Russia Promises To "Crush" Future Aggressors

[Purveyor]

Source: Reuters

KURSK/GORI (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev promised on Monday a "crushing response" to any attack on its citizens as Georgia waited for concrete signs of a promised Russian military pullout.

Medvedev was speaking shortly before Russian military authorities announced that the withdrawal had begun, although Georgia denied this.

"If anyone thinks that they can kill our citizens and escape unpunished, we will never allow this," Medvedev told World War Two veterans in the Russian city of Kursk. "If anyone tries this again, we will come out with a crushing response."

"We have all the necessary resources, political, economic and military. If anyone had any illusions about this, they have to abandon them."

MORE...

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080818/ts_nm/georgia_ossetia_dc_161

[liberalmuse]

1. I certainly wouldn't advise Bush or McCain to fuck with Russia...

especially since Bush has pretty much decimated our military. Of course, there's always the draft. I don't know about all of you, but I've kind of missed the Cold War. :sarcasm:

[Arctic Dave]

2. The new Cold War is *'s response for global warming.

It makes perfect sense to me now.

[Igel]

5. Medved knows how it'll be taken.

Telling it to WWII vetrans ensures it'll be interpreted right.

The biggest groups of Russians that Putin et al claim to protect are in former captive nations, in territories gained by the USSR/Russia after the end of WWII or under the control of peoples annexed/acquired in WWII. The veterans brought glory and territory to the motherland, and have been told for decades that their blood redeemed the land, brought glory to Russia and eternal gratitude. Some of the biggest outbreaks of Russian chauvinism have come when memorials forever pledging undying gratitude for the role Russian troops played in occupying and "freeing" their countries from Hitler were degraded and abused--gratitude also shown to local fighters, to Allied fighters, or to freedom as an idea (thus including freedom from Soviet domination or annexation).

It's insulting. And Russia's responded by poorly excused oil, gas, or trade blockades, or by having ambiguously-sourced but accurately targeted cyberwars until the countries made the right kind of sounds of contrition, or at least knew not to make that mistake again.

He's just made domestic policy in a half-dozen countries much more complicated: As before, Medved likes the idea of the indigenous or majority populations, and then the privileged populations being distinct. The privileged get to run things, or wield disproportionate power.

McCain is not relevant. The US is not important. The world does not revolve around this election--the uncertainty of transition makes others' actions easier or less constrained, the US position may make some actions likely, but we are not responsible for their motivations or their actions. We are not that important, however our self-opinion may exceed our dreams.

[phantom power]

3. I'm feeling nostalgic. Did he bang his shoe on the podium?

[Deja Q]

7. But if it was a shoe phone, it'd be broken by now.

[0rganism]

4. Will they bury us?

I'm feeling a bit of a chill in the air...

[Deja Q]

6. Don't worry. Our infrastructure will be safe.

Russia is the latest hotbed for offshoring. :silly:

[ohio2007]

8. Georgia officially asks to leave CIS

Since Putin wants a new Cold War, maybe the Cold shoulder is in order for Russia .

Georgia has filed an official request to withdraw from the Commonwealth of Independent States. The move follows the decision by the Georgian Parliament to quit the alliance of twelve former Soviet republics. Tbilisi says it will rid itself of three CIS political agreements, but it will maintain its bilateral commitments, including visa-free travel.

On August 12, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has announced his country is to leave the CIS. It followed Dmitry Medvedev’s order to end Russia’s military operation in Georgia.

Saakashvili made the announcement during a rally in the capital Tbilisi. In his speech he called on other countries in the union to leave the organisation.

"We have decided that Georgia will leave the CIS,” he said. “We urge Ukraine and other countries to also leave the Commonwealth of Independent States, which is dominated by Russia," he said.

The CIS includes all the former Soviet republics apart from the Baltic states.


http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/29177

I saw an article that european countries may be willing to tighten their belts and cut petroleum purchases from Russia. The less the world uses, the less profits going to Putin.
Also saw an article that Putin is talking about putting nukes in all the strange places in the middle east and a Baltic region.

It's going to be an interesting week if the MSM only runs; "Russia to pull out of Georgia soon" kool aid rants

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080818/wl_afp/georgiarussiaconflictnato