Russia retaliate: Our Response to U.S. Sanctions Will Be Precise And Painful

[Pavel + 384]

Valentina Matvienko, the speaker of the Russian upper house of parliament, said on Wednesday that Moscow’s response to U.S. sanctions will be targeted and painful, Russian news agencies reported. Lawmakers in the lower house of the Russian parliament have drawn up legislation that would give the government powers to ban or restrict imports of U.S. goods and services ranging from medicines to software and rocket engines. However, the Kremlin has not yet said if it backs such measures.

[damirUSBiH + 327]

Russia has once again become the world’s truant step child, whose threats and attempts at intimidation are wearing out the patience of many.

[ThunderBlade + 231]

What exactly do we get from Russian that we couldn't do without?

[dowmike + 37]

Titanium

[franco + 96]

10 minutes ago, ThunderBlade said:

What exactly do we get from Russian that we couldn't do without?

Exactly. Russia is the world’s largest producer of titanium, and it’s also Boeing’s primary supplier. The Russian corporation provides 40 percent of titanium components for Boeing and 60 percent for Airbus, and covers all titanium components for Brazil's Embraer. The company is a key supplier of titanium to Boeing, and the companies have a joint enterprise in the Urals.

[pinto + 293]

Sometimes things are different than they look on the surface. Excellent article. 

 

https://safehaven.com/article/45281/A-Sanctions-War-Could-Cripple-US-Corporations

 

[Pavel + 384]

The Russian economy is a disaster waiting to happen!!! The system that is called the "Russian economy" works through  half-military, half-oligarchic gangs and mainly based on natural  resources... and blackmail

[jpZelabal + 63]

70% of Russia's exports are oil and arms. They only manufactured oil and arms and they don't build any other industry.

[damirUSBiH + 327]

Russia has been parroting the same thing for the last couple of decades...
 

[jpZelabal + 63]

Topic: "Russia retaliate: Our Response to U.S. Sanctions Will Be Precise And Painful"

So, in reality everything is exactly the opposite....
 

[ThunderBlade + 231]

New cyber attacks, maybe

[Petar + 76]

Ironically, if Russia wasn't so deep bent on communism...again, under Putin, they might be ahead of the many of countries financially and they could mount a better "defense". But, they can't - too much corruption, criminal and killing..

[pinto + 293]

We forget that Russia’s trade with the west surges even as sanctions mount. U.S. sanctions kill U.S. trade with Russia, but boost Germany and France’s business with the Russians. 

[luckysoul777 + 10]

" What exactly do we get from Russian that we couldn't do without? "  <== The willingness to ally with the U.S. vs the Chinese.

There is no denial of what Russia has done in the last few years, and it's wrong!  However, what is entirely missing from the western media is the U.S. ambassador to the USSR, Jack Matlock, and George Kennan have been warning the American political elites since the 90's, prior to Putin was even known and in politics, that the American foreign policy is steering us straight into confrontations with Russia!  It's not if but when it will happen REGARDLESS OF who is in Kremlin!  Nobody cared to heed because we were indulging ourselves as the sole superpower in the world. 

Neither has the American media reported even our old friend, Gorbachev, is praising Putin and has harsh words for the U.S.  In a nutshell, the Russians don't like to be treated as a nobody country, ie. with decisions of world affairs already made and shoved at their face, and they can either put up or shut up!  However, that is exactly how Washington has conducted business with Russia until the crisis in Ukraine in 2014.  Would the American public put up with a revolution led by a Russian politician in Mexico City or Ottawa, even though it's Mexican or Canadians self-determination?  Then what makes us think the Russians would tolerate John McCain leading an anti-Russian revolution in Kiev, even if it's Ukrainian self-determination?  Don't forget the U.S. directly invaded Grenada when they were exercising their self-determination to ally with the USSR!   

This is not about defending Russia.  The Russians can take care of that themselves.  Rather, can the U.S. afford to have Russia and China solidify their alliance again?  It's already happening unless we can adopt a sensible Russian policy to turn it around.  Who would you rather ally with?  Someone (like the U.S.) who expects you to be a subordinate vs another (like China) who is willing to treat you as an equal? 

