From: punditster@gmail.com   
      
   On 2/13/2026 2:01 PM, Noah Sombrero wrote:   
   > On Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:32:58 -0800, Dude  wrote:   
   >   
   >> On 2/13/2026 12:46 PM, Noah Sombrero wrote:   
   >>> On Fri, 13 Feb 2026 12:41:51 -0800, Dude  wrote:   
   >>>   
   >>>> On 2/13/2026 11:21 AM, Noah Sombrero wrote:   
   >>>>> On Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:10:44 -0800, Dude  wrote:   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>>> On 2/13/2026 10:06 AM, Noah Sombrero wrote:   
   >>>>>>> On Fri, 13 Feb 2026 09:53:49 -0800, Dude  wrote:   
   >>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>> On 2/13/2026 6:19 AM, Noah Sombrero wrote:   
   >>>>>>>>> On Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:37:39 -0800, Dude    
   wrote:   
   >>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>>> Russia memo proposes return to the US dollar system in pitch to   
   >>>>>>>>>> President Trump.   
   >>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>>> And if that's not crazy enough for ya...   
   >>>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>> Apparently, you've not thought this through, or read up on it yet.   
   >>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>> This pivot is tied to a potential, negotiated end to the war in   
   Ukraine.   
   >>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>> As of February 2026, reports indicate a potential, significant   
   reversal   
   >>>>>>>> in Kremlin policy, with Russia considering a return to the US dollar   
   >>>>>>>> settlement system as part of a proposed economic partnership with the   
   >>>>>>>> Trump administration.   
   >>>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>> And if that is not crazy enough for ya...   
   >>>>>>>   
   >>>>>> I'm not at all sure you've read up on this.   
   >>>>>>   
   >>>>>> It's just crazy to think Russia would end the war against Ukraine if the   
   >>>>>> US allowed them back into the dollar system?   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> No, that might even be rational, from their point of view.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> It is crazy that the us would entertain any such proposition.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>>> Apparently, in 2026, the Russian economy is showing significant signs of   
   >>>>>> stagnation and mounting pressure, transitioning from a state-driven boom   
   >>>>>> to an acute crisis.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> Good for them, the sane thing would be to let them stew in their own   
   >>>>> mess.  If mess it is.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>> In that case, Russia would probably become a province of China and   
   >>>> together they could win the war - Russia gets Ukraine and China gets   
   Taiwan.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Who is going to stop them?   
   >>>   
   >>> The same as now, nobody.   
   >>>   
   >>> Russia becomes a province of china.   
   >>> Can prognostications become any crazier?  The world waits to hear.   
   >>>   
   >> The key word is: Vladivostok.   
   >>   
   >> Apparently, Russia’s decline is visible to everyone, including China,   
   >> despite its grandiose claims and attempts to bury history.   
   >>   
   >> Goodbye Vladivostok, Hello H?ish?nw?i!   
   >>   
   >> "In 1997, the First Opium War officially ended with the British   
   >> administration and forces leaving Hong Kong. The Second Opium War is   
   >> still ongoing, since the Russian Federation continues to occupy the Amur   
   >> region and Outer Manchuria. This land area was extorted from China in   
   >> 1860 during the Second Opium War, under threat to set Beijing ablaze."   
   >   
   > Things have changed since 1860.  Vladivostok is now important to   
   > russia.   
   >   
   > SE Asia, indonesia, korea, japan, the mountain kingdoms all make sense   
   > for future chinese ambitions.  I suspect russia is too different in   
   > language, in culture, etc, not to mention its tendency towards self   
   > destruction for china to take on as a acquisition.  One would imagine.   
   >   
   The Vladivostok geographic situation puts Russia under great pressure -   
   it serves as Russia's primary Pacific gateway. It's the headquarters of   
   the Pacific Fleet.   
      
   A critical military, economic, and transport hub featuring the   
   Trans-Siberian Railway terminus, major ship-repair yards, fishing   
   industries, etc.   
      
   If China were to invade Taiwan, the Vladivostok port would be shut down   
   withing an hour by a total blockade, along with a shut down of the   
   entire South China Sea. That's one thing Putin cannot allow, so he would   
   probably never back a Chinese Taiwan invasion.   
      
   So, I'd say to Putin: "You want your ass back on the dollar system and   
   to recall all the economic sanction?"   
    >   
   >> - Jan Kallberg, July 12, 2022 >>>   
   >>>>   
   >>>>>> "While surviving initial sanctions, the economy is now facing severe,   
   >>>>>> overheating conditions characterized by high inflation, dwindling oil   
   >>>>>> revenues, and intense war-related spending, causing growth to slow   
   >>>>>> drastically." - Forbes   
   >>>>>>   
   >>>>>> Key words: stagnation, crises   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)