Merkel Apparently Fears Devastating Defeat of the Ukrainian Army

For long range the Russians tend to use gun launched guided weapons so accuaracy at range may not be all that much of a problem keeping the target in sight might be though.

 

Researching the gun it comes from a bloody old design. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object_785.

As to pointing out that Russia likes to use guided weapons for accuracy at range, Is there even an issue with using old weapons in a new cannon?

 

Just "love" this..

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/27/us-turkey-armenia-russia-idUSKBN0NI1AR20150427

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday Russia should account for its actions in Ukraine and Crimea before calling the 1915 mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a "genocide".
"It's not the first time Russia used the word genocide on this issue. I'm personally sad that Putin took such a step. What is happening in Ukraine and Crimea is evident. They should firstly explain these before calling it genocide," he told a news conference in Ankara.

 

Erdogan the Erudite. Still covering for his Three Pashette's. Just fess up Herr Caliph.

 

A number of related articles:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/10/us-ukraine-crisis-soldiers-specialreport-idUSKBN0NV06Q20150510
http://www.wsj.com/articles/merkel-raps-putin-over-ukraine-conflict-during-visit-to-moscow-1431273705
http://www.rferl.org/content/nemtsov-report-on-putin-ukraine-war-to-be-released/27007353.html

 

"Hell no keep oil prices down"
Oil taxed heavily would help regenerate infrastructure.
Maybe higher oil tax would allow better maintenance on railways, highways, bridges, education, healthcare etc etc.
But pay more for a litre/gallon of gas- outrageous.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/amtrak-crash-investigators-search-train-derailment/story?id=30998492

 

The more they put on ammo guns andmilitary the less goes to Russian people and their wealth. Go Putin go. And then you go far....SAudis? South Africa? Recall the old communist books, as longs as the level of living goes up even how slow no problem, but if only going down, your days are numbered? Rememeber? numbered?

 

That may be the case in the US but not so much in other nations. That said though the US tax systems is ranked as one of the worst in the OECD, Too many different levels (local, state, federal, few others), too many different rates and too much red tape in allowing them to reduce rates and shift profits. Hence very little funding to fix up the road and rail systems.

 

A couple more articles of interset:
This one points out the rather onesided necess of Russian claims about neo Nazis
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/14/world/europe/in-ukraine-bones-of-war-dead-re-emerge-to-stir-political-passions.html?ref=europe&_r=0

And this one bears on the shoot down of the airliner:
http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-buk-missiles-ukraine-mh17-vkontakte-evidence/27014165.html

Haven't seen any postings from Bund recently. Perhaps he's given up hopefully after realizing that his positoin was wrong.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/boris-nemtsov-report-220-russian-soldiers-died-ukraine-article-1.2218960

According to Nemtsov’s sources, at least 150 Russian soldiers died in August 2014. Their relatives received 2 million rubles (now worth about $40,000) in compensation and signed non-disclosure documents.

Around 70 Russian soldiers died in January and February in fighting around the city of Debaltseve, the report said, adding that their family members were unable to receive compensation and appealed to Nemtsov for help.

 

Looks like the truth is starting to get out and impact the Russian efforts.
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htatrit/articles/20150520.aspx

 

http://news.yahoo.com/russia-drops-opposition-eu-ukraine-trade-deal-starting-164209196.html

Brussels (AFP) - Russia has dropped its demands for a further delay in a landmark EU-Ukraine trade deal at the heart of the Ukraine crisis and accepts that it will now begin next year, the European Union said Monday.





"The reference that the (trade agreement) enter into force on 1 January 2016 was not contested by the Russian delegation," Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem said after talks with Russian and Ukrainian officials

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Wasn´t this one of the main reasons the seaparatists started the "war".... Where now Putin or is there a plan B? I would not stop until the separatists start sending the tanks to Russia in satellite photos.

 

#318
"Norway has rediculous prices on everything, from McDonalds, to Oil, to bananas and cheese. And it's not just due to tax. It's the glut of oil money."

Yes they do. People of all classes seem to enjoy the best living conditions there. ..

We just tossed a corrupt party out on its' ear here. A party that ruled for 44 years.
One of the platforms for the new party is, that the minimum wage be increased to 15$/hr.
People need a minimum living wage.
It is the right thing to do.


Los Angeles minimum wage increase
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/20/us/los-angeles-expected-to-raise-minimum-wage-to-15-an-hour.html?_r=0

 

They also have a foodbank in Oslo now.

 

Russia is quite simply a joke, More Russians are realizing the truth and less Russian officials are towing the party line.

Russia won't ever be the Super power they were under the Soviet Union. They will be a super power but not one that can match the US tit for tat. Putin and other's need to realize this and adapt Russia for it, Go after the US and Europe less with military might and nation destabilization and more with economic might.

I'd prefer an economically power Russia then a military one that is full of corruption and stupidity.

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#333

It is better that they are raising the minimum wage, Though I don't know how well the US will do considering such a wage would put them at the top of the pack among minimum wage nations.

Would be better off with income tax reform and minimum wage increase combined. Taxing minimum wage people 10% of their first $9,225 is moronic. Up to a certain amount should be tax free in t he first bracket, otherwise you just taking money from those that can least afford it. I'll stop know as the discussion of US tax system and wages compared to other nations really deserves it's own topic page.

 

Which will probably mean that they have to speed up their plans. We will probably see more activity around Mariupol area next as Russians are concentrating their troops around that area to prepare for an attack against the city. Mariupol is last major city on their way to establish land connection to Crimea.

It is hard to believe that a clown like Putin would take steps back. Like all the dictators he is probably pushing until the end, whichever the outcome is.

 

I'm not so certain of that. If the Russians could limit the corruption to levels about on par with the US and open up their system to inovation given their size and resources I think they could rival the US again.

 

OT but

Actually the former is not quite accurate. The real situation is closer to the former. The key is that the tax rate is 10% on the first $9,225 of taxable income. An individual for instance can subtract a $6,100 standard deduction and a $3,900 personal exemption from their gross income to get to their taxable income thus the first $10,000 is tax free. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_tax_in_the_United_States#Federal_income_tax_rates_for_individuals

 

Rival? Not a chance. For Russia to have any chance to rival the US the US would have to go into a massive recession, Far worse then anything that has occurred to date. Russia is far from having an economy with a GDP close to that of the US or other Western nations, And they lack the population (Less then half that of the US and is shrinking) to make up for it in mass like China is able to.

The only time they ever had a chance to rival the US was when they had the entire Soviet Union on their side and still was unable to, Those days are long gone.

 

Topic does interest me, Ill be making one to discuss it tomorrow should people be interested. Cheer's for the info.