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Title: Putin's Ultimatum to the Next U.S. President
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URL Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/view/arti ... atum-to-the-next-u-s-president
Published: Oct 4, 2016
Author: Leonid Bershidsky
Post Date: 2016-10-04 20:43:13 by Ada
Keywords: None
Views: 644
Comments: 30
The next U.S. administration will inherit the worst relationship with Russia since Ronald Reagan called the Soviet Union an evil empire. Judging from the list of grievances that President Vladimir Putin has laid out, even a relatively Putin-friendly Donald Trump will have a hard time satisfying him. Putin delivered his message to the future U.S. president Monday, just as the U.S. State Department announced it was suspending negotiations with Russia on a ceasefire in Syria and Russia-backed Syrian troops moved to take more ground in Aleppo. In a bill submitted to parliament, Putin threatened to end a joint U.S.-Russian disarmament program -- in which surplus weapons-grade plutonium is processed into fuel -- unless the U.S. meets certain conditions: Roll back North Atlantic Treaty Organization infrastructure and reduce NATO personnel to September 2000 levels; Repeal the Magnitsky Act, which imposed sanctions on Russian officials involved in human rights violations; Repeal all U.S. sanctions against Russian individuals and businesses; Compensate Russians for damages incurred by U.S. sanctions and by Russia’s “forced countersanctions”; Present a “clear plan of irreversible destruction” of U.S. surplus plutonium. Putin might as well have said the program will resume when hell freezes over. “He asked for too little,” Leonid Volkov, an anti-Putin politician, wrote sarcastically on Facebook. “He should have asked for Alaska back, eternal youth, Elon Musk and a ticket to Disneyland.” Even if a U.S. administration were suddenly prepared to lift sanctions introduced in response to the Russian aggression in Ukraine, not even President Trump would agree to the humiliating and nonsensical demand for compensation -- particularly for Russia’s spiteful decision to ban Western food imports, a move that primarily hurt domestic consumers. The NATO cuts, too, are a non-starter. The plutonium deal was largely symbolic and on its last legs anyway. It applied to just 34 tons on each side, a small share of each country’s nuclear arsenal. The Obama administration put its side of the program "on cold standby” in 2014, after a series of disagreements over such issues as how to dispose of the plutonium and the high cost of converting it into fuel for nuclear plants. The move indicated that the U.S. was prepared to see Russia abandon its side of the bargain, too. Putin’s choice of venue appears aimed at reminding the world that Russia remains a nuclear power with plutonium to spare, unlike most countries in its immediate neighborhood. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko bitterly regrets that his country gave up its nuclear arsenal in the mid-1990s in exchange for a now-worthless guarantee from Russia, the U.S. and the U.K. that it wouldn’t be attacked. Poroshenko wants to convince Washington that Ukraine deserves lethal U.S. weapons, having been duped into stripping itself of a powerful deterrent that probably would have kept it intact in 2014. Putin’s message is that Russia will start acting as an equal, whether or not the U.S. wants to treat it as one. It’s a reminder to the presidential candidates that pacifying Russia will have a price tag, and that Russia’s starting position in any negotiations will be arrogantly high. Since the outgoing U.S. administration is unlikely to step up military activity in Syria, Russia is doing its best to make sure President Bashar al-Assad’s troops win a decisive victory at Aleppo before the next U.S. president is inaugurated. The U.S. decision to withdraw from talks means little to Putin, who has been playing for time rather than talking anyway. Putin is aware that his belligerent stand will be costly. On Monday, the finance ministry suggested boosting the classified part of the budget -- which includes military and security expenditures -- by about 680 billion rubles ($10.9 billion), a move that will require cutting other expenditures and increasing the deficit. Putin knows from experience that Russians will put up with more economic hardship if they feel he is standing up to the U.S. It’s hard to see how Barack Obama can respond seriously to Putin’s demands. The next U.S. president, though, will need to decide what to do with an intransigent Russia. One option is to ratchet up sanctions and wait for a weakening economy to undermine the Kremlin’s position, yet such an approach could have immediate and unpredictable consequences in the Middle East and elsewhere. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.
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#1. To: Ada (#0)
Pooty Poot lovers here will orgasm over this one. Starters, Trump will bring home all troops in Europe and Middle East. Pooty will dance all night. Trump will bring all troops home from Asia and Pacific. Pooty will go into hysterics, then cardiac arrest.
