Russian State TV Anchor: Russia Could Turn US To "Radioactive Ash" 878
An anonymous reader writes with a Ukraine news roundup. "'Russia is the only country in the world realistically capable of turning the United States into radioactive ash,' anchor Dmitry Kiselyov said on his weekly news show on state-controlled Rossiya 1 television. ... His programme was broadcast as the first exit polls were being published showing an overwhelming majority of Crimeans voting to leave Ukraine and join Russia. He stood in his studio in front of a gigantic image of a mushroom cloud produced after a nuclear attack, with the words 'into radioactive ash.' ... Kiselyov has earned a reputation as one of Russia's most provocative television news hosts, in particularly with his often blatantly homophobic remarks. But he is also hugely influential with his weekly news show broadcast at Sunday evening prime time. Putin last year appointed Kiselyov head of the new Russia Today news agency that is to replace the soon to be liquidated RIA Novosti news agency with the aim of better promoting Russia's official position. — Russia has threatened to stop nuclear disarmament treaty inspections and cooperation. Russian troops are reported to have seized a natural gas terminal in Ukraine outside of Crimea. There are reported to be 60,000 Russian troops massing on Russia's border with Ukraine."
Re: What does this have to do with tech news? (Score:5, Informative)
For the last time: Slashdot is not a technology news website. It is a news site for nerds. There is a difference.
Re:And the US could turn Russia into vapor (Score:5, Informative)
Re:And the US could turn Russia into vapor (Score:5, Informative)
Really? As of last year, Russia held $225 billion in U.S. dollars. So, you think Russia will tank a $17 Trillion dollar economy with $225 billion. I find it helpful to have a sense of perspective when dealing with numbers.
Re:And the US could turn Russia into vapor (Score:5, Informative)
"to spite its face"
Re:And the US could turn Russia into vapor (Score:5, Informative)
Bragging about the arsenal size is just idiotic.
Yup.
The US probably has 2000 odd warheads ready to go. Are there 2000 interesting targets in Russia?
Fuck, even France has 290. Destroy the top 290 targets and what is left?
Target 290 by size: Vidnoye,Moscow Oblast, population 52,198.
Re:The Day After (Score:3, Informative)
Re: And the US could turn Russia into vapor (Score:5, Informative)
Ignoring all that: Have you looked at a map recently? The US is big. To have the effect you are talking about a strike that would require hundreds of warheads. That would be more than enough according to Sagan et al.
Re:And the US could turn Russia into vapor (Score:5, Informative)
Just pointing out to anyone taking the above poster seriously that he's quoting a nazi site. Friatider.se.
Re:And the US could turn Russia into vapor (Score:4, Informative)
No.
All common loans (mortgage, credit card, signature loan, auto loan, etc) in the US are fixed principal. E.g. Say you borrow $200,000 for a house, and you get fees tacked on, plus the cost of financing ata fixed rate... you could pay ~3x the original loan but only as a result of compounding. The loan terms never change even if the value of the dollar completely tanks or shoots up. It is a common option to have a variable interest rate, making it possible to have the interest rate tied to the prime rate and have that skyrocket.. which could get me into trouble over the long term of I cannot afford adjusted monthly payments. But otherwise it's the same story: the principal amount is *never* adjusted for the value of the dollar. I'm quite sure that would be illegal (but IANAfinance lawyer), and if it's not, any creditor exercising that kind of option would find their buildings burned down by morning, Venezuela style.
If the value of my work stays steady, a strong dollar actually makes it harder for me to pay my mortgage, but a weak dollar lets me pay off my loans faster. Imho this sort of relationship has a stabilizing effect on the US economy and dollar.