Poking The Bear With A Blunt Stick
By Cernig Friday Aug 22, 2008 8:30am(VOAvideo of US, Poland Sign Missile Defense Deal)
American plans for missile defense bases in bordering nations infuriate Russia, and the US has had to bend over backwards to push through the Polish and Czech sites over the objections of those nation's populace - even going so far as to offer Poland US troops and air-defense missiles on their border with Russia. But why is the Bush administration pushing so hard for a defense against a so-far entirely hypothetical threat from Iran and to have bases for missiles that don't work?
Phil Coyle, the Pentagon's former top weapons tester (.pdf), says it's all for nothing. "The system proposed for Poland and the Czech Republic doesn't exist, has never been tested, and has no demonstrated effectiveness to defend Europe or the U.S. under realistic operational conditions," Coyle contends in an exclusive conversation with DANGER ROOM.
He says that even our existing missile defenses, installed in Alaska, couldn't stop more than one or two rudimentary missiles from, say, Iran. "For these reasons the U.S. BMD system proposed for Europe is causing strife with Russia for nothing."
Well, not exactly for nothing.
Even if the proposed European missile defense bases are massively expensive and inflammatory White Elephants, both the Bush administration and the neoconservative hawks who think-tanked their plans feel they can get some very useful things (for them) out of those multi-billion boondoggles.
For one thing, neocon elements close to the Bush administration are already advocating spurning international treaties against weapons in space and pushing for the return of Reagan's "Brilliant Pebbles" program. Such a program would inevitably be a threat to Russia's deterrent force whether the ground-based systems are or not. Significantly, the Russians are ahead of the Western public in noticing that little detail. Take for example the influential neoconservative Heritage Foundation think-tank. Any bold emphasis is mine.
This is no time for the U.S. to slow the pace of developing and deploying effective defenses against ballistic missiles. Indeed, the Bush Administration and Congress need to accelerate the effort by focusing on developing and deploying the systems that offer the greatest capability. A detailed proposal for proceeding with the most effective systems was issued by the Independent Working Group on missile defense in June 2006.[3] The report specifically refers to space-based and sea-based defenses as the most effective components of the layered missile defense system design advocated by the Bush Administration. While the sea-based systems have continued to make progress in recent years, the effort to develop and deploy space-based interceptors has languished. ...on May 20, 2003, the White House released a description of a presidential directive signed earlier by President Bush that related to his policy for developing and deploying a layered missile defense system as soon as possible to defend the people and territory of the United States, U.S. troops deployed abroad, and U.S. allies and friends.[8] When fielded, this layered defense will be able to intercept ballistic missiles in the boost (ascent), midcourse, and terminal phases of flight.
The plans, in other words, require Aegis-equipped vessels or platform loaded with interceptors stationed just off America's coast and "Brilliant Pebbles" constellations of space-based interceptors in clear violation of international treaties on weaponizing space. The Heritage Foundation's view is that the US populace should be deceived about this by doublespeak - a propoganda campaign to say that since ballistic missiles already cross into space, space is already weaponized and so hanging a whole bunch of new weaponry in orbit won't make a difference - while extra money is poured into space-based weaponry.
Now Russia isn't a guilt-free state by a long chalk, and it isn't my purpose today to apologize for its many failings - but as Putin pointed out when he asserted that the new US missile defense systems will turn Europe back into a confrontational frontline between two great powers, "Let's not talk as if on one side we are dealing with pure, white and fluffy partners and on the other side with a monster that has just left the forest." Of course this planning is inflammatory, and of course it freaks the Russians out. They're watching the neocons plan quite openly to destabilize the balance of deterrence between two nations with over 12,000 nuclear warheads each, while all the time U.S. hawks push for NATO membership of nations they originally promised Russia wouldn't host NATO troops ever. It's clearly not in Russia's national interests to accept this and when has any never ever not acted in its own perceived national interest?
But even then, the Russians originally tried to negotiate with the Bush administration, to dissolve the confrontation with diplomacy. They offered the U.S. the use of a radar base in Ajerbaijan which is actually better placed for early warning notification of launches from the Middle East and Asia than the Czech site. They offered a multiple-partner co-operative venture, a sort of "NATO for missile defense"where any nation who wished could join and partake of a mutual umbrella of ABM coverage which might one day protect the whole world against nuclear conflicts. The U.S. turned them down flat because they wished to be the only keyholder.
