Comments on: Cold War II? http://bucf.wordpress.com/2008/08/27/cold-war-ii/ This is the Birmingham University Conservative Future Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:18:11 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Dan http://bucf.wordpress.com/2008/08/27/cold-war-ii/#comment-9284 Dan Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:30:57 +0000 http://bucf.wordpress.com/?p=1716#comment-9284 I agree I don't think they ever willingly accepted capitalism, I think they recognised that in order to be able to challenege the west they had to have not just the military strength but the economic strength to go with it. They have both now. As for me being 'nonchalant' in regards to Russia being the sole aggressor I have come to this conclusion entirely on the russian's actions. The fact that their troops went far beyond the borders of south ossetia, their refusal to leave, their mixed messages, their blockading ports along the coast of georgia, their support for the other breakaway region Abkhazia, all suggests to me they were using south ossetia as a smoke screen to conceal their real goal which is the removal of the Georgian Government. In addition they launched their assault on the opening day of the Olympics which is traditionally meant to signal a time of international peace and co-operation. As far as I, and indeed international law is concerned, the Russians actions were deliberate, calculated and wholly unjustifiable. I agree I don’t think they ever willingly accepted capitalism, I think they recognised that in order to be able to challenege the west they had to have not just the military strength but the economic strength to go with it. They have both now. As for me being ‘nonchalant’ in regards to Russia being the sole aggressor I have come to this conclusion entirely on the russian’s actions.

The fact that their troops went far beyond the borders of south ossetia, their refusal to leave, their mixed messages, their blockading ports along the coast of georgia, their support for the other breakaway region Abkhazia, all suggests to me they were using south ossetia as a smoke screen to conceal their real goal which is the removal of the Georgian Government.

In addition they launched their assault on the opening day of the Olympics which is traditionally meant to signal a time of international peace and co-operation. As far as I, and indeed international law is concerned, the Russians actions were deliberate, calculated and wholly unjustifiable.

]]> By: Luke_D http://bucf.wordpress.com/2008/08/27/cold-war-ii/#comment-9283 Luke_D Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:26:52 +0000 http://bucf.wordpress.com/?p=1716#comment-9283 I'm naturally skeptical of someone who can so nonchalantly say that it is one side or another who are telling the truth, even when you justify such an opinion. What I would suggest in relation to Russia is this: I'm not sure that the scars of communism have ever really healed, as much as public figures try to maintain otherwise. Russia has always been something of an international outcast, and nor has this changed in more recent times. Whether this means that they seem to have the potential to begin a new Cold War at any point I'm not sure, as I think the world is in a stronger place in international terms now than it was previously. Perhaps this is idealistic, who knows? I’m naturally skeptical of someone who can so nonchalantly say that it is one side or another who are telling the truth, even when you justify such an opinion.
What I would suggest in relation to Russia is this: I’m not sure that the scars of communism have ever really healed, as much as public figures try to maintain otherwise. Russia has always been something of an international outcast, and nor has this changed in more recent times. Whether this means that they seem to have the potential to begin a new Cold War at any point I’m not sure, as I think the world is in a stronger place in international terms now than it was previously. Perhaps this is idealistic, who knows?

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