Gabriel Rom

(Picture by Virgin media)

Following the Russia-Georgia conflict more than 55% of people in Poland support the new US missile defense program that would be stationed in strategic military locations in defense of a growingly hostile Russia and possibly nuclear Iran– compared with only 30 percent in March 2007, early on in the negotiations. The poll was published in the Rzeczpospolita daily, a Polish news source . This is the first time in the programs history that a majority of Europeans, from any country, have been in favor of its conception.

The success, or failure, of Russia’s aggression towards Georgia will be manifested most clearly in the reactions of its former satellites, one such being Poland. If Poland serves as an accurate precursor to other nations reactions, we’re in for a hell of an interesting next few years. Eastern Europe is scared of Russia, fear breads standoffs, and based on Russia’s actions, that’s exactly what Russia wants. The outcome of the standoff between Russia and America, and Russia and NATO, and Russia and Europe will very much depend on the outcome of Russia Vs. ex Russia. For the first time in almost 18 years many of the former USSR states, in the back of their collective minds, must be seriously worried about their economic, politic, and national autonomy. It now seems as if Russia’s economic hegemony (see Gazprom) was just something to occupy the Russian’s insatiable desire of control, and was all a lead up to what we have begun to see now.

Or maybe not, maybe this incursion into Georgia was just a rogue “passion project” for Russia, to allow them, if not just for a few months, to bask in the geopolitical firestorm that was commonplace for them back in the “good old days” of the 80s and early 90s. They invade a nation, regain some of their old lustre, and then when reality comes knocking at their door, get with the real world and leave, ditching their childish and indiscriminately destructive nostalgia along with it. This is what it seems they want the rest of the world to think…but some how I have a feeling that Georgia wasn’t a rogue experimentiation (not the right word), but was the first of many signs that we’re dealing with not a new Russia, but a resurgent one. How truly resurgent they prove to be, and how big their tantrum is when they realize the 19th century definition of military power is one that no longer applies in the current day and age are questions only Russia knows, and I’d say its a safe bet that they dont mind keeping the west guessing.

A New Cold War?

Jon Goldsmith

Does no one understand what a huge deal this is? This is a fiasco. We have the Russian mobilization of military aircraft, tanks, and battleships in an attempt to overthrow a pro-Western leader in Eastern Europe—all of which has been commanded by a former KGB Colonel who claims that the biggest catastrophe of the 20th century was Russia losing its satellite states. Russia is no longer a democracy and cannot be treated as one; the same leader has been in power in one form or another for the better part of a decade. This could very well be the start of a new cold war… The United States, worst of all, is bogged down in moronic invasions and is caught with nothing to throw at the USSR but words. The fact that we haven’t even sent Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Russia to try to work something out it is simply pathetic.

What kind of message does it send to every former USSR satellite nation that a strong U.S. ally, Georgia, is receiving absolutely no support from the U.S.? What hope do we have of stopping Ukraine and Armenia from turning away from the Russian Federation? Where are our cold warriors? Do we forget, readers, that a certain man named Hitler rolled through Czechoslovakia in the exact same manner as Russia, without any opposition from Western European powers or the United States? Is this another time for appeasement? NO! At the very least, the U.S. Sixth European Battle fleet should be mobilized to the Black and Baltic seas. All U.S. reserves must be called up, Nuclear B-52 and B-2 bombers must be placed on alert and commissioned to initiate the 24/7 figure eight flight pattern over the Pacific as they did in the 60′s. Trident Nuclear Subs must be sent to sea.

Although our military is exhausted, the Russians are ten years behind us in technological military research. If we give them time, they will have developed their new UAV and 5th generation fighter in addition to a new Main Battle Tank…Time is not on our side.