Dear friends,
Next week I plan to record my 4th podcast. As always, I invite questions, but also comments. Please post them here until Sunday evening 6PM UTC/GMT time. Please do not email me but only post your questions in the comments section (in English, French, Russian, German, Italian or Spanish – I can translate them into English during the recording). Any and all topics, from very serious to totally non-serious are welcome!
Also, I to let you know the full transcript (in ODT, PDF and RTF format) of the first and second Saker podcasts are now available on the Saker Podcast download page:
https://sites.google.com/site/sakerpodcast/home
For those of you have not already already done so, the audio and the show notes are also available on the download page.
I will let you know as soon as the transcript of the third podcast is posted.
Please don’t forget to contribute, especially in this end-of-year & mega-bills season.
Cheers and kind regards,
The Saker
Saker,
What do you think of the risk that the situation between Russia and the US could evolve into a nuclear war? Writers like Robert Parry and Paul Craig Roberts have hinted at this outcome seeming to be very likely.
Cheers
Hello Saker. My question is the following:
What do you think about the geopolitical theory of offensive realism elaborated by John Mearsheimer and explained in his famous book, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics ? Can that explain the whole game we are witnessing in the LONG run, in terms of a multipolar world and the end of the americans trying to gain world hegemony ?
Thank You,
Federico
Milan, Italy
Saker do you think that Putin could ever abandon NR or even Crimea?
Let’s say Putin is replaced or by a coup or normaly via the next elections,what do you think his successor would do?Let’s take the exemple of Medeved ?
Thanks coop
Eric from Belgiumistan
Hello Saker, could you please give us a run down on the current state of the Ukraine Airforce. At the start of the conflict in Donbass they seemed to be everywhere but then seemed to go quiet. Are they a spent force or are they building up for a Spring Air Campaign.
Dear Saker,
If anything, your blog represents the antithesis of the MSM, and the incessant disinformation that goes along with it.
I therefore, however, find it disappointing every time you mention Saudi Arabia and “Wahhabia”. I am confused as to what your understanding of Wahhabism is and the light you portray Saudi Arabia in. Is it not known to you the concerted efforts the Saudi government has put into fighting terrorism over the last twenty years? The efforts of the late Prince Niaf, the current and longstanding Foreign Minister Prince Saud bin Faisal, Kings Fahad and Abdullah?
You can further research your understanding by a simply pdf search for the wahabi myth written by Haneef Oliver. Also wahhabis dot com is useful.
regards,
SuadiMan
Please give your opinion on Yevgeny Alexeyevich Fyodorov and the concept of Russia being a colony since 1991-93 to date (eg. art. 13.2, 15.4 of the constitution of the RF).
Could you tell us what you know about the role of resource extraction in the future under different scenarios? What about agriculture? What type of investments would be best for the population?
what do you think of Paul Krugman’s analysis of the Ruble crash. Russian debt is rung up by oligarchs buying overseas assets. Now trying to lock the barn door after the Oligarch has escaped?
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/19/opinion/paul-krugman-putins-bubble-bursts.html
Hello Saker,
I have another question, I’ll just ask :)
What is your take on the fracking industry, with the oil so low ? Do you think this could trigger failures in the shale industry in USA with all the economic consequences in terms of banks needing to be bailed out by the government (2008 all over again) ?
Thank you,
Federico
Milan, Italy
Saker can you share with us your thoughts on the current “space race”? Is there a point of going to the Moon/Mars, who’s gonna get there first?
Dear Saker,
From personal experience I can tell you that bullies almost never pick on anyone their own size, and will back down if confronted. From historical
evidence, the US Empire is a bully and has NEVER attacked anyone militarily that can fight back since WW2. (BTW, I don’t include the Zionists in this analysis) The US only attacks through proxies like
Chechnia, Georgia, Ukraine, etc. As John Perkins explained they use a series of steps starting with economic means through World Bank/IMF
debt and bribery of leaders. If that doesn’t work they progress to sabotage using the jackals (CIA). Then the last resort is military intervention. But the US only attacks small countries without nuclear
weapons. Therefore, on this basis I think it is highly unlikely and perhaps impossible (except by accident) that the US will attack Russia directly with their military. They will use every other possible means for regime change in Russia to install a US puppet. M.A.D. worked for 40 years and I think it
will continue to work.
