Russian president Vladimir Putin has revived a Cold War practice: keeping long-range bombers patrolling outside the borders of the country, ready to strike at...Oh, you know who. With...Well, do we have to tell you what?
No, the Cold War is not back. Putin may be a cynical SOB, but he's not deranged. The Putin government is clearly trying to demonstrate the independent course on which it wants to keep Russia, beholden to no one in the United States, Europe, or China. Reviving these patrols is a gesture, not preparation for nuclear war.
Still, it's worth pondering exactly what the Russia government plans to do with this independent power, and why it feels free to exercise it. High oil prices help the Russian economy, which helps Putin stay in power. Therefore, the Iraq war--not the only cause of high oil prices, but a significant one--helps Putin--maybe not an enemy of the United States, but no friend, either.
Oh, but the Cold War was so fun! Serious demands for defense analyses, big military contracts... I'll bet that the F-22/F-35 community is heaving a big sigh of relief as to figuring out their next budget pitch to the Pentagon.
What do they plan to do with it? I'm betting on using this prestige as leverage against its neighbors and future trading partners. "See? We're big and bad, you can count on us to be the counter to U.S. interests, just like the good old days." You are correct that this isn't really Cold War, but if perception paints Russia as a giant, that's all they need.
Posted by: J. | 08/20/2007 at 05:18
Maybe Putin is on the Boeing payroll as a "consultant". Pay him a couple million dollars a year in a Swiss account and you can leverage the entire Russian defense budget as part of your advertising campaign!
Posted by: Mojo | 08/20/2007 at 18:03
The lines of these politics are so far past blurry it's like being legally blind and trying to decipher modern art.
Posted by: Irving Isler | 08/30/2007 at 15:34
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Posted by: Steve | 09/01/2007 at 14:55