Like so much of neocon planning, it's all about that will-o-the-wisp, "global hegemony". By encircling Russia with military allies, planning a massively layered ABM system which will fatally undermine Russia's deterrence and by trying to exclude Russia from influence over it's own geopolitical backyard in a way America would never allow for its own, the neoconservatives plan is intended to prevent Russia ever reclaiming superpower status and to ensure Europe remains reliant on American military and economic might. What they never seem to have contemplated is that Russia might make moves to stymie them or that some European states might object to being consigned to to America's perpetual shadow. The phrase "it'll be a cakewalk" isn't just a slogan for these folks, it's an entire way of wishful thinking.
John McCain is a keen supporter of that wishful thinking and "strongly supports" missile defenses "to hedge against potential threats from possible strategic competitors like Russia and China". He also strongly supports continued poking of the Russian bear with blunt sticks which can only annoy it. Should he become President the blind-to-the-facts neoconservative push for hegemony will continue under his leadership and the world will become a more unsafe place.
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President Bush you are a sorry excuse for a president and a sorry excuse for a man.
Anyone remember the hissy-fit Kennedy threw when Russia tried to put missiles in Cuba?
Anyone?
Hello? George W. Bush? Were you passed out drunk during the Cuban missile crisis?
chris @ 2:
The quintessential example of North American double think. It's "morally" OK for the US to provoke anyone in the world, however it is "immoral" for that nation or anyone to attempt to defend itself.
This is the Neo-Con's wet fucking dream.
Making billions peddling a system that doesn't work, starting (at least) another cold war and securing defense contracts for years to come.
Fucking fascist profiteers, Anti-American scum, the lot of 'em!
There is one huge problem that the Neocons are ignoring. The American economy is no longer a bottomless pit of treasure that they can plunder.
a 'defense system' that was already proven to be worthless against a scud missile attack. the poles are not exactly idjits, though. the us is paying quite a hefty sum to the poles, so 'who's kidding who'! the georgian attack by the russians was a great commercial catalyst. score another big hit for arms suppliers.
IndridCold @ 3:
I am going with the passed out drunk and vomited on self picture. there's no sober thinking going on.
Get ready folks the world is going to get a lot more unstable
Roket @ 5:
As long as there's a dollar to be stolen, there'll be a GOPhuque 'investor' hanging around to steal it...
Roket @ 5:
Indeed, Halliburton, KBR, Blackwater, Bechtel, etc etc etc x infinity have pretty much plundered our entire treasury...
Roket @ 5:
sure it is! have you seen the national debt lately? it's actually about $1.5T higher, but whose counting accurately these days?
so the real question is why the Poles are buying into this "Rube Goldberg" contraption ???
it says "ACME Supply" right on the fucking box
don't these people watch the "Roadrunner" cartoons ???
Doesn't amybody remember the Cuban crisis? Our givernment didn't allow missiles in Cuba, so why do they think Russia would allow them in their neighboring countries. Do they think we have rights that other coutnries don't? It's inexplicable that they think we should be allowed to do unto othes as wel don't want them to do to us. We need a real change, all the way to the top.
freepatriot @ 12:
Because, even in the "West," you don't argue with the Czar...
I think Jonathan Schwarz at A Tiny Revolution nails the post-1776 US imperial foreign and domestic political situation quite clearly here:
Buchanan accuses 'McCain's neocon warmonger' of treason
Stephen C. Webster
Published: Friday August 22, 2008
According to conservative commentator and former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan, Sen. John McCain's chief foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann is a 'dual loyalist,' 'neocon warmonger' involved in activities that 'none dare call treason.'
Scheunemann's former employer, Orion Strategies, is a lobbying firm with strong ties to Mikheil Saakashvili's administration in Georgia.
Since Georgia attempted to retake South Ossetia by force, triggering a sharp, violent rebuke by Russian forces, Sen. McCain has been by far the most strident advocate of US support for the former Soviet state. And his top adviser, says Buchanan, may well be the next Henry Kissinger or Zbigniew Brzezinski.
"He is a dual loyalist, a foreign agent whose assignment is to get America committed to spilling the blood of her sons for client regimes who have made this moral mercenary a rich man," he wrote.
