The new Cold War? From the events below?

Question

For the record, I'm not anti-Russia or pro-Russia. I'm 18, and I just find this whole situation interesting. Obviously what both Russia and Georgia are doing right now is wrong, but as a young adult who grew up right after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it feels like everything I have learned in History class is repeating itself. Just look at what the current situation is as of today:

-Russia has said that it will begin withdrawing it's troops out of Georgia beginning Monday, but reports are saying that instead of preparing to leave, more ground troops are showing up and consolidating their power, setting up bases in strategic locations in Georgia and occupying certain important roads and cities. Some troops are appearing to withdraw, but are massing in South Ossatia and Abkhazia instead of returning all the way to Russia.

-Georgia reports that after destroying Georgian radio and television transmitters, Russian troops had now installed their own, meaning Gori residents can now only tune in to channels from Moscow.

-In addition, Russian troops were seen bolstering their positions in the hills which surround Gori, including creating improved machine gun posts. Troops continue to surround Gori with tanks, armoured personnel carriers and security forces. All Georgian police and law enforcement were said to still be banned by Russia from operating there.

-Russia, as of last night, as declared that it is considering arming its Baltic fleet with nuclear warheads for the first time since the cold war. Under the Russian plans, nuclear warheads could be supplied to submarines, cruisers and fighter bombers of the Baltic fleet based in Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave between the European Union countries of Poland and Lithuania. A senior military source in Moscow said the fleet had suffered from underfunding since the collapse of communism.

-The Russian military also said it would ignore attempts to restrict the movement of its Black Sea fleet in and out of Sebastopol, in Ukraine. The Crimean port is emerging as a potential flashpoint in Russia’s efforts to prevent former Soviet countries on its borders from joining Nato.

-This weekend Ukraine further angered Russian officials by offering to create a joint missile defence network with western countries.

-The Russians have already indicated that they may point nuclear missiles at western Europe from bases in Kaliningrad and Belarus. They are also said to be thinking of reviving a military presence in Cuba.

-In Georgia, Russian forces extended their reach across the west of the country yesterday, occupying several towns, seizing control of a main road and blowing up a railway bridge. Working with Abkhazian fighters they seized several Georgian villages and the Enguri power station.

-Poland has agreed to have America install an anti-missile defense system in its country, an act, a Russian general says, will open up a military conflict with Poland 100 percent.

Just from reading that information, and there is more, do you think this could be the beginning of the new Cold War? It really sounds like it to me. Thoughts? What's your opinion on the matter? For people who lived through the Cold War, does the current events sound like history is repeating itself? Peace.

Answer 1

the cold war never ended.

Answer 2

To be honest with you I lived threw it but was too busy to know that we were in a cold war, but I hope this one will be like the last one meaning that it wont hart us. Yes acetiaand cordova will probubly  go back to russian  rule, Most of the larger countries have some sort of missels in their arms but remember if Russia does shoot a nuclear weapon on a country near them they will suffer the consequences to If one goes off they all will go off.

Answer 3

In two or three years you will see USA and Europe making up with Russia and saying, "let bygones be begones". Relax. Countries are like that.

Answer 4

Look up Austria, 1938.

The Cold War never ended as far as Russia is concerned.  Now they are ready to take the next step, and dare us to respond.  We are living in very dangerous times.

Answer 5

No. The Cold War bankrupted the Russians, they are in no position to repeat it and no desire or need to repeat it. What we are seeing is the Russians doing a very good job of goading the USA into even further strategic overextension, knowing Bush can't resist rising to the bait, and that we will bankrupt the USA even faster trying to defend a volatile "ally" on the far side of the planet.

History never repeats itself, but most Americans still seems stuck thinking that it's still WW2 and the Cold War, a fantasy that is becoming further from reality every day.

Answer 6

Nope, this is just saber rattling.

The time to get worried is when the guy bangs his shoe on the desk.

Answer 7

Basically Yes - the Cold War tailed off - it has never really gone away.

The Cold War is no problem  -  it's a hot war that's more worrying.

Part of the agreement for the ending of the Cold War and bringing down the Berlin Wall was  America's commitment that it would NOT extend the NATO border further east.

America has completely broken this agreement.

When it was being considered whether to recognise Kosovo independence, two countries in particular spoke out  - Russia and Spain  - they both voiced their concerns that granting Kosovo independence would set be set a precedent which would invite trouble. Russia and Spain repeated their warnings.

America and Europe disregarded them. This flare-up in Georgia is an example - South Ossetia can point to Kosovo and say "you did it for them, so do it for us". Which is basically what they did 2 years ago. They were turned down for independence - not just by Europe - but by Russia as well.

Hope this helps. Things are never black and white - different shades of grey.

Answer 8

Russia is just flexing it's might,so the European countries will take a look at them instead of America,and what we are doing in Afghanistan,and Iraq.They are also trying to gain control of the gas,and oil pipelines that are in the Georgia area,which they seem to have accomplished by using the massacre of the Pilgrims as an excuse to attack.Truth be known they probably killed those people.They can point their missles towards the Western nations as they choose,but I am sure we have been anticipating this since they started helping Iran aquire uranium fusion,for their nuclear(so called power plants).They are really mixed up if they think we are over whelmed by these wars we have had to take on.We have allies plus we always have an ace,or two,up our sleeve in the game of war!They better watch their own people and feed them,and secure them jobs and house them before they all decide they have had enough,and join our side.I would say that Russian people are tired of being lied too,and treated like animals while the upper class officials live like kings.