Russian threats alarm Georgia

BBC ^ | 14 September, 2004 | Natalia Antelava

[CWOJackson]

I agree, I had the same hopes. If you really want to get scared though, do a Google on "Putin" and "Soviet". You will get hits to a lot of current speeches that will scare you.

It should be scaring the heck out of most of Europe.

[bgarid]

Yeah, I got that impression too...

[bgarid]

>It should be scaring the heck out of most of Europe.

I thought most of Europe is America's enemy now?

[CWOJackson]

"What Putin and many Russians want is to reunite Russia first and then create a true European Union which Russia will join as a founding member and first among equals."

Which is why I am concerned over the relationship between Putin, Germany and France. France and Germany are both fairly disgruntled over the course the EU has taken; they had intended that they be the power within the EU and all nations simply tow their line. It hasn't worked out that way.

Now we see France (who disassociated itself from the NATO defense from the USSR mission in the late 50's) and Germany where many of the political leaders and much of the population yearn for the good old days of East Germany.

I am concerned over a power play between those three nations to bring the rest of Europe to heel...one way or the other.

[CWOJackson]

"I thought most of Europe is America's enemy now?"

I MIGHT not go that far, but most of Europe isn't our friend.

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

"If you really want to get scared though, do a Google on 'Putin' and 'Soviet'."

I have and you're right. But there is nothing we can do about it except remain vigilant. Anything Putin does now he will justify by using the threat of terror as an excuse.

[PsyOp]

Cue ominous "Empire Strikes Back" music.

[bgarid]

That's a very good analysis, really.

Putin's alliance with Germany and France is anti-EU, that's the point many people don't understand yet.

Though I don't see why it's wrong exactly. How being subservient to Brussels is actually better than to Paris, Berlin and Moscow?

[CWOJackson]

Do you recall how France wanted the EU Constitution to be written? Even though the leadership (or lack thereof) of the EU rotates, they wanted it in the Constitution that France be given authority over foreign affairs on behalf of the EU. They tried to justify this by the fact that the EU isn't a government and so one unified head was necessary to guide foreign affairs for the whole.

It didn't fly.

[bgarid]

Russia to US: We want our Empire back!

[bgarid]

Yet another evidence that the EU is doomed. You can't run great power foreign policy by a committee.

And frankly, the sooner the EU disintegrates the better for all concerned.

[Centurion2000]

bump

[CWOJackson]

"Yet another evidence that the EU is doomed."

I have the ultimate evidence for you. I have a very good friend and neighbor from Milan, Italy. If you want to get him screaming in Italian and throwing his arms around just ask him about the olive crops back home.

Under EU rules, Italy has been forced to destroy much of their olive crop...and IMPORT GREEK OLIVE OIL.

I knew it was all over when Fabio told me that.

[bgarid]

I wonder how long they'll survive.

Perhaps, five to ten years after Turkey joins...

[CWOJackson]

Or until the make Ireland pour it's own ale down drains and orders them to import French ale.

[LOCHINVAR]

With Russia having it's own war on terror.
you can be sure the ACLU won't be interferring,
the kid gloves will come off. Maybe they'll
put in some terror to the terrorists.

[PsyOp]

We want our Empire back!

Well, Putin was KGB. When in doubt, people always fall back on what they are comfortable with. There seems to be a waxing nostalgia for the old days of communist order--inside Russia anyways.