Braddock wrote:
CameronPoe wrote:
Cold war schmold war. This is Russia just doing a USA on things. Violate the territorial intergrity of Serbia? Then we'll violate the territorial intergrity of Georgia. Invade an energy-resource pivotal state - Iraq - on a shoddy pretext? We'll invade Georgia. Sign agreements to create military installations on Russia's western border? Fine, we'll sell arms to anyone who's buying - China, Syria, Iran, whoever. Don't listen to the wishes of the international community? Fine, neither will we.
If the west pursues this bullshit any further then yes there will be some form of 'cold' war but realistically it can't happen: there is no appetite for it in Old Europe and at the moment we need Russia more than we need anyone else when it comes to energy. Our governments will happily shake hands with the devil just as the US does with Israel and Saudi Arabia.
It will be interesting to see how a watered down sequel to the cold war will play out given that Europe knows they need Russia this time around. Sequels are usually never as good though.
Well stated. Cold war may not be the name of the game, in fact I think that it will be rather hot.
Given the propagation of nuclear technology to countries like Pakistan and Israel, who are not exactly on best terms with their neighbours, it will be hardly surprising to see MAD come out again. However, in the increasingly common cases of asymmetrical warfare, that will spell the doom of smaller challengers, like Georgia. Twenty bucks says that Russia will find a way to prove that Georgia attacked Russia (in the nest three years), and take it over. Same with the US and Iran, possibly North Korea. The real éminence grise, now, is China. Whomever can win China onto their side (Small nations--Uganda, Sudan, Burma) or the US. Also, the European Union, as the geographical centre of the world, will not want to play into anyone's hands.
Just watch all this be true within a decade.
I like pie.
