douglas-jones on "The United States vs Russia, again"

douglas-jones — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 03:21:49 +0100

It seems to me there is so much left unsaid. Does one assume America wants dominance as perhaps indicted by the National security statement of Sep 2002? Why? For Caspian oil Central Asia Gas? Rogue state seems undefined, in the eye of the beholder rather than reality. The site chosen does not seem to me useful for controlling currently named rogue states. As one uneducated in International relaitions but one who is concious of having been deliberately misinformed particularly over Iraq but in view of the history of recent terrorism, also on this. It seems we made them distributed them round the place (Clinton-Bosnia) then used them as focus for a supposed threat. Supposed because as the history of the 1960-late 70's showed such can be corraled by police work. Army manouvres must have some other reason. Most of all it seems to me that foreign policy in the main is an ego trip for those in the game who having these days control of information can delude the electorate appeal to nationakism and promote fear as weapon to change minds. Herman Goering's dictum is apposite. A game played by littleboys who have not grown up, with much reward to their egos and bank balances and much death and destruction to those who do their bidding, and those at home if it all goes wrong, that is if we do not dominate.

The United States vs Russia, again, Paul Rogers

admin — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:43:35 +0100

The approach to the Group of Eight (G8) summit in Heiligendamm, Germany from 6-8 June 2007 has been characterised by a forceful rhetoric exchange between the United States and Russia over the former's plans to establish a new military capacity in east-central Europe. The plan to defend against incoming missiles, first announced in 2006, was and is justified by the US with reference to a possible threat from Iran and even North Korea.

Russia has scorned this explanation from the start, seeing the plan as clearly targeted against its own interests in the region. More recently, its vehement criticism of the proposal has been matched by the Kremlin's announcement of its intention to take military counter-measures. All this is serious enough in the present febrile geopolitical climate, but public discussion of the issue has focused too much on Vladimir Putin's political bite and too little on deeper Russian strategic concerns. To understand what is at stake in this argument it is necessary to put the current dispute in the context of the history of missile-defence during the cold war.

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douglas-jones on "The United States vs Russia, again"

The United States vs Russia, again, Paul Rogers