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U.S. announces Sanctions against Russian Officials......

Wiseone said:
No this is about not letting a country violate the sovereignty of another without consequences. What the **** is this response supposed to mean? Are you just babbling on without any train of thought at all? I mean seriously you're bringing up the Mexican American War as justification for Russia's actions, how the **** are the two related?
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What a joke, Putin is laughing at Obama's little sanctions.

Russian Deputy PM Laughs at Obama’s Sanctions - ABC News
 
American said:
What a joke, Putin is laughing at Obama's little sanctions.

Russian Deputy PM Laughs at Obama’s Sanctions - ABC News
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Heya American.....its worse than that as now the Mocking will begin and I am not talking about our ownselves.

Bi72vnJCMAASs95.png
 
DaveFagan said:
First, get a good background for what is happening, then draw conclusions. Cui bono? Who benefits is always a good start. The linked article gives the major details of the Ukraine economy and the status (billionaires) of the players. I've only quoted Item 6, but all are worth reading.

Who Benefits From Ukraine

"Who Benefits From Ukraine’s Economic Crisis? (Hint: Not Average Ukrainians)
by Jack Rasmus"

"6. Ukraine Crony Capitalists-USA Capitalists Connections

Little has been written to date about the close connections between the Ukraine’s ‘crony capitalists’ pro-western wing’s connections to western capitalist interests, and USA capitalists in particular.

There are two wings of Ukrainian ‘cronys’—the pro-western and the pro-Russian. Both are composed of opportunist bureaucrats of the Soviet era turned capitalist when the Soviet Union imploded more than 20 years ago. Both wings have been fighting it out openly since the Orange Revolution of 2004, now one in ascendancy, now the other. The pro-western wing is loosely associated with the ‘Fatherland’ Party, once led by Timoshenko and her predecessors; the other by Yanukovich and his predecessors, associated with the ‘Regions’ Party. All the top politicians in both are multi-millionaires and billionaires, having alternating between themselves in raping the Ukraine economically for more than two decades now. The Ukraine in the early 1990s had an economy and standard of living well above the other new ex-Soviet Republics. Today its GDP and average income is less than Belarus and well below Russia’s.

The Yanukovich cronies have been deposed in the recent coup of February 22, or are at least in retreat economically and trying to consolidate their economic forces. Ousted from political control are Yanukovich and ‘Regions’ party billionaire cronies like Rinat Akhmetov, richest man in the Ukraine worth $15 billion, with big holdings in energy and metals; Vadim Novinsky, the third richest; Dymtro Firtash, with billions in chemicals, banking and real estate, who was recently arrested in western Europe; and Sehiy Tihipko, former head of the Ukraine central bank.

The Fatherland party billionaires are now in control, with their very wealthy compatriot, newly minted prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, running the new government. But behind the scenes lurk the real new crony powerbrokers.

At the top of this list is Victor Pinchuk, the second richest man in the Ukraine with an empire in Media and other business interests. His foundation has been central in funding NGOs (non-government organizations) in the Ukraine, which have been the conduits for western money to help destabilize the Ukraine for years. Pinchuk’s foundation works closely with Yatsenyuk’s foundation. Pinchuk is also close to Wall St. and the Council on Foreign Relations in the USA, the premier foreign policy strategy organization of capitalists in the US. Pinchuk is also on the board of the Petersen Institute in the USA, another key organization influencing US economic and foreign policy. Pinchuk interfaces frequently with the Clinton and Blair Foundations, and is a major participant in the annual gathering of big capitalists at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He is friends with Bill Gates and Warren Buffet.

Below Pinchuk are other key crony-billonaires like Igor Turchynov, interim President and Speaker of the Ukrainian parliament; Stepan Kuban, who heads the new Ukrainian central bank; Sergey Tartuta, billionaire coal and steel boss with extensive holdings in eastern Ukraine, who was just recently appointed the new governor of the Donetsk region in the east after the Yatsenyuk team fired its previous pro-Yanukovich governor. Tartuta has close economic ties with Poland and Hungarian capitalists. Still another is Ihor Kolomysky, similarly appointed in recent weeks as new governor of the Dnepopetrovsk region in the eastern Ukraine.

