There’s a Reuters story that popped up this morning that’s rather alarming.
Georgia is appealing for help in discouraging Russia from what appears to be a military build-up in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
As I’ve opined before, the Russians are in a big hurry for their own reasons, and they long ago figured out that President Obama is a weak leader who can be rolled.
This is a “read the whole” thing situation, but one paragraph (given some of my continual musings about it) really did jump out:
Some Abkhaz officials have touted Ochamchire as a possible alternative to Ukraine’s Sevastopol, where the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s lease expires in 2017.
That would indeed be a Russian priority, as the Black Sea littoral is straight and shallow, with few good natural harbors.
They will keep pushing.
I was going to add something further about this apparent letter that President Obama sent to President Medvedev, but someone else (in the diaries) already did this and did a much better job than I could have done. So follow the link and digest that too.
And speaking of that letter:
President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday that there would be no trade-off on Iran’s nuclear program and U.S. plans to set up a missile defense shield in Central Europe.
“No one sets conditions on these issues with trade-offs, especially on the Iranian problem,” Medvedev said at a news conference in Madrid, where he was on a state visit.
Troubling times….
Russia:2 Obama:0 so far
Old_Crow Tuesday, March 3rd at 10:48PM EST (link)We’ve already been out foxed regarding logistics bases for the war in Afghanistan.
What will the cost be to convoy through Russian controlled land?
Goodbye Georgia and control of the pipeline?
Black Sea port?
I’ll bet regarding missile defense, Obama gives it away. After all, Russia helped build Iran’s nuclear capability and sold them the latest air defense systems.
Plans within plans within plans. How’s Obama at 3D chess played in a minefield with live rounds?
I’ve worked with EMERCOM (Russian civil/emergency response) and some Russian military units. Tough negotiators, tough people. Nuance for them is choosing a metal baseball bat vice wooden to beat you with.
“Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm.” — James Madison
“So this is how liberty dies.. with thunderous applause” — Star Wars III
Speaking of those Air Defense systems
Wing Zero Tuesday, March 3rd at 11:07PM EST (link)The S-300 (known to us Air Force guys as the SA-10) is a NASTY piece of work.
The only Aircraft we have in our inventory capable of taking it out is the F-22.
I’m not a big FAS.org fan, but here’s the low down on the system.
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/airdef/s-300pmu.htm
1-21-09 - We are so screwd
I had enough trouble with the SA-6's in Bosnia.
Old_Crow Tuesday, March 3rd at 11:23PM EST (link)Since they kept them mobile and the radar off until you were close. My wife had an alarm clock that had a tone similar to the ‘Straight Flush’ ESM warning in the aircraft, almost gave me a heart attack first week I was back home. Threw that in the trash real quick.
Wouldn’t want to go against an SA-10 without plenty of ‘trons’ on my side and a stealthy ride..
“Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm.” — James Madison
“So this is how liberty dies.. with thunderous applause” — Star Wars III
Crow
Wing Zero Tuesday, March 3rd at 11:42PM EST (link)Did you do any ONW / OSW work?
1-21-09 - We are so screwd
Crow
Wing Zero Tuesday, March 3rd at 11:42PM EST (link)Did you do any ONW / OSW work?
1-21-09 - We are so screwd
No, ONW / OSW for me.
Old_Crow Wednesday, March 4th at 6:50AM EST (link)I came back after Desert Storm.
“Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm.” — James Madison
“So this is how liberty dies.. with thunderous applause” — Star Wars III
Right on the money, as usual
Wing Zero Tuesday, March 3rd at 10:59PM EST (link)It really is a shame that we didn’t give Patton the go ahead to push the Russians/Soviets/Bolsheviks back to Moscow.
But, on the bright side, we did get a great PS2 game, Metal Gear Solid 3, out of the Cold War.
But now that “The One” has put taking the missle shield on the table, I can see it coming down in the next 4 years. The only thing we’ll get out of that is the governments in eastern Europe won’t trust anything we say, and we’ll lose influence in the region.
But then maybe all this is to hasen the return of Christ… Either way I’m trusting my life to the real Messiah, the one that died for me, not the one promises to give me a house and health care, but requires my freedom for it.
1-21-09 - We are so screwd
evidence of the usual Democrat policy of weakening America...
JLenardDetroit Wednesday, March 4th at 2:30AM EST (link)as we repeat History again… Obama is looking for ANY EXCUSE to not build the Missile Defense asking Russia to allow us to Trade it away for assurances they’ll not help Iran get a Nuke… PATHETIC!!! IMO, Obama doesnt’ care what happens anywhere, including whether Iran becomes Nuclear Armed, as long as he can have the “appearance” of some deal that excuses his admin from going forth with any Defense project(s) he can negotiate away….
(RS:Help) (JLD) (Hollyweird) (Brain-deads) (SPIN-cycle) (Obamaocare) (Party of kNOw) (Conservatism) (TEApeats) (respectful) (Reco) (Quotes) (removeRINOs.com)
+ 0bama Lies & your Bank acct will Die! (4/15 Truthers)
+ Heil “O” Hell No Obamao is NOT MY PRESIDENT! “No U won’t”
+ I want “O” to FAIL (here, here, & whole Diary (Ofail) here, is why)
“The first Liberal was Satan” - a Rush caller (other Quotes)
Another thing to thank the 'housepets' for...
CJB68 Wednesday, March 4th at 7:14AM EST (link)This is another thing to look forward to: Russia building up its muscle while the United States retreats into a little room in the corner and starts weeping like a battered child. Thanks to a generation or three of people who’d rather be ‘housepets’ and not have to work for anything, we now have a Chief Executive who’d rather talk about problems than face them, leaving those of us who will take action in the lurch while he gets toasted by his Hollywood/Madison Avenue/Harvard fans.
Delusional and Arrogant. The 2008 Democratic Presidential Ticket.