Latvia the new conflict with Russia?

[OldNick]

I saw images of heavy armoured US military vehicles and troops in Latvia yesterday. I was also told by the Latvian that US troops had told villagers near the border with Russia to get in supplies of dry food and water etc.

 

I assume due to the Ukraine that the US is bolstering their troop reinforcements in the Baltic area.

 

Perhaps the Cold War is hotting up?

[CB Saint]

I saw images of heavy armoured US military vehicles and troops in Latvia yesterday. I was also told by the Latvian that US troops had told villagers near the border with Russia to get in supplies of dry food and water etc.

 

I assume due to the Ukraine that the US is bolstering their troop reinforcements in the Baltic area.

 

Perhaps the Cold War is hotting up?

 

if they are in, we are in, seeing as Latvia is a NATO country

[pap]

if they are in, we are in, seeing as Latvia is a NATO country

 

The US needs to back the f**k out of Eastern Europe.

 

They don't have to deal with Russia on their doorstep, and they are not acting in the best interests of Europe.

 

"F**k the EU".

 

http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2014/feb/07/eu-us-diplomat-victoria-nuland-phonecall-leaked-video

[Batman]

The US needs to back the f**k out of Eastern Europe.

 

They don't have to deal with Russia on their doorstep, and they are not acting in the best interests of Europe.

 

"F**k the EU".

 

http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2014/feb/07/eu-us-diplomat-victoria-nuland-phonecall-leaked-video

 

They would say they are acting in the best interest of NATO. Which is a different thing.

 

We are obliged to protect fellow NATO nations. Rightly or wrongly.

 

Seeing as nearly all other NATO nations have scaled back and have no where near the military capability to take this job on anymore. It is down to the U.S.

 

Whether NATO is viable/relevant anymore is a different argument

 

Suggesting an "EU coalition" or "defence force" could or should take over NATO is just a pie in the sky stuff. It is light years away from being anything credible

Edited 4 April, 2015 by Batman

[pap]

They would say they are acting in the best interest of NATO. Which is a different thing.

 

We are obliged to protect fellow NATO nations. Rightly or wrongly.

 

Seeing as nearly all other NATO nations have scaled back and have no where near the military capability to take this job on anymore. It is down to the U.S.

 

Whether NATO is viable/relevant anymore is a different argument

 

Suggesting an "EU coalition" or "defence force" could or should take over NATO is just a pie in the sky stuff. It is light years away from being anything credible

 

Aye, but equally, check out the reports coming from those countries.

 

Almost always "US forces", almost never "NATO forces".

 

The Cold War is over. The US is attempting to re-establish it so it can position itself as sole guarantor for peace. The irony is that we'd all get along a lot better if they f**ked off out of Eastern Europe.

[Patrick Bateman]

Aye, but equally, check out the reports coming from those countries.

 

Almost always "US forces", almost never "NATO forces".

The Cold War is over. The US is attempting to re-establish it so it can position itself as sole guarantor for peace. The irony is that we'd all get along a lot better if they f**ked off out of Eastern Europe.

 

Because our thicko media doesn't understand the difference. I get so tired of reading / listening to news these days, it's for complete dunces.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

I'd say that if the old 'cold war' is indeed warming up again, then rather than blaming the US for some reason we might better look towards what Vladimir Putin has been doing in the Ukraine to explain this dangerous and highly unwelcome development.

 

It goes without saying that we must act carefully here, but NATO is still vital to the defence of democracy and its smaller members - such as Latvia for example - are entitled to the same treaty provisions of ''collective defence'' as the UK, Germany or Canada are.

 

How should NATO respond to the clear threat to the territorial and political sovereignty its eastern member states? I don't have some easy answer to this difficult question, but something tells me that a feeble display of weakness in the face of Russian aggression may prove to be just as dangerous as too strong a reaction might be.

 

As for calls for the US to 'get out of Europe' ... well I understand the US Army now has a grand total of 26 tanks remaining fully operational on the continent. So it may not be too much of a exaggeration to say that in reality they are pretty much gone already.

[pap]

I'd say that if the old 'cold war' is indeed warming up again, then rather than blaming the US for some reason we might better look towards what Vladimir Putin has been doing in the Ukraine to explain this dangerous and highly unwelcome development.

 

It goes without saying that we must act carefully here, but NATO is still vital to the defence of democracy and its smaller members - such as Latvia for example - are entitled to the same treaty provisions of ''collective defence'' as the UK, Germany or Canada are.

 

How should NATO respond to the clear threat to the territorial and political sovereignty its eastern member states? I don't have some easy answer to this difficult question, but something tells me that a feeble display of weakness in the face of Russian aggression may prove to be just as dangerous as too strong a reaction might be.

 

As for calls for the US to 'get out of Europe' ... well I understand the US Army now has a grand total of 26 tanks remaining fully operational on the continent. So it may not be too much of a exaggeration to say that in reality they are pretty much gone already.

 

We are living in interesting times, Charlie.

 

These articles may be of interest.

 

http://www.stopwar.org.uk/news/why-the-west-is-to-blame-for-the-crisis-in-ukraine-the-full-story

http://stopwar.org.uk/news/who-is-really-responsible-for-the-crisis-in-ukraine-boiling-over

 

 

[buctootim]

Both the Soviet Union and China had a long established policy of invading countries and then populating them with their own people to change the ethnic and political makeup. China did it in Tibet and Xinjiang, Russia in Georgia, Siberia and the Baltic states amongst others.

