Obama shows sense of realism

Well the Allies Eki are the Czechs and the Polish, who ARE afraid of Putin's little puppet. Personally, I don't think Iran is a big threat with their missles but pandering to Putin with the removal of a DEFENSIVE system is just wrong. That said, this is more symbolic no matter how you look at it.

If you are in favour of this, you think this is good, but really, it just is a symbol of the Americans maybe not being as agressive on defense. Guarding Europe from Defense shouldn't HAVE to be the American's duty, but apparently some in Europe did want this system. For them, this is a symbol Obama really would rather listen to Putin.\

I have a rule of thumb. If it bothers Vlad Putin, it cant be a bad thing.

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Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa

Well the Allies Eki are the Czechs and the Polish, who ARE afraid of Putin's little puppet.

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According to a poll, most Czechs and Poles didn't want that system on their soil. Wouldn't it have been undemocratic if they had built it?

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Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa

Well the Allies Eki are the Czechs and the Polish, who ARE afraid of Putin's little puppet. Personally, I don't think Iran is a big threat with their missles but pandering to Putin with the removal of a DEFENSIVE system is just wrong. That said, this is more symbolic no matter how you look at it.

If you are in favour of this, you think this is good, but really, it just is a symbol of the Americans maybe not being as agressive on defense. Guarding Europe from Defense shouldn't HAVE to be the American's duty, but apparently some in Europe did want this system. For them, this is a symbol Obama really would rather listen to Putin.\

I have a rule of thumb. If it bothers Vlad Putin, it cant be a bad thing.

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Don't forget that the Polish government has changed during this period to one less likely to suck up to the US, so other local political factors are at play too. And why should one specific system be the sole response to Russian 'aggression' that is deemed acceptably tough?

Let's consider the facts. The Iranian nuclear threat is negligible. Russia's armed forces remain in a parlous state compared with those of the US and there is little sign of this changing. If one thinks otherwise, one has been taken in by Russian propaganda, pure and simple. There is very little to be afraid of.

Well the likes of a full scale attack on the west using missiles is rather fanciful at the moment. NATO isn't about to be militarily defeated by Russia or Iran.

However; That doesn't mean either of them can't inflict large amounts of damage using terrorist attacks.

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Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa

Personally, I don't think Iran is a big threat with their missles but pandering to Putin with the removal of a DEFENSIVE system is just wrong.

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Better defensive lowers the threshold of offensive. You will attack more easily if you know your opponent can't strike back.

It's all about the balance of power isn't it.

The plan is to have two vast opposing armies, that way, there can never be a war....

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Originally Posted by Mark

It's all about the balance of power isn't it.

The plan is to have two vast opposing armies, that way, there can never be a war....

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but there was one flaw.... :D

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Originally Posted by Mark

It's all about the balance of power isn't it.

The plan is to have two vast opposing armies, that way, there can never be a war....

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Really?

Explain WW2 to me then.
You remember WW2 don't you?
That is where the 2nd largest Military in the world attacked the Biggest Millitary.

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

Don't forget that the Polish government has changed during this period to one less likely to suck up to the US, so other local political factors are at play too. And why should one specific system be the sole response to Russian 'aggression' that is deemed acceptably tough?

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Well it seems that the Polish president is worried.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090918/...ile_defense_22

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

Let's consider the facts. The Iranian nuclear threat is negligible. Russia's armed forces remain in a parlous state compared with those of the US and there is little sign of this changing. If one thinks otherwise, one has been taken in by Russian propaganda, pure and simple. There is very little to be afraid of.

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So you are sure that Iran isn't a threat? On what do you base it on? The "Lets all get along" study or the "Group hug" effect?
As for Russia are you advocating that we lower our guard to more closely match their capabilities?
BTW Putin still has his finger on the button of a lot of ICBMs and MRBMs.

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Originally Posted by anthonyvop

Really?

Explain WW2 to me then.
You remember WW2 don't you?
That is where the 2nd largest Military in the world attacked the Biggest Millitary.

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I believe he is referring to the scene in Blackadder goes Forth where set in the WW1 trenches Cpt. Blackadder tries to explain why they where at war... he explains that the plan was to have two opposing armies so there could never be a war... pvt. Baldrick says 2but this is a kind of a war" to which Blackadder replies... "Indeed there was a flaw... the plan was complete Bollox"

at least that is what I thought Mark was referring too...