In his recent history, Scheunemann was a key member of the Project for a New American Century (PNAC), which lobbied President Clinton for war with Iraq for years before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He was also a signatory on a letter to President George W. Bush, just days after the terrorist attacks, demanding an invasion of Iraq and threatening political consequences if the president did not comply.
This is a VERY big mistake.
Russia will not put up with this forever.
First off the basis for saying the BMD is untested is a FORMER weapons tester. I would bet things have happened since he left that could change that statement
Secondly, Iran has the ability to possibly strike Israel if they strike first. And with the threat of Israel launching a preemptive strike against Iran, it is in our best interest to prepare for Iran to not all retaliate against Israel but to attack us based upon our relationship with Israel.
Third, the reason you do not want our BMD in Russia is they would get a good look at our defense system up close and could either reverse engineer it or figure out a way to bypass it.
Fourth, Russia's not going to do anything. They know not to attack a NATO nation and they know that they aren't going to do anything. Even with their conflict on Georgia. They said they were done working militarily with NATO, they contradicted that statement by saying they are still allowing NATO to use Russian airspace.
so the real question is why the Poles are buying into this “Rube Goldberg” contraption ???
Well, the Poles along with the other Eastern European states have been playing the neocons while the neocons played them. "The Czechs and the Poles have agreed to host the Pentagon's missile defence system not because they worry about Iranian missiles, but because they feel more secure by having US troops permanently on their soil for the first time," wrote Ian Traynor in The Guardian. The American right has cynically used the Eastern European states to pressure Russia by strategic encirclement as part of a plan to perpetuate America's status as the sole remaining superpower. Eastern Europe has in turn cynically used America and NATO as a hedge against their bigger neighbour. Both have hidden their intentions under a veneer of talk about "loving democracy". Unfortunately, Russia's oil wealth and the profligate spending of American resources on Iraq has enabled the Bear to stymie everyone's plans and leave NATO reeling under often unstated internal divisions of policy.
Regards, C
As a "defensive" missile system, this thing is silly. Nobody is going to shoot a nuclear-tipped missile at the US or an ally because we would know exactly where it came from, and they would know what would happen if they did. Even the mullahs of Iran do not want to see Tehran vaporized.
The primary purpose of this missile system is to permit a first strike - to catch any remaining ICBMs we didn't get when we launch a first strike against Russia (or China). In a tense situation, it makes those countries more likely to launch a preemptive first strike while they still have the missiles. President Nixon understood how dangerous this threat was to all sides with everybody on hair-trigger alert. So he signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty a long time ago. The Russians understand this now, which is why they are justifiably so pissed.
What is now becoming clear is that we are now entering Cold War II, 8 years into Bush/Cheney's watch. It started when the they unilaterally rescinded the ABM treaty in 2001. Cold wars are very costly, very dangerous, and very profitable for the militiary-industrial complex President Eisenhower warned us about.
Cold War II is why Grandpa McWar's poll numbers are going up now, and why the stakes are even higher than they were just a month ago. A neocon may know how to win wars, but he doesn't know hot to win the peace. That takes political courage.
The problem I see, and that faulty new missile defense system just adds to it, is that the U.S./NATO alliance is nothing more than an illusion. The Russian action in Georgia just proved that for all to see. Even if that faulty new missile defense system were fully capable the Russian S 300 missile defense system is more than a match for it. In fact, many military observers have commented on the S 300 (Now upgraded to the S 400) and said that neither the U.S. nor NATO has any sort of defense against it. The Heritage Foundation can talk all they want but each and every idea they have come up with in the past has proved to be false or just plain wrong. I see no reason why they should be considered right now.
Why would the US government (hired agent of mega-wealthy US and transnational financial interests) behave in such a dangerous and thuggish manner, many posters ask?
I think Jonathan Schwarz at A Tiny Revolution nails the post-1776 US domestic and foreign relations situation quite clearly in this scenario:
Jim @ 19:
Cold War II? Russia is not going to get into a conflict with us. Russia does NOT have the capability to match up with us for less than a few days. Russia also does not have the allies around them that would come into their country to fight us.
For all intents and purposes, Russia is a shell of it's former self with former KGB guys running the country thinking they're important. Even though they know they have no chance of fighting us militarily or through spy wars.
