[Newsbot]

Title: Georgia invasion prompts Canada to pull out of military exercise with Russia
Category: Military
Posted By: Hyack
Date: 2008-08-15 00:33:25
Canadian

[bootlegga]

That's a good decision. No matter who's right or wrong, we shouldn't be conducting military exercises with nations that have no respect for others territorial boundaries.

[Public_Domain]

[EyeBrock]

Cold War mk2, at a planet near you. Here we go again.

[Scape]

$1:

"I am deeply troubled by a notion I see developing in Russia, and that is a notion that Russia somehow has a say or some control over countries outside of its borders."

I understand and support the reasons for us not going on the ex with Russia but can the rhetoric. Just say we are not amused and be done with it don't hop on the soapbox and talk down to the Russians and tell them how they should be running their affairs. It's only going to make us look like idiots and undermine any credibility we may have had.

[EyeBrock]

I think he just stated the obvious Scape, but I agree it hasn't calmed things down.
At least he has taken a stand. What the New Soviets have been doing for the past 3 or 4 years is worrying and the wimpy Euro's have just turned the other cheek.
Appeasement will not work with Putin.

[Scape]

True, I don't think the usual assortment of smoke and mirrors is going to work on Putin. There is a need to get everyone to calm down and take a breath but the oil line through Georgia that is meant to circumvent Russia is clearly a bone of contention here. Appeasement may not work by pretending they are not there is disastrous folly as well.

[EyeBrock]

Yea, the rhetoric from the west is also very reminiscent of the Cold War.

But my view is that we in the West have put up with a lot of provocative posturing from the Russians as of late.
This Georgia thing has taken 'straw on the camels back' proportions with the US and UK as well as the ex Soviet Bloc countries, which are now mainly democratic and in the EU or NATO or both.

Putin does not project an image of a man we can deal with.
He is ex-KGB, hard-line and nationalistic. He yearns for the glory of the Soviet era and has found a willing reservoir of like feeling in the disillusioned Russian masses.
This shit plays really well to the Moscow mob, much like conquests in ancient Rome appeased that city's mob.
The extra wrinkle over the previous Cold War is the petro-power that the Russians now exert over sick, decaying Europe.

Dangerous times.

[JustKate]

All I can say is "I LOVE YOU" fellow Canadians (Saskatchewan Canadian here). Let's stay connected and strong and keep on top of things here, just in case okay. We don't know how this will play out, lets stay united through it all!!!!! Canada team mentality.

[EyeBrock]

Well Kate can I just say that I really need a hug with all those nasty Russians doing all this shite.....

[Hyack]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

Well Kate can I just say that I really need a hug with all those nasty Russians doing all this shite.....

Awwww shit.....*BIG HUG*....hope that makes ya feel a little better...

[EyeBrock]

Hyack, I feel more secure already!

[Scape]

1st off... GROUP HUG!!!:)

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

He is ex-KGB, hard-line and nationalistic. He yearns for the glory of the Soviet era and has found a willing reservoir of like feeling in the disillusioned Russian masses.

From over here it may look like that but from over there he is an oil man. He put the head of Gazprom to take his old position. Russia old policy to project strength was the militarism this new beast under Putin may look the same but under the hood it's got a new engine, energy. Oil but more importantly natural Gas is the trump and as long as you understand they will go to bat to control their share then this bear won't bite but EU has been trying to get around that and that has evoked a response.

Nabucco Pipeline

The funny thing is the guy who is to blame for all of this is Clinton. It was all his idea.

[JustKate]

I was actually being serious because I think things may turn out to be that serious.

[EyeBrock]

Kate, I know you were sincere. I apologise for the sarcasm, you meant well.