These billionaires who are either themselves in the Ukrainian parliament, or who were and continue to control blocks of 30-50 votes each, were undoubtedly behind the ‘inside strategy’ of the February 22 Coup. The ‘outside strategy’ was driven by the proto-fascists on the street and in Maidan square. As the latter stepped up the attack outside the Parliament, on the inside the vote to depose Yanukovich took place, as some of his own cronies deserted him to join the ‘Fatherland’ cronies—no doubt convinced in part by threats that arose simultaneously from the west that their assets in Swiss and Luxembourg banks would be frozen. As for the Maidan proto-fascists—the elements of the Svoboda party, the ‘Right Sector’, the UPA, and others—they have been nicely rewarded for their assistance with no fewer than six key positions in the new post-coup government of Yatsenyuk. These include formal positions of police and military power, such as Oleksandr Sych, new vice-premier (second to Yatsenyuk); Andrey Parubiy, National Security Secretary and head of the National Security Council; Dmytro Yarosh, Deputy Secretary for National Security; and Oleh Makhnitsky, Chief Prosecutor; Dimitri Balaatov, Minister of Youth. It is clear the proto-fascists have chosen positions in the government that will allow them to build, arm and organize their street gangs better in the future, now under official government cover."
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Excellent and informative post! :thumbs: I wonder how many of the billionaires lost some of their millions when the Cyprus bank bailout led to confiscation of accounts in the banks. I recall a short blurb at the time that mentioned that many of those accounts belonged to wealthy Russians.

Greetings, DaveFagan. :2wave:
 
MMC said:
President Barack Obama on Monday froze the U.S. assets of seven Russian officials, including top advisers to President Vladimir Putin, for their support of Crimea's vote to secede from Ukraine in the most comprehensive sanctions against Russia since the end of the Cold War.

The Treasury Department also is imposing sanctions on four Ukrainians — including former President Viktor Yanukovych, a former top Ukrainian presidential adviser and two Crimea-based separatist leaders — under existing authority under a previous Obama order. Senior administration officials also said they are working to identify what they called "Russian government cronies" to target the assets of those supporting the Crimea unrest, including individuals working in the arms industry.

Obama was to make a statement Monday from the White House.

The administration officials said Putin wasn't sanctioned despite his support of the Crimean referendum because the U.S. doesn't usually begin with heads of state. But the officials, speaking to reporters on a conference call on the condition they not be quoted by name, say those sanctioned are very close to Putin and that the sanctions are "designed to hit close to home."

The U.S. announcement came shortly after the European Union announced travel bans and asset freezes on 21 people they have linked to the unrest in Crimea. Obama administration officials say there is some overlap between the U.S. and European list, which wasn't immediately made public.

"Today's actions also serve as notice to Russia that unless it abides by its international obligations and returns its military forces to their original bases and respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the United States is prepared to take additional steps to impose further political and economic costs," the statement said.....snip~

U.S. announces sanctions against Russian officials
Associated Press – 27 mins ago <<<<< March 17 2014.

The US and EU have gone ahead with the Sanctions.....also the US is accusing the Russians of Rigging the vote. Team Obama says there is some concrete evidence that some ballots for the referendum arrived pre-marked in many cities and "there are massive anomalies in the vote." Yet they could not bring forth any evidence with the Allegation.

Now we have threatened Putin that if doesn't pull out with his troops we will continue with more Sanctions against him. Now will Putin follow thru with what he has told us? Do you think these sanctions that target people close to Putin. Will stop or persuade Putin to change course?
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These sanctions are a step in the right direction, but I think they are too weak to really deter Russia from doing anything. In fact, I think they might encourage more Russian aggression. There is a reason why stocks surged today. The markets understand that these sanctions have no teeth and it's business as usual. The penalty for invading another country and annexing parts of it? Sanctions placed (no idea yet how aggressively they will be enforced and to what extent they go) on 21 of a potential 120 candidates. What will be the penalty if they go into Eastern Ukraine? Sanction another couple dozen people? Ask them pretty please to stop being so mean? Russia has been holding massive military exercises on the Ukrainian border, and Kerry is asking Russia to not take the sanctions personally. Now that sounds like a strong stance to me.
 
Coin said:
Do you really think EU like it in the background.
Dude, EU is not is the side of US regarding the Ukraine issue. They want to deal it by their own way.
Beside of what is showed in the 1st picture, EU doesn't like/want to support US, and even US government know it.
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The EU isn't in a position to support the US, the question is whether the US is willing to support Europe.

Remember that Ukraine is in Europe, that Poland and East Germany were once under the influence of the Russians. This is primarily a European issue rather than an American one, it's your safety and prosperity on the line, not ours.

You better hope the US is in the mood to help you.
 
Peter Grimm said:
The EU isn't in a position to support the US, the question is whether the US is willing to support Europe.

Remember that Ukraine is in Europe, that Poland and East Germany were once under the influence of the Russians. This is primarily a European issue rather than an American one, it's your safety and prosperity on the line, not ours.

You better hope the US is in the mood to help you.
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Dude, it is an EU issue and US is doing much more than EU does.
The key player to impose any solution to Russia regarding this issue could be Germany.
And I do not see the Germany to be or want to be in the 1st place.
Germany didn't support enough Obama admin. for Syria and I do not see any change regarding Crime's issue.
 
Coin said:
Dude, it is an EU issue and US is doing much more than EU does.
The key player to impose any solution to Russia regarding this issue could be Germany.
And I do not see the Germany to be or want to be in the 1st place.
Germany didn't support enough Obama admin. for Syria and I do not see any change regarding Crime's issue.
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I agree that Germany has the most at stake, and that is why I have personally been listening very closely to what Merkel says to the press. What you have to remember though is the EU and Germany are in a difficult position: they depend on Russian natural gas for their lifeblood. It would be a catastrophe for Europe if Russia stopped sending gas to Europe.

For that reason, the USA must do all the talking and the EU must slip in to the background a bit on this issue. Russia has you by the balls.
 
Coin said:
Dude, it is an EU issue and US is doing much more than EU does.
The key player to impose any solution to Russia regarding this issue could be Germany.
And I do not see the Germany to be or want to be in the 1st place.
Germany didn't support enough Obama admin. for Syria and I do not see any change regarding Crime's issue.
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The US has an interest in making sure countries don't invade each other willy nilly, especially on the doorstep of Europe which is a major economic partner. If Putin really really wanted to invade Ukraine, he should have provided some real evidence that ethnic Russians were being persecuted in Crimea (which wasn't happening), brought his case before the UN, convinced everyone that there was a real problem, secured a resolution with a military option, and if violated, then invade. That's how the international system works, unless you are attacked outright by another country or government complicit in an attack.

Of course Russia couldn't have done this legally, because there was no pretext to bring to the UN.

This isn't just an EU issue, but it does have particularly significant consequences for Europe.
 
Peter Grimm said:
I agree that Germany has the most at stake, and that is why I have personally been listening very closely to what Merkel says to the press. What you have to remember though is the EU and Germany are in a difficult position: they depend on Russian natural gas for their lifeblood. It would be a catastrophe for Europe if Russia stopped sending gas to Europe.

For that reason, the USA must do all the talking and the EU must slip in to the background a bit on this issue. Russia has you by the balls.
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Indeed yeah, you're right.

That's why we EU do not like to **** up with Russians., no matter how much we do not like them.
 
Wiseone said:
Only a child gets upset with people do stuff like this, "O my he made a funny tweet, guess I should get my panties all in a bunch about it, what kind of President lets those Ruskies tweet such things."

Who ****ing cares.
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YOUR Obama is a laughing stock!
 
Coin said:
Indeed yeah, you're right.

That's why we EU do not like to **** up with Russians., no matter how much we do not like them.
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We Americans love to **** with Russians for some reason. The only Russians I have a personal interest in ****ing with is a hot Ukrainian blonde.

Anyway I work in the Anerican oil and gas sector. I know for a fact that we are building the infrastructure to sell Europe natural gas and oil so that you are 50/50 getting from Russia and the USA. That should give you more freedom politically and also better prices.

Personally, I think you need to develop your own natural gas as well. Poland, for example, has a lot. This would reduce your dependency on Russia today and the USA tomorrow.
 
Wiseone said:
If you get upset because you think people are insulting you, maybe you should look at your own behavior.
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I'm not upset, certainly not by the likes you....son.
 
American said:
I'm not upset, certainly not by the likes you....son.
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I do make you upset, Obama makes you upset, liberals make you upset, lots of things makes you upset dude we see it all the time here. There's nothing wrong with being upset in and of itself, I get upset a lot of times after all, but don't pretend you're a picture of calm.
 
