Russia freezes NATO cooperation

[maddezmom]

Source: The Australian

Russia freezes NATO cooperationFont Size: Decrease Increase Print Page: Print From correspondents in Oslo | August 21, 2008
RUSSIA has decided to freeze its military cooperation with NATO and allied countries until further notice, the Norwegian defence ministry said today.

"Norway has received information that Russia has decided to 'freeze' all military cooperation with NATO and allied countries until further notice," the ministry said.

A ministry spokeswoman, Heiki Langvik-Hansen, said "the Russian defence ministry had telephoned the Norwegian embassy in Moscow" informing Norway of the development.

NATO foreign ministers had yesterday declared that "business as usual" with Moscow was now impossible following Russia's invasion of Georgian territory in a fierce conflict over the South Ossetia separatist region.

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer accused Russia of failing to respect a French-brokered peace plan requiring both sides to move troops back to their positions before Georgia launched an offensive on the separatist region of South Ossetia.



Read more: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,2421...

[superconnected]

1. It's like bushco has a twin.

[Mongooseflies]

2. This does not bode well

All because a few greedy US oil execs (redundant i know) and a few administration cronies told Georgia to "go for it" because of the sweet oil deals cut a month ago.
Georgia figured we had their back - guess not.
Now we have this wonderful domino effect of saber rattling and nuclear standoffs where everyone is drawing their line in the sand.
Syria just signed a missile deal with Russia, Poland signs one with us. Both countries are infuriated.
It's truly the cold war all over again only this ones outcome could be very different.
I really hope I'm wrong but this just doesn't feel right.
It also doesn't help the chimp in office has done/said nothing to quell this situation - only exacerbate it.
Even McThuseleh made us look even more ridiculous by saying in the 21st century we don't invade sovereign countries. wtf?
My money says Russia is seizing their opportunity with our military bogged down in the desert, our moral reputation in tatters and I doubt they're going to back off of this.

Again, I really hope I'm wrong.

[maddezmom]

3. Russia warns NATO against re-equipping Georgia's military

Source: Xinhua


BRUSSELS, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia's ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin warned Wednesday NATO against filling the gap of losses of the Georgian military incurred in its conflict with Russia.

"Any attempt of NATO to fill the gap of losses of the Georgian army contradicts the conventions of the OSCE (Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe)," Rogozin told reporters.

All NATO countries, Russia and Georgia are members of the OSCE.

He said the provision of strategic armament to Georgia and the flight of NATO reconnaissance planes along Russia's borders as requested by Georgia are regarded as hostile actions to Russia.

He warned that these actions may make Russia change its position on its relationship with the West, including military cooperation and on Moscow's policy on Iran.




Read more: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/21/content_95...

[Junkdrawer]

4. Betcha even more gasoline will be thrown on this fire before November...

Wanna bet?

[Purveyor]

15. I'll bet you are right. The pollsters are telling us that 'national security' has overtaken the

economy as a number one issue since this Russian/Georgian conflict.

Indeed, this is working out quite well for McCain.

[Supersedeas]

21. lil' Dick Cheney's October Surprise

[endarkenment]

5. Why are we prodding the bear?

wtf? have we gone officially and totally nuts? Russia is not Iraq.

[Virginia Dare]

6. Commander AWOL: Bring It On!...n/t

[jayfish]

10. Why Are We Prodding The Bear???

Geeze, I give up on this place. Everyone has gone completely crazy with their Bush hatred.

[endarkenment]

14. So hypothetically

were Russia to start flying recon missions from Cuba on our borders, sign a missile defense treaty with Venezuela and move to install threat-parity destabilizing treaty-violating systems in Venezuela, and establish permanent military bases in Mexico and start training and equipping the Mexican army, would you find that an aggressive threatening and confrontational set of actions on the part of the Russians?

[MGKrebs]

16. If we invaded Venezuela and destroyed half of their Russian-made

military equipment and then said they weren't allowed to replace it with Russian equipment, and stationed a couple of aircraft carriers right off their coast and said no one was allowed to fly over to make sure we were staying in international waters even if the flights stayed within Venezuela's territorial water, then maybe you would have an analogy.

[Roy]

22. Setting a trap for President Obama.

Looks like Lil Bush is taking advice from the Ole' Man.

Stoke the climate for unnecessary confrontation, then hamper his every move to alleviate the situation they caused, and then condemn the new Dem President for being weak on security.

We've seen this playbook before.

[MadrasT]

7. Poke, poke

[Hugabear]

8. We are the United States and we will do WHATEVER THE FUCK WE WANT

I think that about sums up BushCo's attitude.

[AlphaCentauri]

9. but but but but he is the commander in chief

[wilt the stilt]

11. Basically they are telling U.S

to go cheney themselves. What will bully 1 and bully 2 do- nothing

[Odin2005]

12. Fuck off, Russia. If Georgia wants NATO help that is thier right to ask for it.

NEWS FLASH TO THE KREMLIN: Georgia is an independent country, they don't have to have to ask you morans for permission. Ditto with the base in Poland.

[Joe Chi Minh]

13. Deleted schmeleted.

[savistocate]

17. The two 'american exceptionalists' above--

No one shld hate Bush Cheney, whatever for? Can only pity the non-thinking who cannot even observe clearly without frame of a cartoon patriotism, short term short-lived gratification. No more time to waste.

You're not among 80% who know U.S. - we are on the wrong path..a disastrous course.

[TheLastMohican]

25. Me smells that rearming Georgia will lead to only one thing

More nice gadgets as trophies for the Russian army. As if the currenty georgian fiasco wasn't enough.

Georgian army is not an example of resilience and high moral. When they found out that russian paratroopers were cutting their rear and flanks they abandoned their equipment and simply high-tailed.
Russia captured two batallions of perfectly running tanks and APC (something over 100 AFVs)

I would never throw US taxpayers money again to support that fraud.

[Igel]

18. Anybody have a clue what this refers to?

"Any attempt of NATO to fill the gap of losses of the Georgian army contradicts the conventions of the OSCE (Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe)," Rogozin told reporters."

Not general allusion. Actual reference to specific PDF or other doc type at http://www.osce.org/documents / is what I'm after.

(Having noticed a great propensity for documents to be cited selectively or inaccurately, or with great regard for an ambiguity in Russian that's entirely missing in the others.)

[bemildred]

19. Dunno. They have mentioned CFE too.

I must say I look forward to hearing the arguments.

[MGKrebs]

20. I'm not sure, but I highly doubt it says something like

"If your military equipment gets destroyed by an invading force you don't get to replace it unless you buy it from the invader".

[maddezmom]

23. Russia does not plan to shut doors to NATO-Lavrov

SOCHI, Russia, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Russia is not planning to shut any doors in its relations with NATO, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

"We are not going to shut the doors," he told reporters when asked how Russia would respond to NATO's decision this week to freeze contacts with Moscow over its military operation in Georgia.

"It all depends on NATO priorities: if they prefer to support the bankrupt Saakashvili regime to partnership with Russia, that will not be our fault," Lavrov said, referring to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

"I can only say that Russia needs cooperation with NATO no more than NATO needs Russia," he added.

more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LL95190.htm

[lovuian]

24. Russia is definitely siding with Iran now if there was any doubt

its over...