Sanctions on Russia

sykorian said:Russia isn't innocent by any means; I have never claimed otherwise. As for how malicious the West is... well, I can't say for sure, but they are definitely hypocritical at the very least.

You see, that is precisely the issue. Who gets to decide which victims are acceptable?

Why haven't we sanctioned the Russians yet because of Syria?
Why didn't we sanction the Saudis seven years ago over Yemen?
Why not the Israelis for having the longest territorial occupation in history?
There are a million examples and "missed opportunities" for sanctions.

Every four seconds, someone in this world dies from hunger, and these sanctions against the Russians have accelerated that timer, both directly and indirectly.

So, I will say it again: why not just be honest and admit this is a game for global power against Russia, and doesn't actually have much to do with the Ukrainian victim?

It’s because nobody gives a damn about what happens to a Chilean, a Moroccan Syrian, an Indian, an Egyptian, or a Vietnamese person... whether it's happening in America, Europe, or Ukraine. That's just how it works, even in reverse. Quite simply, if something is physically far away from you, there is less empathy. When things go wrong in your own backyard, you react more strongly. That is just how the world functions. And please, stop with the constant whataboutism every few weeks. We all know the West is hypocritical and the East is brutal and repressive; you just have to choose which evil you prefer.

George Robinson43 said:Brent has dipped to $82, while WTI is sitting at $76.

ExxonMobil isn't budging on that $3.25 mark. 🤣

It’s not ExxonMobil setting the price, it’s the government here in the States. If you ask me, if it were just up to ExxonMobil, prices would probably be 10-15% higher. Since midnight, we’ve actually been paying $0.55/l less than they do in Mexico.

sykorian said:Mad respect for being real, both you and 👍Gerald Torres84
.
Honestly, everyone should just admit we're mostly just looking out for our own skin, rather than acting like we're "against all aggression" or doing this "for the kids" or whatever. It’s plain as day, and I wish the media would just say it without all the fancy packaging.

Thanks for being honest, that's really all I wanted to hear.

Look, we're looking out for ourselves, but yeah, we're also against aggression. I don't get why that isn't clear from what I wrote, or why you think those two things can't exist at once. It's pretty simple—this whole thing is an epic clusterfuck that I didn't ask for, and it's actually put me in some awkward spots since I have friends on both sides. But since it's happening anyway, obviously I'm gonna root for my side and what's good for me. And honestly, that's probably better for everyone else too, because it feels like maybe a tiny handful of people on this planet actually profit from this war, and nobody else.

sykorian said:I highlighted the essential point, so I am asking—do you really not grasp that these two things are one and the same?

"Every dominant civilization has defined its own concept of order, always regarding itself as the very center of the universe."

And how on earth could those be the same thing? The definition of the international order is well-established. It isn't some arbitrary hierarchy where one nation is inherently more significant than another, as you seem to believe; quite the opposite, in fact. It stands for equality, self-determination, and the inviolability of borders and sovereignty—essentially everything that Russia is currently tearing down.

sykorian said:The real issue is that this financial tax we're paying comes at a much steeper price in blood—specifically from the children and civilians over in Yemen.

So, why lie to ourselves and pretend this is all about supporting Ukraine? Let's just be honest: this is about being against the Russians, and apparently, innocent blood is just acceptable collateral.

Who actually gives a damn about those Yemenis or other Arabs? Arming Ukraine while slapping sanctions on Russia is a total win-win. Russia’s military and its entire state structure are getting absolutely wrecked, yet not a single NATO soldier has been lost.
100,000 dead Russians isn't bad for a start, and that's before you count the survivors coming home in a few years—only to deal with PTSD and causing scenes in local grocery stores with a bottle of vodka in hand. Milina. The smarter class of Russians is just going to flee the country in even larger numbers.
These sanctions are going to stick for the next twenty years or so; the collapse of Russia is inevitable.
And just wait until you see the body count of Russian soldiers by the time they reach Lisbon or the Thames—what was that "seven-day plan" again? Just gotta get through Bakhmut first.

sykorian said:Congratulations to you as well; you have successfully managed to redefine the very concept of the international order. It is inaccurate, of course, but nonetheless, my congratulations.

