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Arthur Bright reports in the Christian Science Monitor that the European Leadership Network has chronicled some 40 incidents over the past eight months, saying that Russian forces seem to have been authorized to act in a much more aggressive way. "Russian armed forces and security agencies seem to have been authorized and encouraged to act in a much more aggressive way towards NATO countries, Sweden and Finland" in a way that "increases the risk of unintended escalation and the danger of losing control over events," ELN warns.
The report cites three incidents in particular as having "high probability of causing casualties or a direct military confrontation between Russia and Western states." The first occurred in March, when a passenger flight out of Copenhagen, Denmark, had a near miss with a Russian surveillance plane that did not transmit its position. The second was the capture of an Estonian border agent by Russian security in September. The report also summarizes a incident last month where Swedish naval patrols undertook a broad search for what was widely speculated to be a Russian submarine in the Stockholm archipelago. The New York Times writes that the report adds credence to former Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev's comments over the weekend, during the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, that the world seems "on the brink of a new cold war." Mr. Gorbachev warned that “Bloodshed in Europe and the Middle East against the backdrop of a breakdown in dialogue between the major powers is of enormous concern.”
The report has three main recommendations: The Russian leadership should urgently re-evaluate the costs and risks of continuing its more assertive military posture, and Western diplomacy should be aimed at persuading Russia to move in this direction; All sides should exercise military and political restraint; All sides must improve military-to-military communication and transparency. "To perpetuate a volatile stand-off between a nuclear armed state and a nuclear armed alliance and its partners in the circumstances described in this paper is risky at best. It could prove catastrophic at worst."
(Score: 2) by turgid on Monday November 10 2014, @09:16PM
Russia annexed Crimea, and was resoundingly confirmed by overwhelming popular referendum. This was, by any real standard, far more democratic an action than the usurpation of Poroshenko in the rest of Ukraine.
Forgive me if I've just had a sense-of-humour-failure but:
I tried hard to follow events in Ukraine from the BBC and Guardian (and occasionally Reuters and other sources) at the time. One thing that was very noticeable was that the discussions on the Guardian were absolutely flooded by a deluge of pro-Russian comments. It felt like a factor of 10 bias to the pro-Russians.
In the subsequent Scottish Independence Referendum, Russian observers claimed anti-independence pressure from London (i.e. vote rigging) [trust.org] as a comparison to events in Ukraine.
Ho hum.
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].
(Score: 2) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Monday November 10 2014, @09:35PM
Look, when you talk 40/60 splits, there's all kinds of "pressure".
It is CLEAR Crimea didn't want to belong to the slow-motion train-wreck that is the fate of Ukraine as a historical sacrificial, boundary state between multiple empires. Especially when massacre-happy ethno-fascist (literal, not figurative Nazis) were ready to be turned loose on Tatars and Rusophones.
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 2) by turgid on Monday November 10 2014, @10:42PM
My point was that the Russians were not telling the truth about the Crimean elections. They haven't even told the truth about MH17 or their off-duty soldiers on holiday in Ukraine.
And as for fascists, what's Vladimir "I'm not gay" Putin?
Peace in our time?
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].
(Score: 2) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Tuesday November 11 2014, @06:12AM
US never told truth about 2000 Florida election. You want to piss about fake elections, then take care of your own long dead republic before worrying about Russia.
Do you even know any Russians? Living in Russia? Do you maintain regular contact? Or is the agenda of NewsCorp, BBC and General Electric or Comcast enough to satify your thirst for global understanding?
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Tuesday November 11 2014, @09:12AM
Easy, bro! To much truth at once can be fatal! Just plant seeds, and the truth will grow all on its own. Eventually. If Fox News does not kill it with Ebola!!!! Ebola! Soviet Ebola!!!!! I don't know what I am saying. They are not my memories, and I shouldn't have to carry them! I. . . . am ... River.... Tam. A Living Weapon. ("Miranda")
(Score: 2) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Tuesday November 11 2014, @04:56PM
If it is Hillary and Jeb in 2016, Americans will still not realize that they now have the same type of checkbox "choice" offered, that Russians were handed back when they could mark a single box - labeled with "Brezhnev" or with "Andropov".
Despite Putin's real shortcomings, and that of the political system of which he is SYMPTOM not MASTERMIND, the Russian trajectory since 1975 has been one of improvements. These are tangible and qualitatively better than anything in Russian history. Russians don't line for bread, own cars and have nice apartments. The corresponding American trajectory for economic mobility and political choice has been disastrous and abominable. In the US, police drive tanks down city streets and tap your phone at will, while 20% of the population get a lay-off notice in the past 5 years. [lonelyconservative.com]
But there are none so blind, as those who will not see....
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 2) by Yog-Yogguth on Tuesday November 11 2014, @01:45PM
The reason for 10 to 1 in favor of Russia is quite simple and remains no matter how many here are moderated as troll for being pro-Russian; a lot of Europeans (like me) realize that this entire conflict is 100% created by the US and the EU. Over here only those who don't care or pay any attention or belong to the “elite” thinks otherwise. Those who both can and care a lot join the Novorussiya forces against “Ukraine” (if I remember correctly there's claimed to be about 9000 Russian volunteers and about half that, 4000 or so, volunteers from the rest of Europe). Of course it doesn't help that the sanctions against Russia hurt Europe instead, Russia simply doesn't need Europe. Most people also realize that the Russians wont forget this, Russians aren't stupid.
Obama and the US government threw Europe under the bus and lots of Europeans realize it. It's obviously all about trying to punish Russia for being a huge pain in the ass (*cough* Snowden *cough* Syria & Middle East *cough* etc. (just about everything)) every time the US fucks up.
And it's not really political at all, as strange bedfellows as Noam Chomsky (I hate his kind) and Henry Kissinger (another asshole) “agree” with me on this issue :D (a little levity, of course they don't ‘agree with me’ but they are “pro-Russian” and think the US has made yet another huge mistake).
The “Ukrainians” (they're not worthy of the name, they don't represent any Ukrainians) has claimed Russian invasion repeatedly at regular intervals for over half a year. Of course nobody of sound mind believes them or the US or the EU or NATO.
Look at what the Russians are saying, everything they say makes sense, nothing the western media (“our” media) says makes any sense at all and most of it is little more than gibberish (like using “social media” as proof lol).
Also notice when “our” media (at least in Europe) or even the US government abruptly shuts up about something and how many times that has already happened.
So anyway that's why it's 10 to 1. The stink from the likes of the BBC and the Guardian is overwhelming and people recognize it from other topics (it's no coincidence at all that for example UKIP and Front Nationale are also “pro-russian”).
Bite harder Ouroboros, bite! tails.boum.org/ linux USB CD secure desktop IRC *crypt tor (not endorsements (XKeyScore))
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 11 2014, @07:56PM
Too bad you're so late to the thread.
What you said is interesting and would be informative to many.
...with the exception of
Noam Chomsky (I hate his kind)
What kind is that? Usually the smartest guy in the room, well informed, speaks clearly (a professor of linguistics), cites examples of what he's speaking about?
I've heard it said he's the 8th most-quoted guy around.
I'm not seeing what you object to.
Henry Kissinger
Now, we agree about him.
-- gewg_
(Score: 2) by turgid on Tuesday November 11 2014, @08:12PM
Living in the UK I have the pleasure of working with a number of Europeans from the old Eastern bloc as well as the West.
You talk drivel.
Putin is a fascist thug. End of story.
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].