Bye bye Putin's oil boom. Welcomme 1998 financial default ?

which concept do you mean exactly?

CK, I was learning about international terrorism long b4 9/11 and the War on Terror, let me assure you.

I don't believe the War on Terror spin either. Look at my other posts if u don't believe me. I'm cynical/sceptical, I question press accounts.

I was talking about terrorism as an international phenomenon for certain groups to tackle. Crocop, a fighter I like, fights for the Croatian anti-terrorism unit.

U may have misjudged me a little CK, no disrespect

You brought up a good question friend. May I answer it... Again this showed old, moldy polish fairy-tale about "mongolized eastern midgets". Meanwhile those people who spreaded that **** in your country unlikely to have any notion about polyetchnicy of Russia to say nothing of their own country. I bet they wouldn't recognize who is who if they had a chance to see... well Chuvash, Mordvin, Evenk, Tatarin and Mongol in one place. Moreover I actually doubt they have any clue about aforesaid words. In its turn in Russia phrases like "savage Asia" (in the initial, inherited meaning of the word "Asia") wouldn't sound offensive, they would sound ridiculous and wouldn't make any sense to most of people. Do you think Russian Tatars or Mongols (I've never seen russian mongols though but let's assume they exist... :))) take hard their origins? It's quite stupid to offend Russian Tatar that he's Tatar, dirty asian and not European, cause he's probably more proud to be the Tatar than you to be the Pole or "true European". It was preamble... Now back to your question.
The point is that we now have diametrically opposite approach to the same issue or to say it better different perception. Russians in their majority perceive it as an advantage that Russia is Euroasian, you insist that it’s rather disadvantage. They say “Asian wisdom plus European wit”... Apart from that Russia has huge territory, great heritage, good traditions (“of terror” as you might have thought… hm… could be, could be…) and all this inevitably creates in some minds the idea of “peculiarity” what you may see here:



So I’m pretty sure the overwhelming majority of Russian don’t want to be European and actually can’t be Europens. Russians are Russians.



Excume me. Now I have to ask. Do you consider yourself European? If I got your notion in a correct way and understood the sentence “civilized world” rightly enough then I should say Poland is not Europe and will never be the Europe whatever you guys do… all in vain… Only geographically. No, I don’t want to offend you, moreover I would like you to perceive it as a compliment… I’ve never been to Poland but in my mind and from what I’ve heard about Poland you’re much closer to Russia rather than to Germany, France, GB or other “civilized Europe” (think those countries you meant). I’m pretty sure I will see there [in your country] the same line-jumpers, the same bydlo, the same people sometimes rude sometimes (too) friendly, extremely emotional and that will be the most important for me… so I personally think Poland in central Europe for most of Russians would be the best place to live in…. but not to work in…
As for Russian oligarchs… Are they liked in the place they’re visiting? They’re not liked in Russia either… Their purpose is to show how miserable Europe and a human in general is before the money. “Everything can be bought” is their slogan so I wouldn’t consider them as a good example.

Tatarstan is in Europe because it is west of the Ural Mountains. Vladivostok is in Asia because it is somewhere to the north of the Korean peninsula. I believe Tatarstan has at least a slight majority of Tatars, who are mostly Muslims but have been a part of Russia since the something like the 16th century. Vladivostok's majority is ethnically Russian, but in an area where the indigenous minority are quite varied, but would be desribed as Asian rather than European.

Think of it this way: "European" is a label. It suits French, Germans and so on rather well. Towards some of the edges, it loses much of its meaning. Many British people claim not to be Europeans, despite being in Europe politically, historically and even geologically. There is something of a will to be different about this claim.

But what about Asia? What makes Turkey, Yemen, India, The Phillipines, China, Sakhalin and Omsk so similar to eachother that they are considered to be members of one continent, whilst Portugal, Albania, Ireland and Nenetsia are somehow closer to eachother than to any of the Asian places I've mentioned?

