From Financial Times

another FT Piece.

more of FT.

"Stalin" and "cool-headed" don't fit in the same sentence, it's a medical fact (I'm fairly sure) that he was paranoid.

I think you're naturally inclined of thinking that Russia is a threat directly to other countries more so than it actually is. It will take a massive re-alignment of the world for Russia to actually go and invade another country in Europe as a means for expansion. Yes, there will be continued political pressure, but so far as I'm concerned - they will remain self-determined.

Russia is tired of being the "bad guy" in world affairs, and there seems to be an effort to paint it as such again, by people like Cheney. But as long as Putin-style strategy is continued, Russia is not going to get their hands dirty and any accusations against it are likely to have an effect of making the average Russians more disdainful of the West. Again, I emphasize - this government is not stupid. It won't invade Finland, I can guarantee you that. It has little interest in a bad relationship with Europe, just as Europe should have little interest in a bad relationship with Russia.

In terms of democracy, Russia sort of is and sort of isn't. That is, Putin's government is very centralized and it's been getting increasingly heavy-handed. On the other hand, it's anything but undemocratic at the ballot boxes - I can safely say the majority of Russian voters support Putin. Because again, Putin has brought stability. There are, of course, some rather un-democratic things going on in other areas of politics, but the "government block" (basically, the same Yeltsin-then-Putin political coalition that has ruled Russia since 1991) stays in by playing their cards right. Cards which include the fear of communist return by some, the economy for others, the war in Chechnya (perhaps the dirtiest card), the disillusion with the West, and so on. The last 15 years in Russian history is really a textbook of how to exploit an essentially democratic system in a very tricky way.

Cheney looking to start a new cold war? What a surprise. A cold war is an extremely profitable war and his current gig in the Whitehouse is up in 3 years. Not that the "War on Terror" hasn't already been profitable for his big business pals but the US still isn't quite broke yet.

In my view the cold war has never ended americans still track and trail the russians the americans still moniter exercises but they are not 100% to blame norwiegens french german british just a few to name.

Cold war will probably now never go away theres just too much paranoia.

with the current rate of military buildup, both in the middle east and in the pacific... a HOT war is what you should really be worrying about...

there is no longer two monolithic sides to confront each other... at least there was a measure of control back then... introducing the military buildup of assets that we see happening today, plus the inflaming polarized ideologies into this new fragmented world situation, well eventaully a point will be reached where this has got to lead to an armed confrontation that will spiral out of control...

it will make mad of the 50s and 60s look like a church picnic...

make no plans past july 2014...

:cool:

--Mike

@ Skybird:
just out of curiosity, I didn't get the meaning of your comment on the italian democracy. Care to explain (maybe in PM since it's off topic) ?

Hmmm I have been following this in the news and personally I think it all smacks of hypocrisy.

Russia is strong on the back of high oil prices, it's putting Russia in the position to strengthen its economy and its hand on the international stage. Suddenly Russia becomes the boogey man. She is just protecting her national interests like any other country who finds herself in a better position to do so.

As for democracy in Russia, the TV stations might all be owned by the government but the print media there are quite a few independents left and some quite critical. They are left alone. Also when you read some reports its as if just criticising the Kremlin (at work with colleagues, for example) is enough to get you thrown away.

In some ways I feel Russia has been just a little screwed over by Europe and the US. Again another example of lack of forward thinking. The USSR economy was screwed from teh 70's onwards but the west was so keen to have Russia embrace "democracy" no one seemed to think what the consequences would be.

I am not naieve to the faults of the Russian government but when I listen to Bush, Cheney and Blair harp on about democracy I want to be sick.

I don't know about Bush but I am pretty damn sure Blair would love to have the control Putin does and if he could take it he would. Just look at the way he is dodging questions about when he will step down in favour of Brown....

Besides democracy comes about once the economy is fully working, That is what Putins priority should be, sort out the corruption, make it easier for small and medium sized businesses to thrive as that is where most money and employment is going to be, then democracy can flourish.

I went back to Russia just after the 1998 crash and quite frankly I don't think Putin has done such a bad job stabilising the country. I feel sorry for Yeltsin due to the thankless task he had but at least now the country is on an evenish keel.

Georgia and the Ukraine, moaning minnies...you want cheap gas you play nicely....you want to go off and do your own thing, fine, but if you want to be truly independent then you pay the same price as everyone else.

a man who has eyes. :up: ...but what up with july 2014? Doh!

Been reading again what CCIP has said.

Now the White House is trying to block Russia's entry to the WTO, bmainly due to concerns about "democracy" and human rights.

Then again look at China, ah but the US has a massive deficit with China so that should make sense.

The more Russia is backed into a corner the more belligerent she will become and come out fighting in one way or another. Also the more she will stick two fingers up to everyone else.

In some ways kind of like the kid at school who is shoved about, and made fun of who then works out and comes back and starts to throw his weight around.

Cheyney hasn't helped matters.....

Seriously we should get the world leaders in a room together and start banging heads....

Well dont tell bush but Putin is black belt in judo

Should be intresting seeing putin is same build as me lmao

Don't expect some deep intellectual comment here :lol: It just was an ironical stab at recent political events in italy - around berlusconi not willing to accept his defeat, and when he did, Prodi having extremely difficulties to see his candidates through election procedures in parliament, while Berlusconi's buddies voting with empty billets. also - how many governments have there been in italy since WWII? And how long do they usually survive, in mean? :-j

China wants energy, India wants energy, iran wants nuclear energy and weapons - Iran has oil, Russia has oil and gas and nuke tech. Dear america or europe: piss the Russians - and guess whom they will do business with, then? :lol: Neither the US nor Europe has the means to put threatening pressure on Russia. Cheney is an idiot. What he will acchieve by that confronting course is only: Russian oil and gas to China, to India, russian nuke tech to Iran, Iranian oil to china and India, military aid from India and China and Russia to Iran...and even more resistance from China and Russia towards any action concerning Iran. Those three are a natural alliance, and their interests mutually fit. Try piss the Russian, and all three will hang a sign on their door: "Do not disturb".

Unique style, Dick! One stupid move of yours, and several objectives of your intended plans lost. You should be prevented from using fork and knife for dinner: you're probbaly hurting your table neighbours with it, and yourself.

No matter if Iran, or China, or Islam: to solve all these problems and crisis depends on the fulfillment of one and the same most essential and vital precondition: becoming independend from Islamic and Russian energy ressources. As long as this precodntion is not successfully fulfilled, all this diplomatic threatening, and sabre-rattling, is just meaningless babbling. The only one who are impressed are the ones who do the babbling.

The only thing they will achieve by boycotting Russia is a slap in the face litteraly, as skybird said if russia cant trade with america plenty of other people willing to pay that bit more so it boosts russia's economy and helps it grow and where will that leave europe and america up a creek without a paddel.