Putin, arse, elbow

[Vinty]

TV crews went into Iraq in their sanction period. People queuing for stuff and shortages of medicines and other things. Doesn't hurt the leaders

That is true, a local construction company got a big contract in Iraq years ago.
They were helping build some sort of palace for Saddam Hussein.
At the same time due to sanctions, 1000's of children were dying in Iraq.
Sanctions only really affect the most vulnerable in the target country.
https://fair.org/extra/we-think-the-price-is-worth-it/

 

[ajohn]

Russian members of parliament are not being told the truth

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-60947272

As bizarre at it sounds there are indications that they are trying to avoid killing civilians. There are several things about it all that make me wonder about the typical TV etc view of how well Russia is doing. Some of the expectations mentioned given several factors are not realistic. They might be with a million of men type attack with high troop losses as per the world wars.

The only odd thing really is not taking out certain target immediately. As a for instance, crazy thought say they took out all fuel dumps. Evacuation would be difficult. They interviewed some one that had evacuated to a town they thought would be safe. It sounds like they are getting reminders that it isn't as the lady had noticed.

Anyway time will tell.

 

[ajohn]

Russia ejected from FIFA.

Couple of odd ones. Some one has attacked a fuel or oil dump actually in Russia. It's on fire. UK TV reported something critical being hit in Kiev yesterday. Cameras not allowed there. They aren't allowed to report on some things. Actually mentioned.

 

[transam]

Putin has ordered 130000 conscripts

 

[ajohn]

The USA reckon they have moved 20% of the troops around Kiev back or out. Kiev say driven back and recaptured. Rubble.

There are various ideas about what that means including troops needing a break.

The initial paratroopers were mentioned. They held an airport for a while and it was then recaptured. That is clear now but rather damaged.

 

[ajohn]

It seems Hungary's president may have problems getting re elected shortly. Putin's friend. He wont comply as sees his own country as being more important than fitting in with western sanctions. He is probably correct that their economy depends on Russia but pass.

Poland seems to be the one that wants to get directly involved. They may have a "rather" right wing type of problem.

 

[ajohn]

Earlier there was a bit of talk about globalisation and global trade. Russia was a rather major player in it. Seems stainless prices have rocketed what next. Food riots expected due to the absence of some countries usual sources and inflation anyway all over without the latest reasons being added.

North sea gas and oils expansion was reckoned to have ceased as there was insufficient money in it. The anti oil etc people are now super gluing themselves to fuel depots.

 

[JohnD]

...global trade. Russia was a rather major player in it....

no it isn't

For such a large country, with such a large population, and such a lot of natural assets, it does very poorly.

 

[JohnD]

I wonder how a country with such assets managed to be so poor?

It must be making some money

What happens to it?

Can you think of anything?

It's almost as if profits are not being reinvested in development, and are shifted into wealth that can somehow move outside Russia.

https://www.ft.com/content/7a06e03a...egmentId=3d08be62-315f-7330-5bbd-af33dc531acb

https://www.ft.com/content/489e20e9-8bca-48e6-b840-806a890632c3

https://www.mylondon.news/news/property/london-mansions-owned-russian-oligarchs-23252864

"The property is the largest home in London other than Buckingham Palace"

 

[Vinty]

Earlier there was a bit of talk about globalisation and global trade

The war in Ukraine has ended Globalisation.
Maybe a good thing.
Who wants to pay £1000's on a holiday to some foreign places, in order to experience something "foreign" , just to find some fat bastard rolling out of a McDonalds munching on an overprocessed load of crap.

 

[JohnD]

 

[bernardgreen]

This humble holiday home may be on Rightmove sometime

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/putins-palace-luxury-1939501

 

[ajohn]

The war in Ukraine has ended Globalisation

There is a big question about what it will do. Some feel that there will be definite attempts to get around the trading USD but the significant factor is lack of Russian commodities. Last time I looked there were more USD outside the USA than in it.

JohmD might like to look at this
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0338

And notice a missing name which curiously Ukraine do not want sanctioning,

He might also like to look at the cost of maintaining tangible assets such as houses and boats.

 

[noseall]

The war in Ukraine has ended Globalisation.

China and all its beneficiaries will disagree with you on that.

 

[ajohn]

China and all its beneficiaries will disagree with you on that.

One question is which countries will still buy some of Russia's exports to avoid damaging their economy. That possible problem will be around until alternate sources are found and bought on line if they can be. While prices of commodities are high Russia could undercut and probably still do so in some areas if they were not.

The USD is used for rather a lot of global trade. The main reason for this goes back to the end of WWII. It and the IMF and World Bank are a nice club of sorts all with their own conditions. Also the WTO. All very western. Are all countries happy with this? The set up will play with a countries policies even ours. Then the money market that plays around at times. Countries want jobs and wealth. When the UK started going the way it has one Tory surprisingly said you can't run a country by selling each other hamburgers. An exaggeration of what we do. Some jobs need to be productive. Older style economics. The trading figures matter.

The EU's and our economy are very likely to suffer in real terms. GDP may boost due to inflation - that is stagflation. Actually when Trump popped up with America First I saw signs of one of the reasons mentioned when we originally joined it. The EU is big enough to dictate to some extent to the rest of the world. It's also protectionist and the levels of that can be easily varied if needed. The USA has this and import duties
https://home.treasury.gov/policy-is...ts-control-sanctions-programs-and-information
The EU this plus the same.
https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-...l-relations/restrictive-measures-sanctions_en
Their power depends on consumption and market sizes.

USD sanctions etc may make some counties wonder about using it as much as they currently do. Russia is an extreme example of what can be done. Maybe the power of the over all system will keep it all at the top but there could be the early stages of a change. China is a force all on it's own.They are even into lending and as usual want paying back as one country seems to have found recently. The IMF etc do too.