Hmmm... this makes me think economic sanctions could work....

[Adrahil]

Russian markets take a huge tumble.

http://news.yahoo.com/russia-hikes-rates-amid-market-carnage-over-ukraine-100455087.html

[aquart]

1. How much power do pissed off Russian billionaires have?

But this very interesting indeed. What exactly was the point of the Olympics if Putin follows up with invasion?

[Adrahil]

2. Well, to be honest, I don't know....

... I'm not very well versed on Russian economics, maybe it'll be a topic I do some reading on tonight.

But it does strike that it Putin did this to sort of force his way back onto the world strategic stage, then giving his economy a big blow might make him rethink his Cold War 2.0 strategy, even if it doesn't reverse Crimea (which I don't think it would... he'd lose too much face).

I never understood why he wants set him self in opposition to the west again.... just old KGB instincts? It seems to me that if he wants power, the best way to do that for him is as the leader of a potentially vast economic powerhouse. It's not like he's averse to cozying up to the right oligarchs. But he's clearly had these sort of intentions for at least 10 years. I think ever since Dubya decided to squander the U.S.'s international good will and leadership in Iraq, he's sensed he had an opportunity to take a couple steps up.

Dunno. This turned into a bit of thinking on the screen, but the events of the last couple weeks have drawn my attention.

[aquart]

3. Okay, I read the article and now I'm really fascinated.

Flight capital. Oh where, oh where is that money going to run? Before the idiot shutdowns, it most often ran here. Now which nation looks safest?

[Adrahil]

5. Hard to say... the U.S. has been a "safe haven" in the past but as you say...

... the baggers have us less attractive. Still I read an article that was suggesting that the U.S. is STILL the choice when the chips are down.

If we were to go for some serious sanctions, the impact on Europe would be rather more dramatic than in the U.S., so maybe here? I honestly don't know. I do think that even the prospect of scuttling potential expanded trade in the U.S. irritates the business oligarchs.

It still makes me sad that 24 years later, we're still dealing with the legacy of the Cold War. I know that's a short time period in terms of history, but I had hoped for so much more.

[aquart]

6. You think we're dealing with the Cold War legacy?

Think. The Republicans are the Reds now. Do you think they would have allowed that if they even remembered the Cold War?

[Adrahil]

7. I sure do....

.... maybe not so much in the U.S., but in Russia? Yep. Putin was a KGB officer. That generates a mind set right there. Further, it ALWAYS bruises a national ego to go from one the world's 2 superpowers to "crappy mid-level economy with nukes."

I'm a gamer, and as a gamer, I know LOTS of Russians. Most of them support Putin. Why? Because he will "make Russia great again." Many of these kids weren't even alive during the Soviet era. And of those that were, most were too young to remember a thing. But they are told about the days of Red Square being filled with the might of Red Army and that the world "respected" them. They have this completely romantic notion of the Soviet Union almost entirely divorced from reality. A lot of people in Russia have a nostalgia for empire, and Putin promises to satisfy it.

But I'm just speculating really, and I admit that. This is based on my rather narrow anecdotal experience, but it all seems to fit.

As for the Republicans being the Reds, believe me, I know a LOT of Republicans who resent it, and they blame the "lame stream media" for it since since, of course, us commie DEMONcrats outta be the reds.

[jakeXT]

4. The hot money flight has been going on for quite a while now

Capital flight from emerging markets has been accelerating in recent weeks ($6 billion alone in the week ending February 5). Turkey is the poster child, but the exodus is also happening in India, Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa and others – mostly from equity markets. This “hot money” is moving out over concerns that asset bubbles have built up, and that emerging market economic growth is now slowing. The slowdown is partly a result of tighter money in the wake of the Fed’s tapering plans and a decelerating economy in China, many believe. https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/franklin-allen-capital-market-flight/