In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan sparking off the Cold War. 34 years later, Syria was reported to have used chemical weapons against rebel soldiers marking a departure in policy between the United States and Russia. The former wanted to arm the rebels which did not sit well with the latter. Relations have deteriorated ever since. President Obama has now cancelled a meeting with President Putin planned for Moscow.

Watch Russia.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin is showing his gamesmanship on a global stage by giving his voters what they want with the asylum granted to ex-U.S. contractor Edward Snowden, while leaving the White House flustered.

The decision is backed by almost twice as many Russians as those against it and those who view Snowden’s role as positive outnumber negative assessments three to one. While the case risks derailing U.S.-Russian relations, it gives Putin a chance to rally support at home and deflect attention from his own human-rights record, said Gleb Pavlovsky, a former Kremlin adviser who heads the Effective Policy Foundation in Moscow...."

Read more:

http://www.bloomberg.com...fumes-over-snowden.html

One should be concerned of the possible answers as to why the govt is 'gauranteeing' what can be termed as the 'normal' business of private (financial) capital at such a large scale, esp. post-GFC. #jussayin

Russian outplays a bankster - http://rt.com/business/m...s-banks-wins-court-221/

Too funny this story. The client changed the fineprint of the credit card terms form and the bank signed and issued the card. A few years later the bankster as the norm sues the client for non payment. Then the form comes up as evidence in the lawsuit and alas the bank is suprised to see "its own" terms