Russia, Putin and the New Cold War

[pwntifex]

https://sun3.lib.uci.edu/jariel/atomicblast.jpeg

What are your thoughts about Putin's threats to launch nukes against Europe should America go ahead and install a radar for their anti-missile system in the Czech republic?

It seems as if these threats have appeared more or less from nowhere—Putin is obviously eager to flex the old military muscles in true Soviet stylee.
None of the news agencies seem to be treating it very seriously, so should we be worried or not?

Furthermore, are the U.S.'s actions acceptable or not? Do you think they're really planning to use them against the middle east?
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the warped one: This is a follow up from the thread 'my willy hurts'

[pwntifex]

Here are some news links, by the way: one and two.
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the warped one: This is a follow up from the thread 'my willy hurts'

[craigie b]

Political posturing-the west could as easily wipe Russia from the face of the planet too.

[pwntifex]

[craigie b]

Don't be daft. If Russia was to strike as you talk of, they would have to simultaneously nuke every western nation to oblivion without allowing the aforesaid nations a chance to retaliate. Highly unlikely. The ultimate outcome would simply be MAD.

So no, they wouldn't strike.Besides, Russia acting like the bad guy is great for western countries looking for an excuse to inject vast quantities of cash into military funding.

[killa]

I've got my shades on...

If it lands in Europe i'll be alright
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[strawberry]

[UrbanRacer]

Two sides going to war with nukes would result in both sides losing and they know this.
Whats more likely to happen is Russia squeezing the west with its Gas and Oil supply.

[Mister James]

No conceivable American missile defence system is going to be able to defend against a large or even medium scale strike from a serious nuclear power. The system is being put in place to defend against limited strikes from rogue nations with inferior resources and technology.

As such, it would be no threat to Russian nuclear capability, they are just using it as an opportunity for a bit of posturing.
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>Soultrader Mister James, I bet you are a copper
>Bazza Wow. Eyes like a shithouse rat, you...

[Kickstart]

Hi

Agree with Mister James. However such a system would make a first strike option rather safer for the USA (should they choose to concentrate the use of the system on the area they wish to defend).

Whether they would do such a first strike is another question, and comes down to you opinion of the USA. Personally suspect that if it came to it they would do it, but have no real need to. On the other hand Russia similarly has no need to but can take the view that it is a first step to negating their nuclear offensive capabilities.

Suspect Russia could design / implement its own missle defence system fairly rapidly if they wanted to. And we would be paying for it through our gas / electricity bills.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[cestrian]

Russians?.....Pahhh......

[JonB]

Let's face it, why would Russia want to bomb its primary customer of oil and provider of their fairly stable economy. I use that term lightly, Russia is still in a bad way. It is coming up to election time in Russia, therefore Putin is trying to use symbols of strength to get the vote.

Cold Wars are fine, in fact during the first Cold War, it was actually the longest sustained period for centuries without a serious war. What tends to happen is many proxy wars occur, e.g Vietnam, Korea. Where the two superpowers were indirectly involved with military actions against each other.

Let's not forget we don't live in a Bi-Polar superpower system anymore. Russia is not a superpower. The US is still the only majorly recognisable superpower.

This hasn't been broadcast on the media, but I have a sneaky feeling, these missile defences could also be for use against the up and coming Chinese and Indian economies, its a well known fact India have nuclear arsenal.

What will this mean for the UK?

The new trident system will probably get a definite go ahead, provided a new arms race begins.

Also important to remember this wont be a war about different ideologies here.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Itchy]

[innominate]

Meh


Might as well flip a coin to decide which side to support.


Putin and his corruption of democracy thorugh his ex KGB shennanigans.

Bush and his corruption of democracy via various lobby groups and vested interests.
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I, as a responsible adult human being, will never concede the power to anyone to regulate my choice of what I put into my body, or where I go with my mind. From the skin inwards is my jurisdiction, is it not? I choose what may or may not cross that border. Here I am the customs agent. I am the coast-guard. I am the sole legal and spiritual government of this territory, and only the laws I choose to enact within myself are applicable.

[Mister James]

[colin1]

you cant blame putin for being a bit cross

today these defence missiles could be a token defence against a theoretical threat from iran, but in time they could be a way of further weakening russias position

the americans didnt like castro having nuclear weapons based in cuba, so why should putin be ok about something based by him that could in time invalidate his nuclear deterant ?

i doubt he'd actually nuke, but the possibilty that he might, is enough that america should think again.

america has a habit of doing something for one reason under the pretext of something else

for example weakening iraq with sanctions and then invading on the grounds that iraq might have weapons by which it could defend itself from being attacked.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[hellkat]

You have to admit, though ... that Ahmadinejad is a pretty dodgy sort of character. I'm inclined to give airtime to the idea that they've put the weapons there to discourage him from getting too high and mighty.

Although when they get as deranged as he obviously is, sometimes no sort of deterrent is really going to bother them.

Russia and the US would be better off co-operating about putting weapons in places to deter the likes of him, and the North Koreans.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Yorkie Bar Kid]

Having recently seen Threads for the first time I have to say that this news frightens me, but I don't see a second arms race resulting from this.

Threads for those who don't know was made by the BBC in 1984.
It hypothesises the long term results of a full scale nuclear war involving the complete destruction of the UK's major cities, The US and I believe mentions that the US sends a salvo over to the USSR. focusing on the city of Sheffield and its citizens, and the aftermath up to 13 years after the event. Its filmed in a mockumentary style with a very unemotional narration, It makes for very harrowing viewing.

I recommend if you havn't see it please do, you will then see that Russia is not going to risk its own mutally assured destruction with this.
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Blues and Twos in my rearview.

[hellkat]

Cold wars are so dull, anyway. All that double/triple/quadruple agent stuff ... nobody ever REALLY gets to know who was the Bad Guy, life gets a bit like a Robert Ludlum novel
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Mister James]

[Mister James]

[JonB]

[Mister James]

You are fixating on the minutia.

Communism was simply the route certain people took to power and wealth.

Western democracy was another.

If the whole world was Communist, we'd still have wars. If it was all Muslim, we would too.

Ideologies, religions, politics and beliefs, they are all simply manifestations of Man's desire to grab a little bit extra for himself.

Edit: Grade = B- 'John shows good background knowledge of the subject, but has yet to show he is capable of looking beyond the immediate context to discern the underlying causes.'



[/patronisinggitmode]
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>Soultrader Mister James, I bet you are a copper
>Bazza Wow. Eyes like a shithouse rat, you...

[TheShaggyDA]

[Mister James]

That sounds like something DemoNSR would say!


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>Soultrader Mister James, I bet you are a copper
>Bazza Wow. Eyes like a shithouse rat, you...