It looks like Crimea will rejoin Russia this coming week as their population overwhelmingly voted (90 %+++) to secede from Ukraine. About 80% of the population cast their ballots which by the way is a higher percentage than any U.S. presidential election since 1900. The US, EU and Britain are already deriding the results as “illegal.”
I have to ask “why” is it illegal that a territory (that “was” Russian until we purposely blew up the ruble and destabilized the Soviet Union in 1990)… vote itself back to its motherland? It is pretty obvious that this is what the people wanted. The election was not “thrown” as the actual results mirror the exit polls almost exactly. There have been no reports of double voting, dead people voting, 100% of precincts voting one way, no reports of voter turnout being 140% of population and no reports of “Diebold” computers rigging the tally. Was this not true democracy at work? Is this not the allowance of true “self-determination?” It seems to me that this vote was a glaring example of democracy…yet because the vote is counter to western interests in this case…democracy is “bad.”
Yes I understand, this gives Russia greater control over gas pipelines, a warm water port and leaves western energy companies with less of a footing…so it’s not something that we would be happy with. But how hypocritical can the West be? There was no force used, the vote was not coerced or dishonest, nor does it go counter to what the vast majority of citizens desired…yet it is “illegal?” Next of course we must wonder about mainland Ukraine. Will there be another referendum? A “hot” war with Russia?
First off, this truly should be and is none of our business. Nor is it something that Britain, France or Germany should have any say in. Yes, of course Germany is wondering about their supply of gas for next year’s heating season but they also cannot be foolish in this saga because they also export quite a lot to Russia. This should be a very interesting week to see how exactly we and others react to this. In my opinion, “any action” will be too much and akin to a shot in our own foot.
Actually, this could be a very “dangerous” week for the U.S. because any sanctions issued could surely boomerang on us quickly. We might also find out just how many (few?) true allies we have…or not. The true trump card that Mr. Putin holds is his supply of gas, were he to decide to tell the world “we will accept only rubles or gold as payment for our gas,” the petrodollar will be no more. Please do not believe that this thought process is even close to “crazy” as Vladimir Putin is a master strategist surrounded by many “chess players.” If I and others have thought of this move, I can guarantee you that it occurred to Mr. Putin first.
I also want to remind you that Saudi Prince Salman is concluding 4 days of talks with high level Chinese including their president. Is the timing a coincidence? Maybe it is…or maybe not. I ask you this, if the decision has been made for the world to move away from the dollar, would an announcement by Mr. Putin be followed by an announcement of a new “partnership” between China and Saudi Arabia that excludes the use of dollars be a coincidence? Is there anything that we could do about it? Could we force Russia to accept dollars or Euros for their gas? Could we force the Saudis to accept dollars and only dollars for their oil? Could we possibly tell China, “No you cannot purchase Saudi oil unless you use dollars as payment?”
Getting back to Russia, an obvious next question is whether they will attempt to chip other pieces off of Ukraine. They have been moving hardware and reportedly have over 80,000 troops now amassed on the borders. Do “we” (the US, the EU and NATO) have anything in place that would offer any resistance to the Russians whatsoever? The answer is no, we cannot (and should not) militarily alter what is happening between former Soviet states. In fact, I saw the below photograph a little over a week ago and my blood boiled…..
The e-mail was sent to me with the caption “what is wrong with this picture?” This picture was taken in Norfolk, VA at the end of February. This is the first time since Dec. 7 1941 that this many aircraft carriers were docked together. This “move” was reportedly ordered by our President over the objections of several Admirals because it makes taking our carriers out of service “for routine maintenance” and places them all together as a single target for foes or “terrorism.” Truly ignorant if it is “by mistake” and truly an act of treason if done knowingly.
In just this short piece I have shown you 3 separate potential events that could undermine and destroy the value of the dollar like turning off a light switch. It is imperative that you understand that we live in very dangerous times and that our “status quo” is going to change. “Change” for the worse…and rapidly as in “overnight” when it does happen. If you are the type of person who believes “I will move and make adjustments when they are necessary” will not have that luxury. When the day comes that the light switch is flipped and the dollar goes into collapse, it will not be followed by a day with “K Mart” specials on gold and silver. In fact, I believe it is highly probable that this will be the beginning of a period of time where no gold or silver will be available at any dollar price. I know that this is quite a “grand statement” but it is where we will mathematically end up.
Bill, I am a little confused by “The answer is no, we cannot (and should not) militarily alter what is happening between former Soviet states. In fact, I saw the below photograph a little over a week ago and my blood boiled…..”
I am confused from the no to some type of yes that we should deploy our military forces somewhere? My comment about the admirals, generals etc objecting would not be good. Where were their objections to this decade plus of war? Are they not talking their book for military spending? I am a twenty year veteran and sick and tired of our militarist government of both political parties. One last point, on pearl harbor day our aircraft carriers were not in port docked together! In fact not one was present during the bombing of pearl harbor!
