Manafort Trial

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

That is where you have me wrong. I dislike the Oligarchs. My input here is consistently pro sanctions.

I however give credit to Putin for his deft maneuvering in preventing the dismemberment of such a huge state. The Brits especially have been trying so
long to do that - Balkanization.

That was ~15 years ago. In the meantime, he has pillaged the Russian state of much of its wealth and has become the richest guy in the world, richer than Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos combined.

[Chicks]

Originally Posted by finnbow

That was ~15 years ago. In the meantime, he has pillaged the Russian state of much of its wealth and has become the richest guy in the world, richer than Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos combined.

No wonder Don The Con likes him so much! Pure envy of someone even greedier, dirtier, more disgustingly corrupt than himself. Donny is in awe.

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by finnbow

That was ~15 years ago. In the meantime, he has pillaged the Russian state of much of its wealth and has become the richest guy in the world, richer than Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos combined.

Browder is engaging in hyperbolic propaganda.

If Vlad forced the Oligarchs "to hand over large chunk of their holdings to him" he would not survive for two seconds.

Vlad inherited the Oligarch System and is first and foremost a nationalist. If he abuses the system to 'Browder' extent he would put his country at risk. What he has done over time is fine tune the system so that more of it serves the state.

Some thoughts from Bershidsky re pronouncement of Ellis.

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/artic...judge-is-right

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

Browder is engaging in hyperbolic propaganda.

If Vlad forced the Oligarchs "to hand over large chunk of their holdings to him" he would not survive for two seconds.

Vlad inherited the Oligarch System and is first and foremost a nationalist. If he abuses the system to 'Browder' extent he would put his country at risk. What he has done over time is fine tune the system so that more of it serves the state.

Some thoughts from Bershidsky re pronouncement of Ellis.

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/artic...judge-is-right

Oh really? Tell that to all the people he has misled, threatened and murdered. You're as much of a Putin sycophant as Whell is a Trump sycophant.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

What he has done over time is fine tune the system so that more of it serves the state.

How do you say 'L'etat, c'est moi!' in Russian?

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

How do you say 'L'etat, c'est moi!' in Russian?

состояние - это я

Those Russians have a different word for everything.

[Pio1980]

Originally Posted by finnbow

состояние - это я

Those Russians have a different word for everything.

But no conjunctions.

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

How do you say 'L'etat, c'est moi!' in Russian?

In a sense that is Vlad's dilemma.

The 'wild, wild west' transition from Communism worked against establishing institutions for respectable governance.

In addition there are ever present powerful forces trying to dismantle the state.

It appears that Vlad is attempting to establish church and state for continuity and stability.

Notice the restoration of Churches which were destroyed by the terrible Bolsheviks, the frenzied building of new ones and the elevation of leaders of the Orthodox faith.

[Pio1980]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

In a sense that is Vlad's dilemma.

The 'wild, wild west' transition from Communism worked against establishing institutions for respectable governance.

In addition there are ever present powerful forces trying to dismantle the state.

It appears that Vlad is attempting to establish church and state for continuity and stability.

Notice the restoration of Churches which were destroyed by the terrible Bolsheviks, the frenzy building of new ones and the elevation of leaders of the Orthodox faith.

Co-opting the religious establishment is no doubt part of the strategy for regional cultural dominance.

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by Pio1980

Co-opting the religious establishment is no doubt part of the strategy for regional cultural dominance.

Point taken.