Russian Military bases

You failed to mention that there are threats to put Russian nuclear bombers in or over Cuba as reported at the following link:
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080722180457.q0jlf4en&show_article=1

And Iran is purchasing (Russia is selling) advanced intercept radar stations as in this link:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L21512727.htm

Seems like the new Russia is getting far braver than the old USSR and not only do they seem to have a chip on their shoulder but a new found pot of GOLD (Black Gold that is) to fund it.

Could be interesting and scary times we are about to enter. I wonder if Obama is up to the challenge?

While troublesome, Russia is a shadow of the old Soviet Union. She has oil, money and nukes. Her navy and army are jokes. While they still have some modern bombers, most of the ones they sent on missions over Alaska, Greenland, etc were old turbo-props from the 1950s.

The population is down to 140 million and dropping fast.

Strange fact, about Russia's population.

I can only surmise that many people feel that the freedom to emigrate is temporary, and they're getting out while the getting is good.

DF

A 30 to 50 percent drop in population by 2050, is predicted for Russia. If China doesn't take over, first.

I think the crucial phrase here is "in response to" just as the Cuban missile crisis was in response to American missiles placed in Turkey. It's hardly surpprising that they feel uneasy about a missile defence system on their border that would emasculate their strategic missile system.

The US plans to place phased array radar in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland.

That configuration would be adequate for detecting and intercepting missiles from the middle east headed for Europe (including western Russia).

The radar would not have time to react to missiles coming from Russia. With Russia's missiles numbering in the thousands, 10 interceptors would be entirely inadequate.

The US offered to accept Russian liaison officers at the radar site with direct secure communications to Russia.

Russia, Iran and China likes to show how bad they are while we are pre-occupied with two Wars, I fear China more than Russia, we have made China rich but notice when they show pictures of China, the air is grey with smoke, the pollution will start killing them soon if it isn't already, china has cut back on people driving cars in Beeijing trying to get the pollution down for the Olympics.

I agree that China is a very great potential current and future threat. Russia is dangerous because I think they feel they have something to prove and that they need to reclaim some of that fear that they once had. For one thing Russian equipment has taken a huge beating when paired up with American equipment in conflict such as Iraq so you know there are Commanders in Russia that are salivating to have their newer equipment tested against ours in real world scenarios. Let's hope I'm wrong.

As to what the tripwire(s) would be who is to say. Will it be an economic trip wire, oil, or something territorial such as Taiwan or something simple as a small country such as a friendly country of theirs attacking a friendly country to us or visa versa.

I see no difference between Russia having bases in Venezuela or Cuba to America having bases in Poland and Turkey. Why do people expect the Russians to react any differently to how Americans react to a percieved threat? They're just going to lay down and roll over?

I figure if Obama is elected the Chinese will test him pretty soon after he takes office, something like taking Tiawan back. and he will say "HEY STOP THAT MESS OR I WILL BE OVER THERE TO TALK TO YOU." or who knows he might even threaten to stop buying all this junk from them and you know that will get their attention.

China is not going to take Taiwan any time soon. They are quite pragmatic at the moment, having recently agreed to shared sovreignty, with their old enemies Japan, over long disputed islands. Their economy is booming due to the fact that American companies buy cheap goods from them rather than hit profits by buying American. They don't need the hassle of a war.

Russia is trying to hawk her military wares, besides oil and other natural resources its one of her largest money makers. Their equipment is decent for internal security forces and low tech external threats. Last month, at the Eurosatory in France, the US outsold nearly every other nation. The licensing will keep State busy and US workers employed.

As to Russian bases in Venezuela and Cuba, the Monroe doctrine remains part of US foreign policy. Our base in Poland with 10 interceptors and a small logistics base are defensive in nature and, certainly do not equate to airfields with bombers or navy bases. Admittedly, the Russia high seas fleet is a joke, but subs can be troubling.

With the Chinese currency allowed to appreciate in value, investors in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and other east Asian nations are investing heavily. That is expected to last for two to four more years. Afterwards, a flow of investments out of China could easily proceed. Combined, with large internal debts run up by corrupt members of the Party and government Chinese banks have hidden, there may be a liquidity crisis in China. I hope the US economy is pulling out of a funk by then, or we’ll see much more trouble.

I just hope that we (US of A) are smart enough that when we sell major and new military equipment like the newest Jets that there is some internal program or glitch that when we send a signal will make it useless in detecting our own equipment that we are flying or disable any ability of the equipment we sell to other nations, even friendlies, from being used against us. I know if I was the one up there in the F22 Fighter I would want that but then from what I hear about the F22 it's so far superior to others that it wouldn't matter.

For now, no other nations will be allowed to purchase the F-22. Israel and Japan have tried, but were turned down.

US fighter craft sold abroad have a black box friend or foe identifier. Their targeting systems will not lock on a US manned plane, leaving only the 20 mm canon in manual mode as an option.

Trying to remove the black box or interfere with its programmming will shut the system down and permanently damage the system. Don't expect any future weapons from the US if inspectors find evidence of such tampering.