“But lawmakers said the U.S. resolution was a routine expression of support for the next crop of NATO aspirants. NATO has expanded before into Eastern Europe, including right up to Russia’s borders when the former Soviet states of the Baltics joined NATO in 2004.”
I wonder what US would say should something like that appear in the news:

Russian President today announced that as a gesture of a good will and to increase security for its economic partners in Latin and North America, such as Venezuela and United States, Russia would place latest S-400 anti-missile defense systems. This move is in no way directed against United States and will serve as an additional protection to the North American continent.

““I would counsel the president of Russia not to be defensive,” the sponsor of the Senate version of the legislation, Indiana Republican Richard Lugar, told Reuters.”

“I would counsel the president of US not to be defensive,” the sponsor of the Duma version of the legislation, Gen. Baluev, told Reuters.

Encircling Russia is silly.

This plan has as much credibility as the US sham in Iraq. I was reading the other day at en.rain.ru about the details on how missile defense systems and how multiple war head missiles work. Generally, missiles do not arm their war heads during the boost or cruise phases because of safety requirements. The war heads are armed near the end of their flight.

So something doesn’t make sense here. Whether the US missile defense systems are aimed at Russia or Iran and North Korea, as usual, the West is going about this with pure emotions, no science, and no logic.

If you place a missile defense system in Poland, for example, and shot down the attaching Russian missile or Iranian for that matter, the missile parts would rain down on the EU. And the war heads would be “duds”.

The fail safe mechanism is designed so that if the rocket fails during launch, the nukes don’t detonate at “home”. If a war head is programmed for London but lands in Warsaw, it does not detonate.

Does anyone really think Iran will install such complex safety mechanism?
And Russia might as well disable and remove these fail safe mechanisms. Let the EU take the heat (literally) when America shoots down missiles.

All this is ridiculous. The reason the EU approves of the missile defense is because they don’t trust themselves. The US sleeps with one eye open because it has plenty to feel guilty about. Be it launching a coup against the democratically elected leader of Iran in 1953 or supporting Saddam in 1980’s or installing Manuel Noriega only to be removed later, Western hegemony digs a deeper hole each and every time. Today, we Americans are paying for screw up and bright ideas from decades ago, and we do it by piling more mistakes on old mistakes.

Nope, I don’t trust US intensions. They are not honest, they never were. The US is on the attack and trusts nobody because she has no intension of respecting sovereignty.

I think we will have a new cold war. But it will be asymmetrical. In the 1980’s Reagan could blow 1 billion dollars on some military program and the USSR had to spend more. Today, when America blows 10 billion, Russia can counter it by spending 1 million. Today Russia is being run like a business, while America is being managed not like a fairy tale but more like a hallucination tripping out on drugs. The US is going into debt up to its ass while the EU eggs America on so that she doesn’t need these expenditures. When it’s all over, no nation will attack America, it will be America that will attack.

Until then, let the short fused paranoid Neocons / PNAC nut jobs in Wash DC piss America’s future down the drain. If we go by track records and past performance, the US is screwed and wrong. So be it.

Anyway, NATO can enjoy this growth for now, as peak oil bights harder, Nato will be lucky to afford a fire cracker 5 year from now.

U.S. missile shield could split Europe: Chirac

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070309/pl_nm/usa_missiles_chirac_dc

Quoted from the above link:

"An opinion poll last week showed nearly two-thirds of Czechs opposed hosting the radar system."

So add one last comment. If America really believed in democracy, then follow it. Follow what the majority of the Europeans want. The US must stop filling "brown bags" of cash and bribing Eastern European gov to go against their population.

Most of Bulgarians don't want to join NATO; most of Ukrainians don't want to join NATO. Most Belarusians voted for Lukashenko despite western NGO money.

It just seams to me like America is afraid of “democracy”. Reality keeps getting in the way.

Down memory lane:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940CEFDF1E3EF935A25750C0A96F958260

Brief and easy to understand. The necessary tools of a great media analyst.

In another NYT letter, yours truly noted how Russia petitioned to join NATO shortly after the failed coup against Gorbachev. Yours truly added that this inquiry was met with astonished bemusement by Western officialdom.
Shortly threrafeter, some crude anti-Russian proaganda was used to support Poland and some other nations' entry into NATO (McCain was one of the perpetrators).

I have a hard time believing that Russia would want to actually join NATO if offered membership, at least under present circumstances.

I would agree that NATO membership should have been seriously considered when Russia initially inquired, instead of being brush off (if that is what truly happened, would like a link to back up this claim).

Unfortunately, it's all water under the bridge now. That doesn't mean that other countries who want in, should be left out just because another country doesn't like it. The whole sphere of influence thing doesn't mean anything anymore under the conditions in this global society in which we live.

As for the missile shield hoopla, the US should allow Russian officials to periodically inspect the installations to verify that the missiles are defensive and not offensive. Unfortunately, with the latest comments from Russian defense officials, saying that they would have no problem attacking the Czech Republic, this doesn't do much to convince the west that Russia has reformed its ways since the fall of the Soviet Union.

It one thing to criticize another country's foreign or internal policies, like Putin did in Munich. This is to be expected, all of us are not going to see things from the same perspective. It's a whole other thing to threaten a perfectly peaceful, non-threatening, democratic nation like the Czech Republic with military force. Its comments like those that could restart the cold war. The US has a moral responsibility to not allow something like Yalta to happen again.

Jason,

Look at the Nato members and future members... not one member has energy supplies worth a damn... not one single member is an energy exporter or at a balance. Every single Nato member is an energy importer. And almost half receive subsidized gas or oil (from Russia) so that they can build missile defense system aimed at Russia (this is funny as hell). Yea, bite the hand that feeds you... chew real hard, sure... Russia will just sit there... or will she? So I ask, in the laws of capitalism, the laws of supply and demand, who has the power the producer or the consumer (I speak in the context of energy from Russia)?

Let me guess, the Western answer is that Nato is the MARKET !!! Yea, that's it... The market is worth more than the supply... sure... and if a bull frog had wings his ass wouldn't rub on the ground... The western mode of thought is that the $ and the Euro have more energy content that a barrel of oil... Money, is worth more... and debt for Nato membership is a good thing...

it's just silly...

Future national security is based on energy, period. If you don't have energy resources where you don't require energy imports then you will be a debtor nation.

5 years from now energy exporting nations will tell Nato how and when to dance... when to sit and when to roll over...

Sure we can bully Russia now... but take note at what has happened the last 6 years... while the west is playing politics and bullshitting itself to sleep each night, Russia playing business... Soon Nato electric bills will be printed in Cyrillic.

Nato is obsolete, finito, nearly dead. Nato is on it's death bed with tubes, hoses, pipes, morphine and a respirator.
It has no energy to build or expand or run it's future.

Russia doesn't need to join Nato because that's like bring back the USSR... why the hell would Russia join? To give subsidized nat gas and oil products ? Screw that.

The EU or the US and other Nato member don't appreciate Russia's donation in the energy markets. Only when fair price is asked for and everyone starts squawking like chickens.

It's very simple, if you have no energy then you have no front or inertia to invade or be hegemonic or express skewed politics or force silly hypocrisies...

Nato is dieing... it's dieing by attrition, and Russia needs to just sit and wait...

The future will be very peaceful once Nato has rolling black outs.

to Luther G. Quick
I do not think that politics of west toward Russia are neither wise nor fair or productive and I share your outrage of anti-Russian sentiment of the west, but just to be fair :

1. “U.S. missile shield could split Europe: Chirac”
Really ? Chirac said a little while ago”.. that France was prepared to launch a nuclear strike against any country that sponsors a terrorist attack against French interests.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/19/AR2006011903311.html
when Chirac threatening to use nukes it is OK it is not splitting anything. Why? Because he is not American. Since when Chirac speaking for whole Europe? When Chirac was bashing east European countries blackmailing them he did not think then that it is splitting Europe? “French President Jacques Chirac launched an unprecedented attack on the east European candidates” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2774139.stm

2. “It just seams to me like America is afraid of “democracy”. Reality keeps getting in the way.”
You in Russia historically are real experts in democracy but in this particular case you are confusing democracy and ochlocracy

http://www.answers.com/topic/ochlocracy . Since when opinion of the street became a democracy ? I have no time to explain what democracy is but it is definitely not a public onion’s polls.

to Luther G.
“but take note at what has happened the last 6 years... while the west is playing politics and bullshitting itself to sleep each night, Russia playing business..”
Really?

1. According to Global Competitiveness Report 2006-2007 Russia went down from 53th place to 62th and proudly occupying today the line below El Salvador.
http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Competitiveness%20Report/index.htm
Russian Federation 62 4.08 53  -9
2. another achievement for 6 years:
according to BBC “There are growing fears that Russia is facing a population crisis that could see the country lose up to 50 million people in the next 50 years.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3984951.stm

3. Russia playing business?
According to FITA ( federation of international trade associations) Russia is exporting “commodities (particularly oil, natural gas, metals, and timber) comprise 80% of Russian exports.” and “ Russia mainly imports machinery, vehicles, electric & electronic equipment, and pharmaceutical products.”

http://www.fita.org/countries/russiaportal.html so getting machinery in exchange for oil is a playing business?

