They can't afford it, oil is too cheap. I'd be paying attention to the Russian bear right now if I were the administration. The Russians do nasty things when they are desperate.

"defence?"

Nice to see our UK brethren are doing well these days...

OK that headline is a definite +1

lolzy daisy

If I had skillz, I'd post a pic from the film "Falling Down" re: "defence".

It's a rare occasion, but I think Gary is spot on on this one. Their revenue is way down, so now they're willing to make concessions.

Remember Ivan, it's "Down the street, not across the tracks."

GaryPDX: I'd be paying attention to the Russian bear right now if I were the administration. The Russians do nasty things when they are desperate.

nasty things like cutting arms?

or nasty things like not cutting arms, bankrupting themselves, destroying their entire economy, and spending the next generation trying to get back on their feet?

either way, i think we'll be ok.

+1

burndtdan: GaryPDX: I'd be paying attention to the Russian bear right now if I were the administration. The Russians do nasty things when they are desperate.

nasty things like cutting arms?

or nasty things like not cutting arms, bankrupting themselves, destroying their entire economy, and spending the next generation trying to get back on their feet?

either way, i think we'll be ok.

Yeah. I don't see the US dropping it's defense plans. Russia can't really afford an arms race, though I'm not sure the US can either.

burndtdan: GaryPDX: I'd be paying attention to the Russian bear right now if I were the administration. The Russians do nasty things when they are desperate.

nasty things like cutting arms?

or nasty things like not cutting arms, bankrupting themselves, destroying their entire economy, and spending the next generation trying to get back on their feet?

either way, i think we'll be ok.

Selling arms to Iran, stealing Georgian resources. Blackmailing Europe into giving aid or cutting off their Oil Supply...

Missile defense can never to work as was shown in detail very early on, but it will always be destabilizing. Being paranoid about the Russians is stupid. Talking about not being able to afford it, had you looked at US debt and the cost of Empire recently? This is all childishness from people who can't make use of logic or math or physics, yet dare to dub themselves Capitalists. All of this missile defense stuff has only ever had and can only ever have a negative return on investment, but we are supposed to keep putting round after round of it on our ChinaCard because ooking at Russians is such a thrill.

cyberworm: Yeah. I don't see the US dropping it's defense plans. Russia can't really afford an arms race, though I'm not sure the US can either.

So... Russia desperate and weakened, the U.S. likely gutting its military and reducing its overseas presence and ability to protect its allies (i.e. Israel), China resurgent and aggressive, and the whole Pakistan thing... what do you reckon the chances are of a nuclear bomb being used by some faction or country in the next 10 years?

GaryPDX: They can't afford it, oil is too cheap. I'd be paying attention to the Russian bear right now if I were the administration. The Russians do nasty things when they are desperate.

You post nasty things when you are supposed to be working, Comrade. I'd rather have the Russians I know and work with on my side than you any day.

I don't think this is Russia cutting budgets due to lack of funds. Russia has never gone for smaller military in times on crisis, they always go for guns instead of butter.

netweavr: Selling arms to Iran, stealing Georgian resources. Blackmailing Europe into giving aid or cutting off their Oil Supply...

Yep.

The US needs a missile defense system as soon as possible.

I am so sick of all of these damn missiles landing on our country!

STOP THE MADNESS!

Senescent Dawn: cyberworm: Yeah. I don't see the US dropping it's defense plans. Russia can't really afford an arms race, though I'm not sure the US can either.

So... Russia desperate and weakened, the U.S. likely gutting its military and reducing its overseas presence and ability to protect its allies (i.e. Israel), China resurgent and aggressive, and the whole Pakistan thing... what do you reckon the chances are of a nuclear bomb being used by some faction or country in the next 10 years?

Pretty low.

I am Russia and I need to be loved
just like everybody else does

netweavr: Blackmailing Europe into giving aid or cutting off their Oil Supply...

Europe mostly isn't dependent on Russia for oil.

Eastern Europe and Germany IS dependent on Russia for natural gas. Angela Merkel would do many things for Pooty Poot if he asked, that can't be printed in a family thread.

Just watch.

Picture of top secret anti-missile shield test

/this needs a caption contest

The Stealth Hippopotamus: Picture of top secret anti-missile shield test

/this needs a caption contest

Why is Putin wondering if fish get thirsty in your pic?

Ok, I didn't ready the article, but did they really say "If you stop defending yourself we'll stop threatening you"?

That's a fantastic headline. Theoretical +1

Lets stop wasting money on armies and defense shields, it would be great for the economies of both. In fact dropping armies across the globe would be great.

Thisbymaster: Lets stop wasting money on armies and defense shields, it would be great for the economies of both. In fact dropping armies across the globe would be great.

Thanks, Ghandi...what world are you living in?

Don't make russia wake him up:

Nightsweat: Why is Putin wondering if fish get thirsty in your pic?

I don't know why anyone puts up with that shiat from ImageShack. Just get a Photobucket account.

Thisbymaster: Lets stop wasting money on armies and defense shields, it would be great for the economies of both. In fact dropping armies across the globe would be great.

"Oh no! He's got a board with a nail in it!"

/Kodos

can someone tell me why the United States has not invited Russia to share in the missile defense technology?

I thought the stated purpose for the missile defense technology was to prevent rogue states from launching rogue missiles.

