Posts by Anthony Hill5

wiredseal7 said:If we only blamed the Russians, it would be easy. The issue is it isn't just them—it includes our own Commander-in-Chief. It turns out NATO is hosting a site that (subtly) hints at, heaven forbid, liquidation or something similar. At least, that was the case with little Dugina.

psb4ukr.natocdn.net/criminals/21/d7/37/Milanovic-Zoran-1.1608e9.jpg

And look at that URL—they've got him filed under 'criminals' on a NATO server... what a joke.

Good grief. This website has absolutely nothing to do with NATO servers or NATO as an organization. What I am reading here is nothing short of a farce.

Everything is explained perfectly right below

steelfox98 said:This is what happens when someone who doesn't follow the news thinks they need to drop their "truth bomb," despite this being covered repeatedly on the forums and in this thread.
The European Union has been pushing this brilliant idea of rejecting long-term contracts for years, opting instead for that lovely spot market filled with exchange speculators. No need to lecture anyone on business fundamentals; even most people get their cell phones through service contracts nowadays.
In short, they refused to sign the deals, and now they're whining about it. It's always easier for a politician to blame the supplier than to take responsibility for their own failures.
We saw this exact same narrative last year, back when both Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel were busy confirming that the Russians were fulfilling every single contractual obligation! We’ve discussed this here before.
Plus, let's not forget how we had a mild gas shortage the winter before last, yet allies like America were still shipping supplies off to Asia where the prices were better. We were already making fun of the European Union's green energy obsession on the forums back then.
It’s clear this isn't a new problem, and we know exactly who caused it.

As further proof, remember how Robert Habeck—the mastermind behind this "modern green policy"—claimed back in March that he’d signed a deal with Qatar to replace Russian gas. That turned out to be a total lie. The Qataris wanted a contract, but Habeck turned them down because he's obsessed with transitioning to a "green economy" tomorrow. Once the scandal broke, it came out that negotiations with the Qataris had also collapsed in 2018 for the exact same reason.
The same guy ignored the turbine issue for two months, then claimed it was irrelevant to the pipeline's operation while simultaneously accusing the key supplier of lying. People can think whatever they want about the players in this conflict, but this was a separate business relationship defined by extreme unprofessionalism toward the one supplier they clearly cannot live without.
https://www.spiegel.de/international...4-2d86cef2b747

Meanwhile:
Gas prices hit $3,200
Electricity in Germany hit €710
Electricity in France hit €801
A year ago, it was around €50-60

German Power Prices Smash Record as Energy Panic Engulfs Europe

It isn't that the spot (not "hot-spot") market principle hasn't been explained to you a hundred times already, but here it is once more, purely so we can sweep away the Kremlin propaganda that you so faithfully disseminate.

Nathan Evans78 said:Were you drinking coffee when the European Union started buying gas on the spot market?

https://www.iea.org/commentaries/des...inancial-gains

Based on these articles, there isn't a shred of evidence that Putin personally went out and turned the valves himself. To me, it seems much more likely that ExxonMobil was simply selling exactly as much gas as the European Union was choosing to buy on the open market.

It is blindingly obvious that you have been asleep at the wheel for the past year.

Gregory Ramos3 said:Why would you lie to an already struggling nation like this? ☕

He isn't lying, per se; he simply refuses to engage his own intellect, choosing instead to faithfully consume the propagandistic nonsense peddled by Putin's useful Twitter idiots and paid mercenaries. This isn't the first time he has embarrassed himself so thoroughly, and I can assure you, it certainly won't be the last.

wiredseal7 said:Check out this "Peacekeeper" hit list—which somehow includes our own Commander-in-Chief (Joe Biden)—leaked right on a NATO domain:

https://twitter.com/timand2037/statu...zlM0blaPLrCLaw

None of this is actually true. 😵

"NATO" is simply the username of the individual posting on Peacekeeper. Honestly, if Putin's trolls smeared filth on a piece of bread and handed it to you to eat, wouldn't you claim you've never tasted a better Nutella?

