sparky wrote:the latest is the resuscitation from the dead of the Nato /Russia council ,
the big item on the menu is getting warplanes to fly over the Baltic with their transponders switched on.
That would be a GOOD IDEA, and I haven't seen enough information to conclude anything, but just seeing the Russian defense minister talking about something that sounds SAFE and about avoiding conflict, then that sounds very positive.
the bout of confrontation was essentially a fundraising effort for Nato and the US military complex ,
Nato is pushing for an increase in Europe military spending (at 2% GDP) something they ferociously resisted
Well that's funny Sparky. That's like half the town burning down and you're saying "it's just a fundraising effort for the firefighter industrial complex, they just want more fire departments." And then I'd guess you'd be for just letting the fires rage out of control.
MUCH of Europe has been PANICKING ever since the Ukraine thing started up. And then, tensions in Baltics started up.
The reality is that it was THEY that were saying to Washington, "where are you America, where are you.. you have to do something.."
And Obama resisted. Obama resisted his own American generals. Obama just wanted nothing to do with anything that looks like a problem, he just wanted to put his 8 years in and get on out of there, and leave the problems to somebody else.
FINALLY, O started doing a few things.. a couple for-show stuff, like having F-22 Raptors go land in Romania for a few hours, then come fly back.
And the rest of reticent Europe, and UK, and NATO began doing some more. Canadian, British fighter jet patrols in the Baltics, along with USAF. And the Navy's been sending more ships up there.
These poor little Baltics countries -- they're so scared, they drew up "Russian hybrid war invasion" contingency plans.
Sweden PANICKED over "Russian subs in the harbor."
The whole thing is just a big waste of money, and it would be nice if Russia would just stop it. But Putin has to work his own electorate, with "fear of the West" and sabre rattling and nationalism, and Putin's Russia has its OWN military industrial complex, right?
They're in business to sell nuclear reactors and Armata tanks and migs. Well you can't do all that, and just be a pacifist Canada, now can you?
some of this money will go toward buying the ridiculously expensive F35
check the share price of Raytheon, Lockeed Martin ,Northrop Grumman and Boeing , it is quite rosy !
Why do you say it's expensive? It only cost a trillion dollars.
(the original idea was for it to be CHEAPER by having one jet that can do multiple roles; they're so far into that thing now, there's no going back.. it is kind of cool, it can even hover midair and fly *sideways*, perfectly level)
Of course the Russians are not amused to be brought on the very edge of mass slaughter for some CEO getting his bonus
Again, Putin has Russia on a military industrial complex track too. Again, Putin is in business to sell Armata tanks.
BUT ANYHOW -- something to give Russia some credit for.. * Look how the rift between Moscow and Ankara played out. I don't know all the details, but I read that they've mended fences now. So that's GOOD. That shows RESTRAINT and on Russia's part.