The Russian economy (catch all)

[Beelzebubalicious]

This was in today's Eurasia Daily Monitor:

Russia Preparing to Buy Allies Through Anti-Crisis Assistance

"Moscow's anti-crisis subsidies are targeted selectively and geared for sphere-of-influence building. Russia is rewarding allied Armenia; it has precipitated Kyrgyzstan's threat to remove the U.S.-led military presence from that country; and it induced a reluctant Belarus to accept Russia's demand to turn the joint air defense system into a unified system."

The author of the article also questions whether Russia will be able to actually disburse these funds...

US/European Donors pledges billions for Georgia...and Russia responds. Do any of the players actually have the cards or are they bluffing? My answer is high-stakes bluffing.

[Stan]

US/European Donors pledges billions for Georgia...and Russia responds. Do any of the players actually have the cards or are they bluffing? My answer is high-stakes bluffing.

Hey Eric !
No bluff on the NATO/US/EU part. FY08 and 09 funds are definitely there (note that some monies from previous FYs are good for 2 to 5 years).

Have you had a chance to peruse the EUMM site? Lots of bluffing going on there as the EU get's Georgia to back off the demarcation line and asks the Russians to do the same

Now that's major bluffing

Regards, Stan