On Rattling Sabres With Russia

Ben Stein Thinks It's Dumb To Say We'll Fight Russis At Its Borders When We Can't And Won't

(CBS)  The problem of how best to deal with Russia is becoming an issue in campaign '08 and is much on the mind of our contributor Ben Stein.

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Here's a cool idea:

While we're in a difficult war in Iraq, while the war in Afghanistan is turning distinctly ugly, while we have major economic and energy problems, let's get into a war with Russia, too.

What? You don't think that's a good idea?

Neither do I, but that seems to be exactly where we're heading.

We already made the bonehead move of getting the nation of Georgia to think we would back them when they confronted Russia over issues that have zero to do with us.

Russia warned us over and over to back off. We didn't back off.

Then when Russia called our bluff and invaded Georgia and thumbed their noses at us, we did nothing.

This was a nearly fatal blow to Georgia as a sovereign state and made us look like liars and punks.

Now we've made an agreement to place interceptor missiles in Poland, even as Russia has told us over and over again not to do it.

We've promised the Poles we'll defend them if Russia attacks.

This is dangerous foolishness. We're not going to fight the Russians over Poland, which is right next to Russia and about 5,000 miles from us.

One, we don't have the means to do it. And two, the nation doesn't want to do it.

So if Russia invades, which they've strongly hinted they may do, we'll do nothing - and look weak again.

Why are we getting into all these messes so far from home? Why are we provoking the Russians needlessly? They are obviously ready to fight on their borders and we're not ready to fight on their borders.

Neither is anyone in western Europe, all of whom are totally dependent on Russia for natural gas at this point. Plus the western Europeans have almost no armies at this point.

Look, we have enough on our plate. Let's not get other people killed and ourselves humiliated in Russia's backyard.

If we're not going to fight - and we're not - let's just butt out and stay out.

[usclimey]

Ms Palin was heard saying - "What do you mean Russia''s 5,000 miles away - I cna see it out my kitchen window!"

[eddynewhope]

No one is going to invade poor Poland you slow-witted swine.

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Posted by dimhumb at 06:25 AM

Hahahahah - Just like they weren''t going to invade Georgia right? You, my hostile and ignorant, warmongering friend are the "slow-witted swine". It is an administration that carries YOUR attitude that has turned us from a dominant power to an international joke whose military is tattered and stuck in Iraq, loosing the war in Afghanistan, economy in a recession, record energy prices, record debt and national deficit, etc. - Then you have the hubris and gaul to call anyone cautioning us against yet another unncecessary war "slow-witted swine". Wow. With American''s like these, who needs enemies.

[urnot]

Stein is right. Strange position, since he supports McCain who is ready to go to war with Russia over Georgia. McCain says, "We are all Georgians." No Johnnie, we are not "all Georgians." We do not need WW III.

Usually Stein is a fascist nutcase. Funny that he''s right on this.

[lordmi]

Thank You for disclosre for Idiots. It is only fools of Pit Bull were thinking - that was a right idea.
But what is important : this couple: paranoic McWar and Barking Pit Bull will certainly lead to Military Dictatorship of deletant.
Nation, be aware!

[dibs977]

Thanks Ben! The very thought of war with Russia is horrible. First of all, I love Russian people and I''d like to visit Russia and our country needs the cooperation of Russia. I do not want our country to fail and fall---and we will fall--just like the Roman Empire unless we grow in character and wisdom. We cannot run around like a bunch of arrogant, angry bubbas---and expect to be a great nation. Obama can lead us toward strength, power, and peace.

[markangeloo]

The power is Putin.

Yes U are right the US will back down
& NOT place that nuclear shield in Poland

[markangeloo]

Yes didn''t John McCain just lose that war with Georgia
right before our eyes during the Rupublican Pep Rally.

[markangeloo]

Oh are we calling Iraq a victory.

Ha Ha I missed the parade.

Was it on Wall Street ?

[markangeloo]

To follow our new motto.

AMERIKILL BUT CANT WIN

[dimhumb]

Ben Stein is full of sh.t
Look what he wrote during the conflict in Georgia. He called for a new arms race against Russia. Maybe CBS should check the trash they allow on their site?
http://finance.yahoo.com/expert
/article/yourlife/101846
Posted by Ilum1 at 12:53 AM : Sep 15, 2008

CBS wrote this text itself and gave it to this prostitute of a scribbler Stein to endorse.

[dimhumb]

"So if Russia invades (in Poland), which they''ve strongly hinted they may do, we''ll do nothing - and look weak again."

You blockheaded bumpkin of a scribbler you can''t even do your provocation without lies. Nogovitsin just warned Poles that if the interceptors in Poland started involving in a war against Russia then Russia would be forsed to destroy the interceptor. No one is going to invade poor Poland you slow-witted swine.

