Russia sanctions aren't working
Back in 2017, the U.S. and our allies imposed "sanctions against entities supporting or investing in Russia's oil and gas pipeline networks."
The sanctions were intended to delay and hamper Russia's ability to develop various energy projects.
With that in mind, let's look at headlines from just this week.
Russia’s Huge Natural Gas Pipeline To China Nearly Complete
A total of 2,010 kilometers (1,249 miles) of pipes are laid for the Power of Siberia gas pipeline between Yakutia and the Russian-Chinese border, or on 93 percent of the route’s length, Gazprom said in a statement.
TurkStream pipelay enters final phase
– Construction of the TurkStream gas export facilities in the Black Sea is progressing as scheduled, according to operator Gazprom.
Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit began laying the second of the parallel gas lines in late June. Last week, more than 1,520 km (944 mi) of the two strings had been completed, representing around 81% of the overall length of TurkStream’s offshore section.
In Germany, Construction Has Begun On Controversial New Russian Gas Pipeline
Now the town is the entry point for natural gas from Russia. Construction began in May on a new pipeline that will enable Russia to increase its natural gas exports not only to Germany but to other countries in Europe as well. The gas will be supplied by Russia's state-owned Gazprom.
This is essentially an 0-for-3 record for the sanctions.
Yet, just this morning Washington wanted to impose yet more sanctions.
National Security Adviser John Bolton said the U.S. sanctions against Russia will remain in force “until there is a required change in Russian behavior”. I guess that means forever.
The EU slapped sanctions on six Russian groups over the enormous Crimea bridge.
It didn't change Russia's behavior, nor stop the bridge from being built.
Russia's economy is growing at a 2% rate.
Comments
US sanctions are doing nothing significant
The collapse in the price of oil was very harmful to the Russian economy, although energy trade is only about 16% overall, more for the State budget. The depreciation of the Ruble caused inflation because of the increased price of imported goods and and also higher interest rates used to fight inflation were a damper on the economy. That was then, a relatively mild downswing. Now oil is up at almost $80 per bbl and with the depreciation of the Ruble, Russia is taking in a record flow of Rubles, an all time high, and that's the only parameter that counts. Plus Russia is moving away from dependency on Oil/Gas and now is the world's largest exporter of grains, especially wheat. Russia is very much like the US was in the early 60s, unlimited resources, excellent technology and a population united in purpose. When you walk around Moscow, St.Petersburg, Sochi, Kazan etc. you get the feeling of a very well thought out country doing very well with big projects everywhere. I have to say that the food is superb, great selection of fruits and vegetables, meats, fish and everything else. They have very high food standards and no GMO.
Russia and much of the non-Western world are moving away from the US. This is the vast majority of people, resources and economies. If the US was smart our leaders would figure out how to have a meaningful roll in the future world economy. But instead they use force to retain hegemony in the short run. Other than the sycophants in Europe, who will want to work with the US? Even Europe will move away. The Visegrad countries and Austria, Italy and Turkey are already moving away from the US. Korea will unite and move away at arms length from the US, improving ties with China and Russia.
As the climate heats up, Western Europe and the US will see decreased crop yields, this is already happening. Russia is seeing increased crop yields with a longer growing season in the North. Russia will become the bread basket of the world within the next few years. Everything that the US does with economic sanctions and tariffs with backfire.
I have to add also that the supposed sins of Russia are complete horseshit. This Russophobia is no more than an attempt to slow down Russia's growth and maybe, if the Neocons get lucky, they might bring Russia to its knees and break it up. OK you can stop laughing now. No way will this ever happen. Russia is one of the most solid economies on the planet with debt of about 16% of GDP. They are one of the most conservative economies on the planet. If only the US could be run as well as Russia.
Capitalism has always been the rule of the people by the oligarchs. You only have two choices, eliminate them or restrict their power.
Russia has spent most of a century under sanctions
They've been locked out of the international debt markets, so they have very little external debt. That takes the sting out of sanctions.
Plus their economy has gotten used to being self-sufficient.
They have 3 big pipelines about to be completed, which will bring in enormous revenue.
Plus, they are developing ways of avoiding dollars.
Russia will soon be untouchable.
Excellent geopolitical analysis, Wizard
As Nietsche is alleged to have written: "whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger".
Da! As the US ability to militarily enforce "hegemony" diminishes, the remainder of the planet might be able to get out from under the US thumb. With the death of a US world reserve currency, imminent, we can no longer print dollars to pay ourselves out of a jam. The Repugnants and other war mongers, euphemistically called "defense hawks", won't be able to finance future "defense" spending without directly impacting inflation. This might not be an easy sell to even the unawake.