One can certainly argue how it is possible to ally with a country like Russia, who sponsors dictators, meddles in our elections and tramples on other nation's self-determination.  If you are willing to be honest with yourself, just Google it.  There is not one thing we accuse of the Russians that our politicians are not doing it overseas, by MULTIPLE magnitude!  The biggest gripe the Russians have toward the U.S. is "are you preaching democracy or hypocrisy?"  Yes, one sin doesn't justify another, but why our politicians can't uphold this principle when they are committing treacheries overseas? 

 

[polcha@ymail.com + 2]

Some diplomacy is in order. We are strong, but a tad obnoxious.

[Tomasz + 1,608]

Edited May 1, 2018 by Tomasz

[Eodmatt + 114]

On 19/04/2018 at 7:17 AM, luckysoul777 said:

" What exactly do we get from Russian that we couldn't do without? "  <== The willingness to ally with the U.S. vs the Chinese.

There is no denial of what Russia has done in the last few years, and it's wrong!  However, what is entirely missing from the western media is the U.S. ambassador to the USSR, Jack Matlock, and George Kennan have been warning the American political elites since the 90's, prior to Putin was even known and in politics, that the American foreign policy is steering us straight into confrontations with Russia!  It's not if but when it will happen REGARDLESS OF who is in Kremlin!  Nobody cared to heed because we were indulging ourselves as the sole superpower in the world. 

Neither has the American media reported even our old friend, Gorbachev, is praising Putin and has harsh words for the U.S.  In a nutshell, the Russians don't like to be treated as a nobody country, ie. with decisions of world affairs already made and shoved at their face, and they can either put up or shut up!  However, that is exactly how Washington has conducted business with Russia until the crisis in Ukraine in 2014.  Would the American public put up with a revolution led by a Russian politician in Mexico City or Ottawa, even though it's Mexican or Canadians self-determination?  Then what makes us think the Russians would tolerate John McCain leading an anti-Russian revolution in Kiev, even if it's Ukrainian self-determination?  Don't forget the U.S. directly invaded Grenada when they were exercising their self-determination to ally with the USSR!   

This is not about defending Russia.  The Russians can take care of that themselves.  Rather, can the U.S. afford to have Russia and China solidify their alliance again?  It's already happening unless we can adopt a sensible Russian policy to turn it around.  Who would you rather ally with?  Someone (like the U.S.) who expects you to be a subordinate vs another (like China) who is willing to treat you as an equal? 

One can certainly argue how it is possible to ally with a country like Russia, who sponsors dictators, meddles in our elections and tramples on other nation's self-determination.  If you are willing to be honest with yourself, just Google it.  There is not one thing we accuse of the Russians that our politicians are not doing it overseas, by MULTIPLE magnitude!  The biggest gripe the Russians have toward the U.S. is "are you preaching democracy or hypocrisy?"  Yes, one sin doesn't justify another, but why our politicians can't uphold this principle when they are committing treacheries overseas? 

 

Just a quick point about Putin. Actualy the guy has been provoking and fomenting things for many years - even before he became a dictator. Back in the days when he was a Captain wearing  striped T shirt, he was busy helping the Semtin factory in Czekoslovakia to export Semtex plastic explosive to the IRA in Northern Ireland via Cuba.

[DanilKa + 443]

6 hours ago, Eodmatt said:

Just a quick point about Putin. Actualy the guy has been provoking and fomenting things for many years - even before he became a dictator. Back in the days when he was a Captain wearing  striped T shirt, he was busy helping the Semtin factory in Czekoslovakia to export Semtex plastic explosive to the IRA in Northern Ireland via Cuba.

source? heard about cocaine import to SPb in beef cans via port they controlled but during his Berlin days he was busy entertaining visitors

[Eodmatt + 114]

Source was military intelligence back in the 70's. The same source that gave us the information that Iraq had been using chemical weapons against the Kurds from about 1968/9. In the 70's a friend of mine was very closely involved in tracking weapons and explosives from source to Belfast, including shipments of SEMTEX H explosives (a mix of PETN and RDX + plasticiser which was difficult to detect due to a low vapour pressure), from the SEMTEX factory in Semtin, Pardubica, former Czechoslovakia, to Northern Ireland via Cuba.

