Ripping the lid off of Hell Part ll

[Sassygrl]

Russia: Poland risks attack because of US missiles
By JIM HEINTZ, Associated Press Writer

MOSCOW - A top Russian general said Friday that Poland's agreement to accept a U.S. missile interceptor base exposes the ex-communist nation to attack, possibly by nuclear weapons, the Interfax news agency reported.

The statement by Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn is the strongest threat that Russia has issued against the plans to put missile defense elements in former Soviet satellite nations.

Poland and the United States on Thursday signed a deal for Poland to accept a missile interceptor base as part of a system the United States says is aimed at blocking attacks by rogue nations. Moscow, however, feels it is aimed at Russia's missile force.

"Poland, by deploying (the system) is exposing itself to a strike — 100 percent," Nogovitsyn, the deputy chief of staff, was quoted as saying.

He added, in clear reference to the agreement, that Russia's military doctrine sanctions the use of nuclear weapons "against the allies of countries having nuclear weapons if they in some way help them." Nogovitsyn that would include elements of strategic deterrence systems, he said, according to Interfax.

At a news conference earlier Friday, Nogovitsyn had reiterated Russia's frequently stated warning that placing missile-defense elements in Poland and the Czech Republic would bring an unspecified military response. But his subsequent reported statement substantially stepped up a war of words.

U.S. officials have said the timing of the deal was not meant to antagonize Russian leaders at a time when relations already are strained over the recent fighting between Russia and Georgia over the separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia.

Russian forces went deep into Georgia in the fighting, raising wide concerns that Russia could be seeking to occupy parts of its small, pro-U.S. neighbor, which has vigorously lobbied to join NATO, or even to force its government to collapse.

Under the agreement that Warsaw and Washington reached Thursday, Poland will accept an American missile interceptor base.

"We have crossed the Rubicon," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, referring to U.S. consent to Poland's demands after more than 18 months of negotiations.

Washington says the planned system, which is not yet operational, is needed to protect the U.S. and Europe from possible attacks by missile-armed "rogue states" like Iran. The Kremlin, however, feels it is aimed at Russia's missile force and warns it will worsen tensions.

In an interview on Poland's news channel TVN24, Tusk said the United States agreed to help augment Poland's defenses with Patriot missiles in exchange for placing 10 missile defense interceptors in the Eastern European country.

He said the deal also includes a "mutual commitment" between the two nations to come to each other's assistance "in case of trouble."

That clause appeared to be a direct reference to Russia.

Poland has all along been guided by fears of a newly resurgent Russia, an anxiety that has intensified with Russia's offensive in Georgia. In past days, Polish leaders said that fighting justified Poland's demands that it get additional security guarantees from Washington in exchange for allowing the anti-missile base on its soil.

The drumbeat is getting louder...

We have not had such an adversarial relationship with Russia since the wall came down. What is the difference now? Oil and natural gas. We have not been paying attention. When the wall came down the USSR was a shell ready for collapse due to it's nearly four generations of communist economics. What we failed to realize is that while we are out there bombing other oil producung countries for the sake of democracy, Russia has become wealthy on it's huge natural stores of oil and natural gas. They know that they hold the power to control the industrialized world if they own the fuel. Look at the stunts they have pulled in the Balkans with turning off the valve on the natural gas pipline in exchange for extortionist increases in pricing. They have learned about their power very quickly.

If we don't want to become their next victims, we need alternative energy and better transportation technology now. Back in the day my grandmother urged me to learn to speak Russian, and damn it, decades later she is still right !

[Arius]

Sassy, we haven't had tensions with Russia because we have been willing to overlook their transgressions and cater to their demands. Odd how tensions don't arise when you do exactly as you are told.

Now that certain people are coming into power that have a VESTED and FINANCIAL interest in showdowns with Russia, these types of things will be happening more and more.

[Pineygirl]

Originally Posted by Sassygrl

[b]
If we don't want to become their next victims, we need alternative energy and better transportation technology now. Back in the day my grandmother urged me to learn to speak Russian, and damn it, decades later she is still right !

A good place to start would be to drill for more oil while we're jumping through all of the enviornmental hoops needed to build solar, wind or nuclear plants.

At least it could help us get through the next year or two...

[Arius]

It will take longer than the "next year or two" to drill in places we are not already drilling in. So no, drilling will not help us short term one bit.

[Sassygrl]

I think that drilling for oil here is a very tiny bandaid, not to say that we shouldn't do it, but it is a distraction. The politicians count on us fighting with eachother over this so that they are not held accountable for formulating a comprehensive energy policy. They must be laughing their asses off about how they get the American people to argue that drilling for oil, or not drilling for oil here is the answer. That oil would last for 9 months. Why don't we stop being puppets and require more of ourselves intellectually? We don't want to hear that we will really need to change everything about how we live in order to be economically independant from the oil producing nations, one of which is Russia.

[proudrepub1]

Actually, the lifting of the ban will lower prices, immediately. Do you know what speculation is? Perhaps you have heard of those who profit from the lack of supply.In fact, it was one of the excuses used by the Dems to tax more and prohibit speculation.

Speculators will stop, once we lift the ban, thus prices will drop. It really is simple economics.

[Pineygirl]

Originally Posted by Sassygrl

I think that drilling for oil here is a very tiny bandaid, not to say that we shouldn't do it, but it is a distraction. The politicians count on us fighting with eachother over this so that they are not held accountable for formulating a comprehensive energy policy. They must be laughing their asses off about how they get the American people to argue that drilling for oil, or not drilling for oil here is the answer. That oil would last for 9 months. Why don't we stop being puppets and require more of ourselves intellectually? We don't want to hear that we will really need to change everything about how we live in order to be economically independant from the oil producing nations, one of which is Russia.

ANY alternative energy will also require years and years to get up to speed AND affordable.

Plus, don't forget that we need oil not only to heat houses and make gasoline, but to make plastics and other things we need.

If we can't drive our cars, or heat our homes within the next 365 days it won't matter if we have a cheaper alternative or not. We won't be here.

The bottom line is that we need domestic oil, and we need it now. The Chinese are drilling for it where and when we should be. If they can do it, why can't we?

[PennJersey]

This all sucks. I'm becoming Amish.

Henry

[oldhardhead]

I'm not at all worried. We don't need to drill or get oil from shale or anything like that. According to Obama, we are all too stupid to keep the tires on our cars inflated. Once we put air in the tires and get tune-ups - WHAM! Energy problem solved...

[proudrepub1]

Actually, you moron Obama, Cars today require NO tune ups. The computers in the cars are designed to adjust for age and wear and tear. Air pressure, good one! Way to solve our problems with words, thank you Genius!