Are you ready for World War???

Better start buying those Euros.

As reported in the Boston Herald, Russia may be on the verge of blaming Western intelligence for the September hostage seizure at a school in southern Russia:

http://news.bostonherald.com/international/view.bg?articleid=56202

<snip>
Russian President Vladimir Putin and other officials have cast the hostage seizure as part of a war against Russia by international terrorists - not a product of the Kremlin's military campaign in Chechnya, where officials said several of the attackers were from.

Many Russian officials have accused foreign countries, particularly in the West, of double standards on terrorism. In a televised address after the attack, Putin suggested some Cold War throwbacks in the West who are bent on weakening Russia aid terrorists.

in that horrible mess right after it happened. I wouldn't put it past them.

Oh, and in a pissing match between bush* and Putin, my money's on Putin. I'm an American through and through, but I'm no idiot. bush* is waaaayyyyy out of his league when it comes to Russia and Putin.

. . . U.S. neo-cons that is.

Koko also has a more expansive vocabulary.
Putin would make * and his entire "war" cabinet look like the pretenders they are.

would eat shrub for breakfast without even thinking twice.

We have to bring back the Soviet Union as the enemy in order for her to utilize her vast expertise. (Or maybe it is just "half-vast," but it is clear she knows very little about elsewhere in the world.)

. . . superimpose the old map of the USSR and its its satellites there must be quite a sizable reserve under many areas. I guess the real purpose behind the Reagan war against the former Evil Empire was really to divide and conquer the huge country for the vast oil and other mineral resources it has. Ha, capitalism, always looking after its own benevolent self interest.

Russia is now a capitalistic country, although granted it is only a shadow of the former Soviet Union. Still, Putin comes from the Soviet background and could be a shrewd and crafty protagonist. What kind of military strength do the Russians have compared to the U.S.A. ?

In WWII they beat back Hitler's Nazi army and never stopped the advance until they got to Hitler's bunker in Berlin. Throughout the entire cold war, the U.S. never dared to take on the Soviet military in any direct engagement, always in other fronts, Korea, Indochina, Cuban blockade, Grenada. And we let the soviets bog down in Afghanistan which became their Vietnam. But today, what kind of threat could the Russian military pose and who would come out the victor? That is too terrifying to even contemplate.

I couldn't believe it when I read early reports of Russia accusing the CIA of contacting Chechyn terrorists. Perhaps they may feel compelled to aid certain groups with nukes. Also I read several years ago of rumors that Russia was secretly building more warheads and missiles.

...who say a lean and mean military with high tech capabilities, could the Russians not be able to perform similarly with highly motivated and well trained soldiers in the field? Here is something I just found that isn't too much out of date:

<snip>

20 September 2004
''Russia's Foray into Preemptive Warfare a New Challenge to its Security Establishment''
Recent pledges by Russia's senior defense ministers that the country will launch preemptive strikes against terrorist bases worldwide comes at a time of intense scrutiny and anger in the aftermath of the bloody hostage-freeing operation in Beslan, North Ossetia. The security services, lacking proper cooperation and coordination on the ground, were not able to free all the hostages, and the resulting shoot-out with the attackers left many adults, children and security personnel dead. Russia's statements about striking terrorists in any part of the world portray a new type of warfare that presents the Russian security establishment with totally new and difficult challenges.

So far, the only country with a true capacity for preemptive strikes against terrorist bases worldwide is the United States. It operates a wide range of military bases in all parts of the world that are augmented by the presence of aircraft carrier groups in all major oceans and seas. This military infrastructure is backed by a high-tech system of "eyes and ears" on the ground, in the air and outer space -- from satellites and unmanned aircraft to various intelligence facilities capable of processing large quantities of imagery and communication from practically any part of the world. The United States expends major funds to maintain its ability to conduct preemptive-style warfare, enshrined in its official 2002 National Security Strategy.

<link> http://www.pinr.com/report.php?ac=view_report&report_id=210&language_id=1

So now, if Putin gets to the point where he sees Bush as a threat, I think the Russians would become a formidable force to deal with. Plus, if world opinion continues to grow negative and impatient with Bush's actions, as Kerry talked about in the campaign the U.S. looses all support around the world.

"Half-vast".

He's as loopy as * is.

But I wouldn't bet against another cold war