One question about Russian oil:
How are the Khants and Mansis being treated these days?

I think we consider anyone Christian and White to be European. Or atleast this is the default inside our minds. For much time the names of Austalia and NewZealand were taken alongside other European nations.

Regarding the Asians... I feel that the concept of being members of a unified/same/common continent is still beyond them. For them, it is a reply to the concept of Europe (and its feelings of a Continent).

Even... 'The Continent' was often the name of Europe.

It seems unlikely that Asia ever will feel the same kind of closeness that European nations do to eachother. European countries are quite different to eachother, particularly towards the edges. But in Asia, those differences are far more extreme. The word continent suggests something which is contained. For North or South America or Africa, this makes far more sense geographically. For Europe, it makes quite a bit of sense culturally. For Asia, it's a kind of "let's throw all these other people in between two brackets" - it's not one contiguous and inclusive landmass, and it's very culturally and politically diverse.

If a Russian wants to claim that Poles aren't European, it's hardly suprising they don't consider themselves to be European either. But I'd say that if Poles aren't European, then I'm an aubergine plant called Stanley Mbuubuu Wratchet Khan III.

I think you are Osiol. A very smart donkey.


Well... I think the Asians share a landmass. But, they are culturally and politicaly diverse, as you said.

Its difficult to have an Asian Union...or something similar.



But dont you think its more than just sharing a landmass... the examples I gave you about Au and Nz... I think its another attribute we try to measure Europe by...

As for the Russians... its a long story :D

Not that we don't consider.We just don't care about that, I just denied we had some specific will to be called "Europeans". I live geographically in Europe, so I'm European but cultural diversities between European Russians and let's say Germans is pretty significant... I assumed it was slight with Poles.

I wouldn't worry about it too much either! Russians are pretty diverse. I imagine you're not a typical Russian. What is a typical Russian anyway? Do some Russians claim to be European? Is it difficult to find a Russian who actually gives a monkey's about such terms? I've definately heard the term Eurasian a few times, so there are obviously some thoughts about this going on.


Yes. They happen to share it with us. Although geologically, Britain is more a part of Europe then the Phillipines or Indonesia are part of Asia.


Countries can work together better, but in Asia there are a few large countries (such as India, China) which could easily dominate the smaller ones, and there are, at present, too many local rivalries (India, Pakistan).

Perhaps Russians are actually European and Asian at the same time. Did anyone say these terms are mutually exclusive? I'm English, British and European all at the same time, maybe a few other things as well.

Are you sure?...which side of the Ural Mountain Ye Belong?



Maybe you have some Chinese.. or African... or maybe you got some Pakestiani blood in you my friend :) ... I see some brits coming after you now :P

They will never accept this.Besides it depends what features you are refering to.

Umm...yes... we dont accept it.

But in my personal point of view...perhaps we are abit closer in our appearence.

But then...Russia is just so diverse!....maybe ya....we are not same :)

In 2007 the Russian's spoke out on this.


Most Russians (71%) do not regard themselves as Europeans

RUSSIANS DO NOT CONSIDER THEMSELVES EUROPEANS, CONFUSED ABOUT
DEMOCRACY, SEEK GREATER PROTECTION BY THE LAW AND ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS
Senior European politicians become founding members of EU-Russia Centre

http://www.eu-russiacentre.org/assets/files/levada_release.pdf

It's another story, southern. It happened that along significant historical period we'd been two dominating power in the region with alike interests. The most tragical thing here is that we didn't belong to completely different cultures (like let's say Russians and Turks who we had problems with too), we were both Slavs. Fraternal conflicts is known to be the most ruthless and atrocious... and the most hurtful leaving a trace in people's hearts for ages. We've had tough history and the outcome (eventual Russian domination) you may easily feel here or anywhere else on web: in polonet Russia is a central topic to attack... even topics about gardening may end up with throwing a mud to Russia; whereas in runet the attitude towards Poland is either friendly or easy or at most indifferent (which is sad as I think).
Nevertheless I see some sense in such state of affairs. :) My theory is that God makes us stay away of each other (or Poland stay away of Russia). If we were united, we would be too dominating... or maybe even fatally dominating.

