Are we witnessing a new cold war era of the 21st centrury?

Question

With the frosty relationship between Britain and Russia over the Litvenenko poisoning crime trying to extradite a Russian to Britain to face trial for his crimes. And America proposing to install a nuclear shield in the Czech republic and Russian anger over America. Are we witnessing a backward step to the cold war days of the 1980's and a nuclear stand off? Will Russia go back to being a communist country and isolate it self from the rest of the world as it did prior to 1991. I know that Vladmir Putin used to be a KGB agent so he might want the good old days back.

I am British and I remember the 1980's and I also remember worrying about nuclear war it seem the good old days are coming back. Iran and Iraq don't worry me so much Russia has Nuclear weapon and they will be directed at Europe we don't stand a chance if there was a strike at Europe, Europe would be wiped off the map.

Answer 1

Well you've pretty much answered your own question with your thoughts.

Putin supposedly said to the Russian people when he first got in that democratic change takes a long time to take effect and so they'd better be patient. However once a KGB agent always a KGB agent and I think Putin didn't think democracy was moving fast enough so he reverted back to type , poisoning the one candidate a few years back, then killing the kgb agent last fall, and now saber rattling along with Bush about another cold war.
So there's a pay off for him too, to say to the Russian people see I told you we could never trust the West, ie the Americans .

And Bush exacerbated this one with wanting to put the missile in the former russian czek or polish republics. He had to know that would set off Putin. Think it's a smoke screen because Bush doesn't want to discuss either climate change/global warming or poverty in Africa.

Definitely wonder if Bush in his ' born again Christian mentality" wants to start Armagedden so he can be taken up with rapture and not be Left Behind to have to live with his legacy , as Gore Vidal so aptly put it on the CBC's the Hour, as the most hated American president ever.

Answer 2

Putin is KGB not former, he is KGB and a communist and was and is not in favor of the economic reforms that turned the USSR into a market economy.

While things aren't as dicey as they were in the late 70s and early 80s, people tend to blame W for current conditions when in actuality Russia is a country in flux.

Putin has indicated he will not run for president again. the relationship between the west and Russia will likely hinge on an unknown newcomer to the scene.
The duma is still supposedly representative of their 450 member districts, it is not clear how much influence the people have on their representative.
US proposal for a radar station in the czech republic is intended to detect missile launches from the middle east destined for Europe.

Personally I think we could place a stationary satellite over the region and eliminate the potential of a turf pissing match.

I think Putin and Bush are on relatively good terms, I do believe it is a matter of working with the Russians to assure Europe is not attacked by Mahmood. But realistically so, I don't believe Bush has been any good reasons to trust him explicitly.

That said, Mahmood is getting parts for his nuclear design from the Russians so it becomes a point of a secular society that has no concept of a threatening theocracy.

in the Polonium poisonings by Litvenenko it raises some real questions about Putin. Putin is someone to watch closely .. You can trust someone to an extent but as Reagan once said.. Trust but verify.

Answer 3

I think youve got a point about Putin being in the KGB and wanting the good old days back. Putin has been rollingback the democratic rights of the people, and look at all the dead journalist. Putin also helping Iran. He has been blocking the proposed santions on Iran along with China, all 3 are expanding their military.

Answer 4

The USA shouldn't invade Iran because Britain will have to do the same and I don't want anyone of our countries troops to get killed like in the current Iraq war.One problem that is happening between our respective countries is the missiles being placed in Europe. If President Putin doesn't want the missiles there and aims the missiles at Europe Britain, The USA's closest ally will be incinerated by atomic missiles!
The media talk rubbish, listen to cnn about the crisis ovr here....

Answer 5

Life has never been good since the US became the superpower.For your instant ,if Russia realy misses the moments that it had ,then it should go for them.Even if the US sounds strong and what it is doing doesn`t please anyone on this planet earth and the possible means have been tried and failed,why keep the impossibles in stores.

Answer 6

Nope. As bad as things in Russia are now their still a hole lot better than before. We've never been on good terms with Russia so this really isn't that bad. The US and Russia have bigger enemies than each other so we can't afford to let relations go back to the way they were before.

Answer 7

Could very well be. The shame of it is that we (as a country) have the smarts to broker a happy compromise, but our current foreign policy efforts are such a failure, that I am afraid Bush may only make things worse.

Answer 8

Well if Bush keeps acting like the ******** he is then there's a good chance that the Arms Race will get back in full swing. Just what this failed president needs to add to his resume.

Answer 9

I think it is a very realistic possibility! We have a president who is not a diplomat and is completely ignorant of world affairs!

He has his own agenda, and that's it!