Well we came within a hair's breath then and but for Vasili Arkhipov the Third World War may have kicked off.The are of the opinion that we are closer to a Third World War than at any time during the Cold War, including the Cuban missile crisis.
Russian Air force planes always fly with their transponders turned off. There have been a few near misses with civilian airliners over the last year or so.More provocation yesterday with Russian bombers flying near Cornwall with transponders switched off?
I remember reading about him a good few years ago.Well we came within a hair's breath then and but for Vasili Arkhipov the Third World War may have kicked off.
It doesn't help that Obama is more show than substance.Putin's Russia is far more dangerous than the USSR was as it's a police state, run by a dictator and a cabal of his fellow former KGB officers.
Should be fixed nowBoth links seem to be the same one.
Purple if Russia starts WWIII it will be a first in more ways than one. It will be the first time anyone went to war knowing they had zero chance of a win and 100% certainty of total loss. The US won't start WWIII either in that whilst they will certainly "win" it, the end result would not be worth winning.There is a very interesting piece in the Economist magazine this month about Russia and Putin's expansionist strategy.
The are of the opinion that we are closer to a Third World War than at any time during the Cold War, including the Cuban missile crisis. Interesting and very worrying.
They certainly won't start it in one grand sweep but conflicts have a habit of escalating and leaders whose legitimacy is questionable and is based on an extremist doctrine, be it religion, communism, fascism or ultra-nationalism, tend to be far less pragmatic than others. Putin has nailed his colours to ultra-nationalism and is philosophically opposed to Western liberal democracy. He is also very wealthy and, along with his former KGB ministers and broader cabal, controls most of Russia's wealth and media.Purple if Russia starts WWIII it will be a first in more ways than one. It will be the first time anyone went to war knowing they had zero chance of a win and 100% certainty of total loss. The US won't start WWIII either in that whilst they will certainly "win" it, the end result would not be worth winning.
Countries are entitled to self determination. Russian dominance of its neighbours through the subversion of their democratic processes and institutions cannot be excused because of similar transgressions by the USA and GB (and others in the West). They are entitled to security but they are not entitled to enslave their neighbours to get it.Mr Putin appears hell-bent on creating a buffer zone around Russia.
Russian history would hint that these buffer countries were historically within the sway of Greater Russia.
I havn,t heard of Russia invading countreys that fell outside their influence, eg East Germany,Poland,Czechslovakia,Romania, Latvia,Estonia,Hungary, Poland.
I wonder how USA would react if Mexico ,Canada moved towards Russia?
I think USA would (probably correctly) move to protect their (buffer) border states.
Russia has not (invaded) outside of their buffer states and I can easily see how Russia would feel threatened by the eastward March of the West.
Today requires cool heads and a clear understanding of world politics.
In West , particularly USA & GB , invaded Iraq and Grenada and fomented regime change in South America and Iran.
So it is easy to envisage Russia feeling (squeezed).
We have a present issue re Mr Putin and the West, but I do not see Mr Putin doing more than (in his view) protecting his borders.
Russia has not (invaded) outside of their buffer states and I can easily see how Russia would feel threatened by the eastward March of the West.
Today requires cool heads and a clear understanding of world politics.
Delboy/Purple.Tough luck for those in the Crimea, Ukraine and possibly the Baltic nations, wha!
Lets hope, by your logic, that the Brits don't look to go back to putting their buffer zone in place!!!
I'd accept that if it wasn't for the fact that all of this "wolf at the door" threat posturing by Putin only really kicked off after the pro-democracy protests by activists including Gary Kasparov in 2012.Delboy/Purple.
In NO way do I atall disagree with your postings.
What I am saying is that these issues need to be viewed from all sides.
I have no doubt that Russia genuinely believes (wrongly I think) that they are being squeezed by a Western Axis.
The West (correctly I think) believe Russia far from acting in defensive mode is acting in a belligerent mode.
When both sides claim right , I would worry the answer is judged by might? or maybe which side pushes things further?
Hopefully cool heads will always win.
If a democratic state requests NATO membership because it fears invasion by an undemocratic and aggressive neighbour should the democratic states in NATO refuse?Delboy/Purple.
In NO way do I atall disagree with your postings.
What I am saying is that these issues need to be viewed from all sides.
I have no doubt that Russia genuinely believes (wrongly I think) that they are being squeezed by a Western Axis.
The West (correctly I think) believe Russia far from acting in defensive mode is acting in a belligerent mode.
When both sides claim right , I would worry the answer is judged by might? or maybe which side pushes things further?
Hopefully cool heads will always win.
.....................If a democratic state requests NATO membership because it fears invasion by an undemocratic and aggressive neighbour should the democratic states in NATO refuse?
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