Ronald Chavez2 said:I agree with that, though my reasoning is slightly different; isn't it a relief that this accelerates the green transition across Europe, so that once it's fully realized, we might finally wake up to the fact that we've been chasing some scientific mirage, potentially forcing us to actually focus on things that matter?

Bravo. It is truly a tragedy that thousands of scientists don't frequent this forum more often, for if they did, they wouldn't be squandering their lives on such utter nonsense, but would instead be out there doing actual work, like splitting wood or burning coal.

Lisa Jackson7 said:And then what? They're gonna start a revolution and topple Putin?

They don't need to. Let them suffocate in their own filth.

wiredseal7 said:Yeah, everything is just peachy, no issues at all.
I was reading this story yesterday about a school in Washington, D.C. that put out a tender for gas to heat the building this winter—only one bidder showed up, some company from the Midwest, and their price was eight times higher than last year. They’re basically forced to take it because there isn't enough time to restart the bidding process.
To me, that sounds like a total disaster.

Look, let's not lie to ourselves—sanctions aren't exactly making Russia stronger. But if this were 2014, they would have been paralyzed. They've managed to navigate this surprisingly well, considering the measures were "nuclear" and didn't leave many economic options left in the desk drawers of the Washington geopolitical planners—now, the only thing left on the table is trying to wear them down militarily.

It is just pathetic. The Russians will simply swap out European cars, machinery, and technology for imports from China, effectively neutralizing Western sanctions entirely. Meanwhile, Europe cannot, and will not, find a way to replace Russian energy sources. We foolish Europeans really are lost; if only we had a clever leader like Putin in power, he would have solved this substitution problem effortlessly.

wiredseal7 said:Washington is basically expected to keep churning out doom and gloom—whether it's about Russia or a "permanently collapsing" China 🤣—even when their previous predictions haven't exactly played out.
They even lean on terms like "Potemkin village" just to make the narrative stick. ☕

It’s funny how some places are always failing while others are supposedly constantly booming. Take the US, for example—we aren't in a recession. Not even close—unless you decide to just redefine what a recession actually is. 🤣

The factory shut down because they can't get ball bearings. 🤦

So, here’s another Western "bottleneck"—controlled by Americans—that the "free world" is going to have to figure out.
A quick search shows that while major bearing manufacturers are Western, China produces massive quantities outside of the high-end niche:
https://www.china-bearing-manufactur...E2%80%82china/

Railcars don't use standard bearings, so it's no shock that export bans caused shortages. But honestly, they were building railcars back in the USSR era; they'll find a way to rebuild those stockpiles. You also have to wonder about that recent joint venture that was supposed to have all the components ready to go:
https://www.railway.supply/en/there-...sian-railways/.

600,000 auto workers are sitting at home collecting two-thirds of their pay. That's how they keep unemployment numbers looking low. 👍

And it won't be fixed overnight—you can't just snap your fingers and build new supply chains once the rug gets pulled out from under you. For now, they have enough energy revenue to cover those checks, which is fine—even the most hardcore pro-Ukraine fanatic wouldn't want to see people lose their livelihoods entirely.

The auto industry took the biggest hit from the sanctions, but the Chinese are already eyeing investments (rumors about Chery). Russia is actually a decent spot for manufacturing cars and parts—labor is skilled but cheap, and energy/raw materials are ridiculously inexpensive. Geopolitical messiness creates openings, and usually, competitors like China—who have been killing it in the auto sector lately—are the ones who step in to take advantage.

Out of those tiny numbers still being reported—apparently Russia’s federal budget ran a 900 billion ruble deficit in July, which is an 8% GDP drop 😉

Or about $15 billion. Isn't that just 1% of their GDP? Not exactly a catastrophic deficit, right?
The US isn't exactly drowning in debt compared to others, so they have plenty of breathing room for these dips—besides, they've always kept deficits pretty manageable:
https://countryeconomy.com/deficit/russia

An explanation of why the ruble is holding its own.

