we do need them to be a stable big economic power providing much needed resources, and integrate them as trading buddies, and more power to them, in that regard, but the IRAN play, JUST STINKS, in my book, and on that, I lost allot of respect for him, his lap dog, and the power play.
Putin wont quit!
Josep Stalin, was voted 3rd greatest russian leader, of all time.
He KILLED 20M russians, and
only communists 15M voted.
price alexander nepsky 13th century 1st
stopped the german hoard,
PM stolypin early 20th century, 2nd
Stalin 3rd
Peter the GREAT was the greatest Russian of all time, hands down, from what I know, (which really aint that much), bringing new tech, enlightment to Russia.
Sure, Stalin bruttally stopped the Nazi war machine and carried a heavy load in WWII, and saved moscow, but that dont make up for slaughtering his military officers, infrastructure slave labor, and the goolags.
Yeap, another 20 years, is needed, for them old commies to die off.
My indications are that Putin rigged the last election, with unfair TV controls, and orders, Medved wins by 70% "OR HEADS WILL ROLL", and I can only guess, he rigged this one as well, and he even is not a member of the communist party, I believe he heads "Russia Unified First" party.
FREAKING A,
30.54r/$
Atta boy Putin, just lost another pon.
Russians can go to the Russian state bank and buy PAPER GOLD, but its 18% taxes up front, and subject to a PUTIN-COUNTERPARTY risks. She needs somehow to preserve what little value she has from her rents. She could transfer funds here for me to buy PMs for her, but that involves transfers back and forth, and fee precentages as well, so what to do?
MOSCOW CB keeps the physical, while the people get a slip of paper. Aint that special?
In MOSCOW, because of housing shortages, renting 10 to a flat is being had, so Im told, really donno. She can buy a another smaller flat, in Vladivostok, and make payments on the new flat out the rent money on the big flat, and use the small flat when in town there, with month-to-month lease on the small flat, and keep the big flat as an income draw in these days of boucing back and forth.
Realty seems the best play, in the land of counterparty risk of Russian PROLITARIATE Paper Gold.
Both russian wife and baba can not believe Putin rigged the Stalin 3rd place finish. Yeap, follow the leader mentality is alive and well in USA.
WOW, check it out, Dan Norcini at JSMINSET pdf on gold in various currency, and check out rubble gold. Went ballistic today, with rubble up 1.17r/$ or about 4%, as posted at the bulliondesk.
With the rubble TANKING MUCH FASTER than the dollar (oil price) Medvedev has allot huchas to claim the US is going into depression, and if so, what about the russkies?
Putin shut off gas to Ukraine.
These nuvo-commies cant seem to negotiate a commercial contract, ,,, figures. Ok, prepucussions: hhhmmm
Well, Ukraine West will be pissed, Chernotsie and Bukovinia, Lubvo, Putin aint making friends there. W/E Europe wont like it either. E Ukraine, full of ethic Russians supporting reactionary entrance into Russia, well, they get a treat this winter as well, serves them right, anyway. It would be so so sweet if Keiv routes stored gas supplies, and they got allot of that, only to the west, keeping the ethnic ukrainian warm, while the E Urkainians (ethic Russians) freeze their cahuchas off. Putin's charm will be warmly felt througtout Ukraine.
LOST ANOTHER PON, by aun pasant, from the Keiv Knight pon passing gas. ON THE FREAKING FLOOR!!!
I just freaking ROARED, wife just entered, and I said Putin just cut off gas to Ukraine.
WIFE: Yeah I know, Good, they wanted independence.
Serves them right. They deserve it.
Showing true colors, way funny!!!
Russia refused to restart gas supplies that have been stalled since Wednesday, saying the deal for the monitors was made void by Ukraine, which signed the document but then issued what it called a "declaration" to accompany it.
The European Commission insisted the declaration could not change the agreement, but Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the document was void unless Ukraine withdrew the declaration.
He denounced the Ukrainian move as a "mockery of a common sense and a violation of previously reached agreements."
Russia has demanded monitors to track the movement of gas across Ukraine before it will restart supplies to other European countries. Russia stopped supplying gas to Ukraine on Jan. 1 amid a price dispute and later stopped supplying countries beyond Ukraine because it claimed Kiev was siphoning off the gas.
Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in a phone conversation that Russia considers any supplements to the deal unacceptable. He added that the Ukrainian declaration defies the pact and refers to commercial issues that aren't part of it.
========
Ukraine comes back and said "its just a declaration", if its "just" a declaration of no import, then retract it, and get the gas going, grandmas in the EU are freezing and you want EU membership, right. hhhhmmm FISHIE!!!!, and Putin's divide and conquer routine, wont stop either, these ex-soviet politicos are suspect, possibly corrupt, (possibly is being nice), I would not be surprised if Putin's monitors would and are meant to expose illegal syphoning off of gas by ukraine so that the head yellow/blue guys get a little royalty on the side, and in their pockets, (not that Russia top boys would not do the same, if the tables were reversed). I have been to Russia and Ukraine, multiple times each, and what little official action I was involved with, there was obvious corruption, going on, nothing subtle about it at all, IT WAS CORRUPTION, I LITERALLY PAID under the table TO PLAY, in both Keiv and Vladivostok, with CASH from my hand directly into the hands of officials, with no written record or accounting, NONE. The Ukrainians were a bit subtle about the language used to perfect the crime, not the Russians, "you have to pay the very high price and get a receipt or the very low price and get no receipt", and straight faced, I kid you not. I guess the paper work (aka paper trail) creates to much over head expense. I talk with locals about it, and they say that because the wages are so low, it is necessary extra pay, like a perk, a bonus for working extra hard for the motherland. There is no sense of outrage, just acceptance as a standard operating proceedure. Sound familiar? When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Now just sit back and think of all the billions we have thrown at the Iraqi government, and how poorly they are still doing.
=======
Boy I tell you, I am sure glad I live in the good old USA where corruption and naked political posturing pandering dose not exist anywhere. We here are all just so much more honest and upright, leading the world to better future. Lets all waive old glory. Here we make it much more palitable, we actually do call it a bonus, so the banksters and cabal get a "fair" wage for their ethical hard hard work.
=======
well that was quick.
BRUSSELS, Belgium – The European Union presidency says Russia will restart gas supplies to Europe on Tuesday morning.
A spokesman for the Czech government, which holds the rotating EU leadership, said Russia had announced it would start pumping gas at 0700 GMT (2 a.m. EST) Tuesday.
"We greatly welcome this announcement," said Radek Honzak
=====
NOVO-OGARYOVO, Russia – Russia and the European Union signed a deal Saturday on the deployment of EU observers to monitor the flow of natural gas across Ukraine, clearing the way for restarting Russian gas supplies to a freezing Europe.
Russia said it wants the written deal in place before resuming shipments, but it also needs to be signed by Ukraine to come into force. Saturday's signing followed Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's talks with visiting Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country holds the rotating European Union presidency.
==========
After Georgia, Putin can not afford another image disaster, especially with oil price in the tank and the russian market off 70%. Smart move.
=======
Russia refused to restart gas supplies that have been stalled since Wednesday, saying the deal for the monitors was made void by Ukraine, which signed the document but then issued what it called a "declaration" to accompany it.
The European Commission insisted the declaration could not change the agreement, but Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the document was void unless Ukraine withdrew the declaration.
He denounced the Ukrainian move as a "mockery of a common sense and a violation of previously reached agreements."
Russia has demanded monitors to track the movement of gas across Ukraine before it will restart supplies to other European countries. Russia stopped supplying gas to Ukraine on Jan. 1 amid a price dispute and later stopped supplying countries beyond Ukraine because it claimed Kiev was siphoning off the gas.
Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in a phone conversation that Russia considers any supplements to the deal unacceptable. He added that the Ukrainian declaration defies the pact and refers to commercial issues that aren't part of it.