Some of the material on your site implies that the US will attack Russia militarily. I think this is misleading. As a student of history and
military strategy please comment on this.
thanks,
Gary
In conjunction with the first question listed by Anonymous on the risk of nuclear war, I would ask your opinion of the likelihood that the US/NATO may become engaged in a direct military conflict with Russia, and if you think the passage and signing of the Ukrainian Freedoms Support Act has increased this risk? Note that the bill makes Ukraine (as well as Georgia and Moldova)a “major non-NATO ally” of the US, the equivalent status of Japan or New Zealand.
My concern is that Kiev will launch a major new offensive against Donbass that causes Russia to enter the war. In such an event, I think Russia would quickly destroy the Ukrainian army, take Kiev and clean house. Now that Ukraine has achieved the “major ally” status with the US, I have to wonder if US/NATO forces would become involved?
Given Counterforce doctrine (see http://fas.org/pubs/_docs/occasionalpaper7.pdf ) it seems likely to me that if US and Russian forces become involved in a direct military conflict, then it exponentially increases the risk of a nuclear first-strike by one or the other. My website details the long-term consequences of a US-Russian nuclear war (see http://www.nucleardarkness.org/warconsequences/hundredfiftytonessmoke/#summaryofconsequences150 ); this would be suicide for not only Russia or the US, but for all other nations and peoples. The leaders of the nuclear weapon states have never publicly acknowledged or discussed these warnings from some of the world’s most famous climatologists.
Hello Saker
What do you think it could be Russias next move? Could be a deal in latin america, middle east or africa? could be a military pact in the making sometime on the future?
Also, do you believe Russia can catch up in the next decade in the area of cibernetics, nanotechnology and quantum computers?
thank you and keep up the good work. Soon ill post an essay in the saker comunitty. Best regards.
Miguelou, santiago Chile
Saker,
I would also like to hear your thoughts about Evgeny Fedorov’s argument, especially this:
Central Bankers suppressing Russian economy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT085isnyB0
Printing lots of rubles instead of borrowing lots printed dollars won’t make much of a difference.
The Russian central bank also needs high rates at the moment to support the ruble and lower inflation which has been rising in Russia in recent months.
What would boost the Russian economy would be the following:
a) Drastically increase the savings rate as a percentage of gdp. This can be done by lowering consumption (wages and social spending) and also by taxing the rich and their avaricious lifestyles.
b) What is saved should be of course invested in production. Building factories and sourcing capital equipment. When possible from local producers, if not, from abroad.
c) Impose capital controls to reverse the flight of capital and dampen speculation.
d) Form a comprehensive, nationalized and centralized banking system to facilitate and also direct investment and also be able to withstand losses when those inevitably do occur in some parts of the economy.
e) Coordinate with the Chinese as to where priorities should lie. There is no reason to try and produce what the Chinese are already doing far better and cheaper than anyone else. Russia has to develop and specialize in industries that the Chinese are not very active in.
f) Make the energy sector even more efficient. Russia must not only be the biggest energy producer on the planet, but also the most efficient as well.
I have two things I would like to ask.
1. What really happened to the Party of Regions in Ukraine following the coup? Do they have a meaningful role to play in the conflict today?
2. You have said before that Islam should be a natural ally of Russia. However, it seems this is more true for Shia Islam than Sunni? Would you agree that Shia Islam is generally more progressive and Sunni Islam more reactionary? Are there any good Sunni political forces that Russia and her allies can work with?
Will donate tomorrow, thanks.
KL
The majority of people I speak with regarding the situation in Russia are obsessed by only one thing – their claim that Russia discriminates against homosexuals.
Today the claim was made to me that women holding hands in public can be imprisoned for “promoting homosexuality to minors” if there happen to be school age children nearby observing this behaviour.
