It just occurred to me that the role Harper is playing here is the same as that of the VP candidate in U.S. Presidential Elections - the hatchet man who just buries the opponent with negativity. Perhaps this is orchestrated.
That's the most bizarre thing that I've ever read. Buried his opponent with negativity? weird, what's he supposed to say. Oh we know Putin is misguided but he's a really nice guy and maybe we can talk about it over cookies?
And its pretty clear that Harper has taken a much harder line publically then Obama. Who once again with Putin is really doing nothing to dissuade Putin from his course.
And its kind of funny that out of the North American Nations the one that's actually showed up in the Ukraine and showed some solidarity is Harper.
And considering that the relationship between Obama could be described as a wee bit frosty, I doubt he's taking marching orders to play tough guy to Obama's I'm the swell and understanding guy.
Means nothing, it's just PR. I seriously doubt they ever really asked anyone.
Well, I don't know about that specific report, but it's not just PR (which is kinda a weird term for this anyway) Putin's support is at an all time high, around 70% supposedly, as far as I heard on CBC.
Now, that's not to say it's unbreakable. I wouldn't be as negative as Rerun. Economic sanctions have a way of eroding support very quickly. There's already some grumbles from some.
Well, I don't know about that specific report, but it's not just PR (which is kinda a weird term for this anyway) Putin's support is at an all time high, around 70% supposedly, as far as I heard on CBC.
Now, that's not to say it's unbreakable. I wouldn't be as negative as Rerun. Economic sanctions have a way of eroding support very quickly. There's already some grumbles from some.
As much as I hate what he is doing, I have to admit that there is an appeal to him. He is extremely strong in a political sense and people respect power. It doesn't always have the best consequences, but there are some qualities to him that people like in politicians.
And like most dictators, he is successfully creating a cult of personality and tapping into Soviet nostalgia.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
He argued Putin's "desire to protect the Russian-speaking people of Crimea, his assets, and the Russian Black Sea military base in Sevastopol … is very reasonable."
He added he thinks Putin is "one of the great living world leaders" and that he "would like to consider him as a brother." He also criticised what he describes as the "idiotic" US policy on Ukraine.
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Word is Putin wants Steven Seagal helping with his new (Stalin era) fitness program. Cause when I look at that picture of Steven Seagal, all I can think of is "fitness".
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"Think I'm gonna be the scapegoat for the whole damn machine? Sheeee......."
I'm amazed that Seagal hasn't taken propaganda pictures of himself leading the invasion himself while lecturing Russian Special Forces Troops on Zen Buddhist sniper techniques.
Word is Putin wants Steven Seagal helping with his new (Stalin era) fitness program. Cause when I look at that picture of Steven Seagal, all I can think of is "fitness".
he's like some sort of hybrid of evil Spock and Porky Pig with a ponytail.
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Interesting. Since Steven Segal is on Putin's side, I might have to reconsider my position. I'll have to wait and see what other washed up celebrities have to say first. Have Corey Feldman or Delta Burke released a statement yet?
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
We've now heard from the supreme commander of NATO in Europe, Gen. Philip Breedlove, that the 150,000 Russian combat troops on Ukraine's eastern border are "very, very sizable and very, very ready." NATO on the other hand is "unwilling, unable and unready," at least if you go by some of its vocal military critics in recent years.
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From a military standpoint, the Ukraine crisis hits Europe at a time when its European members have slashed $45 billion from their militaries in recent years (the equivalent of the entire German defence budget).
Those cuts have left the U.S. to carry 75 per cent of the NATO burden, and they are coming at a time when Washington has been showing much less interest in European security, as it "pivots" its military strategy to the Pacific.
By contrast, Russian military spending has surged 92 per cent in just four years and will rise by 18 per cent this year, according to the authoritative Janes Defence Weekly military publications and Russian state figures.
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Another wrinkle here is that Europe has grown critically reliant on Russian energy supplies. And clearly a formula must be found to reduce Ukraine's and probably central Europe's dependence on Russian energy.
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It's for all these reasons combined that I truly doubt that Russia's actions are based on a fear of the West, rather than just seeing an opportunity to make the West fear them. They have never been so secure and now would be the wrong time to rock the boat if they were actually afraid that the NATO could actually do something about it.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
Funny just watched the first few episodes of world war 2 in color on netflix last night. Not saying it's gonna go that far, but the similarities between the situations are quite remarkable.
Funny just watched the first few episodes of world war 2 in color on netflix last night. Not saying it's gonna go that far, but the similarities between the situations are quite remarkable.
Started watching episodes of Cnn's Cold War and there's so much much you can draw between those events and the whole Russian mindset. Putin must see himself surrounded by enemies. Almost seems like he's trying to create a buffer zone around Russia proper
