With that said:
America likes to do its own thing in the world. After 9/11, they kicked arse in Afghanistan. At first, I actually supported the idea, but then talk started of invading Iraq, and I became suspicious of their original motives.
Cue invasion of Iraq. Nothing to do with 9/11, and it was clear from the start that the WMD story was bogus. Our most out-spoken, but highly respected scientist who claimed there were no WMD in Iraq winds up dead. Hardly a co-incidence.
Cue the problem with Georgia. Georgia attacks South Ossetia. Russia responds in a not-dissimilar fashion than the US did to Afghanistan after 9/11.
They have a short 5-day (or so) war, and pull out again.
America gets upset and says "this is the 21st Century - you can't just invade sovereign nations like that". Hypocrites. Russia reminds them of Afghanistan and Iraq in light of 9/11.
NATO and Europe side with Georgia (who were the original aggressors).
The reason? Because the West doesn't like the fact someone they don't control is throwing their own weight around at their own will.
Assuming what I've read about the conflict so far is correct, then I back Russia on this one. America et. al., thinks they do what they like to other countries as it suits them, but complain like crazy when another country does exactly what America does!
I call them hypocrites.
As for this nuclear shield - Russia has said it doesn't like the idea, and even proposed a solution some time ago (which might have actually worked out, but as always, you don't know what is being said/threatened behind closed doors).
It seems that America has just signed this deal with Poland to stick two fingers up at Russia. The fact the Polish have changed their minds in light of the Georgia/Russia conflict suggests something fishy.
Given the way the West is reacting to Russias position, I can see why Russia is now arming its fleet with nukes.
The whole thing has got out of control. Again, assuming what I've read previously about Georgia and South Ossetia is correct, this whole thing over the missile defense shield is just childish.
Why are we backing Georgia anyway? Georgia attacks Russian citizens - Russia responds.
Terrorists attack US citizens - the US responds.
What's the difference?
Russia acted on its own, and of its own will without the "yes" from the US. For some reason, the US, and NATO feels threatened by this.
[edit on 20-8-2008 by mirageofdeceit]
