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Are they ready for freedom?
Topic Started: May 17 2007, 05:10 PM (331 Views)
Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
Russia, that is...

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0517/p09s01-coop.html
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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AlbertaCrude
Bull-Carp
No, Russia needs and wants a Tsar. Or, failing that, a Pinochet.
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JBryan
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I am the grey one
It has a Putin.
"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne


There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it".


Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody.

Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore.

From The Lion in Winter.
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AlbertaCrude
Bull-Carp
Close enough. Most popular leader since Uncle Joe.
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JBryan
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I am the grey one
The Russians have never had any tradition for self-determination way back to the Mongols. There seems to have alway been a propensity towards a patriarchal government (well, except under Catherine the Great but she had yarbles like church bells anyway).
"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne


There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it".


Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody.

Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore.

From The Lion in Winter.
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AlbertaCrude
Bull-Carp
Patriarchial yes, but in an Imperial fashion. Unlike others, under the Mongols the Russians were never slaves to foreigners.

Historically, Russians have plenty self determination.

Just ask ask Napoleon and Hitler.
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Axtremus
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HOLY CARP!!!
State of Russia... let's see:

* Nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction -- CHECK
* Anti-democracy, anti-freedom, de facto dictator in charge -- CHECK
* Massive oil and natural gas reserve under the ground -- CHECK

Conclusion: Ripe for American intervention to give the gift of freedom to the Russian people. Let's go liberate Russia.
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AlbertaCrude
Bull-Carp
Great idea. Be sure to call it Operation BOTTOMLESS QUAGMIRE.
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JBryan
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I am the grey one
Axtremus
May 17 2007, 11:25 PM
State of Russia... let's see:

* Nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction -- CHECK
* Anti-democracy, anti-freedom, de facto dictator in charge -- CHECK
* Massive oil and natural gas reserve under the ground -- CHECK

Conclusion: Ripe for American intervention to give the gift of freedom to the Russian people. Let's go liberate Russia.

Stupidest goddamn idea I ever heard.

Russia definitely is not Iraq.
"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne


There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it".


Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody.

Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore.

From The Lion in Winter.
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Daniel\
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Fulla-Carp
Haha Ax- that's hysterical! Posted Image

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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
I have some question about what I read in the article - most notably that corruption has increased ten-fold since 2000.

As I recall, in 2000 and the 90's Russia was the Wild West with criminals in effect running the show. In my understanding, Putin has reportedly substantially reduced their influence. I'm not at all sure how that translates to an increase in corruption.

Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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John D'Oh
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MAMIL
AlbertaCrude
May 18 2007, 01:30 AM
Great idea. Be sure to call it Operation BOTTOMLESS QUAGMIRE.

I think maybe Operation Barbarella would be more appropriate. Jane Fonda could be president.
What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?
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JBryan
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I am the grey one
As a bookend to Operation Barbarossa?

Great, instead of Red Beard we have Blonde Twat.
"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne


There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it".


Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody.

Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore.

From The Lion in Winter.
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John D'Oh
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MAMIL
JBryan
May 18 2007, 09:05 AM
As a bookend to Operation Barbarossa?

It's a touchy-feely, modern-day PC equivalent of Hitler's invasion, enabling us to get in touch with the feminine side of imperialism. Sure, we're going to march into your country, but we're doing it because we care.
What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?
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JBryan
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I am the grey one
John D'Oh
May 18 2007, 07:19 AM
...enabling us to get in touch with the feminine side of imperialism.

As I thought. Blonde Twat.
"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne


There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it".


Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody.

Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore.

From The Lion in Winter.
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AlbertaCrude
Bull-Carp
Mikhailoh
May 18 2007, 05:13 AM
I have some question about what I read in the article - most notably that corruption has increased ten-fold since 2000.

As I recall, in 2000 and the 90's Russia was the Wild West with criminals in effect running the show.  In my understanding, Putin has reportedly substantially reduced their influence.  I'm not at all sure how that translates to an increase in corruption.

Sadly, corruption and venality is entrenched in the social fabric of Russia. It predates 1917 and is ubiquitous at every level. Many thought that with the introduction of private enterprise it would dissipate. It did not and as the article points out, it has deepened with the growth of a middle class with disposable income.

For example, back in the early 90's the IBRD branch of the World Bank extended a series of 250 Million USD loans to three oil producers in Western Siberia- (Kogalymneftegaz [now LUKOIL], Uganskneftegaz [YUKOS] and Purneftegaz [now a subsidiary of Rosneft] to purchase drilling and production equipment, services and training. As with all IBRD loans procurement was to be transparent and strictly based on ICB (International Competitive Bidding) in tenders which awarded contracts to the lowest priced technically qualified bidder. To oversee this WB process a Russian executing agency responsible to the WB in Washington was established to oversee the tender process.

Despite the these safeguards, the buyers managed to circumvent the ICB process and engage commissioned *agents* to represent preferred suppliers. These agents would charge back a commission to the supplier that normally ran in the area of 10%- although I did see it as high as 12% on occasion. Generally 3% of the commission was retained by the agent *consulting services in contract preparation, delivery security and in country logistics*.

Then there was the 1997 - 2000 300 million USD USEXIM Bank financed project to rehabilitate Samotlor oil field for Tyumen Oil Company. In that one, the appointed executing agency was none other than.......Halliburton and its CEO at the time, a certain Richard "Dick" Cheney. But I won't get into that one...

As David Burton so often says, "be seeing you!" :D
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David Burton
Senior Carp
AlbertaCrude
May 18 2007, 07:43 AM
As David Burton so often says, "be seeing you!" :D

(why bother quoting the whole thing? it was brilliant! none but those who know realize that we are fading fast from a nation state world to a globalist private interest world where only certain strategic concerns matter. weird though)
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