Medvedev blames U.S. for global economic problems

Sunday 08th June, 05:26 AM JST

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super delegate at 12:19 PM JST - 8th June

"Are the "Former Commies" still not able to lecture the world about economics?"

Since it is in fact a subject which encompasses much more than financial transactions I'd say that Russia is free to lecture us all they want, but the fact that Medvedev and all Russsian males now have the shortest life spans among the world's developed nations needs to factored into the debate, as does their European-like dwindling birthrate, which is as clear a referendum on national policy as is possible.
apecNetworks at 01:37 PM JST - 8th June

I was there

1998, Russian Federation was heading for a complete disintergration, collapse of the ruble. The Clinton Administration had already made a disastrous geopolitical mistake, and a guy named Pres. Putin saw an opening and cashed in. It was one of the most invisible, incredible turnabouts in contemporary history. None of this is in any history books. It was an incredible decade.
SushiSake3 at 02:33 PM JST - 8th June

super delegate, right, so you're saying that because you claim "all Russian males now have the shortest life spans among the world's developed nations" and because they have a "European-like dwindling birthrate" that Russia can't lecture the world about economics?

????????? I'm just wondering whether you're posting on the correct thread....
Taka313 at 11:11 PM JST - 8th June

Sushi, If delegate's claims are true, I think he has a valid point. It's kind of a "three fingers pointing back at you" argument. On the other hand, I can understand why someone would think that as long as the argument has merit, it shouldn't matter where it comes from as well. I think the latter argument carries far more weight, but credit where credit is due, I can respect the former claim as well. I think we all appreciate when someone takes care of their own house's matters before moving on to those of others.

Taka
SezWho2 at 11:33 PM JST - 8th June

apecNetworks,

I'm not exactly sure what you are referring to. Putin didn't become president until December 31, 1999. I'm not doubting your experience but something seems missing in the telling.
Sarge at 11:34 PM JST - 8th June

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Everyone knows the U.S. is STILL the economic engine that drives the world economy.
SezWho2 at 11:37 PM JST - 8th June

Sarge, everyone knows that. But some of us think that maybe we're in the back seat with Thelma and Louise.
Sarge at 11:40 PM JST - 8th June

Sez - Heck, I'd be happy in the back seat with Thelma and Louise, and so would a good many other people around the world!
SezWho2 at 12:12 AM JST - 9th June

Sarge, maybe I left out the critical information. Thelma and Louise are not in the back seat with me. I'm with Thelma and Louise but they're in front and we're all at the Grand Canyon.

The US is the engine that drives the world economy. But why is that? Because we're so great? Or because we won't let anyone else drive? That we drive the world economy strikes me as being our economic problem, not something to feel good about.
adaydream at 12:36 AM JST - 9th June

Russia has their problems and I don't condone their form of democracy, but that being said...

I remembner scenes in the news where people were going to stores and there was only a few loaves of bread or a few scraps of meat. People who had no money to pay for rent and communed in apartments like Mexican immigrtants and had hardly a dime for food.

And look at them now. Of course there are still poor Russian people, but they have stepped out of the financial sub-basement to at least the first floor in just a few years. They have shown that they aren't financial idiots like george bush. george bush took this properous country and tanked it. < :-)
Everton2 at 01:03 AM JST - 9th June

Come on! I cant believe the audacity of the Russians to be preaching to the US about the virtues of economic management. We really have no idea what is actually taking place in Russia, the media is still very much controlled by the government, there is no real opposition and anyone who openly speak or campaign against the government is routinely arrested.
yabits at 03:10 AM JST - 9th June

Everyone knows the U.S. is STILL the economic engine that drives the world economy.

That is less true today than it was in the past, and become less true with each passing year. Especially since it is based on unsustainable US consumption tendencies.

The implication in the statement is that since what has passed was true, then what lies ahead must also be more of the same is a bit like driving with the attention focused on the rear-view mirror. Well, there's an old US expression, "as sound as a dollar," that should give anyone who thinks there aren't some serious structural problems with the US some reason to pause.

Me? As soon as Bush proclaimed he had a "strong-dollar policy" back in December of 2004, I converted a substantial percentage of my savings to Euros and Swiss francs. Safest bet I ever made.
apecNetworks at 05:25 AM JST - 9th June

To SezWho2,

The post you are referring to - don't take it literally. I was not "physically" in the Russian Federation, but rather, was engaged in the situation. That post was, more or less, written to those who saw parts of what happened and to give overview to what happened - it would be interesting to guys like Gen. Hayden.

I picked up the scenario at 1998 b/c that was the year I gave a clue to former PM Primakov after he made an incredible analysis. FSB was at that time scrambling to hold things together. When 1999 came around, Pres. Putin already knew what had to be done and he pulled it off. Remarkable implementation of remedies while still keeping the system of capitalism intact. In other words, the post was a "sweeping overview" that would be relevant to those actually involved. There are people in this world who can make things happen even when "outgunned, outmanned, and no exit". That was the Russian Federation in 1998.
skipthesong at 09:43 AM JST - 9th June

Perhaps, things would have been better had we let Russia invade and take all those countries in their quest to make the world communist.
Eulji_Mundeok at 06:04 AM JST - 11th June

He went on to tout Russia as a zone of stability able to help the world economy and took a swipe at the U.S. enthusiasm for biofuels, blamed by some analysts for a global rise in food prices.

While Russia offered global energy security, others “emphasized the production of biofuels—and we’ve seen the results of that,” he added.

I wholeheartedly agree with Medvedev on those points, and though I may disagree with some of his claims concerning Russian/American law and economics, you have to admit that this is a huge step up from simply blaming ex-patriot Russian Joooo-ish bankers/investors for most of Russia's ills. . .