Posted on 04/17/2006 9:08:56 AM PDT by Wiz
MOSCOW - Call it cold war II, the sequel.
An intensifying shouting match between the US and Russia has stirred fears that the two former adversaries could be drifting back to a familiar ideologically charged rivalry.
Most experts play down the new mood as a worrisome "chill," and some suggest that a change in leadership - slated for 2008 in both countries - might reverse the slide in mutual ties. But many Russians, who have watched as Western influence has thrust decisively into the former Soviet heartland since the USSR's 1991 demise, see it in darker, more visceral tones.
The US is bent on spreading its power by "buying leaders and organizing state coups" throughout the former USSR, says Yevgeny Ivanov, chief ideologist for the pro-Kremlin group Nashi, Russia's biggest political youth movement. He's referring to the recent wave of pro-democracy "colored revolutions" that wrenched Georgia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan from Moscow's orbit. "Their type of globalization is aimed at having the right to decide the world's destiny," he says.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
"Russia is republic too"
HAH!! What autonomy does any Russian state have - they cant even elect governors anymore. Ukraine - an independent country- was BARELY able to escape the clutches of the Kremlin.
Cut the crap - we know what you are.
"Right on. The Nashi and the Nazbols stage fights with each other, but both organizations are controlled by Putin."
Correct. ala Golitzen
"Russia doesn't have to go back to Communism to play another Cold War. The only thing they need are dictatorship, Neo-Nazi government, and/or diplomacy supporting enemy countries of US."
You got it. Russia is ruled by the KGB--the people who actually ran the vital part of the Cold War (the subversion.) Jettisoning Communism helps them---at least in the short run---by giving them more cash to work with.
Based on their record, you could easily be correct.
At least one scenario might have them 'declaring in favor' of the Teheran regime which would dramatically shift the power balance and (conveniently for Iran) create an uneasy but more preferable stalemate of sorts to the nose-to-nose "stare down" with tiny Israel.
(This shift of paradigm just might be a convenient "cover" for an entire series of set changes that could usher new and dramatic alignments and other nuanced shifts in power throughout the region.)
It beats hell out of these escalations which appear to have virtually inevitable tragic outcomes with anhillated losers and ironically tragically wounded victors and an entire globally interconnected "rest-of-world" players in mighty disturbing disarray. De-escalation and uneasy alliances being preferable to the alternative.
Lets pray there are giants of diplomacy waiting somewhere in the wings.
But the KGB agents and Russian leaders are Communists at their core, just like the Chinese leadership is.
The Russian leadership is still Communist at it's core. They are good at hiding it.
I have a feeling that it will be Russia who ultimately takes on Iran.
Like, it's their turn.
This shouldn't be news to anyone other than our clueless policy makers.
This article is areally a bunch of alarmist crud.
The Russian will continue to voice concerns they have, but there will be no new cold war. Sorry.
"Don't be sore winners." (a line from the movie Cnadain Bacon with John Candy)
Russia is enjoying a building boom and an economy (in Moscow at least) that is moving forward at good speed. No one wants to go back to the cold war days. Proof? The goverment officals, including Putin, do nto drive around in Zils any more. The car of choice? Armored BMW and Mercedes. Almost exclusivly. Few poor Russian buy Ladas or Volgas any more. Kia and Hyundai and Skoda are the big sellers here now.
The Cold War was about more than economic policies.
What autonomy does any Russian state have - they cant even elect governors anymore. ==
The "autonomy" from what?
Ukraine - an independent country- was BARELY able to escape the clutches of the Kremlin. ==
Yeah the "free" country which make living by stealing russian gas from pipe.
In Russia they began to tell that russian gas got "ukrained". New sense of word created: to "ukraine" gas equals to pilfer gas.
So the "freedom" of Ukraine is freedom for scum.
Oh by the way Russia isnt America and never will be stop comparing the two.==
I just said that if America continues to rearm herself even then Cold war is over. Then you may not blame Russia for same.
The Russian leadership is still Communist at it's core. They are good at hiding it.==
You believe in it? Right?:)) It is hard to reconvince man from his beleivings since when he is beleiveing in something he just don't accept the facts.
I respectfully disagree.
The Russian attempted to spread Communism by giving away tractors, tanks, oil, and even factories.
To those recieving such largess, it was only about economic expansion or, at least, economic know how. Communism/Socialism seemed easier and less messy than free markets and democracy.
Even the Russian see the fallacy in that. Iran was to purchase nuclear expertise. The cost of doing business with Iran would have been to be cut off from the west, especially foreign investment.
They have shot their own toes off making stupid mistakes. They do not want to shut the door. IMHO.
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