Vanceone on October 8, 2008 at 11:05 AM

Very well done.

Look, we all know that Obama has horrible judgement–if you can believe his OWN story. He didn’t see Ayers, Wright, Rezko, Summers, etc. for who they were. If he can’t see that, why wouldn’t he believe whatever bilge Putin tries–the Neville Chamberlin “We can believe Hitler and we get peace in our time!”

Second, Obama hates using Americans to promote democracy. He’d never challenge Russia except some form of “diplomacy.” Read: Ineffectual blathering. This is a guy who thinks the UN is the ideal way, and that it works. The UN is worthless, but Obama loves it.

Put it this way: If you were Putin, who would YOU rather have as the American president? Obama, who is practically a marxist and probably has fond memories of the Soviet Union, and who is avowedly opposed to any kind of American power overseas. Or would he face McCain, who pretty much pioneered the opposition to his adventure in Georgia?

Obama, who wants to kill off any form of US energy production so we have to import more from Russia, or McCain, who wants energy independance?

It’s a no brainer. Any dictator or powerhungry type, such as Putin, is praying to whatever deity they worship that Obama is president. Then they’ll have free reign. The Carter Glory Days are here again!

They are just going to wait till Obama is sworn in, then game is really on

jp on October 8, 2008 at 9:49 AM

What does that even mean?

This has less to do with territory, and more to do with Iran than most people think.

Vashta.Nerada on October 8, 2008 at 9:51 AM

Can you elaborate on this?

This has less to do with territory, and more to do with Iran than most people think.

Vashta.Nerada on October 8, 2008 at 9:51 AM

This really has everything to do with Russia. “All politics is local,” as Tip O’Niell once said, and internal Russian politics are the huge driving force behind all these adventures. Putin is riding Russian nationalism to stay in power. Russia lost its empire, and was feeling humiliated. One piece at a time, these small “adventures” in southwest Asia are building that empire back. Russia would do the same in Eastern Europe if they thought they could pull it off.

Also keep in mind that Russia is a land that has been invaded many times over the centuries. Their traditional “defense” is to absorb surrounding countries, so that those other countries can absorb the cost of border wars. Russia did this as an Empire; they did it again as a “Socialist Workers’ Paradise”; they’re doing it again.

Finally, Russia has always loved strong, authoritarian leaders. Going far back into the days of the Tsars, most Russians have believed that only a strong, authoritarian leader could manage Russia.

Putin is giving the Russian people everything they want. It got him into power, and it’s keeping him there. Against that, what leverage do we really have and what leverage are we willing to expend?

Or what? That sounds almost like an ‘or else’ moment.

The Russians never overextend themselves during winter unless involved in defense from invasion (Germany 20th Century, France 19th Century).

The Russians also have the “advantage” historically since the USSR of politically only tolerating one party. Hence, whatever designs they have carry over generation to generation without being dissolved by political opposition. No opposition party in power is tolerated. Hence, whatever historical grudges or biases exist only augment with time.

Oil gave them the money to be aggressive, and now the financial situation may force them to retreat.

All the more reason to “drill here, drill now”. To defund the Soviet war machine.