About a month ago, right after the predictions of Gerald Celente came out, a Russian academic came out stating that the United States was going to break apart in 2010 due to our poor economic situation.

“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. 

Right away it seems odd that he puts it at a 50% chance – I mean, isn’t there a 50% chance of something happening at any point to begin with?  Anyway, here is how he expects the break-up to shake out:

(via WSJ)

I also find it interesting that Russia is facing, and using the military to put an end to, dissent due to the devaluation of the ruble because of the plunging price of oil….

Anything can happen, don’t get me wrong, but it looks like Russia has more issues right now than the US.

While out reading financial news of the day, I happened to find an article quoting a Russian Professor, Igor Panarin. He is expecting the U.S. to break up into separate nations due to the financial climate facing the U.S. and world economies (kinda sound like Gerald Celente, no?).

Ok, more doom and gloom much like everything else going around these days. Nothing new. While I cannot find any background on Professor Igor Panarin he lost me with the following:

“we could claim Alaska – it was only granted on lease, after all.”

Sorry, Alaska was purchased – not leased. At least he’s not predicting that all front yards will be turned into gardens by the year 2000. Who know, maybe he’s drinking some vodka poisoned by Chernobyl.