Russia Sends a Message

Charges and countercharges are flying on which country actually pushed the boundaries to the point of war. And we probably wont know for a while.

We DO know that the US has been pushing the former Eastern Bloc countries for inclusion in NATO, that Russia also isnt happy about anti-missile defense systems being proposed in some of those countries.

But it's one place where I agree with Paleo-cons, on the 'foreign entanglements' aspect. The US should have assumed a back seat in NATO.. or pulled out of it altogether.. in favor of letting the Europeans handle it, end result being what it may.
Instead of NATO, the US and Atlantic bordering countries might have entered into a 'situational pact'.
Here's a good post on what is probably behind the current events:
War in Georgia: What is to be done?

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/1661245.stm

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... A962958260

On the flip side of the above comments on NATO contraction, I was curious if Russia had ever been formally offered membership in NATO? In my brief search I came across the two articles above, which didn't provide me with a concrete answer (apparently it was discussed in the mid 1990s), however they do show how U.S./western relations with Russia have slowly eroded over the past couple of years.

 

Well we have nothing to worry about now Fog and HD have actually agreed on somthing?

 

Here's the best {actually just about the only} analysis I've seen about why Ossetia was so important to both nations.

And, BTW, Martin. Don's dead WRONG about the missile defense. {It must bug the hell outa him that it actually works.}

The likelihood Russia's going to launch on us or Europe is minuscule. Rogue nations like Iran and N Korea, OTOH.....

 

Good discussion and very good and understandable article. Not sure where the real 'Russian truth' is in all this but if you play out what is possible, it is a real possibility for creation of instability and re-assertion of their will in all the countries surrounding them. They are moving backwards from Gorbachev and given their history of oligarchy and the Russian citizens seeming comfort with it, it is troubling. My Polish friend sums it up to the Russian mentality -- ''command and control'. It is what they know and what they are comfortable with. Love to hear someone who actually has experience with their culture in relation to foreign policy.

 

Another message they didnt intend though...

Georgia downed at least 4 Russian planes using soviet SAM's.

 

The media has been completely biased. Sakashvilli is a phony. The man was beating up protesters and taking opposition media off the air only a few months ago.

And pettyfog, Iran won't develop a missile that will hit Europe for quite somtime, and getting a nuclear warhead into a missile will take them longer. The US is just trying to expand their influence into the former Soviet Republics.

NATO is an outdated alliance that should just be terminated. The USSR is dead!

 

Well, WU... that's why I couched it as I did. Most stuff I read promotes 'a pox on both their houses' meme.

But if you read ALL the news accounts, Russia's doing their damndest to reconstitute USSR. While 'vili may indeed done all that, the Russians have certainly done the same in this go 'round.
Like you say, though, NATO is outdated... they been on the teat too long. And btw that probably explains some of 'vili's methods. They were modus operandi for so long, when Georgia was a key USSR state, he didnt think twice.

You're dead wrong about Iran and missiles though. Never mind their latest ballistic missile test was a flop, they have access to everything they need to get a medium range nuke missile within two years.
And they have no intention on using the first good ones against Europe... WTH gave you that idea?

 

One of the ways you deal with being invaded is to keep your sense of humor.

And use it to tweak the noses of the intruder.

Great Stunt! But why isnt it on Network News? And how is it that world class military powers are subject to such laughter?

 

Again, it takes years to develop a nuclear warhead. It's also going to take a few years for them to develop a nuclear bomb. But judging for the IAEA reports and the NIE, I think they've scrapped that idea.

I read something funny yesterday that this Ukrainian guy wrote. The US at least talks about democracy and human rights when they invade countries, Russia doesn't.

Imperialism sucks.