========
Ukraine comes back and said "its just a declaration", if its "just" a declaration of no import, then retract it, and get the gas going, grandmas in the EU are freezing and you want EU membership, right. hhhhmmm FISHIE!!!!, and Putin's divide and conquer routine, wont stop either, these ex-soviet politicos are suspect, possibly corrupt, (possibly is being nice), I would not be surprised if Putin's monitors would and are meant to expose illegal syphoning off of gas by ukraine so that the head yellow/blue guys get a little royalty on the side, and in their pockets, (not that Russia top boys would not do the same, if the tables were reversed). I have been to Russia and Ukraine, multiple times each, and what little official action I was involved with, there was obvious corruption, going on, nothing subtle about it at all, IT WAS CORRUPTION, I LITERALLY PAID under the table TO PLAY, in both Keiv and Vladivostok, with CASH from my hand directly into the hands of officials, with no written record or accounting, NONE. The Ukrainians were a bit subtle about the language used to perfect the crime, not the Russians, "you have to pay the very high price and get a receipt or the very low price and get no receipt", and straight faced, I kid you not. I guess the paper work (aka paper trail) creates to much over head expense. I talk with locals about it, and they say that because the wages are so low, it is necessary extra pay, like a perk, a bonus for working extra hard for the motherland. There is no sense of outrage, just acceptance as a standard operating proceedure. Sound familiar? When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Now just sit back and think of all the billions we have thrown at the Iraqi government, and how poorly they are still doing.
=======
Boy I tell you, I am sure glad I live in the good old USA where corruption and naked political posturing pandering dose not exist anywhere. We here are all just so much more honest and upright, leading the world to better future. Lets all waive old glory. Here we make it much more palitable, we actually do call it a bonus, so the banksters and cabal get a "fair" wage for their ethical hard hard work.
=======
well that was quick.
BRUSSELS, Belgium – The European Union presidency says Russia will restart gas supplies to Europe on Tuesday morning.
A spokesman for the Czech government, which holds the rotating EU leadership, said Russia had announced it would start pumping gas at 0700 GMT (2 a.m. EST) Tuesday.
"We greatly welcome this announcement," said Radek Honzak
=====
And no news about the declaration.
ssshhhhhhh, Someone got paid off.
=====
The end of totalitarian socialism has begun in Cuba, once you open the door, baby, it leads to commerical free speech and then political free speech. There is hope.
HAVANA – Cubans with classic American cars — or even rusty Russian sedans — are being encouraged to apply for taxi licenses and set their own prices for the first time in nearly a decade as the communist government turns to the free market to improve its woeful transportation system.
Under regulations published into law this week, Cuba is applying a larger dose of supply-and-demand to an economy that remains 90 percent under state control.
============
The way I am reading the Russian/Ukrainian nat gas conflict, is that the TOP Ukrainian political people got caught by Russia. The ukrainians are stealing nat gas out the pipe line for personal pocket money. As I read it, RUSSIA is asking for a fair price, and are interested in getting GAS to the EU as a reliable supplier, as Russia needs the money and the EU needs the gas, as a fair deal. But, I think the Ukrainians are corrupt and got caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Putin just nailed them, I think. Mr G. Medvedev of GAZPROM in right-on about the stealing Ukrainians.
Russia, Ukraine reach gas deal; Europe still waits
MOSCOW – Russia and Ukraine aim to sign an agreement Monday that would restore natural gas shipments to a freezing Europe, but after weeks of frustration and dashed hopes, the European Union gave the announcement only a lukewarm reception.
Russia cut off gas shipments to Europe via Ukraine on Jan. 7 as a price dispute and a political tussle between Kiev and Moscow escalated. The confrontation deeply shook Europeans' trust in both Russia and Ukraine as reliable energy suppliers and forced over 15 nations to scramble to find alternative sources of energy,
Amid growing concern about the damage to their countries' reputations, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Yulia Tymoshenko negotiated for 10 hours and announced the framework of an agreement before dawn Sunday.
Officials of Russia's state-run gas monopoly Gazprom and its Ukrainian counterpart Naftogaz labored Sunday to lay out the precise terms so a deal can be signed Monday when Tymoshenko returns to Moscow.
But even if Russia turns on the taps immediately after the signing, it could take at least another day for the gas to travel hundreds of miles through Ukrainian pipelines to Europe.
"Over the past few days, we have seen several similarly hopeful moments. The only thing that counts for the EU is the resumption of gas supplies," said Trade Minister Martin Riman of the Czech Republic, which holds the EU presidency.
Russia had alleged that Ukraine was siphoning off Europe-bound gas. Ukraine disputed this, claiming that Russia was not sending enough "technical gas" to push the rest further west.
Europe gets 20 percent of its gas from Russia via Ukraine, but some countries, including Bulgaria and Slovakia, are totally or largely dependent on Russian gas. The Czech gas company RWE began sending emergency gas shipments Sunday to Slovakia, where over 1,000 businesses have been crippled by gas rationing.