I don’t follow these matters, but evidently need to be able to speak with some authority about this subject, since it’s all many westerners care about.
Would you know approximately how many homosexuals are in Russian prisons, based on such trivial offenses?
Sorry to ask about such a matter, but this is a real sticking point for many Canadians.
John
What’s you take on the USS Donald Cook saga in the Black Sea?
Reality or spin?
Implications if the former?
http://www.voltairenet.org/article185860.html
Some suggestions they plan to penalize Russia for abandoning the project. Double-bind: Bulgaria ‘approves’ and EU blocks. Russia pulls back and they suggest it pays penalties. Eh? …Talk about the tail wagging the dog!
Feasibility of Russia doing both?
http://itar-tass.com/en/economy/768044
Saker, you once wrote that you would like to explain the relationship between Israel and Russiain more detail; so could you please address this in your next podcast?
Is it true that Russia has left over from the times of the USSR nuclear bomb shelters enough to house 1/2 the population? Would there even be enough time for people to utilize these in case of attack?
Gary, the Saker has devoed at least once entire article here too addressing the fact that the US cannot defeat Russia in open warfare, and therefore is using other means (regime change and economic warfare) to attempt to destroy Russia.
Hi Saker,
In the framework of Bogdanov’s visit to Nasrallah and the fight against the Empire & ISIS, I would be very interested in having your take on what are and what could become Hezbollah-Russia relations, in the diplomatic, intelligence and of course military levels(from covert support to open alliance), what is likely and thinkable as of now, foreseeable in some short or mid-term view, and wishful thinking ?
And as well, I’d be interested in the same analysis about Israel-Russia. How can Putin be so bold in stating the truth about the US, EU, Ukraine, and saying no more than what Obama could say on Israel ? How fight the Empire & not Israel, who is not only a terrorist state but also directly supporting ISIS, Georgia’s agression, etc. against Russia’s strategic interests ?
Thanks and best regards.
From your view in Florida, what’s in this for the future of peace in the region and also between US-Russia-China relations?
A kiss of death? Or less cynical?
I see some spies were traded etc but why didn’t Cuba insist on cancelling the lease of land under Fort Gitmo Bay as part of the deal?
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/19/us-cuba-usa-castro-idUSKBN0JX1XD20141219
simple question: do you think we’ll get a major war (e.g. Nazi Ukraine vs Novorussia-Russia) already in spring of 2015?
A question I’ve been wondering for years now is: Why not just drink the coolaid and go with the NWO? Is it really so bad? Would a system of multi-polarity be any better?
Hi Saker,
Slightly out of point question about BRICS but I think it is important all the same. Brazil’s Rouseff recently won with a slight margin against Soros supported candidate. However, once in power, she appointed the great “liberal” economist Joaquim Levy. What do you think about this appointment and its “similarities” with 1990 Russia?
ps. Maybe stupid request, but is it possible for you to release a transcript of the podcast? I’m not the best at listening to orally spoken English :)
Thank you Saker, you are great!
Jade,
Singapore
How does your label ‘Anglo-Zionist’ relate to David Rothkopf’s notion of Superclass? Is the former idelogical and the latter socio-economic? Are there rival groups of “elites” or are we at a point where the people at the top of the food chain, as it were, all share a singular outlook?
do you have any reports of how Ukrainians (west or part that is under Kiev) feel about the civil war?
Do they support it? Oppose?
How do they like their new govt with foreigners?
How do they react to the changes?
Do they regret the killing of eastern Ukrainians?
PS: I see many diverse topics.
What about doing mini podcasts, say 15 min each to address related topics?
Might be easier for you and more convenient for readers/viewers.
You could do several but break them up.
Many folks download as MP3 and can’t do whole hour at one time.
Just thinking. Whatever you do is fine.
