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Remember the case
of the former Russian spy who was murdered in London with a
highly radioactive substance called polonium-210? Well
Britain identified a Russian businessman and former KGB spy
as the chief suspect but Russia has refused to extradite him
to face trial. In response to that, Britain yesterday
announced the expulsion of four Russian diplomats from their
country. That prompted Russia to hit back by saying that
these measures, "cannot but lead to the most serious
consequences in British-Russian relations." They also say
they are preparing a, "targeted" response very soon. I
don't know about you, but I don't like Russia talking about
"targets" again.
Meanwhile, if mere rhetoric and threats between two nuclear
powers aren't enough for you, how about a real arms race?
Last weekend, President Putin announced that Russia will
suspend their participation in the NATO Conventional Forces
in Europe treaty, which many people believe is the
cornerstone of European security. Withdrawing from that
means that Russia can build up weapons and troops along
their borders while also conveniently avoiding inspections.
OK, so what does all of this mean, why is Russia causing so
many waves? Well the Real Story is that Russia has a
Napoleon complex. As one member of their parliament recently
put it, Russia is being treated by the West as a, "banana
republic" and they're sick of it.
Unless Putin decides he's going to be President for life,
which isn't such a far-fetched idea, a new leader will be
"elected" in Russia next spring and Putin would like the
people to elect the candidate he endorses; a candidate who
will continue to turn Russia back into the Soviet Union. To
have that kind of influence and power, Putin needs
popularity and while threatening the West may not be popular
in Washington or London, it certainly is in Moscow. That's
what this saber rattling is really all about; Russians want
to feel united again, they want to feel that sense of
national pride that they once had. Putin is delivering that
pride, but unfortunately, he's doing it by taking them back
to 1962.
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