[Kingcoal]

I thought George and "Pooty Poot" were friends?

[mekrob]

Had Russia won the Cold War, we'd be saying the same thing about them right now.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')estern leaders in the audience, including Mrs Merkel,

[airstrip1]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mekrob', '
')
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')estern leaders in the audience, including Mrs Merkel,

[cynicalheretic]

We are heading back towards a cold war.

There are alot of people within our own government and the old soviet who would like to see things back to the way they were before.

Also the US is responsible for the Arms race, are handling of internation afairs is a joke and a tragedy. We need to stop butting our heads into everyone else's business.

[Blueberry]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '&')quot;One state, the United States, has overstepped its national borders in every way."

[TBroedsgaard]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')nd Republican Senator John McCain added: "Moscow must understand that it cannot enjoy a genuine partnership with the West so long as its actions at home and abroad conflict fundamentally with the core values of the Euro-Atlantic democracies. In today's multi-polar world there is no place for needless confrontation.

[gampy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TBroedsgaard', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')nd Republican Senator John McCain added: "Moscow must understand that it cannot enjoy a genuine partnership with the West so long as its actions at home and abroad conflict fundamentally with the core values of the Euro-Atlantic democracies. In today's multi-polar world there is no place for needless confrontation.

[thuja]

But also somewhat amusing. We've sucked much of the well dry and now we're mad at the well owners for charging a higher fee for the last remaining water. Ho Ho Ho.



By the way- Putin on the Ritz- love that!!

[TorrKing]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Gideon', ' ')Beat up on everybody, strip their resources, and call it "capitalism".

[Blueberry]

or Democracy!

... all this posturing -- can't be good.

I thought we were sposed to be on friendly terms?!? Least that the hype...

Someone in charge here is messing up when it comes to diplomacy -- either that or we're in such a weak position on so many levels that Putin can get away with it.

The Whitehouse's response leads me to believe the latter.

[neocone]

It's called the Sheik's rule:

-If Baba the Sheik steals it's alright
- If you steal from Baba the Sheik then it's bad

Comes from an old Arabic proverb...

US of A = Baba the Sheik

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Blueberry', 'S')omeone in charge here is messing up when it comes to diplomacy -- either that or we're in such a weak position on so many levels that Putin can get away with it.

The Whitehouse's response leads me to believe the latter.

[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Torjus', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Gideon', ' ')Beat up on everybody, strip their resources, and call it "capitalism".

[seahorse2]

I agree with Zardoz that this very blunt speech marks a watershed event in history - where we all go from here, who knows, but it definitely shows we've reached the edge of Russian tolerance for the US "war on terror" precipitated by 9-11.

[MOCKBA]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('seahorse2', 'I') agree with Zardoz that this very blunt speech marks a watershed event in history - where we all go from here, who knows, but it definitely shows we've reached the edge of Russian tolerance for the US "war on terror" precipitated by 9-11.

[seahorse2]

Mockba,

Your point is well taken; however, I'm not sure it matters if Putin is speaking out of weakness or from a position of power. It certainly signifies a sea change is about. Weak or strong, it could lead to another "Cuban missile crisis", or in this case, and "Iranian missile crisis."

One difference between now and then, is, energy is a weapon. The west simply cannot do without Russia's energy.

[MOCKBA]

The speech after all was more about NATO expansion to the East and how the West didn’t keep its promise that it wouldn’t expand East of West Germany. And when it comes to NATO… those F16 patrolling Estonian airspace from Finland… if a pilot makes a wrong turn, there is no way it could not over fly St-Petersburg – Russian 2nd largest city. That’s up North… In the south… What happened to Georgia? NATO is still in Georgia despite the use of the “energy weapon”.

That’s about “position of the strength” – how strong one is when in a decade it gave up control of the “buffer zone” and allowed the enemy to get to the gate.

Now the “energy weapon” - Do you know that a small Islamic republic of Turkmenistan holds Russia by the balls – in 2009 3/5th of the NG that is currently going to Russia would be diverted to China. Without this NG, either the lights in Russia would have to go off or Europe is not getting that NG Russia had promised. On the day Mr. Putin was delivering his speech, Turkmeni were electing new Shah because the previous one died all of the sudden shortly after signing the deal with Chinese. We are yet to know whom new Shah would rather be selling what is left of Soviet NG – would it be Russians at $30 or Chinese at $90? I cannot see why some of the advisers would not recommend the Shah to get $90 from Chinese and screw those Russians and Europeans who cannot afford $30 anyway. (Why do you think they cut NG to Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia until old Shah pledged his support with cheap NG?).

Turkmenistan, by the way, is to the north from both Afghanistan and Iran. So there would be a proxy war in Iran between the West and the Russians (economic or flat out hand to hand combat) and not so much because international community would demand from Russia to stop selling arms and nuclear technology to Iran to which Russia would give a finger, but more because of the fear of the “energy weapon” to which Europe would be subjected very soon once the question of Iran nuclear ambition would surface again once Russia would restart the work on the reactor despite international community protests. It’s a game of who would chicken out first. And it would be sad if Europeans would chicken out again, and once and for all become Russian energy bitches.

Like I said earlier, Russia is being held by the balls, but alone US won’t be able to break Russia’s back.

[MOCKBA]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('seahorse2', 'O')ne difference between now and then, is, energy is a weapon. The west simply cannot do without Russia's energy.

[seahorse2]

All this goes to show the world is closely reaching a boiling point, and I believe Putin's speech is a historic marker on the way "up". Interesting analysis about the 2009 NG deal. There are several big issues that all more or less coalesce in that time range, for example, US presidential elections, some more pessimistic estimates on a decline from Cantarell, some PO projections, and of course, the Duncan Gorge theory.

[Aaron]

Did I mention what a great thread title this was?

No...

My Bad.

Great Title.