Russia has been busy lately pushing the boundries and confronting the west. Tanks in the Ukraine, over flights in Europe and submarines where they should not be. The land of Persia has always been a part of Russian foreign policy, a part of the great game and now another thorn in the side as Russia moves to enhance Iran's nuclear program. True Cold War politics in action!

Russia ups nuclear plans in Iran as talks near deadline - CNN.com (http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/11/world/meast/iran-russia-nuclear/index.html?hpt=hp_t1)

Now all we need is a proxy war, I expect that will be played out in the Ukraine

You really do like insiting others, clete. You won't have to fight, and I won't either, so why bother with the rhetoric. We all know what is coming about but don't alarm other people. I am not going to be here when all of this comes about, and either is my son.

I am raking leaves and bagging them for pick up, working outside in the fresh air of my small town and going in to have my dinner and out to work in the morning.

I read the Toronto Star first thing and then check the CBC new on my iPad for up dates, so I am pretty well informed and not upset about international events.

I am kayaking on the weekend, probably doing a little hiking too. And it is now 1730 in Ontario and I am off to bed to get up early to work in the moring at 0700.

tickle you can be a ostrich if you want to, it doesn't stop me commenting on world events. Tell me how is it we don't hear much out of Canada, are they all as quiet as you are, willing for others to take the lead and do the hard yards while they go be bed at dusk? The fact is we are in a Cold War now, Russia is becoming increasingly aggressive, trying to recapture the place it had decades ago and they have a much better economic base, but the west has been placing sanctions on them and it is damaging their economy so their reaction is not surprising.

Now I personally am beyond the age when men go to war, but my sons and grandsons are not and the current commemorations of WWI are a distant echo of why we must remain vigilent. I lost a grandfather at Ypres and he did not shrink back from his duty to future generations.

I am not trying to scare anyone, but discussion of the facts is useful and should not be restricted to politicians

Congress must in the next few weeks make a war resolution to legitimize our actions against the Islamic State .

re Russia . Yes we are drifting rapidly into a new cold war. But we can't put the whole blame on Putin . US policy towards Russia post Soviet Union collapse has been quite frankly a folly .

Yes you fell for the idea of an open market in Eastern Europe and were blind to the politics. But then you are always suckers when anyone says democracy. You will go after ISIS, what choice do you have, leave Iraq to its fate a second time? But Russia doesn't see Iran as a threat and I think you are looking in the wrong place for a threat, you are willing to bomb the crap out of someone who can't shoot back while a population is being enslaved in the Ukraine

You have to understand Russia, here is a little analysis and insight you might not get over there

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-12/dal-santo-is-putin-right-wing/5884772

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/russia-sends-warships-towards-australia-before-g20-meeting-20141112-11lc4z.html

But Russia doesn't see Iran as a threat
ummm yes they do . That is why they go out of their way appeasing Iran.


you are willing to bomb the crap out of someone who can't shoot back while a population is being enslaved in the Ukraine


the current shelling of the population in the East Ukraine city of Donetsk is not being done by the rebel forces or Russia . It is Kiev violating the Minsk cease fire .

So now you are on Putin's side, What is it you think is happening in the Ukraine? People exercising their "democratic" right to succeed? A right the people of the US are not afforded. Perhaps you also see Kiev as a western puppet state

http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2014/11/12/tsr-intv-blitzer-daniel-baer-pro-russian-rebels-ukraine.cnn&hpt=hp_t3&from_homepage=yes&video_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F

Putin is flexing his muscles anywhere he can, we have seen it in Europe, in the Ukraine, in Iran, in Sweden and we are seeing it now in the Coral Sea. This is the result of an ineffective response in Georgia and Crimea. You may as well give him want he wants because Nevile Chamberlain in the White House isn't going to confront him as he annexes these various Russian homeland territories, that peace prize weights too heavy

Putin is but another rich dictator destabilizing the Ukraine by dividing and conquering for his own purpose. Obviously to increase and hold power.

well the way I see it ,its the EU that wants Ukraine in it's sphere . Let's see them defend Ukraine. The oligarch that assumed control in Kiev is no better than Putin...and his base of support is neo-Nazis. Unless you can tell me that somehow the rebels are shelling their own positions in Donetsk ,or that the Russians are shelling the city ,then you've pretty much narrowed it down to Kiev being the aggressor shelling civilians .

European tanks and planes are not the answer, and defending farmers is as good a lie as one would expect from an old fashion rich a$$ dictator expanding his power and influence.

old fashion rich a$$ dictator expanding his power and influence.


In 1993, Poroshenko, together with his father Oleksiy and colleagues from the Road Traffic Institute in Kiev, created the UkrPromInvest Ukrainian Industry and Investment Company, which specialised in confectionery (and later other agricultural processing industries) and the automotive industry.Poroshenko was director-general of the company from its founding until 1998, when in connection with his entry into parliament he handed the title over to his father, while retaining the title of honorary president.
Between 1996 and 1998, UkrPromInvest acquired control over several state-owned confectionery enterprises which were combined into the Roshen (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/wiki/Roshen) group in 1996, creating the largest confectionery manufacturing operation in Ukraine. His business success in the confectionery industry earned him the nickname "Chocolate King".Poroshenko's business empire also includes several car and bus plants, Leninska Kuznya (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/wiki/Leninska_Kuznya) shipyard, the 5 Kanal (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/wiki/5_Kanal_(Ukraine)) television channel,as well as other businesses. In March 2012, Forbes (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/wiki/Forbes) placed him on the Forbes list of billionaires (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/wiki/Forbes_list_of_billionaires_(2012)) at 1,153rd place, with $1 billion.

