Putin's Alarming Rhetoric before Serbia Trip

[gearbox00]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/15/vladimir-putin-nazism-warning-serbia-visit

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/15/us-ukraine-crisis-putin-nuclear-idUSKCN0I42FW20141015

Putin made comments about 'neo-nazism' and similar, singling out Latvia and the Baltics in particular. Very similar rhetoric to what preceded the Ukrainian war. He also made comments about the 'danger to global stability' resultant from a spat between nuclear powers. Slightly softer than comments in September, but still is apparent nuclear 'saber-rattling'.

I've given my opinion before that the Ukraine war is not itself currently an indication that Putin will stealth-invade the Baltics, given some of the reasons for why it started, but Putin's rhetoric certainly points in that direction.

Things don't look good...

 

[jayfeather31]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/15/vladimir-putin-nazism-warning-serbia-visit

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/15/us-ukraine-crisis-putin-nuclear-idUSKCN0I42FW20141015

Putin made comments about 'neo-nazism' and similar, singling out Latvia and the Baltics in particular. Very similar rhetoric to what preceded the Ukrainian war. He also made comments about the 'danger to global stability' resultant from a spat between nuclear powers. Slightly softer than comments in September, but still is apparent nuclear 'saber-rattling'.

I've given my opinion before that the Ukraine war is not itself currently an indication that Putin will stealth-invade the Baltics, given some of the reasons for why it started, but Putin's rhetoric certainly points in that direction.

Things don't look good...

Yeah... I don't think that is going to happen, especially when Putin has the whole world with its eyes on him. Stealthily invading all of the Baltic States would be a stupid idea at this point. He should just quit while he's ahead. After all... he has Crimea.

 

[gearbox00]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/15/vladimir-putin-nazism-warning-serbia-visit

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/15/us-ukraine-crisis-putin-nuclear-idUSKCN0I42FW20141015

Putin made comments about 'neo-nazism' and similar, singling out Latvia and the Baltics in particular. Very similar rhetoric to what preceded the Ukrainian war. He also made comments about the 'danger to global stability' resultant from a spat between nuclear powers. Slightly softer than comments in September, but still is apparent nuclear 'saber-rattling'.

I've given my opinion before that the Ukraine war is not itself currently an indication that Putin will stealth-invade the Baltics, given some of the reasons for why it started, but Putin's rhetoric certainly points in that direction.

Things don't look good...

Yeah... I don't think that is going to happen, especially when Putin has the whole world with its eyes on him. Stealthily invading all of the Baltic States would be a stupid idea at this point. He should just quit while he's ahead. After all... he has Crimea.

I hope you're right. And I agree it would be a stupid idea, for a couple of reasons: one is the obvious risking of nuclear war with the west, which would result in the annihilation of Russia(along with much of the rest of the world), two is that he would see an enormous economic backlash from it, dwarfing the problems over Ukraine. Even China might turn against him at that point, and Russia would inevitably be subject to a Cuba-style embargo from the West, even if they didn't go to all-out war. If he goes too far, he could have a revolution or economic collapse on his hands. If he's considering taking action in the Baltics, I hope the risk of all that stays his hand.

Despite the above, it's still very alarming, and calls back to a time a lot of us sort of never considered we'd see again once the Berlin Wall fell. NATO needs to get forces, and more importantly, counter-intelligence efforts set up in the Baltics to head off Russian 'little green men' efforts before they start. Not enough to make Russia think we're trying to provoke war, but enough to make Putin think twice before doing something insane.

Also, it's time to stop beating around the bush in the media about Cold War 2. the US and Russia are pretty much enemies once again, and NATO and Russia are at least adversaries at this point. We are in a new Cold War, and might be for some time to come, and it's time to accept that. It might all end in the coming months when everyone calms down and the Ukraine crisis ends(whatever that entails), but it may not go like that. We could be in for the long haul.

 

[jayfeather31]

If he goes too far, he could have a revolution or economic collapse on his hands.

Ahh.... that might actually be a worse problem. Civil war in Russia? That might bring some more extreme people than Putin into play, like Ultranationalists. If they were to come into control... well... lets just say the face of Europe and Asia would be changed in less than six months, tops. Think WWIII without nukes, or one nuke leading to a conventional war. Pretty scary stuff.

 

[gearbox00]

If he goes too far, he could have a revolution or economic collapse on his hands.

Ahh.... that might actually be a worse problem. Civil war in Russia? That might bring some more extreme people than Putin into play, like Ultranationalists. If they were to come into control... well... lets just say the face of Europe and Asia would be changed in less than six months, tops. Think WWIII without nukes, or one nuke leading to a conventional war. Pretty scary stuff.

Indeed. I'm not saying I wish Russia would collapse. I most certainly don't. I just hope that the risk of that happening will make Putin rethink dragging this whole thing out and making it worse.

 

[jayfeather31]

Indeed. I'm not saying I wish Russia would collapse. I most certainly don't. I just hope that the risk of that happening will make Putin rethink dragging this whole thing out and making it worse.

I never said you wished for it, I merely stated it was a possibility.