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| Europe |
| Ledeen: Red Army Dreams |
| 2007-10-31 |
| If you were Vladimir Putin, what would you think of Iran? You'd worry a lot about it, that's what. Your own Russia is losing Russians, due to the usual grim demography that characterizes most of Europe. And, like the others, you've got a Muslim problem, with surging birthrates both within Russia and all along its borders, from Chechnya to the ‘stans. Lots of those Muslims are under Iranian sway. You know that well, having been trained in, and elevated by, the KGB, which was horrified to see radical mullahs and imams receiving money, Korans, and even weapons from the Islamic Republic. When Osama bin Laden claims that the defeat of the Soviet Empire was an Islamic victory, there's a certain element of truth to his words, and you know that the Iranians want to build on that foundation to extend their power deeper into your domain. You therefore want to see this regime destroyed. The last thing in the world that you want is a gigantic Chechnya, armed with nuclear weapons, launching waves of fanatical terrorists against infidels like you. But you don't have much of an army any more, and anyway you don't want a war with the mullahs. Direct attack is not your way; you prefer cunning. You'd rather have someone else do your dirty work for you. Someone like Israel, or better yet, the United States. And best of all would be to get the Americans to do it in such a way that the whole world condemns them for it. It's worth reading the whole thing. |
| Posted by:Chuck |
| #5 Great assessment Pappy. You've got to think diobolically to understand the Russian strategic think. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-10-31 21:59 |
| #4 Ledeen's been grinding this axe for so long, it's turned into a sledgehammer. Putin's making nice with Iran because a) Doing so keeps those meddlesome Chinese at bay and b) Iran 'distracts' the U.S. via Hesb'allah, its Iraqi proxies, its Syrian semi-ally, the Al Quds Force, etc. Anything else is gravy. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2007-10-31 21:55 |
| #3 Sure are a lot of assumptions to Ledeen's little scenario. Wheels within wheels within wheels. Plausible I suppose, but only barely so. |
| Posted by: remoteman 2007-10-31 17:45 |
| #2 If I was Putin I'd probably follow a similar plan. I'd also try to promote an increased birthrate as the Chinese did at one time. I'd also promote immigration to Siberia amungst the Indians and Latin Americans hoping for some kind of land rush to populate the region before the Chinese start eying it. I'd also talk to the Japanese, give them those pesky islands back in turn for investment in a new bullet transiberian railway. I'd also stop bullying everyone and try to become the prefered military of the Europeans. That is European cash + Russian peacekeepers equals a foreign policy both sides could hopefully deal with and feel like grown up governments. I would also end the draft and try to create a private military closer to what the US did. I would try to SELL my old nuclear assets for some cash. That includes rusting naval ships as well as nuclear weapons. Let environmental groups and such guilt the world into paying you to prevent reactors from rusting out and polluting the arctic. I would link up with South Africa to spread Pebble Bed nuke reactors around the globe, using this peaceful means as a basis for my eventual alliance. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2007-10-31 12:37 |
| #1 STRATEGYPAGE > French semi-privat consortium helping Russia in the design of better Russ submarines. You just know Russ will never opt/plan to use 'em against USA-NATO. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-10-31 05:09 |