Ukraine Heats Up

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by finnbow

It must be tough for a lot of Russians to see their country go from one of two world superpowers to an autocratic kleptocracy, surpassed in global importance by dozens of other countries. Were it not for oil and gas, they'd have next to nothing the world wants. Hell, even Caspian caviar is being surpassed by aquaculture products from across the globe. They've become the Saudi Arabia of the north, just with more weapons and attitude.

Russia occupies a very large varied mass of the world and in an absolute sense really does not need the rest of the world.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

Russia occupies a very large varied mass of the world and in an absolute sense really does not need the rest of the world.

If they became more insular and left the rest of the world (specfically eastern Europe) alone, we'd all be better off. It's their aspiration to again be one of the world's superpowers that's the problem. What's with all their fighter jets buzzing NATO countries lately (sometimes with transponders off) and their subs in Stockholm's archipelago? Putin is flexing his nationalistic muscles to detract from the ruble's free-fall and his kleptocracy.

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by finnbow

If they became more insular and left the rest of the world (specfically eastern Europe) alone, we'd all be better off. It's their aspiration to again be one of the world's superpowers that's the problem. What's with all their fighter jets buzzing NATO countries lately (sometimes with transponders off) and their subs in Stockholm's archipelago? Putin is flexing his nationalistic muscles to detract from the ruble's free-fall and his kleptocracy.

Subs in Stockholm's archipelago????

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

Subs in Stockholm's archipelago????

Yes. Google it for a photograph.

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by bobabode

Yes. Google it for a photograph.

It is headline gimmick. Not Swedish territorial water.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

It is headline gimmick. Not Swedish territorial water.

Per this article, the mystery sub was well inside of Swedish territorial waters. And their fighter jets have been getting pretty provocative, sometimes with transponders switched off, as far away as Portugal.

http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs...altic-security

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by finnbow

http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs...altic-security

Come to expect better stuff from you.

Failure to find the phantom sub after extensive search and news noise will be followed by many speculative articles to prove the contrary.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

It is headline gimmick. Not Swedish territorial water.

Yeah, right. Must've been those pesky Estonians trying to make Vlad look bad...