Do you know what happened to those who participated in the Maiden uprising? I understood that many stayed after the elections and were thrown out (literally), many being injured, in response to a NATO meeting which was to take place. Jose Garcia
May this deluded personality disordered sociopath receive a lump of coal in his Christmas stocking…
The persistently annoying pipsqueak Harper™ is at it yet again today:
“Canada will not accept the illegal occupation of Crimea and persistent, provocative military activity in eastern Ukraine….We are also imposing new restrictions on the export of technology used in Russia’s oil exploration and extractive sector….”
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20141220/1016050658.html
He speaks only for a minority of Canadians, bases his entire foreign policy on Netanyahu’s dictates, and in the grand scheme of things is likely just a minor irritant -to ignore as most of Canada does.
Question: How much though, if any, will the technology ban affect Russia?
Saker,
1-You have discussed the lack of dramatic moves, especially of an economic nature, inside Russia. What are some of the moves that you think would be a sign of the Kremlin moving more forcefully in the right direction? Do you think Putin underestimates the risks Russia faces through non-military means?
2-Do you think Russia would like to see the EU break up? If so, what might be some ways to encourage this? Could Russia work to get a Greek-Bulgarian-Serbian-Macedonian league that would get Russian, Turkish, and Chinese investment and involvement?
Hi, Various reasons for oil production staying high in light of the drop in prices have been put forward.
The one the resonates most with the Machiavelli in me is Gulf Oil Producers not wanting the USA to be oil independent, as that would weaken it’s resolve to continue providing security for oil!
Do you wish to comment on this?
Warmest Respects, Ian S Williams.
Hi saker,
Will Syria ever retaliate against Israel ?
Why doesn’t Russia and Syria sign a security agreement(ie. Any attacks on Syria is an attack on russia?
everybody wonders if Russia will fail…
i once read this statement somewhere (maybe here?):
to conquer a town you must have 6 columns:
one from each side of the world, 5th inside the town and 6th – the people who choose to do nothing.
so there is an answer to everybody. Russia is strong if 5th and 6th columns are weak…
Any comment on the expediency of this, as there are severe domino effects that once started might be irreversible?
Paul Craig Roberts – Russia To Unleash Ultimate Black Swan Against The West:
http://kingworldnews.com/paul-craig-roberts-russia-unleash-ultimate-black-swan-west/
The Baltic and Balkan situation:Belarus seems vulnerable at the moment-being adjacent to Baltic countries,enabling Minsk-currency/export problems with Rus-will its association with Rus continue, or NATO put it as a friend of Rus into an impossible situation, is Rus doing enough to support its associated “supporting” countries, Serbia probably, but Hungary, Slovakia, possibly Greece, are these being supported by Rus as “bastions” against the west, should Rus do more with these and widen its support of those EU persons who are increasingly vocal against USA and all sanctions, to “roll back NATO”, what can it do?Is it worth their effort, or better to let countries eventually realise their own follies(like Ukr default), to break up/diminish the EU politically at least , without harming fatally chance of Rus exports ? Will Baltic countries become more paranoid and shut down Rus in this region as best they can by blockade/confrontation etc closer collaboration with NATO-how much more could NATO do here before breaking point with Rus?
2. No chance of Rus totally embarressing ukr and USA/NATO at UN with a full list of their war crimes, subversions, military funding all their irresponsible actions by implication/association, heightening world military tensions etc etc, perhaps eventually with MH17 results?Or could Rus take it to next level and say how UN is pathetic/corrupt and not a level playing field, should it withdraw from UN and rely on such other organisations as OSCE?
Thank you.
I’d be interested to hear more about how the conflict is perceived across thew wider world for instance in Scotland there is sympathy with Russia because of RTs balanced reporting of the referendum mixed with dislike of NATO and a largely uncritical acceptance of the “Dominant Russian Destablisation” narrative given by the western mass media. We see in Haiti which probably has the some of deepest radical political traditions on the planet calling for Putin’s assistance. How do you see perception of Russia in the development world and what use is Russia making of these opportunities. I guess not a whole lot :-)
Dear Saker,
I have noticed that you like to put the word “holocaust” in quotation marks, which is the name given for the extermination campaign that killed an estimated 5.3 million jews. What is your take on this historic event?
