Worth reading: Pat Buchanan's analysis of Putin's speech

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Of all the analysts out there, Buchanan is probably one of the few to realize why Putin acted the way he did, listing as the cause a series of measures against Russia that they couldn't but consider as serious threats. Most responses to the speech I've read simply ignored the crux of Putin's concerns and prattled away about his authoritarianism and a 'second cold war'.

Definitely worth reading.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/uc/20070213/cm_uc_crpbux/op_33618

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1. Definitely a recommend

Interesting:

How would we react if China today brought Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela into a military alliance, convinced Mexico to sell oil to Beijing and bypass the United States, and began meddling in the affairs of Central America and Caribbean countries to effect the electoral defeat of regimes friendly to the United States? How would we react to a Russian move to put anti-missile missiles on Greenland?

[Captain Hilts]

2. I always thought the expansion of NATO a provocative act. nt

[sutz12]

3. But, but, but....I thought they hated us for our 'freedoms'...

Sorry, couldn't resist. The Bush regime's idea of diplomacy seems to be to hold everyone at gunpoint.

I could agree with the idea that you shouldn't try to please everyone. But, damn, I don't think we should intentionally just piss everyone off, either.