[Tallguy]

During World War I, Russian authorities tried to conscript Muslims from Central Asia. The result was a major uprising in summer 1916, which took months and tens of thousands of Russian troops to suppress. In the end, none of the Muslims were sent to battle—and, by withdrawing army units from the front to confront the internal uprising, Russia expedited its eventual defeat. Less than six months later, the czar and his government were forced to resign.

By sending poorly trained non-Russian men to Ukraine, Moscow may soon meet a similar fate. Centuries of pent-up bitterness and frustration over rule by Moscow may spill into a military confrontation and civil war.

There is a difference this time-around. A lot of "Russian" petroleum & natural gas actually comes from majority-Muslim areas like Kazakhstan and distributed through pipelines running thru Russian territory toward Europe. So there is -- at least for now -- some common economic interests between Russia and the former Soviet Republics.

[Farmerbob]

[ A lot of “Russian” petroleum & natural gas actually comes from majority-Muslim areas like Kazakhstan]

Why share the pie with russia? A Caspian pipeline could go through Georga. I guess then russia would have to annex more of Georgia.

[DUMBGRUNT]

Thank You!

--"A lot of "Russian" petroleum & natural gas actually comes from majority-Muslim areas like Kazakhstan and distributed through pipelines running thru Russian territory toward Europe. "

THE PIPELINES! Talk about a tooth-to-tail ratio!

Early in my misspent youth, I had a summer job on a cross-country pipeline. A common joke was that anyone with a shovel could tap into them... Now common in Mexico.

Near impossible to defend.