UKRAINE: THE WEST'S FINANCIAL SHOCK AND AWE WAR IS FAILING
The western powers have huffed and puffed but have failed to blow the Russian house down.
Due to a concatenation of their own errors and stubborn adherence to the policy of pressurising Russia, denying it the right to any security, this has all blown up in the western powers' faces.
Russia has taken the financial blows, and undoubtedly is staggering somewhat, but she has not fallen. The reality is that the measures taken by the Russian central bank and the combined efforts of the Russian president, his advisers and the Russian government Russia appears to be already on the rise in some areas.
The ruble, which fell substantially at first soon began to rise albeit not anywhere near to recovering its previous value. However, when it was announced that natural gas payments would in future have to be made in rubles its upward progress began in earnest.
The western powers threatened the 'Mother of all Sanctions Packages' and though it cannot be said that they were all a bunch of damp squibs they have not done what was hoped. The Russian economy has not collapsed as hoped for, the ruble has not done so either and it appears absolutely certain that the western economies will suffer just as much as Russia's in the weeks and months to come, if not more so.
Energy prices in the West are set to absolutely soar, especially if the western powers are forced to purchase massively more expensive LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) which, due to unavailability via long-term contracts will be subject to market fluctuations. And, as there will be fierce competition for a limited supply I think you can guess which direction prices are likely to travel.
All in all the West has shot itself in the foot rather than shooting down the Russian economy. Through a bull-headed and hysterical response to its own mess vis a vis pressuring Russia into a corner regarding NATO and Ukraine the western powers appear to have signed their own economic suicide note.
The paucity of true understanding, depth of insight and an abysmal inability to seek compromises which could have averted this crisis the western powers have brought on nothing but misery for their populations. They have made their bed however and now much lie in it as the saying goes. For the elites in the upper echelons of western society this may mean little. But to those who live pay check to pay check with debts building inexorably this will certainly not be taken so lightly and trouble is bound to ensew.
All in all then, a disaster in the making for the entire western world and every single institution within it, not least of which will be NATO.
Governments will undoubtedly fall and be replaced, hopefully by more knowledgeable and thoughtful members than the lamentable crowd now holding power. Those new faces cannot help but see clearly the series of fatal mistakes their predecessors have made, not the least of which is the shock and awe financial war on Russia which totally failed.
