Outlaw: Please link your story
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JMM---story indicates a joint Army/Marine unit coming in for an exercise and training of Baltic troops.
Do not think it is just talk.
I won't; because without a link I don't know if it is anything at all.
Regards
Mike
A couple of human interest stories ...
from Helsingin Sanomat, Putin knows the Finns well enough, but do any of us really know him? (by Anu Nousiainen; first published in print 9.1.2000):
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The memories differ a little on the precise date of the big match, but it was sometime early in 1994: in the indoor soccer hall at Turku's Impivaara, the two teams warmed up for the fixture between the Bishop's Boys and Petersburg City. A fairly motley crew of footballers of various ages, waistlines, and levels of fitness trotted out onto the artificial grass. The Petersburg side in particular looked somewhat less than professional in their borrowed shirts (mind you, they were borrowed from a Finnish league side) and several appeared to be playing in trainers. Someone even had a pair of jeans on.
The Bishop's Boys under their captain Archbishop John Vikstrom, who could have been a contender but for his vocation, were not out to thrash the opposition, and strolled to a leisurely and polite 2-1 victory over the visitors. And why are we talking football here? Simply because among the eleven Petersburg players was one Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. Apparently he was one of the ones with proper soccer shoes. ... (much more in article)
and, Who remembers 2nd Secretary Ivanov? - The Russian First Deputy Prime Minister spent six years in Helsinki in the 1980s (by Heikki Hellman; first published in print 1.4.2007):
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...
In the 1980s, Sergei Ivanov lived in Helsinki, working under the title of a 3rd (and later 2nd) Secretary at the Soviet Embassy in the capital.
Over a period of nearly six years he thoroughly familiarised himself with Finland and met a great many Finnish politicians, businessmen, and university people.
For many Finns active at that time, he is simply Sergei. That old acquaintance of theirs who - before he acquired ministerial status some years ago - might call them up in their Moscow hotel room with a cheery: "Hi! It's Sergei."
Perhaps we ought to back up a little way and consider regarding Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov as a kind of "Finnish champion", too, on the strength of how much he knows about Finland and the Finns.
But what do the Finns know of him?
Who recalls Comrade Ivanov from those days?
The surprising thing is that while many remember Sergei Ivanov, there is very little to be said about him. ... (much more in story).
So, the extroverted cold fish and the introverted cold fish.
Regards
Mike
Sabre rattling: fit for purpose
Via Twitter:
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Scowcroft on Ru: "we assume we have to match them w belligerence." Let's show some creativity in our response
To date the options exercised seem half-hearted and without any clear explanation to the public here. The sanctions against individuals are pathetic, yes they signal opposition, but are nothing more than a public display.
Military options have their place, although deploying into the Ukraine now is un-wise. It must be a common NATO display and I've yet to see any such reporting.
Wider economic sanctions need to be creative, although some of Carl's options would be stark signs of "no more, the cost can get higher".
If we consider 10 yr old Americans ...
then we should be considering the risk to them of directly confronting Russia.
We did that, of course, during the Cold War. The last Cold War study on that was in 1990.
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Nuclear Attack Planning Base - 1990
Federal Emergency Management Agency
April 1987
The Nuclear Attack Planning Base 1990 was an official estimate of the potential physical effects of a Soviet nuclear attack on the population of the United States, including detailed county-by-county assessments of damage due to blast overpressure, fire and radiation.
A copy of the approximately 500 page publication, originally marked Limited Distribution and Not for Public Release, was released in April 2005 with the following caveat: "This publication was provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, for its academic and historical value only."
•Executive Summary
•Cover Page
•Front Matter, Table of Contents
•Part 1: Project Overview
•Part 2: Project Development
•Part 3: Risk Definitions (1.67 MB PDF file)
•Annex A: Direct Effects & Fire Risk, Statistics and Maps (4.2 MB PDF file)
•Annex B: Fallout Risk, Statistics and Maps (6.1 MB PDF file)
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/napb-90/cover.jpg
Is the Ukraine worth a nuclear exchange now ? - a very good question to ask Americans, I'd say. While we're at it, what about Germany, UK and France ? Should we trade the Midwest for Italy ?
Of course, we get bellicose statements from Russian politicos - anyone have the link for the local Russian politician who a few days ago promised they would incinerate us. And, we have it from Mirhond Batch #1:
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Good idea from the first glance, but in the long run, when virtually all who are already considering to migrate, leave the country, Putin&Co will get society dominated with die-hard supporters. When they finally figure out that their cause is lost, the'll nuke you, and I'am only half unseriuos.
Actually, this "ultimate threat" by nutjob fanatics of the "use them or lose them" persuasion is not that "ultimate". If it seems the case, the only logical COA is to employ a massive first strike to cut down on the number of their missiles that can reply. That revisits the "ultimate" game of chicken, where the enemy shows up drunk and high, cuts his brake lines, lashes himself in the seat, lashes down the throttle and throws away the steering wheel. The obvious response is to kill the crazy SOB by any means feasible - breaking all the "rules" of that "game".
Not having been that impressed by the "Better Red than Dead" campaigns of the Cold War, that type of threat does not impress me now; but it is a risk that Americans should at least wrestle with in dealings with Russia - and China, for that matter.
Why you keep throwing this kind of bone to me:
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There would be no need for either one of those units to go anywhere but Shopko ...
is beyond me - sending them into combat is not my problem - they didn't sign up to become mall ninjas.
Regards
Mike