The new Russia, since the departure of Boris Yelstin, has increasingly resembled the old Russia. Sure, there's a major difference in scale. But critics of Putin, like critics of Stalin, have a peculiar way of ending up dead--or near dead. Who poisoned former KGB spook Alexander Litvinenko? One needn't be a secret agent to solve that "mystery." Who did it? The same people who poisoned Ukrainian presidential candidate, and now Ukrainian president, Viktor Yushchenko; the same people who gunned down Anna Politkovskaya; the same people who put a contract on Pope John Paul II. Vladimir Putin told a gathering of former KGB agents last year: "There is no such thing as a former KGB man." I guess not.

Dan

Thanks for blogging on this. As I have been saying here and elsewhere for a long time, Russia is the single greatest threat in the world today to American national security. Unfortunately it seems all of the focus on Iraq and Islamic terrorism seems to have caused us to lose sight of the threat posed by Russia.

That's the most retarted, uninformed opnion on international affiars I have ever read.

Of course I've come to expect no less from the posters here.

The biggest threat to American security in the next 50 years is China- not Russia.

Russia is a country that is rapidly self-destructing with a high death rate and very low birth rate.

Their population will sink below 100 million by the year 2050.

China is a rising power with 1.3 billion people, the fastest economic growth on the planet, and clear strategic designs on the pacific rim.

It is the biggest threat, not some also-ran superpower with a bit of bounce in its step because of high petrol prices.

20,000 nuclear weapons at my ready disposal always give me that extra bounce in my step.

Those weapons are continually being dismantaled.

Only 7000 are active, 8000 in reserve.

The US has about 7000, and 3000 reserve.

Whoops. Forgot to add STFU.

Talk of China as a threat doesn't make a whole lot of sense in the big picture. China's growing economy has given it a taste of the green, a taste it likes. The big cities are seeing a growing middle class, and in time that development will probably find it's way to the "burbs".

If China were to go to war with the U.S., they'd be going to war with the hand that feeds them.

The biggest threat to the U.S. is that of its own stupidity: making the strategic decision to rely on middle eastern oil and having to butt our noses into others' business to protect that decision. George Washington warned us to avoid foreign entanglements, we ignore his wisdom at our own peril.

"Whoops. Forgot to add STFU."

Wow. Someone made it through the Cold War without ever hearing the phrase "M.A.D."

The real threat to this country is all the *censored* hecklers in the audience. Fifty years ago we'd have had them hanging upside down with a fork in their A$$.

lol.

That is quite possible the best youtube moment ever.

Russia will grow in power over the next few decades, if its current trends continue.

But eventually its popular will disappear and it will bottom out. Its nothing compared to China.

"That's the most uninformed opinion on international affairs I have ever read." DemAgend

My post is not uninformed. There is a wealth of information on the internet and elswhere that details Russia's military capabilities, as well as Russia's support for Islamic terrorists.

"The biggest threat to American national security in the next 50 years is China not Russia." DemAged

The biggest threat to America over the next 50 years is unchecked illegal immigration from Mexico. If current trends hold, much of the United States will become greater Mexico. Of course things can change. Americans may tire of being invaded and they may eventually elect leaders who are serious about protecting the country. Fifty year trends are difficult to predict. In my post, I was careful to point out that Russia is the greatest security threat to the United States today. In time, that may change.

"Russia is a country that is rapidly self-destructing with a high death rate and a low birth rate." DemAgend

The problems faced by Russia seem to be very real. If these trends continue, Russia could become a failed state. The leaders of this failed state will have the most advanced nuclear arsenal on the planet and they recognize America as their number one enemy, furthermore, Russia has shown a disturbing tendency to actively work with Islamic terrorists. If Russia self destructs, it wil become an even more dangerous threat than it is now and currently it is the single geatest threat to American national security.

"Their population will sink below 100 million by the year 2050." DemAgend

If current trends hold, it appears this would be correct. If current trends regarding the US continue, the southern portion of the US will become greater Mexico by the year 2050. Also, America's massive debt will likely become unmanageable. Even if the country can remain in tact, it will likely be a third world back water of a country by the year 2050. With that said, it is difficult, if not impossible, to project trends out to the year 2050. America and its leaders could get serious about the issues facing the country and they could solve them. If American leaders and its citizens act decisvely soon, the decline of the country can be averted.

