Ukraine's election and Russian resurgence

"The United States is bogged down in its economic and health care debates, two wars and the Iran question — all of which mean Washington’s attention is occupied well away from the former Soviet sphere. With the United States distracted, Russia has a freer hand in re-establishing control over states that would like to be under the American security umbrella. "

The writing on the wall should be crystal clear to anyone who sucked up to the US in the past -- the lesson of Vietnam revisited. The US has, and will continue, to drop "allies" like hot potatoes whenever expedient to itself. I only hoped Washington spent lots and lots of money on Ukraine and Georgia ..... in vain.

"It is a tragedy for Europe, for the US and finally for Russia that they didn’t!
After the color revolutions, all that was needed was a new “Marshal Plan” for Ukraine and Georgia a generous influx of money and know-how in order to turn them into another "Baltic states", fully incorporated in NATO and eventually the EU. This would have a very positive effect on Russia itself. In Kremlin they would have realized that the brutal force would lead them nowhere. That the Future of Russia lays with their integration in the West and that they should give up the idea of having their own "sphere of influence". Just like the Germans and the Japanese did after 1945. Yet G.W. Bush wasted all the American power and resources in the sends of the Iraq. A sheer madness with long lasting may be fatal consequences.
(nik, 28 January 2010 10:38) "

This is not 1945. The US can't even finance its own domestic spendings much less do a Marshall Plan 2 for others. http://www.federalbudget.com/

"Ultimately, Russia is indeed going into that good night. But not gently. And not today."

The authour has an obvious bias towards the west and fails to take into account the serious economic/demographic/political challenges facing it. The social problems that Europe will face in less than 50 years due to declining birthrights are staggering. This is compounded by the large birth rates of muslim families, who have different ideas of what an ideal political system is - it is not democracy.

Second, it is common knowledge that the economic situation in the USA will only grow worse with time, where their own economic analysts forecast the demise of the middle class, crushing debt, a devalued dollar similar to banana republics, and social and political upheaval.

With these crises in hand, several prominent voices have forecast that the very federal system itself is in jeopardy as regions, states, and economic zones within the country seek to establish their own local governance. This is ominous as it essentially means the end of the United States as we know it.

I would predict that Russia which is a much older, and more resilient country which has overcome incredible obstacles in its history, will continue for a long time into the future, while America has long before "gone gently into that good night!"

Whether it goes "gently" or not remains to be seen.

"I only hoped Washington spent lots and lots of money on Ukraine and Georgia ..... in vain."

It is a tragedy for Europe, for the US and finally for Russia that they didn’t!
After the color revolutions, all that was needed was a new “Marshal Plan” for Ukraine and Georgia a generous influx of money and know-how in order to turn them into another "Baltic states", fully incorporated in NATO and eventually the EU. This would have a very positive effect on Russia itself. In Kremlin they would have realized that the brutal force would lead them nowhere. That the Future of Russia lays with their integration in the West and that they should give up the idea of having their own "sphere of influence". Just like the Germans and the Japanese did after 1945. Yet G.W. Bush wasted all the American power and resources in the sends of the Iraq. A sheer madness with long lasting may be fatal consequences.

"I only hoped Washington spent lots and lots of money on Ukraine and Georgia ..... in vain."

It is a tragedy for Europe, for the US and finally for Russia that they didn’t!
After the color revolutions, all that was needed was a new “Marshal Plan” for Ukraine and Georgia a generous influx of money and know-how in order to turn them into another "Baltic states", fully incorporated in NATO and eventually the EU. This would have a very positive effect on Russia itself. In Kremlin they would have realized that the brutal force would lead them nowhere. That the Future of Russia lays with their integration in the West and that they should give up the idea of having their own "sphere of influence". Just like the Germans and the Japanese did after 1945. Yet G.W. Bush wasted all the American power and resources in the sends of the Iraq. A sheer madness with long lasting may be fatal consequences.

"The United States is bogged down in its economic and health care debates, two wars and the Iran question — all of which mean Washington’s attention is occupied well away from the former Soviet sphere. With the United States distracted, Russia has a freer hand in re-establishing control over states that would like to be under the American security umbrella. "

The writing on the wall should be crystal clear to anyone who sucked up to the US in the past -- the lesson of Vietnam revisited. The US has, and will continue, to drop "allies" like hot potatoes whenever expedient to itself. I only hoped Washington spent lots and lots of money on Ukraine and Georgia ..... in vain.

"Ultimately, Russia is indeed going into that good night. But not gently. And not today."

The authour has an obvious bias towards the west and fails to take into account the serious economic/demographic/political challenges facing it. The social problems that Europe will face in less than 50 years due to declining birthrights are staggering. This is compounded by the large birth rates of muslim families, who have different ideas of what an ideal political system is - it is not democracy.

Second, it is common knowledge that the economic situation in the USA will only grow worse with time, where their own economic analysts forecast the demise of the middle class, crushing debt, a devalued dollar similar to banana republics, and social and political upheaval.

With these crises in hand, several prominent voices have forecast that the very federal system itself is in jeopardy as regions, states, and economic zones within the country seek to establish their own local governance. This is ominous as it essentially means the end of the United States as we know it.

I would predict that Russia which is a much older, and more resilient country which has overcome incredible obstacles in its history, will continue for a long time into the future, while America has long before "gone gently into that good night!"

Whether it goes "gently" or not remains to be seen.

"It is a tragedy for Europe, for the US and finally for Russia that they didn’t!
After the color revolutions, all that was needed was a new “Marshal Plan” for Ukraine and Georgia a generous influx of money and know-how in order to turn them into another "Baltic states", fully incorporated in NATO and eventually the EU. This would have a very positive effect on Russia itself. In Kremlin they would have realized that the brutal force would lead them nowhere. That the Future of Russia lays with their integration in the West and that they should give up the idea of having their own "sphere of influence". Just like the Germans and the Japanese did after 1945. Yet G.W. Bush wasted all the American power and resources in the sends of the Iraq. A sheer madness with long lasting may be fatal consequences.
(nik, 28 January 2010 10:38) "

This is not 1945. The US can't even finance its own domestic spendings much less do a Marshall Plan 2 for others. http://www.federalbudget.com/