Cold War II: Nuclear Boogaloo

[Nekulor]

That bitch is back and apparently looking to be hotter than the first. First off, an article from fark earlier:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24 ... 01,00.html

Poland is being threatened with nuclear strikes if they accept a US missile interceptor.

Combine this with the Lugovoy Polonium 210 hit on that British citizen (and Russian dissident), the current Georgian situation, and the behavior of Russia over the last 10 years (a bit sensationalist, but outlined here) and we are back into the swing of things with the cold war.

With Bushie at the helm, we're fracked.

I say we all get Fallout 3 and train for the incoming nuclear holocaust. I'm forming the eastern arm of the Brotherhood of Steel, so feel free to join up now.


Seriously though guys, tell me I'm overreacting and that this is nothing to worry about, because more than anything I've seen, including 9/11, this scares the shit out of me. We could be sitting on the brink of war if the government mishandles this. Which they will. Obama will disarm us, McCain will attack them. We're damned if we do and damned if we don't.

[Grand Fromage]

Saber-rattling. It's only odd because they haven't been doing this for twenty years and we're not used to it anymore. The Russians are much more of a threat than, say, the Chinese, but actual warfare is unlikely. Putin's too smart for that. We couldn't intervene militarily even if we wanted to, and Iraq has completely destroyed our moral authority (though watching Bush and company talk about how it's unacceptable for nations to invade other nations is hilarious) so there's nothing we can do about them re-asserting themselves.

Don't worry. If Russian threats were horses we'd all be eating steak. This sort of shit happened every other year during the Cold War and it never escalated--I wouldn't expect it to this time either.

[danielmn]

Gorgia was the instigator. They pecked at the borders and expected no retaliation, then cry foul when they get their butts served to them? I say let Russia push in on them a bit. The outlying provinces are more Russian sympathetic than Georgian sympathetic anyway. As for the Cold War never being over...I'd have to agree. THey are a power, and they seek their own ends, just as we do ours. I don't believe that will ever go away. As to their effectiveness in overtaking us? Not unless they hit us with something really big, as in unleashed biowarfare in major cities at the same time or some such. Chances of that are slim. They'll take advantage economically (as they have with the transition to gold) Looooong before they would think to take advantage militarily. I don't see it happening anytime soon...I think most nations know the Japan/WWII lesson...if you're going to hit us, you better be damn sure we can't get back on our feet. I see nuclear war as a standstill personally, both sides know that both sides would be wiped out, therefore no gain.

[NickD]

From what I've heard about Poland (from Polish people, no less), if Russia nuked Poland, nobody would be able to tell the difference anyway.

[MorbidKate]

Poland is being threatened with nuclear strikes if they accept a US missile interceptor.

Pure posturing by the Ruskies. A strike on Poland would only happen if both sides went nuts and pushed the button. The Russians know the missile shield doesn't have the range or the numbers to impact a mass launch one tiny little bit. Besides, most of the Russian launches would happen about 100 miles off either US coast and over the arctic anyway.

If things continue to chill we'll just hit them where it hurts the most. Their economy which has only just recovered to some degree. There are a lot of stinkin rich Russians that don't want to share the wealth with their comrades so Russia is somewhat limited on what they can really do.

Obama will disarm us, McCain will attack them. We're damned if we do and damned if we don't.

Neither of them will be in a position to do anything via the US military. So much hardware has been beaten up in Iraq and Afghanistan that it'll take 10-15 years to rebuild and restock, likely longer and at the cost of other programs to pay for it. The US is in no position to act militarily while involved on two fronts and keeping an eye of Iran and Korea. The Russians... and everyone else on the planet knows it.

Kate

[MorbidKate]

Gorgia was the instigator.

Hrm, the territories in question actually belong to Georgia and Russian "Peacekeepers" have been both arming and protecting the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia so they`d be free to launch attacks without fear of a major Georgian response.

The mistake Georgia made in trying to retake their own land was totally underestimating the reaction from Russia. The Ruskies never do anything half way or measured so the bigger surprise has been the US reaction to all this.

Anyone see Condi get smoked by the Russian reporter when he grilled her about the US invading Iraq over what happened elsewhere and how the US look like fools talking about countries not invading other countries? You could even hear some of the other journalists squirming in their seats.

Kate

[Magile]

Anyone see Condi get smoked by the Russian reporter when he grilled her about the US invading Iraq over what happened elsewhere and how the US look like fools talking about countries not invading other countries? You could even hear some of the other journalists squirming in their seats.

I especially enjoyed Russia's declaration of "you're either with us or against us" towards the United States, as that was practically the statement the US made towards all countries after 9/11 and as the war on terror started.

[NickD]

Anyone see Condi get smoked by the Russian reporter when he grilled her about the US invading Iraq over what happened elsewhere and how the US look like fools talking about countries not invading other countries? You could even hear some of the other journalists squirming in their seats.

OMG! Find me a link!

[danielmn]

lulz. Condi....HARHARHAR! That's the pot calling the kettle bl....hmmm...I suppose a better euphamism is in order....but I can't think of....OH!!!

Said the Desert to the grain of sa....wait...that one doesn't work either....damn. I' m all out.

As an aside, personally, I think the only reason the US government gives a hoot about the situation is that if left alone, Russia will invade, subdue, rebuild, and be back out before we even get out of Iraq, leaving us looking even more like incompetent blockheads.

[MorbidKate]

Anyone see Condi get smoked by the Russian reporter when he grilled her about the US invading Iraq over what happened elsewhere and how the US look like fools talking about countries not invading other countries? You could even hear some of the other journalists squirming in their seats.

OMG! Find me a link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JSRO9Mk ... re=related

That's the exchange you want to look a the full version of. The vid cuts way early and right before the reporter grills here about invading Iraq.

Kate

[ThinkTank]

[Nekulor]

Update: Russia deploys SRBM launchers in South Ossetia. Fun fun fun.

[Grand Fromage]

They did that a while ago. Also saber-rattling--it's not like parking the launchers 50 miles further south matters-- but a much more fun brand of it. If they give the launchers to the Ossetian separatists instead of manning them themselves, that'll be the first major event here.

[Nekulor]

If they do that, I'm building myself a Fallout shelter, just in case.

[HATEFACE]

Saber-rattling.

and apparently a few flesh wounds here and there with said saber. Indeed, no cause for alarm because the bleeding will eventually stop, right?