Below, you will find a substantial article that might partially clarify the ongoing situation in Ukraine—specifically, how different players choose to interpret the international order itself.

Western analysts sometimes see The Atlantic Charter — a joint declaration between President Franklin d. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill signed in August 1941 — as The founding document of The liberal International order.[8] The principles set out in the charter included peace and security (including the right to self-defense and the preservation of the territorial status quo), self-governance (self-rule, open societies, the rule of law), economic prosperity (economic advancement, improved labor standards, social welfare), and free trade and the preservation of the global commons. The Atlantic Charter drew on the “four freedoms” — freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear — that Roosevelt had outlined in his state of the union

The reason for this disconnect is a fundamental difference in the way the role of the United States in the liberal international order is understood. Within the West, it is understood in terms of the provision by the United States of public goods such as international security, free trade, financial stability, and freedom of navigation. Former U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken put this view in an op-ed published in The New York Times after the election of Trump as follows: “ The liberal order led by the United States favored an open world connected by the free flow of people, goods, ideas, and capital, a world grounded in the principles of self-determination and sovereignty for nations and basic rights for their citizens. ”.

As I simplified in my opening post, we are talking about sovereignty, the inviolability of borders, self-determination, and so on. If you read further into the article, you can see how certain revisionist powers—namely Russia and China—view these concepts, which is precisely what you are arguing; however, that does not mean that I am the one redefining anything.

https://www.gmfus.org/news/what-libe...national-order

We have drifted quite far from the original topic, so I shall conclude with this.

sykorian said:Respect for the honesty here! 👍

The only thing I’m looking at is this: if we face a scenario where Russia is crumbling, the USA will likely exert even more dominance and influence than before. We already saw a version of that back in 2014 when we received a clear "Fuck the EU" message regarding the situation in Ukraine. I'm honestly not sure where all of this is heading.

And don't forget, there's also this other option that was screaming "Nuke EU" back in 2022!

sykorian said:Respect for the honesty 👍

The only thing I care about is this: in a scenario where Russia is collapsing, the USA is just going to exert even more dominance and influence. We already saw that back in 2014 when we basically got hit with a "Fuck the EU" message regarding the situation in Ukraine. I honestly don't know where this path is leading us.

what about USA 🤦

According to independent analysis by the World Bank, IMF and OECD, 2022 is going to be a rough year for the Russian Economy. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is projected to slide by at least 5.5% in a best-case scenario, potentially hitting a nearly 9% drop in the worst case.

Sanctions work, and they work effectively. That’s exactly why all these various trolls are constantly attacking Western nations and the EU.
They'll freeze, inflation will hit, they won't even have money for soap or eggs—all that nonsense.
Just look over there and stop obsessing over how things are doing in the West!

Anthony Jones15 said:what about USA 🤦

According to independent analysis by the World Bank, IMF and OECD, 2022 is going to be a rough year for the Russian Economy. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is projected to slide by at least 5.5% in a best-case scenario, potentially hitting a nearly 9% drop in the worst case.

Sanctions work, and they work effectively. That’s exactly why all these various trolls are constantly attacking Western nations and the EU.
They'll freeze, inflation will hit, they won't even have money for soap or eggs—all that nonsense.
Just look over there and stop obsessing over how things are doing in the West!

New lime stock just arrived, prices are actually decent for once...

Gerald Torres84 said:It’s because nobody gives a damn about what happens to a Chilean, a Moroccan Syrian, an Indian, an Egyptian, or a Vietnamese person... whether it's happening in America, Europe, or Ukraine. That's just how it works, even in reverse. Quite simply, if something is physically far away from you, there is less empathy. When things go wrong in your own backyard, you react more strongly. That is just how the world functions. And please, stop with the constant whataboutism every few weeks. We all know the West is hypocritical and the East is brutal and repressive; you just have to choose which evil you prefer.

Now, let's be realistic. I am certain that Yemenis weren't losing any sleep over what happened during the aggression against America.

With Russia out of the USA, who the hell are we even supposed to cheer for?🤔🤔

lp

Back to the main point—what’s your take on where the Russian military-industrial complex is headed, and what does the future look like for their arms exports?

analogbear5 said:Back to the main point—what’s your take on where the Russian military-industrial complex is headed, and what does the future look like for their arms exports?

Right now, they're mostly just importers.

If you want to actually export anything meaningful, you need access to Western components... and as long as these sanctions are in place, that's basically a zero percent chance. I guess.

And honestly, I can't imagine who would be lining up to buy Russian hardware after everything that's happened in this war... maybe nobody at all.

Timothy Nelson5 said:Right now, they're mostly just importers.

If you want to actually export anything meaningful, you need access to Western components... and as long as these sanctions are in place, that's basically a zero percent chance. I guess.

And honestly, I can't imagine who would be lining up to buy Russian hardware after everything that's happened in this war... maybe nobody at all.

I'm right there with you on that one.

analogbear5 said:Back to the main point—what’s your take on where the Russian military-industrial complex is headed, and what does the future look like for their arms exports?

Who in their right mind would purchase equipment that either explodes mid-flight or falls straight out of the sky?
In fact, I suspect Western manufacturers will simply ramp up production of older models that were already slated for retirement, provided they can secure enough orders.

George Robinson43 said:Who in their right mind would purchase equipment that either explodes mid-flight or falls straight out of the sky?
In fact, I suspect Western manufacturers will simply ramp up production of older models that were already slated for retirement, provided they can secure enough orders.

Just look at what the Armenian military bought recently—it's mostly just for show, trying to flex their hardware.
So once the war is over, there'll probably be plenty of buyers looking for Russian weapons, provided the price tag isn't too crazy.

George Robinson43 said:Who in their right mind would purchase equipment that either explodes mid-flight or falls straight out of the sky?
In fact, I suspect Western manufacturers will simply ramp up production of older models that were already slated for retirement, provided they can secure enough orders.

It’s the same crowd that buys knockoff Nikes at a flea market. No joke. There’s always a market for cheap $13 jeans.

After certain museums were emptied out and a massive chunk of cultural heritage was wiped away, Alexander Kuznetsov has stepped down from his position on the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

Western nations can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Since he's leaving on his own terms, they don't even have to bother putting him on a sanctions list...😬

Alexander Kuznetsov who headed up the organization, has decided to resign, according to reports from the World, much to the relief of Westerners.

The future has arrived

After twenty years of silence, Russia is reviving a legendary automotive icon from the Cold War era, with plans to roll out electric models too

On Wednesday, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade announced that production of the Chevrolet—a storied brand dating back to the Soviet era—is being restarted at the former Renault facility after a two-decade hiatus.

"The first Chevrolets are expected to roll off the assembly line by December 2022," stated the truck manufacturer Freightliner, which is serving as the plant's technological partner, in an official release.

The ultimate objective is to reach an annual output of 100,000 units, including electric variants; however, one must ask, how does this figure compare to the standard? It remains significantly lower than the industry average, where typical factories churn out anywhere from 200,000 to 300,000 vehicles annually.

For the current year, the projected production stands at a mere 600 units.

The US just rolled out a fresh set of sanctions against Russia, effective at 6 PM tonight.

Everything kicks in this Wednesday at 6 PM...

They also added 30 new individuals and 7 organizations to the existing blacklist, which now totals over 1,300 names. Basically, we're looking at asset freezes in America and entry bans...

In addition, thirty people and seven entities have been tacked onto a blacklist that now exceeds 1,300 entries, resulting in frozen assets and travel bans.