Since I have your time I have been meaning to ask you a question? I know you live somewhere in Texas and the economy seems to be booming. I just flew through Houston and read in the local paper that all classes of real estate, low end to high end are moving immediately upon being put on the market. I have family in Austin and San Antonio area who are doing so good they are buying upscale houses and enjoying life. I was flying to Little Rock Arkansas and saw the same. My thinking is just like you and Mr Sinclair, and the
Armistead, after Pearl Harbor I believe it became a written military rule that so much hardware could not be docked altogether in one port, I may be wrong however. My question was that if we were to be ready for some sort of hot spot, how does having 5 carriers at one port fit into it…and no I do not believe that much of the worlds problems are our business but we have made them our business for so many years.
As far as the economy is concerned, no, real estate is not moving like it did 7 or 8 years ago but the economy is at least stable and growing because of oil and gas. As for friends and relatives, you can only do what you can do, there is no convincing a closed mind but you can try. When it is 1 second too late it will be too late forever. This is not rocket science and just common sense should suffice but common sense is a very rare bird these days.
Bill, After reading your article today, my thoughts went back to the founding of The United States. The founding fathers did almost everything right. The one thing that lurks in my mind is the fact George Washington would not entertainer the idea of becoming The King of The United States.
If we had become a Kingdom we would not have had ever been governed by FDR, LBJ, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush or B. Obama.
Of course the kings may or may not have been better than the presidents, but who knows?
it surely would have stifled innovation.
Sorry I did not finish my question, the question is how do we convince family members when their situation is so good and the stock market is treating them so well?
@ Armistead, I have been where you are. The problem with sleeping folks is when the sleep is good, no one wants to be awakened from it. However they panic when the noise is loud enough. Unfortunately, to panic is not a sound decision. Here is a quote from Bob Marley”
” Everyday the bucket goes to the well, one day the bottom will drop out” I repeat “one day the bottom will drop out”.
Well, just to be fair, considering the Enterprise is due to be decommissioned in 2015 and most of its guts have been ripped out during the process… There are really only four active carriers here. Four of the five stationed at Norfolk with the Theodore Roosevelt the only carrier missing. Still, with only ten active carriers in service, having four in such close proximity is not a good thing.
The loss of even a single carrier would impact strategic military planning. The loss of 4 would be a disaster of unknown magnitude.
yes it would be.
RE: “Democracy is bad?”
If we are talking about simple majority rule it certainly can be! The vote in Crimea aside (it’s their country and it’s no business of ours what they do with it) Democracy can only work if the rights of the individual are held sacred. The Founding Fathers realized this, and that is why we have a Constitution that guarantees the rights of the individual cannot be usurped by a majority vote. However, this does not work for the political class when it comes to the rights of private property. If the rights of private property are upheld it takes away the Social Democrats promise to discriminate to win election, stated in their election campaigns as, “We will only raise taxes on the rich.” This is a sophistry. The statement could just as well be framed as, “Vote for me and I promise to avail you of the fruits of other men’s labor.” And if stated this way it would have the exact same meaning. The reason the promise is made is, “bare faced.” It is a promise made to garner votes / to win election; and it works, and it makes a farce of the concept of equal treatment under the law. If our Supreme Court did their job, and defended the rights of the individual, as they are called out in The Constitution, this discrimination would have never been allowed to be implemented in graduated tax laws – which are a blatant discrimination and thus UNCONSTITUIONAL. The Sixteenth Amendment DID NOT LEGALIZE discrimination!
Sorry! But this subject touches a nerve… I have posted this view on your blog previously, but, at the risk of (as my dad would have phrased it): “Beating a dead horse” I will say it over and over until my tongue stiffens: If majority rule is allowed to vote away the rights of the individual then I say it is a terrible form of government AND it is not the form of Government the Founding Fathers instituted for the United States of America. We should refuse to pay any and all taxes until all discriminatory tax laws are stricken down. Simple defense of the rights of the individual as they are called out in our Constitution would be all that would be required to mend our economic system.
I know I have posted this quote on previously, but it is an excellent point: “Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contentions; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.”
~ James Madison Fourth President of the United States and also a man who is often referred to as:
“The Godfather of The Constitution”
I don’t disagree
Bill you know the problem with these morons running the world? They removed an elected president to send in a puppet one and are talking about illegality? How many times have we seen this and then there is always some talk of humanitarian missions. I mean who the hell these people think they are? What happened to “No foreign entanglements? There are so many highways in America and still the leaders don’t know how to stay in their own lanes. We all know what happens when people don’t stay in their lanes or cross over too quick. Accidents happen and people get killed. But hey I guess that is okay once it is not them or their children on the battlefield.
yes, accidents happen but not to “them”.