Dumb Sanctions on Russia

In his latest Web post, Paul Craig Roberts urges Russia to retaliate against EU-imposed economic sanctions by cutting off the supply of Russian oil and gas upon which Europe depends to satisfy about one third of its total energy needs. Putin, says Roberts, "would not have to turn off the energy supply for very long before Europe tells Washington good-bye and comes to terms with Russia."

Well maybe.

But more likely, in view of the massive economic damage caused by turning off the gas, European states would deem the continuation of Putin`s rule in Moscow intolerable and would be amenable to any actions Washington might propose, even  including all out war, in order to topple Putin and institute a government in Moscow subordinate to Western interests as viewed by Washington.

Moreover, such an outcome is clearly the objective of Washington`s gross provocation of Russia, first, in installing a Nazi-backed regime of mad-dog Russophobes in Kyiv, then by supporting and aiding the Kyiv junta in killing its own citizens in Eastern Ukraine, and then by falsely accusing Russia of complicity in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Fligh MH17, a crime almost certainly attributable to America`s Nazi puppets in Kyiv, most likely with advice and assistance by the large CIA contingent in Kyiv.

Now if Putin can be induced by US-EU sanctions to finally lose his cool and abruptly escalate the conflict with Europe by attacking the very basis of its economic existence, the American objective will be won. Europe will be galvanized to act in any way necessary, up to and including outright warfare, as Washington`s tool in destroying Russian independence. From this, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that Paul Craig Roberts is either a man of remarkably poor judgement or he is phony dissident acting as an agent of Washington`s NeoCon imperialists.

There is, however, little chance that Putin will escalate the conflict by cutting Europe`s energy supply, which would be tantamount to an act of war, and one guaranteed to destroy for all time Russia`s credibility as reliable trade partner.

Rather, Russia has reacted, and will continue to react, to US and European sanctions by implementing proportionate retaliatory measures that will tend to strengthen Russia`s agricultural, financial and technology industries, without justifying escalation of the conflict.

This does not mean, however, that Russia will be able to avoid military action in Ukraine indefinitely. The criminal violence of the Kyiv regime directed at those in Eastern Ukraine with the temerity to seek a measure of autonomy has created a humanitarian catastrophe, to which Russia, unlike Canada, Australia and the EU states, will not turn a blind eye.

Postscript:
Apparently the US cannot wait for Russia to cut of the gas to Europe and is now urging its Nazi friends in Kyiv to cut the trans-Ukrainian gas lines, thereby delivering the deathblow to the EU economy, that Russia will not.

So how will Germany and the rest of the EU react. Will they, like a wounded snake, lash out wildly at the Russians as the US no doubt hopes and intends, or will they reconsider their attitude with their Nazi Ukrainian neighbor and their American occupiers.

Related:

Mike Shedlock:
War With Russia: A Small Price to Pay to Preserve the Illusions of Brainwashed Americans

Tony Catalucci:
Dumb blonde Ausi foreign minister tries sticking blame for MH-17 on Russia without bothering with the questions of means, motive or actual evidence

Asia Times:
NATO is desperate for war

Real News Network:
730,000 Ukrainian refugees in Russia

The publisher of Handelsblatt, Germany’s leading financial newspaper:
The West on the wrong path

Zero Hedge:
Ukraine Prepares To Impose Russian Gas Transit Ban, Commit Economic Suicide

The Saker:
The wave pain for the EU is now slowly turning into a tsunami of mutually reinforcing problems

The Saker:
You wanna be Uncle Sam's bitch? Pay the price!

Ria Novosti:
Porky Ends MH17 Crash Zone Ceasefire: Move along, nothing to see here

Ria Novosti: 
NATO Chief Threatens Russia With More Sanctions Over Ukraine
Who is this Anders Fogh Rasmussen? Who asked him to speak for Canadians? Let's hear no more from this Fogher.

Zero Hedge:
Canada Joins Forces With Genocidal Nazis in Ukraine

Zero Hedge: 
Meanwhile, Kiev Is Burning Again

RiaNovosti:
Maidan Unrest Back to Life as Activists Clash With Police on Central Kiev Square

Oriental Review:
Ukrainians stand up against junta

Oriental Review:
Ukraine’s Dystopian Descent into Military Dictatorship

The Ukrainian state continues its slow-motion collapse, this time with Poroshenko seeking to deal a death blow to the last remnants of the Rada. He has accused “half of the Verkhovna Rada” of being “a ‘fifth column’ which is controlled from abroad, whole factions” after they did not pass a bill labelling Lugansk and Donetsk’s governments as terrorist organizations. Such an action would have granted pseudo-legitimacy to the US in doing the same, with the ultimate intent of connecting supposed Russian support of these entities with “state sponsor of terrorism” status. By his threatening words, Poroshenko is purposely trying to rile up nationalist voters and intimidate any remaining pragmatic politicians in his quest for near-total control over the state, just as an oligarch holds absolute power of his company. Concurrent with this, the West is wholeheartedly supporting Ukraine’s military, although that institution is on the brink of self-implosion as well. The unstable result of these two trends is the dystopian descent of Ukraine towards military dictatorship, all with the enthusiastic backing of the West in its latest anti-Russian crusade. ...