Lifting of Sanctions Could Be Costly To Russia

Guest Post by Paul Craig Roberts

Tweets on social media say Trump is about to lift the sanctions placed on Russia by the Obama regime. Being a showman, Trump would want to make this announcement himself, not have it made for him by someone outside his administration. Nevertheless, the social media tweets are a good guess.

Reports are that Trump and Putin will speak tomorrow. The conversation cannot avoid the issue of sanctions.

Trump during his first week has moved rapidly with his agenda. He is unlikely to delay lifting the sanctions. Moreover, there is no cost to Trump of lifting them. The sanctions have no support in the US and Western business communities. The only constituency for the sanctions were the neoconservatives who are not included in the Trump administration. Victoria Nuland, Susan Rice, Samantha Power are gone along with much of the State Department. So there is nothing in Trump’s way.

President Putin is correct that the sanctions helped Russia by pushing Russia to be more economically independent and by pushing Russia toward developing economic relationships with Asia. Lifting the sanctions could actualy hurt Russia by integrating Russia into the West. The Russian government should take note that the only sovereign country in the West is the United States. All the rest are US vassals. Could Russia escape the same fate? Anyone integrated into the West is subject to Washington’s pressure.

The problem with the sanctions is that they are an insult to Russia. The sanctions are based on lies that the Obama regime told. The real purpose of the sanctions was not economic. The purpose was to embarrass Russia as an outlaw state and to isolate the outlaw. Trump cannot normalize relations with Russia if he lets this insult stand.

Therefore, the social media tweets are likely to be correct that Trump is about to lift the sanctions. This will be good for US-Russian relations, but perhaps not so good for the Russian economy and Russian sovereignty. The Western capitalists would love to get Russia deep in debt and to buy up Russia’s industries and raw materials. The sanctions were a partial protection against foreign influence over the Russian economy, and so the removal of the sanctions is like removing a shield as well as removing an insult.

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18 Comments
KaD
KaD
January 27, 2017 12:27 pm

I think it’s up to Putin and Russia how much foreign corporations are going to be able to do business in Russia, as it should be.

kokoda the deplorable
kokoda the deplorable
January 27, 2017 12:28 pm

This implies that Russia is stupid. The entire world knows how the U.S. has used the IMF as a ploy to provide loans that eventually bankrupt the country and then they become Indentured Servants to the U.S.

That won’t happen with Russia.

fear & loathing
fear & loathing
January 27, 2017 1:08 pm

the russians saw first hand how the west operates in the early 90’s, they are not so trusting this time. trade would be great, and keep the ngo’s out. stop the political motives an just consider the plight of everyday russians and americans. the citizens of both country’s are faced with many similar problems.

WIP
WIP
January 27, 2017 1:29 pm

PCR, seriously?

What an idiot. Russia and China will never bow to anyone. Not without a shitstorm. Of that, I am sure. Or at least, I hope. A one world power is bad bad bad for all the dirt people.

Edwitness
Edwitness
January 27, 2017 2:14 pm

If Trump is not one of ‘them’ he will make agreements with Russia that are as good for the American peaople as possible. Not the banking establishment.

Blessings:-}

B Lever
B Lever
January 27, 2017 2:37 pm

Pithy reminder, Rex Tillerson and Putin are business partners in a oil venture called ROSNEFT. TREX and Putin need the sanctions lifted as there is 300 BILLION in oil money riding on just that……sanctions lifted. Predicted this would be on Trump’s list in the first couple of weeks.

Now I guess you will once again ignore the info.

Rdawg
Rdawg
  B Lever
January 27, 2017 10:48 pm

Jesus Christ, what a crybaby you are. You want a fucking trophy or what?

B LEVER
B LEVER
  Rdawg
January 27, 2017 11:06 pm

Jesus Krist, what a non-thinking bot you are RatDawg. So, are you saying that you dispute the post or are you just `the apologist ? Why don’t you debate it instead of blathering on like the lemming that you are clinging to the uninformed group think?

HELENA HANDBASKET
HELENA HANDBASKET
  B LEVER
January 27, 2017 11:20 pm

Rdawg is grating like the constant yap of a little drop kick dog serving no purpose other than to irritate all who are in the room.

Rdawg
Rdawg
  HELENA HANDBASKET
January 27, 2017 11:38 pm

Helena Handbasket gives $6 blowjobs at the Flying J truckstop.

EL Coyote
EL Coyote
  Rdawg
January 28, 2017 12:27 am

Helena must have dropped the price due to competition from Madonna. Heh.

Our 8th grade math teacher, old Mr. Philpott said, They say money can’t buy you love but give me $5 and I’ll do my own shopping.

Sorry, HH, I appreciate your support but I had to do the Madonna snark.

Rdawg
Rdawg
  B LEVER
January 27, 2017 11:35 pm

Debate what? I don’t dispute what you said. Just pointing out how you always cry like a little bitch when you don’t get attention. It’s actually hilarious.

B LEVER
B LEVER
  Rdawg
January 27, 2017 11:45 pm

What is your point? Do you even have a point Ratdawg. This thread is about lifting sanctions, I made a comment about the SUBJECT at hand.

Blow me pal.

Rdawg
Rdawg
  B LEVER
January 27, 2017 11:57 pm

My point is you’re a whiner.

“Now I guess you will once again ignore the info.” What the fuck do you want? Do you want people to praise you for enlightening us? Do you want a donation? A medal? What?
This ain’t the first time you have made similar complaints. You do it all the time. You crave something, want some kind of result. Just say it; what do you want?

“Blow me pal.” I ain’t your pal, and I’m not going to suck your shriveled, useless little pin-dick. Maybe you can get Helena to do it.

EL Coyote
EL Coyote
  Rdawg
January 28, 2017 12:31 am

Rat-Dawg, Brownrod is an honorable commentator from the heartland.
Your a punk from Utah. WTF does Utah have other than the Osmonds?

Rdawg
Rdawg
  Rdawg
January 28, 2017 12:43 am

*You’re* a punk from Utah, dumbshit.

I dunno, great skiing? Bulk, freeze-dried food? Sundance?

EL Coyote
EL Coyote
  Rdawg
January 28, 2017 12:51 am

Your. Get it right, this is TBP.

Mjc
Mjc
January 27, 2017 6:17 pm

If Exxon can make money while helping Russia sell oil, the life blood of our empire, for money we create out of thin air.
I don’t see the downside.