You'd think that this was a no brainer
If the US was smart our leaders would figure out how to have a meaningful roll in the future world economy.
I have never understood why we can't bargain for resources like other sane countries do, but then that would decrease the profits of the defense industries and every other institution that profits from war.
As the climate heats up, Western Europe and the US will see decreased crop yields, this is already happening. Russia is seeing increased crop yields with a longer growing season in the North. Russia will become the bread basket of the world within the next few years.
If we can't change Russia's regime like we did with Yeltsin then is it possible that we would use biological weapons on countries that we don't control? This was done by the CIA to Cuba to decimate its hogs. There are US biological weapons factories in 25 countries
The latter article was written today and the other article was written in January of this year. I wouldn't put it past this country to use the weapons if it's on its death bed.
Both articles mentioned this:
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Can we place sanctions on John Bolton?
25 to life would be a good start.
"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."
I note that the NYTimes article you linked to
says this:
but mysteriously omits any mention of how the Crimean population felt about it.
Hmm, why would that be?
The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.
The MSM all have lists of lies they are ordered to tell,
so of course they conscientiously obey.
Doesn't matter that the Crimeans were wildly in favor of "annexation" (actually, return) to Russia. Doesn't matter that there was little or no fighting. Consistently painting Russia as the boogeyman is all that matters.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
you'd think "he" occupied the sudeten or something
The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.
Yes, wildly popular in ...Crimea
President Putin got a higher percentage of the vote in Crimea than in Russia as a whole. Gee, could be that the people are wildly happy to be a part of Mother Russia again. "Gifting" Crimea to Ukraine will never happen as it would be an unconscionable act of betrayal towards the people of Crimea. Get over it Western leaders, Crimea will always be part of Russia. Try and hassle Russia all you want with this, it is nothing but being a mean spirited irritant and just insures that you will never have a good relationship with the other superpower on the planet. It's like some Americans think that "well we can always hassle Russia about this". No you can't, Russians see right through this.
Capitalism has always been the rule of the people by the oligarchs. You only have two choices, eliminate them or restrict their power.
I noticed the NYT said "armed" annexation.
Where were these "arms?" And when? It took about two weeks in all for Crimea to hold a referendum vote to rejoin Russia, then to send the petition to Moscow for it to be debated in parliament. After parliament voted, and the decree was written, Crimea's government offices held a peaceful transition to Russia language documents. So, when exactly did this armed "Putin" invasion take place?
How would the NYT know? There was no dissent. Not a single shot was fired. No military was sent in. The Russian Navy has occupied their base in Sevastopol for the past 200 years. For the Navy, it was business as usual.
Typical US propaganda. Notice the narrative never changes. They just double down on it for eternity.
Carry a flame and share the light.
.
How about how the Hawaiian population felt about U.S. annexation
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=hawaii+annexation+petition+signatures
http://hawaiiankingdom.org/blog/the-san-francisco-call-strangling-hands-...
thanks, i'd been scratching my head trying to think
of an apposite counter-example from the record of "western" imperialism.
The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.
Armed annexation?
Something about a free and popular election was left out of the article.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
If economic war does not work then expect a military war.
By next year I fully expect a number of EU countries to break diplomatic ties with Russia as the attempt to beat and subdue the Russians keeps failing.
Wouldn’t put it past the Christian Democrats & Social Democrats
in Germany — as ersatz for E.U. common defense, the German government is chained to NATO like a ship moored to an anchor more massive than the boat itself.
And the “opposition” (in name only), the Greens and the laissez-faire market-economy Free Democrats — nowadays, even parts of the Left Party — would grumble but end up going along.
Only the right-wing populists, whom it has become standard to denounce as all neo-Nazis, are firmly for peace with Russia and — in order to stem the flow of refugees — an end to Western meddling and warmaking in North Africa and the Middle East.
What an upside-down, topsy-turvy political world!
Ssshhh
Don't tell anyone that them Ruskie Oligarchies pulled all of the money out of vulnerable investment locations after the Georgia incursion.
Cyprus was a way station for awhile, then elsewhere.
"We will punish Putin and his associates!"
"We will punish Russian Bidness attempting to do bidness around the world!"
Not so much, it seems.
Prof: Nancy! I’m going to Greece!
Nancy: And swim the English Channel?
Prof: No. No. To ancient Greece where burning Sapho stood beside the wine dark sea. Wa de do da! Nancy, I’ve invented a time machine!
Firesign Theater
Stop the War!