Print Story I <3 the Cold War
Death
By ti dave (Mon Sep 03, 2007 at 11:35:33 PM EST) (all tags)
Russia has resumed regular strategic flights of nuclear bombers, according to Slate.

"Our pilots have been grounded for too long. They are happy to start a new life." said Putin.

We now return you to your petty squabbling over the Iraq, kiddies.



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I <3 the Cold War | 24 comments (24 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback
not the cold war by aphrael (4.00 / 1) #1 Tue Sep 04, 2007 at 02:22:30 AM EST
the US was in a position in the late 1990s and early 2000s where it was the dominant military power and most of the other powers at least tacitly acquiesced in its dominance.

today it's the dominant military power and the other major powers are no longer tacitly acquiescing.

the unipolar moment is over. the multipolar moment is back.

hello, 1890s.


If television is a babysitter, the internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up.


1890s by jimgon (2.00 / 0) #5 Tue Sep 04, 2007 at 12:57:16 PM EST
Quite the switch since now India  and China are the dominant colonial powers.

[ Parent ]

yeah by aphrael (4.00 / 1) #7 Tue Sep 04, 2007 at 01:30:09 PM EST
the details of who is powerful are different, but i think it's the same general dynamic. it's surprisingly easy to cast the US as britain and China as germany, for example.

It's possible to be misled by this oversimplification, of course.


If television is a babysitter, the internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up.
[ Parent ]

Oversimplification by jimgon (2.00 / 0) #10 Tue Sep 04, 2007 at 04:01:39 PM EST
I agree, but I also feel  that it's following a pattern that's happened before.  The US can pay attention now and protect it's power or it can follow the path of other nations before it. 

[ Parent ]

but note by aphrael (4.00 / 3) #11 Tue Sep 04, 2007 at 04:09:14 PM EST
that one of the things Britain did wrong was failing to accept the inevitability of Germany's rise and acting to frustrate it in a way that left Germany with little choice but to view them as enemies.

We do that with China at our peril.

If television is a babysitter, the internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up.
[ Parent ]

Right now by jimgon (4.00 / 1) #12 Tue Sep 04, 2007 at 04:15:22 PM EST
The US seems to be in a similar position that England was at the end of it's power height.  Importing most finished goods and excess capital in the  form of foreign investment.  It's a short term scenario leading to an economic crisis even if it doesn't turn to conflict. 

[ Parent ]

China by dn (2.00 / 0) #15 Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 02:17:54 AM EST
Wal-Mart and Treasury Bonds, I think, make that mistake less likely, and China at the moment appears to lack the internal problems of the Weimar Republic.

    I ♥   
 TOXIC 
WASTE

[ Parent ]

China has other problems, though by lm (4.00 / 1) #16 Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 09:13:02 AM EST
Should the more rural provinces ever start to seriously industrialize, the Communist Party may not be to hold the people's republic together. Although, they do have an advantage in that the Red Army is an agency of the party rather than the Chinese government.

There is no more degenerate kind of state than that in which the richest are supposed to be the best.
Cicero, The Republic
[ Parent ]

and we all know by MostlyHarmless (2.00 / 0) #19 Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 08:33:18 PM EST
that ended well...

-mh
--
[Mostly Harmless]
[ Parent ]

Interesting search by Phage (4.00 / 1) #2 Tue Sep 04, 2007 at 05:30:30 AM EST
brings lots of links to their southern flank as well. Someone's thinking strategically.

Founder member Golgafrinchan 'B' Ark


Tracking them is fun. by blixco (4.00 / 1) #3 Tue Sep 04, 2007 at 07:42:27 AM EST
Two RAF fighters escorted one out of their airspace a few weeks ago.  One of those prop-driven motherfuckers.

They always had this really overbuilt crappy equipment.  I wonder what thirty years of neglect has created?
---------------------------------
"You bring the weasel, I'll bring the whiskey." - kellnerin


Sov equipment by ti dave (4.00 / 3) #9 Tue Sep 04, 2007 at 02:39:12 PM EST
Built to be maintained by peasants. Don't underestimate the principle.

I don't care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do.
The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it. --W.S. Burroughs

[ Parent ]

True. by blixco (4.00 / 2) #13 Tue Sep 04, 2007 at 04:25:11 PM EST
The AK is still a hell of a weapon.
---------------------------------
"You bring the weasel, I'll bring the whiskey." - kellnerin
[ Parent ]

there still the mark we design against. by garlic (4.00 / 1) #21 Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 04:35:45 PM EST
they make good stuff.

[ Parent ]

Yeah, I saw that by ucblockhead (4.00 / 2) #4 Tue Sep 04, 2007 at 08:33:56 AM EST
Good thing the US military hasn't been sucked into a military tar pit and has troops ready to respond to any crisis at a moment's notice.
----
ウセーバラケダ


Well, the Air Force has an open calendar. by ti dave (2.00 / 0) #8 Tue Sep 04, 2007 at 02:37:26 PM EST
As usual.

I don't care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do.
The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it. --W.S. Burroughs

[ Parent ]

I don't think the navy's that busy either. by garlic (4.00 / 1) #22 Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 04:36:34 PM EST


[ Parent ]

if you agree with the marines anyway, by garlic (4.00 / 1) #23 Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 04:36:52 PM EST
that they aren't really part of the navy.

[ Parent ]

One thing about the Soviets by jimgon (4.00 / 2) #6 Tue Sep 04, 2007 at 12:58:47 PM EST
They new how to handle trouble makers. 



Russia is set to be a major oil producer by 606 (4.00 / 1) #14 Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 12:38:08 AM EST
by about 2015. Best be ready for any undue economic influence from the good ole' USA at that time.

-----
imagine dancing banana here


A major producer by then? by ambrosen (2.00 / 0) #18 Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 07:00:58 PM EST
What is it now, then?

[ Parent ]

not much by 606 (2.00 / 0) #20 Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 11:44:31 PM EST
Nothing compared to what it could be. The oilfields there need more exploration, drilling, pumps, and pipeline upgrades. I'd invest if I wasn't so afraid of losing all my money to organized crime.

-----
imagine dancing banana here
[ Parent ]

(Comment Deleted) by ObviousTroll (2.00 / 0) #17 Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 02:24:37 PM EST

This comment has been deleted by ObviousTroll





IM by ti dave (2.00 / 0) #24 Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 02:00:03 PM EST
IM movie trailer

I don't care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do.
The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it. --W.S. Burroughs



I <3 the Cold War | 24 comments (24 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback