Sharp Disagreements Between the EU and the New Soviets

[onedomino]

I am beginning to like Angela Merkel more and more. As Diuretic mentioned to me the other day: "They're back," referring to the Soviets. Tensions are indeed rising between the US and Russia, and apparently, between at least some in the EU and Russia. During the '90s, we did not hear too much from the old Soviets. Now that they are increasingly flush with petro dollars, the old Sovets are turning into the new Soviets. To measure Putin's commitment to democracy and freedom of expression, you would need a microscope. If the disagreements between the EU and the Soviets increase, watch the EU scamper back underneath the American security umbrella. We should probably let some, like France and Germany, stand out in the rain for awhile.

Rows Overshadow EU-Russia Talks
http://news.originalsignal.com/article/322338/rows-overshadow-eu-russia-talks.html

Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting EU leaders in southern Russia amid tension between the two sides.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country holds the union's rotating presidency, will lead the EU team at the summit in the city of Samara.

She warned that it would yield no concrete results, but said talks might get to the bottom of disagreements.

Disputes have arisen over the status of Kosovo, energy supplies, trade, and ties between Russia and Estonia.

An EU official attending the talks told the BBC that the tension was palpable.

Initially the main concern was the security of Europe's energy supplies - much of which come from Russia.

But the BBC's Richard Galpin, who is in Samara, says there are now sharp differences over the future status of Kosovo, on how to resolve a trade dispute with Poland and over Estonia's treatment of ethnic Russians.

Ms Merkel, who had dinner with Mr Putin on Thursday, said: "It is better to talk with each other than about each other."

She added: "There are no direct results that can be expected but we will get clues about the reasons for our different opinions."

In a break with previous practice, no joint declaration has been prepared.

Nor will the two sides be able to begin delayed talks on a new strategic partnership agreement, because of a veto imposed by Poland, now supported by Lithuania.

The Samara summit comes just days after the United States and Russia acknowledged their sharp differences during a visit to Moscow by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

During the talks Mr Putin repeated his opposition to US plans for a new missile defence system in Europe.

 

[Annie]

There is no doubt that Putin would like to revert back to USSR. It is going to be very interesting to see if Europe avoids it.

 

[Care4all]

There is no doubt that Putin would like to revert back to USSR. It is going to be very interesting to see if Europe avoids it.

I sure hope they don't have blinders on!

 

[Annie]

[/B]I sure hope they don't have blinders on!

Well they are now monitoring the mosques, so they may be moving in a reality based mode now. It seems so against their MO though.

 

[onedomino]

There is no doubt that Putin would like to revert back to USSR. It is going to be very interesting to see if Europe avoids it.

Not sure how Europe can reduce tension with the totalitarians running the Kremlin, but they may achieve some new level of appeasement. They are dependent on Russia for energy, and they have let what little defense capability they possessed prior to the collapse of the CCCP decline even further. Remember the EU could not even handle the situation in Kosovo, much less a confrontation with Russia. All during the 90s and the first seven years of the 21st Century, the EU has been distancing itself from the US, with policies such as no support for Iraq, and the desire of some to sell weapons to the PRC. If Putin overplays his hand, he will force the EU back under the American defensive umbrella. It will be interesting to see how America responds to feckless "allies" such as France and Germany. No doubt the shrill leftist media in those countries will construe rising tensions with Russia as somehow the fault of America.

 

[NATO AIR]

There was a time when Putin's policies made sense and he has indeed brought Russia back from the serious doldrums it was in circa 1999. But his incessant bullying of his neighbors and his opponents benefits no one but his fellow elite. Yet look at Russia right now and realize this is all posture, they are losing Siberia peacefully to the Chinese (via illegal immigration and Chinese investment) face multiple Islamic insurgencies in different locations within Russia's near abroad and nearby and their society is still in full collapse with a full blown AIDS epidemic, astronomically high abortion rates and the continuing decline of their living standards.

So Russia bullies Europe somewhat, forces Europe to take them and the US more seriously, but they're still supplying the majority of the energy to us and the EU. They talk loud, but their actions are by and large benign. Putin takes the long view, his future threats are even greater Islamic terrorism and Chinese resource needs.

 

[Annie]

There was a time when Putin's policies made sense and he has indeed brought Russia back from the serious doldrums it was in circa 1999. But his incessant bullying of his neighbors and his opponents benefits no one but his fellow elite. Yet look at Russia right now and realize this is all posture, they are losing Siberia peacefully to the Chinese (via illegal immigration and Chinese investment) face multiple Islamic insurgencies in different locations within Russia's near abroad and nearby and their society is still in full collapse with a full blown AIDS epidemic, astronomically high abortion rates and the continuing decline of their living standards.

So Russia bullies Europe somewhat, forces Europe to take them and the US more seriously, but they're still supplying the majority of the energy to us and the EU. They talk loud, but their actions are by and large benign. Putin takes the long view, his future threats are even greater Islamic terrorism and Chinese resource needs.

I certainly hope your read is correct.

How are the tying the knot plans coming?

 

[onedomino]

I do not think these actions are benign. This is how Russia is spending its petro dollars:

Russia Launches First of 8 New Nuclear Subs
23 April 2007
Nabi Abdullaev
Moscow
Complete article: http://defensenews.com/story.php?F=2695401&C=america

Russia launched its long-awaited new-generation Borei-class submarine, the Yuri Dolgoruky, on April 15, its first new nuclear sub produced since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Military officials said seven additional Borei-class (Project 955) submarines are expected to be built in the next decade. The subs will be the core of Russia’s naval strategic missile forces, yet the Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) they are supposed to carry are nowhere near ready for production, let alone deployment.

“For the first time in 17 years, we are launching such a vessel,” Sergei Ivanov, first deputy prime minister in charge of technology, said during a ceremony at the Sevmash plant in Severodvinsk. “In essence, this is the first Russian nuclear submarine.”

Russia Launches New Strategic Submarime: http://jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2372106

 

[NATO AIR]

I certainly hope your read is correct.

How are the tying the knot plans coming?

Progressing. Now worrying about visa issues under the new incompetent DHS regime. My respect for illegal immigrants rises everyday I have to deal with this bunch.

I see Russia sees China eyeing all of its abundant resources, and I think Russia knows what it must do. But first, Russia must survive the next 10 years intact for them to be able to compete in the future.