Russia’s military chief warns that heightened risks of conflict near borders may turn nuclear

[stockholmer]

Source: Washington Post

MOSCOW — Russia is facing a heightened risk of being drawn into conflicts at its borders that have the potential of turning nuclear, the nation’s top military officer said Thursday.

Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, cautioned over NATO’s expansion eastward and warned that the risks for Russia to be pulled into local conflicts have “risen sharply.” Makarov added, according to Russian news agencies, that “under certain conditions local and regional conflicts may develop into a full-scale war involving nuclear weapons.”

A steady decline in Russia’s conventional forces has prompted the Kremlin to rely increasingly on its nuclear deterrent. The nation’s military doctrine says it may use nuclear weapons to counter a nuclear attack on Russia or an ally, or a large-scale conventional attack that threatens Russia’s existence.

Russia sees NATO’s expansion to include former Soviet republics and ex-members of the Soviet bloc in eastern and central Europe as a key threat to Russia’s security.

snip

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russias-military-chief-potential-conflicts-near-russian-borders-may-grow-into-nuclear-war/2011/11/17/gIQAWQTJUN_story.html?wprss=rss_world

[truebrit71]

1. Oh peachy...

...as if we didn't have enough to bloody worry about...

[teddy51]

4. I see that as having been inevitable with the things that NATO has been doing lately.

It would not surprise me if China comes out with a similar warning soon, based on the US move into Australia.

[Newest Reality]

2. Oh yeah!

Beat those drums. Boom, boom, boom. Put on the paint and don the helmet head-dress. Fly the lethal birds with silver wings. Threaten, once again, to fling fat arrows of mass death upon innocents.

Why not just pick the other side of the negative utilitarian philosophy and blow it all up in order to end the suffering of all living things quickly?

Makarov's diplomatic skills appear to be wanting and he sounds like a cold-warrior. Would you like some military escalation with your multiple, global crises? I don't think Shiva is amused.

[Dutchmaster]

3. Way to show your ignorance of Eastern Europe politics.

We have been hedging against our word to not expand NATO into the former Soviet bloc for a long time, and I am frankly surprised the Russians have taken as much of it as they have. It is clear to anyone who knows anything about the region that at some point Russia was/is going to draw the line. Sounds like they are really fucking close. Don't dismiss Russia. Although they are no longer the almighty Soviet Union, leading the Warsaw Pact, they are still one of the most powerful military's in the world. To fuck with them is to invite disaster.

[Newest Reality]

5. I have much ignorance ...

Thanks for enlightening me with your views.

Welcome to DU!

[Nuclear Unicorn]

7. In other words, they're being nuclear bullies

Free nations, in Eastern Europe or not, have the right to associate with whomever they will. Their fate isn't for Russia to demand or threaten.

[sulphurdunn]

9. You are correct.

They do have the right of free association. Joining a potentially hostile superpower military alliance may be dangerous, especially when that alliance wants to put nuclear weapons in Cuba.

[iamthebandfanman]

6. oops, russia is forgetting

they decided to join the rest of the world ...

they apparently arent aware their economy is totally reliant on others now.

[teddy51]

8. "their economy is totally reliant on others now" that part may be so, but there

hardly going to stand by and be hedged in by NATO's ever growing spread into former Soviet countries. This certainly threatens them militarily. One can hardly blame them, after all look what happened when The Soviet Union stationed missiles in Cuba in the 1960's, you think the US might have felt a little threatened then?

[iamthebandfanman]

11. because nato is itching

to invade russia ?

im confused as to what exactly they are supposed to be frightened over? those darn capitalists?

[Frisbee]

10. I'm sure the MIC hates hearing that. n/t

[No Joe]

12. Russia’s military chief warns that heightened risks of conflict near borders may turn nuclear

Source: Washington Post

MOSCOW — Russia is facing a heightened risk of being drawn into conflicts at its borders that have the potential of turning nuclear, the nation’s top military officer said Thursday.

Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, cautioned over NATO’s expansion eastward and warned that the risks for Russia to be pulled into local conflicts have “risen sharply.”

Makarov added, according to Russian news agencies, that “under certain conditions local and regional conflicts may develop into a full-scale war involving nuclear weapons.”

A steady decline in Russia’s conventional forces has prompted the Kremlin to rely increasingly on its nuclear deterrent.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russias-military-chief-potential-conflicts-near-russian-borders-may-grow-into-nuclear-war/2011/11/17/gIQAWQTJUN_story.html?wprss=rss_world

---

Well golly gosh darn it to heck, I hadn't heard that Russia's conventional forces were in decline. I wonder why our media outlets haven't been reporting this. It's almost as though they're trying to prop up our milit---naw, that's just crazy! :rofl:

[HopeHoops]

13. Maybe we should go back to hiding under desks, putting our heads between our knees...

... and kissing our asses good-bye.

(old poster from the 60's)

[left on green only]

16. Ah! I remember it well.

And the sight of the shoe being pounded on the lectern at the U.N. :toast: :hi:

[HopeHoops]

17. I prefer the one that was thrown at the shrub.

:evilgrin:

[Boojatta]

14. I don't like the wording. How about ...?

Russia’s military chief warns of heightened risk that conflicts near borders may turn nuclear

[Boojatta]

15. For this story, there's an earlier thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x5063232

[NickB79]

18. Our media outlets have reported the decline of Russia's military

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/13/world/asia/13iht-russia.4.8320224.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703678404575636412726670020.html

http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews=30227

The promises by Putin to modernize and revitalize the Russian military appear to have been unsuccessful despite the influx of oil money.

[Dover]

19. Russian military chief warns of nuclear war risks

Source: AP



(AP) MOSCOW — Russia is facing a heightened risk of being drawn into conflicts at its borders that have the potential of turning nuclear, the nation's top military officer said Thursday.

Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, cautioned over NATO's expansion eastward and warned that the risks of Russia being pulled into local conflicts have "risen sharply."

Makarov added, according to Russian news agencies, that "under certain conditions local and regional conflicts may develop into a full-scale war involving nuclear weapons."

A steady decline in Russia's conventional forces has prompted the Kremlin to rely increasingly on its nuclear deterrent.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57326664/russian-military-chief-warns-of-nuclear-war-risks/