reply to post by Agit8dChop
I view NATO as a relic from world war II.
It was setup soley to counter Russian Agression in its communist days, when it was trying to take over eastern europe.
It is a relic, yes because it's purpose no longer exist.. aside from economic where to join NATO means much aid. However, NATO was needed all the
way up until the fall of the Soviet Union.. it had nothing to do with WWII .. it had to do with the Cold War. And technically speaking if we are to
create another Cold War, it's services may not yet be disposed.
When the cold war was in its peak, NATO played a large part in keeping Russia in check against the USA.
NATO it's self never had much power.. if Russia where to invade countries like Italy and Turkey would serve no purpose. It was a line in the sand
where the US could station it's forces, it's build up and essentially a nice place to keep a very large tab open. In fact, though the Cold War has
ended the US government is still set on the same principles of building "defenses" and stationary offenses in "NATO" territory. The countries
themselves only hosts the bases, America picks up the tab.
As soon as we entered Iraq, we tainted Nato.
Iraq is not a NATO operation .. and I don't believe it was ever intended as such. NATO currently controls much of Afghanistan, but that took much
persuasion .. NATO is essentially a peace keeping force, not meant for offensive operations. The war in Iraq may have tainted American relations in
the World, but I am at a loss as to why it taints NATO.
Any state who stood side by side with America,was shown to be imperialistic, because we all knew the truths behind Iraq.
If anything, the states are shown to be taken advantage of.. not that this thread has anything to do with the War in Iraq.
Europe has chilled, no ones prepared to stand with America at the moment, with their Economy and their government smelling worse than a bag of
manure..
America has no legitimate excuse to be hating Russia right now .. but Europe has absolutely no excuse either. Yet for some reason, most of Europe has
been louder then America in condemning Russia. Albeit, you are in Australia, and perhaps to secluded from the World to get the big picture, the West
is America and with out that "stinking" economy, our way of life is over. This explains why we are creating hostilities where there ought not be
any.
I think Russia has really emerged in this last month, Nato and the west cut their own legs off with Iraq and the economy, where as Russia sat silent
building its resources and its government and just sitting put.
Again the slight input of "Iraq" .. it has nothing to do with Russian relations. Russia's economy has exploded with the increasing price of fuels,
however like all ME states it is their only major industry. Aside from that, poverty reigns in Russia.. we built them up to be sustainable, but the
people them selves are not growing as fast as the government is. Not to mention, it was the West that built the Russian oil fields up.
Do you think any small nation around russia is going to allow its self to be pushed into conflict by America?
Absolutely.. the Czechs would, the Poles would, the Lithuanians would, the Romanians would, the Georgians did, and the Ukrainians would. This all
goes back to my point that, if we can be friends with old Soviet Bloc states, why not Russia? The money we can spend investing in Bloc states is a
great chance to create perceived wealth and development.. for every walmart type store constructed in Poland or Hungary we are creating consumers to
drive the Western economy. Russia is doing this also, but we are still enemies because in the end we cannot live without one.
The fact that you think European countries will start "warming" to Russia honestly shows your insight to the current situation. I do believe
America said "that's mean stop that" while France and Germany threatened sanctions and war.