Given how the exchange rates have actually been moving, I’m not buying their little 'copium' forecasts.

Car parts are being ordered via Telegram and shipped through Kazakhstan. 😁

This is likely just the tip of the iceberg. Who knows how many resale services and small retail shops have popped up in places like Kazakhstan, Georgia, or Azerbaijan? We're only seeing this because we're looking at some online group where individuals grab bits and pieces.

Why does it seem like the European Union spends every single day shooting itself in the foot twelve times and then aimlessly firing four shots into its own head? While the sanctions against Russia only serve to tighten their resolve and allow their economy to flourish, the EU continues to wither under its own misguided policies. Is it really any wonder that they are struggling? Honestly, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before the whole system completely collapses under the weight of its own incompetence.

rowdytiger13 said:The insurgency is picking up.
An official appointed by the occupation authorities in southern Ukraine was killed.
Looks like a car bomb.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/...ukraine-a78094

Just when I was actually feeling a bit of relief seeing a news update from June 24th, why must you insist on jerking us around like this?

Margaret Thatcher has essentially given an indirect admission that the Skripali poisoning was indeed the work of those Salisbury church tower enthusiasts she loves so much.

Specifically, she took to Twitter to claim that Tallinn refuses to extradite the alleged assassin linked to Dugin, but noted that they possess certain "professionals" who simply can't help but admire the architecture in Tallinn.

It is almost pathetic to watch the usual forum Russophiles—those individuals who have wasted years of their lives defending Putin's political assassinations with the most moronic conspiracy theories imaginable—suddenly feeling a bit foolish, don't you think?

https://twitter.com/M_Simonyan/statu...Hn1423hnA&s=19

Donna Harris11 said:And besides Guantanamo, you're totally forgetting those black sites tucked away in Eastern European democracies—just imagine being thrown into a prison that doesn't even officially exist.😁

China isn't even trying to lecture anyone about democracy, corruption, or the rights of these supposed social minorities.
Have you ever even read about how American federal prosecutors filed a report with the Chinese embassy?😁

Don't be ridiculous; they would never touch those topics.

China accuses US of 'severe infringements' on human rights in report

Beijing claimed the Americans posed as “the guardian of human rights” despite having a blemished record, which China alleged also included a flawed democratic system and a “widening rich-poor divide”.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-a8320176.html

Jose Clark2 said:So, was terrorism the necessary response?

Forgive me, but where, precisely, did I ever state such a thing?

rowdytiger13 said:The fascists have started bickering amongst themselves, which is great news. Even better is the fact that there’s an underground resistance movement in Russia currently plotting an assassination against their own version of Joseph Goebbels.
Unfortunately, that fascist propagandist didn't happen to be in the car at the time. Instead, his daughter was killed.

And let us not forget that the daughter shared her father's exact worldview; she hosted her own radio and television programs where she faithfully peddled her father's fascist ideology along with relentless anti-Ukraine propaganda and disinformation.

Nancy Gomez26 said:Most of this stems from those "weak" sanctions that practically invited Putin to launch this whole "special operation." If that was the reaction, one can only wonder what happens when the more substantial sanctions finally hit.

You aren't reading closely enough. This is actually the direct result of the strengthening of Russian industry and agriculture. If anything, these sanctions might just serve to fortify them further.

steelfox98 said:Now we're just faking data? Your headline and stats don't match the actual article; you basically "edited" the link title to suit your narrative.
The article states the rate is 8%, not the 20% seen immediately after sanctions hit. It was lowered several times shortly after. Actually, if memory serves, it was 9% before the conflict, and now it's even lower.
They're struggling, clearly. 🤣

We saw this whole play in 2014. After the initial shock and the crash, the Russians adapted. They went from being net importers to arguably the biggest agricultural exporters, bolstered their industry, and stockpiled record amounts of gold and reserves.

