Russia, A Possible Threat?

[Awesome]

Russia looks like a threat to the US. They put up a dozen strategic bombers to defend themselves from a unknown enemy, as we know, nobody. Russia's President Putin did not announce the enemy. Then the nuke treaty, Gee that would make a war against US easier, having less nukes to fire. You may think that less nukes is safer, but it's either no nukes in the world, or all the nukes we can get. Because so many countries hide there superweapons, we must build and "display" ours.

Now I see there are no direct threats to US from Russia, but they may have the element of surprise then.



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Read the article here! - http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/showthread.php?t=77028

Post your opinons about Russia here

[Iron Man]

I don`t see Russia as a threat, nor does most people on here. Who wouldn`t want to do nuclear disarmament for the bettering of the world? Your reasoning for it seemed rather lax also.

[Awesome]

I don`t see Russia as a threat, nor does most people on here. Who wouldn`t want to do nuclear disarmament for the bettering of the world? Your reasoning for it seemed rather lax also.

I posted my reasons of why I think there a threat after you posted.

[Iron Man]

Too late. What country doesn`t have recon and surveillance? It is called national security. Clearly, you don`t realize that there is a war in 2 Middle Eastern countries, and Russia just so happens to be pretty close. Not to mention North Korea and their military buildup. The nuclear weapons topic has already been discussed in a separate thread.

[Awesome]

Too late. What country doesn`t have recon and surveillance? It is called national security. Clearly, you don`t realize that there is a war in 2 Middle Eastern countries, and Russia just so happens to be pretty close. Not to mention North Korea and their military buildup. The nuclear weapons topic has already been discussed in a separate thread.

Okay, North Korea, I forgot how close they are. Yes they surely are a threat to Russia. But Russia is big. They could fight us if they wanted to. I don't have many reasons of why I think they are a threat. I just wondered about everyone else's thoughts.

[Iron Man]

And I don`t know any reasons they would just go rogue and start a nuclear war with us. What is their motive anyway? You are just stating your opinion on false facts and paranoia. Hate to break it to you, but the Cold War is over, has been for over 20 years.

[Awesome]

And I don`t know any reasons they would just go rogue and start a nuclear war with us. What is their motive anyway? You are just stating your opinion on false facts and paranoia. Hate to break it to you, but the Cold War is over, has been for over 20 years.

There motive, Idk, maybe its just how Russia rolls. :what:

[Ryhanna]

No, they aren't a threat to most, if any countries.

It's not likley that they would randomly attack countries, they have no motive. I'm also fairly sure that Russia and the US have pretty good relations and are allies right now.

[Iron Man]

There motive, Idk, maybe its just how Russia rolls. :what:

You`ve just defeated your own argument, thanks.

[Awesome]

You`ve just defeated your own argument, thanks.

I have nothing left to say

[Zazu]

Humanity is its own threat to itself.

Nobody is better than anyone else in the whole scheme of things. We all seem to have forgotten that we're all the same thing - human beings. If people really wish to spend their short period of consciousness in a human body feeling paranoid about other countries and wanting to kill people, then that's up to them.

[Jamie]

I agree that Russia would be a very dangerous enemy, but I don't see them as a threat the United States. Also, if we're hit, retaliation would happen very quickly.
But Russia is big. They could fight us if they wanted to.
Are you aware of how powerful and large the U.S. is?

[Continuum]

If they're still the USSR then I call for Red Alerts and overpowered machinery.

[Jess]

no I don't think they're a threat.

[The Dark Lord]

no I don't think they're a threat.

Why?

I don't think that the Russians are America's biggest threat. Surely Iran, with its nuclear weapons, should be considered a greater threat to world security?

[Continuum]

Why?

I don't think that the Russians are America's biggest threat. Surely Iran, with its nuclear weapons, should be considered a greater threat to world security?

But with Nuclear Proliferation Laws amended by the UN I don't think they will launch it with a finger up their arse

[The Dark Lord]

But with Nuclear Proliferation Laws amended by the UN I don't think they will launch it with a finger up their arse

The fact that Iran is not listening/cooperating with the UN suggests that they feel they are above the Nuclear Proliferation Laws.

[quartermaster]

Neither Russia nor Iran are real threats to United States sovereignty or security, however, they both wield significant sway in Iraqi affairs, which is exactly why our military negotiates with both countries regularly over the the Iraqi question. It is also one of the major reasons why the United States and her Western Allies are not particularly fond of either country.

All the "Russia wants a new Cold War" rhetoric aside, we must consider the real facts.