Where can I find Putin’s press conference in its entirety with English translations–preferably subtitled?
YouTube
Hello Saker,
I don’t know if you read “Indian Punchline” but there is a post there warning of U.S. plans to gin up an insurgency in Chechnia:
http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2014/12/20/talbott-declares-war-in-chechnya/
How is Chechnia regarded in Russia and what is your view of the history there since the revolt?
best,
Edward Qubain
Dear Saker,
Please see below:
[START]
The same way that you believe de-jure unity but de-facto independence is the best outcome for Novorossiya, do you also believe that the Bosnian Serbs accomplished the best possible outcome in their struggle?
I refer of course to the autonomous and economically prosperous entity of Republika Srpska – formally a part of Bosnia & Herzegovina.
[END]
Kind regards,
Luka Mihajlovic
Saker,
Let’s say the worst happens, and Ukraine starts a war again, large and vast enough that Russia must send in troops to save the East. The bait works. Russia is in.
How fast will it be fought, how devastating and will they then leave with status quo ante re-established or will they take Mariupol and Odessa and complete Novorossiya?
Duration and Result. That’s the question.
About MH17. This may be news:
Dutch Chief Prosecuter in MH17 case: the USA does not have sattelite images of the Buk launching that took down MH17. This was a misunderstanding.
—
Yet, on 20 may John Kerry said on FOX-news he was very sure that he had seen the launching of the Buk SA11 on sattelite images, taking down MH17.
About MH17. This may be news.
Dutch Chief Prosecuter in MH17 case: the USA does not have sattelite images of the Buk launching that took down MH17. This was a misunderstanding.
—
Yet, on 20 may John Kerry said on FOX-news he was very sure that he had seen the launching of the Buk SA11 on sattelite images, taking down MH17.
“so there is an answer to everybody. Russia is strong if 5th and 6th columns are weak…
20 December, 2014 07:40″
—-
Equally, in respect to future global change, “U.S.A is weak if domestic 5th and 6th columns are strong…”.
Nutty is flying apart.
Not only have Netanyahu and his cohorts systematically engaged in rancorous public narratives against the Palestinians, they have taken action that could only attest to his unwavering commitment to expand the settlements and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MID-02-191214.html
About MH17 (second message)
In a letter to relatives of the MH17 victims Chief Prosecutor Westerbeke wrote yesterday ( 19 december 2014) :
We, the Joint Investigation Team ( JIT), know much more than we have told the world.
We tapped phones and we received images from people and have interrogated people.
(I suppose he meant people from the area where MH17 came down. JV)
We investigate the Buk weapon-system that was possibly used.
Such research should not only make it clear that the missile has been used to bring down the plane, but must also determine that there could not have been any other weapon.
Westerbeke stressed that the J.I.T.
“can not be satisfied with ‘what is likely to have happened’ or where a lot of the evidence pointing at.
Before we accept something to be The Truth, we must also consider any reasonable alternative, and exclude every possibility that the scenario was different from what we think.”
He also said: “We found small metallic particles in some of the victim’s bodies that were not coming from the plane itself. They must be particles from the ‘weapon’. We investigate those too.
It will be very difficult to find those responsable for the disaster.
Our investigation will probably take another 12 months”.
perhaps I could be permitted a supplementary question, for everyone here to answer cos I can’t imagine saker is a financial consultant -in view of potential ???? financial doom what should I do with my savings to protect them and how to invest in any/financial ” future”?
!!!!!!!!
Well, the contrarians say that you should buy gold and/or silver. In fact gold is too expensive for the vast majority of people, but silver is much cheaper and could also be used for everyday transactions, because it can be divided into coins of relatively small values.
I don’t think that we will come to this, but I think it exceedingly likely that the future world currency would be at least partly backed by gold. Lots of theories behind Bullion all over the place. Some are just crazy, others make lots of sense.
Greetings, Saker.
Qu. What is the likelihood of the Neocons either accidentally or deliberately starting a war against Russia?
