tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526498499129692237.post7923327621598099849..comments2024-03-22T05:17:53.112-04:00Comments on Big Bad Bald Bastard: Maybe I Wanna See the WheatfieldsBig Bad Bald Bastardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01983025559556548658noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526498499129692237.post-45913007399855758922014-03-14T00:25:33.824-04:002014-03-14T00:25:33.824-04:00It's always raining over the border
There'...It's always raining over the border<br />There's been a plane crash out there<br />In the wheat fields they're picking up the pieces<br />We could go and look and stare.Smut Clydehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09409476490132867809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526498499129692237.post-2719086122578382902014-03-09T22:16:42.673-04:002014-03-09T22:16:42.673-04:00The question is about regional powers and their &#...<i>The question is about regional powers and their 'near abroad'. The US has very little standing arguing that Russia has very little standing protecting their naval installations in their own near abroad.</i><br /><br />It would be the equivalent of Russia trying to help the Cubans retake Guantanamo.<br /><br /><i>Pretty much, if we're staying out of Syria, we're sure as hell staying out of this. Like Mikey says--it's Russia's backyard, not ours. I think the saying is "Good fences make good neighbors". We recognize the Russian fence, they recognize ours, if the situation is complicated we flip for it. </i><br /><br />It's weird to think that another Cold War could be a result of this issue.<br /><br /><i>Y'know,it's also worth mentioning that while Russia, Europe and the US jab and feint and circle for position, the REAL threat that Joe would be singing about today is the South and East China Seas. Too many players, too many weapons, too much history, too much at stake - it seems a virtual inevitability that somebody's gonna do something stupid at some point...</i><br /><br />With shipping routes from the Persian Gulf at stake, this is a distinct possibility.Big Bad Bald Bastardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01983025559556548658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526498499129692237.post-23675186591919848552014-03-09T12:31:01.058-04:002014-03-09T12:31:01.058-04:00Y'know,it's also worth mentioning that whi...Y'know,it's also worth mentioning that while Russia, Europe and the US jab and feint and circle for position, the REAL threat that Joe would be singing about today is the South and East China Seas. Too many players, too many weapons, too much history, too much at stake - it seems a virtual inevitability that somebody's gonna do something stupid at some point...mikeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13057701313718589322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526498499129692237.post-63326319834564643922014-03-08T23:58:38.262-05:002014-03-08T23:58:38.262-05:00Pretty much, if we're staying out of Syria, we...Pretty much, if we're staying out of Syria, we're sure as hell staying out of this. Like Mikey says--it's Russia's backyard, not ours. I think the saying is "Good fences make good neighbors". We recognize the Russian fence, they recognize ours, if the situation is complicated we flip for it. <br /><br />I like foreign policy because of all the stark moral choices but then, I also drink a fair bit. <br /><br />There aren't any happy endings, just further exposition. You know, like when Putin says Russia hasn't invaded Ukraine whatever your eyes tell you. He has an explanation. Who doesn't? Only what would the US explanation sound like? Not so good, I think.Vixen Strangelyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01976594951225450413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526498499129692237.post-62598808894181386242014-03-08T22:50:30.500-05:002014-03-08T22:50:30.500-05:00This really isn't that challenging. Russia ha...This really isn't that challenging. Russia has a border with Ukraine, and a longstanding investment in Crimea purchased with gallons of blood over the last couple centuries. <br /><br />Here's one way to think about it: What if there was a civil war in Mexico and Russia was actively supporting the anti-American faction. What would we do, and would we really be so awful for doing it?<br /><br />The question is about regional powers and their 'near abroad'. The US has very little standing arguing that Russia has very little standing protecting their naval installations in their own near abroad.<br /><br />The US won't act because the US wants to retain the authority to operate with impunity in our own near abroad. It's a story told by a thug to justify criminal behavior, but you've got to understand what the whole question is, and how it relates to modern geopolitical realities...<br />mikeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13057701313718589322noreply@blogger.com