[coldwarvet-2009]

Georgia is just another event of an offensive campaign the U.S. has been engaging since the USSR collapsed. Unfortunately our approach to the former Warsaw Pact in joining NATO since 1991 and the abbrogation of the ABM Treaty of 1972 has left the Russian Federation with no other choice than to act accordingly to national security and to defend it''s borders. Even if we were not in Iraq or Afghanistan, the Russians would not act any different. At the present we will escalate this situation to the brink of destruction until someone backs down. I can assure you Putin "will not" and if we don''t anyone can guess what might happen. Anyone that thinks Russia will not deal with Poland by military force, just wait till they get that new Patriot system and sees what happens. This is no different than the Cuban Missile Crisis. Kruschev was on the offensive then and we came close to World War 3. Do you actually think the Russian Federation is going to act any different when you put missiles near their border? A better solution would be to let the Russians put their own ABM system in Poland. If the U.S. wants to solve this problem both sides need to come to parity. Any other way is just a prelude to war...

[brle-2009]

Smart men this Ben Stein !Americans should listen what he has to say. Think about WW3 .

[dimhumb]

"If we''re not going to fight - and we''re not - let''s just butt out and stay out." - writs the cheap quill-driver, so we see this cheap venal scoundrel stirring Americans up in an attampt to spread fighting spirit, so useful for McCain"s campaign.

[dimhumb]

"Then when Russia called our bluff and invaded Georgia and thumbed their noses at us, we did nothing." writes the scribbler, so we see his "interest" in peace. Georgian army killed women and children, and 64 Russian peacekeepers died defending them. Could THEM thumb their noses at you? I doubt that. BEN STEIN IS A MERCENARY PROVOCATOR! DON''T BUY THESE CHEAP TRICKS!

[mikhai_l]

Dear Mr. Stein,
I salute the emergence of a multi-polar world in which our bullying and aggressive policies along with myths of American exceptionalism and Manifest Destiny will come to an end. Preventive wars - the need for which is defined by OUR interests and definitions??? Invasions and trillions of debt under the galling charade of spreading democracy?? All we spread is hate towards the US; the Russophobic posters here do not know Russia%u2019 essence: she will NEVER surrender and NEVER accept the will of the West (or East). She has means and, finally, the will to defend herself. Russia is an authentic, multi-ethnic civilization, with her own vision of her place in the world, her own definition of success and truth.
Treat her as a partner, not an object of manipulation-and you will get an ally. Treat her as most of you suggest - and US and the West will be challenged continuously.
All these posters, ready to fight for Poland and Georgia, Malorossia and the Baltics have a grudge against a strong and proud country, that HELPED all of those Georgias, Polands, Latvias and so on to maintain their authenticity, and provide social justice to most. Enamored by the money lust you do not remember that. Well, Russia does NOT need you as allies. And, US won''t go to war for you either.
Russia deserves friendly neighbors and has all the right to take measures to see that through.
Most sincerely, Mikhail Drabkin

[dimhumb]

The United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe endorsed these efforts and sent observers to both regions. Conflict-settlement mechanisms had the consent and participation of all parties%u2014including Georgia.
But since coming to power in 2004, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has sought to undermine this process and assert control over South Ossetia and Abkhazia. He has done this despite the wishes of the citizens of these regions, who remember the bloodshed of the early 1990s. This month Saakashvili chose to achieve his political vision through violence. That the Georgian military gave the operation the chilling code name "Clear Field" reveals Saakashvili''s true objectives. The code name clearly smells of genocide.
When Georgian peacekeepers opened fire on their Russian colleagues, we had no choice but to respond. In violation of every agreement, Georgian forces rampaged through South Ossetia in a frenzy of killing, burning and destruction. Saakashvili must be called to account for these crimes. Our response has been targeted, proportionate and legitimate. On Aug. 9, Russian troops were sent to reinforce the remaining Russian peacekeepers and to protect the civilian population.
But Ben seems ignorant of things one cannot be ignorant of if he interested in honesty in international affairs. He is a provocator. He is against peace.

[dimhumb]

Alexxxx1, Ben Stein seems strongly to be a provocator in this article. He seems to be absolutly ignorant of:
Georgia''s Saakashvili chose to achieve his political vision through violence.
It has become fashionable to view Russia''s involvement in South Ossetia through the prism of the cold war, with the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia as the blueprint. But such interpretations are historical folly. They ignore the recent history of the region. They ignore the great strides Russia has made since the collapse of the U.S.S.R. And they ignore the most basic fact of the current situation: that under cover of night, on Aug. 8, Georgia launched a military attack that killed hundreds of peacekeepers and civilians, creating a humanitarian disaster that led to an exodus of more than 30,000 refugees.
Let us be clear: Russia''s involvement in South Ossetia is not about ideology. Nor is it about regime change in Georgia. Least of all is it about re-establishing the boundaries of the U.S.S.R. (People of Russia are not interested in those things - I am one of them). It is about restoring a fragile peace.
After the collapse of the U.S.S.R., Georgia''s new leadership announced that "Georgia is for Georgians," ended regional autonomy inside Georgia and moved military forces to take Tskhinvali and Sukhumi. After a bloody war, the Georgian Army was ousted from South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia helped mediate a ceasefire.
Continued...

[ilum1]

Ben Stein is full of sh.t

Look what he wrote during the conflict in Georgia. He called for a new arms race against Russia. Maybe CBS should check the trash they allow on their site?

http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/yourlife/101846

[ilum1]

Ben Stein is full of sh.t

Look what he wrote during the conflict in Georgia. He called for a new arms race against Russia. Maybe CBS should check the trash they allow on their site?

http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/yourlife/101846