Russia Russin'

[Deepcrush]

Remember all that the Empire... I mean USA only goes where it wants.... I mean is wanted.

[Sionnach Glic]

Nicely done, Rochey.

I do try.

[Monroe]

Oh I was right on: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080814/pl_ ... _poland_dc
Russia I think is just going to end up boxing itself in more.

[Monroe]

News is coming out that the Georgian government put a lot of money into John McCain's election. Which if I remember right is against American law. Could be a big scandal if this turns out to be true.

[Sionnach Glic]

What are the bets that it'll be quietly swept under the carpet?

[sunnyside]

I haven't heard about that.

Though if they're smart and do it through the right channels they can actually legally donate to campaign funds in a similar manner to how Israel manages it.

Though there is always a "chicken or the egg" type question in regards to this stuff. For example if I was Georgia I would be giving no questions asked money to McCain right now.

[Mikey]

Oh, that nutty Putin:

Oliver Stone would be proud.

[sunnyside]

C'mon Euros. Don't be complete wussies. At least put up some credible amounts of pressure to at least get Russian troops off of land ourside of Abkhazia/South Osseta.

[Sionnach Glic]

Er, maybe you're not aware of this but we have absolutely no leverage to use against Russia while they have plenty to use against us. It's easy for you to complain we aren't doing anything when Russia can't affect you at all, but it's a lot different for us countries who get the majority of our gas and oil from them.

[sunnyside]

The US has lost out in oil shipments from some of our sanctions that cut off oil imports from various countries. And it isn't like Russia can survive without selling that gas.

Plus if Russia does wind up grabbing more of Georgia they'll get the pipeline and your nuts will be further into the vise.

[Sionnach Glic]

The US has lost out in oil shipments from some of our sanctions that cut off oil imports from various countries.

That's far different. You can survive without selling your oil. We can't survive without oil or gas.
When the US offers to sell the EU its oil and gas at the same price as Russia then maybe we'll do something.

And it isn't like Russia can survive without selling that gas

There are plenty of other countries it can sell it to.

Plus if Russia does wind up grabbing more of Georgia they'll get the pipeline and your nuts will be further into the vise

I don't see Russia making a second advance into Georgia just to grab that pipeline. If they had wanted it then they would have just taken it in the first attack. Waiting 'till you sign treaties that you'll stand down and launch another attack is just idiocy.

[sunnyside]

That's far different. You can survive without selling your oil. We can't survive without oil or gas.
When the US offers to sell the EU its oil and gas at the same price as Russia then maybe we'll do something.

No I mean we import oil as well. Lots of it. But we'll tell people we aren't buying any more of their stuff because of XYZ.

There are plenty of other countries it can sell it to.

And that you can buy from. Likely it'll just result in shifting things around. They sell more to China at lower rates, you buy more from Iraq at higher rates.

[Sionnach Glic]

Except it'll cost more to ship it overseas than just run it through the pre-established lines between the EU and Russia.

[Teaos]

And lets not forget that the UK pays more for gas than almost anywhere else in the worls already while you Americans are rolling in cheap gas.

[stitch626]

The reason you guys have high gas prices is because 80% of it is taxes. Over here we pay for everything, our permits, our licenses, mandatory driving courses...
Our gas tax is probably the lowest in the world, though I am not sure.
And I have no idea about NZ.