Top Russian analyst predicts US collapse: 2010

[Count of Montesano]

Interesting read in the Wall Street Journal - a top Russian academic and former KGB analyst is predicting that America's economy will collapse by 2010, plunging the US into civil strife and leading to a break-up of the 50 states.

The verdict - The Eastern seaboard will join the EU, the south and southwest will come under the control of Mexico, the West Coast will be controlled by China, and Russia will take back Alaska.

While I would normally laugh at this, the Russian expert has taken a look at some of the reasons why the Soviet Union fell, and found similar problems in modern day America. Problems like ethnic strife (America's major immigration problem), an unstable economy, and a costly, unsuccessful war. If anyone can recognize the signs of economic collapse, it would be a Russian.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1230...googlenews_wsj

Prof. Panarin, 50 years old, is not a fringe figure. A former KGB analyst, he is dean of the Russian Foreign Ministry's academy for future diplomats. He is invited to Kremlin receptions, lectures students, publishes books, and appears in the media as an expert on U.S.-Russia relations.

But it's his bleak forecast for the U.S. that is music to the ears of the Kremlin, which in recent years has blamed Washington for everything from instability in the Middle East to the global financial crisis. Mr. Panarin's views also fit neatly with the Kremlin's narrative that Russia is returning to its rightful place on the world stage after the weakness of the 1990s, when many feared that the country would go economically and politically bankrupt and break into separate territories.

A polite and cheerful man with a buzz cut, Mr. Panarin insists he does not dislike Americans. But he warns that the outlook for them is dire.

"There's a 55-45% chance right now that disintegration will occur," he says. "One could rejoice in that process," he adds, poker-faced. "But if we're talking reasonably, it's not the best scenario -- for Russia." Though Russia would become more powerful on the global stage, he says, its economy would suffer because it currently depends heavily on the dollar and on trade with the U.S.

Mr. Panarin posits, in brief, that mass immigration, economic decline, and moral degradation will trigger a civil war next fall and the collapse of the dollar. Around the end of June 2010, or early July, he says, the U.S. will break into six pieces -- with Alaska reverting to Russian control.

[Watchman]

And I daresay the second paragraph of the quote sums up pretty well why I figure this guy's cheerfully talking out of his arse and knows it.

...and looking though the article proper, I'd be willing to call him either a snake-oil salesman or a loony.

Also, "moral collapse" ? WTF ?

[Exarch]

why would the US break into pieces?

[Nutsack]

Haha hilarious. This is highly unlikely, however if it does happen I'll already be in the E.U .

[Caelius]

God, this is the third time I seen this thread on forums I frequent.

This guy is a serious loon.

[Count of Montesano]

Well Caelius, I first saw this thread on MSN Money, which is frequented by rather wealthy but loony conservatives who are all convinced that Obama will spell the end of Western Civilization. Over there, everyone's convinced this is a real premonition, so it's good to hear from non-Americans what I suspected - this is outright Russian propaganda. But once again, most people didn't think the Soviets would fold as fast as they did.

[Viking Prince]

The idea is not new and the thread is not unique. Europeans cannot understand how such differant reagions and minor differences in culture can remain united as one country. The same Europeans want to unite differant regions and cultures with much greater differences into the EU. Go figure.

[Hookah Smoking Caterpiller]

The idea is not new and the thread is not unique. Europeans cannot understand how such differant reagions and minor differences in culture can remain united as one country. The same Europeans want to unite differant regions and cultures with much greater differences into the EU. Go figure.

Yup, people in the UK, Spain, France, Norway, and Sweden have no idea how to have diffrent cultures living along side each other

(all these countries have large numbers of indegeious minority cultures, Basques, Bretons, Welsh, Sami etc)

[Viking Prince]

Yup, people in the UK, Spain, France, Norway, and Sweden have no idea how to have diffrent cultures living along side each other

(all these countries have large numbers of indegeious minority cultures, Basques, Bretons, Welsh, Sami etc)

Can I facepalm a facepalm? That was my point or was my feeble attempt at ironic situations wasted. Again I prove to have no sense of humor. And now I have proven that I cannot be ironic.

What is next?

btw -- Happy New Year!

[manofarms89]

The idea is not new and the thread is not unique. Europeans cannot understand how such differant reagions and minor differences in culture can remain united as one country. The same Europeans want to unite differant regions and cultures with much greater differences into the EU. Go figure.

i agree. i don't understand so many underestimate the quality of our union. if we didn't break up during the 1930s i doubt we'll break up in a couple of years. we are no where near the kind of strife the USSR faced in the 1980s.

[Yosemite]

well usa will fall, but not in 2010, that is too early

[manofarms89]

well usa will fall, but not in 2010, that is too early

because you are the all knowing prophet Yosemite?

[Yosemite]

because you are the all knowing prophet Yosemite?

nationalist, are you scared of the idea of USA falling one day?

[Xan]

The idea is not new and the thread is not unique. Europeans cannot understand how such differant reagions and minor differences in culture can remain united as one country. The same Europeans want to unite differant regions and cultures with much greater differences into the EU. Go figure.

The population of Europe do not want the EU to be a country.

And Russians are Russians not Europeans

[Markas]

What a vivid imagination.

[Manco]

Unless some major apocalyptic :wub: breaks out, I think he's a bit daft for saying that.

[Heathen Hammer]

I'd say in next 20 years it will downfall into a regular state in North America. Unless something drastic like an uprising or revolution happens. Some state might also become independent as well.

[manofarms89]

I'd say in next 20 years it will downfall into a regular state in North America. Unless something drastic like an uprising or revolution happens. Some state might also become independent as well.

seeing as how most states cant afford to sustain themselves, i find that very unlikely.

[Heathen Hammer]

seeing as how most states cant afford to sustain themselves, i find that very unlikely.

There might be groups of states that will break up. A group of states is more likely to sustain themselves than 1 state.

[manofarms89]

There might be groups of states that will break up. A group of states is more likely to sustain themselves than 1 state.

true but we already fought a civil war over this and any respectful politician would avoid running a campaign on "the state of X should cede from the union!" the USSR broke apart because states like Ukraine and Latvia were forced into it and detested being forced into a union with Russia. none of the US states were forced to join nor do they hate being part of the US