Petro Poroshenko - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petro_Poroshenko)

Tom what part of civil war do you not understand, with the seperatists backed by a large military power who is providing military aid for the purpose of expanding their territory and holding on to traditional influences. Poroshenko cannot be blamed for this, a russian leaning president was oustered by popular revolt and Putin didn't like it

Vladimir Putin Net Worth - TheRichest (http://www.therichest.com/celebnetworth/politician/president/vladimir-putin-net-worth/)

Well Tom should read that and see how well aligned he is with Putin's thinking, Putin likes flat taxes, and Putin is a capitalist

Yes he is more capitalist than the current leadership in Washington. However ,he is not a free market capitalist as he still believes in the heavy hand of government in the market choosing winners and losers ;and pretty much everywhere else in society . His model uses capital . But he is still at heart a state socialist .

Without the government structure, rich capitalists will pick the winners, and losers, and history says this is so. Even with a governing structure the guys with money wield the most influence on how it works, and who it works for, and who wins, or loses.

Free Market my a$$!

Yes he is more capitalist than the current leadership in Washington. However ,he is not a free market capitalist as he still believes in the heavy hand of government in the market choosing winners and losers ;and pretty much everywhere else in society . His model uses capital . But he is still at heart a state socialist .

Tom he is a dictator using his position to wield oligaric power and advance the interests of his clic, he is a heart a robber baron, a tsarist

he is a heart a robber baron, a tsarist..... a Democrat .



Without the government structure, rich capitalists will pick the winners, and losers, and history says this is so. Even with a governing structure the guys with money wield the most influence on how it works, and who it works for, and who wins, or loses.

Free Market my a$$!

I encourage you and the Dem to continue touting that tired old line. You are out of step with a country that has seen redistributionist policies for 6 years now and is pretty much sick of them already .

Ah Tom you wouldn't know dictator if he bit you. Redistributionist, is that your euphonism for a more caring society, one which wants its people to be able at access health care and a society which tried to shield its population from the worst excesses of capitalists. What would you do if you lived in my nation? Your tears would flood the rivers. It's all rhetoric Tom and you have swallowed it hook, line and sinker

The only redistribution I have seen is the rich get really rich, and the poor get even poorer, and the middle class wages are stagnant, and they join the poor as thousands of factories go overseas for cheap labor!

Redistributionist, is that your euphonism for a more caring society, one which wants its people to be able at access health care and a society which tried to shield its population from the worst excesses of capitalists.

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.
C. S. Lewis

Tal be careful . Your progressives have crossed over from Robin Hood to the
Sheriff of Nottingham . They are nothing more than the tax collectors for the King. The only redistribution has gone to their cronies ,who btw are some of the fattest cats in the nation.

Well Tom it would seem you have taken Lewis' advice and chosen to live under robber barons rather than live in a society which has a responsibility for all its people not just those with money. I think you should think seriously about that similae you just used, those guys lived in the days of King John, a usurper whereas you live in a different day where the peasants are far better off and more lightly taxed

The Cold War was in action in Brisbane in a different way with Putin under pressure in various ways from various countries, apparently the Canadian prime Minister was undecided as to whether he should shake Putin's hand and Putin was photographed looking uncomfortable on a number of occasions but I particularly liked his gun pointing gesture while shaking Tony Abbotts hand

This just in


Putin just made his move...
Russia has begun dumping U.S. dollars
Dear Concerned American,

This is a quickly developing (https://3c-lxa.mail.com/mail/client/dereferrer?redirectUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fnews1.conserva tivecontacts.com%2FHS%3Fa%3DENX7CqmMJhKv8SA9MKJGKH bnGHxKLYfQkfcStGb5lw8W0bBhOG5mpqVsje_HhdDyllKi) story that you need to see. It's being reported that under the direct order of President Vladimir Putin, Russia has begun dumping U.S. dollars.

Over the last few days the amount has added up to an estimated $2 billion. However, new details are emerging that suggest this direct attack on our currency may quickly escalate.

Putin has been taking a series of calculated measures to expose weak spots in our economy and national security that pre-date his Crimean invasion.

But according to this must-read story, what he's now setting in motion could bankrupt millions of Americans virtually overnight.

I wouldn't expect that Russia has the economic clout to bankrupt many americans but fluctuations in the value of the US dollar will affect the US and its allies and make the Chinese bond holders nervious and the touts who trade on such predictions will certainly be trying to rip off the unwary. All a consequence of Cold War

Seems to be only conservative blogs making this a story, haven't seen any actual data that support the contention.

Good luck Vlad, selling oil and stuff and expecting rubles that ain't worth crap.

dumping dollars ? What is he converting them to ? Rubles ?????!!!! Bwaaahaaahaaaaaaaaaa !!!!

He sure won't dump them in the ocean, everybody will be naked and swimming for dollars! Including the Chinese.

From the same source, which I (read everyday)

Wilbur Ross: 'Investors Have No Alternatives' to Stocks (http://www.newsmax.com/Finance/Ross-financial-markets-stocks/2014/11/17/id/607798/?ns_mail_uid=1933902&ns_mail_job=1595725_11182014&s=al&dkt_nbr=oivnft7w)


"Each and every day the central banks in the world get more out of control fueling a bubble the likes of which we have never seen in modern times, if ever," he told Fox Business Network (http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/3890186858001/is-the-stock-market-going-to-crash-again/#sp=show-clips).

The sky is always falling for whatever reason all the time!

LOL... Newsmax.

Vlad loves to scare people to get what he wants! Most dictators do!

Vlad is in big trouble, the Ruble has devalued by half and continues to fall, I expect that Russia cannot continue to hold the $400B reserves of US currency and as no one wants Rubles they have to do something to shore up the currency. This is the impact of the sanctions imposed over Ukraine. There are other currencies they can hold which might not fluctuiate strongly or are more in line with their trading partnerships and there is always gold