Just keep bailing them out, no such thing as failure in these new world economies, everyone gets bailed out....Funny how they keep getting extensions and more extensions and more extensions, bet you when Sunday comes and no agreement is made they will still be in the euro zone.....all fluff and hype....imf is probably going to give them triple what they want, because remember everyone gets free bailouts ..... Greece asks for $59B in aid, IMF says it needs more Christine Seib 5 Hours AgoCNBC.com 711 COMMENTSGreece after details emerged from the reform proposal the debt-stricken country sent to European officials on Thursday, including a reported request for 53.5 billion euros ($59.2 billion) in aid. Meanwhile, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Chief Economist Olivier Blanchard warned that Greece may require even more debt relief and funding than the 60 billion euros ($66 billion) the fund forecast only a few days ago. Greece has been given until Sunday by its creditors to come to a reform-and-aid deal or risk exiting the euro zone.
Let's see what the Greeks offer in exchange. It could be worth every single penny if they allow for more austerity and reform monitors to come back to Greece. But one thing I am 100% sure of is that nobody is trusting their words anymore. This means that with reforms a Troika2 will re-enter the country and monitor progress. Nor will any further monetary payment be paid out as one large lump sum but paid out in tranches as function of progress made. And let's face the truth: If Greece cannot even attain a positive budget with maximum starvation then it cannot survive no matter what. I think the current situation and inability to manage a sustainable surplus budget simply means that Greeks can save a lot more and stomach a lot more austerity than they make the world believe.
Americans care all of a sudden. Unfortunately only when there is a perceived benefit. Now that even the dumbest citizen knows that Russia is working on a pipeline with the Greeks Americans become all of a sudden very interested. Unfortunately this is a Europe internal issue, bystanders please move on, nothing to be seen.
If it is so important for the Americans they should take over a few hundred billions of the loans given to Greece. If they do that they can participate in making rules in the Greek game. As long as they don't do that they should shut up. Obama tried to put pressure on Merkel but it did not work out. Europe should drop a big chunk of the debt for the American interests in Greece?
I politely agree. The US literally has ZERO business in injecting themselves into this discussion. THey could not prevent the biggest financial crises in this and the last century and are the last to lecture others which actions cause financial contagion and which not. But in terms of security and international cooperation the US and Europe should work closely together and I even would love to see Germany (unless of course its European neighbors get freaked out) and France and other European nations take a more constructive role in international shared responsibilities. Europe has very little right to weigh in on Israel and Palestine given they are hardly invested in the region, neither financially nor otherwise.
The world has marveled at germanys arrogance. The country that received in real terms the largest bailout and debt reduction in history and unconditional aid from the us in the marshall plan refuses to even discuss debt relief, though it is very important the greeks remain in the euro, the biggest freeriders in europe want to maintain their undervalued currency.
greece is boring now...just restructure the debt, South American countries have had their debt restructured a billion times over the last hundred years...Greece is about 2% of the eurozone gdp...yawn.
excuse me? Which part of the 40 year divided country, many murders at the border, the fact Germany provided Europe's major air and land bases to the US for over 65 years now, Germany's efforts to reconstruct and built up a solid firewall to push back against communist aggressors is unconditional? The US has with the partial debt forgiveness for Germany gotten the best deal of any investment since the first settlers set foot on American ground. Are you dreaming? And please educate us why this issue is even part of this issue surrounding Greece? What can Greece potentially offer in exchange for debt forgiveness? Can you educate us? The situation of Germany 62 years ago and Greece today could not be more different. It is absurd to even consider parallels.
I was surprised to hear that. I hope they can work things out. I'm still not convinced that the currency is a good fit for Greece. But, if Greece is willing to make a lot of changes then I guess.. This is far from over. Let's call it a new start. They really need to work on rebuilding mutual trust and support.