Putin calls US "wolf" and promises arm race

[tocqueville]

Russia needs to be strong against 'fortress' US:
Putin Wed May 10, 11:10 AM ET

MOSCOW (AFP)

......

Putin warned that it was "premature to speak of the end of the arms race. It is in reality rising to a new technological level."

He said that Russia was forced to react when the United States was spending 25 times more on defence.

"In the defence sphere, this is called 'their house is their fortress.' Well done! But it means that we must build our house strongly, reliably, because we see what's going on in the world."
......

He then borrowed a Russian saying to illustrate the United States' alleged double standards. "As the saying goes, comrade wolf knows who to eat and he eats without listening to others."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060510/wl_afp/russiapolitics_060510150951;_ylt=AhNid1t.ysgR_rlsPt4IUleFOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[BlooInBloo]

1. (a) Good job gw! fucking jackasss....

(b) It doesn't really matter all that much. Russia can't afford the race now any more than they could then.

(c) See (a).

[Virginia Dare]

2. But China CAN afford it....n/t

[BlooInBloo]

7. :) I forgot to mention (d)...

(d) See (a) again for good measure, since there are other countries in the world.

:)

[Horse with no Name]

16. And we can ONLY afford it

Because China allows us to.

[area51]

19. Yes.

And we can afford it b/c the tax money that could be used to pay for universal healthcare is instead given to the military.

[Virginia Dare]

25. Essentially the American consumer...

is funding the PRC Military machine. This is what we get in exchange for a cheap meaningless consumer goods.

What a world!



:crazy:

[tocqueville]

3. b) don't be so sure about that

Russia failed before because of the system. Now they have a capitalistic system.

[Trouser Trout]

5. Yeah, what BlooinBloo said

Is there anyone left to piss off?

[BlooInBloo]

6. Nah. They have an oligarchy.

And I say based on the completely unfounded assumption that I'm not speaking to someone for whom capitalism and and oligarchy are one and the same thing.

But economico-politial system is really neither here nor there. The basic issue issue whether or not the Russian govt has the fundage available to get into a substantial arms race with us. They don't.

I still remember the lollercaust that hit me when I learned that Soviet sub bases were being closed because the electric company was cutting them off for failure to pay their electric bills.

[AndyTiedye]

9. So Do We

It's not capitalism anymore when a syndicate of robber barons buy the government.

[tocqueville]

13. it's a remain of the old system (subs), it won't last...

besides it's a capitalistic oligarchy. Olygarchy is the form of government, capitalism is the econonomical base. They are at the level of capitalism the US was 100 years ago, and it's damn efficient because it doesn't take environment and social damage into account. It means that they can trade arms and invest in a completely different way than in a system where the Politburo decides everything. Another thing is that in the old sytem the Russians didn't have key components the west had (like some electronics). But they could still manufacture missiles, planes and nuclear weapons that could match the West. And now they have access to all the stuff.

And you can be sure that a nation like Russia, if it feels threatened, can on a short time compeletely militarize their society. They have done it before, they are used to it.

I agree that money is important, but I wonder if it is the key factor.

[BlooInBloo]

20. To your wonder: it is.

LOL

:)

One could argue quite convincingly that lack of fundage is the primary reason that human history has been "so" peaceful.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. roadside bombs are cheap.

[dysfunctional press]

21. and they have huge energy reserves

this time around they CAN afford it.

[tridim]

4. The US can't afford it either

Not that that'll stop the tyrant Bush.

[AndyTiedye]

8. Neither Can We

[BlooInBloo]

11. I disagree - but don't read into that...

Seems to me we came thru 40 years of arms-race just fine - with solid overall % gdp growth and whatnot.

Don't get me wrong - I am in no way a PROPONENT of beginning another arms race - it's morally wrong, and a waste of money besides.

But it seems to me we're plenty rich enough to do it again if need be.

To repeat: I'm talking ONLY about the economic feasibility of such an undertaking. Would we have to "cut corners"? Of course - rich people and corporations would certainly take a hit (bout fucking time).

It would be a huge unnecessary waste of money, naturally, I'm just saying we COULD do it.

[tocqueville]

14. you could do it as long the petrodollar rules...

it's not that sure tomorrow...

[AndyTiedye]

23. Not Any More. Bush** Spent It All Ten Times Over

[Javaman]

12. Nice to know that it only took moron* 6 years to destroy...

all the many arms agreements the past several presidents worked hard to put into place.

Have I said today how much I truly detest, the sight and sound of that total fucking moron* in the WH?

Colossal fucking chicken hawk war loving racist failure.

[newspeak]

15. oh great

I know just who can sell you those arms--Halliburton anyone?:eyes:

[Ksec]

17. The military industrial complex just got wood.

They are drooling after reading this story.

Way ta go George!!! You must be proud to have turned history backwards into another cold war.

[LaPera]

18. Music to Bush/Cheney's and the "Military Industrial Complex" ears!

[dysfunctional press]

22. perhaps this is all part of the plan.

i wonder how long it took poppy to set it all up with pooty-poot...?

[ComerPerro]

24. The Republicans need another cold war.