Newsweek: "The Empire Strikes Back" (Russia)

[signatory]

By Owen Matthews and Stefan Theil
Newsweek International
Jan. 30, 2006 issue - No need to call in the Kremlinologists. Russia's latest messages to the West and its close neighbors are clear. First came the New Year's Day gas war, when Moscow cut gas supplies to Ukraine over a pricing dispute—and demonstrated to the world that it was ready and willing to use energy as a weapon. Then came an essay from Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov entitled "Russia Must Be Strong," full of nuclear swagger and warnings that foreign interference would not be tolerated in Russia's backyard. And now, as neighboring Belarus and Ukraine prepare for elections in March, Moscow is doing everything in its power to ensure that wayward former satellites return to its orbit

More: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10965120/site/newsweek/´

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IMO a pretty weak story with very little substance but does still raise a few (obvious) points on political power through energy policy. It's just that other countries are not just sitting still either, the first thing the EU did after the Ukraine-Russia gas row was to call for alternative sources.
That's just one example. Personally I think this latest gas issue and also the oil supply in the wake of Katrina was the best that could have happened. A couple of eye openers.

[perdurabo]

Russia from XVIII century was empire and its politics was allways imperialistic so nothing new, Russians think its good, if they only would stay in their country and not invade central europe again, everything will be ok.

[GazB]

Russia from XVIII century was empire and its politics was allways imperialistic so nothing new, Russians think its good, if they only would stay in their country and not invade central europe again, everything will be ok.

Little tiny bit of an over reaction isn't it?

They just want to be paid nearer to market rates for their gas, and for their neghbours to pay them a little respect.

Hardly comparable to what Germany did 60 years ago...

[perdurabo]

dude i'm not talking about this russian-ukraine gaz thing, i'm talking about partition of Poland at the end of XVIII, 17th september 1939 and Iron Curtine....

[nagant_m44]

dude i'm not talking about this russian-ukraine gaz thing, i'm talking about partition of Poland at the end of XVIII, 17th september 1939 and Iron Curtine....

no one is goign to invade poland.......

[signatory]

Doesn't the Polish national anthem talk about evil swedes or something :)

[Drako]

Doesn't the Polish national anthem talk about evil swedes or something :)

Yes, there's mentioned swedish occupation of Poland :P

[signatory]

Yes, there's mentioned swedish occupation of Poland :P


Sorry about that.. we had a crazy king :cantbeli: p-)

[hell]

yep, gonna be a real bitch if the russians ever get fed up enough at someone; between all the Cold War weapons material they have, plus the realization of being a major commodities broker, they could wield some wicked power. Kind of like Saudia Arabia, but with a superpower-sized army.

[Rictor]

When Russia tries to get the market price for it's gas, that's evil imperialism. When the EU and US finance foreign political organizations and build bases in Eastern Europe and the Caucuses, well...that's nothing, right?

Not to mention a sweeping wave of old Eastern Bloc countries joining NATO and the EU. It's a matter of the pot calling the kettle black.

[Thor]

Sorry about that.. we had a crazy king :cantbeli: p-)
Ignorant..

[signatory]

Ignorant..

ok now what the fvck ? grumpy thor again

[Thor]

ok now what the fvck ? grumpy thor again
No, you learn some history.

[signatory]

No, you learn some history.

You learn some manners.

And understand when people joke around. ha-ha you know ?
Try it some day. Until then stfu unless you have something constructive to say.

[Thor]

You learn some manners.
Like not claiming that some king of ours was crazy?


Until then stfu unless you have something constructive to say.
Kid, go ahead and make me.

[asch]

hah, guys, pretty little duel you have here.
when we rule the world i will hire both of you for entertainment
har-har-har

just for sure - that was sarcasm.

[Ngati Tumatauenga]

yep, gonna be a real bitch if the russians ever get fed up enough at someone; between all the Cold War weapons material they have, plus the realization of being a major commodities broker, they could wield some wicked power. Kind of like Saudia Arabia, but with a superpower-sized army.

:roll:

http://www.carc.org/pubs/v21no4/images/mg12.gif

Yeah, right.

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

A particular Austrian thought Russia was weak and easy to defeat to.

[Lazarou]

Sorry about that.. we had a crazy king :cantbeli: p-)

...and even crazier Finnish cavalry as your cannon fodder - thus the saying "Swedes fought to the last Finn." p-)

[Thor]

...and even crazier Finnish cavalry as your cannon fodder - thus the saying "Swedes fought to the last Finn." p-)
Time to kill that myth.. We decimated our own population heavily through all wars.

[Lazarou]

Time to kill that myth.. We decimated our own population heavily through all wars.

