Russia's economy is fragile best I can tell. Yes they are rolling in petro/gas dollars now, but that appears to be the sum of it. People talk about how hard it will hit Europe et al if the Russians turn of the gas tap, but seeing as it is their primary source of revenue. So who do you think will get hit the hardest?
They have too much leverage at this point in time for us to sanction them. EU would never go along with it. Worlds largest terrorist exporter is on the verge of Nukes, and they can't even put any real sanctions on them, and people expect them to do anything about Russia? We would have to take a pretty strong stance and actually, you know,*lead* on this. Not sure if that's worth interrupting The Chosen One's tee times for.
I dont know about China. They've seemed to have charted their own course since the 1970s and are more recluse in terms of their military and took a different route than Russia. They care more about expanding their influence economically. The US and China are also too linked economically these days for really either one to put pressure on each other for anything. Too much money at stake.Iran and Syria though is going to continue to be a problem.
Right now China is entering an expansionist phase and we are the main impediment to that. It's in their interest to ally against us.
Just out of curiosity (without have to go back and look it up) do any of you remember the W. Bush administration response to when Russia invaded Georgia?
dude that wasn't Russia that invaded Georgia...that was Gen William Tecumseh Sherman and W. Bush wasnt President. Lincoln was. What a dumb arse.
Must be a Falcons fan.
