World Watch

In response to:Anatoly Skywalker in: The Empire (will) Strike Back

2008-08-18T12:06:29+02:00

Apologies for the spelling mistake.

In response to:The East - West boundary just got a bit colder.....

2008-08-18T12:05:11+02:00

My point was that Putin was the one who ordered the invasion, to show that he has the military under control (and therefore the power, should push come to shove).

In response to:Anatoly Skywalker in: The Empire (will) Strike Back

2008-08-18T12:02:47+02:00

I take the view that if the positioning of the anti-missible defence system in Poland makes Russia so angry, it must be in Poland's best interests.

We need to stand up and be counted.

If Poland has a valuable commodity (the missiles, technology etc. and American bases) on its territory, it ensures that, in the event of an attack by Russia, it will be defended by the USA.

Russia doesn't play by the rules or understand the need for dipolomatic language and behaviour - so why should Poland?

In response to:The East - West boundary just got a bit colder.....

2008-08-14T16:01:22+02:00

This post raises some interesting points which I will try and address.

The point is taken about the possibility of a US or NATO garrison so close to Russia further antagonising the situation, however certainly in the authors view the Russians are very unlikely to retaliate by stationing Russian troops anywhere outside their sphere of influence in Eurasia. This is primarily due to soveriegnty issues I would imagine to exist about moving troops for no other reason than to prove a point.

Although I was unaware of the rebuke given to Putin when I wrote this article I would be willing to accept that as fact. However, does it make Medvedev and the Kremlin any better to invade a country to prove their individual strength than it does for them to invade a country on Putin's say so?

In response to:The East - West boundary just got a bit colder.....

2008-08-14T14:16:57+02:00

I think a NATO garrison in Georgia might be taking it a bit too far. Placing the anti-missile defences in Poland, together with a decent amount of troops and patroit missiles should suffice to warn Russia not to think too much about empire building.

A NATO garrison would most likely cause Russia to place a similar force in Cuba or somewhere in South America (Venezuela, perhaps).

It is right to rebuke Russia though but it should be done in a relatively subtle manner, such as suspending Russia's membership of the G8.

I think there was also a bit of internal politicing going on - Putin was rebuked by one of Medvedev's advisers the other week for, effectively, causing $60 million to be wiped from share prices on the Moscow stock exchange, and I think he's used this occassion to show the President who is really in charge of Russia.

The Georgian president has not played a blinder though. I cannot believe he was so stupid as to think that there would be no reaction from Russia on this.

Kind regards.

Hektor