Hmmmm 2 months ago if I had said Russia was going to invade Georgia would you have said
“Putin is not that stupid”
Anything could happen... anything.
Perhaps a bad analogy, but I play games with Russians everyday...... EveOnline.
Russians love chess, they love moving a piece and seeing a response......while the West wrings hands and speak of "nuclear holocaust", the Russians will watch the response and move another chess piece.....
They are fine strategists and brutal when they strike.....PC bullcrap makes them laugh. This Georgia run is a test......a probe, a way to feel out world responses and to hide their next move. I respect Russians greatly, never underestimate them. I worked with several Russians in Egypt, UN peacekeepers, one guy once told me the only difference between Russians and Americans is that Russians know Pravda is propaganda.....and we believe our press. That was 15 years ago...I believe his view is now vindicated.
This is a chess game....
Invading Georgia is a far cry from trying to stick nukes back in Cuba. And we are in a far better position today to prevent that, or remove them ourselves, than we were in the 60’s. The only wildcard is political will.
If Obama gets elected, well, then, why the hell not?
If McCain gets elected. Not a chance.
Then again, if tested, Obama may decide he has something to prove if Putin reads him as wimp and puts them in.
There is no real upsiide for Putin to mess with Cuba.
Intimidating his immedaite neighbors is another matter.
Besides, Cuba is no longer in Moscow’s sphere of influence. They are in Beijings now (remember the oil drilling deals?). For Russia to get involved with Cuba means stepping on China’s toes and he won’t do that. He provokes them and the Russians can kiss Siberia goodbye.