[herbie]

Which too was a remnant of WWI. Carved the Baltic states out of a weakened Russia and then at the first chance did it again allowing them into NATO. Kind of owed it to Poland after going to war over them and them leaving them fucked in the ass.
But now we risk WWIII over Estonia cuz we just had to keep playing one-up-manship in other's spheres of influence.
100 years and ???

[martin14]

herbie herbie:

Carved the Baltic states out of a weakened Russia and

Those countries existed before they got swallowed into the Russian Empire.

[Jabberwalker]

But now we risk WWIII over Estonia cuz we just had to keep playing one-up-manship

No, we honour our treaties. The Ukraine, Crimea have overtones of that but Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are now in a different category. Besides, if the alliance does not respond, you may really have WWIII down the line if the Russians suss out that our alliance is merely a paper tiger. We simply must respond to any aggressor against any of our allies.

[saturn_656]

The Russians wouldn't have so many issues with their, now nearly nonexistent, "sphere of influence" if they hadn't run roughshod over everyone in it.

There's a damn good reason they've all flocked to the West, and we shouldn't even ponder abandoning entire countries (never mind allies) to the whims of Russia just to soothe their wounded ego.

[Jabberwalker]

That's right. A lot of this is about the Russians trying to regain their sense of "manhood" after what was essentially defeat in the Cold War. I'm not joking either. This is straightforward mammalian male biology at work.

[OnTheIce]

herbie herbie:

.
Shit - they CALLED the Yanks and asked "Can we get in on it? What can we do? Huh? Huh? What can WE do? Huh? Huh?" and then play it like they asked us...

And? Would have you been happy had we sat on our hands and waited for Barack to give us a ring? Or should we have stepped in an offered our help as we should have done? Speaking of playing politics herbie...why are you so focused on who asked who? Does it matter? No! Going there is the right thing, regardless of who asked first. The only reason you're bitching is because you're not a fan of Harper...had it been the guy of your choice, you'd be singing his praises for stepping up to the plate.

herbie herbie:

he's sending SIX fucking planes, almost as many as the Cornhole Kentucky Air National Guard could round up - as little a response as is possible - and most likely because in spite of all the years of drumbeating and military flag waving he's run down the Forces so bad that's probably all we can send.

As mentioned above, it's 1/4 of our combat force. Comparing our air force to that of the US is apples to pumpkins.

herbie herbie:

Who is playing politics with war? The minds were made up beforehand, there will be no listening, no reasoning, no questioning.
I'm sure Elizabeth May could come up with a more effective contribution all by herself.

That's the benefit of a MAJORITY government. You can make up your mind and do things without pandering to the half-wits on the other side of the House. The Beard the The Kid can bitch all they want to try to score a few headlines but they are the ones playing politics. Let the big boys get the job done.

[saturn_656]

Six Hornets is not 1/4 of the total fighter force, it's 1/4 of one squadron.

[Canadian_Mind]

Saturn, with our deployment to the baltics and now this deployment to the middle east, 1/4 of our combat force is deployed. My point and ice's point is that due to other commitments 6 is the max we can commit here.

That said, i agree with zip; russia should be our main concern and i would rather see the extra 6 in the baltics.

[ShepherdsDog]

martin14 martin14:

herbie herbie:

Carved the Baltic states out of a weakened Russia and

Those countries existed before they got swallowed into the Russian Empire.

In Poland's case, it was originally located a few hundred miles to the east of its present location, when it was reintroduced to Europe in 1918. Its borders have shifted east and west a few times, with it actually ceasing to exist for a couple centuries. I wonder if Finland is worried too?

[Canadian_Mind]

Did finland get their territory back that they lost during the winter war?

[saturn_656]

In the event shit hits the fan 410 Squadron Hornets are fully combat capable.

[saturn_656]

Canadian_Mind Canadian_Mind:

Did finland get their territory back that they lost during the winter war?

Nope. Belongs to Ivan now.

[ShepherdsDog]

Canadian_Mind Canadian_Mind:

Did finland get their territory back that they lost during the winter war?

No, but Finland remained Finland, rather than being reabsorbed into Russia. Pre 1917 it was just a Russian duchy.

[martin14]

Canadian_Mind Canadian_Mind:

Did finland get their territory back that they lost during the winter war?

Nope.

Pretty sure the Finns don't want it back, they aren't West Germany.

[saturn_656]

Don't think any of the lost territory is very populated.

All they wanted was a little breathing room for Leningrad after all...