American militarism is the fountain that puts forth billions of $$ each year going forward for any number of arms makers,dealers and WashingtonDC think tanks,the Pentagon and those who win elections keeping this all well lubed.
With Americans now spending somewhere north of one trillion per year on "defense and national security" why not go for trillion and a half? Or two trillion?
Who cares if it is all done with deficit laden budgets year after year?
Who cares if the American national tax load bears no relationship to all this money being spent which surely must be paid for at some point by somebody? Right?
Americans keep pushing this global reach military footing and bidding the ante up for this ever expansive American militarism and putting more bases across the planet and continue to keep poking Russia and China these two nations likely will poke back hard and deep.
It all has become unhinged from truth,fact and any sense of where this planets inhabitants are heading in this early 21st century.
The lunatics are in full bloom and no one in WashingtonDC who could stop it will.
It is this lack of will to do the right thing,the better thing that shadows everything this American militarism has become or seeks to be.
22 Anonomous Says:
"Cold War II? Russia is not going to get into a conflict with us. Russia does NOT have the capability to match up with us for less than a few days. Russia also does not have the allies around them that would come into their country to fight us."
I wouldn't make that broad of an assumption. Especially since we all know that a good majority of the U.S. military is bogged down in the middle east and deployed elsewhere thoughout the world. There are a number of scenarios that the U.S. will not be able to counter without pulling forces from somewhere else in a hurry.
With withdrawal imminent in Iraq, the Congressional Military Industrial Complex is rekindling the Cold War.
Roket @ 5:
This is plundering foreign economies - selling them weapons systems they don't want or need. Of course the development of these weapons systems was completely financed by the US taxpayer. The real danger is that the old school will see military spending as the cure for a crumbling world economy. War is really good for business ... nowhere else do you use up so much stuff so fast without concern for cost or efficiency. Which is of course why Bush / McSlut want to prolong Iraq indefinitely ...
freepatriot @ 12:
LOL, the Patriot missile is a proven failure when it comes to intercepting incoming missiles, but it is a gold mine for Raytheon. The carrot is continued trade deals with the US, the stick is well strangle your economy if you don't buy our useless crap.
Anonomous @ 22:
The Cold War used indirect economic attrition to bankrupt the Soviet Union. Simply put, they couldn't keep up with US military spending. By trying to keep up they destroyed their economy, which could not sustain 30-40% of the GNP going into the military.
The problem is that despite the US having also been bankrupted by the Cold War, it continues to pursue indirect economic attrition (both military and industrial) as a primary element of foreign policy.
The Bush Administration is engaging in pure provocation. They are moving too fast, with inferior policy, on Russia, and as a result are tilting what might have been a reasonably cooperative international working relationship with Russia, to one of confrontation. Once tilted, it shall be hard to reset, even if Obama and rational consideration re-enters the mix, as Russia sees by example that one Presidential election can completely obliterate current policy toward them. While also observing that the process of developing policy toward them is broken down by historical standards, hijacked by ideological extremists within the U.S., who ignore previous convention, have contempt for any role for the U.S. Congress, have corrupted the U.S. Justice Department and largely put in place a Judiciary to enable, or at a minimum, not restrict, their acts.
What does one think the reports and analysis that the Russian intelligence services provide their leadership - that the U.S. is broken and unpredictable - that ideologues have taken over the apparatus of the U.S government and courts, the U.S. Congress is completely ineffective because the opposing political party that has control of that body refuses to confront these forces, abdicating their responsibility to do so, and that the election system of the country is gamed and unreliable, with a populace that largely supports the status quo.
Bottom line is that Russia must assume the U.S., in the current foreseeable time frame, as an inconsistent international partner, whose behavior cannot be predicted or trusted, even though there may be periods of rationality depending on what political party has the Presidency. In such a situation, Russia must react with a policy according to the lowest common denominator - our worst behavior. It is not a pretty picture. One would have hoped we could have sneaked out of the Bush Administration without our relationship here cratered.
Now that this is gone, what is the next level of engagement/confrontation with Russia we want to hold our breath and sneak out of the Bush Administration, without occurring?
