[metalhead72]

Check this out, Russia flexing its muscle or real threat (Saying that there flying old 'tu' bombers that should be flying to the scrap yard)

http://www.france24.com/france24Publ...an-summit.html
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exer...FC652DB152.htm

[Sporran]

i seen that i also read that russia has suspended the BBC Russian Service due to possible propaganda.

Also they are investing heavy in their armies due to new found wealth.

mmmmmm.

[paulyoung666]

is this anything new though , or has it just been brought to the public eye because of what has been going on recently , mind you , things do seem to be a bit more tense at the moment than they used to be

[anna the dub]

I wouldn't put much stock in it. Russia is just trying to regain the position it once held in the Western World. They were feared and respected for decades. Now they are largely ignored. By starting to fly these bombers again, they are saying 'ignore us at your peril' to NATO, as well as saying to their domestic audience that their voice is still important on the world stage. But it is not. They are just sabre rattling. Unfortunately for them, they are too reliant on the west, especially for technology. As things stand now, their economy is a joke, their armed forces ineffective and their 'democracy' is questionable.

[Phil57]

Originally Posted by anna the dub

I wouldn't put much stock in it. Russia is just trying to regain the position it once held in the Western World. They were feared and respected for decades. Now they are largely ignored. By starting to fly these bombers again, they are saying 'ignore us at your peril' to NATO, as well as saying to their domestic audience that their voice is still important on the world stage. But it is not. They are just sabre rattling. Unfortunately for them, they are too reliant on the west, especially for technology. As things stand now, their economy is a joke, their armed forces ineffective and their 'democracy' is questionable.

Pretty much spot on I think

[Pat_C]

Let's not be too rude about them or they might cut our gas supply off.

[Smeggor]

Saber rattling is right, they arnt much of a threat now, but it is quite concerning that Russia has opted to play war games with China.

erm............are we all forgotten how many nukes Russia has? (world's largest stockpile) + Putins recently announced 100 billion overhaul?

I am not going to lose any sleep over it, but to say they pose no threat is underestimating their military power IMO.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.../wputin119.xml

See also:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/grap...utin119big.gif

[dakara]

The group that worry me much more than President Putin, are Vice-President Dick Cheney and his Neocon clique.
They are agressively promoting the overthrow, by covert [and in some cases overt] action, of any Country which does not kow-tow to their agenda.
The more wars there are, the more they profit through Arms sales, Oil, and the decline in economic and political power of their adversaries.
This Monster [Cheney] is "Only a Heartbeat" away from becoming President of the United States , and for that reason only, I pray that George W Bush remains in good health until such time as he is voted out of office.
Any increase in Russian influence can only be a good thing if it can rein in the excesses of the present "Playground Bully".

[anna the dub]

[QUOTE=jackal;5346877]erm............are we all forgotten how many nukes Russia has? (world's largest stockpile) + Putins recently announced 100 billion overhaul?

I am not going to lose any sleep over it, but to say they pose no threat is underestimating their military power IMO.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Yes, but all of the big powers have masses of nukes, including China. Russia are hardly likely to use them, unless they want to be obliterated too. They could destroy the world including themselves, but do you really think they would do that?

Their influence has gone, the powers of intimidation have gone. They may try to assert themselves again (eg the North Pole flag laying), but they are not a world power anymore, and if they stepped over the line and really increased tensions, sanctions would make them rethink. I know that then they could close the gas supply line, but when the money stops rolling in from the EU, and the technological help too, how long do you think before Putin was ousted?

[johntheexpat]

Originally Posted by Holy_Pilgrim

Check this out, Russia flexing its muscle or real threat (Saying that there flying old 'tu' bombers that should be flying to the scrap yard)

http://www.france24.com/france24Publ...an-summit.html
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exer...FC652DB152.htm

You're probably only in danger if you are under the flight path. Ropey old Russian planes having a reputation for not flying too well........

[TranceFan]

Originally Posted by dakara

The group that worry me much more than President Putin, are Vice-President Dick Cheney and his Neocon clique.
They are agressively promoting the overthrow, by covert [and in some cases overt] action, of any Country which does not kow-tow to their agenda.
The more wars there are, the more they profit through Arms sales, Oil, and the decline in economic and political power of their adversaries.
This Monster [Cheney] is "Only a Heartbeat" away from becoming President of the United States , and for that reason only, I pray that George W Bush remains in good health until such time as he is voted out of office.
Any increase in Russian influence can only be a good thing if it can rein in the excesses of the present "Playground Bully".

Spot on Dakara. Russia is only responding to the demonstrable threat the US poses around the world. Also we are now on the front line in any nuclear war involving the US, whether we like it or not, because of the part of the new US antimissile defence warning system being based in the UK.

[Daddy k]

Originally Posted by Pat_C

Let's not be too rude about them or they might cut our gas supply off.

[Squiffy]

This is a concern - Russia are using their energy wealth to fund their new imperial ambitions. Just look at the way they are throwing their weight around with their ex imperial possessions.

Although their economy may be a joke, and their technology increasingly outdated, we are coming to a position where large parts of Europe is dependent on them for gas. They've already shown they are willing to abuse this power.

Throw in the fact that Russia is a de facto dictatorship and suppression of internal opposition and dissent, and you have a pretty grim outlook if you expect their government to act in a reasonable manner.

As for China, I think it is far more likely that future wars would see Russia & China against each other. Russia has massive, sparsely populated terrain to the east. China with its huge population will be very keen to try and get hold of that. With future pressure on food & water supplies, this will become a flashpoint.

maybe they saw John Pillinger tonight. Makes you look at America very differently.

Lis@##

[dakara]

RUSSIAN TECHNOLOGY NOT OUTDATED.
If you think that Russia has only got Old-Tech equipment, have a look at MAKS 2007, the Moscow International Airshow, which is being held this week. Quite a bit of it will be shown on "Russia Today TV", available by satellite, free to air. This years show will also feature American aircraft as well as Russian.
Look out for the SU-47 "Berkut", Russia's version of a "Stealth" aircraft, and their Antonov heavy-lift giants.
Don't forget either, that the Russian "Soyuz" is still the most reliable heavy-lift space rocket.