Grant said:
He's got a pen, he's got a phone, he took a pass.

"President" Obama just doesn't matter anymore. He may as well be the headwaiter at the White House.
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That's racist!
 
DDD said:
The word "sanction" sounds more terrible than that.
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Yeah DDD.....it sure does. Use to mean something. Course now with Obama talking about them the term means even less. Hence the weakness that Putin perceived in Obama all along.

Remember how Obama was making fun of Putin. The Kid at the back of the class and all.

Now who looks like the ADHD kid that doesn't know whats going on. There is no getting round that Putin has helped to make Obama look weak.....and to show that Obama never had what it takes to be out playing with the Big Boys. Ever!!!!!
 
MMC said:
President Barack Obama on Monday froze the U.S. assets of seven Russian officials, including top advisers to President Vladimir Putin, for their support of Crimea's vote to secede from Ukraine in the most comprehensive sanctions against Russia since the end of the Cold War.

The Treasury Department also is imposing sanctions on four Ukrainians — including former President Viktor Yanukovych, a former top Ukrainian presidential adviser and two Crimea-based separatist leaders — under existing authority under a previous Obama order. Senior administration officials also said they are working to identify what they called "Russian government cronies" to target the assets of those supporting the Crimea unrest, including individuals working in the arms industry.

Obama was to make a statement Monday from the White House.

The administration officials said Putin wasn't sanctioned despite his support of the Crimean referendum because the U.S. doesn't usually begin with heads of state. But the officials, speaking to reporters on a conference call on the condition they not be quoted by name, say those sanctioned are very close to Putin and that the sanctions are "designed to hit close to home."

The U.S. announcement came shortly after the European Union announced travel bans and asset freezes on 21 people they have linked to the unrest in Crimea. Obama administration officials say there is some overlap between the U.S. and European list, which wasn't immediately made public.

"Today's actions also serve as notice to Russia that unless it abides by its international obligations and returns its military forces to their original bases and respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the United States is prepared to take additional steps to impose further political and economic costs," the statement said.....snip~

U.S. announces sanctions against Russian officials
Associated Press – 27 mins ago <<<<< March 17 2014.

The US and EU have gone ahead with the Sanctions.....also the US is accusing the Russians of Rigging the vote. Team Obama says there is some concrete evidence that some ballots for the referendum arrived pre-marked in many cities and "there are massive anomalies in the vote." Yet they could not bring forth any evidence with the Allegation.

Now we have threatened Putin that if doesn't pull out with his troops we will continue with more Sanctions against him. Now will Putin follow thru with what he has told us? Do you think these sanctions that target people close to Putin. Will stop or persuade Putin to change course?
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The sanctions are pure B.S.
All this whole situation is - from the US side - is Obama trying to save his horribly failed foreign policy.

He failed in Egypt
He failed with Gitmo
He failed in Libya
He failed in Syria
He failed in Iraq
He failed in Israel
He failed in Afghanistan
Now he hopes to save his foreign policy ideology by sanctioning certain Russian officials to put pressure on Putin.

Hey, Mr. President...Putin made you look like the bumbling idiot you are during the Syrian issue...is he going to have to finish you off by putting you in diapers put a binky in your mouth and push you around the world in a baby carriage? You are a laughing stock and an embarrassment to this country.
 
MMC said:
Yeah DDD.....it sure does. Use to mean something. Course now with Obama talking about them the term means even less. Hence the weakness that Putin perceived in Obama all along.

Remember how Obama was making fun of Putin. The Kid at the back of the class and all.

Now who looks like the ADHD kid that doesn't know whats going on. There is no getting round that Putin has helped to make Obama look weak.....and to show that Obama never had what it takes to be out playing with the Big Boys. Ever!!!!!
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Yeah, what a lousy coward you president is! (sarcasm) ;)
 
DDD said:
Yeah, what a lousy coward you president is! (sarcasm) ;)
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Well.....I wouldn't go that far. But he has been played and his SOS Kerry has shown that Lavrov can manipulate him and outwit him. Time to change the Team player. Which Obama can at least do that much.
 
MMC said:
Well.....I wouldn't go that far. But he has been played and his SOS Kerry has shown that Lavrov can manipulate him and outwit him. Time to change the Team player. Which Obama can at least do that much.
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What if Obama was made President so as Putin can humiliate him?
 
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