Russia threatening Denmark with a nuclear strike
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Russia threatening Denmark with a nuclear strike
Russia today: any excuse to get angry with NATO. Soon they'll be angry at the whole world and then they'll hunker down in their own little world and seal their borders - in and out. And then NATO will have to dramatically increase their defence spending. And then we can enjoy a war with no battles.
I wonder what they're after?
I wonder what they're after?
The fall of the Berlin Wall has a lot to answer for, before that we had a degree of certainty in every day life. Both major superpowers supported their 'friends' and if they got a bit too uppity, they just turned off the supply of weapons fuel and equipment until they calmed down again.
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Russia's starting to sound like North Korea, spoiled brats after attention. Very unbecoming of them, actually pathetic and sad that they have fallen so far.
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Sometime in the future , it might be soon , or it might take a few years , Russia will regret it`s current policy of nationalism at all cost. Failure to even give the impression that diplomacy is the first option , and instead outline expectations of retaliatory action will only alienate this sorry excuse for a modern State from others that share this world.
Demographic change is happening in Russia. Life expectancy is not what it should be , and the birth rate is low. The Russian people won`t forget what has happened to their once great nation , and will hold those responsible to account. The only question is when.
Demographic change is happening in Russia. Life expectancy is not what it should be , and the birth rate is low. The Russian people won`t forget what has happened to their once great nation , and will hold those responsible to account. The only question is when.
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The Russian people won`t forget what has happened to their once great nation , and will hold those responsible to account. The only question is when.
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I would say putins days are numbered. The billionaires won't stand for him much longer, and wouldn't take the risk of going back to the old days and having the state take their wealth from them. Putin rules at their whim.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
I think you misunderstand the current status quo. The Streetwise Professor has a reasonable handle on it...
Pour Encourager Les Autres, Or Just Another Day in Putinistan
Khodorkovsky As a Russian Cincinnatus? Cynical Machiavellian is More Likely.
Pour Encourager Les Autres, Or Just Another Day in Putinistan
Khodorkovsky As a Russian Cincinnatus? Cynical Machiavellian is More Likely.
Probably twofold:
Internally: The economy will take quite a hit currently with the Oil Price plus the sanctions. That will affect people's everyday life. You have to deliver some "Show" to compensate for that and distract them from the real cause of that misery.
A clearly defined and conceived external enemy can make People bear bad Governments for quite some time and quite some miserable everyday life. Sadly, there have been numerous examples for that. Therefore I wouldn't get my hopes too high for gettinmg rid of Putin too soon. And even less high for what will follow him if it comes to that.
Externally: Trying to destabilize the front against him. And discourage the two other scandinavians Countries to join NATO.
Internally: The economy will take quite a hit currently with the Oil Price plus the sanctions. That will affect people's everyday life. You have to deliver some "Show" to compensate for that and distract them from the real cause of that misery.
A clearly defined and conceived external enemy can make People bear bad Governments for quite some time and quite some miserable everyday life. Sadly, there have been numerous examples for that. Therefore I wouldn't get my hopes too high for gettinmg rid of Putin too soon. And even less high for what will follow him if it comes to that.
Externally: Trying to destabilize the front against him. And discourage the two other scandinavians Countries to join NATO.
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Reverse roles for a moment as assume red and blue swap colours on a map. Since 1989 who's been more expansionist? If the USA was in Russia's position and saw a former neighbouring satellite leaning towards a new allegiance to the old enemy do you really think the USA would have been so patient?
I'm no apologist for Russia, but they've clearly concluded Ukraine is a bridge too far after lesser allies have already switched.
Where I think the US/NATO/EU has been short-sighted, and I wondered this in early days when there was heretical talk of former WARPAC countries joining NATO, is surely increased membership de-stabilises both the unity and strength of the alliance and increases the likelihood of conflict as there are more moving parts likely to clash? So why dillute?
Take that one step further and look where these countries are in relation to the opposing superpower - let alone taking into account their resources and strategic importance (Sebastapol) - and why on earth are we surprised that Russia has done anything less than they have?
I'm no apologist for Russia, but they've clearly concluded Ukraine is a bridge too far after lesser allies have already switched.
Where I think the US/NATO/EU has been short-sighted, and I wondered this in early days when there was heretical talk of former WARPAC countries joining NATO, is surely increased membership de-stabilises both the unity and strength of the alliance and increases the likelihood of conflict as there are more moving parts likely to clash? So why dillute?
Take that one step further and look where these countries are in relation to the opposing superpower - let alone taking into account their resources and strategic importance (Sebastapol) - and why on earth are we surprised that Russia has done anything less than they have?
Take that one step further and look where these countries are in relation to the opposing superpower - let alone taking into account their resources and strategic importance (Sebastapol) - and why on earth are we surprised that Russia has done anything less than they have?
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This isn't the days gone by, or wasn't until Putin got to power and passion fingers got elected to the white house.
The west is and NATO is and has never been a threat to Russia in the traditional sense. The powers to be in Russia are not stupid and know this.
It is a threat with ideas and freedom, and in some sense their culture, a bit like how the senior Islamists see us now. As such they use various means to push their agenda, using the military threat scenario is a old one but a good one.
The west is and NATO is and has never been a threat to Russia in the traditional sense. The powers to be in Russia are not stupid and know this.
It is a threat with ideas and freedom, and in some sense their culture, a bit like how the senior Islamists see us now. As such they use various means to push their agenda, using the military threat scenario is a old one but a good one.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
No, Dallas has a point. It is always instructive to turn the map around.
