Sanctions: A two-way street

[HenryBHough]

OK, so Russia has taken notice of the limp-wristed sanctions imposed over the whole Ukraine unpleasantness.

They've noticed that America no longer has space capability to do much and they have in mind sanctions of their own:

Russia may stop US rides to ISS | News24
"Moscow is fiercely proud of its rockets and still fêtes its ability to trump the United States during the Soviet-era space race by putting the first man in orbit in 1961.

And a top minister in charge of the military-industrial complex warned that Moscow may strike back at new high-technology export restrictions that Washington imposed in retaliation at the Kremlin's Ukrainian land grab by limiting US access to Russian space equipment.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said that Russia was "planning to only need the ISS until 2020" and then spend funding "on other promising space projects.""


How about that, the possibility of an International Space Station orbiting the entire planet and no Americans on board. Unless "capitalist swine" are willing to do the work government won't.

Update:

Now available, a link to a video edition of the story for those libs who have been complaining about the "hard words" in the first link:

http://time.com/99509/russia-threatens-nasa/

 

[waltky]

Granny says, "Dat's right - first dey gotta show dey can behave demselves an' play nice...

Russia PM calls idea US will lift sanctions soon 'illusion'
Jan 22,`17 -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says the west's sanctions on Russia are likely to remain in place "for a long time" despite expectations Donald Trump's inauguration as U.S. president will lead to warmer relations between Washington and Moscow.

Medvedev told members of the ruling United Russia party on Sunday that Russian leaders "can't place our hope on foreign elections" and "It's time to dispense with the illusion that sanctions against our country will be lifted."

Trump's pledge to bring a fresh eye to Russia has produced some excitement in Russia. But senior Russian officials are warning that differences between Moscow and Washington will not disappear overnight.

The U.S. and European Union imposed sanctions on Russia in 2014 over Moscow's annexation of Crimea and support for rebels in eastern Ukraine.

News from The Associated Press

See also:

Kremlin hopes for rapport with US, but differences will stay
Jan 21,`17 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman voiced hope for a constructive dialogue with President Donald Trump's administration in comments broadcast Saturday, but warned that differences will remain.

Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with state Rossiya television that it would be an "illusion" to expect that U.S.-Russian relations would be completely free of disagreements. "Successful development of bilateral ties will depend on our ability to solve these differences through dialogue," Peskov said. He added that Putin will call Trump soon to congratulate him. Peskov's sober assessment contrasted with euphoria in Russian political and business elites, where many expect a quick thaw in relations with the U.S. A few clubs and bars sought to cash in on public excitement, hosting parties to mark Trump's inauguration.

Trump has promised to mend ties with Moscow badly strained over the Ukrainian crisis, the war in Syria and allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. elections, and his victory has elated Russian political elites. Peskov, however, pointed at the challenges posed by the intricacy of nuclear arms control, the complexity of the situation in Syria and other issues. While Russia supports prospective nuclear arms cuts, they should be proportional and not upset the nuclear parity between Russia and the U.S., which "plays a critical role in ensuring global stability and security," Peskov said. He noted that different composition of Russian and U.S. nuclear forces is a factor that needs to be carefully considered in negotiations.

Traditional Russian wooden dolls called Matryoshka depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, hours before Donald Trump is to be sworn in as president of the United States, are displayed for sale at a street souvenir shop in St. Petersburg, Russia​

Asked to comment on Trump's recent interview with the Times of London in which he indicated that he could end sanctions imposed on Russia imposed after the 2014 annexation of Crimea in return for a nuclear arms reduction deal, Peskov said the two issues are hard to link. Peskov emphasized the U.S. role in settling the nearly six-year conflict in Syria, where Trump has offered to pool efforts with Russia in fighting the Islamic State group. "It's quite obvious that it's impossible to constructively solve the Syrian problem without the U.S. participation," he said.

Russia already has invited Trump's administration to attend talks between Syrian government and opposition groups in Kazakhstan capital Monday. Russia brokered the talks together with Turkey and Iran, but Tehran has opposed the U.S. involvement in them. "There are certain disagreements between Moscow and Tehran on this subject," Peskov said, adding that the Syrian issue "is too complex to have a full harmony in approaches." "Any deals there are unlikely, there are too many parties involved," he added.

