Originally posted by patriotgal08:
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Originally posted by NOVAMarine:
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Originally posted by patriotgal08:
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Originally posted by NOVAMarine:
Typical "bluff and bluster" from the Russians who are so well schooled in the Soviet tradition of threats and intimidation.
If anyone ever had any doubts about Mr. Putin's "true colors," the Russian reaction in Georgia and the absurd comments about a nuclear attack on Poland typify that his heart is embedded in his Soviet / KGB past. He's nothing more than a petty tyrant and bully and exemplifies histoic Russian paranoia and inferiority.
Hi NOVA. I was wondering what your viewpoint is on this situation. You've probably had dealings with Russia I assume...on some level...and was wondering what is your assessment . How do you think we should handle this? I just see diplomacy for now. But thier making me nervous and I don't trust Putin or his ambitions, for a second. How far do you think they'd take this " confrontation" with the West.
COMMENT: Patriot, I have very limited background with Russia or Europe except a short tour that I served as a planner in NATO AFSOUTH headquarters in Naples, Italy.
But I think that we're essentially restricted to diplomacy; we really have very limited options that I can see.
Putin and Medvedev really are "digging in their heels" more than I anticipated, and it appears that they're serious about their rhetoric about not needing the WTO or other ties with the West, including breaking diplomatic relations. They seem to believe that the West has more to lose by failing relations with Moscow than Russia would suffer. That is obviously a very discouraging attitude to confront.
Interestingly, those who have been especially victimized by the former Soviets -- the Baltic states. Poland, and Ukraine -- favor maintaining a hard line against Moscow's brutish attitude and aggression.
Now that Russia's two legislative houses have endorsed the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, it seems that the best that we can do is encourage Western European solidarity in not recognizing their status as "nations" and continue to marginalize Russia diplomatically and economically where we can. Georgia is not a national security interest, but we must continue to seek some means of ratcheting down this confrontation while registering diplomatic resistance to Russia's actions; otherwise, we show a lack of resolve for the defense of a new democratic state. We can't allow this to fester into a loss of meaningful interaction with Moscow. We may have to experience a change of U.S. administration to gain an opportunity for "fresh air" with Moscow as we did with Iran during the hostage crisis in 1979-80.
Once again thank you for your insight.
I agree with all the points you made. It's a Catch-22 situation for us. A very delicate situation. Seems that Russia flexing thier muscle in Georgia has opened a door for them they've wanted to " kick in" since the Cold War. I think they've felt " out of the loop" for many years. I agree we do have to make a stand for the independence of Georgia and other break away states but it's not yet worth an all out confrontation...in my opinion. I just hope they stand down and realize it
will affect them on many levels. Billions of dollars in investments have already been withdrawn from thier coffers. But I'd say your analysis is about our only solution ...at this time. I prefer to let the Europeans take the lead on this one also ...if they would or could. And a new American administration
may help pave a way back to a resolution. I would hate for the Iron Curtain to come down again and the Russians to retreat behind it. I really was hoping Putin was genuine in his reaching out to the rest of the world. I think we can all see clearly though what we're still dealing with in Russia. Eye opening to say the least.
