Vladimir Putin recently held a marathon three hour press conference and this was possibly the most interesting bit of news:
Putin denounced the possible deployment of elements of an American missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic, scoffing at U.S. claims that they would be aimed at intercepting missiles from Iran. He said Russia would take unspecified retaliatory measures.
"We consider such claims unfounded, and, naturally, that directly concerns us and will cause a relevant reaction," Putin said. "That reaction will be asymmetrical, but it will be highly efficient."
As he has before, Putin said Russia's latest Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missiles were capable of penetrating missile defenses and added that Moscow is developing more effective weapons against which anti-missile systems would be "helpless."
Vladimir Putin recently held a marathon three hour press conference and this was possibly the most interesting bit of news:
Like it or not, Russia is trapped by her culture, as Muslims are with their their culture. They do not fit in with western style liberal democracies. Putin reflects who the Russians are. That may evolve in time, but in the mean time, play it safe. Do not depend on Russia to do anything beyond what it has historically. They will never be a friend or trustworthy ally to the US. They will try and triangulate with Europe and have only two assets , a military threat and excess energy capacity.
ReplyDeleteDeuce, that second asset you mentioned, "excess energy capacity" is a hell of an asset.
ReplyDeleteRussia has gone in a very short period of time from being "on the ropes" to being a "contender."
Eastern Europe would be well suited for syn-fuels, nuclear and some bio-mass. Poland and Czech have great manufacturing culture. Iceland has huge geo-thermal excess capacity. They all have the incentive to lean away from Russia.
ReplyDeleteNot to change to topic, but why the Hell are we wasting all this time next week voting on a NON-BINDING resolution to stop the troop surge? NON-BINDING? Who are these people? U.S. Politics invented wasting time!
ReplyDelete"The Government that governs least, governs best."
ReplyDeleteCongress is less dangerous when it is wasting time but haven't the resolution votes been derailed for now?
btw, Rufus, how is your sign up going? Been out of pocket..
ReplyDeleteruf:
ReplyDeletegreat minds...
Back to Putin...He still leads the "evil empire", or at least one of them. Russian leadership has always thought raw square miles equaled power. I'm with Deuce, they are not to be trusted. Besides, they're a little bit too free with the poison for my taste.
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY PRESIDENT REAGAN.
ReplyDeleteand thanks for all you did.
Outside the Wire
ReplyDeleteThanks Sam, that is a very nice tribute to a Great American. Ronald Reagan. He would have been 96 today.
ReplyDeleteI'll tip a glass for the Dutch treat.
ReplyDeleteAssad
ReplyDeleteScroll down and double-click the video.
Palestine Game
ReplyDeletewesthawk let's us know the stakes in the "surge". Either the US wins, by providing the Shia population in Baghdad greater levels of Security, both immediately and long term.
ReplyDeleteOver 1,000 Iraqi reported killed, just last week.
Or else Mr al-Sadr wins, by July.
In Baghdad, we will now be calling the operation a "Rolling Surge".
ReplyDeleteAs westhawk remarked:
"What ever that means?"
Operation Volcano
ReplyDeleteScroll down and double-click the video.
It's Started
ReplyDeleteSorry, Rufus. I see you already posted it.
ReplyDeleteNever utter the words, "It can't get any worse."
ReplyDeletetrish check this out:
ReplyDeleteThis is OT, but a real treat, well written and light take on our astroturfed scorned inspaced-out chick attack. Bobw over at Wilsonizer advice on Astro-nots.
Iraq as a national entity is not going to survive.
ReplyDeleteWho cares?
And why waste another dollar on this idiotic mission, trying to keep Iraq together?