NATO, Russia exchange barbs reminiscent of Cold War days

Brings a tear to my eye Just like me boyhood.

The nostalgia!

No one born after 1991 has really lived.

"...Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov...calling those moves a clear signal that the alliance views Russia much as it once did the Soviet Union."

Of course that's true. How much different is Russia from the old Soviet Union?

"Russia’s permanent representative to NATO, Alexander Grushko, said the alliance is dreaming of a “Russian Maidan.”

No, they're dreaming of a democratic Russia that peacefully coexists and thrives with Europe.

calling those moves a clear signal that the alliance views Russia much as it once did the Soviet Union

Russia still doesn't quite get it do they? The West views Russia today as vastly more dangerous than the Soviet Union ever was. The Soviet Union in the Cold War had a critical interest in maintaining stability and global order, the Russia of today has no such interest whatsoever. The Soviet Union had no real economic clout in the global system as Russia does today either. The stakes are much,much higher today

Putin may be a thug, but NATO has pushed all the wrong buttons in its dealings with Russia since the fall of the USSR. Eventually Russia has almost inevitably reacted (badly). Poor Ukraine, sure, but parts of it have been under the control of 4 or 5 different countries in the last 100 years - latest chaos is more par for the course than unusual.

“Now they have a nice opportunity to cast Russia as an enemy.”

I remember when Romney said Russia was the biggest threat to the US and people ridiculed him. I don't think he envisioned a collapsing Ukrainian trade deal, but the fact that he was painted as out-of-touch shows you the mindset we had about Russia.

Not very confrontational at all.

dcog9065 The West views Russia today as vastly more dangerous than the Soviet Union ever was. The Soviet Union in the Cold War had a critical interest in maintaining stability and global order, the Russia of today has no such interest whatsoever.

Noup - the question is - " what is exactly the global order ???"

Soviet Union has some agreements with USA so both sides follow this agreement.

And both sides were quite happy.

Today USA and Russia hasn't such sort of agreement

For example you can laugh - but Russia pretend to control all ex-Soviet territory including Baltic states

Of course you can laugh - but it is so.

And US think that Ukraine Georgia Azerbaijan - it's something American....

Global Order ?

How it looks like ???

Global Order ?

@Olegek: Well back then there were explicit global spheres of influence for both superpowers as well as the mutually understood doctrines of mutually assured destruction and the dangers of escalation over even small conflicts, in regards to nuclear weapons usage.

Today, we see a Russia with a diminished sphere of influence seemingly lashing out. It's actions in Ukraine and Georgia show that it'll go to great lengths in retaining it's influence in its region as well as testing the world's resolve to its actions. There is fairly liberal usage of nuclear warfare in its propaganda language these days, which is an implicit threat against counter actions against them. It's also a foolproof test on their part as they know Ukraine and Georgia, etc. don't mean much to Europe and the US, but mean a lot to Russia. If Russia is willing to go to nuclear threats over Ukraine, do you think anyone would want to get involved and try to stop them?

Maybe the fact that lines were so clearly drawn during the Cold War made it more stable than what it is today

If I were a world leader I would not trust Russia, Not under Putin anyway and include China as a threat also.

Under Putin, Vershbow said, Russia has developed “a new form of ‘hybrid warfare,’ combining military intimidation, disguised intervention, the covert supply of weapons and weapon systems, economic blackmail, diplomatic duplicity and media manipulation, with outright disinformation.”

Yup. Pretty much sums it up. The only question is: What can NATO do about it, other than talk, and more sanctions? Putin has been pulling all the strings so far, and all NATO can do is react.

Let us hope, no, do something, before they exchange nuclear warheads.

Russia has developed “a new form of ‘hybrid warfare,' combining military intimidation, disguised intervention, the covert supply of weapons and weapon systems, economic blackmail, diplomatic duplicity and media manipulation, with outright disinformation.”

How's it new? How is that description different from the Cold War?

Russia has developed a new form of ‘hybrid warfare, combining military intimidation, disguised intervention, the covert supply of weapons and weapon systems, economic blackmail, diplomatic duplicity and media manipulation, with outright disinformation.

How's it new? How is that description different from the Cold War?

Agree. For me this description pretty much sums up what US do in Syria and US / Israel do against Iran.

dcog9065 Global Order ?

Well back then there were explicit global spheres of influence for both superpowers as well as the mutually understood doctrines of mutually assured destruction and the dangers of escalation over even small conflicts, in regards to nuclear weapons usage.

Today Russia still has huge nuclear arsenal - and in better condition than US. So mutually assured destruction doctrine still work.

Today, we see a Russia with a diminished sphere of influence seemingly lashing out. It's actions in Ukraine and Georgia show that it'll go to great lengths in retaining it's influence in its region as well as testing the world's resolve to its actions.

Please don't tell me about "world" In every second - sort Hollywood movie about asteroid or aliens invasion US President acts as "world leader" - a sweet illusion.

So in Georgia, Ukraine, Baltic states meets USA and Russia. It's a very sharp conflict between these two powers on post - Soviet area . An insoluble conflict. (between two huge arsenals of nukes)

There is fairly liberal usage of nuclear warfare in its propaganda language these days, which is an implicit threat against counter actions against them.

It's a clear message - if you attack Russia you will have nukes with free of charge delivery. It's no other option - in case of assault Russia will fight with all strength.

It's also a foolproof test on their part as they know Ukraine and Georgia, etc. don't mean much to Europe and the US, but mean a lot to Russia.

Now we have pro-western regimes in Georgia and in Ukraine .

But funny thing - economically they depend from Russia not from West.

Ukraine and Georgia badly need Russian market to survive.

US has only one interest in 40 millions Ukraine - to put military bases there...