4. ” Soon Nato electric bills will be printed in Cyrillic.”
it might be printed in Cyrillic, so what as long price is OK who cares? But it most probably will be printed using Intel ( or other western) processors and using stolen Microsoft software.

You are using internet to get your message out and it is US generated technology and you are using PC which is US invention and you are using Us invented software . Just name me one thing besides natural resources and weaponry that Russia can offer to the world?

Guys you are bullshiting yourselves instead of facing real problems and make yourselves stronger by admitting real structural problems.

to al: LOL, you put this tirade for the man that leave in USA. ))

And what all this ratings means, that somebody on the West not pleased with current Russia behaivour? You don't need ratings for this, just read Guardian or something else, from your softly controlled "free media".

What i'm really see in last 6 years - is positive dynamic in near all fields, from real democraty to real economic.

And yes we need to say thanks to our American friends for Internet, for Computers etc. But at first you must isolate, this things from completely stupid American politic driven by money and
fat-brain-shited-asses.

PS: IT sector booming in Russia with 30% growth. We make FineReader! )))

Al,

In responce to your post.

1) Global Competitiveness Report 2006-2007 > Sure your right, a union factory worker in America getting 50k / year is far more productive than even an Chinese worker making $100 / month... it you make calc based on man hours... but if you base it on energy in put, the US is at the bottom...

2) according to BBC “There are growing fears that Russia is facing a population crisis > Well, so is Japan, so is Germany, and with the racheting up of Mexicans going into the US, America's white is shrinking in terms of ratio...

3) Russia exporting commodieties? > Yes you are right, but chear up, tax laws are squelching this... Russia's gov is only using the current exports of commodietes as a trigger... over the next few years both energy and commodieties will sky rocket in price... then Russian competativeness will raise as well...

4) Energy prices "OK"? Not realy... Russia wants market value and people bitch... cry and screem... Oil should be $250 / brl according to Matt Simons and you can bet your ass it will happen very soon... America wants capitalism but screems when China tried to buy Unical... The EU is afraid of Russia buying EU Aerospace or energy companies.

Good luck Al, you willneed it...

Al,
I find you and Luther's views of America's future far too pessimistic.

Luther, I think your view of energy is somewhat zero-sum, and I don't agree with Simmons, although the Saudis (and to a much greater extent the Iranians) seemed to have damaged their oil fields. However, I have heard that the Saudis have huge reserves of heavy oil that remain untapped and that they won't have any incentive to tap until oil reaches $100 barrel.

As far as unconventional oil extraction goes, the huge deposits in Alberta and Venezuela's Orinoco Belt are much closer to the U.S. If the extraction costs are comparable in Alberta can be brought down to within a few dollars per barrel of the Saudi rate, why not go closer to home with a more politically stable supplier? For that matter, Venezuela's conventional production has been declining for years and steeply declined after Chavez purged PDVSA's management. If Hugo is counting on being bailed out by the Canadians developing the Orinoco Belt with Chinese capital, he may be waiting a while.

Anticipating another argument you might make, if Chavez were to declare an embargo tomorrow, the rest of Latin America would simply buy all they could and resell it to us - this is also why the 1974 Arab oil embargo petered out after the initial shock to world markets. As one CATO Institute fellow from Europe told me, "What are they [in the Middle East] going to do with their oil, eat it?" And if they decide to sell it only to the Russians and Chinese, the same issue applies.

I must also disagree with your claim that a Chinese workers are more energy efficient than their American counterparts - I don't think that stands up to actual productivity. However, some Chinese workers in particular areas probably are as productive as their American counterparts and do the same job for less money, hence Lou Dobbs "Outsourcing America".

However, Mr. Richard Fernandez writing from Syndey about an article in the Financial Times has some thoughts that support your argument that we're going to have to get used to Russia as the biggest kid on the energy block.

http://fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com/2007/03/who-are-seven-sisters-of-oil.html

And whoever told the Atlantic Monthly that Russia deserves to be kicked out of the G-8 for its "energy extortion" ought to be asked why the former Soviet republics were entitled to be subsidized with cheap Russian gas indefinitely - that is, if he truly does want Russia to move towards a free marketplace in energy.

to AL:

About "Global Competitiveness Report 2006-2007". I don't know who and how making such reports. But real business vote by purse. Direct foreign investment reached $31 billion in 2006, twice as much as year before.
Here is another economic indicator, “money flow”
Minus $25 billions in 2000
Minus $15 billions in 2001
Minus $8 billions in 2002
Minus $2 billions in 2003
Minus $8 billions in 2004
Plus $1 billion in 2005
Plus $41 billion in 2006

Or, you might look at real country ratings from S&P or Moody’s, these agencies constantly increasing their ratings.

Or, you might look at stock market index: it out-performed almost every other country in the world 65% growth in 2006 and 3267% growth since 1999. http://www.rts.ru/en/index/stat/monthlyhistory.html?code=RTSI

Charles,

It's the "mathematics" that makes me a believer that the US is in trouble.

Albert Bartlett explains here about exponential growth, please right click and do "Save As...", it's 138 meg, about 1 hour but he explains everything from peak oil to the delusion of coal.

http://www.ipenergy.com/media/exponential/AlbertBartlett.mov

Charles, please don't get confused with my harsh words about America, I'm not doom and gloom, but my anger is aimed at stupidity. The US could be energy independent over time, but it needs to deal with reality. Here is another (positive) video, just a 10 minute video about what a small Canadian firm is doing.

http://www.ipenergy.com/media/solar/inter-season-thermal-storage.wmv

And with respect to that Canadian video, remember that there are lots of great options. There is enough solar energy betting down on Earth in one day to supply all of humanity's energy needs for one year. Think about that... Also, 99% of the Earth's crust is at or above 1000 degrees C, think about geothermal. So my point, wouldn't it be better to embrace renewables than encircling Russia with NATO or crusading throughout the Middle East while telling everyone we are looking for WMD? Couple the mathematics and actions we have seen since 9/11 and I start to believe events and trends, not the US State Department, the Pentagon or the Bush administration. You want to support the US troops? Bring them home and lets embrace renewables... Stop "surging" the war to protect Bush's ego or pride. How many more blunders must the US do in-order to advance it's "marketing and advertising"?

Anyway, basically here is my opinion. In your post you are assuming humans have so much control over energy supplies. Big mistake... Sure, there is lots of oil FOREVER... we are never running out... But supply will barely meet demand, and it will never exceed it again, never again.

The US is basically what I call "Niger rich". Sorry for the n-word, I am using it in terms of economics, not racial, but as this old saying eludes to, America thinks that it's current economic status is the NORM. It doesn't understand that it's just a transient and short term. Yet with all of this American prosperity we still need massive debt... Why is it that capitalism which represents the symbol of advanced economics, this requires communist China loans? It makes no sense... I think it's because America isn't real capitalism, more like imperialism today... Why is it that most of American oil suppliers must be paid only in US dollars? Yet even that hegemonic tool can't keep American advanced capitalism from taking more loans...

The US does have capitalism with respect to it's internal economy, but not in regards to it's relations with countries like Saudi Arabia or even Mexico. If the US has a true capitalist relationship with Mexican oil companies, you had better believe illegal Mexicans would not be an issue and no 700 mile fences would be planned.

My point is that there are some very bad signals going on in the global economy. And these signal point to the fact that we have reached an energy peak. We will produce 85+ million brls per day for the next few years, maybe even grow to 90 M /day, for 2-3 years after, but then it's down hill FOREVER. Some optimistic experts predict that oil will go down to $30 / brl in 2009 because of new supply... but they refuse to answer that Mexico is dropping down by 8% in 2007 (there are numerous examples of fields dieing all over the world) while the global economy keeps growing 2-3% year... Canada's gas exports to the US are dropping each month... Canada is ready to build a nuclear power plant to heat up tar sand to extract oil... So I ask, how bad is it that we need a nuclear power plant to get oil in our hands? I'd say very bad...

I am not an oil expert, but the fundamentals look very bad.

100+ years ago we could stick a little pipe in the ground in Pennsylvania and get oil to come up by itself, under pressure (no pumps, no water injection, no gas or CO2 injections)... It was light and easy to refine... In those days we need to spend 1 brl of oil energy to extract (take out of the ground), refine, deliver, and consume to get 100 brls of energy. That a 1:100 ratio... Over the years that ratio get worse... During the 1970's energy crises that ration was about 1:30... Today the average is 1:4 or 1:6. We need to today horizontal drilling, we need 40,000 foot wells (by the way, the well must be under pressure or the pipe collapses), we need nukes next to the tar sand because we need so much heat and fresh water to get that brl in our hands... and it goes on...

