Great.  So we have to give up all of Europe to convince the Russians to play ball.  (The North German Plain runs from Russia to France.)  And in return, we get their kinda-maybe-if-Deadliest Catch-is-a-rerun-promise to help us with Iran.  And of course then there's China we somehow have to convince to help us too, since they have a veto.  What will that cost us? I'd get real nervous if I lived in Taiwan.

 

Sooner or later Obama is going to realize that, while Putin may be a great flirt, there's no chance of a prom date.  My guess is it'll happen about the time that Iran tests its first nuke...in other words, after Putin's support is a moot point.

 

You misunderstand, POLAND, is the geographical choke point that controls access East or West. I explained and demonstrated that some time ago when I posted the German invasion routes into Russia. That post drew a lot of loud incorrect shouting at the time but it was proven correct. Once again...

 

Also note the Ukraine and Romania which is a US lillypad into the ME. VP Biden was just there a few days ago.

You are only nervous if you don't understand the game. For fook sake this isn't about Obama. Any US POTUS including the last one would do this. We haven't given the Russians anything except to state we would not deploy a functionally useless and obsolete BMD as far as the Russians are concerned. 

-DA  

 

Poland and the Czech Republic did not agree/ask for the missile defence to be deployed in their countries because they love USA. They did because they thougt/think it's in their interest. They want protection from Russia, which they percieve is a threat.

States have interests, not friends.

Alliances based on mutual interests are stronger, than those based on "friendship".

USA has very few mutal interests with Poland and the Czech Republic.

What can those countries provide the USA in a global perspective? Russia on the other hand can provide USA with more in a global setting.

Small countries have always been, and will always be pushed aside, when the big boys make international politics. USA is the biggest, Russia is still in the second league. Poland and the Czech Republic are way below.

If the USA really thought these countries were in danger, and was willing to protect those countries, then USA would deploy combat units, and not a missile defence system, in those countries.

 

 

 

I'm sure Russia can give us quite a bit.  The problem is, they haven't.  Why is that?  Don't say "It was Bush's fault!" either, because Obama's getting even less than Bush did.

 

If the ABM system was useless, why did it bother Russia that it was there?  Is the Strategic Rocket Forces so poor that 20 interceptors would completely end the deterrent threat?  Does Russia feel that threatened by Poland and the Czech Republic, or does the world once again have to deal with the Russian paranoia complex that someone's going to invade them?  (If that's the case, I'd be a bit more worried about two million or so Chinese soldiers than NATO, which has, what, a tenth of that?)

 

Great Gaia.  World War II is over and Hitler is dead.  The Russians can retire the German boogeyman.  Unless, of course, there's political mileage to be wrung from it.  Hey, it worked for Stalin...

 

As I recall, DA, your policy is pretty much "give Russia what it wants."  I'm just waiting for the day Russia demands something we don't want to give it.  Not that I anticipate that being a problem with Neville Chamberlain Barack Obama in office.

Because those ABMs would mean PERMANENT US MILITARY PRESENCE in Poland which also happens to be a key avenue of approach if you wanted to invade Russia. You don't plan for intentions, intentions change, you plan for capability. You need to understand that. With a physical presence there, the DoD can more rapidly expand in addition to creating stronger US-Polish military ties.

No, I don't make policy. The policy of the USA is to secure Russian cooperation to help avoid the alternative. You need to view this objectively.

-DA 

This is what Mr. Putin said on the subject :)

 

link

 

He also said in this speech that he agrees with his US collegue Mr. Bush on the War on Terror. (2001)  As far as I see it, Russia has so far helped Nato engagements in Afghansitan, in fact Nato supplies are running through Russia at this moment to support our troops there.

 

Focus please...

 

HILLARY CLINTON travels to Russia. 

Yes, there will be a lot of talk and posturing but Russia will NOT seriously sanction Iran over the nuclear site and nukes.

 

The Russians will help in other things, but will NOT sanction Iran with serious sanctions (China definitely NOT, they like the Iranian oil too much and have invested too much in Pakistani infrastructure and ports which put them closer to Iran's resources and the Middle East).

 

Oh, by the way, Obama will lose Afghanistan, but will put on a good show for the next year or so.

I am viewing it objectively.  What I see is an ex-KGB thug who sees weakness and is determined to exploit it.  Since you, DA, can never admit that your guy Obama can ever, ever make a mistake, remove the beam from your own eye before you tell me to remove the splinter in mine. 

 

As for the S-300 sale, according to UPI, Medvedev has only promised to take it "under review," apparently predicated on Israel withdrawing its support for Georgia and Azerbaijan.  The Russians are using the S-300 as a card against the US, as well--we stop "interfering" in Georgia, they don't sell the S-300.  That UPI story is from August.  Netanyahu went to Russia last month to attempt to halt the sale of S-300s, Saudi Arabia is bidding on them to keep the Iranians from getting them, and China may sell the system to the Iranians anyway.  Either way, I don't see the S-300 deal being over and done with.  (You'll notice I chose UPI, not Jerusalem Post or the Heritage Foundation--I'm trying to be objective.)

 

As for withdrawing the SS-26s, those were only deployed because of the ABM system as a means to force Poland into pulling out of the system.  Since the system isn't being deployed, the SS-26s are pulled out.  Wow.  Some diplo