[Aardwolf]

Recently, Russia opposed a U.S. plan to build Interceptor missile sites in Poland.

I am suddenly reminded of the political backstory in Ender's Game, in which Russia was secretly arming itself, while  the world was distracted by a war with the Buggers.

Your thoughts?

[achtung]

The Russians are too busy enjoying the new-found wealth their natural resources keep bringing them to pay too much attention to this.  They'll complain, but nothing more.

[Hippy]

Ender's Game contains many political philosophies that are worth exploring.

However, the situation you mention was, I would guess, meant to resonate with the cold war generations.

Though it applies to our farcical "Global War on Terror" too.

[karajorma]

Recently, Russia opposed a U.S. plan to build Interceptor missile sites in Poland.

Your thoughts?

Ask yourself how the US would react to Russian plans to build interceptor missile sites in Cuba.

[BloodEagle]

Ask yourself how the US would react to Russian plans to build interceptor missile sites in Cuba.

Would those have the range/speed to be useful at that location?

[Polpolion]

Just as useful as the US's in Poland...

[NGTM-1R]

Recently, Russia opposed a U.S. plan to build Interceptor missile sites in Poland.

Your thoughts?

Ask yourself how the US would react to Russian plans to build interceptor missile sites in Cuba.

Likely not care, since the US has put the majority of their ballistic missiles to sea aboard the Ohio-class.

[karajorma]

The military wouldn't care. The politicians would be hypocritical bastards about it.

[NGTM-1R]

Well, the Air Force would care, I suppose, since it would be the excuse needed to finally cut the last of the ICBMs.

[Flaser]

The Russians are too busy enjoying the new-found wealth their natural resources keep bringing them to pay too much attention to this.  They'll complain, but nothing more.

Russia is on the move again. Whether you believe it or not, it going to be once again a superpower.

Following their economic exploitation at the hands of American capital - which the only adequate allegory to describe is getting gang-raped while a suited guy whispers into your ear how much you should be enjoying it - they would do more than complain and growl like a dog.

Right now the world is looking forward to the bloodiest clashes in remote, resource rich countries that both empires want to join to their dominium.

It will be all "civilized" and "remote", with nice facade of hostile, but cold diplomatic overtones.

In other words:

Welcome to Cold War no. 2

[achtung]

The Russians are too busy enjoying the new-found wealth their natural resources keep bringing them to pay too much attention to this.  They'll complain, but nothing more.

Russia is on the move again. Whether you believe it or not, it going to be once again a superpower.

Following their economic exploitation at the hands of American capital - which the only adequate allegory to describe is getting gang-raped while a suited guy whispers into your ear how much you should be enjoying it - they would do more than complain and growl like a dog.

Right now the world is looking forward to the bloodiest clashes in remote, resource rich countries that both empires want to join to their dominium.

It will be all "civilized" and "remote", with nice facade of hostile, but cold diplomatic overtones.

In other words:

Welcome to Cold War no. 2

Sounds fun.

Think Asia and Europe will join their respective allies in an even bigger way this time?

[spartan_0214]

After the Cuban Missile Crisis, I don't believe that Russia is likely to make another obvious faux pas (or perhaps not another egregiously close one). Then again, subtlety has never been the Russian's strong point. Regardless, I doubt Russia will make a power-play as discussed in Shadow of the Hegemon, as the other "superpowers" such as Germany, China, Great Britain, the United States, etc. already have the power they could have absorbed. Plus, we don't have the Formics to fight, so why not fight some power-hungry Russkies?



[Off-Topic] This kinda reminds me of The Heavy Weapons Guy (who is voiced in the following trailer with a Russian accent) from TF2. I thought you want to see a trailer of him and his Russkie Russkieness: http://orange.half-life2.com/tf2.html# (third trailer, the one on the upper left of the individual trailers)

[Aardwolf]

Because we're fighting the war on terror (this has already been pointed out)

[Mefustae]

Because we're fighting the war on terror (this has already been pointed out)

No, you're too busy stretching yourselves thin allocating resources to occupation forces. Although it is a possibility. A nice, proper war would be far, far more lucrative for the American military-industrial complex than all the asymmetrical warfare they've been seeing recently, and the signs are already there. Let me put it this way: What use is the F-22 against a guerrilla or insurgent?

[Aardwolf]

Same thing.

[Flipside]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7234817.stm

And heeeeere we go! Hold on tight folks, keep your hands inside the car at all times....

[karajorma]

Given that this kind of idiocy nearly led to WWIII in 1983 you'd think the Americans would know better than to make the Russians think that they are trying to nullify their nukes.

[achtung]

I hope this one is as fun as the last one.

Why do I expect to see the Russian military backing Middle Eastern insurgents now?

[Flipside]

To be honest, I'm more concerned for those in the neighbouring ex-CCCP states, building an army requires both people and resources, I'll admit I don't know the exact situation out there, but I would have thought the first move would be try and re-enforce social and financial dominance of states such as Chechnya with it's massive oil reserves etc.

[BloodEagle]

Why do I expect to see the Russian military backing Middle Eastern insurgents now?

Er... poetic justice?