Comments on: Something’s going on with Russia and Europe

By: Bill Rudersdorf

Bill Rudersdorf — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 08:10:06 +0000

Did anyone hear about this, last July?

“Theresa May would authorise nuclear strike causing mass loss of life”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/18/theresa-may-takes-aim-at-jeremy-corbyn-over-trident-renewal

By: japan

japan — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 19:07:37 +0000

The Bear watches the Dragon you have now awaking Bear in East Europe but Don't forgot the Dragon of the Far East making expansions coming from jangles…… Who knows is next would it just the one at East Europe doorstep or the one at Far East, Can a bear love a dragon

By: The Other Chuck

The Other Chuck — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 15:16:29 +0000

Yann, I read your linked article at Vox-whatever. It’s runny crap masquerading as soup.
“But with the neocons relentlessly pressing for war with Russia,”
It’s pure Russian propaganda which seems to be all over the net from zerohedge to every alt-right front blog taking their cues from Putin. Yeah, they want Trump elected because he’s not only a blustering fool but a potentially useful idiot.

By: WeirdLore

WeirdLore — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 13:20:51 +0000

OldFlyer has it right. These are token, trip wire, forces that are not backed by real strength. If Russia really wants to take the Baltic states back, these steps just advertise weakness.

Don’t forget that Europe is dependent on Russian energy imports. Russia can play that card when they get serious…

By: Yann

Yann — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 08:16:09 +0000

I’d add… he predicted Russian invasion for October 26. I think he’s wrong, that would give team Clinton time enough to reframe the situation. If I was Putin and I was going to make that choice, the best moment would be 3-4 days before election day.

If Putin invades Ukraine or some Baltic Republic, I’d say it will likely happen the weekend November 5-6.

By: Yann

Yann — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 08:07:46 +0000

Neo, you can find a possible explanation here, predicting this war scalation.

http://voxday.blogspot.com/2016/10/game-theory-and-putins-gamble.html

And, if he’s right, Putin will likely invade east Ukraine (the russian part) or some baltic before November 9.

By: junior

junior — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 07:52:52 +0000

IIRC, the required defense expenditure level for NATO member nations is 2% of GDP. The UK and Poland both meet this level (surprisingly, Wikipedia claims that *Greece* is the second highest percentage of GDP, behind the US; probably because they’re not on good terms with fellow NATO member Turkey).

Romania’s not making its commitment level. But it’s also a large and not well off nation. There are no doubt a lot of demands on the budget as a result. And the Romanians are still in the upper half of NATO nations in the percentage of GDP being spent. Finally, Romania sent a contingent of troops to Iraq. So the Romanians aren’t being passive about their NATO membership.

Putin made vague threats toward the Polish government shortly after Russia took control of the Crimean Peninsula. And Poland is Russia’s traditional route to the rest of Europe. So the Poles are no doubt concerned. Russia’s been making an online nuisance of itself in the Baltic States in ways that have the Balts worried.

And then there’s Romania. Russia sees itself as the protector of its Slavic little brothers. Romania is a non-Slavic nation surrounded by Slavs (and while the territorial dispute with Hungary is *officially* over…). Romania borders the Black Sea, and could interfere with Russian interest in that body of water (which is critically important to Russia because of the warm water ports there). Romania borders Ukraine, and could conceivably interfere if Russia ever goes overt in its attempts to take control of the country. And if Russia ever does manage to bring Ukraine around, Romania’s the other, non-Polish, direction for Russian expansion. So it’s not surprising that Romania’s not happy with the current Russian stunts.

By: AesopFan

AesopFan — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 02:07:10 +0000

Glick’s writings on Israel and the Middle East are always worhtwhile reading.

* * *
Oldflyer Says:
October 28th, 2016 at 5:51 pm
…In the past, one could say that a token U.S. force would be a trip-wire to deter possible aggression, because it would be backed up with an overwhelming response. Not in the Obama era, I fear.

That is what we used to call major force deployments. I was there.
* * *
I wonder what you think of Dyer’s analyses?
They sound very credible to me, but I have never “been there” and only have my research to depend on.
She doesn’t have a post up on this situation yet, but here are a few recent ones.
http://libertyunyielding.com/2016/10/25/difference-national-will-makes-aircraft-carrier-edition/

http://libertyunyielding.com/2016/10/05/hard-rain-syria-sa-23-missile-system-russia-realizing-300-year-old-dream/

http://libertyunyielding.com/2016/10/16/another-missile-attack-u-s-warships-weirdest-wars-gropes-next-gear/

By: Vanderleun

Vanderleun — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 01:06:08 +0000

“It takes leadership to gain followers.”

As you can see daily in an election near you.

By: parker

parker — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 23:40:30 +0000

There is no room for argument that our Europeans friends have not done enough to prepare for their defense. But throwing out the baby with the bath water is not a productive strategy. Europeans can be pressured to pull up their bootstraps. It takes leadership to gain followers.