Russian Navy "On Verge of Collapse"

Well I mean the so called "strength" of a currency. Usually a strong currency is better than a weak one (eg. German mark, Swedish krona and Swiss frank were/are quite strong and the countrys were profiting from this - Switzerland&Sweden to this day are one the best countries to live in)

A weak currency only helps exports, but imported goods are more expensive (which means the people pay higher prices in countries that have a weak currency, in this case for Europe it is bad, cause Europe needs to import many raw materials. I am already seeing raising prices of daily good). Judging from your question I am certain you know quite a lot about it and I don´t need to exlain it In some cases a weaker currency can be an advantage tho (not in Europes case).

Fact is like I said, that € and ruble are weakening for a while now (only export oriented industries will profit from this), usually not the "small man". Except in countries that don´t need much imports.

 

http://rbth.co.uk/business/2014/11/13/russia_to_build_second_gas_pipeline_to_china_after_beijing_agreement_41393.html


At the same time, Gazprom still has to modernize the existing gas transportation infrastructure and construct a gas pipeline to the Chinese border, which will pass through rather complicated terrain. Investments in the Altai gas pipeline are estimated at $11-14 billion.

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And China says thank you!

 

Seems like Putin has no help from the oligarchs either...

http://www.citylab.com/commute/2015/02/the-sochi-light-rail-is-the-most-epic-failure-in-olympic-history/385580/


The Associated Press reports that two of the oligarch investors who paid in part for the most expensive Olympics in history have already shed $3 billion in Sochi properties, leaving it to Russian taxpayers to pick up the tab.

 

Currency strength all depends on a nation, A nation that is mostly self sufficient but heavy into exports is better off with a weaker currency, One that in need of lot's of imports better with a strong currency. Many are some where in between.

Russia has few exports and those are largely made up of energy exports (oil, gas, coal etc etc) all of which are at low prices and staying at those levels or still shrinking, nations with big mining sectors generally have the currency tied to the commodity prices, Not being so well into self sufficiency Russia is in a very bad spot, had they been more self sufficient then the low ruble would have been a benefit to them.

ie: Iron ore selling for $58.84 USD, In Australia it costs $40 AUD to mine it at most of the big mines (Rio Tinto, BHP), With the AUD trading around 75c to the USD the price of Iron ore works out to $78.45 AUD, Lower exchange rate makes it very profitable to mine Iron ore in Australia.

As to the two Mistral class ships, They are currently idle, No finasl decision has been made. If Russia doesnt back down then I see France cutting the deal in full no going back. A number of nations have expressed interest in them, If memory serves Canada, Turkey and India are among them.

On the mention of the 'Arabs filling the market'. The Arabs haven't actually ramped up production but rather have stayed stable. Has been US producers that have added the excess oil to the market with Shale and tight oil.

 

Interesting article
Since there is so much Russian propaganda here, an article from the states...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/who-is-the-bully-the-united-states-has-treated-russia-like-a-loser-since-the-cold-war/2014/03/14/b0868882-aa06-11e3-8599-ce7295b6851c_story.html

As for the Flying Russian bears... They are doing exactly what NATO is doin and with the same intentions. I really can't comment on the nuclear arson all on board as I'm not convinced it was on board. I know I have commented on it earlier but in retrospect real no evidence it was on board? If it was I wouldn't worry.

As for transponders being turned off, it is actually fairly common for pilots to turn of their transponders off in military aircraft for obvious reasons. Russia, has pointed out that NATO planes have done the same thing while patroling Russia.

 

Not within 30 nautical miles of a major civilian airport it isn't.

Please name the obvious reasons, as I am very curious. Turning off your transponder, does not make you "invisible" to any radar.

FTFY

 

Wait...You've used Matlock many months ago...

Seems that Matlock is still lingering under the delusion that Putin is a man of his word and can be reasoned with.

About the only sentence that Matlock writes that is worth more than a plugged nickle.

 

Also curious about NATO bombers testing borders.
Do we send B52's to test other nations air defenses?

 

Looks like Putin is rattling his sabre again.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/16/europe/russia-arctic-military-exercises/index.html

 

If we do, it is only to serve as a target for an opposing radar, while the various RC-135 models will be "folding, spindling, and mutilating" the emitted radar signal.

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/boeing-rc135/
As always, their are various models of the RC-135 and each is configured for a specific task. Although, a few models can fill in doing various roles, if necessary, but, they are not as capable in doing so.

 

Not sure the B-52 carries nukes any more. From my understanding it was realized years ago that air defences would pick them off to easily so they instead converted them to carry AGM-158B JASSM-ER's, Long r ange stand off weapons with the current one i just mentioned having a range 1,000km.

 

IIRC, the nuclear air fleet is 20 B-2s and 78 B-52s as of 2014, however, to comply with the new START, the number of nuclear capable a/c will drop to 60. It is the B-1B that is no longer nuclear capable, the necessary systems having been removed by 1995.

 

Another article on Russian problems. Can't see the navy escaping the impact of some of these either.
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htwin/articles/20150319.aspx

And according to the BBC Putin now admits the sanctions are damaging.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31945962?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=%2AMorning%20Brief&utm_campaign=2014_MorningBrief%203.19.15
Now how one could think otherwise I don't know but ....

 

Interesting discussions in Europe..


