New Soviet Threat?

[machine shop tom]

We keep hearing about and patting ourselves on the back about how the West won the cold war and such. But with Putin consolidating his power and promising to extend his influence, might our complacency be a bit premature? After all, he seems to want to rebuild the Russian military and renew Russian influence in Europe and indeed the world.

Is Russia re-emerging as a global power and ultimately going to become a threat to the West again?

tom

[Derfman]

Even if Russia grows in power, it won't be a new "soviet" threat.

Stalin's Communist Russia is dead and rotting, and nothing is going to bring it back.

Having said that, I'm not expecting western style democracy anytime soon. Even if Putin is put out of power, I'm expecting to see more of what we have today (at least for a decade or so).

I'm mostly pleased by Putin, and wish him well. My gut feeling is that he is focusing on what he feels is good for Russia. As for the political posturing he does, I think it is more to play on nationalist feelings than anything else. Truth be told, I'd like the idea of the U.S. being closer to Russia.

[machine shop tom]

Hard to get close to a guy who in charge of a government that seems to have had problems with some 88 journalists.

Poison, Dead Journalists, Mysterious Falls from High Windows, etc | Beyond the Beyond from Wired.com

But then I guess I'm an advocate of free press.

Not dead press.

tom

[Matt308]

Originally Posted by Derfman

I'm mostly pleased by Putin, and wish him well.

Yipes.

Don't follow the news much do you Derfman? Putin may well by Time magazine's man of the year, but his efforts to consolidate power in the Kremlin and influence socialism is pretty damn scary.

[evangilder]

Honestly, would you expect anything less of a former KGB man?!

[Ramirezzz]

Originally Posted by Matt308

Yipes.

Don't follow the news much do you Derfman? Putin may well by Time magazine's man of the year, but his efforts to consolidate power in the Kremlin and influence socialism is pretty damn scary.

Influence socialism? in Russia?

Hey, gents, I don't want to start another flame war, but what I've seen on German and on Italian TV about Russia, is BS up to 60-70 percent. Or very one-sided anyway.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I am sure that the press in Russia is very one sided when it comes to news about the west....

[Derfman]

Originally Posted by Matt308

Yipes.

Don't follow the news much do you Derfman? Putin may well by Time magazine's man of the year, but his efforts to consolidate power in the Kremlin and influence socialism is pretty damn scary.

Never said he was a nice guy.

But I like the idea of an utterly ruthless bastard running a powerful country who has no reason to be fond of Islamic violence.

I'd like it even better if Russia was solidly free and democratic country in the tradition of the west, but thats not an option, although some "gentle" nudging does not hurt.

While I have no doubt that we'll butt heads with Russia here and there, but with "Stalinist" style communism dead and rotting, it will be a lesser issue than other issues.

The worst I expect to see from Russia is them supplying our enemies so Russia can make some money. This is very very bad, but minor compared to the Stalinist USSR, and minor compared to the 7th century trash spewed in much of the middle east.

Key Detail:
I view current Russia as corrupt, ruthless and self serving to a level above and beyond what is seen in the west, HOWEVER, unlike during the Soviet period, I do NOT see Russia as completely incapable of "becoming" compatable with the West.

I'd like to work closer with Russia, or at least keep our options opened. If Western Europe continues to suicide into Eurabia, then Russia and Eastern Europe would be our best hope for allies.

My favoriate option would be for Western Europe to wake up, but I'm not holding my breath.