Posted on 11/21/2007 4:55:36 AM PST by Aristotelian
President Putin accused Nato yesterday of threatening Russia’s security and ordered the military to place the country’s strategic nuclear arsenal on a higher state of alert.
“In violation of previous agreements, certain member countries of the Nato alliance are increasing their resources next to our borders,” Mr Putin told generals in a meeting broadcast on state television. “Russia cannot remain indifferent to this obvious muscle-flexing.”
Mr Putin, whose rhetoric has become more strident as relations with the West have deteriorated, went on: “One of the most important tasks remains raising the combat readiness of the strategic nuclear forces. They should be ready to deliver a quick and adequate reply to any aggressor.”
He issued his stark message as Russia confirmed that it would pull out of a landmark arms limitation treaty on December 12. The Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty was fundamental to ending the Cold War.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
I believe the Serbs would beg to differ on that argument.
Bet you were a sourpuss on the Pershings too.
Russia is being Russia. The Eastern Europeans are glad to help us out as they will NOT go thru another 50 years of Russian rule again.
Putin’s pissed because he’s losing his buffer. That’s just too freaking bad. That’s what happens when you enslave entire nations for 50 years. They could care less if you want to get along after that or not.
Putin doesn’t want to reign in Iran? Fine. He’ll have to deal with missile defense. A missile defense he damn well knows is not capable of defending against a Russian missile attack.
And the anti-missile defense deployed along our borders would make us angry? Why? There are these little things called “Ohios” that sort of make that a moot point.
“Bet you were a sourpuss on the Pershings too.”
No.
“A missile defense he damn well knows is not capable of defending against a Russian missile attack.”
EXACTLY. So what’s the point? We just give Putin something to rouse the homeboys over, without doing anything significant - at a time when we have our hands full of other problems.
“And the anti-missile defense deployed along our borders would make us angry? Why? There are these little things called “Ohios” that sort of make that a moot point.”
It would make me damn angry. A threat aimed at us, even if not significant, is an insult - which is exactly the way Putin is responding.
So, your argument is that the anti-missile defense has no value other than to piss Putin off.
Ok.
If I’m wrong, tell me why.
Putin is *really* jealous of President-for-Life Hugo Chavez and is trying his best to best him in the media. Future President-for-Life Vladimir is even out looking for a parrot that is smarter than he is...
Mine are Christian, more of a non-denomination and factual/scientific approach. I am a data guy and the universe is all math. That kind of approach :) Prophecy is statistical probability. That said, how do you know you make the right choice for the better or worse if you are a national leader? You pick up the standard and cross of Christ and you don’t deviate. What I see in the State Department is an abondonment of the President’s core values in favor of a secular approach. This has caused nations to question our leadership when one moment we are cowboys destroying evil and the next sitting down and having tea with the same kind of bad guys. NOT GOOD.
I would prefer if both nations never used their nuclear stockpiles. However, I do not see President Bush stating that he is placing our nuclear stockpile on a heightened state of alert and bailing from strategic arms treaties. Russia could choose to be allies and reap far more financial reward by working with the United States but instead chooses to resume the Cold War. The tactics are the same but the danger is far greater now. ME countries with nukes changes the entire equation.
The scenerio unfolding is financial collapse/Gog & Magog then ultimately a WWIII scenerio. In Revelations 1/3 of mankind dies from this war, but do you know what? Man does not change. What I am into is not babblings from old men whom had prophetic vision. I am into statistical probability which is what prophecy is. And what I see is the exact step by step blueprint for global conflict as outlined by scripture, current events and digital forecast models that reveal very hostile intentions by several nations. We should be concerned and armed. Peace through strength! Now, I agree Condi Rice has not helped (I am being nice).
The President is right. If you don’t want to see nukes ever being used and prevent WWIII, Russia must stop assisting Iran in building the bomb.
“You pick up the standard and cross of Christ and you don’t deviate.”
Until the fall of the “Evil Empire” we more or less did just that.
“It is usually a mistake to think that someone thinks the same way you do. Poland and Checz(sp?) are part of NATO, now which requires the other NATO countries to defend them if they are attacked. Russia has not shown any aggressive tendencies to eastern Europe lately, so, extending bases closer to Russia, is an aggressive move on NATO’s part.”
Exactly. I stated here that assisting Ukraine with the Orange Revolution was extremely unwise and unecessary. The Ukranians by and large detest the motherland, they did not need our help. Yes, Putin the KGB meister used poison on Kruchenko. Do you see a bad trend forming here? We send cash and activists to help push democracy and Putin uses deadly chemicals. Think we should keep pushing Eastward with Nato? I don’t...
I don’t think tomorrow there is an immediate risk. However, we keep pushing eastward and see some kind of ME conflict where we go in again and take away valuable (if not evil) trading partners, you will see a whole new ballgame. Putin may be brainwashed KGB but he is not a stupid individual. Our leadership is acting very bad right now and seems to be in confusion. The Russians are paranoid. That’s not a good mix.
Wow, no kidding! What a great flick.
“I agree 100%.
What would we do if Russia decided to place an anti-missile system in Mexico or Canada, OR Venezuela?
And we aren’t nearly as paranoid as Russia.”
Hmm, that is a good point but what do you use as a bartering chip to get the Russians to drop helping Iran build the bomb? Iran has pretty much openly stated what they will do with that bomb. Think the world markets will do better or worse with mushroom clouds in Tel Aviv and Tehran? My gut tells me the Russians know a limited shield would do nothing to prevent an all out attack so it seems to me we forced there hand to reveal intentions.
Yeah. Man has a tendency to pick up depravity to stifle the boredom. A national focus is always good whether it be space travel, obtaining immortality for mankind or how about this one: Becoming energy independant!!!
Can't go much further east.
I think the former colonies should be able to choose for themselves which alliances to join or form. Be it Eastern Europe or the former "republics".
Never mind Bush the Elder, where the HELL is Condoleeza Rice hiding? I thought she was the sh!t-hot expert on the Russians. This stuff (the North Pole thing, bomber flights near our airspace, etc.) has been going on for months now, yet I've seen no quotes from her, no blurbs about her advising the President, nothing at all.
IMO, we are continuing the cold war, and Russia is responding. Not a good policy.
The President is right. If you don’t want to see nukes ever being used and prevent WWIII, Russia must stop assisting Iran in building the bomb.
Russia, as far as I know, is helping them build a nuclear power plant, not a bomb.
My guess is she didn;t realize how really inept her boss is until she started interfacing with him on a higher level.
Now, she is probably keeping as low a profile as possible as to reduce the taint on her future career.
Or maybe she was never that bright to start with.
We’re a global community linked to massive digital libraries. So we are on the same page, let each country decide.
What I am talking about ceasing and desisting on is overt or covert operations to sway other nations elections like we did during the Cold War. The Russian response to our Cold War tactics is to use what they know as counter measures and that is not good.
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