| Tango01 | 20 Apr 2015 9:40 p.m. PST |
"Russian military activities and strategic nuclear forces are returning to a Cold War-era posture, the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific said Wednesday. "Russia in the last few months has returned to, I would say, nearly a Cold War level of activity that goes towards our homeland, with long-range attacks, exercises and those types of things," Adm. Samuel Locklear, the commander, told the House Armed Services Committee. "We also know that Russia will improve their strategic nuclear deterrent on what's thought as their east coast, which is in the Northern Pacific." Russia is also building up its submarine forces in Asia, and Moscow's military forces are seeking increased influence in the Arctic region, Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, Adm. Locklear testified. The four-star admiral said increasing Russian activities, along with threats from North Korea and China, are being monitored closely with intelligence and surveillance systems…"
Full article here
link YouTube link During the Cold War there were numerous safeguards and back channels in place to prevent a misunderstanding that could lead to war. Today those safeguards and back-channels are non-existent and/or limited in scope and operation and all sides, China, Russia, the U.S., NATO, etc. they are now all posturing themselves with their military to stake positions that should be discussed politically. Amicalement
Armand |
| Cacique Caribe | 20 Apr 2015 11:19 p.m. PST |
Well, as I recall, the Cold War was basically two ideological blocks, and everyone pretty much picked a side or went "Swiss". Here's an oversimplification, put the main point is basically correct: YouTube link Nowadays, I have no clue who is with us or who we are with. There isn't even a clear definition of what constitutes the enemy. No longer any idea what it is we want. Cold War? No, I don't see it. Too confusing and unstable. Like a powder keg. And that means heat. So, instead we'll be playing the wack-a-mole game for a long time and everywhere it seems. And our allies in one part of the world will be our foes in another – and all at the very same time! And, while we're distracted putting out all the little fires, Smaug will come up from behind … YouTube link
YouTube link
link link
link YouTube link
YouTube link Or you can continue thinking that Smaug is your friend and will help in our time of need: YouTube link
YouTube link Dan
PS. So, how's your Mandarin?
YouTube link |
| Mako11 | 21 Apr 2015 2:06 a.m. PST |
It's been rather chilly for quite some time now….. |
| Sobieski | 21 Apr 2015 5:23 a.m. PST |
If it's new, how can we be returning to it? |
| Weasel | 21 Apr 2015 9:36 a.m. PST |
Not really. During the cold war, the west had a coherent, consistent enemy, driven by a clear ideology which had a different view of how life should be organized. This ideology was a direct product of its time and resonated across the colonized world, leading to a world-wide conflict. Russia today has zero ideological difference with the west. They are simply squabbling for position. |
 Legion 4  | 21 Apr 2015 9:50 a.m. PST |
"Are We Returning To A New Cold War?" I say, not really or not yet at least. It does get a little "cool" sometimes …  |
| Cacique Caribe | 21 Apr 2015 11:18 a.m. PST |
Chili today, hot tamale? Dan |
| Cacique Caribe | 21 Apr 2015 12:30 p.m. PST |
Cold War no. But lots of surprise, sneak attacks, close to home, from who you least expect (and from sources Hollywood fears to offend): YouTube link No big determined armies fighting big determined armies in huge fronts any more. That went out with WWII, even though NATO nations prepared for a return to it. The Gulf War wasn't even that. One side just folded. Just like musket line facing musket line went out in the mid 1800s. And the shield walls and spear phalanxes before that. War evolves. And you either evolve with it or go extinct. Dan |
| 15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 21 Apr 2015 1:18 p.m. PST |
"Cold War" can be narrowly defined as the four decade long rivalry between the capitalist west and the communist east, but it can also be broadly construed to simply mean a geopolitical state characterized by proxy wars without spiraling into a direct "Hot" war. As such, the current antagonistic climate between the US and her allies on the one hand, and Russia and China on the other can be characterized as a new "Cold War," since Russia and China are attempting expansions in their respective spheres-of-influence contrary to American "interests" in the world. A stretch? Perhaps, but how else are we going to justify funding our bloated military-industrial-congressional complex without clear and present enemies? |
| tuscaloosa | 21 Apr 2015 2:34 p.m. PST |
"Russia today has zero ideological difference with the west" The "West" are democracies. Russia is, for all practical purposes, not. |
| Mako11 | 21 Apr 2015 2:54 p.m. PST |
"Russia today has zero ideological difference with the west". Not sure how you came to that conclusion. Perhaps they have no ideological difference with "some" in the West, but it seems to me their view(s) is/are very different indeed. |
| Cacique Caribe | 21 Apr 2015 3:01 p.m. PST |
"The 'West' are democracies. Russia is, for all practical purposes, not." Much more of a democracy than China. Way more. We should have established closer and substantial ties with Russia IMMEDIATELY after the collapse of the USSR. And started weaning ourselves from China. Dan |
| Quaker | 21 Apr 2015 9:20 p.m. PST |
@Mako Depends how cynical you are. Despite all the talk about democracy and human rights the West seems to do a lot of the things we criticize Russia for (at least when it comes to foreign affairs). Sure Western governments aren't murdering journalists, but they don't need to as the governments backers already bought all the major media. And as a result the two types of parties that get elected in the major Western powers have near identical foreign policy. "Don't blame me! I voted for Kodos!" |
| Weasel | 21 Apr 2015 9:25 p.m. PST |
Mako – what differences are there ideologically? Their views is that Russia should be on top. our view is that the US should be on top. That's not ideological, it's what governments do.
They have a capitalist economy and some semblance of democracy on occasion. |
| 15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 22 Apr 2015 11:26 a.m. PST |
Same goes for China. They're de facto capitalists for all intents and purposes, notwithstanding the official communist party line. Quaker and Weasel are right. The difference between the east and west isn't ideology but national interests like creating their own spheres-of-interest. It's what powerful nations tend to do. The US isn't exactly blameless in her own history with the Louisiana Purchase and "Manifest Destiny." But the jury may still be out on Francis Fukuyama's argument in "The End of History" that democracies don't wage war on one another. |
