by The3rdColumn
Fri Feb 1st, 2008 at 07:22:18 AM EST
(Map of Russia's nuclear arsenal lifted from The Daily Telegraph)
Here is a definitely not amusing subject for a 'debate', one that concerns the other side of the border: Russia, and which comes at the heel of Russian bombers that were sent in the Bay of Biscay a couple of days ago.
According to The First Post, the great Russian debate centers on: "In order for America not to beat Russia we will need to be as cruel as the Americans'"
Diary rescue by Migeru
[editor's note, by Migeru] Fold inserted here.
The sending of Russian bombers to test-fire missiles in the Bay of Biscay yesterday comes as a debate rages in Russia about how the country should regain its national pride.
Argumenty I Fakty, the respected weekly newspaper read by 3m Russians, asked last week whether Russia should, in effect, become a 'second America' and attempt to return to its former Soviet greatness by arming itself as though it were still a superpower? If so, this would mean flexing military might at every available opportunity.
Or should Mother Russia accept that she cannot hope to equal or beat America and that perhaps social and commercial development - not brute force - are the solution?
In Argumenty I Fakty, Alexander Dugin, director of Russia's Centre of Geopolitics, argued that Russia must crush her enemies and do whatever is necessary to become a military adversary to America. "Looking at our territory, resources and history, Russia is never going to become a quiet, 'vegetarian' country," he wrote. "Russia must become America's equal. The alternative is simple: either we become our own masters or our fate will be in someone else's hands."
If the US can invade Iraq and get away with it, he added, Russia should not be afraid to protect her own interests as in Georgia, for example. "In order for America not to beat Russia we will need to be as cruel and aggressive as the Americans." Russia, he believes, is not far off becoming a great European empire.
...
The conclusion so far? Argumenty I Fakty announced its verdict in an editorial: "Now the world considers our [Russia's] politics aggressive. But were we any better off 10 or 15 years ago when we were considered weak and lowly, dancing to the West's tune?" Aggression, it seems, is always better than weakness.
Full story "Friend or foe? The great Russian debate" in The First Post...
My western mind doesn't frankly know how to absorb Argumenty I Fakty's logic (must confess I have no idea what the newspaper's true ideological leaning is as I'm not at all familiar with the paper) but if I am to base their arguments on Russia's Stalinist past, I think there is reason for concern. However, there is a possiblity that they are just being naughty too, and they merely want to increase readership; also, could be that there is a more 'noble' subliminal message to their US friends and allies in Europe, i.e., a challenge to shape up and put up as in let there be peace sort of thing.
Must admit these are but just 'musings' on my part and would like to hear from our own Russia afficionados in ET.
But lest there be any misunderstanding, allow me to say what I think unequivocally: that there are some quarters in Russia (and I'm weighing my words) who certainly believe in a more, much more aggressive form of Caesar's military and political dogma, "Si vis pacem para bellum... "
So, as things stand, I say "Watch out!" because from the looks of it, the Russians are coming... again (the cry in the US in the early 60s)!
Additional info on Russia's nuclear arsenals (Source: The Daily Telegraph)
Russia has the world’s largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, with an estimated total of 16,000 warheads, of which 7,200 are believed to be operational.
The Soviet Union had an estimated total of 35,000 warheads. The Americans have 9,960 warheads of which 5,735 are operational. Russia’s nuclear weapons can be fired from land-based silos, submarines and bomber planes.
This “nuclear triad”, as it is known, comprises Strategic Rocket Forces (land based): 489 missiles capable of carrying up to 1,788 warheads Strategic Fleet (sea based): 12 submarines capable of carrying up to 609 warheads Strategic Aviation Units: 79 bombers capable of carrying up to 884 Cruise missiles.
Under the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions (SORT), better known as the Moscow Treaty, signed in 2002, the United States and Russia have agreed to limit their arsenal to 1,700-2,200 operational warheads by 2012. The treaty sets no limits on the size of reserve stockpiles, however.
Russia tested its latest generation of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, the RS-24, last month. (May 2007)
