Wow. The re-emergence of the greatest threat to western civilization that ever existed is beginning to rise again, and the most it merits is 8 views. Probably 3 of them were mine.

That's... telling.

I just found your story.

This is more than worrying.

Has anyone noticed how China seems to slowly slipping down the democratic path and Russia moving backwards? Putin is becoming more and more power hungry as each day goes on - which is something we need to watch. As someone living in Europe this is very bad because of the control Russia has on the Oil Industry and growing ties with Middle Eastern Nations who are sick of the U.K. and U.S.A. it is though they almost timed it perfectly.

It does go towards my idea that hte Iraq war and information provided by the Russian Government was to cripple the U.S.A. and to force them into a long drawn out war so Russia can push for top dog. With the China-Russia Alliance this could also be very bad for Nations such as Japan and Taiwan who are prime-threats for China (and in some sectors of Russia, Japan is still seen as an enemy and with things such as Kuril islands possibly having Oil this could really change the shape of Asia).

Russia seems to have been playing rather the game and it looks like the USA might have fallen for it.

The elections in Russia (and in most former soviet nations) are a farce and a setup, the counting rigged, there isn't any real democracy there at all. So they now have decided to save themselves the bother of pretending.

Theres a reason for the Odium.

Money!

As China becomes a servicing nation (selling good and other industries all over the world - mostly to America) they generate massive amounts of wealth. But the state is not keeping all the money, no, workers wages are increasing at incredible rates, making the people wealthier. People with money expect certain privalages.. Democracy was given rise through the power of the middle class.. it is not surprising that the middle class is pushing for the same "right" in China.

Russia is a different story, most of the wealth generated is through oil, gas, little from industry and from weapon sales.

It is common that nations whos wealth is derived from a single industry are often welfare, socialistic style states. Norway may be the only country that is fully Democratic yet still very socialist, though they also have other industries. Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Venesualla, they have primarily a single industry.

It should be noted that non-democratic nations are not "bad" ... it depends on the government. No democratic nations have gone to war with eachother. That is true, but we have only been around some 200 years, there will be conflicts, and it will be democratic states against one another. If Putin where to reign as Czar Russia will prosper, theoretically, as a welfare state.. if Russia converts back to Communism "socialism" it will collapse once again.

This is not the rise of the Soviet Union .. it could be the rise of the Russian Empire / Kingdom, who knows.. but it isn't bad. Putin honestly has the best intentions in heart for HIS PEOPLE.... he should give a rats @!$ about anyone else...

If only our own government would stop worrying about other peoples feelings and focused on their people.

PS. Sorry for spelling mistakes in a hurry.

IF this is true, Iran looks like a whole new ball game now.

What? ....... what the heck does that have to do with ANYTHING AT ALL?

Doesn't even make sense.

Originally posted by thelibra
Wow. The re-emergence of the greatest threat to western civilization that ever existed is beginning to rise again, and the most it merits is 8 views. Probably 3 of them were mine.

That's... telling.

calm down...

it'll take time

thanks for the story

Originally posted by Rockpuck
What? ....... what the heck does that have to do with ANYTHING AT ALL?

Doesn't even make sense.

Well if your talking to me, being russia arming iran with surface to air, and all that gaff... seems if they are moving away from the democratic, western civilised manner... theyre arent going to really care at any international pressure on things such as, arming, or assisting.
If they happened to cancel elections, there not really thinking on the same terms as the US are they... and it will be a major step BACKWARDS into the cold war era days.. which if you remember, was the US v Russia.
And being The US is looking very hard at Iran, a russian ally 'in terms' then id say it will definately impact that somehow.

Hows about ya take a breathe before ya jump up n down scream'n like a girl?

[edit on 7-3-2007 by Agit8dChop]

Jesus rockpuck.... what nerve has been hit?

I simply said, russia stopping elections if it is true they are going back to a cold war era type situation, it will effect how Iran plays the US.

I cant even be bothered reading your post...

my point is, if russia are banning elections and enforcing a rule.. then it is a STEP backwards.

OR FOWARD!!!

Democracy is NOT THE ONLY type of government, fully explained in my post lol...

My point in short is this:

Russia is still playing the cold war, but becase of certain monetary restraints can only do it from the side as of now.. but will still more then gladly use Iranians as a proxy against America.

A democratic Russia will be just as bad as a Monarch Russia (and a communist but I would hope they learned their lesson) .. democracy weakend Russia because of international exploitation.

I dunno, they setup and profited from them oil fields pretty well.
And Russia held the 6 nations meeting, or global talks not long back... me thinks what was that called?

I think democractically, and financially russia was started to make headway and go forward..

but ill have to look into it.
works busy atn.

Anti-Christ now eh? I suppose every world leader has been called the anti christ at some point.. Christians should learn to say:

"One day there will be an Anti-Christ and the world will end" and leave it at that without speculation as to who and when nor why it will happen or who it will be as Christians have been dead wrong since Christianity has been founded.

Democracy was never fully established in Russia either, hard to break down what hardly had a footing. Democracy in many cases has been observed to hurt the people and the cultures especially more then their totalitarian counter parts. Obviously if it is a butchering crazy dictator any form of government is better, but if the status quo is working, change is not needed.

I am now left wondering what we can do about it.

There appears to now be little doubt that Putinism, if left unchecked, will end up resulting in a very antagonistic world power with anti-western, anti-democratic views, with a large amount of fossil fuel resources they're willing to sell on the open market. to countries that desperately want them at below-market prices.

As America becomes less dependent on foreign energy sources, this will cause a glut of fossil fuel supplies in the market that, up until a couple of days ago, I'd just assume would be bought up by China. Yet recently they have become very conscientious of missing environmental and pollution goals of the first year of their 11 year plan, and have decided to redouble their efforts.

With China backing off the purchase of foreign fossil fuels in the future, and Americans and India looking to do the same, Russia's economic power is poised to shrink dramatically. Since Putin's power stems from the Russian economic powerhouse in the current market, that might end up being the end of Putanism. However, I don't know that it will happen quickly enough to outpace the loss of democracy.

Your thoughts?

Ha! Where are those who laughed when people said the Cold War isnt over and Russia isnt free now?

Its obvious, out in the open, and youd have to be blind and deaf not to see it but I guarantee people will still deny Russias intent and still ignore things like Russians getting caught trying to sell nuclear material to Iran and Hugo Chavez being buddy buddy with these guys and Cuba hoarding biological weapons.

There isnt anyting funny about any of this. There isnt anything coincidental about this. And there certainly isnt anything that shuld make us feel good about this.

Originally posted by thisguyrighthere
There isnt anyting funny about any of this. There isnt anything coincidental about this. And there certainly isnt anything that shuld make us feel good about this.

I couldn't agree more.

What I fear more than the cold war is the legitimacy to tyranny it would lend in the USA and the UK in the name of fighting it. The McCarthy hearings happened before my time, but were a very, very dark era in our country's history.

And if it could happen in more "noble times", when technology had just gotten around to giving us color television, imagine the scale to which "new McCarthy hearings" could be implemented now that we have legitimized domestic surveillance, detention camps, and suspension of liberties in the name of fighting terrorism.

I think Russia's situation and the obstacle they'll pose in the future is anything but laughable, but I shudder at the effects it will have within our own government in the name of fighting Putanism.