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posted by n1 on Monday November 10 2014, @04:58PM   Printer-friendly
from the same-conflicts,-different-century dept.

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."

 
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  • (Score: 2) by Yog-Yogguth on Tuesday November 11 2014, @01:45PM

    by Yog-Yogguth (1862) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday November 11 2014, @01:45PM (#114824) Journal

    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”).

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 11 2014, @07:56PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 11 2014, @07:56PM (#114956)

    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

    by turgid (4318) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday November 11 2014, @08:12PM (#114961) Journal

    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.