In fact, I even think I recall Bush outrightly suggesting that the Russians share in the development of this technology for mutual benefit. and Ivan the nutjob turned 'em down.

anyone? anyone have insight?

Olaf Oleeson: [singing] My love for you is like a truck, BERZERKER! Would you like some making fark, BERZERKER!
Jay: [snickering] That's farking funny, man.
Jay's Lady Friend: Did he say "making fark"?

Russia just doesn't get it ... We've moved on, they aren't the big bad guy any more.

So.. emo Putin pics in 3..2.. anyone?


/Emo Hitler is lonely :(

thalidomide new and improved: can someone tell me why the United States has not invited Russia to share in the missile defense technology?

I thought the stated purpose for the missile defense technology was to prevent rogue states from launching rogue missiles.

In fact, I even think I recall Bush outrightly suggesting that the Russians share in the development of this technology for mutual benefit. and Ivan the nutjob turned 'em down.

anyone? anyone have insight?

Because it's pretty advanced stuff that we don't want give to a nation that makes us really nervous?

Of course, none of this has to do with the virtual collapse of the world oil markets or the unrest in parts of Russia outside of Moscow. I don't think Russia can afford another "arms race" ... a legs race, maybe ...

Q&D

Fish in a Barrel: I don't know why anyone puts up with that shiat from ImageShack. Just get a Photobucket account.

Photobucket, hells yeah!

2wheeljunkie: It's a rare occasion, but I think Gary is spot on on this one. Their revenue is way down, so now they're willing to make concessions.

Their revenue is way down, they'll cut defense spending no matter what we do. The missiles proposed for Poland have nothing to do with Russia. A full-on Russian attack would overwhelm that site immediately.

The Russians are not that concerned about our Missile Defense System anyway. They are using this as a propaganda tool and are offering us nothing. We'd be fools to take them up on it. But hey, if I were them, I'd throw it out there too. Good propaganda and who knows, maybe we'll be dumb. We've made dumber deals.

In all seriousness, I usually just use Imageshack and then cut out the last line of HTML.

Wrong! It was "The Girl Can't Help It"!

/obscure? The movie, certainly not... the quote? possibly...

Fireproof: Fish in a Barrel: I don't know why anyone puts up with that shiat from ImageShack. Just get a Photobucket account.

Photobucket, hells yeah!

LOL, OK, good point. I've never hit the limit though, so IMHO it's much better than having a retarded ad on all your images.

The chances that a missile defense system would actually work are very slim. But if it did, it would render Russia's nuclear arsenal almost useless. That would really piss them off.

With Oil at 45 bucks a barrel they can't build the weapons anyway. Translation "Uh we won't build the weapons we can't afford to build and maintain if you drop the missle defense program."

Missile defense can never to work as was shown in detail very early on, but it will always be destabilizing.

Bull shiat! We have been steadily solving all the problems associated with anti-ballistic defense, including the problem of decoys.

Seriously - why do you hate America? Why are so many people absolutely INSISTANT on America doing NOTHING to protect itself? There is no reason we have to keep ourselves just as vulnerable to a crazy one or two missile North Korean or Iranian attack as we are to a massive Russian attack. ABMs are NO threat to Russia. They can launch lots of missiles until the ABMs are overwhelmed.

Or is it people are afraid we might actually come up with a really good defense system? Fear of America running amok in the world, imposing freedom and democracy and bluejeans on the world? The horror. Better to keep the world in stalemate, and let the millions suffering in Africa, North Korea, Burma, etc., continue to die, because the US is tied up with defense issues.

Why don't you want the good guys to win?

/not trolling
//rejects moral equivilence. America is not trying to take anybody's land, not trying to eliminate specific ethnic groups, not trying to spread tyranny across the world.
///Allende, Mossadegh, etc. DOES NOT cancel out the ENTIRE, VAST effort America has made to spread freedom and democracy all over Europe, Asia (Germany, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, Maylaysia, South Africa, freeing the Eastern Bloc, ON AND ON IT GOES)

I personally think that missile defense is a good thing. It's not going to actually stop a full out nuclear attack, but it might well stop an accidental launch.

To me that's the reason for having it, and honestly the technology should probably be shared between us and Russia. That way we have a way to prevent accidental launches, and better ensure both our safety and the world's safety.

Plus it'd have the side benefit of farking over any rogue states that only have like 5 missiles they can launch.

I came here for emo kid pics. I am truely disappoint in you people.... so disappointed in fact that I am going to go listed to Skinny Puppy and draw pictures in charcoal.

Senescent Dawn: cyberworm: Yeah. I don't see the US dropping it's defense plans. Russia can't really afford an arms race, though I'm not sure the US can either.

So... Russia desperate and weakened, the U.S. likely gutting its military and reducing its overseas presence and ability to protect its allies (i.e. Israel), China resurgent and aggressive, and the whole Pakistan thing... what do you reckon the chances are of a nuclear bomb being used by some faction or country in the next 10 years?

Nukes aren't that useful except for all-out strategic bombing (ie, WWIII). Otherwise, it's now a lot more cost effective to just hit the target with high-precision guided weapons, while leaving the surrounding area unharmed. This is especially true if you plan on controlling said area in the near-future.

If you have kids, you may have read the word 'Elmo' like I did.

I was confused for a minute.

Is Boris Badanov? Emo Leader wants to know...