The reason the Soviet Union put nuclear missiles in Cuba was because the U.S. had nuclear missiles in Turkey and Italy. This whole missile defense shield business involving Poland is just a repeat of 46 years ago. Remember, the Russians are already working with Venezuela to develop a strategic alliance based on a trade in oil and weapons. Their response today, as it was 46 years ago, is to extend their influence into our hemisphere as we are doing in theirs.
Why can't we all just get along? To quote the Sopranos, "Some people just don't wanna." That "some people" is the United States of America.
Is "blunt stick" a euphemism for limp dick? 'Cause that analogy works too.
Anonymous @ 22,
"Cold War II? Russia is not going to get into a conflict with us"
The whole point of a Cold War is not to get into a conflict. That would be a HOT war. Duh....
Weaponizing space, under UN rules, is illegal. Of course, there is one dissenter...
If anyone can provoke Cold War II it's the Misleader of the Free(?) World and his team of incompetents built using the Condi-principle—staff with people above their competency level and then promote them further. I hope things will mellow out a bit so that the Shrub doesn't leave Obama a renewed MAD-based world in addition to the wrecked economy, government and world-standing that is already the Shrub's legacy to us.
Anonomous @ 17:
do you think the europeans can rely on the american military?
Since the Neocon "dream" of liberation in Iraq didn't quite work out, it's time for them to invent a new crisis with an old nemesis. Their whole control paradigm is based on fear---if we don't have some boogeyman to fear out there they lose their power.
Paul @ 28:
;<[)
The cuban missile crisis isnt a good parallel. Russia was very much allying with countries in our sphere, which they dont want us to do now, and nuclear weapons were involved. On top of that the russians were also complaining about our missiles in turkey. In the end they agreed to removed the cuban missiles and we removed the turkish missiles. The situation in Poland is 10 non-nuclear anti-missile-missiles which the russians will have full access to inspect.
Also, the polish public opinion changed overnight on this issue after georgia. Eastern Europe doesnt like Russia and it doesnt take much for them to go into defense mode. It's now at 58% so it's slightly misleading to say it was over their objections.
So, now that Bushco. can't scare American's with terrorists any more, they're going back to the Ruskies as their BIG BAD(TM) and after that I guess we'll be back to fighting Communism in Nam.
These people fucking disgust me.
Well, except that Joe Biden agrees with McCain's stance on Georgia and missile defense in Poland.
Biden wants to give Georgia a BILLION more dollars to "re-arm" to protect themselves from evil Russia.
Not much real difference anymore, eh?
Funny how they keep looking for "friends to share THEIR aspirations and dreams".
Good that there isn't enough time to conclude the contract.
The agreement can be stopped by a much smarter administration who does not want WORLD WAR THREE.
VOTE OBAMA.
liberalNmoderation @ 4:
ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
And Russia is the WORLDS SECOND LEADER IN OIL PRODUCTION NEXT TO ARABIA. RUSSIA HAS LIKEWISE RECOVERED FINANCIALLY AND GROWN WEALTHY WITH THE MAJOR INCREASES IN OIL PRICES. ALL THAT SPECULATION ON WALL STREET HAS CHOCKED RUSSIAN BANKS FULL OF THAT CASH THAT USED TO BE IN THE USA.
ANYBODY REMEMBER THAT GIANT SUCKING SOUND PEROT TALKED ABOUT?
WELL?
WE need to get rid of the sucking republicans FOREVER.
(sorry about the shouting.... I get a little excited over the prospect of WWIII)
Thanks W. Bush this will be your legacy you have once again brought us to war with Russia... or is this your plan to scare the american public into getting McMuffin elected.
JCB
Paul @ 28:
Speaking as as lifelong liberal, I came to the realization midway though Clinton's second term, that the only thing that would have (MAYBE) stopped the takeover of the country by the Mil./Indus. Complex after WWII, would have been the election of a classic isolationist-type conservative such as Sen Taft III. Instead, with Truman we got the Dulles bro.s and that bunch, while an Internationalist Republican (Dewey, Rockefeller, Eisenhower) would have amounted to virtually the same thing.
Now it's true that with a "paleo-con" in office, the fight to try and maintain what we had gained domestically under F.D.R. would have begun much sooner; but, IMHO, we would've had a helluva lot better chances of succeeding in doing that, than we now have in trying to regain our Democracy from the monster that the M.I. complex has evolved into.
