The fact that Germany Halts NORD Stream 2 pipline due to Russia's actions in Ukraine demonstrates

[JohnSJ]

how united NATO is on this

[secondwind]

1. Thank you, Germany 🇩🇪

[Lovie777]

2. The allies have been working on solutions regarding obtaining other means . ..

re: oil and other stuff, and alienating Russia and their allies. One thing a country cannot survive without pertinent materials, one is $$$$$$$, and obviously it's extremely expensive to keep up military actions for approx 100 - 200 thousand including their weapons, food and personal needs.

Putin is paranoid which will cause irrational outcome and as I repeated have mentioned, he is doing this during a deadly pandemic.

Of course, RWers believe in the end days, majority do not and those do want the earth and it's habitats to survive - healthy.

[uponit7771]

4. +1, Putin has a rainy day fund that wont last more than year. Time to drain it dry and make his...

... UKR move a forever war.

[Amishman]

6. Time to seize Russian assets abroad

Rosneft's extensive international holdings should be seized and ownership transferred to the Ukrainian government. Same for any other reachable asset owned in part or in whole by the russian government or its officials.

[leftieNanner]

17. This is why Putin moved his yacht

out of a German port and into a Russian one.

Can't lose his precious boat now, can he?

[calimary]

33. Sounds like a hull looking for a few leaks.

Below the water line.

[leftieNanner]

35. Ooh. Evil.

I like the way you think.

[calimary]

38. .

Whatever works to destabilize the enemy.

And how much IS that yacht worth…

Calling Seal Team Six…

[calimary]

40. And frankly, I wouldn't stop with the boat.

I’d look up his residences, so I’d know where to send the ants, rats, and termites…

And does his cooking staff have enough saltpeter? (Not necessarily about lowering libido, which is evidently a myth. But it is credited with other - um - discomforts… )

https://greensboro.com/saltpeter-unlikely-to-suppress-sex-drive/article_c383a2fc-0a7f-5d51-bf52-fbdd66d64d3f.html

[mitch96]

8. Yup, hit him and his oligarch buddies in the wallet. When it starts costing thoese guys

I hope they well see where Putins folly is going... YMMV
m

[calimary]

41. Yep. And don't leave them out of the Post 40 strategy...

[Irish_Dem]

11. I wonder what the invasion is costing per day?

Last edited Tue Feb 22, 2022, 11:01 AM - Edit history (1)

Of course it will come out of the Russian economy.

[L. Coyote]

14. How much money have Russia and the kleptocrats have raked in from high oil price they created.

At this point they are still turning a huge profit from this situation, and I remain rather certain that was the goal and they won't cross the line that would screw up making billions and billions more.

[Irish_Dem]

22. Yes they calculated a cost-benefit ratio and it favored them.

They are probably keeping a close eye on the line you mention.

[Johnny2X2X]

3. Looking for surprises

I think Putin knows most of the sanctions that will be put in place, he's calculated that it's worth it for some reason. Now I hope we surprise him with some of them and it causes him to rethink.

Specifically, how you get to Putin is through the Russian aristocracy, there's about 110 families that control all of Russia's wealth and industry, target those family's private assets abroad and Putin will feel it. Start seizing their accounts, their vacation homes, and their yacts.

[Lovie777]

7. Those Russian families' assets will be part of the overall . ....

dilution of wealth if Putin continues with this madness.

[Irish_Dem]

9. Either Putin doesn't care about the oligarchs or they have moved their assets

to a safe place.

Or perhaps they are planning to make money off the sanctions like they did the last time. Sanctions limited their access to international banking so the oligarchs created Russian banks and cleaned up.

[Hortensis]

27. Wonder how safe they and other Russian wealthy/officials can be?

The trend in many nations is to make it much harder to move big money to hide it from taxation. I'd imagine those new laws and processes could cause difficulties even before addition of other screw-tightening actions by sanctioning authorities. I read they've been able to tuck a bunch away in oligarch-friendly Dublin, but how safe is that feeling for the future?

And how many will be subject to arrest should they visit some of their favorite places to live the wealthy life?

[Irish_Dem]

28. Putin may feel the current oligarchs are expendable.

Or perhaps they made what they think is a fail safe plan.

Putin is safe, he is one of the richest men in the world.

Time will tell as this plays out.

[Hortensis]

31. Is his power believed to be independent now?

I assumed they were still his cabal, supporting his leadership because he made it work for them. And because they'd all turn on anyone whose behavior they disapproved of. But I haven't tried to follow the growth of his power.

Reminds me, though, of the oligarch who was the wealthiest Russian before Putin. They appropriated almost all his wealth and imprisoned him for a decade but allowed him to live on the bit they saved for him. I'm guessing those courtesies were as much setting a precedent for themselves as courtesy to a former "friend." And that Putin would try to eliminate that vulnerability.

