Russia is facing an economic crisis created by the petrodollar. In the long term a barrel of oil will decline significantly as a unit of economic power. In the short term this is a situation of which advantage can be taken.

If the world bands together to force Russia into an even more severe economic spiral it may be possible to purchase its military apparatus. 70% of Russian military hardware would be destroyed and severe restrictions on military action and build-up would be agreed to in exchange for a very large one-time transfer of wealth guaranteed to lift Russia out of its economic crisis in one fell swoop.

With Russia barely able to defend itself orbiting economies will be free to develop on their own and there will be much less tension in the region.

What? No I don't intend to invade Russia.
-- Voice, Dec 24 2014

Do you realise quite how much military hardware Russia actually has?

In terms of lives saved, the USA would be a better target. Not sure which offers better value-for-money though.
-- pocmloc, Dec 24 2014


The Soviet Union went broke trying to achieve parity. Economic factors did not influence that government (and to a lesser extent this one) as they would a "normal" representative government.

But no worries, this iteration will not last nearly as long as the previous one, no more than another 15 years or so at most (whereas the Soviet Union lasted for 75 years)
-- theircompetitor, Dec 24 2014


Memo

From: People's Republic of China
To: Mongolia, Kazakhstan
CC: World Cartography Association

Enclosed please find your copies of "Mandarin for Dummies". We will be stopping by, as soon as we can stop laughing, and staying for a very long time.
-- FlyingToaster, Dec 24 2014


Mama got cole, daddy got cole, all gods chill'in got cole. China got coal, Irish got peat, Wales got miners, Appalachia had coal.

Sing it now with feeling. Montana...
-- popbottle, Dec 24 2014


No "poop" except in the subtitle; auto -
-- DenholmRicshaw, Dec 24 2014



random, halfbakery