For a refreshing and intelligent discussion of events in South Ossetia, Georgia and Russia, try watching the news on Russia Today (RT) (Ch. 32 in the SF Bay Area, on at 8 AM and 9 PM daily). They have a much different perspective from bush/McWar?Rice and our American corporate media.
What really amazed me was how similar the Russians, especially the young people, are to Americans and Europeans. Yesterday, RT showed folks in power boats and on jet skiis in the waters of Moscow or Leningrad, enjoying their short summer to the max.
Today RT had a 15-minute interview with Pat Buchanan, who said that the American leadership and the American corporate media were covering up the initial aggression by Saakashvili and the georgian military against South Ossetians.
Also, you may visit the RT website at www.russiatoday.com.
I find it hard to believe that this was all another conspiracy by Cheney/neocons and that Russia is a blameless victim who had no choice but to invade a country of just over 4 million people. You are not going to get an unbiased description of history or current events by relying solely on a russian web site. They have yet to acknowledge the massacre and rape of civilians on their march to Berlin.
The Neocons are stupid fools and need to be thrown out. But again, two wrongs does not make a right. It is naive to suggest that Russia has the capability to stand up to American military forces, and they would not even try. They will bully their neighbors under whatever cover story serves their purposes. In that sense, they are as bad as the Bush Admin.
Vote Obama.
Anonomous @ 23:
I'd like to know where you get your information.
Everything I've read indicates that Russia is still VERY strong militarily, with more than enough clout to do serious damage to either you or your allies.
And given that the US military is "stretched to the breaking point", I don't think there would be much in the way of opposition, unless it could come mostly from NATO allies.
It's all about profit, and the product a Military Industrial Complex has to sell are things like Missile Defense systems and cluster bombs, etc.
About Russia occupying Georgia? Russia is another country that is taking advantage of the chaotic world situation to grab some oil. I wouldn't be surprised if this was all a game being played by Bush and Putin, winking to each other as they go on a spree. Partners in crime.
Any Conflict
Nobody wins in a war….
It is a monumental failure of world leaders….
And to humanity….
This country is in real trouble. If McCain is elected (and there is a good possibility he may be) the military industrial complex and the insane billionaires win. I am afraid your typical American views things like they were still rooting for their high school football team, and that alone makes me very nervous. By voting that way, we have gotten ourselves into a real pickle, and it is way past time for the American electorate to wake up, educate themselves, and vote responsibly instead of voting for the guy they'd most like to have a beer with.
The neocons are still fighting the cold war. They want,once more to fight the cold war again, but this time we win....wait, we already did, 18 years ago(what, nobody remembers the Cuban missile crisis back in 62?) I do, and also how it was finally resolved. Talk-talk with the USSR, and then we(the us that never ever backs down) took our nuclear missiles out of Turkey,which at that time shared a border with the USSR- the neocons want to surround Russia(ussr to the neocons way of thinking)with nuclear missiles once more. So we sign a treaty with Poland saying that we are going to base some missiles-which BTW, have yet to be produced(the M I complex just loves the bushies, they are spending billions once again to develop Reagans Star Wars) and attempt to get 2 countries that do border Russia into NATO. One country, according to PEW is about 80% against their govt joining NATO(sorry, I know Georgia is one, but am currently experienceing a brain fart about the name of the other.)
Eric Hussein in Ottawa @ 46:
He gets his information from Israeli government websites, right leaning tabloids in Israel. Notice the mention of "Israel" at least 4 times in his first post? It's the same ol' what's good for Israel first type of post. Nothing can be more destructive than someone who cloaks their interests for another country with concerns for the U.S..
Also, that person's posts are motivated by pure emotion, no logic applied. He/she are assuming Iran already has nuclear weapons, he is also assuming that Iran would want to nuke Israel and he assumes that Israel doesn't have more than 400 nuclear war heads, chemical and biological weapons.
At the end of the day, talking points are just empty rhetoric. That poster needs to go find another gullible blog to post his drivel.
In matters concerning Russia don't look for a difference between Obama or McCain.
Watch this excellent analysis.
EWA @ 52:
Thank you EWA.
That is indeed an excellent analysis. I would agree with the conclusion that Obama and McCain will not differ in the goal of full spectrum dominance.
