Ace Nova Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Ex-USSR leader Gorbachev: World on brink of new Cold Warhttp://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29966852 The world is on the brink of a new Cold War, and trust should be restored by dialogue with Russia, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has said.At an event to mark the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on Sunday, Mr Gorbachev said the West had "succumbed to triumphalism".He expressed alarm about recent Middle Eastern and European conflicts.Tensions have been raised between the West and Russia over Ukraine, which was part of the Soviet Union.More than 4,000 people have died in fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists, who seized control in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in April.A fragile ceasefire has been in place since September, but elections in rebel-held areas last weekend have prompted fears of a return to full-scale conflict.Whether motivated by weakness or strength, Mikhail Gorbachev shares credit for bringing a peaceful end to the Cold War. So his warning that present tensions - not least over Ukraine - threaten a new Cold War, will get a hearing. Some Western commentators might even agree but the questions remain, is he right and who's to blame?Well, Russia appears increasingly prepared to cast itself as a rival rather than a partner but tension is still nowhere near what it was during the hottest phases of the Cold War, such as the Cuban missile crisis or the building of the Berlin Wall.From the Russian perspective, Nato has advanced in recent years almost to its borders. One by one nations once in its orbit have fallen into the Western camp, often joining the EU and Nato.But Russia has shown it is prepared to use military muscle to achieve its ends, first in Crimea then in eastern Ukraine. The West and Russia accuse each other of old thinking - of spheres of influence and hegemony. A cold war it may not yet be, but relations are clearly worsening.Mr Gorbachev, 83, was attending an event at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.The landmark was inaccessible during the Partition of Germany, and is seen as a symbol of the country's reunification."Bloodshed in Europe and the Middle East against the backdrop of a breakdown in dialogue between the major powers is of enormous concern," he said."The world is on the brink of a new Cold War. Some are even saying that it's already begun."He said that the West, in particular the US, had succumbed to "triumphalism" after the collapse of the USSR in 1991.For this reason the global powers had been unable to cope with conflicts in Yugoslavia, the Middle East and now Ukraine, he added.The former Soviet leader urged the West to lift sanctions on Russian officials - imposed over the annexation of Crimea and Moscow's alleged involvement in the Ukraine conflict - and restore trust through dialogue with the Kremlin.Mr Gorbachev, as leader of the USSR in the late 1980s, is credited with rapprochement with the West and creating a more liberal atmosphere which led to the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe in 1989.Maybe 'ole Gorby should have a chat with the guy that likes to ride around on horses with no shirt on before addressing the West. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Facekicker Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Except he is dead right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lithium Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 There's one for the 2015 death pool. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Nova Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 Except he is dead right. Not necessarily saying he's wrong.... but it takes two to tango and it starts with Putin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Facekicker Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Except he is dead right. Not necessarily saying he's wrong.... but it takes two to tango and it starts with Putin. Except it doesn't. The situation in Ukraine was entirely instigated by the U.S. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Nova Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 Except he is dead right. Not necessarily saying he's wrong.... but it takes two to tango and it starts with Putin. Except it doesn't. The situation in Ukraine was entirely instigated by the U.S. Yeah, ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgy Zhukov Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 There's one for the 2015 death pool.Keep forgetting he's still alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnold layne Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 I disagree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magisme Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Yup. And we lose this time. Stay tuned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netcat Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 No matter how hard he tries to kiss Putin’s ass, Russians still hate him as they think Gorbachev is the US spy and should be blamed for the USSR collapse. The situation in Ukraine was entirely instigated by the U.S. I can understand where Gorbachev’s primitive black and white thinking is coming from, he’s an old communist hick. Not sure what’s your excuse. Yup. And we lose this time. Stay tuned.you half assed it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magisme Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Yup. And we lose this time. Stay tuned.you half assed it We can't afford to full ass it this time around. Russia and China know that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Facekicker Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Ukraine is the new Yugoslavia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val22 Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 If Russian continues to invade other countries that once were part of The USSR and fly their fighter planes over the Caribbean, we might be in an all out war with Russia!This is becoming a joke. When is Obama actually going to do something other than talk or ignore the situation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgy Zhukov Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 If Russian continues to invade other countries that once were part of The USSR and fly their fighter planes over the Caribbean, we might be in an all out war with Russia!This is becoming a joke. When is Obama actually going to do something other than talk or ignore the situation?Its a Cold War. Basically a fight over influence. Russia already dominates the former USSR. I believe they also are on friendly relations with Hungary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Nova Posted November 14, 2014 Author Share Posted November 14, 2014 If Russian continues to invade other countries that once were part of The USSR and fly their fighter planes over the Caribbean, we might be in an all out war with Russia!This is becoming a joke. When is Obama actually going to do something other than talk or ignore the situation?Its a Cold War. Basically a fight over influence. Russia already dominates the former USSR. I believe they also are on friendly relations with Hungary. Russia shouldn't be flying warplanes within spitting distance of Florida. Granted, their intentions may be just to ruffle some feathers, if some sort of unintentional "accident" were to happen, it could seriously heighten tensions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnRDuff1 Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 I honestly feel like this has been brewing for a while. The east and west have never been full allies. An uneasy truce at best. Imho, anyone who is surprised by Russia's attempt to "reclaim its former glory" is naive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Nova Posted November 14, 2014 Author Share Posted November 14, 2014 The real problem (imo) is that the U.S. would annihilate Russia in conventional warfare... and Putin knows this. So if something were to happen, I wouldn't put it past that madman to use nukes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Nova Posted November 14, 2014 Author Share Posted November 14, 2014 The real problem (imo) is that the U.S. would annihilate Russia in conventional warfare... and Putin knows this. So if something were to happen, I wouldn't put it past that madman to use nukes.WTF is conventional anymore, are you talking drones?Of course. The less less we need to risk the life of U.S. Soldiers or innocent civilians, the better. And yes, drones will do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netcat Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 (edited) Its a Cold War. Basically a fight over influence. Russia already dominates the former USSR. I believe they also are on friendly relations with Hungary. i don't think so. Baltic states are in EU and NATO, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia are on their way there. they won't necessarily end up there but it doesn't matter as they are still utterly russophobic and you definitely can't say that Russia dominates them. yes Russia is friendly with some of Eastern/South European countries like Hungary and Serbia as they build a South Stream gas pipelines together and this project is a great opportunity for government corruption Edited November 14, 2014 by netcat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.