All this high tech, and it's not getting better... supply if flat... the argument that high prices will make it all work is silly... World energy reserves are bacily in a nursing home on their death bed. Our high tech efforts are like hospice. When we get old, no matter how much tech or money or tubes or pumps or morphine we give the patient, eventualy it dies... and this is what our oil feilds are suffering.

As far as Russia is concerned. Yes, they have a demographics problem which is related to the economic problems of the last 15 years. But today Putin announced that the stabilization fund will be split where a large part will be saved for future generations... Point to one place in the US let alone Europe that does this kind of allocation... Russia can not inject that money today, right now, into it's economy until there is production to warrant such supply. If they did the Ruble would strengthen where jobs would not be created at home, and inflation would sky rocket...

If the US had such stabilization fund you can better believe America would be upgrading their SUV's to M1 tanks and everyone would have a home the size of a school. This is my "Niger rich" term. US only cares about short term, election cycle planning, both the gov and the people.

Russia is exporting it's commodities and this is a direct effect of a week Ruble, which is needed to create jobs at home... it's all complicated while at the same time they try to avoid the Dutch disease... But the Russian government has made tax laws (5 years ago / some new) that are now just beginning to work. Russians are finding it cheaper to make products at home and are becoming good quality... But all this takes time... Russian tax law wants commodities consumed at home, not exported. And for this reason the Ruble will rise as production increases at home and other nations fight for energy resources.

As far as productivity verses China or Russia or the US. I guarantee this is a bad accounting methodology the US is using... It comes from Author Anderson / Enron thinking. The US likes to calculate productivity based on energy input, not "man hours"... The problem is that oil is solar energy from 1,000,000 of years ago... In fact, energy can be equated to man hours and the US is the most energy inefficient society. If you give a Chinese worker US tools, I guarantee he will produce far more... Why is it so many immigrant come to America and excel in the US education system and in US entrepreneurial society? They are frugal not just with money but with energy as well... People out side the US do more with less energy / less money. While in the US, we burn down a lot of energy to bypass man hours... it's silly... yet it's why jobs leave the US... If the US was so productive, then why do the jobs leave?

They say the US consumes 25% of the worlds energy with only 5% of the worlds population. I would say it far worse because much of the ME oil economy and China's exports and South America's exports go to America for the soul effort of acquiring US dollars. So how much of the global energy consumption eventual propagates to US consumers? Maybe more like 35%. But even if you go by 25%, that comes out to 8 litters per person per day in the US, while most in the world get by with 1.7 litters / day, Europe is about 4 litters per person per day.

It goes back to that ration of 1:100... Today ethanol alcohol production is about 1:1.3 ratio... simply terrible... Either you feed the corn to the cows or to our SUV's. Either you feed the corn topsoil from Brazilian Amazonian Forest or as in America, we take natural gas to make fertilizers to make corn for our SUV's. Growing switch grass or corn is not a renewable in terms as sustainability....

I was very impressed by what I saw in Belarus with respect to co-generation. Co-generation is one of the most efficient ways of using energy for producing electricity and hot water for bath and heating... Belarus and many parts of the CIS have heating plants at the edge of the city (many places in the EU as well have this) and they produce electricity locally and pipe hot water throughout the city... Russia's electricity monopoly to my surprise produces electricity with nearly 70% gas, with the remaining nuclear and coal... To this end, we will see some big changes in the Russian UES as they liberalize and induce competition.

So Charles, it's the math that makes my view. If we talk about today, right now, YES, America has a fat wallet, and it has intrinsic value because other people want what we printed and stuffed in our wallets - we are Niger Rich... As long as the energy crises doesn't get worse, then the party can go on. But if energy supplies can't meet demand, then America will blame Russia or Chavez of Venezuela...

Anyway Charles, it's so confusing at times because of the marketing from all sides... But generaly, if we want to predict what the next 6-7 years will be like, bascily intepolate from the last 6-7 years.

When it's all over, I hope it's fair, and I hope Russia doen't treat America like we treated them.

to Luther G. Quick
1.
“ it you make calc based on man hours... but if you base it on energy in put, the US is at the bottom...”
Is it just your opinion or you have any statistic to reinforce your statement? I am not sure on what your opinion is basing. Sounds like a wishful thinking to me.
2.
“There are growing fears that Russia is facing a population crisis > Well, so is Japan, so is Germany, and with the ratcheting up of Mexicans going into the US, America's white is shrinking in terms of ratio...”
are you going to compare your demographic situation with Japan and USA? Be my guest:
1. , America's white is shrinking in terms of ratio” why are you talking about “Whites”? We are all Americans of , all colors , it is not Russia, pal, I am not racist. Are you?
2. I am not talking about “one race ratio” I am talking about POPULATION IN GENERAL, which is growing in USA and shrinking in Russia. In Russia all population shrinking with all emigrants and races in combine .
3. population in Japan in Germany is shrinking due to low birth rate in the meantime in the process of shrinking of population is driven by highest among “ normal” nations DEATH RATE AND LOWEST LIFE EXPECTANCY AGE. Would you argue with that ?If not ,then , you cannot compare Russia with Japan, USA and Germany in these terms. Your people are DYING OUT theirs are not. According to World Bank Life expectancy in Russia on the decline -“Life expectancy in Russia is 12 years less than in the United States, which is a startling gap for a fellow-member of the G8 club of industrialized nations. Since 1992, the Russian population has fallen by 6 million people, and if current low birth and high death trends continue, the country will lose approximately 18 million people by 2025, the report said.“ http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/9315-4a.cfm
3. “energy and commodieties will sky rocket in price... then Russian competativeness will raise as well...”
a) Can you explain what price on commodity have to do with competitiveness of Russia?
Remember you went down from embarrassing low 53rd to even lower 62nd place in competitiveness rating and today you are following El Salvador. And it happened in time when price went up. So price on oil is going up , Russia is going down. This is a real dynamic so far.
b) I would say price on commodities according to many experts are way too low today and must be higher to stimulate competitiveness of the west. So far higher prices did not make neither you nor Iran nor Venezuela nor Arab countries more competitive.
So, I would say, expectation that higher prices on commodities would make you more competitive are wishful thinking and not substantiated by history of economics .
But if even it would be true how pathetic is that to bet all your future not on your own achievements but on price of commodities . Sounds desperate to me. Russia deserve better than that.
4.
“ Energy prices "OK"? Not realy... Russia wants market value and people bitch... cry and screem... Oil should be $250 / brl according to Matt Simons and you can bet your ass it will happen very soon”
high prices on oil is not necessarily such a bad thing for American economy
Educate yourself read these links
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/economy/jan-june05/oil_1-24.html
“In particular, what can high oil prices do that America's energy policy fails to do? First, sooner or later, high oil prices spur the development of alternative energy resources because they make it more profitable to produce them. The higher prices go, the more entrepreneurs and companies around the world work to move us beyond the hazardous petroleum era.
Second, the higher oil prices go, the more likely automakers will mass-produce more efficient, less pricey vehicles. That is precisely what we need to shift the current oil-guzzling paradigm. “
“Of course, higher oil prices are painful. But, over time they can serve the environment, decrease our dependence on Middle East oil, especially from countries like Iran which uses oil money to build nuclear capability and force us to take actions that make us less vulnerable when oil starts to dwindle in the future. “
Read whole article at http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060206/news_mz1e6yetiv.html
So, We will survive do not worry for us
5.
“... America wants capitalism but screems when China tried to buy Unical... The EU is afraid of Russia buying EU Aerospace or energy companies.”
Are you kidding? Russia and China not allowed to buy strategically viable companies for one simple reason: because in those countries government is in control of economy, what is proven fact (I hope you will not argue with that?)and therefore, to sell strategic companies to China or to Russia is to be dependant from the governments of these, still semi - totalitarian regimes
Russia is protecting itrself vigorously. :
“Decisions of state-owned or state-controlled oil and gas companies such as that made known on October 9 respecting Russia's Gazprom, which has decided to exclude all foreign (notably Western) energy majors from its giant Shtokman gas project, or the recent decisions to threaten to revoke permanently the operating licenses of Western oil majors in the Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2 projects, are representative of the wave of consolidation of control of global resources by state-owned and state-controlled energy companies around the world.”
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/HK23Ag01.html
“Good luck Al, you willneed it...”
Thank you pal, I have all luck I need ALREADY, are you?

