Eastern Alliance: The Formation of a Sino-Russo Counter to NATO

a reply to: Caver78

Hard to say on the gold standard, but they both allege to have large reserves. I tend to agree with you that it's questionable how much of our reserve still exists. It's advantageous, especially for a country large enough to be globally significant but small enough to cover their circulating currency. I haven't studied either country deep enough to know how their claimed gold reserves match up to their circulating currency. Unless there's something I've missed the US simply can't return to a gold standard.

They're dropping the dollar, how hard and fast is the real question. Definitely has been in the works and I've been following a while. I'm sure timing is partially a function of need

They may use some dollars, but cutting them off was essentially it. No country can allow it's entire financial system to depend on enemies. This has confirmed what they believed. The west had a nuclear option that was only going to really work once against those with the power to resist. They used it for this.

This puts China in the catbird seat for now. Another victory handed to them by the western world. Being the only game in town was pretty sweet, but our constant need to interfere all over the world once again means Americans suffer while our money goes to solve the problems our government created. The most recent I heard is 14 billion to Ukraine. It would not need it if we hadn't interfered there, much to the benefit of US politicians and families. How much of the 14 billion will end up in connected political pockets rather than helping Ukrainians?

I don't think any politician or advisor in Washington is equipped to deal with what happens when the dollar is no longer a global reserve. The entirety of US policy has hinged on it and the power it gave. Our financial leaders were unable to predict what was obvious incoming inflation. They are publicly ridiculed. None of these people have to compromise for anything, ever, and they are going to go nuclear when they realize what's happening. They will likely do enormous harm in their efforts to counter the impacts. Once again, it will be our own government that causes the harm and we'll be the ones that pay.

Too late now.

originally posted by: SleeperHasAwakened

originally posted by: Metallicus
I still don't understand why Russia is supposedly this big enemy, but China is clearly the country to be concerned with in the short and long term. Economically, militarily and culturally the Russians can't compete with the U.S. China can compete on all of the above and needs to be taken seriously.

The infiltration by agents of the CCP oinor society, at every level, from academic to government to business, and even buying up real estate, is simply too pervasive to ignore.

Only the galactically dense or people on the take financially think Russia is a bigger threat than China.

The reckoning time is not far off.

The fact that China has a stranglehold on our supply of prescription medicine should wake people up to the point that a plan should be developed and implemented not next week, not tomorrow, RIGHT NOW to rectify that situation.

I don't think we have to court Russia as an ally per se, but pushing them forcefully to China, backing them into a corner, is strategically beneficial to China.

Again, only idiots or people payed off by China don't recognize the peril there.

When their supply to statins or mood pills or insulin is completely and irrevocably cut off, only then will they see the issue, but sadly that will be too late.

Yes, and for 2 years now I've been calling it " The Chinese Spider Web Trap ". But its OK, most in Congress are old to unhealthy to spend their ill gains from China.

What exactly would China be without a market?
Russia was always the source of division. The black hand pulling strings in Korea and Vietnam.
The two realities of the left and right in the US pale in comparison.
Sure the chicoms write papers about their covert war against the world on all fronts of life - and we are like nothing to see here.

I wanted to compare Putin to a conspiracy theorist and the west to mainstream media.
However there's the history and he looks rather like a state-run psy-op. It's easy to see China as the new house devil moved into but again it's Russia moving things.
They could beak of his hand and be self-destructive while thinking it's of their own will.
Communists were never truly smart. There's no free will and common sense allowed in this ideology.

originally posted by: myselfaswell
And the people of Crimea voted for re-integration with Russia, but apparently that doesn't count. And that's when the sanctions started.

How does that permit a Russian invasion? The only ones responsible for that are Russian, Putin and anyone who voted for him.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

How does that permit a Russian invasion? The only ones responsible for that are Russian, Putin and anyone who voted for him.

Well, it doesn't, but that's not how life works.

To me this whole scenario is similar to the first gulf war. Iraq warned Kuwait, about 4 times, to stop drilling diagonally into their oil fields or they were going to get their ass kicked. They didn't stop the drilling and they got their ass kicked. Pretty straight forward really.

There is an agreement between the west (NATO) and Russia, that countries bordering Russia should remain neutral, that is no NATO membership. How many times Russia has warned Ukraine about staying neutral, I don't know. What I do know is they are, among other things, trying their best to not be neutral, so they're getting their ass kicked. Pretty straight forward really.

I don't walk through unlit parks at night, not because I don't want to but because I don't want to get my ass kicked.

originally posted by: myselfaswell
How many times Russia has warned Ukraine about staying neutral, I don't know.

It isn't Russia's call, if Ukraine wants to join the EU, NATO or the Mickey Mouse Club it's their own self-determination.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

it's their own self-determination.

That's absolutely correct. And for the Ukraine, on that path of self-determination to join NATO, is an ass kicking.

originally posted by: myselfaswell
And for the Ukraine, on that path of self-determination to join NATO, is an ass kicking.

Looks more like a protracted and unwinnable guerilla war for Russia.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Looks more like a protracted and unwinnable guerilla war for Russia.

Maybe. I think it all depends on how much NATO is prepared to invest in it. Russia may well only occupy what it said it was going to and maintains a defensive position.

originally posted by: myselfaswell
Russia may well only occupy what it said it was going to and maintains a defensive position.

Until they get attrited out the same way that happened to them in Afghanistan. It's not a sustainable occupation by any means.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Until they get attrited out the same way that happened to them in Afghanistan. It's not a sustainable occupation by any means.

If they only occupy states with a high Russian ethnic population who will actively support that occupation then I see no reason for indefinite occupation or even, in the longer term, re-integration.

originally posted by: myselfaswell
If they only occupy states with a high Russian ethnic population who will actively support that occupation then I see no reason for indefinite occupation or even, in the longer term, re-integration.

That isn't the current situation, the Russians are occupying the areas that don't match your description as well.

a reply to: SleeperHasAwakened

"strategically brilliant plan" Is not how one should describe driving fuel and food prices through the roof. Biden's sanctions do more damage to the US dollar than they do for Russia. As US allies struggle with increasing fuel prices their allegiance to Washington will be tested.

originally posted by: PacificViking
Biden's sanctions do more damage to the US dollar than they do for Russia.

The ruble is worth about a penny now, the dollar is up against nearly all foreign currencies. You should try to pick a better example.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

That isn't the current situation, the Russians are occupying the areas that don't match your description as well.

What source are you using for that?