Terror is permanent social phenomenon, surely it is very old and that is why there is no any sense to fight with it (as with phenomenon), you will lose anyway.

Yep.
And the best example of this sympathy is:
forum.inosmi.ru lol.
http://www.inosmi.ru/stories/07/03/16/3506/archive5.html

Great hit in the Russian net.
Rather unknown level of pathological hatred towards Poland and Poles.

Mmmm... inosmi is a specific place. Antipolish articles automatically attracts antipolish public from all the runet. Btw I would say their polonophobic feelings often appear as a reciprocal feeling.

I would say it may be a defense for guilt. :(

Hatemongers are usually ignorant people everywhere (nt only in Russia) so they can hardly have a clear vision of their (not actually "their"... better say bolshevik's) guilt to defence for. They intentionally pick only sort of information that satisfies their conception of how they want things to be, not how they really are.

Here is another example where Russian's should be outraged and demand justice. Russian goverment leads by fear of example. It's (hopefully) only a matter of time before the Russian citizens say enough is enough.

(Washington, DC) Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Co-Chairmen of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), issued the following statement on the discovery of toxic mercury pellets found in the car of Karinna Moskalenko, a prominent Russian human rights attorney.
http://www.csce.gov/

Ruble Drops to 20-Month Low Versus Dollar as Crude Prices Fall :

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601110&sid=aWsWsRgQQXSk

What do the pro and anti Russians think?

I personally find it hilarious that they balance a budget on the assumption of $70 a barrel.




PJ

Nothing will happen.After the US elections oil prices will rise sharply.Russians are the new pimps.Now the prices get lower to relieve American voters before the election and ''raise the living standards.''

So you reckon the American gov is tinkering with the markets to lower oil prices then?

Shame they couldn't do the same despite the trillion or so in pledged funds, to save the stock markets from collapsing.

All commodities are falling, oil included, and the American gov has nothing to do with it.



PJ

They just tell the speculators to release the stored oil.
If oil price falls under 50$ per barrel,maybe Putin's empire will collapse,Putin will fall and they will be able to play ball in Russia again and get better deals.It is not only Russia in the game.It concerns Iran and Venzezuela as well.

Your economic knowledge is rather questionable.

Speculators buy options and futures which always settle in Cash. Physical oil is ONLY traded by and delivered to refineries and never stored by speculators as u claim.



PJ

Really?Nobody has oil reserves stored?

If you knew the cost of storing oil, you'd understand that hoarding oil for speculation purposes is utterly uneconomical. Now if u know any speculators who physically store oil, please let me know.


Governments hold what is knows as strategic oil reserves but these are minute amounts designed for emergency cases and in no way can they sway the course of a barrel from over $140 a few months ago to about half of that today.

PJ

Ridiculous statement Sasha.

Personally I don't care too much about "being European" but take it for granted with 40000 bucks per capita GNP we would be the best Europeans of the universe.
It's only problem of our lower life standards and economical collapse after 200 years Russian occupation that make a difference today -Poles are becoming quite similar to their western neighbors.
And for sure it's not good for us.
Thanks God we have our Russian friends saying "Wake up Polish brothers we are still alive".

But it's not my point.
By far more interesting is your opinion on supposed similarities between us, Poles and Russians.
On the contrary to you I know both parts from my personal experience and hell I can hardly imagine two more different ethnoses !
With exception for our Slavic languages we are like black and white, like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hide, like "Dubya" Bush and Kim Jong Il. lol.
We make two opposite poles.

You have lots of similarities.You are closer to Russians than to Germans.

And how do you know it ?
Enlighten me, pls.