to Vladislav Gusev |:
1.
“And what all this ratings means, that somebody on the West not pleased with current Russia behaivour? You don't need ratings for this, just read Guardian or something else, from your softly controlled "free media".
First of all, it is not media it is official statistics widely accepted in the world , second of all this statistics downgraded USA as well( from #1 to #6) so no reason to consider it pro-American . Thirdly, if you do not like western free media tell to Luther to do not refer us to “"An opinion poll last week showed nearly two-thirds of Czechs opposed hosting the radar system." Otherwise it looks that you are gladly quoting western media when it meets your needs and when in free media something what you do not like you are dismissing it. It cannot be both ways .
2.
“What i'm really see in last 6 years - is positive dynamic in near all fields, from real democraty to real economic.”
Since 2003 is complete stagnation in oil industry , in your army are higher mortality in peaceful times than in US army during the war, your industry is collapsing: are you driving Russian car, are you using Russian computer or…anything Russian besides food and drink?
Real democracy ? In Russia? I do not want even talk about that it is laughable. Putin assigning governors is a democracy ? If Putin will decide to stay who will even blink? He will be decider to stay or to go, am I wrong? Is it democracy?
3.
“And yes we need to say thanks to our American friends for Internet, for Computers etc. “
You are welcome , pal, help yourself, especially knowing that you are not paying for software , games music, movies etc, anyway ,
By the way FYI in Russia is the same quantity of internet users as in Holland. what a shame for great power
4.
“But at first you must isolate, this things from completely stupid American politic driven by money and fat-brain-shited-asses.”
I agree that American politic is stupid, And I am thinking that biggest failure of US is that in 90s they missed opportunity to get Russia as allay, I sincerely think that . I am not satisfied of what is going on. But whatever is wrong in US it does not make you anyhow better. Does it?
5.
“IT sector booming in Russia with 30% growth. We make FineReader! )))”
Fine reader is a good product I use it because it is only program that reads Russian, good program, indeed. But are you really think that Fine reader is a boom…? So, let us see: from one side it is all internet and OS and All major programs in all fields and, processor technologies ,, you name it. All from USA and on Russian side…. Fine reader? I am really impressed, you got me:)

from AL to Vladislav Gusev& Luther G. Quick:
Postings form | March 12, 2007 5:02 PM addressed to to Luther G. Quick and from
|March 12, 2007 5:35 PM addressed to to Vladislav Gusev were posted by me : AL sorry that I just forget to put my name when I was uploading these postings

Al,

Parts of your comments are 100% correct, but they are short sighted.

Also, to call me a racist is absurd. If I applied your logic, global population is rising, isn't that good enough? Why did you focus on Russia declining? In your own protocol, you are a racist.

If you have ever built a business you realize that there are times when a lot of money rolls in, but you spend little... other times very little money comes in and you spent a lot. Reward is always delayed... there is always a hysteresis in the benefits of when change or hard work was implemented.

If Russia today was in debt, fighting a war, and day by day the economy was getting worse, then the IMAGE, today's transients would make good sense that the entire population of 140 million should commit suicide. But things are very good on the fundamentals, you must first run Russia as a good business, pay down debt, assume massive currency (none $) reserves, then later you will have the tools to stop the Chechnya degradation, stop declining birth rates, stop Nato... and so forth.

First you make the money, then you spend it.

God bless America that they can spend the money first, and let future generations pay for it.
Kind of like Enron...
Enron was looking damn good at 11:59...

You know what a "titsey fly" is? It's a fly that has an extremely short life span. Some only live to 72 hours. And this reminds me of how people look at Russia today and it is the reason America is bogged down in Iraq, owes more money than it others owe her. The titsey fly only cares about eating and screwing, like the US as this live is ending in 72 hours.

America will talk about future generation, but never acts on it. Notice the Russian sabalization fund, 50% marked for future generations, does America have the moeny for that? NOPE !!! We in America are worried about our next pasm TV and our SUV upgrade, screw our children...

Right after the last US Space Shuttle crash, Bush announced America was go for mars. Imagine if a Soyuz blew up on the launch pad and Russia announced they were go for mars, you would laugh your ass off. Grandiose ideas tend to flow during massive failure... Look at America in Iraq today, and what's the US thinking about? Iran... Like Clint Eastwood said "A man has to know his limitations".

I believe Russia is fiscally conservative while America has gone "nigger rich", plain and simple, a fat wallet, and an empty bank account. Almost like America is going for broke, like something real bad will probably happen (peal oil) and in being grandiose, that taking big risks is far better than doing nothing. The US reminds me of someone on their death bed, at that stage, screw it, DRINK, SMOKE, eat fats and have a great time, tomarrow you will be dead.

Anyway... time will tell if I'm wrong.

Care to make a bet?

$100 says the US has lost Iraq. $100 says Nato will never build a missile defense system in Eastern Europe, $100 says oil will reach $100 / brl within 24 months. $100 says Russian declining population will reach parity (death = births) by 2012.

to Al:
1.
"First of all, it is not media it is official statistics widely accepted in the world , second of all this statistics downgraded USA as well( from #1 to #6) so no reason to consider it pro-American . Thirdly, if you do not like western free media tell to Luther to do not refer us to “"An opinion poll last week showed nearly two-thirds of Czechs opposed hosting the radar system." Otherwise it looks that you are gladly quoting western media when it meets your needs and when in free media something what you do not like you are dismissing it. It cannot be both ways."

а) At first think, what this ratings all about. For example you want to produce some rating. What you need?
* Gather some "statistical" numbers, from some sources. And all this numbers has at least statistical error. Have you see at least one "rating" where this error taked into account, and participants has not concrete place, but something like "between xxxx and yyyy"? Not? Really??? :)))

* You have so many different incomparable numbers, but you want just one to make it linearly comparable with others and name it "rating". How? I don't know, but found some mathimacian and ask about this, he look at me as i'm going to do the biggest sin in history and say: "Don't do this. They are incomparable, just keep it as is." :)) But we NEED RATING!!!! So, we produce some model that transform, many different numbers in just one. And what we can say about this model? They are TOTALLY SUBJECTIVE. At first you need *subjectively* define what is this "Global Competitiveness" means at all. Than create some *subjective* mechanism for crunching statistical numbers in rating.

Rating is useful when you have one or few, objective comparable numbers, like in sport, length, seconds etc. But when you take such compleх subject as global competitiveness, etc and try to produce rating(bunch of linearly comparable numbers), what you really get is - SUBJECTIVE BULLSHIT, that at first have nothing common with reality, and at second - they easy to manipulate.

So, pro-American or not, this really don't means, they just bullshit, like any rating for such complex subjects. For what they can be really used - just to saying that somebody "IN THE ASS" and somebody not, but you don't need rating for this... But rating - "statistcal, scientific, widely acceptable" etc.. )))

b) About "westetn free media". You just need to separate bullshit and some objective facts. "Poll in Chezh" - objective verifiable fact. And when "western free media" say some objective verifiable fact, they are not begin be less objective or verifiable. But when "western free media" start to demonize something or throw subjective-easily-manipulatable-bullshit, it really annoy. "free media" is all about opinion and how it manipulated, "proof by repeated assertion", "using demonic context, like stalin, hittler, etc to create fixed negative mindset, and after this you can put anything at this to create total negative perception of full subject. speaking simpler - associativity", etc, just read Guardin or something from "free western media", and you can easily spot this patterns.

2.
"Since 2003 is complete stagnation in oil industry"
You have some objective facts about this?

a)
"in your army are higher mortality in peaceful times than in US army during the war"
Yes, and what? I'm say "positive dynamic", yes, we are in ass but moving in the direction of hole, now. You need to leave at least last ten years in Russia, to understand it, at 90 under Eyeltsin we just moving deepen and deppen in the ass. And before taking such facts, you must to compare current state, with previous, that is all legacy of 100-years Soviet regime and 10-years Eyeltsin chaos.

"are you driving Russian car, are you using Russian computer or…anything Russian besides food and drink?"
hm, and what are you use completely American, not produced in China, India, etc? ))

b)
"Real democracy ? In Russia? I do not want even talk about that it is laughable. Putin assigning governors is a democracy ?"

I'm try to told some sad story about this "democraticaly elected governors". i'm leaving in small city in one of this provincial region, not Moscov or Saint-Petersburg. In all this regional elections you NEVER HAVE ANY REAL CHOICE, because curent governours, are local semi-gods that can easily use it administrative resources: propaganda in local media, opponents discreditation, etc. But it is not the worst, the worsest thing is that any other candidate, not appear from the air, they always created, PR-ed and used by local elite, to serve it needs. And State has very little control under this governours, so in the end of 90, it really threaten country integrity. So, what do Putin, is not about democraty at all, but more about state management and it efficiency.

"If Putin will decide to stay who will even blink? He will be decider to stay or to go, am I wrong? Is it democracy?"
Peoples wants Putin to stay and will elect it for third term if it be possible under Russian constitution, is it not democraty about?
But what really amaze me, how democraty in Russia portrayed in "free western media" - FSB and KGB agents seeking for you to put it in jail for you "free and democratic opinion", total government control, etc in all best traditions of Cold War. It's really laughable. Where i can found this agents? How they control me? And all this things, that government have total control under media. It's at least 1 internet user for 15 peoples in Russia, others have satelits etc. and Euro News rotated in governour channel "Kultura" every morning. Personally, i can't find anybody from my friends, that haven't access to internet via adsl or home-lan. )
Yes, there is a lot of corruption and bureaucracy but now situatuin is far better than six years before.

