If we’re to quarrel, let it be over something where our national interest is involved. Oil and the independence of Europe qualify. Kosovo and Chechnya don’t.

That said, I smell a new Berlin-Moscow pact; or rather a Brussels-Moscow pact. Oil and gas for real estate. And the former Iron Curtain nations get f*cked over. Again.

So it comes down to oil. For us, it may literally be a cold war.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we should start planning for war with Russia or anything, but, we should understand what he’s doing and what his goal is. If he makes a fool of America and gets us to back down from him then the rest of the world will pay more attention to Russia. All of the current stuff is just irritants. Where he’s going to really make his stand is with Kosovo. Give it a month or two and I’m sure we’ll be reading more about it.

Or would you?

McDermott to Cheney: ‘Resign
or face impeachment’

I mean you can’t make this shit up.

Bush will offer him a Z-Visa.

Attila (Pillage Idiot) on June 29, 2007 at 2:20 PM

Not until Putin demonstrates a proficiency in spanish.

I thought Santa owned the North Pole?

No, the owner of the North Pole is Superman. That’s where the green crystal from Krypton built his home.

Assuming he doesn’t blow off the term limit and elect himself Most Supreme Ruler Of All Russia?

Even better than re-starting the Cold War, Putin will proclaim himself Tsar and re-establish the Russian Empire!

In only 10 years he has achieved what the Red Army never could. He has literally and figuratively immobilied NATO; he can shut down the whole damn coninent with the turn of a tap in Siberia. Many of the EU nations are more friendly wtih Russia than with the US. Meantime, he is building a new! improved! Warsaw Pact, this time consisting of Iran (and soon the mid east oil fields), the Capsian sea nations (more oil&gas), Venezuela, and because everybody needs a customer, China. In other words, a kind of Iron/Islamic curtain around most of the word’s energy reserves. If you held cards like that, wouldn’t you play them too?

So: Europe effectively Finlandized. The United States shut out from the energy it needs to survive.

Forgive me, if it sound like blasphemy, but in many ways he’s Russia’s Ronald Reagan, who also restored this country’s honor and clout in the world after the terrible 70s. I can see why the Russian’s like Putin the way they do.

Granted, this revenege though sweet will be brief for Russia. The USA out of the picture, Putin’s Islamic and Chinese neighbros will turn on him. Demographically speaking, it will be a walk-over.

But this is in the future, it’s springtime for Pooty poot and Russia.

Considering Putin has to leave the presidency in 2008 due to term limits, I’m pretty sure we won’t learn anything new come “election time.”

Assuming he doesn’t blow off the term limit and elect himself Most Supreme Ruler Of All Russia?

Hugo may be working the same angle.

We’ll find out about Pootty when it’s election time in Russia

Considering Putin has to leave the presidency in 2008 due to term limits, I’m pretty sure we won’t learn anything new come “election time.”