News Is Russia's recent warning about a potential Cold War 2.0 a cause for concern?

[Astronuc]

Well here's a twist -

Putin Offers to Base U.S. Missile Shield in Azerbaijan
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10801011

Morning Edition, June 7, 2007 · Russian President Vladimir Putin offered a surprise compromise Thursday on a U.S. missile shield, saying he would drop his objections to it if President Bush agreed to base the system in Azerbaijan rather than Eastern Europe.

During a meeting on the sidelines of the G-8 summit in Germany, Putin told Bush he would not seek to retarget Russian missiles on Europe if the United States agrees to put the radar-based system in Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic bordering the Caspian Sea.

Bush's reaction to Putin's idea was: "Interesting proposal — let's let our experts have a look at it," according to White House National Security Adviser Steve Hadley. Hadley was in their hourlong meeting on the sidelines of a summit of the world's eight major industrialized democracies — the leaders' first since the dispute erupted earlier this year.

Bush has proposed basing the radar in the Czech Republic and interceptor rockets in Poland, rousing Moscow's suspicions that a system built in its backyard had to be aimed at it. The United States insisted the shield was aimed at potential nuclear threats from Iran, not Russia.

Putin said the existing Soviet-era radar station is rented by Russia under a continuing agreement between Moscow and the government of Azerbaijan.

He argued the benefits of his suggested substitute: An Azerbaijan-based system would cover all of Europe rather than just part of it, and destroyed missile debris would fall in the ocean rather than on land.

Missiles in Poland?! to protect against whom?

Missiles and Radar in Azerbaijan or even Romania/Bulgaria near the Black Sea would make sense assuming the missiles come from SE of Europe.

Actually I would prefer no missiles, just as I would prefer no war.

 

[MeJennifer]

Isn't it obvious Astronuc, the USA already has military bases in western Europe, now they are looking for an excuse to put them in eastern Europe as well.

How about a US military station near every big city in the world to "protect" the world from terrorism.

 

[devil-fire]

good thing i thought of this sort of thing on the 6th instead of the 7th or i would be looking the fool.

does anyone know much about the "the existing Soviet-era radar station" in Azerbaijan? I am wondering if the station is staffed by Azerbaijanis and used by russia or if it is more like a russian base on azerbaijan soil. the thing is the russians would love to have a sophisticated facility like an american anti-missile radar system close by so they could learn about it. if the americans are truly not interested in using this system as a protection against russia then this might be a good solution with some tweaking. if however the americans want to keep this technology firmly out of russian hands they would likely offer to take over the russian leased facility, build some high walls with razor wire and put a "no fly zone" into effect 100 miles in every direction from the place. this wouldn't suit russia because it would be the exact same problem as before

 

[Cyrus]

Well here's a twist -

Putin Offers to Base U.S. Missile Shield in Azerbaijan
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10801011


Missiles in Poland?! to protect against whom?

My guess is Iran.

Actually I would prefer no missiles, just as I would prefer no war.

Theres nothing wrong with interceptor missiles. They are designed to destroy other missiles, not kill people.

 

[Anttech]

On the other hand I believe the US has outflanked Europe. This missile shield presents a major setback for those who wish to see Europe develop as a cohesive entity with the ability to project real power in the world.

By appointing themselves as the 'protectors' of the eastern european countries the US has effectively nullified the attempts of western europe to assume that role and so negated the current drive for greater military cohesion between 'old' europe and the former members of the Soviet bloc.

A weaker Europe is obviously a good thing from a US and (for different reasons) a UK viewpoint but just as obviously this is not so good for the EU. It will be interesting to see what countersteps the EU takes next.

To be outflanked you have to have players on the field, do you not?
The USA are also the self appointed protectors of the middle east, and to be very frank, they are, rather there politics are as hated in *eastern* europe as they are in the middle east. So who won what? All I see is a *weak* Russia tell the USA where they can put there *might* ,, leave it or lumpt it THAT is where they will have to put it, since no other pill will be swallowed!

Hearts and minds... Democracy... Hearts and minds...

 

[momentum_waves]

During the G8 debate & previous comments by Putin, has anyone noticed the apparent intelligence comparison between Putin & Bush?

Putin's thought processes & word selection seem fairly advanced.

 

[devil-fire]

To be outflanked you have to have players on the field, do you not?
The USA are also the self appointed protectors of the middle east, and to be very frank, they are, rather there politics are as hated in *eastern* europe as they are in the middle east. So who won what? All I see is a *weak* Russia tell the USA where they can put there *might* ,, leave it or lumpt it THAT is where they will have to put it, since no other pill will be swallowed!

Hearts and minds... Democracy... Hearts and minds...

the whole issue here is that the polices of the usa are causing hostilities between east and west and that doesn't benefit anyone except maybe the usa. if the usa is intent on a policy that's going to lower the stability in the region, anyone who's interests lay with stability (basically everyone in the region) will oppose the usa's policy there. if the americans agree to work with russia to combat what sounds like a potentially catastrophic threat, then people are going to be much more friendly

it isn't as simple as being "with or against" though because when people are considering their choices, they have to think of the impact of the american policy and the impact of the russian policy and the impact of their own choices (or lack there of) and how all that will play out. people are trying to side themselves with the lesser of 2 evils. a lot of this political maneuvering is about both putin and bush trying to advance their political and strategic goals without having everyone around them jump up and yell "they have an agenda that isn't good for me, i have to work against them!"

bottom line---
is bush positioning himself to start a war with russia like putin implies he is ( as per the whole arms race thing)? or is putin crying wolf to further some hidden agenda?

 

[mheslep]

Money? You obviously have not been to Moscow recently. There is a LOT of money in Russia right now. Regardless it never stopped them before... I don't think that would the reason why they won't start another cold war, its because the global political climate is very different than that of after ww2. The soviets are gone, and we have a new Russia, who is getting more and more rich.

That's a completely meaningless thing to say. Here's the fact: Russia's PPP GDP last year was $1.73 trillion. ...

Just noticed this fact so I'm adding to this old thread. Moscow is now the http://www.finfacts.ie/costofliving.htm" per the Economist Intel Unit. There's not that much GDP in Russia as a whole as Russ showed, but thanks to Putin et al what there is almost completely concentrated in Moscow since all of the power is there. So yes, if you visited Moscow now you would get the impression the country is loaded.