OT? A New Cold War

[stormlion1]

The preference I think Putin has is of the Balkans coming under the sway of Russia economically. Ukraine had been moving away from Russia so he started what is going on there now. But I think he will be happy if they stay a buffer state with the economic ties closer ties to Russia than the west. If they move to far he will move militarily in such a way that the Balkan states will be under Russian sway permanently or undesirable to the West.

[Schone23666]

Originally Posted by stormlion1

The preference I think Putin has is of the Balkans coming under the sway of Russia economically. Ukraine had been moving away from Russia so he started what is going on there now. But I think he will be happy if they stay a buffer state with the economic ties closer ties to Russia than the west. If they move to far he will move militarily in such a way that the Balkan states will be under Russian sway permanently or undesirable to the West.

As Clausewitz said, "War is a continuation of politics by other means..."

[Medic]

Now this is slightly off off topic, but would anyone be interested in writing the next Twilight future with me from the current situation onward? The most probable avenue of approach is taking the Ukraine situation forward, then escalating a conflict with the Baltic countries at some point (though possibly throwing in some conflict or two in the mix between the two). Finland would most likely be on the list, if not fully, then partially.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by Medic

Now this is slightly off off topic, but would anyone be interested in writing the next Twilight future with me from the current situation onward? The most probable avenue of approach is taking the Ukraine situation forward, then escalating a conflict with the Baltic countries at some point (though possibly throwing in some conflict or two in the mix between the two). Finland would most likely be on the list, if not fully, then partially.

Rainbow 6 and I have already put together a fairly fleshed-out outline of how WWIII in Europe and Asia will start. We're tentatively calling it Twilight 2030. We haven't posted much yet, but I hope to have some time to get back to it this summer. Once a few finishing touches are put on it, we'll share it here.

[Raellus]

This article seems to suggest an intermidiate state, somewhere between non-alignment and full NATO membership, for Finland in the near future.

http://news.yahoo.com/nordic-nations...--finance.html

This one is broader in scope, with some new insights into Russia's current goals and strategy.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/...eastern-europe

[Schone23666]

Another interesting development....this one from Germany.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32257543

[stormlion1]

I look at a Leopard II and all I see is that shot trap.

[Askold]

Originally Posted by Schone23666

Another interesting development....this one from Germany.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32257543

I am not surprised. Germany really let their military deteriorate and there have been embarrassing incidents in the news already as their lack of equipment, vehicles and weapons is apparent.

They have really good equipment available but simply do not have enough and since they are in a hurry to put the gear back in order bringing out the mothballed tanks seems like a good idea. (Although these presumably are older versions and they already have better LEO2 tanks available as well. It is just that building new tanks takes more time and money.)

[Schone23666]

It's now official, U.S. heavy weapons along with APC's and MBT's are being pre-positioned in six Central and Eastern European countries.

http://news.yahoo.com/us-pre-positio...001730545.html

As Stormlion said, I love how they made this big deal about "Look, we've pulled out the last of the heavy weapons from Germany, isn't that lovely?" a few years ago, and now, "Well, gotta send the tanks back to Europe...."

[Damocles]

Reforger 2016 ftw!

[Schone23666]

Originally Posted by Damocles

Reforger 2016 ftw!

It'd have to be named something differently, since the equipment's going to be stationed in countries like the Baltic States and Poland. Not to mention, it seems Germany is a bit more reluctant than some of the other NATO countries to get involved in this current debacle.

And speaking of the Baltic States, it appears the Russians are now "reviewing the questionable legality of their declared independence from the Soviet Union."

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/russia...200136322.html

[StainlessSteelCynic]

Originally Posted by Schone23666

It'd have to be named something differently, since the equipment's going to be stationed in countries like the Baltic States and Poland. Not to mention, it seems Germany is a bit more reluctant than some of the other NATO countries to get involved in this current debacle.

And speaking of the Baltic States, it appears the Russians are now "reviewing the questionable legality of their declared independence from the Soviet Union."

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/russia...200136322.html

And this also made for some interesting reading, particularly Russia's response to the possibility that Sweden might think about joining NATO...
http://www.businessinsider.com.au/sw...warning-2015-6

[Schone23666]

Originally Posted by StainlessSteelCynic

And this also made for some interesting reading, particularly Russia's response to the possibility that Sweden might think about joining NATO...
http://www.businessinsider.com.au/sw...warning-2015-6

Not surprising, though interesting. There has been a recent change in Sweden's thinking in regards to it's neighbor to the east....which is unsettling considering that Sweden was comfortable with a neutral position during the Cold War.

Also, this rather sobering report by the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.

http://news.yahoo.com/us-warns-russi...222850933.html

[Tegyrius]

I'll just leave this here:

Operation Iranian Freedom

- C.