Medvedev wastes no time

#1
T

therealUT

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#1
Hours after Obama won the U.S. presidential election, Medvedev said yesterday he'd put short-range Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad, a region wedged between Poland and Lithuania, to ``neutralize'' a planned U.S. missile-defense system. A radio- jamming installation there will also be aimed at elements of the U.S. system in Poland and the Czech Republic, he said.

Bloomberg.com: Europe
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So...

Let Russia invade Georgia.

Jerry Nadler (D.)
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Best of luck with this and more to come, BHO.
 
#2
#2
I don't mind escalating tensions with the Russians if it is something that is real - like the situation in Georgia (though I'll admit I don't fully understand everything at play there). But, to escalate tensions with them over a MD system that does not work in its current state just seems odd. Are we afraid that if we don't strike these deals now with the Eastern European countries, then we won't be able to strike them later when we might actually be able to use them (and here I am being incredibly gracious is ever giving the MD system a chance of functioning well enough to actually protect us and Europe).

This is a toughie for Obama...we've lied to the Russians and our allies about aspects of the MD shield for eastern Europe..and I'm not sure how he will handle our past actions with regard to it and its future in general. My guess is it will make him look weak to remove it...but the diplomatic side will be interesting to watch.
 
#3
#3
TennTradition said:
I don't mind escalating tensions with the Russians if it is something that is real - like the situation in Georgia (though I'll admit I don't fully understand everything at play there). But, to escalate tensions with them over a MD system that does not work in its current state just seems odd. Are we afraid that if we don't strike these deals now with the Eastern European countries, then we won't be able to strike them later when we might actually be able to use them (and here I am being incredibly gracious is ever giving the MD system a chance of functioning well enough to actually protect us and Europe).

This is a toughie for Obama...we've lied to the Russians and our allies about aspects of the MD shield for eastern Europe..and I'm not sure how he will handle our past actions with regard to it and its future in general. My guess is it will make him look weak to remove it...but the diplomatic side will be interesting to watch.
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If you know we're lying, don't you imagine everyone else knows? Further, if they know it doesn't work, why do they care?
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#4
#4
BigPapaVol said:
If you know we're lying, don't you imagine everyone else knows? Further, if they know it doesn't work, why do they care?
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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As for the lying...our allies and the Russians now know that we were lying. That is what makes the Russians upset. We told our allies and the Russians that our missiles couldn't catch the Russians' missiles...but it was fairly clearly revealed using available data on the various systems that they could catch the Russian missiles (instead of just the Iranian, which is why we said we were placing the system there).

As for it not working, and why would the Russians care...I think that you can agree that such strategic issues are not always clear at all...that's why I was asking the questions I was asking. I think that the Russians are confused why we are spending the money to deploy this system when it isn't going to be effective (yet, to be fair). Of course, there are also the issues of too close for comfort....and we certainly wouldn't like the Russians putting ANY sort of missiles in Mexico, for example.
 
#5
#5
I think that this issue is extremely intriguing...and an excellent example of the intersection of science/technology and public policy. It would be a hell of a lot of fun to sit at DoD and/or State to work this issue.
 
#6
#6
Is this a surprise? the USSR was expected to start making trouble when the oil started dropping.
 
#7
#7
Neither U.S. or Russia want a war, we have a bigger issues facing the country right now.
 
#9
#9
I assume when BHO takes office other countrys will test him with tactics like this, yes?
 
#13
#13
truefan said:
This has nothing to do with BHO
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I think it does. They are most certainly testing the waters, seeing what kind of response they'll get from an Obama admin. They, like us, don't know a lot about how he will react in situations like this.

Nothing the old KGB types do is by chance. By nature they are very calculating individuals.
 
#14
#14
KB5252 said:
I think it does. They are most certainly testing the waters, seeing what kind of response they'll get from an Obama admin. They, like us, don't know a lot about how he will react in situations like this.

Nothing the old KGB types do is by chance. By nature they are very calculating individuals.
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KGB Krystal Giant Burgers?
 
#15
#15
Let's follow the GWB model and invade. I'm sure we can trump up some intel to justify it and claim ignorance afterward.
 
#16
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KB5252 said:
I think it does. They are most certainly testing the waters, seeing what kind of response they'll get from an Obama admin. They, like us, don't know a lot about how he will react in situations like this.

Nothing the old KGB types do is by chance. By nature they are very calculating individuals.
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Obama's not in office yet and it would be inappropriate for him to respond. There is only ONE president at a time. Russia knows he isn't in office until mid-January.
 
#17
#17
BigPapaVol said:
you're kidding yourself.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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It MIGHT have something to do with the election, but not BO specifically. Like I responded to KB, it would be totally inappropriate for him to respond to anything of this nature until he is officially in office.
 
#18
#18
rjd970 said:
Let's follow the GWB model and invade. I'm sure we can trump up some intel to justify it and claim ignorance afterward.
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nobody's arguing that. They're trying to figure out if he's the great peacemaking pacifist that they have him pegged to be.
 
#19
#19
truefan said:
Obama's not in office yet and it would be inappropriate for him to respond. There is only ONE president at a time. Russia knows he isn't in office until mid-January.
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Correct. They are laying the groundwork though. Letting Obama and the US know they are going to put the ball back in our court and see how we respond. They know that Bush is a lame duck at this point and fairly irrelevant and will offer no real response, save a serious provocation.

They are going to test Obama and have made it clear they intend to do so.
 
#22
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BigPapaVol said:
nobody's arguing that. They're trying to figure out if he's the great peacemaking pacifist that they have him pegged to be.
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He's not even president yet though. They can't be that dumb to not realize BO has no real authority yet.
 
#23
#23
KB5252 said:
Correct. They are laying the groundwork though. Letting Obama and the US know they are going to put the ball back in our court and see how we respond. They know that Bush is a lame duck at this point and fairly irrelevant and will offer no real response, save a serious provocation.

They are going to test Obama and have made it clear they intend to do so.
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Biden is looking pretty prophetic at this point.
 
#24
#24
rjd970 said:
He's not even president yet though. They can't be that dumb to not realize BO has no real authority yet.
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Like I said they are laying the groundwork and letting Obama and the US they plan to put the ball back in our court and see what his response will be once he has the authority.
 
#25
#25
rjd970 said:
He's not even president yet though. They can't be that dumb to not realize BO has no real authority yet.
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He has the bully pulpit of the president today and that has always been the presidents greatest power.
 
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