3,4. Better may be, but worse easier. Why you think Russia alligning with China and India? Because virtually all West politics, do only one thing - throw bullshit in us, they never try to understand complexity(at least hystorical). Only constant portions of bullshit, nothing more.

5. Take some country near Russia from you Rating, and try to figure out at least one useful product. )
IT booming, i not take this from my mind, salaries go up and demand in IT labor-market too. There some numbers and information about Russian IT outsourcing:

http://w3.russoft.ru/whitepaper/

http://english.minsvyaz.ru/news.shtml?id=1&news_id=537

"In highlighting the achievement of this country in the development of high-tech sectors, L.D. Reiman reported that the communications and IT sector growth rates are four times the average economic growth rate in the country."

And if you interested in recent economic development try at least read World Bank report: http://ns.worldbank.org.ru/files/rer/RER_13_eng.pdf

PS: sorry, for my bad english, they really not good.

Hey Vladislav Gusev,

Don't waste your time answering all the details to "Al".

Posting has been fun. Whatever You or I write, whatever Charles or Yuri may post, reality is what it is. Our words can't change anything.

Many of my arguments, in the past, I was trying to understand if my "perceptions" were wrong or right... I wanted an argument to either destroy my thinking of Russia or enforce my views.

For a decade I had this optimism, and yet nobody ever came up with a good reason, or some worth while FACTS to prove me wrong. Oh, they came up with insults, heck sometimes even threats, but never anything real. It took time, but Russians now trust their future in Russia, and it happened over night, the momentum is there, nobody will stop it. Success breads success and every good thing takes longer than anticipated. But I guarantee, Russia and her allies will reach heights beyond their dreams.

For me, I need to learn Russian because my wife and I want to spend the prime of our lives between Russia and Belarus. Let it go Vladislav, nobody will ever give you a good reason why your optimism is wrong.

This century belongs to the young in the CIS.

And whatever sacrifice the war heroes did, and all the sacrifice the Soviet generations gave, all of it being coupled with today's efforts and a great society is being formed with true democracy and white hot capitalism & individualism. Communism failed, America should give up on it as well and not ask Russia to subsidize anyone.

But the best thing to do for Russia or Belarus or Ukraine is to be a capitalist, be honest, work hard, raise a family, start a business, save in Rubles, buy property in the CIS and make American dream happen in the CIS (sorry no black slaves to help you, and no Indian or Mexican land for you to annex). The American dream was a great idea, but it's just not for Americans anymore.

to dimetc:
"About "Global Competitiveness Report 2006-2007". I don't know who and how making such reports. But real business vote by purse. Direct foreign investment reached $31 billion in 2006, twice as much as year before.

Here is another economic indicator, “money flow”
Minus $25 billions in 2000
Minus $15 billions in 2001
Minus $8 billions in 2002
Minus $2 billions in 2003
Minus $8 billions in 2004
Plus $1 billion in 2005
Plus $41 billion in 2006"

about your numbers :

1,
May be Russia getting more money in that out because she recently did impose restrictions on money out?
Read this

“The maximum sum that can be transferred abroad in one day is $5000. This restriction does not apply to nonresidents, who can send any sum of money out of Russia. There is no limit on the amount that can be sent into Russia”

http://www.kommersant.com/t704663/r_3/n_27/Money_Transfer_Market_Growth/

obviously if you are restricting sending money out even with same input you will be in plus

can you imagine that in USA its own citizens would be restricted to transfer money aboard ?

2.About S&P and stock market , since when stock market t was a indication of real economy? it is just gambling nothing more.

3. who created ratings according which Russia is sliding down? ?

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. The World Economic Forum is under the supervision of the Swiss Federal Government.
They are neutral , reputable and nobody doubt them .

to Vladislav Gusev!
Privet Slava!!!:)
Kak Diela!!??

First of all your English is just fine, at least fine for me
(mine is fare from perfect either) and thank you all your efforts and all your explanations.

Second of all, the last thing I wanted is to offend anybody if I got carry away with my polemic, I am sorry.

2. ratings
I do not agree with you about rating but it is not the point, the point is that we either have to abandon rating and polls and media opinion altogether or use it all the time, I do not agree with your selective usage of ratings and polls. I have a strange feeling that if tomorrow the same rating will show Russia’s progress you will start love these rating suddenly.

1.democracy
“I'm try to told some sad story about this "democraticaly elected governors". i'm leaving in small city in one of this provincial region, not Moscov or Saint-Petersburg. In all this regional elections you NEVER HAVE ANY REAL CHOICE,”

This is exactly what i am saying there is no democracy in Russia and Puttin is may be effective manager but he is essentially anti democrat. I ma not saying that it is bad and I am saying that he is wrong, may be democracy not for Russia or you do not what it . All I am saying that there is no progress in democracy in Russia, and you words just prove of that .

3. media
‘But what really amaze me, how democracy in Russia portrayed in "free western media"

There is no such thing on the west as a solid thing called “media” there are different outlets predominantly very leftist and therefore very ideological. Overall I have to agree with you that level of refection on Russia is usually very unsympathetic and unfair. For example ABC’s interview with Basaev was total intellectually dishonest thing. But there is reason why we call this press free. And the reason is that this press is free, unlike TV in Russia for example. We do not shoot our journalists ( although sometime we want to )) and is anybody did we are not saying that it is OK because this journalist was a layer any way .Nobody in USA would support killing of journalists in USA as you do it in case of Piltkovskaia in Russia. My father watches Russian TV and I amazed as well how Russian TV propaganda distorts position of USA and events in USA. But difference is that you can find channel or media outlet in USA which fits your needs and in Russia correct me if I am wrong there is no TV channels pout of government control anymore. And please do not tell me anything about Euro News there is huge difference between Europe and USA, let them explain what they are talking about it like I would hold you responsible for what China is doing

4. west is bad east is good???
‘Better may be, but worse easier. Why you think Russia alligning with China and India? Because virtually all West politics, do only one thing - throw bullshit in us, they never try to understand complexity(at least hystorical). Only constant portions of bullshit, nothing more.”

It is not really true , look for example what is primary market for your “ booming’ software industry according to your own document? USA!!! So without USA intellectual property market , your IT industry would never go up. Why? Because intellectual property in USA protected by law. Now take a look, what happening in another direction. Are you buying your program legally or you buying bootlegger stolen versions? Tell me truth!

In Russia and Chine ( I do not about India) stealing of American intellectual property such as programs , video, games, music is a national sport. And in the same time you are using our honest market to sell you product legally. Our exchange would not happened if Ugly Americans would not invest thought and money in things like internet, PC software etc. So, something useful came from the west you just do not see what is good coming form this side you see only bad. It is a big topic and my point is just a slice, but I will live it there because whole west/east relationship is such a huge topic that I do not want it even to touch. May be some other time:)

5.“IT booming”
First of all thank you for those documents they look very interesting but I need time to read it. I sent copies to my friends and partners who are pros in IT and I will see what they will tell me and, of course, I will read it myself. My question was much more simple: “what did booming Russian IT created?” Name a processor, program besides finereader ( I use multilex dictionaries as well), or any IT technology originated in Russia. And if there is no example it means that all this boom is based on openness of USA market which is according to your paper 90% of you booming IT industry, so this is dilemma for you , or you have to be less vicious about USA , understanding that if you harmed that market 90 % of your IT industry is going down or you blinded by anti -Americanism “ cutting branch on which you are sitting on “ make sense?

6.
"Since 2003 is complete stagnation in oil industry"
You have some objective facts about this?
I have no time now to find a reference I will do it later but this the fact that after yokos was nationalized no progress in oil industry was made.

7.
"In highlighting the achievement of this country in the development of high-tech sectors, L.D. Reiman reported that the communications and IT sector growth rates are four times the average economic growth rate in the country."

Unfortunately it means nothing because it can be easily rephrase that average economic growth rate in the country is 4 times smaller that IT growth. It means only that other branches are not growing.but you said yourself that all statictci is bullshit, did you? Why we have to trust these reports anyway?

World Bank?????????

You must be kidding!!!:))) You was one who dismissed The World Economic Forum’s ratings and reports and now you are referring me to world bank??? So when you like data you use it and you when you do not like it you dismiss it as a “capitalists bushtit”? So we came back to the beginning of my posting . Circle is finished.

Thanks again
Be safe:)
al

to Luther G. Quick

I am not going to say anything on your posting to me because you did not say anything what proved me wrong and your stream of your vicious and gloomy conscious does not allow to have a serious polemics.

