tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post2192311826561666062..comments2023-10-28T12:01:47.929+00:00Comments on Edward Lucas: why "wait and see" won't workEdward Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11369936559712607693noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-35464627551863918942007-06-09T05:13:00.000+00:002007-06-09T05:13:00.000+00:00Actually Russia did not manufacture those crises, ...Actually Russia did not manufacture those crises, merely reacted (stupidly at times) and mainly for internal consumption at that. Unless you think Ansip is a Russian agent.So?https://www.blogger.com/profile/08685766312994525903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-54879256270623699862007-06-08T20:23:00.000+00:002007-06-08T20:23:00.000+00:00- never, ever cooperate with poland and georgia es...<I>- never, ever cooperate with poland and georgia especially, but also estonia and the czech republic: countries, which are openly hostile toward russia. continue with the meat ban and the wine ban and intensify this. i mean, set an example out of these 4 countries</I><BR/><BR/>Yeah, set an example by acting like a bully and leading to the irreversible Westernization of all four.<BR/><BR/>If I didn't lack just one more degree of cynicism, I would say that Russia manufactures these crises with Georgia and Estonia and Poland just to keep those governments in power.<BR/><BR/>The greatest thing Russia ever did for Andrus Ansip was send its delegation of goons who said that he should resign. Now the guy is destined to be the longest serving prime minister in Estonian history.<BR/><BR/>As you said, GO RUSSIA!Giustinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04756707910693785516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-48823131231133156032007-06-08T09:44:00.000+00:002007-06-08T09:44:00.000+00:00The last comment is potentially libellous and has ...The last comment is potentially libellous and has been deleted.Edward Lucashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11369936559712607693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-78932126416383835832007-06-05T07:38:00.000+00:002007-06-05T07:38:00.000+00:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.dmitriyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05122385202365560555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-9814547649969660992007-06-04T10:04:00.000+00:002007-06-04T10:04:00.000+00:00Huh! Right after Dubya and his pudel.Huh! Right after Dubya and his pudel.So?https://www.blogger.com/profile/08685766312994525903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-20183097989009544702007-06-04T09:02:00.000+00:002007-06-04T09:02:00.000+00:00to dbwhatevereverybody who is honest couldn't feel...to dbwhatever<BR/><BR/>everybody who is honest couldn't feel friendly feelings towards nazi-russia. it doesn't means automatically that russian-speaking people are not sympathetic to estonians or georgians. try to clean yourself from the soviet-era thinking which says that you have to BREAK somebody. try to live in harmony with yourself and other alive beings of the earth. breaking will lead only to violence in bigger scale and to the revenge and it will be very hard to get away from this circle.urrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09486664643412693571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-59133167272659908962007-06-04T08:54:00.000+00:002007-06-04T08:54:00.000+00:00very good recommendations by mr lucas. even better...very good recommendations by mr lucas. even better if the westerners would be able to start to act accordingly.<BR/>i would like to add one more: putin must stand on the place left empty by milosevic in european court and he must be accused for all the non-human crimes commited in chechnya by russian troupes during his leadership. i strongly beleave that this day will come in near future.urrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09486664643412693571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-14501508529868024032007-06-03T21:41:00.000+00:002007-06-03T21:41:00.000+00:00say in a parallel universe a lucas edwards wrote: ...say in a parallel universe a lucas edwards wrote: "why wait and see won't work: planning russia's counter-attack against russia."<BR/><BR/>what would lucas edwards recommendations be? here are some suggestions:<BR/><BR/>- sign the strategic deposits bill into law, which would forbid western companies from controlling strategic deposits (energy, metals, minerals, etc.) in russia<BR/><BR/>- finally settle the 90s privatizations issues. say, companies or industries that were sold off for 2 cents on the dollar could get a clean title with, say, a 48 cents on the dollar asset tax - with the current owner of the asset being responsible for the asset tax<BR/><BR/>- obviously, stop subsidizing energy exports to all countries of the FSU and try as hard as possible to contain supply and let energy prices remain high 4ever<BR/><BR/>- as consumers try to diversify their supplies, why not diversify your customers? build pipelines to china, india, japan and play them off against europe<BR/><BR/>- the "brain drain" of the 90s has shown signs of reversal. amplify this by enticing back