World Politics

[python]

Re:

If Putin were the authoritarian near-dictator of a completely corrupt oligarchy, as some in the west would have us believe (pot, meet kettle), what would stop him stashing his cash in his own country? Answer: nothing. Nothing would stop him.

And I agree that choosing Panama would be particularly stupid, second only to choosing the US itself.

it does not take all that much brains, as you just indicated, to see thru the westerm msm hysteria...i don't even think he's hated as much as it appears. i am going to say now something that may offend some.

to me the issue is in the regrettable trait many humans give in to - an irresistible urge to dump on something, someone that is easy to dump on. it makes some individuals feel better about themselves.. when they imagine themselves (or their habitat/environment and the concomitant value system) next to the belittled, ugly, humiliated objects, they acquire a sense of superiority. vlad is certainly a no saint but he's also the perfect target to feed such a lowly sentiment into a real frenzy we are observing. i find it semi psychotic.

such simple questions as you asked or trying to parse if there is any evidence of the alleged names hiding very specifically putin's money as opposed to their own -such questions interrupt the sweat frenzy dance.

another impetus that stimulates some in the west is that vlad in his endless stupidity dares to bite back occasionally...how dare the lyttle corrupt shyt to doubt his inferiority in all things west of his jail - our human rights as opposed to his slavary, our economic system as opposed to his mess, out right to wage wars if and when we find necessary to defend the superiority complex .

in the mean time, some bigger scoundrels are grinning that vlad stole their thunder.

 

[roundabout]

Re:

^^yeah, pepe is his usual razor sharp and funny.

i didn't follow the panama 'leak' b/c i typically dont care nor comment about someone's money nor their personal life. even if they stink to havens.

but i did learn a thing or 2 from the pepe article you linked...like that the uki swine-looking prez, unlike vlad, was directly implicated. pepe's logic makes sense - a special op by the us to look genuine must throw under a bus some unimportant scum bags no matter the us friendly stance.

The 'funniest' thing apart from a journo on Putin's payroll pointing out other's bias is that not a single word was said between the disconnect between his boss' efforts of allegedly combating offshore accounts in Russian business and his weak response to the revelation that people close to him might be involved in the same practice that he wants to stop.

 

[roundabout]

Re:

If Putin were the authoritarian near-dictator of a completely corrupt oligarchy, as some in the west would have us believe (pot, meet kettle), what would stop him stashing his cash in his own country? Answer: nothing. Nothing would stop him.

My understanding of the whole scheme is that the end point is Cyprus which one would hardly call an US vassal.

Infact a Russian puppet would be a more appropriate description.

Edit: although more reading is probably required, but from a first glance the proceeds of the transactions do seem to end up being 'stashed' in Russia

 

[python]

Re: Re:

If Putin were the authoritarian near-dictator of a completely corrupt oligarchy, as some in the west would have us believe (pot, meet kettle), what would stop him stashing his cash in his own country? Answer: nothing. Nothing would stop him.

My understanding of the whole scheme is that the end point is Cyprus which one would hardly call an US vassal when the safer alternatives are obvious.

Infact a Russian puppet would be a more appropriate description.

Edit: although more reading is probably required, but from a first glance the proceeds of the transactions do seem to end up being 'stashed' in Russia

this does not answer the question posed by max, why to channel the money through the us vassal ?

moreover, it seems to channel the money destined for cyprus (a well known and safe tax haven) via the us backyard adds another ring of stupidity. unless someone can explain...

 

[roundabout]

USD international transfers still need US intermediary banks so asking why Panama is a moot point aimed to divert from the actual issue...

Edit: not sure why you had to add your bit to the first sentence of my post. Could you please edit the quote so that actually cites what I wrote?

 

[Maxiton]

Re: Re:

If Putin were the authoritarian near-dictator of a completely corrupt oligarchy, as some in the west would have us believe (pot, meet kettle), what would stop him stashing his cash in his own country? Answer: nothing. Nothing would stop him.

My understanding of the whole scheme is that the end point is Cyprus which one would hardly call an US vassal.

Infact a Russian puppet would be a more appropriate description.

Edit: although more reading is probably required, but from a first glance the proceeds of the transactions do seem to end up being 'stashed' in Russia

Well, in any case I don't see how it could surprise anybody that Putin is a rich guy and Russia riven with corruption. What else is new? If he has money in offshore accounts that makes him like the rest of the world's rich, and most of the world's leaders, not unlike them. The fact remains, though, that Putin's name appears, apparently, nowhere in these documents. And yet the press is acting as though is name is everywhere in them.

 

[python]

there are intermediary banks in cyprus that operate in usd. in fact money, laundering does not have to be in usd. it is the easiest way to give uncle sam a clue. avoiding answering the uncomfortable questions is a way to divert the issue.

 

[Maxiton]

Re:

there are intermediary banks in cyprus that operate in usd. in fact money, laundering does not have to be in usd. it is the easiest way to give uncle sam a clue. avoiding answering the uncomfortable questions is a way to divert the issue.

Right. So we are still left with the question, Why Panama? Not to mention, Why so much attention on Putin? and, Why now?