You have nothing to say besides that you offered me a gamble ( I do not gamble and do not drink) and you are calling me a racist because i dared to ask you why you so concern about ratio of white race in USA population ? ( I never called you racist by the way, reread the transcript)

After you posted what you posted I see that there is no further point to talk to you because you prefer to insult rather than to dispute, so consider that as my farewell note and I leave you and your gloomy illusions undamaged by facts and rationale polemic.

But I want to comment on your paternalistic “wise” preaching to Vladislav because that part is really got me , I have to admit:

“For me, I need to learn Russian because my wife and I want to spend the prime of our lives between Russia and Belarus. “

You see this is a difference between us, I know Russian language, it is my first language, and I was born in Belarus and I lived in Russia . Part of my family still in Russia and in Belarus . I know what I am taking about. You do not. And you dare teach me about Russia?

“And whatever sacrifice the war heroes did, and all the sacrifice the Soviet generations gave”

What do you know abut Soviet generations? My grandfather perished in Gulag!! I lived under communism and I know what it is it about , you have no idea what you talking about ! and this part of your charm :)

“sorry no black slaves to help you, and no Indian or Mexican land for you to annex).”

Along with Russian language you should learn a bit of Russian history

Russian slavery was abolished in 1861 same time as in US . so Russian civilization built on slavery as much as American. indeed Russians did not use Africans as slaves they enslaved own people , does it make Russian slavery better?

“no Indian or Mexican land” ???

where Russian oil came form ? Siberia! When and how Siberia became Russian ? same time when Europeans colonized America Russia did colonize Siberia. Same blood same genocide of native people. Same racism . You know what difference is? Whole world know name of Indian tribes and know tragedy of native Americans , because Americans, since recently at least, care about them . Who knows today about native Siberian people ? who cares about them ? Do you?

“The American dream was a great idea, but it's just not for Americans anymore. “

Why you do not trust Russians to dream Russian dream? Why American dream,? Did you ask Russian ? may be they do not want American” dream? Do not patronize them they will figure it our without you, learn Russian language and Russian history first.

And if American dream is not for you it does not mean that it is not for all Americans, you are not speaking for all Americans you are not speaking for me .Go to Belarus!!! I will stay in USA ! we do have problems in USA and may be indeed difficult times are coming, I am staying anyway and I will do my best to do good for my country. I was in this country when were good times and this country was good to me. It is not a prefect country but it is mine.

“AL”

to Luther G. Quick:
May be not just a Russian Dream, but some simple Russian Design. :)))

to Al:
"Privet!"
"No ya ne Slava, ya Vlad" :)
Thanks, to spot this for me.
But i'm not anti-american, and do not watch this zombo-boxes a lot. )

3.
"me if I am wrong there is no TV channels pout of government control anymore"
Only major three ORT, RTR and NTV, have a lot of government controled capital in it. )) And in news blocs, at least recently, America portrayed quite, positively, anti-Iraq demonstration, ordinary peoples that do it work, etc. ) personally for me, it's better to use internet than all this somebody-controlled-bullshited-media. ))

4. may be east just not so neocon-driven?

"Are you buying your program legally or you buying bootlegger stolen versions? Tell me truth!"
i'm student! )) but if you take some firm(90%) that run business, they have legal WinXP, or use Linux\OpenOffice )

5. This paper about IT outsourcing, so some firm in USA just use R&D capability in Russia. Open may be, but it very hard to put something in it, at least you need some superb product like FineReader. may be AVP(Kaspersky Anti-Virus), WinRAR, FAR, it's just what i'm have in my PC, that made in Russia )

7. i'm not say this about statistic. )) slishkom mnogo bukv, vsegda est grani bullshit-a i esli podumat ih moshno uvidet. )))

To VLAD!
Privet, Vlad!!
I did not that winrar is Russian program I use it a lot thank you for pointing it out, excellent product as well.
I will read your documents about Russian soft during weekend, too busy right now but thank you for information , I would never find it myself

“But i'm not anti-american, and do not watch a lot. )’
Glad to know that because anti-Americanism as look like a disease of 21st century , people just cannot think rationally because of that disease . and believe you or not a lot of Americans are anti American I would love them to live in other countries for littlie while to get some wisdom and to sober up .
May be not you, but Russian internet, overall, and Russian mood in general, look pretty anti American to me, am I wrong? I would love to know your view, your insight on that.

What did you mean by “this zombo-boxes” by the way?

East is not “neocon-driven”?
it is a big topic. I am not sure we can pinch it at that time, but east is driven by many other things such as Islamism , anti Semitism, anti Americanism, fake anti-imperialism and yes old communists ideas are alive and well on the east as well. So it is not that simple ” bad neo-con” versus good wise peaceful east” it is much more complex. However I agree that if by neocon you understand an ideology it is as bad as any other ideology, including ideology of euraisanism and Russian nationalism .
Thanks again for your insight I guess you helped me to understand many things Last time I was in Russia in 1999 , but I permanently in touch since then ( have some family and many friends around soviet union) and sorry for multiple typos in my posting I have to do all this bloggoing things in such a hurry that cannot control my spelling as I should: )

So , are you yourself IT person? Programmer? Tell about yourself a bit, just curious.
be happy :)
al

to Luther G. Quick:
May be not just a Russian Dream, but some simple Russian Design. :)))

to Al:
"Privet!"
"No ya ne Slava, ya Vlad" :)
Thanks, to spot this for me.
But i'm not anti-american, and do not watch this zombo-boxes a lot. )

3.
"me if I am wrong there is no TV channels pout of government control anymore"
Only major three ORT, RTR and NTV, have a lot of government controled capital in it. )) And in news blocs, at least recently, America portrayed quite, positively, anti-Iraq demonstration, ordinary peoples that do it work, etc. ) personally for me, it's better to use internet than all this somebody-controlled-bullshited-media. ))

4. may be east just not so neocon-driven?

"Are you buying your program legally or you buying bootlegger stolen versions? Tell me truth!"
i'm student! )) but if you take some firm(90%) that run business, they have legal WinXP, or use Linux\OpenOffice )

5. This paper about IT outsourcing, so some firm in USA just use R&D capability in Russia. Open may be, but it very hard to put something in it, at least you need some superb product like FineReader. may be AVP(Kaspersky Anti-Virus), WinRAR, FAR, it's just what i'm have in my PC, that made in Russia )

7. i'm not say this about statistic. )) slishkom mnogo bukv, vsegda est grani bullshit-a i esli podumat ih moshno uvidet. )))

Hey "Al",

You know, there were a bunch of Iraqi scientists who were damn sure they knew where all the Iraqi WMD were. After receiving their green cards to the US, a free house and a car and education for their children, they gladly gave the evidence, which turned out to be a flop - FAKE... The American gov, duped again...

And I know of two types of Russians (CIS) in my town, those that RUN away from the CIS because of their own failures and those that came here, thinking the streets were made of gold, now realizing the NYC streets are gold from homeless urine... and they are now packing there shit and going back home (to Russia). I know of many Russias leaving.

Anyway...

How come Halliburton is leaving America? Are you smarter than Halliburton?

Anyway "Al", looks like you are worked up about something... so why did you run from Russia?
It's not healthy to move around all over the world to find happiness... you need to make it first in one spot, then move, success and happiness will follow... otherwise, time will exaggerate your reasons for leaving Russia and you will create blind spots for the country you live in and you never become accountable for your own failures.

I was born in Germany, lived in Spain for 7 years, been in a bunch of other countries, I was married in Belarus and my wife and I are very happy and plan our future with our businesses in Russia and Belarus. So my wife and I spend / spent a lot of time in Belarus. We love it.

As far as the American dream in Russia, you are missing my point. And I apologize as my words may not be clear. What America "sells" as an American dream is NOT just American... my post is targeted for the Americans that force their dreams on others... Right now Iraq is dealing with the American dream (I'm sarcastic, can you tell?). The American Indian know well about the American dream.

So anyway "Al", admit it, you are in America for Wal-Mart, fried chicken and burgers, cheap cars, cheap stick houses, and cheap food at every corner restaurant where illegal Mexicans cook your food and wash your dishes... Isn't this just GREAT !!! There isn't one piece of freedom you have in America that you didn't have in Belarus. You are here in the US because the US is the most subsidized nation on Earth and your delusion will be hell when you actually need to work someday.

As for the rest of your comments, I'm too busy to answer them.

So relax, this is a global economy... Warren buffet and Halliburton aren't stupid. Smart and wealthily people have been diversifying away from dollar assets for a long time, at this stage we are seeing Yukos like transaction here in America.

Halliburton has no emotions for America... and you shouldn't either. My positive outlook towards Russia and Belarus are simple mathematics.

And "Al" you shouldn't let you emotions dictate your investment strategy, or you will die broke in America.

Good luck

to Luther G. Quick:
from "AL"

I know that I am wasting my efforts answering you Luther,so I do it predominantly for those occasional readers who may be browsing this blog, not for you. However you are welcome to respond , it is sort of interesting to watch how you are twisting the reality, trying to moralize around your cynical materialistic attitude toward to your own country. Although from your answer I see again that you have nothing to tell on essence of my comments and just trying to insult me not being able to dispute with me (“As for the rest of your comments, I'm too busy to answer them.”)