 

In the Baltic states that ethnic takeover wasnt complete enough to stop them seeking independence when the Soviet Union broke up. Putin wants them back, despite ethnic Russians only making up about 30% of the population and by no means do all of those 30% want to rejoin Russia.

 

Putin has threatened to use any means to 'defend' ethnic Russians in the Baltics including nuclear. Its a crude tactic - foment rebellion with paid agents and threaten anybody coming to the Baltic states aid. Unless NATO shows its means business he will do to the Baltic States what he did to Ukraine.

[pap]

Both the Soviet Union and China had a long established policy of invading countries and then populating them with their own people to change the ethnic and political makeup. China did it in Tibet and Xinjiang, Russia in Georgia, Siberia and the Baltic states amongst others.

 

In the Baltic states that ethnic takeover wasnt complete enough to stop them seeking independence when the Soviet Union broke up. Putin wants them back, despite ethnic Russians only making up about 30% of the population and by no means do all of those 30% want to rejoin Russia.

 

Putin has threatened to use any means to 'defend' ethnic Russians in the Baltics including nuclear. Its a crude tactic - foment rebellion with paid agents and threaten anybody coming to the Baltic states aid. Unless NATO shows its means business he will do to the Baltic States what he did to Ukraine.

 

I've lived with a couple of Latvians. Much of what they said about Russia backs up your post, including the numbers. They are not fans of ethnic Russians, but then neither were they fans of "ethnic much except Latvians". We're not talking entirely civilised people in a lot of cases, and I heard greater ire directed at blacks (except the word "black" was not used).

 

The US has no border with any country in Europe. It is principally US forces that are in these former Eastern European countries, and the bi-lateral effort of France and Germany should suggest that unlike many others, they're not swallowing the propaganda.

 

Remember last year when the US was insistent that the Russians had a hand in downing MH17?

 

"Do you have any other proof apart from social media?"

 

 

God, I love Matt Lee.

[Lighthouse]

I know quite a few Latvians and a couple of them hate Russia. I think it's fairly safe to say they wouldn't be welcome in Latvia if they turned up with an army.

 

I would send forces just to hang around in Latvia, whilst continuing the economic war against Russia. Russians will soon get fed up with Putin when they start running out of food.

[Mystic Force]

Putin is eaither crazy or a genius, either way he has got the better of us. We are not going to go to war with him so he can act with impunity. Our only hope is that he gets toppled internally by fed up citizens. But opinion polls seem to suggest thats unlikely at the moment. To stop him our best hope is to already have troops in the way so if he attacked we would be directly effected. Because if they invade somewhere and we are not present then it will be a fait acomplli, and we will not go in and concede because it would be to hard. I hate to do this as it it "so internet" but i feel it is pertinent in this case, but there was a previous European leader who did similar things to regain territory with people of that countries origin.

[buctootim]

The Dutch Police are appealing for further witnesses to the movement of the BUK launcher on its journey to and from Russia.

 

[SarniaSaint]

I've lived with a couple of Latvians. Much of what they said about Russia backs up your post, including the numbers. They are not fans of ethnic Russians, but then neither were they fans of "ethnic much except Latvians". We're not talking entirely civilised people in a lot of cases, and I heard greater ire directed at blacks (except the word "black" was not used).

 

The US has no border with any country in Europe. It is principally US forces that are in these former Eastern European countries, and the bi-lateral effort of France and Germany should suggest that unlike many others, they're not swallowing the propaganda.

 

Remember last year when the US was insistent that the Russians had a hand in downing MH17?

 

"Do you have any other proof apart from social media?"

 

 

God, I love Matt Lee.

 

and somehow you got a visa to visit the US........mmmmmmmm ............

[pap]

and somehow you got a visa to visit the US........mmmmmmmm ............

 

Repeatedly, my good man.

 

The missus did me the honour of washing a passport for me, and I waylaid its replacement, so I've had to apply for ESTAs a few times in the past two years.

 

If people were barred from being in the US on the basis of being critical to its pronouncements, they'd have to kick half the present US citizens out right now. And the other half when a Republican President is elected.

[OldNick]

I know quite a few Latvians and a couple of them hate Russia. I think it's fairly safe to say they wouldn't be welcome in Latvia if they turned up with an army.

 

I would send forces just to hang around in Latvia, whilst continuing the economic war against Russia. Russians will soon get fed up with Putin when they start running out of food.

There are about 40% of Latvians with Russian extraction. Apparently when Latvia was part of the Soviet Union the Russians treated the people quite poorly and now the roles have reversed the Latvians are making it difficult for the Russian Latvians. It is hard for them to get passports.

[SarniaSaint]

Repeatedly, my good man.

 

The missus did me the honour of washing a passport for me, and I waylaid its replacement, so I've had to apply for ESTAs a few times in the past two years.

 

If people were barred from being in the US on the basis of being critical to its pronouncements, they'd have to kick half the present US citizens out right now. And the other half when a Republican President is elected.

 

...........think the Republicans are un electable for prez