Europe being Finlandized via Germany and France?

[DinoDoc]

I thought Russia sold all the nukes to the Russian Mob and other terrorist organizations.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16795915/

[Dinner]

The Russians routinely retarget their missiles. I remember when Boris Yelsin ordered Russian missiles to retarget the US. It's all just meaningless posturing since MAD still insures no missiles are fired. The missile shield though is good for providing a few defense jobs in host countries and some minor defense from a handful of missiles. A country like Russia has nothing to fear because they have so many missiles they'd overwelm the shield.

[chequita guevara]

That's what you say. They might think they have something to fear. As NYE states, it's their perceptions that matter.

[DinoDoc]

Our perceptions are that they've already sold their arsenal.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
That's what you say. They might think they have something to fear. As NYE states, it's their perceptions that matter.

Not really. I don't think their arsenal of nukes is strategically meaningful anymore, at least no more so than any other arsenal. Do they even really have the ability to launch a crippling first strike anymore (if they ever did)?

[notyoueither]

You keen to take the chance?

Putin's got lot's of cash now from petroleum. Why wouldn't his arsenal be looked after?

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Putin's got lot's of cash now from petroleum. Why wouldn't his arsenal be looked after?

I have no idea. It's such a farfetched theory.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by notyoueither
You keen to take the chance?

Putin's got lot's of cash now from petroleum. Why wouldn't his arsenal be looked after?

Because even with oil Russia is dirt poor? Their economy is an order of magnitude behind China, the UK, or France, all of which are more relevant than Russia anywhere but the UNSC.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by DinoDoc

I have no idea. It's such a farfetched theory.

That says nothing about the state of Russian strategic forces that are still active.

[Kuciwalker]

Their soldiers are starving, half their navy is practically mothballed, we consistently hear of reports like DD's that nuclear material is smuggled out of their country, and they have an economy weaker than any of the regional powers around them (France, UK, Germany, China, Japan). There's no reason to believe they could launch a crippling first strike even if they could have during the Cold War.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker

Because even with oil Russia is dirt poor? Their economy is an order of magnitude behind China, the UK, or France, all of which are more relevant than Russia anywhere but the UNSC.

Since when does being dirt poor prevent a strong man / dictator from spending the readies on whatever he feels like?

And dirt poor hardly describes a tresury that is supplying an increasing proportion of oil and gas to the EU. Russia has billions floating around that Putin can spend any way he damn well pleases.

[Kuciwalker]

Since when does being dirt poor prevent a strong man / dictator from spending the readies on whatever he feels like?

Look at how well that's been working for Dear Leader. Russia's much bigger than NKor but still not particularly strong.

And dirt poor hardly describes a tresury that is supplying an increasing proportion of oil and gas to the EU. Russia has billions floating around that Putin can spend any way he damn well pleases.

I'm pretty sure oil and natural gas production is counted as part of GDP.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Their soldiers are starving, half their navy is practically mothballed, we consistently hear of reports like DD's that nuclear material is smuggled out of their country, and they have an economy weaker than any of the regional powers around them (France, UK, Germany, China, Japan). There's no reason to believe they could launch a crippling first strike even if they could have during the Cold War.

I'm sorry, but you're nuts.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker

Since when does being dirt poor prevent a strong man / dictator from spending the readies on whatever he feels like?

Look at how well that's been working for Dear Leader. Russia's much bigger than NKor but still not particularly strong.

And dirt poor hardly describes a tresury that is supplying an increasing proportion of oil and gas to the EU. Russia has billions floating around that Putin can spend any way he damn well pleases.

I'm pretty sure oil and natural gas production is counted as part of GDP.

So ****ing what?

It's a massive pool of cash that a dictator can spend any way he wants.

North Korea? Bwahahahahahaha!

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Their soldiers are starving, half their navy is practically mothballed, we consistently hear of reports like DD's that nuclear material is smuggled out of their country, and they have an economy weaker than any of the regional powers around them (France, UK, Germany, China, Japan). There's no reason to believe they could launch a crippling first strike even if they could have during the Cold War.

This is really quite false.

BTW, Russian defense spending is set to increase by 29% in 2007.