 

[roundabout]

Re:

there are intermediary banks in cyprus that operate in usd. in fact money, laundering does not have to be in usd. it is the easiest way to give uncle sam a clue. avoiding answering the uncomfortable questions is a way to divert the issue.

I was thinking in terms of banks named as alleged participants in the scheme.

From my understanding their intermediary banks are in the USA.

If you have evidence to the contrary you are free to share it.

And I yes, money laundering doesn't have to be in dollars, but I am not sure what other currencies would one use for a loan from a Cyprus bank to a company registered in BVI.

 

[blutto]

Re:

Stupid or purposefully brash? Maybe Putin wanted the US to see his vast wealth. He knew that when it came out, no one in Russia will actually believe the papers or be angry at him.

....maybe and maybe you should consider a stage career because the above is just comedy gold....

Cheers

 

[Maxiton]

Re:

....co-ink-ee-dink or conspiracy?...who knows?... but this is noteworthy ?....

There was some "conspiratorial" speculation whether the explicit hit on ex-PM Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson was precisely due to Iceland's crackdown on the country's criminal bankers. As a reminder, Iceland is the only nation that sent bankers found guilty of crimes resulting from the financial crisis, to prison.

It turns out there may have been something valid in said speculation, because moments ago, Iceland Monitor reported that three bankers from the defunct Iceland bank Kaupthing are to be released from jail today – after serving just one year of their 5-year sentences.

Cheers

Let my bankers go!

Starring Barrack Obama as Paul Robeson.

 

[Maxiton]

Re: Re:

Stupid or purposefully brash? Maybe Putin wanted the US to see his vast wealth. He knew that when it came out, no one in Russia will actually believe the papers or be angry at him.

....maybe and maybe you should consider a stage career because the above is just comedy gold....

Cheers

 

[blutto]

Re: Re:

^^yeah, pepe is his usual razor sharp and funny.

i didn't follow the panama 'leak' b/c i typically dont care nor comment about someone's money nor their personal life. even if they stink to havens.

but i did learn a thing or 2 from the pepe article you linked...like that the uki swine-looking prez, unlike vlad, was directly implicated. pepe's logic makes sense - a special op by the us to look genuine must throw under a bus some unimportant scum bags no matter the us friendly stance.

The 'funniest' thing apart from a journo on Putin's payroll pointing out other's bias is that not a single word was said between the disconnect between his boss' efforts of allegedly combating offshore accounts in Russian business and his weak response to the revelation that people close to him might be involved in the same practice that he wants to stop.

....and did you know he is also, like Putin, a shape shifting trans-dimensional lizard creature from Zar-Dot...amazing but true....

....serious though, maybe you should get together with Brullnux to do some standup, youse guys would make a great team....

Cheers

 

[Maxiton]

https://youtu.be/Xuv3EvTGgRQ?t=22s

 

[roundabout]

Re: Re:

^^yeah, pepe is his usual razor sharp and funny.

i didn't follow the panama 'leak' b/c i typically dont care nor comment about someone's money nor their personal life. even if they stink to havens.

but i did learn a thing or 2 from the pepe article you linked...like that the uki swine-looking prez, unlike vlad, was directly implicated. pepe's logic makes sense - a special op by the us to look genuine must throw under a bus some unimportant scum bags no matter the us friendly stance.

The 'funniest' thing apart from a journo on Putin's payroll pointing out other's bias is that not a single word was said between the disconnect between his boss' efforts of allegedly combating offshore accounts in Russian business and his weak response to the revelation that people close to him might be involved in the same practice that he wants to stop.

....and did you know he is also, like Putin, a shape shifting trans-dimensional lizard creature from Zar-Dot...amazing but true....

....serious though, maybe you should get together with Brullnux to do some standup, youse guys would make a great team....

Cheers

I can't think of any other reason why he would engage in actively spinning away actual documented evidence of corruption relating to people and companies close to Putin.

I am sorry that calling a person who displays all characteristics of a shill a shill upsets you.

 

[blutto]

Re: Re:

^^yeah, pepe is his usual razor sharp and funny.

i didn't follow the panama 'leak' b/c i typically dont care nor comment about someone's money nor their personal life. even if they stink to havens.

but i did learn a thing or 2 from the pepe article you linked...like that the uki swine-looking prez, unlike vlad, was directly implicated. pepe's logic makes sense - a special op by the us to look genuine must throw under a bus some unimportant scum bags no matter the us friendly stance.

The 'funniest' thing apart from a journo on Putin's payroll pointing out other's bias is that not a single word was said between the disconnect between his boss' efforts of allegedly combating offshore accounts in Russian business and his weak response to the revelation that people close to him might be involved in the same practice that he wants to stop.

....and did you know he is also, like Putin, a shape shifting trans-dimensional lizard creature from Zar-Dot...amazing but true....

....serious though, maybe you should get together with Brullnux to do some standup, youse guys would make a great team....

Cheers

I can't think of any other reason why he would engage in actively spinning away actual documented evidence of corruption relating to people and companies close to Putin.

