Greek Bailout Deal - Greek Crisis

BBC News: Reports " Greece and its eurozone creditors appear to be nearing a bailout deal as finance ministers meet in Brussels. "

Lets Get Real:

It seems that we have the typical Euro fix, it will be complicated and you will have to read the small print to see who has won, one can postulate that the left wing Greek Government has moved enough that it allows Germany to say that the EU is following in the lines of the past agreement while getting the fact that the Greek people have elected a new government.   This will be a short term fix, it will not solve the problem, the spending of the Southern Countries of the EU will cause more problems for Germany and the EU.   In it can be argued that Greece has won, it called the bluff of Germany, there will be others, Ireland, Spain and Italy.   

At what point do the Greek Banks go bust - Greek Crisis

Telegraph - Live Blog: Reports the following in its 7pm post " The ECB is ready to tell Greek banks they have to reduce their holdings of the country's sovereign debt, should there remain little progress on agreeing a new bail-out, according to a report from Bloomberg.....Greek banks are the main holders of the country's short-term Treasury bills. The new government has asked for permission to raise temporary funds through issuing such paper, as part of plans for a "bridging loan."  That looks unlikely to be granted if the ECB is demanding Greek banks lessen their exposure to the country's sovereign debt. "

Lets Get Real:

The Germans are standing tough on the bailout structure for Greece, they do not see why the German taxpayer should pay for the left wing promises of a left wing Government, Berlin should demand that the Greeks keep to past promises, otherwise other left wing Parties in Europe will make the same promises to get in to power and expect the Northern rich countries to pay for the left wing polices of Southern Countries.    The EU can not have fiscal union without political union, different tax rates and welfare structures will cause internal trouble and sooner not later, and cause the Euro to be called in to question and the EU.   The EU can not remove political reality, if Spain or Italy go bust it is ALL OVER, it is that simple.  The Germans in this case should find their inner Prussian and stand tough. 

Ukraine Latest - Ukraine Crisis

Guardian: Reports " For all the flaws of the ceasefire, it is probably more attractive to Kiev and European capitals than a full-blown resumption of a conflict that has already claimed over 5,000 lives in 10 months. "

Lets Get Real:

A Cold ceasefire with the odd hot flashpoint might be the best deal for the West and Russia, the question is can President Putin keep his nose out of the Baltic States and Poland.   The Kremlin has seen the West weak and seeking to appease Russia,  what if they try to get the Russian minority in Baltic States to push for closer links with Russia, what if they send soldiers and tanks to help the Russians in the Baltic States, that is the most important line in this crisis, this would force the West to ACT, even with military support, the Baltic States are part of NATO, and its one basic line is, an attack on one is an attack on all, does the Kremlin still get that or does it think it can push and get the Baltic States back, like they have gotten the Crimea and East Ukraine.   The Ukraine Crisis is the most important crisis facing the US and the West, followed by IS.    The West has to find its backbone and deal with both. 

Greek Crisis Latest - Greek Crisis

BBC News: Reports " Germany has rejected a Greek request for a six-month extension to its eurozone loan programme. "

Lets Get Real:

The Greek crisis is showing seeds of mistrust between Germany and the EU, the EU elite want to keep Greece in the Euro at any cost, the problem is that they want the German taxpayer to pay for the political promises of a left wing Greek Government.   The problem for Berlin is that if they let Greece off the hook they will have Ireland, Italy, Spain asking for the same benefits, that means printing more money, and you get Weimar Germany on a bigger scale.    The Germans have to stand firm, even be seen as hard, the small tail of Greece can not run the EU or it is finished. 

What NOW for the Kiev Government - Ukraine Crisis

Telegraph: Reports " Defeated Ukrainians take the 'road of life' on their retreat from Debaltseve..Dispatch: Military disaster for Ukraine as defeated soldiers flee Debaltseve, while pro-Russian rebels raise their flag over the town marking the end of month-long battle "

Lets Get Real:

Thus a victory for the Russian rebels in East Ukraine and for Putin's Russia, the question that has to be asked, could the US have done more, the answer is YES, they could have armed the Kiev Government, the EU could not have taken a policy to appease Russia, and the Army of the Ukraine should not fight in battles that leaves them this exposed and facing defeat.   Thus will the Russians rebels keep to the Minsk peace deal, one would think for a time, they want to regroup and make sure their next push will take more land from the Kiev Government and open a land route to the Crimea.   The US should arm the Kiev Government, but it wont, Obama is weak and Putin's knows how run around him.   The EU will be happy with a peace deal that benefits Russia, they have no backbone, what a say day to be a European. 

US warns Greece - Greek Crisis

Guardian - Live Blog: Reports that the US has warned the Greek Finance  Minister  " ..Yanis Varoufakis that he needs to reach a ‘constructive deal’ soon.."

Lets Get Real:

The Greeks lied to get in to the Euro, the cooked the books, now the chickens have come home and they expect the Germans to pay for the promises of the left wing government in Greece.   As stated a few times either one side blinks and folds or the Greeks are OUT of the Euro.   The pain it would cause Greece would force the EU to bailout them out again, the EU will not see Greek people with no money, that makes BAD TV if good for the ratings and a holiday in Greece.   The Classic Greeks would hold their heads in shame to see present Greece, so is a fudge deal better than no deal, YES for the Greeks, NO from the Germans, the Greeks have not helped themselves by bring up World War 2, that goes down like a tone of bricks in Berlin.   Only the UK can use War guilt on the Germans, we beat them twice, the Greeks had to be saved, there is a difference. 

Greece Latest - Greek Crisis

BBC News: Reports " The European Central Bank has reportedly agreed to raise the emergency funding available to Greek banks to €68.3bn (£50.3bn). "

Lets Get Real:

This is crunch time for Greece and the EU in the shape of Germany, one has to blink or the end result will be Greece out of the Euro, the structure of the Euro under attack and the EU in the end having to support an bankrupt Greece.   If the Greeks leave the Euro it will hurt for a short time, but then Greece can rebuild their economy how they want with their own money.   The time is short, who will blink first, a fudged deal could cause more damage, interesting times for the Greeks, there is talk that they might ask the Russias or China for a better deal, that would be a disaster for the EU, and it would be a victory for either Russia or China, they would have a foot in the EU structure.