Turning to the Ukrainian crisis, which has driven Russia's relations with the West to post-Cold War lows, Peskov criticized Barack Obama's administration for an "unconstructive" approach and voiced hope that Trump's administration would revise it.

News from The Associated Press

Related:

Russia set to move closer to decriminalize domestic violence
Jan 22,`17 -- In Russia, giving one's spouse a slap is nothing extraordinary for many people. This week, the Russian parliament is expected to take a step closer toward decriminalizing it altogether.

Battery is a criminal offense in Russia, but nearly 20 percent of Russians openly say they think it is sometimes OK to hit a spouse or a child. In a bid to accommodate conservative voters, deputies in the lower house of parliament have given initial approval to a bill eliminating criminal liability for domestic violence that stops short of serious bodily harm or rape. If the measure passes its second reading in the Duma on Wednesday, when the draft can be changed, approval in the third and final reading would be a foregone conclusion. From the Duma, it would proceed to the upper house, largely a rubber-stamp body, and then to President Vladimir Putin's desk.

Data on domestic violence in Russia are obscure, but Interior Ministry statistics show that 40 percent of all violent crimes in Russia are committed in family surroundings. In 2013, more than 9,000 women were reported to have been killed in incidents of domestic violence. The bill stems from a Supreme Court ruling last summer to decriminalize battery that doesn't inflict bodily harm, but to retain criminal charges for those accused of battery against family members. Conservative activists objected, saying the ruling meant a parent spanking a child could be punished more harshly than a non-relative striking the child. Ultra-conservative lawmaker Yelena Mizulina, who also authored Russia's "gay propaganda" ban, then introduced the bill to decriminalize domestic violence. It initially was shelved after a disapproving review from the government.

Tables turned at the end of the year when a journalist from a conservative publication pressed Putin about it at his annual news conference. "If the father spanks his child for a good reason as a means of education, a traditional Russian one, he will be sentenced to two years in prison - and if a neighbor does this, he will get away with a fine!" the journalist told Putin. Putin replied that "it's better not to spank children and refer to some traditions," but then said, "We should not go overboard with it (punishment for battery). It's not good, it harms families."

The bill would make battery on a family member punishable by a fine of less than 30,000 rubles ($500) or a 15-day arrest. The Moscow-based Anna Center foundation, which runs Russia's only domestic violence hotline, received more than 5,000 calls last year. The foundation says many more calls that go unanswered since the line operates only between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. The Duma bill "is not going to improve the situation to say the least," said Irina Matvienko, who runs the hotline. "Domestic violence is a system which makes it difficult for a woman to seek help," she said. "It's not a traditional value. It's a crime. " Calls to the Anna Center hotline show that a lot of Russian women initially don't even realize that domestic violence is an offense, Matvienko says.

MORE

 

[owebo]

OK, so Russia has taken notice of the limp-wristed sanctions imposed over the whole Ukraine unpleasantness.

They've noticed that America no longer has space capability to do much and they have in mind sanctions of their own:

Russia may stop US rides to ISS | News24
"Moscow is fiercely proud of its rockets and still fêtes its ability to trump the United States during the Soviet-era space race by putting the first man in orbit in 1961.

And a top minister in charge of the military-industrial complex warned that Moscow may strike back at new high-technology export restrictions that Washington imposed in retaliation at the Kremlin's Ukrainian land grab by limiting US access to Russian space equipment.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said that Russia was "planning to only need the ISS until 2020" and then spend funding "on other promising space projects.""


How about that, the possibility of an International Space Station orbiting the entire planet and no Americans on board. Unless "capitalist swine" are willing to do the work government won't.

Update:

Now available, a link to a video edition of the story for those libs who have been complaining about the "hard words" in the first link:

Russia Threatens To Cut Ties to International Space Station Over U.S. Sanctions

NASA can only launch missions for Muslim outreach....

 

[Cowman]

""Moscow is fiercely proud of its rockets and still fêtes its ability to trump the United States"

Moscow already Trumped the United States. They installed Trump as president.

 

[owebo]

""Moscow is fiercely proud of its rockets and still fêtes its ability to trump the United States"

Moscow already Trumped the United States. They installed Trump as president.

Link?

 

[Manonthestreet]

Has ISS produced any or enough science of note to keep it open......Know SpaceX has capsule design .....We need our own capability