You didn't see me, right?

[Eodmatt + 114]

On 4/18/2018 at 7:18 PM, ThunderBlade said:

What exactly do we get from Russian that we couldn't do without?

Vodka; Novichok - oh hang on, we can do without that. And Russia supplies a lot of Europe with gas.

[luckysoul777 + 10]

On 5/1/2018 at 6:02 PM, Eodmatt said:

Just a quick point about Putin. Actualy the guy has been provoking and fomenting things for many years - even before he became a dictator. Back in the days when he was a Captain wearing  striped T shirt, he was busy helping the Semtin factory in Czekoslovakia to export Semtex plastic explosive to the IRA in Northern Ireland via Cuba.

You are missing the point.  Regardless of what Putin did or didn't do, he was NOT someone visible enough for two U.S. ambassadors!  Furthermore, neither diplomats could have possibly predicted him to become the president, and yet both have foreseen the confrontation back in the 90's, not knowing who would be in the Kremlin, simply based on the way the U.S. conducts foreign policies POST Cold War.  Many of our politicians thought we became GOD when the USSR dissolved.  If someone tries to argue why our leadership is OK with most countries in the world, it is because many of them have lined up behind the U.S.  WHEN THE BOSS WINS, WE WIN!  Hypocrisy?!  So be it!  Will Russia subject themselves to the American leadership?  Not if they get a DNA change.  This whole media campaign of if Putin is gone, then the two countries will be pals again is totally baseless.  We can be pals with Russia if we treat them like an equal.  Now, that is missing in the American DNA...

Edited July 24, 2018 by luckysoul777

[Tomasz + 1,608]

Louckysou777 thank you for the voice of reason.

[Eodmatt + 114]

On 7/24/2018 at 1:11 PM, luckysoul777 said:

You are missing the point.  Regardless of what Putin did or didn't do, he was NOT someone visible enough for two U.S. ambassadors!  Furthermore, neither diplomats could have possibly predicted him to become the president, and yet both have foreseen the confrontation back in the 90's, not knowing who would be in the Kremlin, simply based on the way the U.S. conducts foreign policies POST Cold War.  Many of our politicians thought we became GOD when the USSR dissolved.  If someone tries to argue why our leadership is OK with most countries in the world, it is because many of them have lined up behind the U.S.  WHEN THE BOSS WINS, WE WIN!  Hypocrisy?!  So be it!  Will Russia subject themselves to the American leadership?  Not if they get a DNA change.  This whole media campaign of if Putin is gone, then the two countries will be pals again is totally baseless.  We can be pals with Russia if we treat them like an equal.  Now, that is missing in the American DNA...

OK, no worries with your point of view, but you are making some assumptions about Russia. From my perspective, Russia will go with the money. Russian people don't live in a democracy and their government is at least as corrupt as any government elsewhere. So all the time the US rings the Pavlovian dollar bell, the Russian hierarchy will salivate. Of course, if the US drops its guard, the Russian knife will be straight in the back, between the ribs. So forget Putin it could be any other name in the frame. But Russia aint gonna change, choose what you do. Change the DNA? Thats prolly the only way!

[luckysoul777 + 10]

2 hours ago, Eodmatt said:

So all the time the US rings the Pavlovian dollar bell, the Russian hierarchy will salivate.  Of course, if the US drops its guard, the Russian knife will be straight in the back, between the ribs..... But Russia aint gonna change, ....

"So all the time the US rings the Pavlovian dollar bell, the Russian hierarchy will salivate."  =>

If we were back in the 90's, I would agree with you.  However, the U.S. isn't the only game in town anymore.  China is the new player. We doubled our national debt from $10 trillion to $20 trillion in the past 10 years and hardly have much soft power anymore.   From everything I have read, the Russians are allying much more with China these days from economy to military.  

