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Originally posted by ironfalcon
This has only served to embolden the Russkies and make them determined to take Eastern Europe by force.
Originally posted by buddhasystem
reply to post by dizzie56
What on Earth does the missile shield have to do with Ossetia? Or Ukraine? Do you honestly believe that tensions of any sort that may exist have the potential to escalate to an all-out strategic missile exchange? Sheesh...
The only way I can interpret your statement is that you are saying that stated purposes of the shield (Iran etc) were actually a sham and the real target was Russia. Well then, in that case they have every right to be royally p!ssed off.
Originally posted by dizzie56
One of those things is about natural resources and Russia has been out to take back its lil sattelite spin-off countries for a long time.
Yeah, they said the missile defence system was in place to shield Europe from North Korea and Iranian missile attacks, but come on, me or you could prolly piss farther than their missiles. Even if it really was for that, it still has the capability of keepin Russia and China in check.
We made the deal with european countries that are soverign states in their own right as well. Are they not allowed to have an opinion to what goes in their countries or not? Or is the united states, russia, and china only allowed to make the policy of the world?
Originally posted by buddhasystem
1) What do natural resources have to do with missile defense?
2) Russia had announced a plan (withdrawn today, actually) to place short range missiles along the Polish border. It's relatively easy to saturate the target (the radar site) with conventional missiles from short distance, or use other means to defeat it. The radars, therefore, would do as much as a dent on Russia's capability but only served as a powerful irritant, to no good purpose.
3) You seem to state it's the latter, actually, from the tone of your discourse.
Originally posted by dizzie56
Russia wants its old territory back and they have for years, mainly because they contain a high amount of natural resources.
Originally posted by buddhasystem
Originally posted by dizzie56
Russia wants its old territory back and they have for years, mainly because they contain a high amount of natural resources.
Eastern Europe contains negligible amount of natural resources compared to what Russia has already. Russia also has more territory than it can meaningfully develop. A massive invasion of the continent has to be the very last thing on their to-do list.
Originally posted by dizzie56
Everybody knows that they want their territory back.
What about Russia's attempts to get back Chechnya?
Originally posted by buddhasystem
What about Russia's attempts to get back Chechnya?
There is a profound difference between a nationalist secessionist movement in one part of Russia proper, and a sovereign nation like Poland, don't you think?
And again, you missed the point that the US project was (and is, because the missile defense will still be implemented from mobile platforms, which people choose to ignore just to bash Obama) to serve the interest of non other than the United States. I don't give a flying toss about Poles any more than I care for Russian aspirations. Poles are doing just fine with their NATO membership already. Having bases on their land means having to depend on them.
The former Czech prime minister, Mirek Topolanek, said: "This is not good news for the Czech state, for Czech freedom and independence. It puts us in a position wherein we are not firmly anchored in terms of partnership, security and alliance, and that's a certain threat."
“We should explore the potential of linking the U.S., NATO and Russian missile defense systems at an appropriate time,” Mr. Rasumussen told an audience invited by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Brussels.
Obama Missile Plan Wins Russia Praise, No Iran Shift (Update1)
By Janine Zacharia
Sept. 18 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama’s decision to scrap a U.S. missile defense system in eastern Europe won praise from Russian leaders. What it didn’t win was a sign that they will cooperate to thwart Iran’s nuclear program.
Obama stressed that his reversal of President George W. Bush’s plan to place radar and missile interceptors in the Czech Republic and Poland reflects a new assessment of Iran’s missile capabilities, not a response to Russian opposition.
Originally posted by dizzie56
Its in our mutual interest (the US and its allies) for the missile defense system.
And why should we not help out our allies again?
I believe in isolationism myself, but i also believe if you say you will lend a hand to someone you better damn well follow thru with it and not back out when they are expecting your participation.
Originally posted by buddhasystem
1) If you paid any attention at all, you would have noticed that the shield is not canceled, just shifted to a different platform. It also will be deployed faster. What's there not to like?
2) Poland and Czech are not allies in the sense that there is no way they can help US in a meaningful manner. Spend our money, leverage our power, in their interests, yes, they can do that. Second, they are already in NATO hence benefit from its security.
I believe in isolationism myself, but i also believe if you say you will lend a hand to someone you better damn well follow thru with it and not back out when they are expecting your participation.
3) Oh please, a radar is a project like any other. Project get canceled or redirected all the time. There is nothing on paper, and not a lot of moral obligation. It's our shield, dammit! We can plant it anywhere we please where we have a foothold.
Originally posted by dizzie56
And doesnt it sound like your the one thats pushin American Imperialism with that comment?