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Tag Archives: Georgian war
Preventing Ukraine From Spiraling Out of Control
The crisis in Ukraine continues to simmer, but thankfully has not yet boiled over. Here are some of the developments since I last wrote on this topic, followed by some thoughts on what is needed to minimize the risk of the conflict spiraling out of control. Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged critical thinking, georgia, Georgian war, martin hellman, NATO, nuclear risk, putin, russia, stanford, ukraine, war and peace, William Hague
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US Creates Nuclear Trip Wire in Poland
The U.S. Air Force officially stationed a small detachment of soldiers at a base here in central Poland on Friday, part of Washington’s bid to reassure an important European ally without jeopardizing ties with Russia. … The move was touted by Poland’s government, which has for years asked for a U.S. military presence to protect the former Eastern Bloc country from a resurgent Russia. Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged deterrence, Georgian war, martin hellman, NATO, nuclear deterrence, nuclear risk, nuclear trip wire, nuclear war, poland, stanford, war and peace
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Censorship in Russia?
The American mainstream media tends to give the impression that Russia under Putin is not that different from the good ole USSR. Having visited the Soviet Union a number of times prior to Gorbachev’s reforms and keeping abreast of the Russian press today, I know how false that picture is. Before censorship was lifted, the only honest political discussions I could have with my Russian friends was when no other Russians were present, and we were out of range of any possible, hidden microphones (e.g., in my hotel room). Compare that to an article in yesterday’s Moscow Times, which reads in part: Continue reading
Russian Military Chief Sees Increasing Risk of Nuclear War
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s chief military officer says the nation is facing an increased threat of being drawn into conflicts at its borders that may grow into an all-out nuclear war. Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff, pointed at NATO’s expansion eastward and said Thursday that the risks for Russia to be pulled into local conflicts have “risen sharply.” He added, according to Russian news agencies wires, that “under certain conditions local and regional conflicts may develop into a full-scale war involving nuclear weapons.” Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Georgian war, martin hellman, Nikolai Makarov, nuclear risk, nuclear weapons, russia, stanford
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Challenging Russia to Fight
House Speaker John Boehner is second in line for the presidency, after Vice President Biden. That highlights the danger of his recent speech that come dangerously close to challenging Russia to a fight. Boehner’s web site prefaces the speech by noting “In remarks at the Heritage Foundation today, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) discussed the need to reassert American exceptionalism in the U.S.-Russia relationship.” Here are the key parts of what he had to say: Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged georgia, Georgian war, martin hellman, nuclear, nuclear deterrence, nuclear risk, nuclear war, nuclear weapons, risk, stanford
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The Georgian War Revisited
Two years ago, war between Georgia and Russia took the world by surprise. It also created the danger that, if President Bush had stood by his earlier promises to Georgia, the world could have stared at the nuclear abyss in a way it had not since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. We did not have to be surprised because there were numerous early warning signs that, if recognized and acted upon, could not only have been foreseen the war, but also prevented it. Unfortunately, a similar lack of foresight is keeping us from seeing similar early warning signs today. Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged georgia, Georgian war, nuclear deterrence, risk, russia, war
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Defusing the Nuclear Threat 