Russia 'may deploy missiles in Belarus'

[Mike Baker]

LINK

MOSCOW - A senior general warned Wednesday that Russia could deploy short-range missiles to Belarus as part of efforts to counter the planned deployment of U.S. missile defense sites in Europe, Russian news reports said.

 

[JBoyd]

Is it just me or is Russia starting to take small steps to restarting the likes of the Cold War, first Georgia now this?

 

[Thorvald]

Is it just me or is Russia starting to take small steps to restarting the likes of the Cold War, first Georgia now this?

Hence my tag line "is a coldwar kid seeing history repeat".  I grew up through one cold war, that was enough thanks.

Where's Ronnie Reagan when we need him... he'd fix 'dem ruskies"... maybe his Son Michael who has a talk show on Sirius inherited some of his traits and can end the cold war yet again  ;D

---

Seriously though, is this some a bunch of old hardliners that need to retire or are they looking to bring back "days of glory"?  I didn't think they had the economy to keep playing this game.

 

[Flip]

I didn't think they had the economy to keep playing this game.

They export oil to western europe now.

Putin and his cronies are trying to revive some of that old Russian pride.
He would also like to counter the growth of US influence in eastern europe.

It's hard being a retired super power.

 

[geo]

It is interesting to note that Belarus is, on paper at least, an independent country and not a province of Russia.

Belarus would have to grant permission to Russia to station missiles in their country - regardless of the question "what's their option?"

 

[JBoyd]

It is interesting to note that Belarus is, on paper at least, an independent country and not a province of Russia.

Belarus would have to grant permission to Russia to station missiles in their country - regardless of the question "what's their option?"

It is also interesting to note that Belarus was a SSR until the fall of the Soviet Union in '91 . Chances are there are still Soviet Union supporters in high positions, which is most likely a good reason as to why Russia is being 'allowed'

 

[Thorvald]

Another interesting tidbit from that article:

The statements from Zaritsky follows the Russian parliament's vote last week to suspend Moscow's participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty, a key arms control treaty limiting the deployment of tank, aircraft and other heavy conventional weapons across the continent.

Putin announced the intention to halt its obligations under the treaty pointing at NATO's failure to ratify its amended version.

The legislation still needs approval in the upper house, which is a virtual certainty, before it goes to Putin for his signature. It would take effect Dec. 12.

Great, so now if they have an economy again, they can start the arms race again... Hmm, maybe NATO will revive the REFORGER exercises soon and we'll have a CMBG back in Europe...

And the other little bombshell regarding who controls the missiles:

Although sending the missiles would apparently place them under Belarusian rather than Russian command, both countries' missile forces are seen as working in unison.

 

[Rayman]

Reagan? Lets just send in Chuck Norris. He'll fix em'.

 

[Mike Baker]

Reagan? Lets just send in Chuck Norris. He'll fix em'.

Chuck Norris has nothing on Rick Hillier

 

[midget-boyd91]

The Russians trying to bring back their old pride by putting their military back on the front pages, the Chinese standing up and jumping yelling ''we're here, see what our rockets do to satellites,'' Israel hitting a nuclear facility in Syria which was reported to have North Koreans on site setting the Syrians quietly off the roof, Iran building nukes regardless of the consequenses and public international condemnation and stating they're willing to fight the U.S and Israel (which they also threatened to wipe off the map) , Pakistan, a nuclear armed country being over-ridden by Islamic extremists spreading Islamic law into said nuclear armed counrty which is in the middle of (or soon will be) a power struggle.....*sigh*....

That idea of finding a small island, going there, getting drunk and not giving a rats *ss about the rest of the world sure does seem like a VERY good idea right now. :-\

 

[garb811]

Take a read of this to get a better understanding of the relationship:  The Political Success of Russia-Belarus Relations:  Insulating Minsk from a “Color” Revolution.  The essay, by Thomas Ambrosio, is from summer 2006 and some aspects of the relationship are no longer as cozy (ie. the reduction of the energy subsidies this year (but still totalling approx $5.8 Bn!) and the notice that it would end entirely caused a lot of anger in Minsk but what's good for Gazprom is good for Russia so...) but on many issues it's still accurate.

Not so long ago, one of the options being discussed on how Putin would hold onto power was to complete the Russia/Belarus Union.  This would have required a new Constitution for Russia which would have meant Putin wouldn't be bound by the two term rule.  Needless to say, Lukashenko wasn't too keen on that idea.

 

[Kirkhill]

I think we do ourselves a disservice if we dismiss the Russian effort as just a few hardliners trying to restore pride.

I think we do have few hardliners that want to do that.  I also think they are quite capable of doing that.  But I don't think that the endgame is just one of shiny tanks and snappy uniforms.  
You have a society of true-believers who were sceptical of democracy and capitalism and are now convinced they were right all along.  They want to be led.

At the same time Putin and his buddies have a great tool at hand in the form of Gazprom (here I go again).  

Gazprom is a cash cow.  It supplies cash from Europe to finance those things that Russia wishes to do.

Gazprom is a leash on Europe.  Europe is tethered and choked into impotence by its need to keep the supply of Russian Gas flowing to Berlin. It gets cold in Berlin.  Colder than London.

Gazprom is a non-threatening passport to establish foreign colonies.  The capitalists expect to see competitors in the market place.  Quebec and Calcutta are precedents.

Gazprom is a non-threatening passport to establish an overseas military presence.  Capitalists expect that facilities in insecure environments will require security forces, including Quebec and Alberta.  And the Dumas has given them permission to raise their own army/police force.

Gazprom is an Oilspot within Russia.  By supplying bright shiny apartments and cars to its employees it creates a focus for competition to sort the best and brightest.

Gazprom is hope. As long as Russians see that there is a path back to stability and security they will cut the government a lot of slack on the human rights and freedom end of things.

Gazprom is a problem.  In my humble tin-foil hatted opinion.

 

[Kirkhill]

(...what's good for Gazprom is good for Russia so...)

Seems that I am not the only one wearing that particular brand of tinfoil.

 

[TacticalW]

I was born in Belarus and have been hearing a lot of pretty over the top news that apparently is true from there. I can't be much more dissapointed and revolted at that country. They're bloody well leading the damn march for reunification of the USSR and participating in a lot of aggressive crap such as this...

Just makes me sick to my stomach.