When will it time to start worrying about Russia?

[Wrong-Direction]

Who's side would you rather be on when Putin and Obama have a massive fall out?

 

[drew]

What's the use of worrying? It never was worthwhile.

If there's a ding dong between Russia and the US, no kit bag will be big enough for the troubles coming our way!!!!

 

[Wrong-Direction]

If there's a ding dong between Russia and the US, no kit bag will be big enough for the troubles coming our way!!!!

This is what I can't understand people not understanding!

 

[skipper734]

America is appalling at Diplomacy. Russia goes for the brinkmanship, shout loudly and carry a big stick school of negotiation. Irreconcilable, but both hopeless in their own way.

 

[Diego Napier]

Putin is not the idiot people try to make out. The Russian economy is up the creek, so how do you placate the poor populous? We'll show those corrupt capitalists we aren't afraid of them. Let's annexe Crimea, become involved in Ukraine and Syria. The west will do nothing as they're afraid of upsetting their oil rich masters and because NATO is a fractured joke due to the disintegration of he EU.

In what way is the Russian economy up the creek?

 

[JC Footy Genius]

In what way is the Russian economy up the creek?

Take your pick ....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32220335

http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulrod...sight-thanks-to-low-oil-prices-and-sanctions/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_financial_crisis_(2014–present)

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

Speaking as someone of Polish descent, I don't think I've ever stopped worrying about Russia.

 

[Triggaaar]

In what way is the Russian economy up the creek?

It relies on oil revenues, which have tumbled, it's riddled with corruption, the Russian currency has dropped like a stone.

 

[JC Footy Genius]

When will it time to start worrying about Russia?

For months now all I've seen is people arguing about ISIS, immigration and which is better, labour or conservatives, isn't it time we started worrying about something which could ultimately wipe out huge amounts of people..?

The exact time will be when the many satellites monitoring Russian military installations show any unusual large scale mobilisation and deployment of conventional forces all heading West or detect an ICBM launch signature ..... sweet dreams.

 

[Diego Napier]

Take your pick ....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32220335

http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulrod...sight-thanks-to-low-oil-prices-and-sanctions/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_financial_crisis_(2014–present)

It relies on oil revenues, which have tumbled, it's riddled with corruption, the Russian currency has dropped like a stone.

Those links are mostly old news and Russia responded swiftly to the economic threats it faced. It has a enormous economy, the third largest in the world behind US and China, and has massive capacity to withstand and ride out economic shocks. It relies on oil for only about 15% of it's income and has built up huge reserves through its long standing trade balance surpluses. They chose to use some of those surpluses to funded the devaluation of the rouble:

as a comparison, here's the UK's trade deficit over those 10 years:

They've introduced a period of relative austerity as a result of sanctions announced earlier in the year but still manage a budget deficit of only 3% (as opposed to the UK's unexpected good 5%).

I agree that Russia is riddled with corruption but it's economy ain't going down the tubes.

 

[beorhthelm]

we shouldnt worry about Russia, they are trying to prop up their only ally outside the old Soviet, and will inflict some hurt on an enemy of ours. theres not going to be escalation, no invasion of Turkey, or threats leading to all out war with the West. the whole point of proxy wars are that you have to have a war yourself.

 

[glasfryn]

answer to the thread title

ALWAYS

 

[beorhthelm]

Those links are mostly old news and Russia responded swiftly to the economic threats it faced. It has a enormous economy, the third largest in the world behind US and China,

your going to have to back that up because the World Bank and IMF count them as 10th. they need an oil price of over $100 bbl to balance their budget, either substantial cuts or burning reserves to make up the short fall

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Those links are mostly old news and Russia responded swiftly to the economic threats it faced. It has a enormous economy, the third largest in the world behind US and China, and has massive capacity to withstand and ride out economic shocks. It relies on oil for only about 15% of it's income and has built up huge reserves through its long standing trade balance surpluses. They chose to use some of those surpluses to funded the devaluation of the rouble:

as a comparison, here's the UK's trade deficit over those 10 years:

They've introduced a period of relative austerity as a result of sanctions announced earlier in the year but still manage a budget deficit of only 3% (as opposed to the UK's unexpected good 5%).

I agree that Russia is riddled with corruption but it's economy ain't going down the tubes.

Russia does not have the 3rd largest economy, it is 10th with the UK amongst others larger.

 

[Diego Napier]

your going to have to back that up because the World Bank and IMF count them as 10th. they need an oil price of over $100 bbl to balance their budget, either substantial cuts or burning reserves to make up the short fall

Russia does not have the 3rd largest economy, it is 10th with the UK amongst others larger.

Mea culpa, I should've checked. Using the IMF & World Bank's preferred GDP measure based on PPP, Russia is ranked 6th not 3rd (and UK 9th). That doesn't detract from my main point however, that as a key player in the BRICS trading alliance, Russia has an extremely robust economy and with it's massive financial reserves is well placed to ride out a financial storm.

 

[daveinprague]

Russia is doing to ISIS and Al Qaeda what i thought we were supposed to be doing, and what a lot of people, particularly on NSC chat were asking for in Syria. After that, maybe they can assist Iraq. As far as Im aware, ISIS still has control of Ramadi that was going to be retaken from them in a week, but that was about 3 months ago.

 

[dangull]

Russia does not have the 3rd largest economy, it is 10th with the UK amongst others larger.

Its amazing that still today the little old UK has a larger economy than the largest country in the world.

 

[GT49er]

There is a subtle difference between Argentina and Russia.

No, it's not a subtle difference - far from it. The principle involved was the same though.

 

[GT49er]

Russia is doing to ISIS and Al Qaeda what i thought we were supposed to be doing.

.............while meanwhile subtly dropping a few bombs on decent rebel groups who oppose their bezzy friend Assad's dictatorship.

 

[drew]

This is what I can't understand people not understanding!

Whoosh!!!!