I know that I’ve touched on the subject more than once, but this is serious business, boys and girls. Only weeks ago, Russia deployed warships to Venezuelan waters, doing all they can in order to build up the already sharpened east-west tension. More recently – today, to be precise – long-range missiles were testfired north of Japan and off the Norwegian coast, all reaching their targets inside Russia, or as president Dmitry Medvedev, according to Reuters, put it:
“I have just been told that the dummy warhead has landed in Kura,” continuing:
“We will continue to commission new types of weapons but we will also continue testing the ones we have now,” he said. “Their effectiveness has been proved by time. Our shield is fine.”
Officially the tests come in response to the US global missile defence system, which may well be true, but Russia’s recent strategies bear witness of a military build-up resembling cold war times.
I hate to say so, but rethinking our defence policy is crucial, even if the financial situation tells us not to.
What’s wrong with this (above) picture, by the way? Well, you didn’t really think Medvedev’s in charge, now did you? He’s merely substituting as president, the poor sod, while the czar has a few year’s primeministerial vacation, still pulling the string – until he’s electable once more.
God, I feel like such a war-monger.
Take it easy, Jarl. We live right next door. We will fight them if it comes to that again, just like we always have. But one thing is good to remember: The US is active in Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afganistan, Turkey, Adzerbaidzan and once again in eastern Europe. So what this looks like from the Kremlin? If you think how US would feel if russians would put up a missle defence system and missle troops in Mexico…
Besides, russians have so much business in the west nowadays that they can not fuck it up. The real danger is not Russia, its China. I mean, they don’t give a fuck about us at all and they are very very nationalistic. They don’t consider other than asians as humans, we are just pink blue eyed devils.
Deng Xiaoping said in 70′s that it will take 50yrs to reach USA, but after another 50 yrs China will be in its historical place once more: at the center of the World. Think about that.
And,we need our guns.
Finne igen: I have to admit that I don’t share your optimism when it comes to fending off Russian aggression — should it come to that, even if we joined forces, but that aside:
I can see how American influence and/or clandestine operations in Russia’s backyard may provoke the Kremlin, which is perfectly understandable, but their reaction and military build-up still poses a potential threat to our security, whereas (in Norway’s case) America, on the other hand, is a close ally.
Piirka: Privately held? I certainly hope not.
I do understand your concern. After the collapse of the Soviet Empire Russia was week and could not flex its muscles. Now it is getting strong once again and does what it always has done. It bullies others.
I meant to say that we in Finland have are used to that. They have bullied us since Ivan the Terrible. And yes, sometimes we have to fight them in wars, sometimes we have lost and sometimes we have done ok, like in 1944. Ofcourse we will never be able to defeat them, they are too big, but we can show them that it is NOT in their best interest to come over here and act like the owners. It is too expensive even for them.
And if you look at their achievements in Tsetsenia, the picture is not too shining. There they did not even have a decent army against them and still, after ten years, they could not beat tsetsens. So called victory came only after they found their quislings who did the job. Russians could not do it.
So do not panic, my norwegian friend. They can not harm you. They would be lost somewhere between Trondheim and Finnmark, propbaly drunk and confused. They might end up in Sweden bartering their guns for little swedish erotica and köttbullar.
Rest assured, Finne igen: I don’t lose my sleep over these matters, which in truth are a source of fascination, more than anything else.
I do however love to analyse and ponder these things. Take diplomacy, for instance:
We all know how international talks are all about give and take, and how top officials declare defeat in negotiations when in fact they’re actually all for the outcome, which may come in handy in later decisions of greater importance to them. You know:
“Look, we gave in, not twice, but thrice in the Vienna talks. Considering how much we’ve had to sacrifice, it’s only fair that you back down on this one.”
You just have to love it, eh? But in all honesty, my “worries” are limited to just that fascination. Just can’t help thinking loud sometimes, and you must admit: The old east-west conflict’s renaissance is highly fascinating.