Should the UK go to war with Russia ?

[Diver]

What! Lob the Royal Doulton at Ivan? I doubt that'd have much effect. I'm no military man but I'm sure you'd be better off with ammunition of some sort.

[Xenophon]

What! Lob the Royal Doulton at Ivan? I doubt that'd have much effect. I'm no military man but I'm sure you'd be better off with ammunition of some sort.

[TimberWolf]

What! Lob the Royal Doulton at Ivan? I doubt that'd have much effect. I'm no military man but I'm sure you'd be better off with ammunition of some sort.

Okay, here's how to rule the world and wight all wongs while simultaneously avoiding being bankrupted in the process:

• Tell China "Russia says you have a big nose"
• Stand back pretending to be innocent
• Divide and conquer
• Take all their land and women, while pretending to be 'helping'

[DodgyAgent]

Oh great, more provocative statements by the Yanks. They've all the diplomacy of a grenade in your cornflakes. Why can't they just mind their own business?

It has EVERYTHING to do with the USA. Part of the purpose of Russias aggression is to test the USA to see what they will do. It is no local dispute:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle4498781.ece

[TimberWolf]

Superpowers behaving like school children.

[DodgyAgent]

Superpowers behaving like school children.

If only it were as simple as that

[TimberWolf]

If only it were as simple as that

Name a war that waged for anything other than childish reasons. It's never been about beating the other side for intellectual purposes.

[Nicky G]

It has EVERYTHING to do with the USA. Part of the purpose of Russias aggression is to test the USA to see what they will do. It is no local dispute:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle4498781.ece

You have this part correct. Where you are wrong is that is the sole purpose of Russia's actions. It is deliberately attempting to break with the West and the United States.

[Diver]

You have this part correct. Where you are wrong is that is the sole purpose of Russia's actions. It is deliberately attempting to break with the West and the United States.

and leave itself in a huge financial hole?

[Nicky G]

and leave itself in a huge financial hole?

They couldn't care less.

The price of oil isn’t merely about oil. It is about food, the U.S. dollar and power-politics. Westerners, however, are always “mystified” when the Russians seem to act contrary to their own economic interest (as if economic interests were the only interests). It is true that Russia has benefitted from high energy prices. More significantly, Russia will benefit even more when the U.S. dollar collapses.

In every strategic equation losses are relative. If you are somewhat hurt and your enemy is crippled, you’ve won a great victory. After all, war is about accepting damage as well as inflicting damage. And war between America and Russia has been the game all along. Only the American side has consistently refused to recognize the fact. In Washington they have deluded themselves about Russia’s long term strategic intentions. And even now they will continue to delude themselves. American pundits will puzzle over Russia’s invasion of Georgia. And perhaps the Russians will pull back, having gained some significant concession from Washington. It is hard to say at this early hour.

If we look at Russian rhetoric and Russian actions over the past nine years we will find a pattern. In recent months the Russians have been acting as if they want to provoke a break with the Americans. They want to put themselves openly and honestly on the other side of the fence. If there is global conflict anywhere in the world the Russian government wants to take the side of America’s enemy. In Venezuela, in Africa, in the Middle East, in the Far East, the Russians want to renew the confrontation between East and West.

And this time they intend to prevail.

http://www.financialsense.com/stormw...2008/0808.html