Given: An incremental approach to war has already begun as there is open and deliberate economic and fiscal warfare by the USA and its NATO satraps against Russia.
The propaganda war has also been in operation for some years now ramping up exponentially more recently.
Previously there was the invasion of S.Ossetia; there is now a physical proxy war against Russia via Ukraine, part of the continual expansion, encirclement and aggression by the US’s NATO.
Most Neocons are fundamentalist Religious Right evangelicals who firmly believe in End-Times and that only they, the righteous, will beam up to sit at God’s right hand during the Rapture. They also believe that the ‘evil empire’ in their version of the bible refers to Russia.
It all seems to me a self-fulfilling prophecy leading to WWIII -one instigated by Neocons, with Israel Jews who have their own ideas, cheering them on.
E.g.:
Rev. Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
“As I read the news, I can’t help but wonder if we are in the last hours before our Lord Jesus Christ returns to rescue His church and God pours out His wrath on the world for the rejection of His Son,” wrote Graham.
http://www.christianpost.com/news/franklin-graham-cant-help-but-wonder-if-end-times-are-near-125858/
Also:
“2730 years from 717 B.C. mathematically equals 2013. However, we have to add 1 year because the first year AD was 1 AD (not 0 AD), so that means 2730th year after 717 B.C. is year 2014 A.D. which is the most likely year of the beginning of the End Times, according to our numerical analysis research of the Quran, Hadith, and Arabic Words”
http://www.discoveringislam.org/leviticus_26.htm
Dear Saker,
what is your take on the downing of the Polish plane in Smolensk? It would seems that if this was an assassination it was more useful for the Americans than for Russia.
To what extent are Russian defense/aerospace companies subject to international and/or foreign influence? What role does technology transfer play? What is the situation regarding basic research? Can a nation truly be sovereign in the age in which we live?
To see what life will be like in the NWO, just do some research on the behavior of the Bolsheviks in the Soviet Union, it’s the same crowd.
commenting is very difficult. Takes many try’s
Hi Saker
I would love to hear your take on Smolensk- as referred to by another questioner
Dec 20,2014 21:23
btw: anon I concur completely that incredible take down of the Polish government seems to have been of a greater benefit to the US/NATO tyranny looking at how far two key men have come in the elite political game
that being Donald Tusk and Radosław Sikorski
I think Putin tried to influence the outcome, it’s possible and entirely probable- but… NATO made an offer that couldn’t be refused
at the time I did a couple of postings at my blog
garnered some interesting comments too
But one was left at Aangirfans by a commenter familiar to Saker and I both
That is Gallier-
Gallier is a good guy :)
Anyway his thought was very interesting and perhaps Saker can ponder this
gallier2 said…
Just a little factoid as brain teaser. Did you know that the same people that undersigned the Katyn investigation commission in the USSR in 1943 also undersigned the forensic investigation of Auschwitz?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katyn_massacre
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Burdenko
http://www.scrapbookpages.com/AuschwitzScrapbook/History/Articles/SovietCharges.html
BTW: the archives concerning Katyn were freed by Gorbatchev but those concerning Auschwitz will remain locked at least until 2050. Interesting isn’t it?
Yes Gallier that is interesting.”
Deadheading the Polish government Parts1 & 2
http://pennyforyourthoughts2.blogspot.ca/2010/04/deadheading-polish-government.html
http://pennyforyourthoughts2.blogspot.ca/2010/04/deadheading-polish-government-pt-2.html
bringing this all up to speed to consider this???
*Poland the largest and most important state on the NATO frontline?
http://pennyforyourthoughts2.blogspot.ca/2014/04/poland-largest-nation-on-nato-frontline.html
Whaddya think Saker?
Not sure if my previous comment was successful, please delete if duplicate:
What are your thoughts regarding trial by jury and its’ potential in Russia? Could Putin use it to foil the 5th column, particularly as juries often return verdicts that displease prosecutors and therefore create defacto law?
Petroleum has been, in modern times, a crucial foreign exchange earner for Mexico.
