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Most of Russia actions, in every historical period, are made to impress the internal public opinion and to maintain an overall scenario of continuous struggle against hostile powers, à la 1984.

Putin is no different from Stalin, Ivan the Terrible or Brezhnev in that.

Of course, the same methods are more or less used by many governments, but in Russia is the first and foremost consideration to take into account - almost everything else is secondary.

The Russian republic is a second rate empire still pretending to itself it's relevant. It's allies are now Syria, a Filipino crazy, and some drunks in Eastern Ukraine who shoot missiles at civilian airliners.

Having said that they are still a menace as they have nukes and that amazing Russian ability to deny the truth about their actions.

I'm too old of a bunny to get excited about all of this.

ORIGINAL: HanBarca

Most of Russia actions, in every historical period, are made to impress the internal public opinion and to maintain an overall scenario of continuous struggle against hostile powers, à la 1984.

Putin is no different from Stalin, Ivan the Terrible or Brezhnev in that.

Of course, the same methods are more or less used by many governments, but in Russia is the first and foremost consideration to take into account - almost everything else is secondary.

Spot on mate.

I've heard an interview with the author of Nothing is True and Everything is Possible by Pomerantsev that was quite instructive. The "spaghetti defense" to convolute / conflate / confuse the truth with Russian pressbots, paid online trolls and the like is alive and well in modern Russia.

I've ordered the book and will chime back in after I have a chance to review further.

and consider history of how the Russians are always invaded in the past.

And Russia has, of course, never invaded anyone. [8|]

This was unfurled on a Manhattan bridge today. Would be funny if we were not in the sad state of affairs we are in.

The Chinese are probing for weaknesses as well (South China Sea, Japanese islands), and Xi is looking to stay in power for good..

ORIGINAL: Orm

and consider history of how the Russians are always invaded in the past.

And Russia has, of course, never invaded anyone. [8|]

I never said or implied that they hadn't.

ORIGINAL: Jagdtiger14

This was unfurled on a Manhattan bridge today. Would be funny if we were not in the sad state of affairs we are in.

The Chinese are probing for weaknesses as well (South China Sea, Japanese islands), and Xi is looking to stay in power for good..

[8|][>:]

ORIGINAL: Jagdtiger14

This was unfurled on a Manhattan bridge today. Would be funny if we were not in the sad state of affairs we are in.

You know, Jagtiger14, I'm almost starting to think that some of the usual paid 'useful idiot' Putinbots did that...[:D]

I have deleted some inappropriate posts. Locking will be next.

Cheers

Pip

ORIGINAL: Qwixt

ORIGINAL: Orm

and consider history of how the Russians are always invaded in the past.

And Russia has, of course, never invaded anyone. [8|]

I never said or implied that they hadn't.

I am sorry that I misread your 'always'. Although I do not get what you are saying.

Well, the political parties in Norway do take this serious. Actually to the point that the party that wants us out of NATO (because we do not need it) are complaining about a lack of military forces in the northern part (Finmark).

Those Russian fighters have also been way too close to norwegian military AND CIVILIAN aircrafts in the past years. A few reports of russian fighters flying wing to wing with both military and civilian planes.

And I have to say, that a militaristic nation led by a man that feels the need to have pictures taken of him while wrestling with tigers etc, makes me uneasy.

The Wall Street Journal had an extended article on the Norwegian defense forces and the reemerging importance of the arctic as a strategic field. Good piece. It echoed what you just said.

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: Qwixt

ORIGINAL: Orm


And Russia has, of course, never invaded anyone. [8|]

I never said or implied that they hadn't.

I am sorry that I misread your 'always'. Although I do not get what you are saying.

I don't remember writing that "always" [:D]

I am more concerned about their hacking, because it makes no sense to attack any NATO aligned country, even if you are crazy. This sort of stuff while stupid is bravado only.

They probed the Swedish defence several times as well. Simulating nuclear air strike, for example.

There has been some signals received in Europe, that NATO might not be willing to defend all its member states. That there will be some sort of check first, to see if it is worth it. Although, I suspect, going into that is to political.

This is Serious. Why are they probing for weaknesses that a blind man can see. Must be for the act of the probe itself.

ORIGINAL: Orm

They probed the Swedish defence several times as well. Simulating nuclear air strike, for example.

There has been some signals received in Europe, that NATO might not be willing to defend all its member states. That there will be some sort of check first, to see if it is worth it. Although, I suspect, going into that is to political.

Yes. I've heard a few intriguing scenarios vis a vis the Baltic states and the prospective NATO response. Some of these scenarios have even included Russian "escalation to de-escalation" use of nuclear weapons following a Blitzkrieg-type attack.

Particularly troubling would be the hypothetical attack on a non-NATO state in Northern Europe. What would the rest of NATO do in that case?

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Orm

They probed the Swedish defence several times as well. Simulating nuclear air strike, for example.

There has been some signals received in Europe, that NATO might not be willing to defend all its member states. That there will be some sort of check first, to see if it is worth it. Although, I suspect, going into that is to political.

Yes. I've heard a few intriguing scenarios vis a vis the Baltic states and the prospective NATO response. Some of these scenarios have even included Russian "escalation to de-escalation" use of nuclear weapons following a Blitzkrieg-type attack.

Particularly troubling would be the hypothetical attack on a non-NATO state in Northern Europe. What would the rest of NATO do in that case?

NATO would not sit idly by...

ORIGINAL: wings7

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Orm

They probed the Swedish defence several times as well. Simulating nuclear air strike, for example.

There has been some signals received in Europe, that NATO might not be willing to defend all its member states. That there will be some sort of check first, to see if it is worth it. Although, I suspect, going into that is to political.

Yes. I've heard a few intriguing scenarios vis a vis the Baltic states and the prospective NATO response. Some of these scenarios have even included Russian "escalation to de-escalation" use of nuclear weapons following a Blitzkrieg-type attack.

Particularly troubling would be the hypothetical attack on a non-NATO state in Northern Europe. What would the rest of NATO do in that case?

NATO would not sit idly by...

I always thought so.

But lately some statements have been troubling. Although going into them would get this thread locked. All I am saying is that signals do matter. Sometimes a lot.

I read about a war-game where Russian forces moved into one of the Baltic countries and at the same time occupied Gotland and placed air defences there. The result of these wargames were not all that positive for NATO.