[Irish_Dem]

32. Yes I am sure Putin has made provisions for himself along these lines.

He has assets that are untouchable. And escape plans.

I read an article that suggested his war cabinet has power and is driving the invasion along with Putin. So yes his goals and this small group of oligarchs have aligned goals.

It is also safe to assume that Putin would kill anyone who looks like they might cross him. And he keeps close tabs on everyone.

[Hortensis]

37. I think that has to be as you say. Much the same goes for the

other powers, though, the question being could they still stop him if they needed to.

I assume he could escape with a lot of his wealth. (Imagine Putin making a deal to settle in London and Paris, with papparazzi grabbing pix of him for the next couple decades. Yuck!)

[Irish_Dem]

39. Hitler's inner circle (generals) tried several times to kill him.

But they could never pull it off for one reason or another. Other civilian attempts to assassinate Hitler never worked either.

I am sure Putin has top notch security guards and monitors them for loyalty.

Putin is an old KGB agent and nows how to protect himself, and lie, manipulate and con others into complicance.

Perhaps he has made it known that in the event of his violent death, it will be avenged and/or damaging information will be revealed about those who harm him.

I know, where would Putin go if he had to escape? He is said to have a net worth of $70 Billion. So I guess that would buy him some place to live. He could buy his own private island.

[NJCher]

10. to me

he's calculated that it's worth it for some reason.

it's like going to the grocery store to buy laundry detergent and paying $999.99. for the 64 oz. container.

Really, pootie? That important? Now?

The only thing that occurs to me is that this is on his bucket list. We all know he's not looking so good with that pasty, puffed up face, so maybe he views this as something to put in place before he heads on over to The Other Side.

[Irish_Dem]

12. I think that is part of it, he wants to leave a legacy before he kicks off.

He wants to make Russia Great Again. His long held fantasy.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Here's My Wild Guess

Sabre rattling with a big military spooks the markets.
A huge portion of Russian GDP is energy exportation.
Without changing a thing operationally, they get $30 more per barrel.
Other than this provocative action by Putin, there's no reason for crude to go up as much as it has.

[Happy Hoosier]

13. He thinks it will work out like Crimea.

Some moderate sanctions for for bit that will fade over time. Eventually he sees a return to the status quo ante and he keeps the Donbass. Then he waits a few years and it's time for the next bite.

Some of us warned about this after Crimea. Will people listen this time?

This only stops if the sanctions are severe and long term. Putin has to be facing economic isolation and disaster over the long term.

[nvme]

30. Freeze would be better than seize

[malaise]

5. It's a Fuck Trump moment n/t

[gab13by13]

16. I don't think so,

The Ukraine war will affect the US, and our owned and controlled right wing media will blame the war, will blame higher inflation on president Biden and the Democrats. Whether or not MF45 runs in 2024 doesn't matter, whoever does run will be a MF45 clone. Putin has 30% or more of America on his side, Putin has the GQP on his side. Putin will interfere again in our 2022 - 2024 elections to help Republicans win.

Putin has a secondary goal from the Ukraine war, damage president Biden and Democrats, get his GQP friends into power and destroy democracy in America.

[malaise]

18. NATO is finished with the Slobfather

That is clear as day

[Strelnikov_]

23. I don't think Putin wants to destroy democracy

I think he is using democracy to weaken us. Sow division, infighting.

Which was weaker, the Wiemar Republic, or Germany once the strongman took over.

He wants a perpetual Wiemar Republic.

And the only reason that can happen is because of the complete and total idiots on the other side of the aisle.

[lagomorph777]

24. Putin wants to destroy democracy.

Democracy is the mortal enemy of dictators.

[Farmer-Rick]

29. Yeah, he wants democracy destroyed everywhere

And once a dictator is moved into America, he can deal with just one whimpy man. He does not believe anyone can out fox him.

[Cosmocat]

25. Y E P

Lost in the focus on Ukraine is that we, due to so much of our country being stupid as shit, are his toy thing.

[Ghost Dog]

15. When will the US stop importing Russian oil and gas? Nt

[JohnSJ]

21. 85% of our imported oil comes from Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela, and Colombia. 15% is

imported from Russia.

Since the WH is considering what putin has done as an invasion, the importing of Russian oil and gas from the U.S. could happen very quickly.

One would hope that NATO has prepared for this outcome, and will be able to offset any shortages from other avenues.

The fact that the Iran nuclear talks are very much on the table, might be one of those alternatives

[Rabrrrrrr]

26. And it also shows that in just a year Biden has reassured our NATO friends that we aren't insane,

after TFG fucked them all over and pissed on them.

[Fla Dem]

34. Also demonstrates the faith they have in Joe Biden to keep his word and lead.

[Swede]

36. Russia really is just a gas station.

nt