1.
“And I know of two types of Russians (CIS) in my town, those that RUN away from the
CIS because of their own failures and those that came here, thinking the streets were made of gold, now realizing the NYC streets are gold from homeless urine... and they are now packing there shit and going back home (to Russia). I know of many Russias leaving.”

If those people whom you described are all who you know it shows that you either know nothing or good people just avoiding you. May be both?? Any way ,it is your problem not mine. By the way, former soviets did a lot for America you can google it to research , and by the way, take a look on the Google itself as an example of what former soviets did for US.

2.
“so why did you run from Russia?”
You know , Luther , you enjoy laughing on my tragedy ( and when anybody have to immigrate it is a tragedy).I have no problem with that. I do not expect you to understand what does it mean to loose country were you was born. You incapable to feel pain of people who have to immigrate , because all you know about your own country is wall mart and fry chicken and because you are WILLINGLY going to leave your country what is unimaginable for me.

Not for you, but for other readers who may be reading this exchange : I came to USA not from Belarus were I was born and not from Russia were I was educated, but from other former soviet republic where I went after university during soviet times to help build industry . After collapse of soviet union I found that neither Russia nor Belarus did not except back former Russian and Belarusian residents from other eastern former soviet republics, treating them as a second class people, betraying them, leaving them behind , leaving them as hostages in very dangerous and often life threatening situations. By the way, hundreds of thousands former Russian Belarusian and Ukrainian residents who were citizens of soviet union are STILL STOCKED in eastern former soviet union republics, which are independent countries today . Nobody in Russia or Belarus lifted a finger to do anything for them . I have friends who are Russian nationals from former eastern soviet republics ( CIS states today) and they have to live in Russia illegally because Russia is not taking them back. In Russia and Belarus people like them are hiding from Russian/Belarusian police as illigals . People like Luther have no compassion for them because they are no Indians or Mexicans and you cannot blame America for that.
3.
“t's not healthy to move around all over the world to find happiness... you need to make it first in one spot, then move, success and happiness will follow... otherwise, time will exaggerate your reasons for leaving Russia and you will create blind spots for the country you live in and you never become accountable for your own failures.”

You are 100% right about that! You see, we are agree in something: ) This was my main reason to not leave the state were I stocked after USSR collapsed .I did not want to leave with bloody nose, besides I needed money to move away. So, I created own business in the state where I had to reside after collapse of soviet union, very successful business that got recognition in Europe ( I cooperated with German company last years, by the way ) participated in projects of European community and traveled extensively across all Europe ( most often in Germany) . When my business became excellent I felt that I can move on. I left company I created to my workers and this company still exist today giving food on the table for about 20 families. But because neither Russia nor Belarus did not want me back I immigrated in USA were I had family members who lived in USa for very long time .Thus, I am not complaining and I was not running away from anything as you would like to think ( you one of those who think worst about other people just to feel yourself better, I know that type of people)
The country were I was born ( The soviet union) just did not exist anymore and state of my birth, Belarus did not take its residents back. So it was not a moral dilemma I did not leave Belarus , Belarus left me.

4.
“Warren buffet and Halliburton aren't stupid.”

No they are not stupid at all, and you are not stupid either . You are something else, but you are not stupid. You are moving there where you think is future and prosperity : very smart .

So, help me understand: you, your wife, Warren buffet and Halliburton are moving from America somewhere where will be better life and therefore more of fry chicken in close future? You are afraid that tomorrow America will be running out fry chicken and therefore all of you , are moving to the places where , in your view, fry chicken is more probably will be still plenty tomorrow ? Very smart indeed.

Now I see why you suspect materialistic motifs in people like me, who came to America. The reason is that your own goals of moving out from America are PURELY MATERIALISTIC . You think that the ship is sinking and you are leaving the ship like a rat ( keeping company to Halliburton ) and you dare to blame me for being materialistic?

5.
“The American Indian know well about the American dream.”
Same as Siberian native people know about “Russian dream”
Siberian natives’ blood is in the foundation of Russian prosperity. Same as all former colonial countries around the world know about “European Dream” with which I see you do not have any problem. Same way as Algerians are paid and Caledonians are still paying for French dream. Same as Canadian Indian know well about the Canadian dream. Indians in Latin America are still paying for prosperity of Spain were you lived happily with clear conscious. I even do not want to start talking about your motherland Germany . Do you care about who and how much, have to pay for prosperity of your home country? Do you have clear conscious about that ???

If you are against cheap prosperity and you ashamed that illegals wash your dishes why you are leaving to Russia where illigals from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are washing dishes for Russians and making prosperity for Russia for cheap? Why in your view Uzbeks are worse than Mexicans? Well, I guess you do not see contradiction in that

6.
“There isn't one piece of freedom you have in America that you didn't have in Belarus.”

You, as usual, have no idea what you are talking about , there is no freedom Belarus as in USA in many aspects :for example “ propiska” or restrictions in moving through the country . Ability of locals in Russian and Belarus to live freely in capital town are restricted. Ability to transfer money and have business are restricted . My brother was a Belarusian businessmen and was laterally robbed by police and tax agency who extorted money from him . And many, many, many other unimaginable in USA things.

But do not worry Luther, foreigners are may be only people who live freely in Russia and Belarus. As a foreigner you will feel no restrictions and you know that. You are smart guy , you calculated everything. Just do not confuse your reality with reality of those Belarusians who have no US passport.
By the way, you are not going to give up, hated by you, US citizenship???? You are not going to accept Belarusian citizenship???? You are no that smart I guess :)))

7.
‘So my wife and I spend / spent a lot of time in Belarus. We love it.”

All foreigners love to live in former soviet union.( see above about reasons ) They have no those restrictions that simple mortals natives are getting everyday. In opposite, they capitalize on those restrictions. It is exactly what you are going to do: live as a foreigner enjoying all freedoms in country were locals are restricted, so essentially you are going to exploit those locals, as matter of fact.
Foreigners , living in Cis countries are feeling themselves more significant , richer people more respectable etc, in other words this is the way for them to be somebody . I had Germans and Dutch people working for me back then when I was a businessmen . I know this mentality.

By the way I love Belarus as well, great place, and all my family work very hard to make Belarus as good as it is now, my parents were recognized in Belarus for their input in the development of this country ( then soviet republic) and my grandfather and older uncle did fight during the war to protect Belarus and Russia spilling their blood . Such a pity they did not let me back . So at least you enjoy it, I wish you all the best ( sincerely) I guess you did something useful for USA as well and I enjoy being here :)

8.

“Halliburton has no emotions for America... and you shouldn't either.”
Halliburton is tour ideal not mine. I do not measure my future by course of currency as you do . So if you choose your path with Halliburton it is your choice . It may be very smart, just do not try to create a moral alibi for your hunt for Belarusian fry chicken by talking about slavery and Indians about illigals and materialism. Just tell honestly that you are going to follow path of migration of fry chicken. It is all what you are about: FRY CHICKEN . Too bad I am a vegetarian and never tried neither fry chicken nor stick nor burger in USA yet : )

One more comment for “fry chicken guy” for Luther!
About slavery. You are going to move to Russia and Belarus and both these civilizations are entirely built on slavery . Gulag was a Stalin’s slavery. And enslaved soviet people where the main driving force for building this relative prosperity which you are going to enjoy.

American slavery is horrific thing. But there are many other countries build there prosperity on slavery in 19th century, including Russia. But no other countries other than Germany and USSR willingly reinstituted slavery in 20th century. So, when you will be enjoying new found cheap fry chicken in Russia and Belarus remember that it happened because 10s of millions of soviet slaves perished in Gulags building Gasprom and other foundations of today’s prosperity.

I guess you against only American slavery and have nothing against soviet slavery, but I have a different take on all these because as I wrote previously my grandfather spent 18 years in GULAG . What kind of moral excuses you created for yourself accepting slavery heritage as a starting point for your future “ fry chicken driven” success in Russia /Byelorussia???

Al,

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn says you are dead wrong.

With regard to "propiska", you are full of BS. If you have the money, you can live anywhere. Maybe you were waiting for a free apartment?

In regard to my US citizenship, like Bush says, “All options are on the table”. I was born in Germany, so if the US fixes its current mistakes, and makes it attractive for my contibutions, I might stay. But frankly, German or Belarusian citizenship sounds better if the US keeps going the way it is. This is not for me as I'm trying figure out where it is best for my children. Last friggen thing I need is for my son to drafted in the US Army after the next 9/11 or romp around the planet on Christian crusade looking for oil while the commander is winking his eye saying it’s for democracy..