I think you have a secret fascination with Putin's pooter. Myself, I don't see this as a good thing, as no sane person wishes to see an escalation of hostilities between nuclear armed nations. Russia is run by a man. One that puts his trousers on one leg at a time, but a man nonetheless. People like him because he puts that simpering tribe of bootlickers in Warshington to shame. It’s All About The Supreme Court
Olde Stalin was about as tough as they come, however, when the German rubber hit the Russian road, he went into hiding for days, would not come out. When he did come out, he was on his knees begging the West for succor. So much for bluff, bluster and buffalo dust. Pooty is the canary in the cage with an open door and he knows it.
In your opinion, would it be a positive if the Imperial Rotchild-Rockefellating Empire actually managed to assasinate Putin ?
Stalin was a bankster's boolicking buttboy & ex-terrorist. A scheming bolshevik nihilist shitheel. Like Hitlery, he was a sadist who enjoyed roasting his enemies on a spit. I think it was Solshenitsyn who quoted one of his associates on his feelings about those he'd bested. Upon hearing that his men had greased one of his adversaries, he was said to have "savored it like a ripe cherry." It’s All About The Supreme Court
No... We have to look beyond day to day posturing by Pooty or anyone else in Russia. WE MUST REALIZE AND EVALUATE THE QUANDARY RUSSIA IS IN. Russia is between a rock and a hard place. One must read and evaluate what the Russians themselves are thinking and doing. For instance here is short one by a Russian scholar who lays it out for the Russians to see, even Pooty.
None of which is a reason to cultivate frictions with Russia. There is ONE REASON for sure, and we all know what that is. It is the same ONE REASON that we cultivate friction in all manner of places in the most insane ways. Cheers. It’s All About The Supreme Court
As you have so many times reminded us ... wars are being planned YEARS before they are actually fought. Here is another example ... of the inevitable.
Envision the Russian scholar is correct..Would we go to the aid of Russia?
Oh hell no. We can't wait to bash a Rooshin skull in with a trenching tool. We'd nuke em if we could. It’s All About The Supreme Court
Actually, Russia is run by a constitutionally elected government which consists of 3 branches, which are the executive, legislative, and judiciary. The president of Russia, as in the US, is the head of the executive branch. President Putin just happens to represent the concerns of the Russian People in a MUCH better fashion than how the current US president represents the concerns of the American People. Yes, prior to 9/11/2001 PNAC had stated in their manifesto how they (the neocon cabal) would destroy 7 countries in 5 years, which are Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Iran. They succeeded with Iraq and Libya, and are working on Syria as we speak. What they didn't envision was a resurgent Russia interfering with their plans. Russia has long been allied with the Syrian government, and have had a naval base there for years, so were not about to allow proxy soldiers calling themselves ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Al-Nusra, FSA, etc. kill Syrians and destroy the country. Hence the need for the US State Department to bestow 4 BILLION dollars to various fascist groups in Ukraine to fund their "revolution", in order to antagonize Russia with various false claims leading to sanctions, which are in themselves an act of war. Russia being able to protect their Black Sea fleet in Crimea really irked more than a few who had wished to seize that base and eliminate a huge factor in Russia's conventional defensive forces. What these lunatics think is that they can pressure Russia to back down just like they can to tiny third world countries with virtually no defensive capabilities. They apparently forgot that Russia has nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them. Russia is run by a man. And he bitch-slaps Obama. It’s All About The Supreme Court
As a successful businessman, Trump is a skilled negotiator. Sure, sometimes he goes to court, but he knows how to negotiate first. It's a skill the US really, really needs and hasn't had in a great many years. Trump doesn't have to agree to any specific terms to sit down at the table and negotiate.
Hillary puts her pantsuits on one leg at a time, too, but that doesn't make her an equal. She's internationally despised and will never earn a strongman's respect, which will make her even more dangerous. She'll have us at war with Iran and Russia within a year of her inauguration if she wins.
That belies rational thinking. Totally incongruous with Russian thinking, generally they acknowledge and accept, when and if China makes a move, there is but ONE possible ally. Prior to WWII, Japan tried to swallow China, Russia defeated them in Mongolia, so they took their modern carriers and moved South. China is building worlds most modern carriers with a first class escort group. China can walk and swim South but what they need most is NOT there. It is available next door. Russia holds worlds largest usable land mass, extant with natural resources.
Russia is not the only country banning Western GMO foods. 38 countries ban GMOs Russia makes a lot of money by selling non GMO food, i.e., non Monsanto, to the rest of the world.
Bad news sir: Tramp, sorry Trump, has said that he will spend more money on the US military and deploy more troops overseas.
I just watched some Putin video. I am confident that Putin is confident he can defeat our anti missile defense system.
If there was going to be any A bomb throwing by major powers it would have been done during Korea and or Viet Nam. Hysteria about A bombs is just that. Only two rogue A bomb nations are a worry, North Korea and Pakistan. We never hear anything of Britain or France going to A bomb anyone, why is that?
