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The article lists Russia as the US's "nemesis". "Competitor" or even "enemy" would have been an appropriate designation, but "nemesis" means retribution, justic
by peterwwillis 8y ago
The article lists Russia as the US's "nemesis". "Competitor" or even "enemy" would have been an appropriate designation, but "nemesis" means retribution, justice, or vengeance. Exactly whom is seeking retribution against whom, and for what?
Since the birth of the nation, Russia supported the US. It supported its revolution and supported the Union during the civil war. It even sold Alaska to the US. We brokered the end of the Russo-Japanese war, and about 3.3 million Russian Jews and Poles immigrated to the US by 1917. We then started down the path of trying to support the anti-communists, which of course backfired. We allied with the Soviets during WWII, but then we quickly started the cold war and formed NATO.
Since then, the Soviet Union basically wanted to control eastern (and possibly, eventually, all?) Europe, but it didn't work out, and the nations they had absorbed along the way eventually became independent again. So now their sphere of influence is smaller, but they still have a lot of nukes, and neither of us trust each other.
I would call us "frenemies", perhaps (a bit like China). But we really don't have some big grudge against each other. We're just two dicks who want to rule the world.
- hetman 8y agoWeird, I've never come across this usage of the word "nemesis" (although the dictionary indicates it is correct). Still, I think the author would have been using the more common meaning of the word "nemesis" as a rival one can not defeat (or even in more dilute usage, simply a long standing rival).
- reaperducer 8y agoI think the author would have been using the more common meaning of the word "nemesis" Or we can all be happy we learned something today and are a smidgeon smarter than yesterday.
- joejerryronnie 8y agoI agree with you here. I think the primary divide was based on accumulating power and influence around the world post WW2. The difference in political ideology at that time may have been a convenient front but the real competition was economic. I'm not sure what drives the divide today other than old cold-war memories or just two very powerful countries competing with each other. I suspect there is animosity from the US because Russia won't really do what we want them to. Russia also tends to support causes opposing US interests due to protecting their own interests, balancing of power, and also just to stir the pot a bit.
- snowwrestler 8y agoI think it was a sarcastic reference, which is why they chose such a strong word.
- gandhium 8y ago> We allied with the Soviets during WWII, but then we quickly started the cold war So, about starting the cold war. USSR meddled in Poland's elections USSR basically invaded Persia and tried to annex a part there. USSR tried to force Turkey to gave up control over Bosphor Straits USSR blockaded Berlin effectively putting people on verge of dying from hunger ... but somebody else started the cold war, absolutely out of the blue?