[–] Gerplunckamo [S] 1 point 0 points 1 point (+1|-1) ago
After all, on most objective grounds, Russia is hardly a great power. It has nuclear weapons, but ultimately these are of little practical value. Continued rearmament depends on money, and Russia’s economy is dependent on oil that is now selling for bargain-basement prices. Russia’s economy is the 13th largest in the world, just between Australia and Spain, about half the size of France’s, about a fourteenth of the USA’s. Even before the value of the ruble collapsed, Russian military spending was around one-seventh of America’s.
[–] forgetmyname 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
When you put it like that, the US could fight a war with russia just to boost its economy!
[–] TheRealAmalek ago
If we go to war with Russia... and they start losing they could decide to end the game, then launch all the nukes. Russia can't win vs us, but they can sure as hell stop us from winning.
[–] dbag2070 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
But isn't that all part of defense, make every one think you are stronger than you are, at the moment no one is really willing to test Russias strength and that in its self is a win cause it buts time to take the 'work in progress' and finish it.
[–] Gerplunckamo [S] 1 point -1 points 0 points (+0|-1) ago
Work in progress? Is that what you're calling it? Russia's economy hasn't been this bad since 08. They just had to cut their military budget last year. Its going to grow by .8% this year. Putin has the edge now, but he is burning through money and assets at a rate that just can't be sustainable.
I'm not saying it is, I was responding specifically to what the article is saying. That's all. I don't know if it's a Bluff but if it is, it's a good one and they are playing it very well. And I'm just pointing that, that would be a good part of defense. Well when your enemy doesn't know what your strength is
[–] Gerplunckamo [S] 3 points -2 points 1 point (+1|-3) ago
I'm cool with that. Putin's bluffing and the rest of the world knows it. The little guy's acting out, and he needs a spanking.
[–] Somali 1 point 0 points 1 point (+1|-1) ago (edited ago)
Yeah, they know it so much they sit aside and let him do whatever the hell he wants and then bitch about how he's making them all look weak. At least Trump will be elected soon and let Putin have his sphere of influence so everyone will be forced to stop bitching.
The article is classic Vox though. It's like reading Ezra Klein call out a Judo master for not being Dolph Lundgren. His nuclear potential is irrelevant... even though vox darling Obama just pissed away a trillion dollars trying to counter it. Half of any military doctrine is defense and nukes play an active part in that. Then they shame him for having a small budget... as if projecting power the way he's been able to at the cost of an F-35 cockpit is somehow a bad thing.
You could at least have the decency to archive vox articles. Even Russian saboteurs wouldn't go so low as to give vox clicks.
[–] TheRealAmalek 1 point -1 points 0 points (+0|-1) ago
Feel free to go to Russia and give Putin a spanking yourself!
[–] KarlWayne 1 point 1 point 2 points (+2|-1) ago
I love that our MSM media keeps promoting the narrative of Russia being weak. It's not like they were able to roll over Syria in less than a month. Let's not forget the whole Crimea/Ukraine situation, they looked pretty strong there too. Remind me again, who controls Crimea? How about Assad? We wanted him out of power so much we funded and supplied rebel groups to oust him. Russia steps in and suddenly Assad is a fucking rock. They spend so much effort spouting this crap you have to wonder whether they are starting to believe it. We would be extremely hard pressed to deal with Russia in a war. Their immensely lower costs are gonna be an amazing boon if we ever go to war with them. Can you imagine trading 100 SU-35's for 100 F-35's, they'd end up $50-60 billion ahead.
[–] Somali 1 point 0 points 1 point (+1|-1) ago (edited ago)
Given the way the F-35 has looked so far they wouldn't even need 100 SU-35's, just one of those jammers they used on Donald Cook.
The cost of US equipment has been one Russia's biggest aces in the proxy war. The main reason Ukraine wasn't armed with anti tank missiles was because they'd have cost 80k a pop to fire. And because they'd be instantly sold off on the black market downstream to the Middle East.
[–] epsilona01 ago (edited ago)
It's strong enough. They'd probably lose WW3 handily if we had it as a military battle, but tanks and soldiers won't see the front in that conflict.
[–] TheRealAmalek ago
Vox is trying to troll us into WW3
[–] Gerplunckamo [S] 1 point 0 points 1 point (+1|-1) ago
Hey Amalek, what's my real name? Have you figured it out from that useless IP you got yet?
[–] TheRealAmalek 1 point -1 points 0 points (+0|-1) ago (edited ago)
You are confusing me with that Kike that keeps impersonating me and threatening lawsuits against Voat in order to defame me.
[–] Gerplunckamo [S] 1 point -1 points 0 points (+0|-1) ago
Nukes that are 30+ years old? The Russian military has been hilariously underfunded since the 70's, and maintaining a nuclear arsenal isn't cheap. I'd be amazed if any of them can still fly, let alone hit us.
Plus, if Putin wants to act like a spoiled brat and nuke everyone because he isn't getting his way, he can go right ahead and do it. Put up or shut up, Vladdy.
[–] [deleted] 2 points -1 points 1 point (+1|-2) ago
[–] Gerplunckamo [S] 1 point -1 points 0 points (+0|-1) ago
Thank you for your contribution to the conversation.
[–] mscomies 1 point -1 points 0 points (+0|-1) ago
Waiting for the Putinites to show up and argue that Russia is strong despite all the evidence to the contrary.
[–] Gerplunckamo [S] 2 points -1 points 1 point (+1|-2) ago
Its about midnight in Moscow, they'll get more active later on in the evening.
[–] mscomies 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
Nah, he has plenty of Jane Fonda types in the west who do it for free.