Well, Sweden relied mostly on foreign soldiers during the Thirty Years War - although the number of Finns wasn't really that big compared to other nationalities.
The most signifinant asset the Finns contributed to the Swedes was the their daring cavalry tactic that the whole Swedish cavalry later adopted.

[signatory]

Like not claiming that some king of ours was crazy?


Kid, go ahead and make me.

Ask the poles what they think about the Swedish kings, are you a complete half wit to believe they were good occupiers or something ?

You have a serious illness in that you can't see some friendly ha-ha between two guys on a forum without having to resort to childish attacks because it doesn't suit your homoerotic view of history. You fvck up plenty of good threads this way. Pathetic anti social behaviour from a zero value contributor to this forum. You need to wise up or shut up. Perhaps you enjoy the play of victim when people daily call you a retard. Turns you on I bet.

seriously. you are sick. Now leave and let the mature discuss in peace.

[camerashy]

To all the Poles here: I'm a Polish-American and I want to tour the motherland for a week or so. I lived in Germany for 10 years growing up but never got around to Poland. I've heard that the Poles aren't as inviting as western European countries. I find this hard to believe, but is there any truth to this? Also, any recommendations for historical cities and/or sites, besides Warsaw, that I could visit?

[Tream]

Man, Warsaw is not interesting at all in my opinion...
Visit Krakow,that's the place for a real history maniac :]

http://www.mpi-sb.mpg.de/~nivelle/pictures/general/krakow.jpg

http://www.sephardicstudies.org/krakow-city-square-2.jpg

http://www.polishsummer.com/images/Wawel_Zima_04.jpg

http://www.math.lsu.edu/~bogdan/photo-albums/poland-krakow/wawel_wall_turret.jpg


And Gdansk:
http://www.indiana.edu/~polishst/photo%20album/gdansk.jpg

Mazurian Lakes:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/images/pol_pict/maz01_mazury_original.jpg

But don't do that in winter.... it's -27C here...

[Drako]

If you're going to visit Gdansk, drop me a pm ;) Maybe we'll meet for a beer ;)

"You have a serious illness in that you can't see some friendly ha-ha between two guys on a forum without having to resort to childish attacks because it doesn't suit your homoerotic view of history."

Indeed:P Swedish king was nuts chasing his brother, Polish king, through the country... Silly Swedes;)

[Thor]

Ask the poles what they think about the Swedish kings, are you a complete half wit to believe they were good occupiers or something ?
No one has said anything about good occupiers, just about you calling some unnamed king of this country crazy. And in terms of "occupying" you don't know shiit, swedes had just as much business as any german, pole or russian on that territory and there were no nice guys on either side.


You have a serious illness in that you can't see some friendly ha-ha between two guys on a forum without...
You mean some friendly ha-ha just like Stig Bergling had?


having to resort to childish attacks because it doesn't suit your homoerotic view of history.
Do you have a problem with homo******s? It's interesting that someome manages to put childish attacks and homoerotic views in the same sentence..


You fvck up plenty of good threads this way. Pathetic anti social behaviour from a zero value contributor to this forum. You need to wise up or shut up. Perhaps you enjoy the play of victim when people daily call you a retard.
You have a serious problem with the concept of reality, but then you're just a commie kid so what to expect. You won't find much support for your political views on this forum. This is about you spitting accusations on a long dead king of my country (I don't know what your country is) that did nothing but taking care of this nation's interest.

[Thor]

Well, Sweden relied mostly on foreign soldiers during the Thirty Years War
All nations hired mercenaries and we did it as well when our resources were stretched. But things changed a bit after that particular war and with the Karl kings a reformation of the military started with a draft and so on.


The most signifinant asset the Finns contributed to the Swedes was the their daring cavalry tactic that the whole Swedish cavalry later adopted.
There were no finnish regiment but there were of course finnish-speaking regiments.

The tactic was excellent however.

[Randomrokottaja]

"...and even crazier Finnish cavalry as your cannon fodder - thus the saying "Swedes fought to the last Finn."

Actually NOT. Finnish cavalry was designed to be an elite troop of the king. When the unit was found only the few and the best were accepted to join which made it elite unit of that time army.

"Time to kill that myth.. We decimated our own population heavily through all wars."

Yes. A lot of swedes died in wars together with finns, at least from 30 years war to 1743 peace, if i remember correct and the battle of Lappeenranta 1742 (Vilmanstrand) was the last battle where imported original swedish units participated. Unfortunately that battle was a defeat.

[Lazarou]

Actually NOT.

There's this thing called "sarcasm". ;)

[Randomrokottaja]

There's this thing called "sarcasm". ;)

That is bad sarcasm. Don't forget that thousands of swedes have fallen in those wars fought between 17th and 19th centuries. However, even many times more russians, poles, germans, danish etc. nationalities. Kill ratio was kept positive during those days too.