Hysteria about A bombs is just that. You're wrong. Things have changed since the 50's. People who ran the show back then knew that the use of nuclear weapons would result in mutually assured destruction. Today, the "elite" have their own underground shelters, paid for by the US taxpayer. Those who control the workings of DC and NATO actually believe they can WIN a nuclear war against Russia AND China, which is what makes things today MUCH more dangerous than they were back in the 50's or 60's. Uh huh. They're building carriers to get to Moscow in your world, eh? No, they're building carriers to project power EASTWARD, ie. towards Japan, Hawaii, and the US mainland. I agree with you.
How about Little Israel who hasn't signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty?
I often wonder about the jews and their stolen A toys. Would they or would they not? I worry more about our jew government, would they destroy the world on behalf of the jews? Yes.
Peruse at your leisure. It’s All About The Supreme Court
The SCOTUS needs both age and term limits.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
The Redcoats have theirs locked in the Her Majesty's Royal Armory: lined up in perfect regiment formation, properly archived, and kept free of dust. The French consigned theirs to a wine cellar somewhere near Paris and most likely never give them much thought, what with their internal 'muslim issues' these days.
#2. To: Cynicom (#1)
"After tomorrow those SOB's will never embarrass me again. That’s not a threat. That’s a promise.” – LBJ to his mistress Madeleine Brown on the eve of JFK assassination 
#3. To: Cynicom (#1)
#4. To: randge (#3)
Russia is run by a man.
#5. To: Cynicom (#4)
"Define yourself as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion."—Brennan Manning
#6. To: Cynicom (#4)
#7. To: Rotara, Lod, randge, Ada, Russophiles (#5)
In your opinion, would it be a positive if the Imperial Rotchild-Rockefellating Empire actually managed to assasinate Putin ?
#8. To: Cynicom (#7)
#9. To: Cynicom (#7)
We have to look beyond day to day posturing by Pooty or anyone else in Russia.
#10. To: randge (#8)
None of which is a reason to cultivate frictions with Russia.
#11. To: Cynicom (#10)
#12. To: randge, Cynicom (#3)
Russia is run by a man.
"After tomorrow those SOB's will never embarrass me again. That’s not a threat. That’s a promise.” – LBJ to his mistress Madeleine Brown on the eve of JFK assassination
#13. To: Phant2000 (#9)
wars are being planned YEARS before they are actually fought.
"After tomorrow those SOB's will never embarrass me again. That’s not a threat. That’s a promise.” – LBJ to his mistress Madeleine Brown on the eve of JFK assassination
#14. To: FormerLurker (#12)
#15. To: Ada (#0)
not even President Trump would agree to the humiliating and nonsensical demand for compensation -- particularly for Russia’s spiteful decision to ban Western food imports, a move that primarily hurt domestic consumers. The NATO cuts, too, are a non-starter.
#16. To: randge (#3)
#17. To: randge, Phant2000 (#11)
We'd nuke em if we could.
#18. To: Pinguinite (#15)
Russia’s spiteful decision to ban Western food imports
#19. To: Cynicom (#1)
#20. To: randge, Cynicom (#11)
"Define yourself as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion."—Brennan Manning
#21. To: Rotara (#20)
#22. To: Cynicom, Rotara (#21)
If there was going to be any A bomb throwing by major powers it would have been done during Korea and or Viet Nam.
"After tomorrow those SOB's will never embarrass me again. That’s not a threat. That’s a promise.” – LBJ to his mistress Madeleine Brown on the eve of JFK assassination
#23. To: Cynicom, randge, Phant2000 (#17)
China is building worlds most modern carriers with a first class escort group. China can walk and swim South but what they need most is NOT there. It is available next door.
"After tomorrow those SOB's will never embarrass me again. That’s not a threat. That’s a promise.” – LBJ to his mistress Madeleine Brown on the eve of JFK assassination
#24. To: FormerLurker (#22)
"Define yourself as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion."—Brennan Manning
#25. To: Cynicom (#21)
Only two rogue A bomb nations are a worry, North Korea and Pakistan.
#26. To: Ada (#25)
How about Little Israel who hasn't signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty?
#27. To: Cynicom (#26)
I often wonder about the jews and their stolen A toys.
#28. To: randge (#27)
#29. To: Cynicom (#21)
We never hear anything of Britain or France going to A bomb anyone, why is that?
-Alex Kurtagic
#30. To: X-15 (#29)
Olde joke from WWII... French conscripts on induction were given two necessary items to carry into combat at all times. One each large white handkerchief, to use in close quarters surrendering, one large white towel, for surrendering at long distance.
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