George Robinson43 said:Per capita:
2013: $16,000
2021: $12,000

2022: $11,000? Or maybe $10,000?

Total GDP:
2013: $2.292 trillion
2021: $1.775 trillion

2022: $1.5 trillion? Or perhaps $1.4 trillion?

Oh, absolutely; over a mere nine years, their GDP has plummeted by some $600 to $700 billion—that is a staggering loss of one-third of its total value. Is this not the glaringly obvious proof that the Russian economy is actually strengthening? Perhaps you should consult our colleague Jack; I am certain he can provide a far more "enlightened" explanation for such a phenomenon.

Joshua Myers432 said:30 percent?! 🤦 🤣

Just take a look at their GDP back in 2013, prior to the occupation of Crimea and the Donbas, and compare that to where they stood following the sanctions through 2019—that is, before the pandemic hit and everything went south. ☕

steelfox98 said:Now we're just faking data? Your headline and stats don't match the actual article; you basically "edited" the link title to suit your narrative.
The article states the rate is 8%, not the 20% seen immediately after sanctions hit. It was lowered several times shortly after. Actually, if memory serves, it was 9% before the conflict, and now it's even lower.
They're struggling, clearly. 🤣

We saw this whole play in 2014. After the initial shock and the crash, the Russians adapted. They went from being net importers to arguably the biggest agricultural exporters, bolstered their industry, and stockpiled record amounts of gold and reserves.

Just ignore the fact that their GDP percentage plummeted by 30%. I suppose that’s completely irrelevant when one is busy trolling about the strength of the Russian economy.

steelheron25 said:The Tatars have been largely sidelined for about a century now, but if we're being strictly honest, they became completely inconsequential following those mass deportations back in the 1940s.

Not to mention, there were plenty of pro-Russian elements causing absolute chaos as early as the beginning of the 1990s.

A substantial portion of the local population was formally tied to the Russian Federation anyway—not just because of shared language or certain political leanings, but due to the sheer presence and influence of the Black Sea Fleet.

By the way, speaking of the Black Sea Fleet... the whole messy business regarding how it was divided up remains one of those long-forgotten, utterly disgraceful affairs, wouldn't you agree?

In 2013, the Tatar population sat at approximately 280,000, which accounts for about 13% of the population; therefore, I find it impossible to agree with the notion that they are irrelevant.

William Miller12 said:Decent BBC interview with one of the authors behind that Yale report regarding the impact of sanctions on Russia.

A few takeaways worth noting:
- Since the war started, the Russians have stopped publishing—or simply faked—general economic data. To get a clear picture of what's actually happening, you have to dig much deeper using various secondary sources.
- Russia can't just swap their lost gas exports to the European Union for shipments to China or India; they don't have the pipeline capacity to make that happen.
- Russian oil (the Urals type) is trading at about a $30 discount compared to Brent and WTI. So, even if people claim the sanctions aren't working because "middlemen" are profiting from reselling the oil, the sanctions still sting because the Russians are getting less per barrel regardless.
- Shipping costs for them are significantly higher when sending oil to India or China—we're talking 30+ days by tanker instead of the usual 2 to 7 days.
- Indian oil storage is currently topped off, so we’ll likely see a dip in imports from India soon.
- There's plenty of other interesting stuff regarding other sectors of their economy too...

Here are two shorter videos based on that same Yale report:

___

What kind of "Yale report" are we even talking about? What does Yale even represent in this context?

The all-knowing z-eye surely knows the true state of things.

The Western sanctions imposed on Moscow due to the invasion of Ukraine are failing to work and will not harm Russia, but they have certainly harmed us, stated President Zoran Milanović during his visit to Martha's Vineyard.

Describing the global situation as "unstable" and asserting that "we are slowly losing our compass," the head of state warned that "the whole thing looks like a dandelion in the wind, where you just pray to God that nobody sneezes, lest the whole thing blows away."

"I have been saying this since day one; I am sorry that I was right."