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Nord Stream entered service in 2011, 3 years after Russia invaded Georgia. Everyone except Merkel knew that Russia would eventually be a problem for eastern eu
by justrealist 3y ago
Nord Stream entered service in 2011, 3 years after Russia invaded Georgia. Everyone except Merkel knew that Russia would eventually be a problem for eastern europe.
- danbruc 3y agoBut the project started in 1997 and began construction in 2005. And Merkel was among those that advocated for a different politics towards Russia, one that might have avoided the situation of today.
- justrealist 3y ago> one that might have avoided the situation of today ???? Merkel had her way 16 years, her politics are exactly what got us here. This is a ridiculous statement.
- danbruc 3y agoGermany was among those countries that were against NATO memberships for Georgia and Ukraine in 2008.
- poszlem 3y agoWhich makes sense, the plan in Germany was pretty straightforward: snag cheap gas from Russia, flip it for a profit to the rest of Europe, and juice up their manufacturing sector. Essentially, they were aiming to cash in big time, even if it meant stepping on the toes of their nearest neighbors by dealing with Russia—a country not exactly known for playing nice. Their reasons were only economical, this wasn't really a plan to prevent Russia from threatening their closest neighbours.
- mopsi 3y agoAnd Germany got what they wanted, and Russia invaded Georgia the very same year. Merkels and Schröders are how we got here. German military is now planning for missile attacks against their infrastructure: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nato-russia-missile-strikes-europe-germany-vbwt2dktt https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nato-russia-missile-strik...
- danbruc 3y agoGermany did not get what they wanted, Georgia and Ukraine got the Bucharest declaration that they will eventually become NATO members. Russia attacking the rest of Europe is just fear mongering.
- poszlem 3y agoBecause Russians would never do that, right? Except perhaps for: Livonian War The Polish-Russian War of the 1600s The Great Northern War The Russo-Turkish Wars The Partitions of Poland The Crimean War The Winter War The Invasion of Czechoslovakia or some other
- danbruc 3y agoBy that logic the European countries should also keep a close eye on Germany.
- khokhol 3y agoRussia attacking the rest of Europe is just fear mongering. Unfortunately this absolutely not the case, as applies to the Baltics and Moldova. The threat to those countries is very real.
- danbruc 3y agoWhat is the evidence for that?
- khokhol 3y agoVarious menacing statements and border incidents over the years (including a cross-border kidnapping in Estonia a few years back); GRU sabotage incidents in Czechia and Romania; and most notably, ongoing occupation of a good chunk of Moldovan territory, in the form of the Kremlin-managed mafia state known as Transnistria. Basically Putin's whole idea is that any place the Russian Empire (or its temporary proxy, the Soviet Union) sat on at one point or another in the past 350 years is fair game for re-occupation, vassalization and/or intimidation of some sort today.
- ed_balls 3y agoRecently I've been thinking there should be a term limit for PMs/Chancellors Tatcher, Merkel, Putin - if they would have a 10 year limit, things would be much better.
- xn7 3y agoPutin has “updated” term limits several times. For the UK and Germany, this makes sense, however.
- ed_balls 3y agoIf he would choose to leave after 2 terms, he would be a positive figure in Russian history. Now, he will be responsible for the collapse of the Russian Federation.
- poszlem 3y agoHistory shows us that term limits mainly stop those who'd play by the rules from getting re-elected. The guys who couldn't care less about the rules? They'll just whip up a new law to extend their stay in power. Putin being the prime example.