russian scientists working overseas<BR/><BR/>- succeed in the nanotechnology, space and defense, and biotechnology fields, some of the key areas for the coming years that maybe western companies or nations thought they had a monopoly on. nothing would upset them more than russian success<BR/><BR/>- well, sell the dollar. diversify the currency reserves into gold. the u.s. is financially bankrupt, little known fact, and its final realization of its financial incapabilities would at least humble it<BR/><BR/>- never, ever cooperate with poland and georgia especially, but also estonia and the czech republic: countries, which are openly hostile toward russia. continue with the meat ban and the wine ban and intensify this. i mean, set an example out of these 4 countries<BR/><BR/>etc. etc. etc. militarily, economically, and on energy russia has many things that it could do it its counter-attack. in my opinion, and excluding the idea of a nuclear war that is not worth talking about, russia could hurt the west far, far more than the west could hurt russia.<BR/><BR/>in fact, russia could in fact BREAK the west. as edward lucas, not to be confused with lucas edwards, has written above, traditionally western powerhouses like germany, france, and italy are cooperating with russia and aren't taking the bait of "western solidarity." in my opinion actually, this is a done deal. go russia!db330https://www.blogger.com/profile/07462432119601290619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-68905137846557982202007-06-03T02:40:00.000+00:002007-06-03T02:40:00.000+00:00RR fanboys like to credit him with the sun rising ...RR fanboys like to credit him with the sun rising in the morning. If increasing productions had not been to Saudi Arabia's economic interest, she would not have done so, no matter what sweet things Ronnie whispered in her ear. I don't know if driving competitors with higher production costs out of business was part of the Saudi plan, but it sure was good for Saudi Arabia (and bad for the Soviets).<BR/><BR/>This is all moot now. No-one has any spare capacity to cause a crash. The only possibility is a massive drop in demand. You'd have to nuke China for that. Or create a cheaper energy source.So?https://www.blogger.com/profile/08685766312994525903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-80949449658784339362007-06-01T15:47:00.000+00:002007-06-01T15:47:00.000+00:00The truly effective measure would be to do what Ro...The truly effective measure would be to do what Ronald Reagan did in 1985: engineer a crash in the price of oil. <BR/><BR/>And pick your fights wisely. Independence for Kosovo is no more urgent than for Northern Cyprus.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225661716464015375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-28669336399302215552007-06-01T10:00:00.000+00:002007-06-01T10:00:00.000+00:00And how would a counter attack to oil and gaz rich...And how would a counter attack to oil and gaz rich Russia look like? Would that mean forgetting about a SC-resolution on Kosovo? (Not to talk about the Iran and North Korea issues)<BR/><BR/>The only counter attack I can think of would be reducing energy dependency.Juan Manuelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01997278614759180471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-52834884700250661672007-06-01T05:18:00.000+00:002007-06-01T05:18:00.000+00:00"Conniving in the sale of stolen property is a cri..."Conniving in the sale of stolen property is a crime."<BR/><BR/>Edward, I quite agree - however, the difficulty with that posture is that you would also have to exclude, er, the UK...<BR/><BR/>For if 'nationalisation' is theft, what is 'privatisation' but the handling of stolen goods?<BR/><BR/>"Even better, start chucking people out."<BR/><BR/>A policy I wholeheartedly endorse - with Berezovsky and Zakayev at the head of the queue.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11219870920638914624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-61773617977457113612007-06-01T02:28:00.000+00:002007-06-01T02:28:00.000+00:00Further dilute NATO and EU, turn away investment f...Further dilute NATO and EU, turn away investment for what purpose exactly? Paranoia reigns. I like the G7 idea though (waste of money) and keeping the Russian tycoons in Russia, including Berezovsky, of course.So?https://www.blogger.com/profile/08685766312994525903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-14205356336247458442007-05-31T23:26:00.000+00:002007-05-31T23:26:00.000+00:00they are good ideas, but imagine the hellish howli...they are good ideas, but imagine the hellish howling cries of doom that would come from russia. they'd get their disturbing nazi.. nASHI rather youth movements onto it rather quickly, i think.klxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02756387772020517484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-88778488206209120732007-05-31T22:48:00.000+00:002007-05-31T22:48:00.000+00:00"why not try a counter-attack?" - Because there ar..."why not try a counter-attack?" - Because there aren't many western leaders who'd have the guts to do this.bonzoqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13346369375252920309noreply@blogger.com