Why the American media are so pathologically anti-Russian

[Heresson]

Originally posted by The Vagabond
Well, perhaps it is deemed that publication of the documents right now can only deepen the russophobic sentiment in Poland. The documents will certainly be released, but at a more opportune moment for Russia.

I don't think so. I don't know how can one deepen alleged sentiment if it acts right. I think that breaking promises and falsifying history can cause that, not the other way round.

[Serb]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Serb, you are right the USSR did not lose the cold war because of any lack of military strength instead it lost because of a lack of economic strength. It was spending far more then it could afford on its military (40% of GDP) so the rest of the economy fell apart. It's hard to keep the people happy (much less people in other countries happy) when there is nothing to buy in the store because most of the factories have been converted to military production. The people also want beds, food, nice clothes, and TV sets.

The US wasn't going to invade the USSR first of all because we don't like big wars (we like to pick on little guys like Iraq ) and the Soviets had more then enough nukes to deter a war with or without SDI. I'm confident that if the USSR cut its military spending and increased production of consumer goods for its people then there would still be a USSR today. Unfortunately, (or fortunately depending upon your point of view) the Soviet political leadership was to ideologically commited to the arms race so they didn't give up until it was to late to save the USSR.

I agree with everything above, except 'not invading the USSR' part. Without Reigan and intensification of Cold war under his rule, USSR could survive as well. You were bluffing. Your bluff was successful, and old farts from politburo considerably increased military spending.

[Saras]

USSR could survive as well

Thank god it didn't. Long live Lithuanian independence!!! Tomorrow is actually 15 years since we re-declared it. Lietuva!

[Ted Striker]

And Big Z made the NBA All Star team.

[Saras]

Big Z

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Serb
I agree with everything above, except 'not invading the USSR' part. Without Reigan and intensification of Cold war under his rule, USSR could survive as well. You were bluffing. Your bluff was successful, and old farts from politburo considerably increased military spending.

I'm not sure it was a bluff about the arms race but the US was never going to invade the USSR; your nukes ruled that out. You have/had more then enough to over well any SDI.

Instead Reagan correctly figured out that Soviet pride would not allow them to back down from a disastorous arms race. The result was the previously mentioned 40% of GDP the Soviets were spending in order to keep up with the Americans followed closely by economic collapse. Outputs of nonmilitary goods like farm tractors went down and down which quickly resulted in ever falling agricultural output. The US had more then enough extra grain and Reagan was willing to allow the sales... as long as the Soviets paid in hard currency.

Of course the Soviets didn't have hard currency (darn commie dead beat ) so they asked if the US would be so kind as to arrange loans for them. This of course give the west more and more leverage over the Soviets. At that point it becomes a death spiral and the sad fact is it could have all been avoided if the USSR had just given up the arms race. There's no point in ruining a country trying to play games you can't win.

Edit: Yeah, Reagan certainly upped the ante and did everything he could to goad the Soviet leadership along into the arms race but in the end it was the Soviets themselves who jumped off that economic cliff.

[Saras]

In other words, USSR-PWNED!!

[Saras]

Lithuanian superhottie-to-be

[Dinner]

Is that your daughter?

[Saras]

Naaahh. I have one sone, Mantas, the future Tedas Strikeris of Lithuania

[Ted Striker]

Junior Playa in Training

[Serb]

.

[Saras]

not cute

[Saras]

To english speakers - the poster says "no to the war for oil", obviously protesting Russian governments policies in Chechnya

[Serb]

Originally posted by Saras
not cute

But Goddamn right!