To start, Russia is reasserting itself as a regional power (as seen in the recent Russo-Georgian war) and increasing its sphere of influence within its periphery, but it is really only just regional. Russia is by no means a major world player and does not extend tremendous international influence, anymore (beyond the fact, of course, that they are still quite influential in the weapons trade). Quite simply, Russia no longer has the military-economic means to be a major world power. Most of Russia's military weapons are obsolete, their ranks understaffed and their training sub-par and above all, their navy, the fundamental tool needed for real geopolitical exertion (the ability to wield force, with a credible commitment, around the world), is by all practical application, nonexistent or irrelevant, today. Much of Russia's nuclear warheads, the only real credible deterrents, are corroded and inoperable, and the others have become, jointly, an extremely large financial burden that is unrealistic to continue to maintain (thus, we have been seeing a stronger Russian call for more nuclear arm reduction treaties with the United States, who up until the past two years, had more than enough capability to maintain its warheads).

To tie that all off, Russia has been experiencing significant population declines over the past few decades; up until recently, a large, replenishable population had been the economic source that Russia could most depend on; today, that supply is quickly dwindling.

Russia has been successfully challenging the United States in its (Russia's) own backyard, after being virtually powerless in its periphery for a period of twenty or so years. However, this Russian resurgence is not global, it is strictly regional, as realistically, Russia no longer has a tremendous global reach. This regional resurgence is probably the realistic sphere of influence of a country Russia's size, as continued United States dominance of that area was strictly unrealistic. That said, it is unlikely, unless Russia can reverse all of these trends (which is quite improbable within the near future), that this regional resurgence is anything more than Russia simply consolidating its natural sphere.

This all is not to say, of course, that the United States does not have its own dire problems, but simply that out of all of the threats that can (and probably will) destroy the United States as the major world player, Russia is not one of them.

[Iron Man]

If they're still the USSR then I call for Red Alerts and overpowered machinery.

Do you study history? The Soviet Union collapsed in the 80s and was replaced with a republic.

[Awesome]

Russia is big, who says they can't rebuild fast? There's alot of secrets in the world, and we are in the 21st century technoliges.

[Iron Man]

I thought you were done talking? We just killed your debate, and Russia doesn`t pose a threat. You must play too much Modern Warfare 2.

[Skeln]

Well, to be honest we are still way ahead of Russia when it comes to modern technology. However, our current involvement in the wars in Iraq and Iran are demonstrating how much military strength we really have. We may have all the big weapons that can lay waste to an entire city in just a matter of minutes, but that just doesn't work when your opponent has the same technology and not to mention other nations have similar technology as well. Even if we were to target their military weapons first, we probably wouldn't get them all and would be the second nation to have a glowing city once they launch whatever they have left.

I highly doubt any wars with Russia and the US on opposite sides will occur any time soon. Right now, we're Russia's key to unlocking the door to greater technology for them. I admit that Russia could deal quite a bit of damage if they wanted to, but in the end both sides would come out as loosers.

[Continuum]

Do you study history? The Soviet Union collapsed in the 80s and was replaced with a republic.

I know. :P

[Iron Man]

Just checkin :)

[Whisper]

Americans erugh

honestly the states is a MUCH bigger threat to Russia than Russia is to the united states
your the ones hammering on their door with influencing local governments (Georgia ring a bell) and deploying missile defense; in some cases literally a couple km from Russian territory

[quartermaster]

Americans erugh

honestly the states is a MUCH bigger threat to Russia than Russia is to the united states
your the ones hammering on their door with influencing local governments (Georgia ring a bell) and deploying missile defense; in some cases literally a couple km from Russian territory

Well, these are all geopolitical power-plays by the United States for influence in the Russian periphery, but none of these actions of which you have listed are actual threats to Russia. They are a threat to the Russian sphere and they are threats to Russia's claim as a regional hegemon, but any movement made by the U.S. is to contain Russia and keep it from expanding in its traditional, which is to say historical, periphery. The U.S. sees, now, that such attempts are simply not practical (Russian expansion vis-à-vis the Russo-Georgian war and the recent reversal of the U.S.-backed Orange Revolution in Ukraine, serve as apropos examples), so I suspect the U.S. will be forced to respect the Russian sphere in the very near future.

That said, Russia actually has significant leverage over the United States vis-à-vis Iran, however, that is not to say that they are a threat, again, to U.S. sovereignty, but simply are an integral part to resolution of the "Iranian-Iraqi Question." That does mean, though, that the U.S. has been very careful with what policies it pursues, as it it tries to weigh its projected influence into Eastern Europe and the Caucuses with its need for Russian cooperation in the Middle East. Now, we are seeing Russia back off of its Iranian leverage, as it seeks American technological investment and Silicon Valley technology. Each country has something the other has and they are willing to bargain with each other as is necessary. Again, it is all an endless game of geopolitics, but in reality, neither country really has the capability to seriously threaten each others sovereignty (this was not the case, of course, before the U.S. exhausted its resources in two costly wars).

Today, it is just the case of a faltering world hegemon (United States) trying to consolidate its gains and minimize its losses against the traditional regional power of Eastern Europe(Russia).