"The United States not only helped out its allies, it helped the starving people of its archrival by sending food." I think you're mistaking the former USSR with North Korea. The US SOLD grain to the Soviet Union after the Chernobyl nuclear accident contaminatd the USSR's main farming areas in Ukraine and Belarus. It did not give it away.

Exactly. Many of the comments made in this discussion have been absolutely ridiculous. China poses no threat to Russia. Russia has become a useful economic ally and regional partner for China. Russia is also China's main supplier of arms. If a war was to erupt between the two regional powers, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of Chinese people would die in the conflict as Russia would most likely use tactical nukes against Chinese targets. China's massive army would be decimated on the ground and it would resort to a nuclear tit-for-tat exchange. Hardly a winnable scenario for China. Russia's main concern is instability in the Caucasus (Chechnya), Islamic extremism in Central Asia and also NATO expansion. However, Russia has a series of regional alliances with other former Soviet republics such as Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. It also has a strong military alliance with India and a growing relationship with Iran. Also, as we've seen recently, Russia has increased its ties with France and Germany.

pleez. Why do i here such Blasphemy

Russia and India were very close allies.....and still are to a large degree. In the spirit of this friendship, the Russians should not sell tanks to the Pakistanis as they have just decided to do.....it wont help keep Indian defence buying from Russia and will accelerate India's drive to diversify its defence procurement.

Having a common enemy (in Pakistan) is not enough for an alliance. ------------------------------ actually it seems to have been the main basis historically for alliances

China. See their mutual agreement of 16 July 2001.

None. - Not enough time has evolved to diminish suspicions between Russia and the US. - Europe is going through some wierd psychological political correctness thing. For some reason a lot of people consider people like Basayev or Ocelan "freedom fighters") This political correctness combined with internal divisions would prevent Europe from helping. Also Europe is trying to expand the EU into Russia's traditional area of influence. - China is in my opinion untrustworthy. Don't be suprised if Russian tech is illegally copied (no consideration of patents) and sold by China cheaper. Also Russia and China have had border incidents in the past and China might want to take Russian rescources in Siberia by force. India has problems of it's own (Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Chian) and is too far away from Russia to help. Any help Russia will get will be along the self interest of the nations involved and not because the're such great allies. You can see this with US assistance in Chechnia, which is because of US interest in winning the war on terror (Which Russia also wnats to do).

Germany has done well whenever it allied itself with Russia. This was true under Frederick the Great. It was true in the time of Bismark. It's true now. The growing network of gas and oil lines from Russia to Germany enhances these ties. It adds lasting financial relationships as well. If the EU becomes a strong, federal union, then this relationship will be for the whole EU. If the EU ends up as a loose confederation, then this relationship will be with certain states, Germany foremost among them.

a former Soviet sub commander. I friend of mine - ex-US Navy - has a friend in Petersburg who puts out a newsletter of some sort regarding the Soviet submarine force - won't say Russian, as I think he's targeting (right word?) retirees mostly. A comment that was passed on to me: "I'll accept articles from anyone, either friend, or previous foe. Because it seems that we don't have any friends anymore." Don't blame me - I'm just the messenger.

&<047;&<076;&<088;&<072;&<074;&<089;&<090;&<074;&<091;&<081;&<090;&<077;! RUSSIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! from india


&<073;&<086;&<083;&<100;&<096;&<086;&<081; PUTIN......................................india owes russia as in 1971 when the 5th fleet (i m not sure about the name of the fleet) was comming to attack india. as india was in war with pakistan...(america's ally)so russia said america that your every ship will be followed by russian (soviet) nuclear submarine. india shud not look and have more deep relations with russia inspite of dealing with US. we shud get energy from RUSSIA.

bye russia keep the good working going. dont spare the racists west. especially the UK.

a patriotic indian.