Scott, I witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall, it was a moment of immense relief for hundreds of millions of Europeans. They wanted freedom from tyranny, and that is why they negotiated to join the EU and NATO. Today, you'll find the most ardent supporters of NATO in the former Comecon countries.
Scott, I witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall, it was a moment of immense relief for hundreds of millions of Europeans. They wanted freedom from tyranny, and that is why they negotiated to join the EU and NATO. Today, you'll find the most ardent supporters of NATO in the former Comecon countries.
The last time NATO "expanded ... right up to Russia's borders" was in 2004 when the Baltic states joined. Putin could have ordered his T90 tanks to take Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius, and they would have done so within a day. If NATO was such a threat, would he not have done so immediately? In two weeks' time we will be celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the Baltics joining, and still Putin has not invaded ...
You might lament that there is a clash between the Liberal (millions of peoples' wishes) and Realist (buffer states) views of international politics, but it's not. It's simply an old KGB officer outraged by rejection.
The Baltic states, despite the recent NATO exercises, are not a ripe spot for a massive invasion. Ukraine is. It’s been done before. Ask the old KGB guy if you want details.
I'm interested in why you stated "The Baltic states ... not a ripe spot for [] invasion".
I took your advice, Scott, and I asked the old KGB guy, and this is what he said: "I would like to make it clear to all: our country will continue to actively defend the rights of Russians, our compatriots abroad, using the entire range of available means"
In 2004 when Lithuania joined NATO, its armed forces consisted of a few volunteers who shared a couple of Glocks. The old KGB guy had as many excuses to invade as the million+ ethnic Russians and Russophones living in the Baltics.
The Soviet Union invaded Finland in 1939. Or, tried to. It was a debacle. The officer purges under Stalin had left a Soviet army that we still stereotype today - leaderless and relying on mass. And the terrain in the baltics is not well suited to offensive maneuvers especially en masse. As was recently demonstrated.
The Soviets took their losses rebuilt rearmed and came back and the war ended in essentially a stalemate. 70000 Finnish casualties about 350,000 Soviets.
Scott, I witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall, it was a moment of immense relief for hundreds of millions of Europeans. They wanted freedom from tyranny, and that is why they negotiated to join the EU and NATO. Today, you'll find the most ardent supporters of NATO in the former Comecon countries.
The last time NATO "expanded ... right up to Russia's borders" was in 2004 when the Baltic states joined. Putin could have ordered his T90 tanks to take Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius, and they would have done so within a day. If NATO was such a threat, would he not have done so immediately? In two weeks' time we will be celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the Baltics joining, and still Putin has not invaded ...
You might lament that there is a clash between the Liberal (millions of peoples' wishes) and Realist (buffer states) views of international politics, but it's not. It's simply an old KGB officer outraged by rejection.
The Baltic states, despite the recent NATO exercises, are not a ripe spot for a massive invasion. Ukraine is. It’s been done before. Ask the old KGB guy if you want details.
I'm interested in why you stated "The Baltic states ... not a ripe spot for [] invasion".
I took your advice, Scott, and I asked the old KGB guy, and this is what he said: "I would like to make it clear to all: our country will continue to actively defend the rights of Russians, our compatriots abroad, using the entire range of available means"
[source: The Kremlin http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/46131]
In 2004 when Lithuania joined NATO, its armed forces consisted of a few volunteers who shared a couple of Glocks. The old KGB guy had as many excuses to invade as the million+ ethnic Russians and Russophones living in the Baltics.
I’m sure Putin knows what happened in 1939 and will not seek to repeat that debacle.
Ok, I'll follow the thread ... what does Putin know what happened in 1939?
The Soviet Union invaded Finland in 1939. Or, tried to. It was a debacle. The officer purges under Stalin had left a Soviet army that we still stereotype today - leaderless and relying on mass. And the terrain in the baltics is not well suited to offensive maneuvers especially en masse. As was recently demonstrated.
The Soviets took their losses rebuilt rearmed and came back and the war ended in essentially a stalemate. 70000 Finnish casualties about 350,000 Soviets.