For as long as I can remember, the Mexican federal government budget was qualified in terms of the price-level of petroleum,
Today, however – although the supposed economic plights of Russia, Iran, and Venezuela caused by the oli-price drop are routinely trumpeted by the western major mass media – not a word have I heard about a budget shortfall in Mexico .
Do you have an insight to offer regarding any radical reduction of anticipated petroleum income to Mexico?
And of course I would be most interested to learn your insight regarding Mexico’s strategic role in the world at this time.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_industry_in_Mexico
Let me briefly chip in.
Mexico’s oil production peaked at 3.4 million barrels per day. It is now less than 3 million. We must also keep in mind that Mexico has a massive and still growing population of almost 120 “million people. That is almost as big as Russia, which means that only around half of it can be exported. So Mexico is not a big player in the global oil market anymore. But yes, the low oil price will hurt Mexico as well.
What many are missing in this latest epic of oil, is the role of Canada. Canada has seen their production of oil rise exponentially in recent years as have the US. The problem with American and Canadian oil production however is that a huge and rising part of it what we call UNCONVENTIONAL OIL PRODUCTION. The problem with this industry is that it is extremely expensive to operate. Simply put, Canadian tar sand production along with USA shale production is less competitive in capitalist terms than Saudi or Iranian or RUSSIAN oil production. I have become convinced in recent months, that the strategy of the North American duo, is to knock out of the global market as many major oil producers as possible so as to allow their own unconventional and highly expensive oil industry to remain in business. At current prices, North American unconventional oil production is losing some serious cash. Hence their foaming at the mouth against Russia! Along with all the long standing strategic rivalry between the US and Russia, this toxic competition over oil market share has become an absolute imperative for the North American duo. I am estimating that in 2014 total North American unconventional oil production is anywhere between 6 and 7 million barrels per day. That is a massive proportion of the world total and it is unprofitable,especially at current prices. In other words, Canada and the US, have to deal Russia a series blow through sanctions (that is why the west is not selling any oil extraction equipment any more) economic warfare, political and military destabilization.
If Russia survives this multilevel attack from these scum with her oil production intact and with Putin firmly in power, then the Canadians, the Americans along with to a certain extent the Western oil majors are in for a very brutal day of reckoning. This is also what explains their extreme urgency in attacking Russia. This explains their desperation and fear that Putin may survive this. Hence their shamelessnes in supporting outright Nazis in Ukraine so that Russia is provoked to the nth degree. Hence their punitive operation in the Donbass. Hence their willingness to funnel a terror campaign in Chechnya etc….
@teranam13 said…
Where can I find Putin’s press conference in its entirety with English translations–preferably subtitled?
20 December, 2014 13:22
On President of Russia´s web page you can find both the transcript and the vídeo of the press conference simultaneously translated.
Also in Sputnik page
http://eng.kremlin.ru/video/2784
http://eng.kremlin.ru/video/2784?page=1
http://mundo.sputniknews.com/rusia/20141218/1032557427.html
Saker, caught my attention this girl, Ksenia Sobchak, at the press conference.
-She is the daughter of the same Sobchak, former mayor of St. Petersburg, who Putin worked for?
-If so, why is she so against V.V. Putin? It was not his father V.V. Putin´s mentor to position himself in the Kremlin under President B. Yeltsin?
-I failed to understand what happened with that whole issue of the floor of 100 square meters, but apparently she was complaining that his father suffered a smear campaign in various media, public?
-Why Putin holds her accountable, to the point that, to attack him, to care more about the relatives of Chechen terrorists than the families of his victims?
-It looks like a girl who has always lived very well (her look mean), around here would say “cock”, can have this animosity something to do with a loss of economic status she wants to blame on Putin?
-Belongs she to any political organization? Which one?
Thank you for your attention
Hi Saker, you’ve mentioned it before, but I was wondering about your opinion on Starikov and his book Nationalization of the Ruble…
Saker,
I have a three-part question:
1) What do you think about Russia Insider posting Sergei Glasnyev’s latest essay, prefaced by an openly hostile Russia Insider editorial denouncing much of the essay?