Looking at the beginnings after the Revolution we see the communists entirely ringed with countries, including the old European States, all intent on crushing the revolutionaries.
After 20 years they were again attacked and Moscow threatened. They then established a secure two country buffer zone to the west. The weakest link was Czechoslovakia which bordered both west and USSR.
Then you have a nuclear armed and now bellicose USA fervently opposed to the perceived threat from communism and you are surprised they are paranoid.
Looking at the beginnings after the Revolution we see the communists entirely ringed with countries, including the old European States, all intent on crushing the revolutionaries.
After 20 years they were again attacked and Moscow threatened. They then established a secure two country buffer zone to the west. The weakest link was Czechoslovakia which bordered both west and USSR.
Then you have a nuclear armed and now bellicose USA fervently opposed to the perceived threat from communism and you are surprised they are paranoid.
Then you have a nuclear armed and now bellicose USA fervently opposed to the perceived threat from communism and you are surprised they are paranoid.
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Exactly, PN ... they have alway had this phobia about being surrounded, although I had hoped they had grown out of that by now.
They have a 'need' for buffer States [think of their history] and a 'need' for warm water ports. They ARE surrounded.
They have a 'need' for buffer States [think of their history] and a 'need' for warm water ports. They ARE surrounded.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
You're only surrounded if you don't have friends and are paranoid. And, historically, that's what Russia seems to be. And you can't negotiate sensibly with a paranoid state....
I think the idea about this being a "clash of ideas" is probably the underlying cause.
In a Western world, the people in Russia who are now rich and powerful would end up in jail or, even worse, poor. They're not really financial geniuses or great builders of industry. So they don't see a place for themselves in a peaceful, self-enriching Europe. Living on the edge, buying houses and having holidays was fine because that's on their terms.
It's Mugabe and Zimbabwe but with nuclear weapons.
They are bullies at home - that's how they get what they want - and it comes naturally to bully abroad. Reason is a one-way tool for them. So I would suggest not wasting your time taking too much notice of their reasons. You could curl up and die and that might satisfy them or lick their boots but nothing else will be enough.
In a Western world, the people in Russia who are now rich and powerful would end up in jail or, even worse, poor. They're not really financial geniuses or great builders of industry. So they don't see a place for themselves in a peaceful, self-enriching Europe. Living on the edge, buying houses and having holidays was fine because that's on their terms.
It's Mugabe and Zimbabwe but with nuclear weapons.
They are bullies at home - that's how they get what they want - and it comes naturally to bully abroad. Reason is a one-way tool for them. So I would suggest not wasting your time taking too much notice of their reasons. You could curl up and die and that might satisfy them or lick their boots but nothing else will be enough.
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Then you have a nuclear armed and now bellicose USA fervently opposed to the perceived threat from communism and you are surprised they are paranoid.
Yes on the street level, at the higher up level they know better. The surrounded and threat bit, is purely about culture, influence and power.
Putin uses it to foster his position in the popular opinion by doing exactly what he is doing right now.
Therefore, the point @Pontius Navigator makes is absolutely valid. The Russians feel surrounded: The Population by NATO which has kept creeping ever closer to them, the Regime by a Governance model that doesn't suit them and would endanger their Power and Possessions).
No one really assumes NATO would invade Russia. Why should they? It is all about Sentiments....
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Imagine just for a minute that the Russians actually like their culture, lifestyle, history and heritage, and are broadly proud of it after a lifetime exposure to news with a Russo-tinted slant.
Your long term opponent - who you've watched build up a series of military bases around the world - has annexed your former 'allies', and is now courting your neighbours. At some point you need to draw a line in the sand.
I spoke to a Kazakh mate a while back about this and he said the other satellite countries have always looked at Ukraine as the naughty cousin, while most of the rest are comforted by the Kremlin's security/structure/money. We need to view Ukraine as being akin to, say, Benelux or Mexico and I think Russia has shown quite a lot of restraint. The US have invaded and toted nukes for less over the years.
As for a solution, good question - Tymoshenko et al lifted the stone a year ago with talk of joining NATO etc and Russia couldn't let that happen. Nor does the West want it to happen, as a trigger happy Ukraine with big brother NATO confidence could easily suck us all in trying to reclaim the East or Crimea. I suspect the fix will be a DMZ for now, followed by more glacial economic absorbtion of Ukraine by the EU, but with them under strict instructions not to poke sticks at the bear.
Your long term opponent - who you've watched build up a series of military bases around the world - has annexed your former 'allies', and is now courting your neighbours. At some point you need to draw a line in the sand.
I spoke to a Kazakh mate a while back about this and he said the other satellite countries have always looked at Ukraine as the naughty cousin, while most of the rest are comforted by the Kremlin's security/structure/money. We need to view Ukraine as being akin to, say, Benelux or Mexico and I think Russia has shown quite a lot of restraint. The US have invaded and toted nukes for less over the years.
As for a solution, good question - Tymoshenko et al lifted the stone a year ago with talk of joining NATO etc and Russia couldn't let that happen. Nor does the West want it to happen, as a trigger happy Ukraine with big brother NATO confidence could easily suck us all in trying to reclaim the East or Crimea. I suspect the fix will be a DMZ for now, followed by more glacial economic absorbtion of Ukraine by the EU, but with them under strict instructions not to poke sticks at the bear.