Putin announced that Ukraine will pay 20 percent less than the European "market price" price for gas this year, which Russia says is $450 per 1,000 cubic meters. That's more than twice as much as the $179.50 Ukraine paid in 2008.
However, natural gas prices for Europe are expected to fall sharply later this year, due to the fall in oil prices. By midsummer, Ukraine could be paying as little as $150 for 1,000 cubic meters, said Ronald Smith, a strategist at Moscow's Alfa Bank.
Russia has won a key principle, however, that Ukraine must pay more for its energy supplies. In the long term, it is not clear how Ukraine will pay for the huge amount of Russian gas needed to run its outdated factories and heating systems.
Ukraine also appeared to have won one of its goals — the elimination of a shadowy middleman company through which Gazprom sold gas to Ukraine. The intermediary company, half-owned by Gazprom, has been criticized as an alleged vehicle for siphoning gas profits into private pockets.
A Kremlin official, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, said the contract between Gazprom and Naftogaz for 2009 would be "direct."
Moscow and Kiev, which spent the last two weeks blaming each other, managed to wound both their images in the energy debacle.
"The best part for Russia is they get the gas to the customers. This has been pretty damaging" to Russia's reputation as a reliable energy partner, Smith said Sunday. "(Ukraine) probably lost as well, because the European Union was looking at them as a possible member and may now be wondering if it's worth the effort."
Russia also emerged without having to pay a higher gas transit price in 2009.
Putin said Russia was giving Ukraine the "20 percent discount" on the condition the gas transit price does not change for 2009. Beginning next Jan. 1, however, Ukraine will pay full price for gas and Russia will pay market prices for transit, he said.
Russia currently pays $1.70 to transport 1,000 cubic meters of gas 100 kilometers, which last year amounted to close to $3 billion for Ukraine. Putin says the market price is about double that.
Putin and Tymoshenko made no mention of the more than $600 million that Gazprom claims Ukraine still owes for 2008.
The global economic crisis has hit both former Soviet republics hard.
With the dramatic fall in the price of oil — the country's main source of revenue — Russia is facing a budget deficit this year for the first time in a decade. Industrial production has slowed and the ruble has lost nearly 30 percent of its value since summer.
Ukraine's economy is in even worse shape, battered by the drop in world prices for steel and heading into a painful recession.
The two neighbors have been at odds since the 2004 Orange Revolution brought Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko to power. His avid push for Ukraine to join NATO and the EU has angered Moscow.
===
Rubble 32.38,
has not been that high in SEVEN YEARS
GAME OVER!!!
Apparently, in 2002 the Russian ruble hit 31.93.
Yesterday, it hit 33.11. So, for this lastest version of the Ruble,
It is at an all time low to the dollar.
Consequences? Russian more responsive, but inflation to kick in, remember Russian inflation was reported running at 12%, now probably much less, but when all the fiat around the world, start inflating, Russian inflation rate should kick into high gear. Lets See
My Advice: Sell the Dollar, Buy the Ruble, and wait one year.
Human rights lawyer killed in central Moscow
MOSCOW – A Russian human rights lawyer renowned for his work on abuses in Chechnya was shot to death Monday by a masked gunman who followed him from a news conference, officials said. A young journalist who tried to intervene also was gunned down.
The broad-daylight shootings of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova prompted grief and outrage in a country where lawyers and journalists who challenge the official version of justice are frequently targeted.
Markelov had fought the early release of a Russian colonel whose killing of a Chechen woman in 2000 put names and faces on the gruesome rights abuses in the war-wracked region. His death Monday angered many Chechens, already upset by the release of last week of the military officer.
Colleagues drew comparisons with the 2006 killing of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya — a client of Markelov's and a fellow enemy of rights abuses in Chechnya and across former President Vladimir Putin's Russia.
"This is a horrible, frightening crime," said Tatyana Lokshina of the Human Rights Watch.
Prominent rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva called the shooting "a disgrace for Russia," the Interfax news agency reported.
Markelov, 34, was shot near a building where he had just held a news conference, about half a mile (1 kilometer) from the Kremlin, said Viktoria Tsyplenkova, a spokeswoman for the Investigative Committee of the Moscow prosecutor's office.
