Article

2007-07-04 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Russia issues new missile defence threat

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by lotp 2007-07-04 12:47|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 Russia warned today that it would position its rockets close to the Polish border and point missiles at US bases in Europe if Washington rebuffed its latest offer of cooperation on missile defence

So what? Russia isn't going to attack anyone. And they sure as hell aren't going to try to shoot down an interceptor that's going after an Iranian nuke.

The only thing all this monkey motion will result in is lots of extra costs to the Russian government.

Perhaps it will be the excuse he needs to build a few more subs or nukes or something I don't know.

Am I missing something? I don't even know why everyone seems to be going ape over this.

Posted by gorb 2007-07-04 14:56|| 2007-07-04 14:56|| Front Page Top

#2 It matters not what Putin does, but what he says, because he's most interested in affecting European public opinion, and they are scared. Scared of their declining birthrates, scared of their rising social costs, scared of their rising Muslim populations, scared of Iran, scared of Pakistan, and scared most of all by Russia, and the more scared people are, the higher the price of petroleum and natural gas, of which Russia has much and Europe has little. Russia has only two resources: nuclear weapons and non-nuclear energy, and it can leverage the one to enhance the value of the other. And the ONLY way out of the dilemma is to reduce the demand for energy. Good luck.

Posted by Perfesser 2007-07-04 15:12|| 2007-07-04 15:12|| Front Page Top

#3 The only thing all this monkey motion will result in is lots of extra costs to the Russian government.

The other thing it does is make it a lot harder for Angela Merkel, or any other Euro, to conduct Ostpolitik against the Amis. May also make them think twice about where they get their energy.

I always knew the Russians were bullies, but they were supposed to be smart chess players, too. This is just dumb at any level except the ruskie military-industrial complex.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2007-07-04 15:15|| 2007-07-04 15:15|| Front Page Top

#4 Sink a sub. See if attitude changes. Sabotage an oil refinery. See if attitude changes. Repeat as necessary.

It is ludicrous we should allow ourselves to be threatened by this thug. We allow this to our peril.

Posted by Excalibur 2007-07-04 16:12|| 2007-07-04 16:12|| Front Page Top

#5 I would publicly respond, "Meh, go ahead."

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2007-07-04 22:47|| 2007-07-04 22:47|| Front Page Top

#6 Here's my response: you are going to target them anyway, why the bluster?

Posted by Mike N. 2007-07-04 22:57|| 2007-07-04 22:57|| Front Page Top

#7 Much like Islam, ~~Ras~~Putin needs to publicly be called upon his bullshit. Excalibur may be a wee bit over the top, but I'd rather see that sort of behavior modification than for us to sit idly by.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2007-07-04 23:54|| 2007-07-04 23:54|| Front Page Top

23:56 trailing wife
23:54 Zenster
23:51 twobyfour
23:51 Mike N.
23:49 Zenster
23:48 trailing wife
23:47 Eric Jablow
23:45 trailing wife
23:45 twobyfour
23:43 Zenster
23:41 Zenster
23:41 Swamp Blondie
23:39 Swamp Blondie
23:38 Mike N.
23:37 twobyfour
23:27 Frank G
23:26 Frank G
23:25 Abdul Aziz
23:19 Mike Sylwester
23:17 trailing wife
23:16 Mike N.
23:09 Zenster
23:04 Frank G
23:01 Zenster