Posted on 03/05/2014 6:22:09 AM PST by secretsexposed89
Everywhere one looks today, signs of a resurgent Russia are omnipresent. Although Vladimir Putin has undoubtedly worked hard to craft this image, it is a mirage. Russia is doomed over the long-term, and its short-term maneuvers aren’t enough to compensate for this fact.
Traditionally, Russian power has rested on four pillars: population, energy, weaponry and geography. Three of these are diminishing.
The backbone of modern Russian power has been its massive population. Nowhere was this better demonstrated than in WWII. Russia no doubt played a leading role in orchestrating Hitler’s demise, starting with its legendary stands in Leningrad and Stalingrad. However, Stalin sapped the military might of Nazi Germany less because of the strategic or tactical genius he possessed, and almost entirely through his willingness to expend the lives of his citizenry.
According to some estimates, the Soviet Union lost somewhere between 22 and 28 million people during WWII. To put this in perspective, the United States and Great Britain each lost less than half a million people and even Germany only lost between 7 and 9 million lives during the war. Nonetheless, for nearly half a century after the war the Soviet Union could credibly threaten the much richer West solely because of the sheer number of men it could put under arms.
(Excerpt) Read more at thediplomat.com ...
“However, Stalin sapped the military might of Nazi Germany less because of the strategic or tactical genius he possessed, and almost entirely through his willingness to expend the lives of his citizenry.”
I thought something about a harsh winter and over-extended supply lines had a little part to play.
I better not to.
I was reading this website – articles and comments - for years (though, i made a registration only few months ago, during events in Syria – back there it looked like situation could go in an a extremely sad way). I read and, sometimes, translate commentary section to my friends. My major point of interest, of course, (was and is) comments regarding Russia - though, views on Iraq war , for example, or bombings of Serbia were also interesting to me. It was amusing to see, for example, a pattern change in certain comments about Putin - at first “he was a no-name KGB-thug”, then he became a “polonium KGB Thug”, then - a “KGB Thug, but at least Bush more or less trusts him”, then “he is a KGB Thug but at least he has no love for gays”.
I believe, that I understand most common pattern of views here – views regarding Russian history, Russian present and Russian future. And my views, especially of our history, are radically different from type of views that are overwhelmingly common here. And it’s no suprise, obviously.
So, I’ll just keep my mouth shut. I am only a guest here. And i will simply continue to read.
There Will Be Blood, Our Own
by Angelo M. Codevilla
“Combining the unbridled tongue with the unready hand.” Thus did Theodore Roosevelt define statesmanship at its worst, and this is what America’s bipartisan ruling class is giving us.
http://www.libertylawsite.org/2014/03/02/there-will-be-blood-our-own/
Bump.
Except please realize, America is being sold out by both Democrats and Republicans.
NOBODY is building up America.
The entire globe continues to arm up, and build up.
America we are sleeping. Both parties. Sleeping.
No sane person can claim the .ell the communists put the peoples of Russia through has one redeeming quality. Yet we have hired a bunch of the same mindset to rule over US. So why is it that through history Russia is referred to the 'bear' nation? Putin has worked very hard to present his public image of being a strong bear. He appears to demand to have things his way and will do whatever it takes to get his way. Strangely that is the same mindset of our dear leader.
Russia (governments) has a history of using other nations to goad US and strip clean bare the individuals spirit of destiny. Well, time will tell just how well things will work out for Russia.
Quite frankly neither nation, US or Russia, (governments) seemed to have learned any lessons of history so as to NOT repeat the destructive choices and behaviors. History from the 'beginning' that is.
Well, that's unfortunate. We are all guests here except Jim, I suppose. Speak up, man. If you are a Russian, I would certainly want to know your perceptions about such things.
I’m interested in your opinion. Even more so than the opinions of those who have never met someone from another country, much less visited one.
Could it be 'freedom' of speech - writing is not nearly as 'free' as some would like? I too would be interested to learn unfiltered information. But I am guessing there is a Russian NSA not all that different than the American version.
The majority on this site have figured out that we have hired spoiled brats to rule over US... Might even say the majority in our government, generally speaking, are doing their best to recast our Constitution into a more globally acceptable system.
Putin has a history, and he was in bed with old Saddam the butcher. UN 'oil for (rotten) food" program comes to mind.
Stick around. We could use some other views. But just be prepared to take some heat. It’s kind of a ritual here.
Stick around, I’m interested in what you have to say. And, in a sense, we’re all guests here.
At least he is trying to reverse it. Obama is attempting to accelerate our decline.
ya that seems strangely left out
I hope you will stick around and comment about the things that interest or concern you. We need more dialogue worldwide to promote common understanding. Not all Americans think a certain way; neither do all Russians.
I was just listening to someone saying Ukraine and Poland are countries that only appear when Germany and Russia are weak. When they are strong, Poland and Ukraine vanish again.
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