[Happy Times]

Originally Posted by Skybird

In Afghanistan.

Ignoring the questionable way in which NATO allowed to get drawn into it, just answer yourself one question: is NATO answering to the mission with one voice, and is every member pulling at the same end of the rope, and are all nations sharing comparable risks and investements?

Afghanistan is a textbook illustration of the state of things onside NATO. Want to take that condition as a basis for a war with Russia?

Ex-chancellor Gerhard Schröder called Saakashvilli a "hasardeur". It is a total exception from the rule that I agree with that man on something and I would love to see him being shot to the dark side of the moon, but in his assessement of Saakashvilli I agree.

If anything, Merkel'S statement shows just one thing: that although some assessements get changed under the influence of the russian demonstration, nevertheless the West seems determined to continue with a policy of self-deception, having fantasies about the russians, and over-estimating the importance the EU plays in Russian considerations.

But if anybody believes they will just sit by and only watch while Georgia - or the Ukraine - will enter NATO and the alliance moves directly to the borders of Russia, then he must be insane.

BTW, they have just declared their inention to rearm their fleet in Kaliningrad with nuclear weapons again, in response to US radar stations being build in Poland, they also told both Poland and Chech republic that the US program will make these installation a priority target for russian nulcear strikes in case of conflict with NATO. Irnoically both states get exactly that kind of nuclear attention against which the Us program was claiming to protect them.

For 20 years the West live din total ignorrance of understandable Russian interests. And now they have had enough, and start sending bills. continue with the old ways, and the bills will become higher and higher. after the ignorrant Western reactions of the past days I do not rule out the possibility of a new full aale cold war II. Juzst days agai I still thought different, but I cannot see the West learning anything from its past mistakes. Also, Russia knows very strongly what it wants, while the West is left bare of any realistic orientation. nobody should complain that we just suffered a serious strategic defeat, well-deserved.

A german commentator just compoared Russia with Iran, poiinting out that Iran pushes the West into the defensive in the very same way like Putin did: by knowing very strongly what it wants. Ahmadinejkadh is currently about payoing an official state visit to turkey, something that almost got lost here in the West. That visit was prepared for over 5 years, to bring him out of the isolation and to try move Turkey out of the already weak consensus of NATO regarding Iran. this visit is a great strategic victory for Iran - and does anybody here in the West even take note of this diplomatic desaster? No - we are busy bringing NATO into Russia's backyard.

Say, who is the one having hallucinations here - Putin, or Ahmadinejadh - or us: the West? In chess there is something that in german is called "Aufbaukunst" (= the art of [strategic] developement /the art of basic [strategic] construction). NATO not only has serious deficits regarding this skill, but replaces them with dangerous illusions. Nothing good can come from that, just defeat, loss and self-destruction.

NATO is allready in Russian border in Baltics, Finland and Sweden are likely to also join and there are calls for more money to be put in defence, Russia is hurting itself. NATO enlargement has revealed Russias intentions to get back the areas it once held, hence if a new Cold war would emerge, it would be of Russias own doing. Their imperialistic interests they can shove where the sun dont shine, we have to worry about OUR interests. Its them that have fantasies of their own importance, nobody has corrected them because we know how fragile their self-esteem is, like an infant on tantrums. Russia cannot win this, they will loose like they did the last time. Europe doesnt need Russia as a "strategic partner", they are a supplier of energy. And its not like they are giving it for free, they get payed the market price. They need atleast one revolution more, hope thats finally enough and they can grow up.