"China is a rising power with 1.3 billion people, the fastest economic growth on the planet, and clear designs on the Pacific Rim." DemAgend

This is quite correct. American leaders seem to be aware of all of this. I think this explains the close alliance with India. India is to act a check on China. Also, the US works with South Korea, Japan, and Tawian. I would go a step further than US leaders are currently going. Japan, South Korea, and Tawian should be encouraged to build up their militaries and they should be encouraged to arm themselves with nuclear weapons. By building up the militaries of these countries the US can redeploy its forces and these countries can act as a check on China and possibly Russia. It does seem clear that, if the US wishes to remain a major power, it will need to make moves to counter China.

"It is the biggest threat, not some also ran super-power wit a bit of bounce in its step because of high petrol prices." DemAgend

High petrol prices mean large amounts of money for the Russian treasury. They use this to money to upgrade their military, manufacture weapons for sale, and to assist Islamic terrorists. It is my assertion that, to date, Russia has been the biggest winner in the Global War on Terror.

HeHe

Russia dismantles old nuclear weapons and they replace the old ones with more up to date models. I recall reading something about the US wanting to upgrade its nuclear arsenal, however the US is not being as aggressive as Russia is in this area.

John

China depends largely on US markets to sell its goods. The US depends on China for much of its manufacturing needs. Also, China controls a large amount of US debt that they could use as leverage against the US. I agree that it seems unlikely that China and the US will go to war in the forseeable future.

George Washington's advice is as timely today as it was when he gave it. Aemricans would do well to heed it. It is unlikely that America could completely eliminate oil purchases from the middle east, however, we could reduce purchases from this part of the world. We can do this by tapping into more of our own oil resources. In order to do this, we will have to repeal some ridiculous environmental regulations. Our excessive worry over the unproven theory of man made global warming and things of this nature have born bitter fruits. By developing more of our own oil and gas reserves we will have some leverage when dealing with middle eastern countries and Venezuela. Right now we have very little. Also, restrictions on new refineries will need to be relaxed. In addition to this, we should build more nuclear power plants.

It is best to think of oil as something that is vital to the function of a first world country. As such, a government that does not act to ensure that the country has access to a stable and relatively cheap supply of oil is being negligent.

Finally, it seems to me that long range trends are currently most favorable to China and India, however, as stated previously, long range trends are difficult to predict.

B.Poster

I agree with you on the oil refineries, they're attempting to build one in my area. Right now they're on about year seven and have yet to turn one shovel of soil, thanks to having to jump through an endless process of enviromental studies. New regulations and studies seem to pop up just as they finish what should have been the final road block. Funny how that works.

Whence the demographics on Russia? Do they factor out the loss of population due to disintegration of the Soviet Union? I assume they must because otherwise the stats would be highly misleading.

I would agree that as long as the U.S. remains THE economic power on the planet, China will be very reluctant to aggressively pursue a confrontation with us. But, by next year, our trade deficit with China will be around $160 billion and as we get more indebted and economically locked to them, they will eventually have enough power over us were they may not need to use military strategies to beat us.

I predict that the takeover of this country will happen without a shot being fired. Our doom will be due to our pandering politicians allowing the country to be sold off to the highest bidder and an influx of people who don’t belong here and who hold its founding principles in low regard. And, as an additional weakening factor, our consumer market’s strength will be sapped as the very people who pay for that consumption will continue seeing their jobs go out of the country.

Dan,

I don't think there has been any evidence for Putin's complicity in any of the incidents you mention, nor the KGB. Lots of American pundits (particularly neocons) are for some reason still fighting the Cold War and are assuming such evidence but as far as I have been able to discern from a computer w/ broadband connection none exists.

I should add that Litvinenko is a bit of a kook and is closely connected w/ that Russian oligarch from the Yeltsin days (when U.S. backed privatizations fleeced and bankrupted Russia) Boris Berezovsky, who is a known supporter of any and all anti-Putin forces, including the Islamic Chechen rebels.

I see know reason to assume the truth of Litvinenko's claims nor do they matter as regards U.S. posture towards Russia.

Another thing occurred to me, sorry for the triple post. Why have there been a couple of high profile "poisonings" in which the victim didn't die? What kind of amateur hour work is that? Old KGB elements can purportedly successfully access a target and get them to ingest poison but yet can't pick a poison that will actually kill them?