dagblog - Comments for "Russia threatens pre-emptive attack against U.S. missile shield"

I was objecting to the Raw

acanuck — Sat, 05 May 2012 03:37:59 +0000

In reply to It is what was reported on

I was objecting to the Raw Story headline. What the Russians are threatening to do, "as one of our options," is station short-range missiles closer to its western borders to counter what it rightly sees as an aggressive move against it.

No one is threatening a "pre-emptive strike." The original Agence France Presse headline was more accurate: "Russia warns it may target US missile shield." Tit-for-tat. Not the same thing.

It's a chess game -- a stupid and pointless one, but one the West is forcing the Russians to play. It has nothing to do with actual military strategy, and everything to do with currying favor among former Soviet Bloc countries -- UN votes, resource deals, economic co-operation, whatever.

So much for pushing the "reset" button on relations with Russia.

It is what was reported on

cmaukonen — Fri, 04 May 2012 23:05:54 +0000

In reply to I wish you hadn't repeated

It is what was reported on RT an in an interview with a leading Russian.

I wish you hadn't repeated

acanuck — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:48:33 +0000

In reply to Russia threatens pre-emptive attack against U.S. missile shield

I wish you hadn't repeated Raw Story's sensationalist headline, c.

Nobody's going to war over this, but I fail to understand what the U.S. hopes to get out of needlessly provoking and antagonizing the Russians. A shield against potential nuclear-armed Iranian missiles that follows Russia's borders from the Black Sea to the Baltic? Putin rightly isn't buying it; I wonder there's any thinking person in the entire world who does.

The Cold War is over, but American Cold Warriors have too big a financial interest to let it slip into history. Helluva principle to build foreign policy around.