John Sansom
New Member
Hi, Rock and Feanor...and thanks for the link. The impression I get is that Russsia is very much determined to overcome its immediate "collapsed" past and that independent world-wide involvement is just one off the avenues open to this end. That's nothing new, of course, and it has been discussed ad infinitum, including in these forums and threads.
Perhaps the real question should be: How come western governments and media don't seem to be commenting very much on this aspect of the Russian "renaissance", and why do western audiences seem so surprised when
stuff like this comes to light?
A case in point may well be the Russsian naval vessels now on their way to perform joint exercises with, ahem, the Venezuelan fleet. Yep, the media reported it. But just wait until those Russian ships pop up on the South American horizon; that's when the hand-wringing and gee-whizzing will move onto both the front and op-ed pages.
The point is that Putin and Medvedev have pictures they both want and need to paint at home and abroad...and they intend to paint them. Coastal protection deals/offers with African countries are on the palette along with military cruises to everywhere and a host of other muscle-flexing activities.
With respect to Rock45's original question, other countries certainly have some kind of green light from (at least) Somalia, and through the UN. Otherwise, why would they be there? Well, yes, I know.....
Perhaps the real question should be: How come western governments and media don't seem to be commenting very much on this aspect of the Russian "renaissance", and why do western audiences seem so surprised when
stuff like this comes to light?
A case in point may well be the Russsian naval vessels now on their way to perform joint exercises with, ahem, the Venezuelan fleet. Yep, the media reported it. But just wait until those Russian ships pop up on the South American horizon; that's when the hand-wringing and gee-whizzing will move onto both the front and op-ed pages.
The point is that Putin and Medvedev have pictures they both want and need to paint at home and abroad...and they intend to paint them. Coastal protection deals/offers with African countries are on the palette along with military cruises to everywhere and a host of other muscle-flexing activities.
With respect to Rock45's original question, other countries certainly have some kind of green light from (at least) Somalia, and through the UN. Otherwise, why would they be there? Well, yes, I know.....