I am sorry that calling a person who displays all characteristics of a shill a shill upsets you.

...ya know if that was the sum total of Pepe's journalistic output I would yes you might have a point....the thing is he has had a very long and storied career wherein he has made correct call after correct call ( and often in the face of the prevailing opinions trumpeted by the accepted important news sources )...to the point where he has become, in my humble opinion, an important resource when weighing the direction of the winds that buffet the world...

...of course ymmv, and I wish you the best of luck with whatever course you take....

...btw it would nice that if you do make outrageous claims to back them up up with this thing called evidence...you know, like a receipt or a cancelled check , or lacking hard evidence perhaps a long standing predilection to express a very particular point of view...as it is, shooting the messenger with no evidence is really not a good way to advance a point, it actually reveals a very weak position...just sayin' eh...

Cheers

 

[roundabout]

Presuming for a second that he hasn't made a single cent (centavo?) contributing to not one, but two Russian government sponsored propaganda outlets (wouldn't that show a predilection to support Putin?), his failure to properly address evidence of actual corruption (regardless of the source behind the information leak) shows his intellectual integrity or rather a very noticeable lack of it.

So you can pick one, either he is a shill, or he attempts pro bono to deflect away any evidence of corruption in regimes that he supports.

Either away, it doesn't look good regardless of how many things he was right about in the past.

 

[ebandit]

....thought i should follow PM and declare tax paid.......

this financial year......zero tax paid

last financial year......zero tax paid

previous financial year......zero tax paid

gotta! be honest..........

Mark L

 

[blutto]

Re:

Presuming for a second that he hasn't made a single cent (centavo?) contributing to not one, but two Russian government sponsored propaganda outlets (wouldn't that show a predilection to support Putin?), his failure to properly address evidence of actual corruption (regardless of the source behind the information leak) shows his intellectual integrity or rather a very noticeable lack of it.

So you can pick one, either he is a shill, or he attempts pro bono to deflect away any evidence of corruption in regimes that he supports.

Either away, it doesn't look good regardless of how many things he was right about in the past.

...if you don't mind I won't limit myself to your two self-serving options...to repeat, have had a long-time exposure to his work and in my very humble opinion his work has been top notch....you of course can follow whatever sources that adequately backstop your position ( whatever it takes to get you thru the night as the saying goes )....

...thank you, thank you very much...

Cheers

....and btw what in your opinion is the evidence of actual corruption that he has overlooked or didn't properly address ?....

 

[python]

...decided to ask here first before opening 4 new threads - about the politics of the rebublic of trinidad and tobago, the syrian mess the sultanate of erdogan and the empire of vlad (or is it 5 b/c the trinidad+tobago=2 ?)

which of those threads the folks dont care about ?
should i instead open just one new thread title 'non-us, non-british politics' ?
should i just keep it all here b/c the british, for instance, would object ?

 

[Maxiton]

Re:

...decided to ask here first before opening 4 new threads - about the politics of the rebublic of trinidad and tobago, the syrian mess the sultanate of erdogan and the empire of vlad (or is it 5 b/c the trinidad+tobago=2 ?)

which of those threads the folks dont care about ?
should i instead open just one new thread title 'non-us, non-british politics' ?
should i just keep it all here b/c the british, for instance, would object ?

I don't think we can be sure that any politics in the world is totally "non-US/non-British" - so best keep them all here.

Interesting topics all, though, with the possible exception of Trinidad/Tobago - but then I know nothing at all of Trinidad and Tobago - could be scintillating.

 

[python]

Re: Re:

...decided to ask here first before opening 4 new threads - about the politics of the rebublic of trinidad and tobago, the syrian mess the sultanate of erdogan and the empire of vlad (or is it 5 b/c the trinidad+tobago=2 ?)

which of those threads the folks dont care about ?
should i instead open just one new thread title 'non-us, non-british politics' ?
should i just keep it all here b/c the british, for instance, would object ?

I don't think we can be sure that any politics in the world is totally "non-US/non-British" - so best keep them all here.

Interesting topics all, though, with the possible exception of Trinidad/Tobago - but then I know nothing at all of Trinidad and Tobago - could be scintillating.

you opinion, max, will be considered with utter seriousness should my ideas be allowed to eventuate...

if they do, blutto probably will follow up with a few dozen threads including at least one about pepe escobar (i'd be posting in it furiously -i swear)

but i'd really like to get an opinion from captain alpe or his active team mates...

 

[rhubroma]

Whatever issues one may have with the Western media (and there are several legit ones), the problem with Russia is there is no opposition and anyone that gets on Putin's bad side, risks very much indeed. In current usage its called proscription.

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

Whatever issues one may have with the Western media (and there are several legit ones), the problem with Russia is there is no opposition and anyone that gets on Putin's bad side, risks very much indeed. It current usage its called proscription.

I agree

 

[Maxiton]

Re: Re:

Whatever issues one may have with the Western media (and there are several legit ones), the problem with Russia is there is no opposition and anyone that gets on Putin's bad side, risks very much indeed. It current usage its called proscription.

I agree

Definitely, no question.