Russia's Military Modernization in Jeopardy

[Berkut]

Man, that really sucks that Russia is having economic problems as a result of their choices in regards to acting like a fucking civilized, modern nation.

I am all broken up.

[crazy canuck]

Their decision to sell LNG to China at cut rates isnt looking so good anymore...

[Josquius]

But...but....the west are weak and cowardly for doing nothing about the Ukraine but levelling pointless little sanctions!!111

[Jacob]

Man, that really sucks that Russia is having economic problems as a result of their choices in regards to acting like a fucking civilized, modern nation.

I am all broken up.

I know. Heartbreaking.

At the same time, I think it's nice that for once Languish can be united in our tender feelings of pity for the difficulties the Russian military is facing.

[Warspite]

I hope my pension fund isn't affected by all this.

[Jacob]

Apparently Russian banks and money exchangers are reporting a shortage in dollars and euros due to skyrocketing demand.

Oh, and apparently the Duma is considering passing a law allowing for the confiscation of foreign assets on behalf of oligarchs, to compensate for loss of investments due to foreign sanctions. I'm no economist, but I don't think that's going to help the Russian economy out that much...

[DGuller]

Apparently Russian banks and money exchangers are reporting a shortage in dollars and euros due to skyrocketing demand.

Oh, and apparently the Duma is considering passing a law allowing for the confiscation of foreign assets on behalf of oligarchs, to compensate for loss of investments due to foreign sanctions. I'm no economist, but I don't think that's going to help the Russian economy out that much...

If companies are stupid enough to put their capital and technological secrets in Russia, they deserve what they get.  If these companies' shareholders think of such activities as reducible to "political risk" numbers, they also deserve it.

[Tamas]

Apparently Russian banks and money exchangers are reporting a shortage in dollars and euros due to skyrocketing demand.

Oh, and apparently the Duma is considering passing a law allowing for the confiscation of foreign assets on behalf of oligarchs, to compensate for loss of investments due to foreign sanctions. I'm no economist, but I don't think that's going to help the Russian economy out that much...

But that's the thing with them isn't it? They are the same bunch as in the Ukraine or presently in Hungary: only factor is the power and well being of themselves and the groups keeping them in power and wealth. If the country needs to collapse to keep those, then so be it.

[Jacob]

But that's the thing with them isn't it? They are the same bunch as in the Ukraine or presently in Hungary: only factor is the power and well being of themselves and the groups keeping them in power and wealth. If the country needs to collapse to keep those, then so be it.

I wasn't aware that the current Ukrainian leadership is cut from the same cloth?

[Barrister]

But that's the thing with them isn't it? They are the same bunch as in the Ukraine or presently in Hungary: only factor is the power and well being of themselves and the groups keeping them in power and wealth. If the country needs to collapse to keep those, then so be it.

I wasn't aware that the current Ukrainian leadership is cut from the same cloth?

We'll see how it shakes out, but Poroshenko is businessman with an estimated personal wealth of one billion dollars.

[Martinus]

But that's the thing with them isn't it? They are the same bunch as in the Ukraine or presently in Hungary: only factor is the power and well being of themselves and the groups keeping them in power and wealth. If the country needs to collapse to keep those, then so be it.

I wasn't aware that the current Ukrainian leadership is cut from the same cloth?

Well, I guess it depends on what part of it you are talking about. The concern is that the oligarchs are as corrupt everywhere. Then there are nationalists as well. The decent people form a narrow wedge in between the two.

[DGuller]

But that's the thing with them isn't it? They are the same bunch as in the Ukraine or presently in Hungary: only factor is the power and well being of themselves and the groups keeping them in power and wealth. If the country needs to collapse to keep those, then so be it.

I wasn't aware that the current Ukrainian leadership is cut from the same cloth?

Poroshenko is an oligarch.  He may be the least worst of oligarchs, and his Kiev cake is to die for, but he's still an oligarch.

[Jacob]

Duly noted

[Razgovory]

But that's the thing with them isn't it? They are the same bunch as in the Ukraine or presently in Hungary: only factor is the power and well being of themselves and the groups keeping them in power and wealth. If the country needs to collapse to keep those, then so be it.

I wasn't aware that the current Ukrainian leadership is cut from the same cloth?

Poroshenko is an oligarch.  He may be the least worst of oligarchs, and his Kiev cake is to die for, but he's still an oligarch.

That is my impression.  The current government is crooked, the previous government was crooked as one the before that and the one before that.  The next one will likely be crooked.  My hope is that more integration in to European markets will reduce corruption over time.

[Jacob]

Oh, and apparently the Duma is considering passing a law allowing for the confiscation of foreign assets on behalf of oligarchs, to compensate for loss of investments due to foreign sanctions. I'm no economist, but I don't think that's going to help the Russian economy out that much...

The law reportedly passed the first reading in the Duma: http://www.businessinsider.com/russian-government-passed-law-allowing-government-to-seize-foreign-assets-2014-10