Markelov was shot in the back of the head at close range by an attacker who followed him after the news conference, wore a stocking-style mask and had a silencer on his gun — clear signs of a planned killing, state-run RIA-Novosti news agency reported, citing an unidentified law enforcement official. Police also reportedly said there were several witnesses.
Anastasia Baburova, a freelance journalist in her mid-20s who had worked for the newspaper Novaya Gazeta newspaper, was shot when she tried to intervene after Markelov was attacked, said Andrei Lipsky, a deputy editor. Another Novaya Gazeta editor, Sergei Sokolov, later said she died on an operating table.
Markelov, who represented the family of the 18-year-old Chechen woman killed by Col. Yuri Budanov in 2000, had told reporters he was considering filing an international court appeal against Budanov's early release, the RIA-Novosti news agency reported.
The colonel was freed last week with more than a year left in his murder sentence.
Budanov was convicted in 2003 and sentenced to 10 years — including time served — for strangling Heda Kungayeva. He admitted killing her, saying he believed she was a rebel sniper in the Kremlin's war against Chechen insurgents.
Budanov's case was closely watched as a test of authorities' determination to punish rights abuses in Chechnya. But he was held up as a hero by racist nationalist groups, some of whose members held rallies to support him during court hearings.
Kungayeva's father Visa Kungayev, who has taken refuge in Norway with his family, said Markelov told him when they spoke Friday that he had been threatened with death if he refused to drop the case, the Interfax news agency reported.
Budanov's release drew criticism from rights activists and lawyers, who pointed out that inmates convicted of nonviolent crimes but considered Kremlin foes — such as former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky — have been refused early release.
Defense lawyers who represent whistleblowers, Kremlin foes and Russians who claim abuse at the hands of authorities sometimes find themselves targeted, and Politkovskaya is one of more than a dozen journalists killed in Russia since Putin, now prime minister, began his 8-year presidency in 2000.
"Stanislav Markelov is yet another victim — very possibly murdered for his professional and courageous work to defend human rights," Nicola Duckworth, regional program director at Amnesty International, said in a statement.
Markelov had represented Politkovskaya, who wrote extensively about human rights violations in Chechnya. He also had represented activists who have battled abuses the Russia's military and a Chechen woman who was a victim in a 2002 hostage-taking attack on a Moscow theater.
"He was always on the front line," said Alexander Cherkasov of the human rights organization Memorial.
Cherkasov said Markelov was instrumental in another case involving alleged atrocities by the Russian military in Chechnya — the 2005 conviction of a police officer, Sergei Lapin, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for the torture and "disappearance" of a young Chechen man.
Markelov spent months trying to persuade authorities to prosecute Lapin for allegedly threatening Politkovskaya's life. On April 16, 2004, Markelov was riding home on the Moscow subway when five young men accosted him and beat him unconscious, he told a journalist later that year.
He said one of his attackers shouted "You asked for this!"
When he awoke, his cell phone and papers on the Politkovskaya case were gone, although his wallet and cash were untouched. When he tried to report the attack, he said, police accused him of faking his injuries.
A Chechen parliament deputy, Isa Khadzhimuratov, said Monday he believes Markelov's killing was likely connected to the Budanov case. "Like a real patriot, Markelov decided to restore justice and protect the interests of his clients," Khadzhimuratov said.
One of Markelov's last clients was Mokhamadsalakh Masayev, who alleged in 2006 he was held in a secret prison in Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov's home village and subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment. Masayev was abducted in Chechnya in August; his whereabouts remain unknown.
"For victims of human rights abuses in Chechnya he was a hero," Lokshina said.
Markelov also represented the victims of a 2004 police sweep in the Ural Mountains city of Blagoveshchensk, where hundreds of residents were beaten by police. He has defended anti-fascist movements and has been threatened by nationalist groups as a result, according to Russian media and activists.
Since the late 1990s, the Federal Security Service often has tried to question Markelov as a witness to prevent him from participating in trials as a lawyer, Cherkasov said.
"When one needed a bold journalist, one called Politkovskaya, when one needed a bold lawyer, one called Markelov," said Kremlin critic and rights activist Lev Ponomaryov.
===========
This crappola dont happen unless, sanctioned by THE power player in Russia.
"how in the heck do you shoot someone in the head, by accident". Siberia earlier