2) What do you think about the overwhelmingly negative reader comments posted under your articles in Russia Insider? Do you think they are representative of Russia Insider’s readership?
3) Are you comfortable sharing column inches in Russia Insider alongside neo-conservative Jewish journalists like Martin Sieff and Masha Lipman, and alongside articles praising Putin for neo-liberal economic policies?
Thank you.
A.
Do you think Putin and the Kremlin made the mistake of thinking that they could work out a compromise with the West after incorporating the Crimea? It somehow feels like the Kremlin has been desperately looking for a compromise since April or so, but this seems very optimistic to put it mildly, as Russia would have to give up something the US wanted, such as the Crimea or Syria.
The reason for asking is basically that Russia has seemed like it doesn’t want to fight, even though it broke the other guy’s nose.
Dear Saker,
I would just like a brief comment from you on the following points:
a) If the US arms the Banderites with Javelins and Stingers, plus other similar weapons, would that significantly alter the balance of power between Novorussia and the Ukie army? Would it also alter the balance of power between Russia and Ukraine if it ever came down to that.
b) What countermeasures could Russia take if the above happened?
c) I have read from several sources that nowadays the Russian nuclear arsenal is even stronger and more advanced than the American one. How valid is this claim?
d) What is your take on the Sino-Soviet split? Also the mainstream media propaganda like to assert that there is still deep suspicion between Russia and China but they never give any explanation or evidence for it. Do you see any serious bone for contention between the two?
I am sorry about the multiple questions, but I think that they can be answered in a laconic manner.
Thanx a lot.
Saker, do not bother with Ksenia, I’ve already seen that she is an “it girl”.
It seems that has managed well to always live by his fame and I guess that daddy’s money. Let’s not help with this.
What does not seem that she has never featured in any field despite the (economic) opportunities he has had to study.
Finally, it seems that my impression was correct. A posh girl.
She has difficult now to gain credibility as a political journalist……
It seems that Putin always maintained loyalty to his father, can not say the same for her. On ungratefuls, the world is full….
I think medialens needs another critical look at a conversation Adam Curtis recently had on his take on Russian politics. Indeed, could you please be so kind Saker at rip this apart for me.
https://soundcloud.com/e-flux-1/adam-curtis-in-conversation
Given the Israelis treatment of wounded ISIS terrorists in Israeli hospitals…
http://www.sana.sy/en/?p=22207
…does you or anyone have any information on organ harvesting operations during such interventions. Considering the nature of Zionism.
Media is flooded with pedophilia,torture,bombings,… Some things are not taboo in media anymore. But organ harvesting somehow is. Is it possibly due to the power of those involved?
To J Jarvis 20 December, 2014 17:33
What to do?
Step 1,pay off any debt.
Step 2,Food aplenty and clothing.
Step 3,
In most countries we can diversify our holdings for example,Indian people bought almost 7,000 tons of silver this year,they also love their gold.
Chinese people bought 2,197 tons of gold last year,nearly the same this year.
Most people buy small as savings, to store purchasing power for their decendants,10 grams,20 grams in gold,silver in larger amounts.
In Australia, sales are made in Perth WA by the Perth Mint,you can buy 1/10th ounce and larger gold coins also silver,1/2oz & 1oz or larger.
The same in Canada,the US and Britain through online bullion dealers,e.g. Apmex,Bullion by Post and many others.
Ignore paper gold & silver prices gamed by speculators on the Globex/Comex paper contract markets,as they are gamed for paper profits in a rigged casino.
Keep cash on hand and do not trust any bank,in a meltdown government promises mean nothing,ask the people of Cyprus or Ukraine,they will just steal your savings by inflation or direct confiscation, “In the National Interest”.
http://goldsilver.comindustry-news/ this site in America also has some educational videos and news.
I hope this helps,
cheers
Saker, what, in your opinion, is Putin’s bottom line regarding Ukraine joining NATO.
It’s being pushed with renewed vigor…