The morning of Sept 11, 2001, I was on a commuter train from NJ to my office at 4th and Broadway in the city. I heard, through my earbuds and little Sony radio, that Rice was in NY making a speech about the AMD. Guess we're back to square one, or, in the new strategic math, ground zero.
With Republican disaster capitalism the missile doesn't have to work or solve any problem as long as some insider makes money. That's Republican success.
Hmmmm....missiles that don't work....creating a war that shouldn't be happening...
does this sound familiar to anyone?
Well, Blackwater and the rest are gonna need jobs after Iraq.
34 CoIntelPro for Pronktastic Victory Over SCLM, DIEBOLD, ESS and SEQUOIA! Says: Anonomous @ 17:
do you think the europeans can rely on the american military?
can americans rely on the american military?
Eric Hussein in Ottawa @ 46:
Russia lost a bunch of planes during their conflict with Georgia. (oddly enough it was Russian equipment given to Georgia that shot down their planes) Also looking at the fact that the country was so broke from the fall of the Union till about 2001ish they couldn't afford to fix their ships. I wouldn't be too worried. Russia's biggest asset is their mouth. Same with Chavez in Venezuela. The leaders talk a good game and show stock footage of missile launches from U.S. or China, but when it comes time to fight, you'll notice they do nothing. Putin has constantly talked smack to our country threatening and then does nothing. Same with Chavez, he hated when we reactivated the Fourth Fleet in the South American section of the Atlantic Ocean. Threatened to destroy our ships. Since July 1st, 2008 how many ships have been attacked by Venezuela. ZERO.
BAT S@(T MOTHER FU#$ING CRAZY!
JEBUS!!!
Put your patriotism on hold folks , we have been and we are the bad guy , almost eight years ago our White House and our government was taken over by criminals , madmen and one silver spoon fed lunatic , we have been making enemies out of our allies and are doing our damnedest to restart the cold war and to start real wars . Except for our nukes we are the toothless dog right now militarily and economically and our hypocrisy knows no bounds .
Roket @ 5:
A very good point. My guess is that the Neocon solution to that will be (and probably always has been) let the democrats fix the country for 4 years or so, then rape and pillage the spoils again. And, failing that, just keep running up the debt. It's not like they will ever have to pay for it.
Excellent tear-down, McDuff @ 51 .
I too am getting sick and tired of American national interests being hijacked by this kind of duplicitous crap.
There is no political goal, there is no grand neocon plan, there is no global strategy. It is all simply mindless greed, bleeding the taxpayers dry with one weapons system after another. They are currently provoking Russia, simply to forment heightened tensions in order to justify the multi billion dollar military industrial expenditures. Instead of winding down the cold war military machine they are desperately trying to ramp in up. Beware of US corporate mercenaries committing atrocities around the globe in order to ensure continued war and violence. When the Georgians employed mercenaries in their conflict they were unaware that the mercenaries were operating under other peoples orders, orders which required the execution of every man women and child they came across in order to ensure a massive reaction fro Russia.
It just shows how crooked the US government is right now. Russia is not in the wrong here. Just look at the MSM and understand there is a conspiracy against Russia here..nobody can really deny the lying going on in ALL western media.
Condi is such a lame-ass know-nothing. Russians in their famously overt racist manner used to call her the "black monkey" (the joke being she wasn't just a monkey, but a BLACK one). Now they call her the Baboon. Not nice. But whatever her colour, I'd call her the same. I wish she WAS white so no-one would have to hold back on calling her any name they wished.
Don't flame me bro'.
http://andthecowgoesmoo.wordpress.com/2008/08/24/on-missile-defense/
I commented on this post at my infant (as in only a few days old) blog. I had a long and inconclusive debate with a friend in the military about the missile defense shield about two years ago. The fact that the 'host' country's populace is not in support of their installation speaks volumes to me. Perhaps they, like I, see the missile 'defense' shield as an act of provocation with limited defensive utility?
(Long time reader of the blog, though I honestly have trouble with any clearly-Liberal / clearly-Conservative blog during election season... Seems things get a bit too hairy and sensitive. But C&L is the only remaining liberal politics blog I visit on a daily basis for the great variety of posters and effective use of media... It's what the Internet does best, after all. Thanks for everything)
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