" if the US drops its guard, the Russian knife will be straight in the back, between the ribs."  =>

I agree.  However, if we are not cognizant of this consequence after we built up NATO by 81% upon the end of the Cold War, we are simply in SELF DENIAL.  Our media are full of charade on why NATO is no threat to anyone and is defensive only.  One can easily Google and realize neither Serbia nor Libya have attacked any NATO members, but both have been attacked by NATO.   The German president,  Frank-Walter Steinmeier, is a harsh critic of NATO expansion.  Their chancellor, Merkel, defeated George W. Bush's effort to enroll Ukraine and Georgia back in 2008 citing it is counterproductive to peace, but the U.S. simply doesn't get the hint and continues the liaison.  

"Russia aint gonna change"  =>

I totally agree.  So is it hard for anyone to understand that our military expansion will be met with counter-attacks?  If we put emotions aside and look at facts, after the Cold War Russia didn't attack anyone until NATO is flirting with Georgia and Ukraine.  Coincidence?!  Certainly, our media downplay our expansion and highlight Russia's push-back.  We also hide behind the slogan that Ukraine and Georgia have the right to self-determination.  Unless the U.S. would tolerate any central American countries to ally with Russia (don't forget what we did to Nicaragua and Grenada, etc) or a revolution in Mexico City or Ottawa with a Russian politician cheering on the stage (what was John McCain doing in Kiev in 2014?!), let's drop this self-damaging double standard because  we are only fooling ourselves.  Now by digging our heads in the sand, we become unprepared! 

Edited August 14, 2018 by luckysoul777

[Eodmatt + 114]

We appear to be broadly in agreement in many ways. However I would point out that China has always played the long game. In fact a senior Chinese naval commander once said to me: "We can wait. We will wait and eventually we will assimilate you all". I was reminded of the Borg in some sci fi film or other.

By contrast, Russian history has always been one of constant upheaval and the Russian people have never had the benefit of whatever democracy means, having always been under the rule of the Tzars or the communists. Since I am half east European I have some skin in the game - a number of my family were murdered by the Nazis and a number were murdered or incarcerated by the Russians, during the WW2 upheaval. And we couldn't even claim to be Jewish.

I was in Germany as a NATO soldier in 1969 when Russia invaded Czechoslovakia and threatened to invade W Germany. It was a very worrying time for a young British soldier lurking in a soggyy rain filled trench wearing a (wet) WW1 greatcoat and with 25 rounds of ammunition for my light machine gun waiting for the Mighty Russian 3rd Shock Army to roll over us and for the exchange of nuclear weapons to usher in WW3.

Looking at the broader picture, since you mention Serbia, what were the Russians doing in there at the time of which you speak?

And also what of Vietnam? And of course Laos, where I spent a year or so dealing with Vn war era UXO. Proxy wars, people say. I wonder. Thinking about it, the Vietnam war came about because of a theory that Asia would succumb to the "domino effect" and the countries would all turn communist.

Well, I live in Vietnam right now and I can say that it isn't communist. It is a shade of Socialist and has a single party government, but communist it aint. It certainly is nothing like the Communist East German and Poland that I visited in the mid 60's. My impression gained in those countries from my visit was that the majority of the people that I met hated being under Russian dominance. The others were mainly informers and the terminally confused.

I also visited Bosnia i Hercegovina back in 1972 when it was Jugoslavia and again in the late 90's when it wasn't. Whatever the intentions of the hierarchy of east and west in the aftermath of the war there, the Maffia (I dont mean the Cost Nostra but local military led criminal gangs) gained ascendance. This has been followed by the construction of Mosques on what seems to be every street corner. So maybe both the western and Russian politics have failed in Bosnia.

I agree that NATO probably had no place getting involved in that conflict but, who else could have done the job. Germany couldn't because of its restrictions on the use of its military. The French? Nah they weren't interested. Brits? Cant afford it and anyway, good heavens is that the time? Its time for tea. The USA. Hmmm Uncle Sam doesn't want to be seen as a colonial power (even though they are). So NATO it was then.

Could have been the UN of course, but that fine self licking ice cream would have been there for a century or more afterwards, sucking up billions of funding.

I haven't been to Libya so wont comment. But I have been to Iran, where I was told by many: "Please tell the US to invade us and get rid of this religious oppression. However the same people told me that, whilst they hated their government, they would fight for their country against any invader. So any attempt at forcing a regime change there could well end up in some place becoming a glass ash tray.

Meanwhile Finland routinely practices defence against Russian attacks.