I will assume you already have your American green card, so why continue shoveling the BS? I’m sure once those Iraqi scientists got their green cards they quickly stopped presenting evidence of WMD in Iraq. Even if you upgraded to US citizenship, now you can vote for the next president Bush. Do me a favor, please, vote for another man like Bush… America will not change for the better until we take this mission full throttle right off the cliff.

In much of your posts you ridicule me for focusing on the past, yet you forget that Russia today isn't the USSR of yesterday.

I could chit chat with you forever, next I could start rambling on about Irish slaves in America or all the Chinese that are buried next to the US rail road system they build 100 + years ago across the US... but what's the point?

Al, no insults intended, 1/2 my posts are sarcastic, 1/2 I’m simply pissed off that America is losing Iraq (& oue soldiers for pay this failure) and that all of it was a con job, a GOD DAMN LIE !!!!!! For me, I’m part German, Italian, Russian, Mongolian, Polish, American Indian, Irish and rumor has it, I need to verify, and my great grandmother in Germany was Jewish. To this end, I see hegemony as the evil and it's this that makes American prosperity. And part, maybe most Americas prosperity is based on its ability to use resources from other nations, other people.

I believe in a world that is flat economically, I believe in Reaganomics, in supply side economics, and low taxes and freedom and autonomy for all people and nations. This is why my views look at the current US admin and see MORON, ASSHOLE!

Part of my disgust is that Bush and the GOP lost me after I realized what fakes they are. While the other part of me changed when I experienced Belarus with my wife. The US negatives are one thing, but the positives in other countries are simply “hope”.

To generalize and to create stereo types is wrong. There is trailer trash in Belarus and the US. There are criminals in America and Russia. And there are great people in all nations. But in America’s political system is full of fakes, inexperienced, dip shits empowered by LUCK and Darwinian foreign policy. The US population follows its leaders no different than those that followed Hitler or Stalin.

I have no more time posts…

Respectfully, we all have our opinions. I truly believe I am least biased. I wish the best to you. And if America is for you, then enjoy. For me, this world is too big and too diverse to join this “circle jerk” called America. The whole thing reminds me of an Enron board meeting where everyone tells everyone else what they want to hear when in fact they just want a green card and an easy life, and at times, 99.99% of the words comming out of their mouths is about such handouts.

Still, the CIS is going to be a great place from this point forward and more so as America retreats and goes into isolationism after lossing Iraq.

to Luther G. Quick |:
Thank you for your prompt feedback!
You know, cultural studies happens to be one of my professional interests and you are such an interesting case of cultural pathology that to research your opinion is very enlightening , so, I truly appreciate your time for responding on my comments.
1.Propiska
“With regard to "propiska", you are full of BS. “

If you read Russian you can read at this link :
http://nponucka.yanqex.ru/ that you have to have propiska if you want to have
1. permanent job
2. get a loan
3. medical assistance for your kids
4. want to have travel passport
and many other things
quote:
“Короче говоря, московская прописка просто необходима, чтобы стать "белым человеком " в этом безумном городе.”
Translation: “If you want to be a “white man” in this city you have to have a “propiska”
Prove me wrong
Same in Belarus

“If you have the money, you can live anywhere. “

Indeed, if you have money you can bribe anybody anywhere in any CIS country , anytime: corruption is unbelievable. In normal countries you have rights regardless of you money status.

“Maybe you were waiting for a free apartment?”

typical for you: when you have nothing to say, you are saying nonsense . When did I say anything about “free apartment”? It is not about “free apartment” it is about freedom of movement which is restricted on all territory of all CIS countries for native people( not for foreigners)

2 slavery in USSR .

“Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn says you are dead wrong.”

Really? Wrong about what ? Are you debating reality of slavery in USSR? Take your head out of your fry chicken and read the books and articles listed below:

1.Martin J. Bollinger Stalin's Slave Ships Kolyma, the Gulag Fleet, and the Role of the West http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/C8100.aspx
Reviews:
a)“the darker corners of the Soviet forced labor system, and it will be of interest both to those studying the Gulag and to maritime historians in general. “
b)—International Journal of Maritime History .
“Stalin supplied the Gulag camps of northeastern Siberia with forced labor,”
—Choice June 2004
c) Endorsement From David Stone
author of Hammer and Rifle: The Militarization of the Soviet Union, 1926-1933: An ingenious use of neglected sources to shed new light on the workings of Stalin's labor camp system.
2. USSR history site;
“Many of the prisoners of the Gulag were released at this time, bringing to an end the slave labor system.”
http://www.angelfire.com/mac/egmatthews/worldinfo/europe/uSSR.html
3. do you know who is Varlam Shalamov? Rhetorical question , how you would know anybody who is not an NFL star? He is a Russian writer who was the first to describe slavery in soviet union. Read this:
“Kolyma was cursed with large gold mines. The Soviet regime sent out millions of human beings to extract the gold, even if they had to die for it. In Kolyma, more than anywhere else, the gulag camps were death camps. The brutal slave labor in subfreezing temperatures was a source of torment no less horrible than any other saga of human suffering. Some people like to pounce on slight differences. They will see a veneer of economic rationality in the exploitation at Kolyma (although Nazi slave labor made even more economic sense), or argue that Kolyma laborers were not selected by race (although Stalinist reality was such that being a member of the middle class - defined by who your relatives were - was often a death sentence in itself). Morally, though, there was no real difference.”
http://www.arlindo-correia.com/080204.html

If your conscience will wake up let me know I will give you more information about soviet slavery. So far, your incapability to feel other peoples pain and to understand tragedy other than high price of oil is astonishing.

Read what I listed above , but regardless of what anybody will say, third time for you: my grandfather was a slave for 18 yeas in GULAG , I do not need Solzhenitsyn to tell me about that and you can hide yourself behind your ignorance and keep yourself in state of denial. It is the fact : slavery was in USSR and Germany and you de-facto justifying that by your immoral indifference to this fact.

3.
“will assume you already have your American green card”
I am American citizen for quite a while already

4.
“I’m sure once those got their green cards they quickly stopped presenting evidence of WMD in Iraq.”
Your obsession with Iraqi scientists is scary but I have no idea how it is related to me. Sometime you sound just incoherent.

6.
“To generalize and to create stereo types is wrong.’
It is exactly what you are doing: you are creating anti-American stereotypes and glamorizing former USSR, without knowing of any history and not being capable to withstand any historical contextual dispute. Ignorance+ vicious anti-Americanism + greed and scare of loosing your access to fry chicken are driving you fueling your stereotypes.
7.
“The US population follows its leaders no different than those that followed Hitler or Stalin.”
You one who was talking about not creating stereotypes? And you are comparing US with Hitler and Stalin? In Stalin’s or Hitler’s state you would be already dead or working hard as a slave in concentration camp. Make a brain effort, make one verifiable parallel of US with USSR, and if you cannot, just shut up and keep chewing your fry chicken before nothing left. US population is different . There are people like you who do not appreciate what they have and there are others who know history and understand that there is no perfect countries. Your inability to respect opinion of those who think different from you is a typical for USSR and , your intolerance to people who dare to not agree with you is typical for communists, this is why you glamorizing USSR’s past and do not want to talk about that past because you would feel yourself very comfortable in that system.
8
‘I truly believe I am least biased.’
LOL
Is it not being biased :” For me, this world is too big and too diverse to join this “circle jerk” called America.” So your anti-American bias is not a bias?

9.
“But frankly, German or Belarusian citizenship sounds better if the US keeps going the way it is.”
Bingo!!! You are moving from country to country depending where is better conditions: how are you different from you favorite Iraqi scientists? I am sure in Belarus you will sing all favorite Lukashenko’s songs to get a citizenship if you will see that fry chicken is there.
Remember the only point on what we agreed?
I performed some autopsy of your previous posting and this is the quote:
“t's not healthy to move around all over the world to find happiness... you need to make it first in one spot, then move, success and happiness will follow... otherwise, time will exaggerate your reasons for leaving Russia and you will create blind spots for the country you live in and you never become accountable for your own failures.”

So why you do not want to try your wisdom for yourself?
You failed in USA and now you are exaggerating what was a reason for you failure , aren’t ‘t you???

10.
“Still, the CIS is going to be a great place from this point forward”

I hope so , I am just afraid the more people like you will go there looking for prosperity the less chances it has. You screwed up your own country and now you are looking for fresh start? But remember looser is everywhere looser. If you could do something you would do it here. You want to use CIS for your own material survival but you lost your chances in USA why it should be better anywhere else? May be problem is not in the USA but inside you?

What is Russia's position regarding NATO expansion for Croatia? This is really interesting given the fact that unlike Kosovo, Croatia was an Austro-Hungarian province from 1527-1918 and is a Western former Yugoslav country.

I just linked to this post and 'borrowed' your picture to make a point.. just so you know..

sincerely

Ingrid

I just linked to this post and 'borrowed' your picture to make a point.. just so you know..

sincerely

Ingrid

I know this is premature, but let's invite Russia into NATO and speed up the process of integration. China will follow suit eventually.