Captured Russian Soldier Says They Are Demoralized: 'We Do Not Want This War'

not necesarily … depends on your trade balance … there is a reason why some countries (italy comes to mind) were notorious for depreciating their currency for decades as their chosen monetary policy

If you export more than you import, then devaluation brings a net-win. Macroeconomics 101, really

what?

are you aware that russia is one of the biggest wheat exporters on this plant? why should they make bread from imported wheat???

Dont take my word for it, take FAO’s:
Since 2000 Russia has emerged as one of the major exporters of grains. It is the fifth largest
exporter of wheat … with a 14% market share in 2011.

FAO link (will start pdf download!!!)

“And they’ve got, a lot of these soldiers are conscripts, never been in combat before, some of whom we believe weren’t even told they were going to be in combat.” - anonymous DoD official

Don’t be too hasty in dismissing this as a possibility. In the summer of '87, an East German Motorized Rifle Division got lost on the way to their training grounds, and rolled right up to the East/West German border crossing on the A9 Autobahn.

We (H Co. 2/2 ACR) were watching them from about a mile away, the rest of the Regiment was scrambling, USAEUR was going on high alert; alarm bells were ringing in D.C. Pucker factor: High.

Then the East Germans apparently said, “Oops, Our Bad,” turned around, and rolled away back north on the A9.

Honest Mistake? A “Test” of NATO preparedness? A none-too-subtle “Eff You!” to the West? Officially, it was the first. At least, that’s the Official Word that came down to us line troopers.

Doesn’t rule out #2 or #3 as freebies, though.