A crazy idea, so it will probably be done:
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Why would that be crazy Divitias? Wouldnāt that be a fitting punishment to Russia?
Andy
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It might be a fitting punishment for Russia, but what message is it sending out about the USA weaponizing the dollar?
Donāt forget that the conflict in the Ukraine was exacerbated by the actions of the USA and Europe. Itās not all Russiaās fault:
We have been poking the Russian bear for some time:
Iāve been to Russia and spoken to people there. You need to see the world the way see it to understand how things have developed.
(BTW Iām not in favour of Russiaās attack on Ukraine, I just see how it has come about.)
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That is Russian propaganda. Ukraine is a sovereign country that has the right to make up itās own mind on what it will do. Ukraineās biggest mistake was giving up itās nuclear weapons. Russia would have had a real hard time going in if they had their weapons.
I have never been to Russia. But think about this. What would be different if Russia attacked Finland, Poland, Czech, Sweden, Norway? Wouldnāt that same excuse apply to those countries also?
Andy
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I love the idea. Mark each bomb shell with a Rouble sign. Let fly.
I believe the Russians should pay to be killed.
Better yet it lets the US and EU off the hook for three years. We can stop funding this war entirely. Only the Russians would fund it.
NATO is in a defensive position because Russiaās government for millennia is always a group of bastards. The US and EU must dominate and control all of the territory up to the Chinese border with Russia. Meaning the Russian government must fall and an end to Russian history as we know it must completely be over.
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It is 100% guaranteed Russiaās fault.
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Hi Andy, the world is a complicated place and few things are black and while.
Washingtonās role in Ukraine is different only in its implications for the rest of us. For the first time since the Reagan years, the US is threatening to take the world to war. With eastern Europe and the Balkans now military outposts of Nato, the last ābuffer stateā bordering Russia ā Ukraine ā is being torn apart by fascist forces unleashed by the US and the EU. We in the west are now backing neo-Nazis in a country where Ukrainian Nazis backed Hitler.
Having masterminded the coup in February against the democratically elected government in Kiev, Washingtonās planned seizure of Russiaās historic, legitimate warm-water naval base in Crimea failed. The Russians defended themselves, as they have done against every threat and invasion from the west for almost a century.
Remarks by Victoria Nuland at the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation Conference
Since Ukraineās independence in 1991, the United States has supported Ukrainians as they build democratic skills and institutions, as they promote civic participation and good governance, all of which are preconditions for Ukraine to achieve its European aspirations. Weāve invested over $5 billion to assist Ukraine in these and other goals that will ensure a secure and prosperous and democratic Ukraine.
The West was very instrumental in the 2014 revolt, basically bankrolling it:
Ukraine is a sovereign country that has the right to make up itās own mind on what it will do.
So was Cuba in 1962 but that didnāt stop the USA planning to invade it when it felt its National Security was threatened. Iāve been to Cuba and seen the schools and hospitals that were bombed by planes from the USA.
Nor forgetting The Monroe Doctrine:
The Monroe Doctrine, first outlined in a speech to Congress in 1823, had President James Monroe warning European powers to not attempt further colonization, military intervention or other interference in the Western Hemisphere, stating that the United States would view any such interference as a potentially hostile act.
Ukraine was āone country too manyā as far as Russia was concerned. WW2 is buried deep in Russiaās soul and they are not going to let Mother Russia suffer again at the hands of outsiders.
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Humorous that you complain about āweaponizing the dollarā, while Russia is using actual weapons - you know, explosive missiles, tanks, troops - in a foreign country to try to seize territory in pursuit of what, greater glory for a madman?
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It sends the message not to F with the USA or weāll take your money and give it to your enemies.
It is literally impossible to conduct any significant foreign trade without using dollars. Even the BRICS bank makes loans in dollars. They have no choice. There is no other suitable currency.
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So, do as we say or we will F your country and steal your money - very Russian
It is the Golden Rule. Whoever has the gold makes the rules.
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I hope so 
No need to be condescending. I have plenty of faith that Andy can add things up. Quick review you can not add things up.
You really can not tell the difference?
Not really, no:
Since the 19th century, the United States government has participated and interfered, both overtly and covertly, in the replacement of many foreign governments.
Mind you, given the bloodthirsty history of settlers in the USA Iām not surprised by what their descendants do now. They almost exterminated the native Americans and enslaved the rest in one form or another while stealing their lands:
Another aspect of the colonial era that made the Native Americans vulnerable was the slave trade. As a result of the wars between the European nations, Native Americans allied with the losing side were often indentured or enslaved. There were even Native Americans shipped out of colonies like South Carolina into slavery in other places, like Canada.
These problems that arose for the Native Americans would only get worse in the 19th century, leading to greater confinement and the extermination of Native people. Unfortunately, the colonial era was neither the start nor the end of the long, dark history of treatment of Native Americans in the United States.
Very Russian like behaviour
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You are talking the 1800s.
The difference is in our powersharing among ourselves. The Russians can not and do not do that. It is misery for everyone in Russia. It is a threat for everyone in Russiaās orbit and beyond.
We made a mistake in Iraq trying to free up oil and set up a liberalized democracy in Iraq. We did free up the oil and now there is a more liberal government. The cost was very high which was the mistake.
What do you think Russia is doing in Ukraine in comparison to us in Iraq?
The USA is noted for setting up liberalized democracies around the world, particularly if they have oil reserves 
Hi Divitias,
Do you think Ukraine is really a neo-nati (canāt spell correctly not allowed) regime? I know that Russia has been saying that but where is the proof? Is Zelensky acting like a dictator? Is he putting Jews or other people into ovens? I am not talking about going after people that are undermining the war by taking up Russiaās side, I am not talking about Russian Sympathizers wanting to take part of the country and make it their own. I am talking about Ukraine, the whole country that was made up of a border that was formed after the fall of the Russian government and after they gave up their nukes and formed in a treaty that was signed in 1997. This was all done before the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
We can go down every rabbit hole through out history but I thought this discussion was about the U.S freezing money from Russia and giving it to Ukraine. I am for it. I do not think any country should be able to attack another country unless that country has attacked them first. It is obvious that Russia is trying to make excuses for attacking Ukraine, I have seen the same excuses put forth from children. You know, He called me a poo-poo, He hurt my feelings, He kept ignoring me. The same trivial excuse, but really what matters is who hit who first. That is when the rubber hits the road.
Andy
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I donāt see someone elseās delusion as a valid reason to let them have their way. (Munich, 1938)
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And if the US does seize Russian assets as war reparations, uses the stack to fund support for Ukraine, Ukraine loses anyway, and Russia demands the US reimburse it, the US can say āyou got every dollar back, as incoming fire aimed at your troopsā¦such is the cost of aggressionā.
Steve
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āBite Meā. And mean it.
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