The article makes perfect logical sense. It was suggested that prior to the invasion of Iraq, Iran and Iraq discussed changing from the petro-dollar to a "petro-euro" in oil trading. As you see the rest is history and Iran is on the hunters list. If the USA needs oil it prints more dollars but with no real assets to back up the purchase. This can only lead to the devaluation of the dollar in real terms but in the meantime the USA uses up reserves from other countries and hoardes its own assets for the future.

This is very interesting and important interview. I would like to thank RT for sharing with us high quality documentaries such as this economic forecast and als recent key documentaries of WWII. My only problem with this interview is one of the author's subtle reference that Russia can recuperate its lose of population density through open immigration from Europe! Europe has population problems of its own. Instead, Russia will do well to focus on acquiring new settlers from former USSAR bloc countries and perhaps even from Africa and Asia. But this will not happen unless ethnocentricity dominant in Russian thinking is openly discussed in pragmatic and honest way. Perhaps authors would like to know that the U.S has long history of immigration restrictions against eastern Europeans including Russians and that these exclusionary restrictions were periodically lifted to procure cheap labour for the U.S industry. Russia should not repeat this mistake but instead focus on people willing to learn Russian and work in the land. One of the ways to achieve this is carefully selected but open immigration policies. But when it is even hard to come to Russia to visit, how can Russia attract flood of new immigrants? Russia’s future population growth lies with the East not with demographically declining Europe.

Doublespeak: "how can Russia attract flood of new immigrants?" I have noticed that "Doublespeak" is an appropriate name for whoever he or she is that posts under it. He or she seems to insert a subtle agenda in all his or her posts - that of bringing Third World immigrants into Russia. Russia needs to stop aborting her own babies and not import a "flood of immigrants". I understand that what I wrote above will be deemed racists by the anti-whites - so be it. I am proud to be a member of a unique race of people (whites) who come in more variations than any other race on earth; we are blue eyed (like myself), green eyed, hazel eyed, brown eyed, grey eyed. We also come in a variety of hair colors that no other race on earth does: blonds of various shades, brown haired of various shades, Reds of various shades, and black haired of various shades. We are also contributed significantly to the advancement of humanity, along with Arabs and Asians. So, if being proud of being white is "racists" - too bad. As, I posted earlier. Russia does not need immigrants from the Third World, she needs to stop aborting her babies. If there is a need for limited immigration let them be Koreans, Japanese and Chinese - forget all the others.

When a country consists of more people who want the government to take care of them, than those who can take care of themselves, such a country is doomed to failure.

Doublespeak: "Russia’s future population growth lies with the East not with demographically declining Europe." Russia's future population growth lies with abolishment of abortions. Russian women have one of world's highest pregnancy rates; however, the problem is that they use abortions as a form of birth control. There would be a population explosion in Russia if abortions were eliminated.

"ethnocentricity dominant in Russian thinking" "Ethnocentricity" is characteristic of people who are proud of their history, cultural heritage, and accomplishments such as Russians. People who are not proud of what their ancestors bequeathed them will forsake their heritage and will go looking for identities elsewhere. Thankfully, Russians are not such people.

Kihnu You have the upper hand in this discussion because the mods have been censoring my comments on this matter at least in another blog where you've made comments about the coming revolution of the whites in the United States. Yes, the future of Russia lies in the East. This is because Europe is suffering from demographic crisis of its own and will not send new pioneer settlers to Siberia! This was a wishful thinking in the part of otherwise smart two researchers.But until those running this website allow intelligent exchanges and free flow of ideas in this forum, it will be hard to respond hard to discuss this and similar matters of great implications.