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NiUtdZyL_Mk

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rKwKW7gDdeg&t=16

I'm clearly outnumbered here and I expect that but please keep in mind that every story has to sides. To brush one side off without seriously taking in it's concerns is counter productive and very dangerous.

Putin is not bluffing. Europe is starting to see what's on the verge of unfolding. Hollande and Merkel have lost all support in their countries and there is even talk of leaving NATO.

To blindly claim that everything in Ukraine is Russians fault and the US and Europe had nothing to do with toppling it's corrupt but democratically elected government is a mistake.

The U.S. fully sponsored and supported this revolution and according to Nuland cost $5billion.

This Ladies/Gentlemen is after all a WW2 forum. Many of our family members fought in this struggle which was good vs evil. The Fascists (some in here would disagree) were the BAD guys. These same individuals are now in charge of a country. The prime minister of Ukraine is an ultra nationalist and claimed that it was the Soviet Union that attacked Ukraine and Germany during WW2!!

http://youtu.be/W-i--EAfBPw

Ukraines interior minister Arsen Avakov has appointed Vadim Troyan, commander of the Neo-Nazi regiment AZOV and who an active member of the neo-nazi paramilitary organisation Patriot of Ukraine, HEAD OF KIEV POLICE!

Sure these are the minorities but they number in the thousands and are the most ruthless and vicious. They also hold very high positions in the government and within the military structure and have funding and support from several oligarchs and other party officials. These same individuals have threates the current president with another coup d'état if the East isn't suppressed....

These are events that are NOT being reported by Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, BBC or NATO! Why?
I beleive that if people in the States and Europe found out what's really going on, there would be some serious inquiries and questions needing answered.

Europe is waking up.....

http://m.spiegel.de/international/world/a-1022193.html#spRedirectedFrom=www&referrrer=https://www.google.com/

http://www.mintpressnews.com/german-officials-claims-of-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-are-american-propaganda/203338/

Almost forgot
Interesting article about Ukraine falsifying evidence.....

http://dailycaller.com/2015/02/12/sen-inhofe-blames-ukrainian-parliament-for-falsified-photo/

 

Finally... Russians have been living in Ukraine and Crimea for hundreds of years. For anyone to claim that the Russian people only populated these areas thanks to Stalin is beyond comprehension....

 

That's not what has been happening though is it? Has anyone said that Russian doesn't have legitimate concerns about what happens in the Ukraine? I haven't seen it. The US for instance has legitmate concerns of what is happening in Mexico and Canada for instance. The US isn't trying to carve off pieces of those countries though is it? Much less the entire country or even trying to destabalize them.

I'd be very surprised to see that he hasn't been bluffing some. I don't think you are reading what's going on in Europe correctly either. Certainly for instance the two leaders mentioned haven't "lost all support in their contries".

Another straw man. No one has claimed that everything in the Ukraine was Russias fault. Indeed the corruption in the Ukraine was and is a serious problem. Nor has anyone said that the latter had "nothing to do with toppling" the government of the former president. Certainly they encouraged it. However they were far more hands off than the Russians nor did they start or even attempt to carve off pieces of the Ukraine. Indeed if that had been the desire the EU could likely have brought the Ukraine into the fold years ago.

Well it was hardly a "revolution" now was it? I'd be interested in seeing just what they considered in getting to that figure as well.

I seriously doubt any WWII era Fascists are in charge of any country. The Soviets weren't much if any better by the way except they were a bit more careful in who they invaded and when.

That's deplorable but somewhat understandable. Russia has created a climate where being anti Russian is more important to some than the details of what one believes.

The same can be said of Putin and his allies can it not?

Another strawman. In one sense the Ukrainians are Russians although Crimea was is argueably another matter. Note that there were Germans living in Russia for hundreds of years as well. That doesn't give Germany the right to annex parts of Russia though does it? The claim by the way is that the Crimea likely wouldn't have a Russian speaking majority had it not been for the ethnic cleansing initiated by Stalin and certainly not to the extent that there is.

 

Russia is fully self-sufficient (resources, military). Allies, (BRICK and SCO) nations are there to help. Russia will be fine

As for the French ships. These were custom built for Russia's military and her needs. Canada can't afford them (neither can any other NATO nation) Turkey and India have no interest. In France doesn't deliver, Russia takes her case to world court and wins almost double their worth as per clause in contract. No matter what happens France loses out on ships, money and most importantly reputation. India is already scrapping a $20 billion Raphael deal in favor of Russian built Su series... French economy will also suffer.

 

I had great hopes for that at one point. It's still possible I believe but the greatest obstacle to it right now is Putin and acomplices.

 

Why? Because he doesn't listen or do what the U.S wants him to?

A military confrontation with Russia is not in Americas best interest. The Neo cons, however; keep pushing. If history has taught us anything is that Russia will eventually push back.

In a new documentary on Crimea Putin himself said "our military was on full alert, including nuclear weapons". Putin said this after admitting that he wasn't sure how the West would respond to Crimea..

I have many friends and family who reside in many places in Russia and Crimea... What they say is alarming. According to polls: Russians overwhelmingly for the first time consider the United States their greatest enemy.

Russia is gearing up for a war. Germany noticed.

It's not Putin but the NeoCons of the United States we need to worry about. Putin is a moderate.

 

Because impartial reports would undermine their own propaganda.